Investigation of the Phenomenon of Propagated Sensation along the Channels in the Upper Limb Following Administration of Acupuncture and Mock Laser

Shohreh Razavy,Marcus Gadau,Shi Ping Zhang,Fu Chun Wang,Sergio Bangrazi,Christine Berle,Mahrita Harahap,Tie Li,Wei Hong Li,Christopher Zaslawski 사단법인약침학회 2017 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.10 No.5

Background: Similar to De Qi psychophysical responses, propagated sensation along the channels (PSC) is considered an important phenomenon in traditional Chinese acupuncture. In acupuncture clinical trials, different acupuncture manipulation techniques are used to enhance the propagation of sensation along the channels to facilitate an optimum therapeutic result. Aim: To examine and compare the PSC reported by participants in a clinical trial following the administration of acupuncture and inactive mock laser. Methods: The study was embedded in a two-arm parallel design multicenter, randomized clinical trial, the Tennis Elbow AcupuncturedInternational StudydChina, Hong Kong, Australia, Italy (TEA IS CHAI). Needle sensations were measured using a validated instrument, the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Spreading Scale. Ninety-six participants with lateral elbow pain were randomly allocated into two groups in a 1:1 ratio; the acupuncture treatment group (n Z 47) and the mock laser control group (n Z 49). Participants in both groups received the intervention at two acupoints, LI10 and LI11, consisting of 2 minutes of either standardized needle manipulation or mock laser at each acupoint with a rest period between each intervention period. Data were collected immediately following the interventions at the first and the ninth session within the clinical trial. Results: Although participants in both groups perceived PSC radiating to similar sites along the upper limb, the frequency of the reported radiation sites among the two intervention groups for both radiation up the limb (p < 0.05) and radiation down the limb (p < 0.001) were statistically significantly different. Among the radiating sensation sites recorded within the two study groups, the sensations were reported as radiating a greater distance down the forearm to the wrist compared to up the arm. Evaluation of PSC across the four study sites revealed a statistically significant difference in frequency of the reported radiation down the limb sites in each study group and radiation up the limb sites only in control group only (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrated that the PSC phenomenon is not just associated with needling but can be perceived when using a mock laser. Trial registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry reference: ACTRN12613001138774 on 11th of October 2013.

Cloning and Characterization of a Na+/H+ Antiporter Gene of the Moderately Halophilic Bacterium Halobacillus aidingensis AD-6T

Ya Jie Zou,Li Fu Yang,Lei Wang,Su Sheng Yang 한국미생물학회 2008 The journal of microbiology Vol.46 No.4

A gene encoding a Na+/H+ antiporter was obtained from the genome of Halobacillus aidingensis AD-6T, which was sequenced and designated as nhaH. The deduced amino acid sequence of the gene was 91% identical to the NhaH of H. dabanensis, and shared 54% identity with the NhaG of Bacillus subtilis. The cloned gene enable the Escherichia coli KNabc cell, which lack all of the major Na+/H+ antiporters, to grow in medium containing 0.2 M NaCl or 10 mM LiCl. The nhaH gene was predicted to encode a 43.5 kDa protein (403 amino acid residues) with 11 putative transmembrane regions. Everted membrane vesicles prepared from E. coli KNabc cells carrying NhaH exhibited Na+/H+ as well as Li+/H+ antiporter activity, which was pH-dependent with the highest activity at pH 8.0, and no K+ /H+ antiporter activity was detected. The deletion of hydrophilic C-terminal amino acid residues showed that the short C-terminal tail was vital for Na+/H+ antiporter activity.

Controlled synthesis of Co₂C nanochains using cobalt laurate as precursor: Structure, growth mechanism and magnetic properties

Zhang, Yajing,Zhu, Yuan,Wang, Kangjun,Li, Da,Wang, Dongping,Ding, Fu,Meng, Dan,Wang, Xiaolei,Choi, Chuljin,Zhang, Zhidong Elsevier 2018 Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol.456 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Cobalt carbides (Co<SUB>2</SUB>C and Co<SUB>3</SUB>C) nanocomposites exhibit interesting hard magnetic property, controlled synthesis of individual phase facilitates to clarify the magnetism of each, but it is difficult to obtain the single phase. We present a new approach to address this issue via a polyol refluxing process, using cobalt laurate as the precursor. The single phase Co<SUB>2</SUB>C magnetic nanochains self-assembled by nanoparticles are synthesized. The precursor is the key factor for controlling the growth kinetics of the Co<SUB>2</SUB>C nanochains. Cobalt, instead of cobalt carbides, is produced if cobalt chloride, acetate and acetylacetonate replace cobalt laurate as the precursor, respectively. The evolution of the growth process has been studied. In the formation of Co<SUB>2</SUB>C, first fcc-Co produces, then it transforms into Co<SUB>2</SUB>C by carbon diffusion process, and the produced carbon first exists in disordered state and then a small amount of them transforms into graphite. Saturation magnetization (<I>Ms</I>) of Co<SUB>2</SUB>C nanochains obtained at 300 °C for 20, 60, and 180 min are 27.1, 18.9, and 10.9 emu g<SUP>−1</SUP>, respectively. The decrease of <I>Ms</I> caused by increasing carbon content, and the carbon content are much larger than the stoichiometric ratio value of Co<SUB>2</SUB>C (9.2 wt%). The Co<SUB>2</SUB>C nanochains have mesoporous pore of 3.8 nm and the specific surface area of 48.6 m<SUP>2</SUP> g<SUP>−1</SUP>.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The Co<SUB>2</SUB>C magnetic nanochains are synthesized using cobalt laurate as the precursor in TEG. </LI> <LI> The precursor of cobalt laurate is the key factor for controlling the growth kinetics of Co<SUB>2</SUB>C nanochains. </LI> <LI> Ms of Co<SUB>2</SUB>C nanochains obtained at 300 °C for 20, 60, and 180 min are 27.1, 18.9, and 10.9 emu g<SUP>−1</SUP>, respectively. </LI> <LI> The decrease of Ms is caused by increasing carbon content with increasing reaction time. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>We present a new approach to obtain single phase Co<SUB>2</SUB>C nanochains by using cobalt laurate as the precursor.</P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Risk Factors for Anxiety in Major Depressive Disorder Patients

Li-Min Xin,Lin Chen,Zhen-Peng Ji,Suo-Yuan Zhang,Jun Wang,Yan-Hong Liu,Da-Fang Chen,Fu-De Yang,Gang Wang,Yi-Ru Fang,Zheng Lu,Hai-Chen Yang,Jian Hu,Zhi-Yu Chen,Yi Huang,Jing Sun,Xiao-Ping Wang,Hui-Chun 대한정신약물학회 2015 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.13 No.3

Objective: To analyze the sociodemographic and clinical factors related to anxiety in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: This study involved a secondary analysis of data obtained from the Diagnostic Assessment Service for People with Bipolar Disorders in China (DASP), which was initiated by the Chinese Society of Psychiatry (CSP) and conducted from September 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011. Based on the presence or absence of anxiety-related characteristics, 1,178 MDD patients were classified as suffering from anxious depression (n=915) or non-anxious depression (n=263), respectively. Results: Compared with the non-anxious group, the anxious-depression group had an older age at onset (t=−4.39, p<0.001), were older (t=−4.69, p<0.001), reported more lifetime depressive episodes (z=−3.24, p=0.001), were more likely to experience seasonal depressive episodes (χ2=6.896, p=0.009) and depressive episodes following stressful life events (χ2=59.350, p <0.001), and were more likely to have a family history of psychiatric disorders (χ2=6.091, p=0.014). Their positive and total scores on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and the 32-item Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32) (p<0.05) were also lower. The logistic regression analysis indicated that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.03, p<0.001), a lower total MDQ score (OR=0.94, p=0.011), depressive episodes following stressful life events (OR=3.04, p<0.001), and seasonal depressive episodes (OR=1.75, p=0.039) were significantly associated with anxious depression. Conclusion: These findings indicate that older age, fewer subclinical bipolar features, an increased number of depressive episodes following stressful life events, and seasonal depressive episodes may be risk factors for anxiety-related characteristics in patients with MDD.

Breastfeeding and Ovarian Cancer Risk: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 40 Epidemiological Studies

Li, Da-Peng,Du, Chen,Zhang, Zuo-Ming,Li, Guang-Xiao,Yu, Zhi-Fu,Wang, Xin,Li, Peng-Fei,Cheng, Cheng,Liu, Yu-Peng,Zhao, Ya-Shuang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.12

The present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess any association between breastfeeding and the risk of ovarian cancer. A systematic search of published studies was performed in PUBMED and EMBASE and by reviewing reference lists from retrieved articles through March 2013. Data extraction was conducted independently by two authors. Pooled relative risk ratios were calculated using random-effect models. Totals of 5 cohort studies and 35 case-control studies including 17,139 women with ovarian cancer showed a 30% reduced risk of ovarian cancer when comparing the women who had breastfed with those who had never breastfed (pooled RR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.64-0.76; p = 0.00), with significant heterogeneity in the studies (p = 0.00; I2 = 76.29%). A significant decreasd in risk of epithelial ovarian cancer was also observed (pooled RR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.61-0.76). When the participants were restricted to only parous women, there was a slightly attenuated but still significant risk reduction of ovarian cancer (pooled RR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69-0.83). For total breastfeeding duration, the pooled RRs in the < 6 months, 6-12 months and > 12 months of breastfeeding subgroups were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.77-0.93), 0.73 (95% CI: 0.65-0.82) and 0.64 (95%CI: 0.56-0.73), respectively. Meta-regression of total breastfeeding duration indicated an increasing linear trend of risk reduction of ovarian cancer with the increasing total breastfeeding duration (p = 0.00). Breastfeeding was inversely associated with the risk of ovarian cancer, especially long-term breastfeeding duration that demonstrated a stronger protective effect.

Correlation between the Position of the Pituitary Stalk as Determined by Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Its Location as Determined at the Time of Surgical Resection of Pituitary Adenomas

Wang, Fu-yu,Wang, Peng,Yang, Chen-xuan,Zhou, Tao,Jiang, Jin-li,Meng, Xiang-hui The Korean Neurosurgical Society 2020 Journal of Korean neurosurgical society Vol.63 No.4

Objective : An important factor during pituitary adenoma surgery is to preserve pituitary stalk (PS) as this plays a role in reduction of the risk of postoperative diabetes insipidus. The hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract (HHT) projects through the PS to the posterior pituitary gland. To reconstruct white matter fiber pathways, methods like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography have been widely used. In this report we attempted to predict the position of PS using DTI tractography and to assess its intraoperative correlation during surgery of pituitary adenomas. Methods : DTI tractography was used to tract the HHT in nine patients before craniotomy for pituitary adenomas. The DTI location of the HHT was compared with the PS position identified at the time of surgery. DTI fiber tracking was carried out in nine patients prior to the planned craniotomy for pituitary adenomas. In one patient, the PS could not be identified during the surgery. In the other eight patients, a comparison was made between the location of the HHT identified by DTI and the position of the PS visualized at the time of surgery. Results : The position of the HHT identified by DTI showed consistency with the intraoperative position of the PS in seven patients (88.9% concordance). Conclusion : This study shows that DTI can identify the position of the HHT and thus the position of the PS with a high degree of reliability.

Georgenia faecalis sp. nov. isolated from the faeces of Tibetan antelope

Wang Xiaoxia,Yang Jing,Huang Yuyuan,Wu Xiaomin,Wang Licheng,Han Limei,Li Sha,Li Huan,Fu Xiaoying,Chen Hai,Zhu Xiong 한국미생물학회 2020 The journal of microbiology Vol.58 No.9

Two aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-sporulating coccoid strains, designated ZLJ0423T and ZLJ0321, were isolated from the faeces of Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii). Their optimal temperature, NaCl concentration and pH for growth were 28°C, 0.5% (w/v) NaCl and pH 7.5, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains ZLJ0423T and ZLJ0321 were very similar to each other (99.8%) and had a sequence similarity of 97.0% with Georgenia satyanarayanai NBRC 107612T and Georgenia subflava CGMCC 1.12782T. Phylogenomic analysis based on 688 core genes indicated that these strains formed a clade with G. satyanarayanai NBRC 107612T and Georgenia wutianyii Z294T. The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:1 A and C16:0. The major menaquinone was MK-8(H4). The cell-wall amino acids consisted of alanine, lysine, glycine and aspartic acid, with lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides and two unidentified lipids formed the polar lipid profile. The DNA G + C content of both isolates was 73.9 mol%. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization value between strains ZLJ0423T and ZLJ0321 was 91.2%, but their values with closely related species and other available type strains of the genus Georgenia were lower than the 70% threshold. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic data, strains ZLJ0423T and ZLJ0321 represent a novel species within the genus Georgenia, for which the name Georgenia faecalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZLJ0423T (= CGMCC 1.13681T = JCM 33470T).

Two new triterpenoid saponins derived from the leaves of Panax ginseng and their antiinflammatory activity

Li, Fu,Cao, Yufeng,Luo, Yanyan,Liu, Tingwu,Yan, Guilong,Chen, Liang,Ji, Lilian,Wang, Lun,Chen, Bin,Yaseen, Aftab,Khan, Ashfaq A.,Zhang, Guolin,Jiang, Yunyao,Liu, Jianxun,Wang, Gongcheng,Wang, Ming-Kui The Korean Society of Ginseng 2019 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.43 No.4

Background: The leaves and roots of Panax ginseng are rich in ginsenosides. However, the chemical compositions of the leaves and roots of P. ginseng differ, resulting in different medicinal functions. In recent years, the aerial parts of members of the Panax genus have received great attention from natural product chemists as producers of bioactive ginsenosides. The aim of this study was the isolation and structural elucidation of novel, minor ginsenosides in the leaves of P. ginseng and evaluation of their antiinflammatory activity in vitro. Methods: Various chromatographic techniques were applied to obtain pure individual compounds, and their structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectrometry, as well as chemical methods. The antiinflammatory effect of the new compounds was evaluated on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Results and conclusions: Two novel, minor triterpenoid saponins, ginsenoside $LS_1$ (1) and 5,6-didehydroginsenoside $Rg_3$ (2), were isolated from the leaves of P. ginseng. The isolated compounds 1 and 2 were assayed for their inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and Compound 2 showed a significant inhibitory effect with $IC_{50}$ of $37.38{\mu}M$ compared with that of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine ($IC_{50}=90.76{\mu}M$). Moreover, Compound 2 significantly decreased secretion of cytokines such as prostaglandin $E_2$ and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. In addition, Compound 2 significantly suppressed protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. These results suggested that Compound 2 could be used as a valuable candidate for medicinal use or functional food, and the mechanism is warranted for further exploration.

Room temperature ferroelectric and magnetic properties of (Co, Li) coimplanted ZnO films

Li, M.,Zou, C. W.,Wang, G. F.,Wang, H. J.,Yin, M. L.,Liu, C. S.,Guo, L. P.,Fu, D. J.,Kang, T. W. American Institute of Physics 2010 JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS - Vol.107 No.10

Spect-guidance to Reduce Radioactive Dose to Functioning Lung for Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Wang, Zhong-Tang,Wei, Li-Li,Ding, Xiu-Ping,Sun, Ming-Ping,Sun, Hong-Fu,Li, Bao-Sheng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Objective: To investigate the treatment effect of additional information obtained by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) lung perfusion imaging (LPI) in the radiotherapy planning process for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: 39 patients with stage III NSCLC were enrolled. Gross tumor volume (GTV) was outlined by SPECT/CT images, SPECT-LPIs being used to define functional lung (FL) and non-functional lung (NFL) regions. Two sets of IMRT plans were designed to deliver 64Gy to PTV. One was a regular IMRT plan using CT images only (Plan 1), and the other was a corresponding IMRT plan using co-registered images (Plan 2). $FL_{Vx}$ (the % volume of functional lung receiving ${\geq}$x Gy) and $WL_{Vx}$ (% volume of whole lung to receive ${\geq}$x Gy) were compared by paired Student's t test. Kendalls correlation was used to analyze the factor (s) related with the FLV20 decrease. Results: Compared with plan 1, both $WL_{Vx}$ and $FL_{Vx}$ were decreased in plan 2. $WL_{V10}$, $WL_{V15}$, $WL_{V20}$, $WL_{V25}$, $WL_{V30}$ and $WL_{V35}$ decreased 9.7%, 13.8%, 17.2%, 12.9%, 9.8% and 9.8%, and $FL_{V10}$, $FL_{V15}$, $FL_{V20}$, $FL_{V25}$, $FL_{V30}$ and $FL_{V35}$ decreased 10.8%, 14.6%, 17.3%, 14.5%, 14.5% and 10.5%. $FL_{Vx}$ decreased significantly compared with $WL_{Vx}$. There were significant differences in $WL_{V10}$, $WL_{V15}$, $WL_{V20}$, $WL_{V25}$, $WL_{V3}$ and $FL_{V10}$, $FL_{V15}$, $FL_{V20}$, $FL_{V25}$, $FL_{V30}$ between plan 1 and plan 2 (P=0.002, 0.000, 0.000, 0.005, 0.027 and 0.002, 0.000, 0.000, 0.006, 0.010). According to Kendall correlation analysis, NFL had a negative relation with the percentage FLV20 decrease (r=-0.559, P<0.01), while the distance of PTV and NFL center had a significantly positive relation with the percentage of FLV20 decrease (r=0.768, P<0.01). Conclusion: Routine use of SPECT-LPI for patients undergoing radiotherapy planning for stage III NSCLC appears warranted.