Current state of research about acupuncture for the treatment of COVID-19: A scoping review

Chen Chen,Jie Zhan,Hao Wen,Xiaojing Wei,Lu Ding,Chenyang Tao,Cui Li,Peiming Zhang,Yuyuan Tang,Jing-chun Zeng,Li-ming Lu 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.-

Background Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of COVID-19. The research community has responded rapidly and has already published many research articles about this topic. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library as well as CNKI, Wanfang and VIP from January 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. The dates of publication, language of publication, methodological characteristics and the key findings were analyzed separately. The data are presented as bar graphs, structured tables and figures. Results In this scoping review, 16 research articles were included: 7 case reports, 6 observational studies, 1 review, 1 RCT and 1 nonrandomized clinical trial. The majority of the articles (81.3%) were published by Chinese scholars, 12.5% articles were by scholars in the United States, and 6.3% articles were by scholars in Iran. The included studies reported that acupuncture could alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 patients, shorten their hospitalization days, and is effective for the elderly. There were no side effects reported. The most frequent acupoints used were LI4, PC6, ST36 and KI3. They reported many obstacles in implementing acupuncture therapy for treating COVID-19 patients. Conclusion Acupuncture has a good effect for the treatment of COVID-19, but high-quality evidence support is still lacking. Coupled with the difficulties that acupuncturists experienced during the process of treatment, the promotion of acupuncture treatment for COVID-19 faces many obstacles. Background Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of COVID-19. The research community has responded rapidly and has already published many research articles about this topic. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library as well as CNKI, Wanfang and VIP from January 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. The dates of publication, language of publication, methodological characteristics and the key findings were analyzed separately. The data are presented as bar graphs, structured tables and figures. Results In this scoping review, 16 research articles were included: 7 case reports, 6 observational studies, 1 review, 1 RCT and 1 nonrandomized clinical trial. The majority of the articles (81.3%) were published by Chinese scholars, 12.5% articles were by scholars in the United States, and 6.3% articles were by scholars in Iran. The included studies reported that acupuncture could alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 patients, shorten their hospitalization days, and is effective for the elderly. There were no side effects reported. The most frequent acupoints used were LI4, PC6, ST36 and KI3. They reported many obstacles in implementing acupuncture therapy for treating COVID-19 patients. Conclusion Acupuncture has a good effect for the treatment of COVID-19, but high-quality evidence support is still lacking. Coupled with the difficulties that acupuncturists experienced during the process of treatment, the promotion of acupuncture treatment for COVID-19 faces many obstacles.

Exploring the Impact of Live Commercial Anchors on BusinessPerformance and Survival Strategy: Focusing on Resource Configuration and Environmental Choice 1

Li-Jie ZHANG(Li-Jie ZHANG),Fei HUANG(Fei HUANG) 동아시아경상학회 2022 The East Asian Journal of Business Economics Vol.10 No.4

Purpose – Through the analysis and research of different characteristics and related mechanisms of live commerce anchors, this paper aimed to help live commerce anchors to strengthen their characteristic advantages, beautify the live broadcast environment, improve resource allocation and enhance business performance, so as to help live commerce anchors to achieve better high-quality development. Research design, data, and methodology – This study was conducted by sample survey method on 361 live commercial anchors who have experience in using major online shopping malls for more than one year. Data analysis methods were frequency analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and structural equation model analysis. Result – Hypothesis 1 through Hypothesis 5 were all supported. The results of this study suggest that professionalism and mutual entertainment of live commercial anchors have a significant impact on business performance, survival strategy, resource allocation and environment selection. The resource allocation and environment selection of live commercial anchors play a mediating role in the professionalism and mutual entertainment of live commercial anchors on business performance and survival strategy. Conclusion –The results implied that the professionalism and inter entertainment of live commercial anchors have a positive impact on business performance and survival strategy. In the new situation, live commercial anchors should further improve their professionalism and mutual entertainment, so as to achieve better development.

Well-designed Te/SnS₂/Ag artificial nanoleaves for enabling and enhancing visible-light driven overall splitting of pure water

Yan, Changzeng,Xue, Xiaolan,Zhang, Wenjun,Li, Xiaojie,Liu, Juan,Yang, Songyuan,Hu, Yi,Chen, Renpeng,Yan, Yaping,Zhu, Guoyin,Kang, Zhenhui,Kang, Dae Joon,Liu, Jie,Jin, Zhong unknown 2017 Nano energy Vol.39 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>To produce hydrogen and oxygen from photocatalytic overall splitting of pure water provides a promising green route to directly convert solar energy to clean fuel. However, the design and fabrication of high-efficiency photocatalyst is challenging. Here we present that by connecting different nanostructures together in a rational fashion, components that cannot individually split water into H<SUB>2</SUB> and O<SUB>2</SUB> can work together as efficient photocatalyst with high solar-to-hydrogen (STH) energy conversion efficiency and avoid the use of any sacrificial reagent. Specifically, Te/SnS<SUB>2</SUB>/Ag artificial nanoleaves (ANLs) consist of ultrathin SnS<SUB>2</SUB> nanoplates grown on Te nanowires and decorated with numerous Ag nanoparticles. The appropriate band structure of Te/SnS<SUB>2</SUB> p-n junctions and the surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles synergistically enhance the quantum yield and separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs. As a result, Te/SnS<SUB>2</SUB>/Ag ANLs enable visible-light driven overall water-splitting without any sacrificial reagent and exhibit high H<SUB>2</SUB> and O<SUB>2</SUB> production rates of 332.4 and 166.2μmolh<SUP>−1</SUP>, respectively. Well-preserved structure after long-term measurement indicates its high stability. It represents a feasible approach for direct H<SUB>2</SUB> production from only sunlight, pure water, and rationally-designed ANL photocatalysts.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Te/SnS<SUB>2</SUB>/Ag ANLs heterostructure is prepared to catalyze overall water splitting. </LI> <LI> The catalyst show impressive H<SUB>2</SUB> and O<SUB>2</SUB> production rate under visible light. </LI> <LI> The structure and efficiency of catalyst shows no degradation after 10 days. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Effects of Down-regulation of HDAC6 Expression on Proliferation, Cell Cycling and Migration of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells and Related Molecular Mechanisms

Li, Ning,Tie, Xiao-Jing,Liu, Pei-Jie,Zhang, Yan,Ren, Hong-Zheng,Gao, Xin,Xu, Zhi-Qiao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Objective: To study the effects of down-regulation of HDAC6 expression on proliferation, cell cycling and migration of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells and related molecular mechanisms. Methods: ESCC cell line EC9706 cells were randomly divided into untreated (with no transfection), control siRNA (transfected with control siRNA) and HDAC6 siRNA (transfected with HDAC6 small interfering RNA) groups. Effects of HDAC6 siRNA interference on expression of HDAC6 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells were investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry methods. Effects of down-regulation of HDAC6 expression on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and cell migration were studied using a CCK-8 kit, flow cytometry and Boyden chambers, respectively. Changes of mRNA and protein expression levels of cell cycle related factor (p21) and cell migration related factor (E-cadherin) were investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting methods. Results: After transfection of HDAC6 siRNA, the expression of HDAC6 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells was significantly downregulated. In the HDAC6 siRNA group, cell proliferation was markedly inhibited, the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase evidently increased and the percentage of cells in S phase decreased, and the number of migrating cells significantly and obviously decreased. The mRNA and protein expression levels of p21 and E-cadherin in the HDAC6 siRNA group were significantly higher than those in the untreated group and the control siRNA group, respectively. Conclusions: HDAC6 siRNA can effectively downregulate the expression of HDAC6 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells. Down-regulation of HDAC6 expression can obviously inhibit cell proliferation, arrest cell cycling in the G0/G1 phase and reduce cell migration. The latter two functions may be closely related with the elevation of mRNA and protein expression of p21 and E-cadherin.

Simultaneous desulfurization and denitrogenation of model fuels by polyethylene glycol-modified resorcinol/formaldehyde resin-derived carbon spheres

Jie Wen,Dongdong Zhao,Yingying Lu,Jing Huang,Yanping Li,Hui Zhang,Airong Li 한국화학공학회 2019 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.36 No.7

A series of resorcinol/formaldehyde (RF) resin-derived carbon spheres modified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) were prepared. The effects of PEG addition time during hydrothermal treatment and molecular weight on the pore structure, surface acidic groups, particle size, and adsorption performances of the obtained spherical activated carbons were investigated. Two types of model fuel containing indole, quinoline, and dibenzothiophene (DBT) as target adsorbates were prepared to evaluate the adsorption performances of the spheres, which increased in the order of DBT<quinoline<indole. Hydrogen bonding may be critical in the removal of indole. Both the surface area and oxygen- containing functional groups influenced the adsorption capacity, with the latter significantly influenced by PEG addition time. PEG addition during the RF resin cross-linking stage sharply reduced the total concentration of acidic groups on the carbon sphere surfaces. The adsorption thermodynamics and kinetics of nitrogen and sulfur compounds were also investigated. The adsorption isotherms of all S/N species were of the Freundlich type at 25 oC. The pseudo-second-order rate equation well described the adsorption kinetics. Both external diffusion and intra-particle diffusion controlled the rate of adsorption.

Analysis on Survival and Prognostic Factors for Cancer Patients with Malignancy-associated Hypercalcemia

Zhang, Su-Jie,Hu, Yi,Cao, Jing,Qian, Hai-Li,Jiao, Shun-Chang,Liu, Zhe-Feng,Tao, Hai-Tao,Han, Lu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

Objective: To explore the incidence, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment strategies, prognosis of patients with malignancy-associated hypercalcemia (MAH). Methods: The data of 115 patients with MAH who were treated at the Medical Oncology Department of Chinese PLA General Hospital from Jan., 2001 to Dec., 2010 was retrospectively reviewed. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard model with statistic software SPSS 18.0. Results: The patients had blood calcium levels ranging from 2.77 to 4.87 mmol/L. Except for 9 cases who died or were discharged within 5 days after admission, all other patients recovered to normal blood calcium level after treatment with bisphosphonates or intravenous hydration and diuretics; their survival after occurrence of MAH was from 1 day to 4,051 days, and the median survival time was only 50 days. In the log-rank test, the male, renal metastasis, central nervous system symptoms and hypercalcemia occurring over 140 days after cancer diagnosis were predictors of poor survival (P=0.002, P=0.046, P=0.000, P=0.009). In the COX analysis, being male, central nervous system symptoms and hypercalcemia lasting over 140 days after cancer diagnosis were independent prognostic factors for survival time (RR=2.131, P=0.027; RR=3.054, P=0.002; RR=2.403, P=0.001). According to these factors, a score system was established to predict the patient prognosis and adjust the treatment. Conclusion: Cancer patients with MAH have an extremely poor median survival. Some independent factors indicate poor prognosis, including male gender, central nervous system symptoms and hypercalcemia lasting over 140 days after cancer diagnosis. The prognostic score can serve as a reference for MAH prognosis and treatment, worthy of further investigation.

Roles of Fibroblast Growth Factor-inducible 14 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Li, Nan,Hu, Wen-Jun,Shi, Jie,Xue, Jie,Guo, Wei-Xing,Zhang, Yang,Guan, Dong-Xian,Liu, Shu-Peng,Cheng, Yu-Qiang,Wu, Meng-Chao,Xie, Dong,Liu, Shan-Rong,Cheng, Shu-Qun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.6

The prognostic value of the fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR), western blot assays and immunohistochemistry analysis were here performed in order to compare Fn14 expressios in paired liver samples of HCC and normal liver tissue. Most of the tumor tissues expressed significantly higher levels of Fn14 compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues, with Fn14High accounting for 54.6% (142/260) of all patients. The Pearson ${\chi}^2$ test indicated that Fn14 expression was closely associated with serum alpha fetal protein (AFP) (P=0.002) and tumor number (p=0.019). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that along with tumor diameter and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT ) type, Fn14 was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival (OS) (HR=1.398, p=0.008) and recurrence (HR=1.541, p=0.001) rates. Fn14 overexpression HCC correlated with poor surgical outcome, and this molecule may be a candidate biomarker for prognosis as well as a target for therapy.

3D-QSAR and Molecular Docking Studies on Benzotriazoles as Antiproliferative Agents and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors

Li, Xiaolin,Fu, Jie,Shi, Wei,Luo, Yin,Zhang, Xiaowei,Zhu, Hailiang,Yu, Hongxia Korean Chemical Society 2013 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.34 No.8

Benzotriazole is an important synthetic auxiliary for potential clinical applications. A series of benzotriazoles as potential antiproliferative agents by inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) were recently reported. Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR), including comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA), were performed to elucidate the 3D structural features required for the antiproliferative activity. The results of both ligand-based CoMFA model ($q^2=0.647$, $r^2=0.968$, ${r^2}_{pred}=0.687$) and CoMSIA model ($q^2=0.685$, $r^2=0.928$, ${r^2}_{pred}=0.555$) demonstrated the highly statistical significance and good predictive ability. The results generated from CoMFA and CoMSIA provided important information about the structural characteristics influence inhibitory potency. In addition, docking analysis was applied to clarify the binding modes between the ligands and the receptor HDAC. The information obtained from this study could provide some instructions for the further development of potent antiproliferative agents and HDAC inhibitors.

Instantaneous NO release from ellipsoidal particles during char combustion in a hot gas with fluctuating temperature

Jie Li,Jian Zhang 한국화학공학회 2015 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.32 No.9

We have established the instantaneous governing equations for NO release during char combustion of nonspherical particles theoretically. The instantaneous released NO mass variations, the instantaneous char oxidation reaction rates, and the instantaneous NO reduction reaction rates of char particles were computed numerically under different fluctuation amplitudes of gas temperature, kinetic parameters of char oxidation reaction and NO reduction reaction, and particle aspect ratios. The gas temperature fluctuation results in a faster NO release rate, a faster char oxidation reaction rate, and a faster NO reduction reaction rate during the whole char combustion processes. The activation energy of char oxidation reaction has obvious influence on the NO release and char combustion processes. The kinetic parameters of NO reduction reaction have no contribution to the conversion time. Under the same particle surface area, the conversion rate of char nitrogen to NO increases with the increase in the particle aspect ratio.

An Updated Meta-analysis Between the Association of XRCC1 Arg399Gln Polymorphism and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk

Zhang, Xiao-Lian,Lu, Yu,Yang, Shi,Peng, Qi-Liu,Wang, Jian,Xie, Li,Deng, Yan,He, Yu,Li, Tai-Jie,Qin, Xue,Li, Shan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.7

Background: Various studies have evaluated the relationship between X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) Arg399Gln polymorphism and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk, but the conclusions have been inconsistent and underpowered. The purpose of this updated meta-analysis was to examine whether XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism confers susceptibility to HCC. Methods: Eligible studies extracted from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, VIP (chinese) and CNKI (chinese) up to November 2013 were included in the study. Pooled odds ratio (OR) together with their 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated to evaluate XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and HCC risk. Results: Finally, 21 studies with 4,170 cases and 5,030 controls were involved in our meta-analysis. The results demonstrated that there was significant association between Arg399Gln polymorphism and HCC risk under two contrast models in overall populations (AG vs GG: OR=1.265, 95%CI=1.036-1.545, p=0.021; AA+AG vs GG: OR=1.240, 95%CI=1.021-1.506, p=0.030). In subgroup analyses, significant association was found in Asians (A vs G: OR=1.175, 95%CI=1.013-1.362, p=0.033; AG vs GG: OR=1.317, 95%CI=1.070-1.622, p=0.009; AA+AG vs GG: OR=1.289, 95%CI=1.055-1.575, p=0.013) and Caucasians (A vs G: OR=0.591, 95%CI=0.361-0.966, p=0.036; AA+AG vs GG: OR=0.468, 95%CI=0.234-0.934, p=0.031). Conclusions: The results suggest that XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism may increase HCC risk especially among Asians. However, XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism might act as a protective role against HCC among Caucasians.