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.

近年来中国民族团结理论研究述评与展望

陈晓婧(Xiaojing Chen),吴娜(Na Wu) YIXIN 출판사 2023 Journal of China Studies Vol.1 No.1

自 2014 年以来,民族团结理论及其政策实践的研究成果逐年增多,并呈现出两种取向,一是从马克思民族理论的中国实践出发对中国特色解决民族问题的正确道路进行总结与提炼,二是将民族团结作为一种人类联结形式而进行的本源性探索。随着党中央对民族团结的理解和认识正逐步由政治领域回归到社会领域,回归对民族团结本质及其作用机理的探索应成为今后学界关注的重点。 Since 2014, the research results on the theory of ethnic unity and its policy practice have been increasing year by year, showing two orientations. One is to summarize and refine the correct path of solving ethnic problems with Chinese characteristics based on the Chinese practice of Marxist ethnic theory, and the other is to explore ethnic unity as a form of human connection. As the Party Central Committee’s understanding of ethnic unity is gradually returning from the political field to the social field, the exploration of the essence and mechanism of ethnic unity should become a focus of attention in the academic community in the future.

Transcriptional Profiling and Dynamical Regulation Analysis Identify Potential Kernel Target Genes of SCYL1-BP1 in HEK293T Cells

Wang, Yang,Chen, Xiaomei,Chen, Xiaojing,Chen, Qilong,Huo, Keke Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2014 Molecules and cells Vol.37 No.9

SCYL1-BP1 is thought to function in the p53 pathway through Mdm2 and hPirh2, and mutations in SCYL1-BP1 are associated with premature aging syndromes such as Geroderma Osteodysplasticum; however, these mechanisms are unclear. Here, we report significant alterations in miRNA expression levels when SCYL1-BP1 expression was inhibited by RNA interference in HEK293T cells. We functionally characterized the effects of potential kernel miRNA-target genes by miRNA-target network and protein-protein interaction network analysis. Importantly, we showed the diminished SCYL1-BP1 dramatically reduced the expression levels of EEA1, BMPR2 and BRCA2 in HEK293T cells. Thus, we infer that SCYL1-BP1 plays a critical function in HEK293T cell development and directly regulates miRNA-target genes, including, but not limited to, EEA1, BMPR2, and BRCA2, suggesting a new strategy for investigating the molecular mechanism of SCYL1-BP1.

Transcriptional Profiling and Dynamical Regulation Analysis Identify Potential Kernel Target Genes of SCYL1-BP1 in HEK293T Cells

Yang Wang,Xiaomei Chen,Xiaojing Chen,Qilong Chen,Keke Huo 한국분자세포생물학회 2014 Molecules and cells Vol.37 No.9

SCYL1-BP1 is thought to function in the p53 pathway through Mdm2 and hPirh2, and mutations in SCYL1-BP1 are associated with premature aging syndromes such as Geroderma Osteodysplasticum; however, these mechanisms are unclear. Here, we report significant alterations in miRNA expression levels when SCYL1-BP1 expression was inhibited by RNA interference in HEK293T cells. We functionally characterized the effects of potential kernel miRNA-target genes by miRNA-target network and protein-protein interaction network analysis. Importantly, we showed the diminished SCYL1-BP1 dramatically reduced the expression levels of EEA1, BMPR2 and BRCA2 in HEK293T cells. Thus, we infer that SCYL1-BP1 plays a critical function in HEK293T cell development and directly regulates miRNA-target genes, including, but not limited to, EEA1, BMPR2, and BRCA2, suggesting a new strategy for investigating the molecular mechanism of SCYL1-BP1.

Overexpression of the ABC transporter gene TsABCG11 increases cuticle lipids and abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis

Ningmei Chen,Buerbatu Song,Shuai Tang,Junqing He,Yijun Zhou,Jinchao Feng,Sha Shi,Xiaojing Xu 한국식물생명공학회 2018 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.12 No.5

The cuticle, composed primarily of wax and cutin, covers most plant aerial surfaces and plays a vital role in interactions between plants and their environment. Some ATP-binding cassette G subfamily (ABCG) members are involved in cuticular lipid molecule exportation to outside in the plant surface. Thellungiella salsugineum, a relative of Arabidopsis thaliana with a heavy cuticle, has extreme stress tolerance. TsABCG11, an ABCG transporter was cloned (GenBank accession number JQ389853), and its structure was studied. qRT-PCR showed that TsABCG11 expression varied in different organs of T. salsugineum and was upregulated under ABA, NaCl, drought and cold conditions. The rosette leaves from 4-week-old TsABCG11 overexpressed (OE) Arabidopsis plants displayed lower rates of water loss and decreased chlorophyll-extracted rates compared to wild-type plants. TsABCG11-OE plants also exhibited significantly increased total cuticular wax and cutin monomer amounts, mainly due to prominent changes in the C29, C31, and C33 alkanes in the wax and C18:2 dioic in cutin monomers, respectively. TsABCG11-OE seedlings exhibit lower root growth inhibition under 100 mM of NaCl or 1 μM of ABA than the wild type. Four-week-old TsABCG11-OE plants exhibited higher photosynthetic rates and water-use efficiency under cold stress (4 °C) than control plants. These results indicate that TsABCG11 plays an important role in cuticle lipid exportation and is involved in abiotic stresses, probably having a close relationship with extreme stress tolerance in T. salsugineum.

Piezoelectric properties of [Li0.03(K0.48Na0.52)0.97](Nb0.97Sb0.03)O3-(Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Xiaoyu Chen,Jiagang Wu,Xiaojing Cheng,Bo Wu,Wenjuan Wu,Dingquan Xiao,Jianguo Zhu 한국물리학회 2012 Current Applied Physics Vol.12 No.3

[Li0.03(K0.48Na0.52)0.97](Nb0.97Sb0.03)O3-(Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O3 [(1-x)LKNNS-xBCTZ] lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid state method, and effects of BCTZ content on the piezoelectric properties of LKNNS ceramics were mainly investigated. A stable solid solution has been formed between LKNNS and BCTZ, and a morphotropic phase boundary of (1-x)LKNNS-xBCTZ ceramics is identified in the range of 0 < x ≤ 0.02. The Curie temperature of (1-x)LKNNS-xBCTZ ceramics decreases with increasing BCTZ content. A higher εr value and a lower tan d value are demonstrated for the (1-x)LKNNS-xBCTZ ceramic with x = 0.02. The (1-x)LKNNS-xBCTZ ceramic with x = 0.02 has an enhanced electrical behavior of d33w237 pC/N, kpw 48.6%, 3 rw1451, tan d w0.037, and Tcw335 ℃. As a result, (1-x)LKNNS-xBCTZ ceramics are promising candidate materials for the field of lead-free piezoelectric materials.

Involvement of Lysosome Membrane Permeabilization and Reactive Oxygen Species Production in the Necrosis Induced by Chlamydia muridarum Infection in L929 Cells

( Lixiang Chen ),( Cong Wang ),( Shun Li ),( Xin Yu ),( Xue Liu ),( Rongrong Ren ),( Wenwen Liu ),( Xiaojing Zhou ),( Xiaonan Zhang ),( Xiaohui Zhou ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2016 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.26 No.4

Chlamydiae, obligate intracellular bacteria, are associated with a variety of human diseases. The chlamydial life cycle undergoes a biphasic development: replicative reticulate bodies (RBs) phase and infectious elementary bodies (EBs) phase. At the end of the chlamydial intracellular life cycle, EBs have to be released to the surrounded cells. Therefore, the interactions between Chlamydiae and cell death pathways could greatly influence the outcomes of Chlamydia infection. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated host cell death after Chlamydia infection in vitro, in L929 cells, and showed that Chlamydia infection induces cell necrosis, as detected by the propidium iodide (PI)-Annexin V double-staining flow-cytometric assay and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), an important factor in induction of necrosis, was increased after Chlamydia infection, and inhibition of ROS with specific pharmacological inhibitors, diphenylene iodonium (DPI) or butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), led to significant suppression of necrosis. Interestingly, live-cell imaging revealed that Chlamydia infection induced lysosome membrane permeabilization (LMP). When an inhibitor upstream of LMP, CA-074-Me, was added to cells, the production of ROS was reduced with concomitant inhibition of necrosis. Taken together, our results indicate that Chlamydia infection elicits the production of ROS, which is dependent on LMP at least partially, followed by induction of host-cell necrosis. To our best knowledge, this is the first live-cell-imaging observation of LMP post Chlamydia infection and report on the link of LMP to ROS to necrosis during Chlamydia infection.

Study on the splitting failure of the surrounding rock of underground caverns

Li, Xiaojing,Chen, Han-Mei,Sun, Yanbo,Zhou, Rongxin,Wang, Lige Techno-Press 2018 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.14 No.5

In this paper splitting failure on rock pillars among the underground caverns has been studied. The damaged structure is considered to be thin plates and then the failure mechanism of rock pillars has been studied consequently. The critical load of buckling failure of the rock plate has also been obtained. Furthermore, with a combination of the basic energy dissipation principle, generalized formulas in estimating the number of splitting cracks and in predicting the maximum deflection of thin plate have been proposed. The splitting criterion and the mechanical model proposed in this paper are finally verified with numerical calculations in FLAC 3D.

A study of synergetic carrier emulsion liquid membrane for the extraction of amoxicillin from aqueous phase using response surface methodology

Bingchuan Yan,Xiaojing Huang,Kai Chen,Hui Liu,Shanshan Wei,Yihai Wu,Li Wang 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.100 No.-

Amoxicillin (AMX) is the most commonly used antibiotic in life. AMX was extracted from aqueoussolution by synergetic carrier emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) technology for thefirst time. Themembrane phase of ELM was mainly composed of kerosene and butyl acetate. The carrier has consisted ofAliquat-336 and TOA, the surfactant was Span-80, and the membrane enhancer was liquid paraffin. AndNa2CO3 and NaCl were used as the internal aqueous phase for extraction. Firstly, the basic structure andmechanism of emulsion were characterized and analyzed. And then, the center composite design (CCD)of response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the operating conditions. The optimalvalues were: Aliquat-336 concentration (1.1% v/v), trioctylamine (TOA) concentration (8.6% v/v), andextraction time (15 min), AMX concentration (75 mg/L). A polynomial model wasfitted to predict theextraction yield of AMX. Under the optimal operating conditions, the optimal extraction prediction valuewas 98.58%, the extraction actual value was 98.2%, and the recovery rate of AMX was 75.3%.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate depresses angiotensin IIinducedcardiomyocyte hypertrophy through MEK/ERKpathway

Le Yang,Xiaojing Zou,Qiansheng Liang,Hao Chen,Jun Feng,Li Yan,Zhaohua Wang,Daixing Zhou,Shusheng Li,Shanglong Yao,Zhi Zheng 생화학분자생물학회 2007 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.39 No.1

Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of sodium tans - hinone IIA sulfonate (STS) on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) in vivo and in vitro. In long-term treatment, adult Wistar rats were infused with Ang II for three weeks via osmotic mini-pumps and some of them were given intragas - trically of STS. Left ventricle was isolated; the ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were determined and heart morphometry was assessed after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results indicated STS inhibited Ang II-induced increases in myocyte diameter and decreased the LVW/BW ratio independent of decreasing systolic blood pressure. In vitro, treatment of cultured cardiomyocytes with STS inhibited Ang II-induced increase in cell size, protein synthesis, ANP expression, activation of extracellular signalregulated kinase (ERK) and ERK kinase (MEK). Then we reexamined the mechanism of STS-induced antihypertrophic effects. Results revealed MEK inhibitor U0126 (20 µM) markedly enhanced STS-induced depressions in [3H]leucine incorporation and ANP expression. In conclusion, MEK/ERK pathway plays a significant role in the anti-hypertrophic effects of STS.