[Moxibustion for central obesity with phlegm-dampness constitution: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of moxibustion in treating patients with central obesity of phlegm-dampness constitution.

Methods: A total of 66 patients with central obesity of phlegm-dampness constitution were randomly assigned to a moxibustion group (=33, 3 cases dropped out) and a sham moxibustion group (=33, 4 cases dropped out). The moxibustion group received mild moxibustion combined with lifestyle intervention; the moxibustion was applied at Shenque (CV8) and bilateral Zusanli (ST36), 30 min per session, maintaining a local skin temperature of (43±1) ℃.

Effects of Modified Attapulgite on Daily Weight Gain, Serum Indexes and Serum Metabolites in Fattening Beef Cattle.

In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with thermally modified attapulgite on the daily weight gain, serum biochemical indices, and serum metabolites of Simmental fattening cattle. A total of 30 healthy Simmental fattening beef calves of similar age (8 to 9 months old) and body weight (370 ± 10 kg) were randomly divided into two groups, each containing 15 animals. A control group was fed the basal diet, and a treatment group was fed the same basal diet with the addition of 4 g/kg of thermally modified attapulgite.

Optical response of a single spherical particle in a laser sheet with application to the Dust Detection System onboard Tianwen-2.

To calibrate the measurement range and accuracy of the Dust Detection System (DDS) onboard the mission, which was developed for the detection of dust particles in the vicinity of the active asteroid 311P/PanSTARRS, the optical response of a spherical particle traversing an elliptical Gaussian beam is analyzed theoretically in the framework of generalized Lorenz-Mie theory, and ground calibration experiments are carried out using spherical particles of different compositions. When a calibration factor for the DDS obtained via measurement is applied, the experimental results are in satisfactory agreement with the theoretical calculations. To facilitate the measurement of the particle diameter, a polynomial relationship between the particle diameters and the detected scattered signals is constructed using a polynomial fitting method.

Clinical Characterization, Risk Factors, and Mortality in Patients with Carbapenem-Resistant Hypervirulent Intra-Abdominal Infections.

Background: The outbreak of the highly lethal Carbapenem-resistant (CR-hvKP) strain is increasingly prevalent. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, molecular characteristics, and mortality rate in intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) caused by CR-hvKP in a tertiary hospital, providing scientific evidence for clinical treatment to reduce mortality and improve patient prognosis.

Methods: The study included 160 patients who developed CRKP IAIs from June 2023 to December 2024.

Antifungal and biodegradable nanoencapsulation of essential oil for improved stability and sustained release.

Introduction: Phytopathogenic fungi pose a serious threat to global crop productivity, necessitating sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides.

Methods: This study developed poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanospheres encapsulating essential oil extracted from tubers (EO) to enhance antifungal stability and efficacy.

Results: The nanospheres exhibited a high encapsulation efficiency of 98%, significantly improved the photostability of EO by protecting it from UV-induced degradation, and provided a sustained-release profile that extended its functional longevity.

Silver-Catechol Dynamic Redox Chemistry Provides Hydrogel Dressings with Sustained Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity for Chronic Wound Care.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and bacterial infection are prevalent challenges in diabetic wound management. Hence, hydrogel dressings with antioxidant and antibacterial (A&A) activity hold great promise for improving diabetic wound healing. However, the lack of sustained A&A activity of current hydrogel dressings necessitates frequent dressing replacements.

Lignin-enhanced fungal-bacterial consortium for degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants.

A lignin-enhanced fungal-bacterial consortium strategy (Bau_Lignin) was proposed to promote the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants (PHCs), with pyrene and n-docosane selected as representative compounds. Optimal performance was achieved by co-inoculating fungi and bacteria at a 5:5 ratio. Within 12 days, the pyrene removal efficiency of Bau_Lignin was 2.

Simultaneous Determination of 30 Flavonoids in Jinqiancao Granules by LC-MS/MS.

In order to determine the content of flavonoid components in Jinqiancao granules efficiently and accurately, a high-efficiency quantitative analysis method utilizing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed. As per the guidelines from the International Council for Harmonization, a comprehensive method validation was conducted for this method. Experimental data demonstrated that the method exhibited excellent accuracy, specificity and reproducibility in the multiple reaction monitoring mode, facilitating the swift and accurate quantification of flavonoid content.

[Electroacupuncture intervention promotes browning of white adipose tissue by regulating LKB1/AMPK pathway in obese mice].

Objectives: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on hypothalamic liver kinase B1 (LKB1)/AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, sympathetic nerve activity and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) in obese mice, so as to explore the possible central mechanisms of EA in improving obesity.

Methods: C57BL/6J male mice were divided into normal group (=8) and high fat diet group (=30) randomly, and fed by normal diet and high fat diet for 8 weeks, respectively. In the high fat diet group, mice with body weight over 20% heavier than that of the normal group were considered as obese mice.

PRR14 mediates mechanotransduction and regulates myofiber identity via MEF2C in skeletal muscle.

Skeletal muscle is a crucial tissue for physical activity and energy metabolism. Muscle atrophy, characterized by the loss of muscle mass and strength, contributes to adverse outcomes among individuals. This study elucidated the involvement of the nuclear lamina component PRR14 in transmitting mechanical signals and mediating the impact of exercise on skeletal muscle.

The Study of Chemical Constituents and Metabolite Profiles of Chitong Xiaoyanling Granules in Normal and Periodontitis Model Rats Based on Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammation of the periodontal support tissues. The typical symptoms of periodontitis are inflammation and alveolar bone resorption. Chitong Xiaoyanling Granules (CXG) is composed of 10 Chinese herbs, which have the efficacy of dispersing wind, clearing heat, cooling blood, and relieving pain.

Synergized Effects of Amino Acids and NaCl to Enhance Silicate Mineral Dissolution in Aqueous Environments for Efficient Atmospheric CO Removal.

Enhanced weathering of silicate minerals is a promising approach for reducing atmospheric CO levels by increasing the aquatic pH and facilitating CO dissolution. However, the slow and unsustainable dissolution of silicate minerals in natural environments remains a challenge. This study proposed a new CO capture system that uses the combined effect of amino acids and NaCl to promote mineral dissolution, and its characteristics were investigated experimentally.

CO capture, geological storage, and mineralization using biobased biodegradable chelating agents and seawater.

Geological storage and mineralization of CO in mafic/ultramafic reservoirs faces challenges including limited effective porosity, permeability, and rock reactivity; difficulties in using seawater for CO capture; and uncontrolled carbonation. This study introduces a CO capture, storage, and mineralization approach with the utilization of biobased biodegradable chelating agents and seawater. An acidic chelating agent solution is used to increase effective porosity and permeability through enhanced mineral dissolution.

Converting evanescent waves into propagating waves by hyper-hemi-microsphere.

Hyper-hemi-microspheres (HHMS) have shown promise in enhancing super-resolution imaging when combined with conventional optical microscopy. To offer actionable guidance for optimizing HHMS and hold broad applicability in the field of super-resolution imaging, the mechanism underpinning the enhanced imaging facilitated by HHMS is revealed by deriving the conversion and transmission conditions for evanescent waves. This is achieved by elucidating the intricate interplay between evanescent wave conversion and factors including refractive index, thickness, and surroundings of HHMS.

Antimicrobial Resistance Trends and Epidemiological Characteristics of Isolates from Intra-Abdominal Infections in China: A 6-Year Retrospective Study (2017-2022).

Antimicrobial resistance represents a continuing threat to the health of patients with intra-abdominal infections (IAIs). This study aimed to provide clinicians with guidance to optimize antibiotic therapy. The clinical data and antibiotic susceptibility results of pathogens from patients with IAIs from 2017 to 2022 were retrospectively collected.

A Conserved Tryptophan (Trp10) at the Hydrophobic Core Modulates the Stability and Inhibitory Activity of Potato I Type Inhibitors.

Background: Different inhibitor families have their own conserved three-dimensional structures, but how these structures determine whether a protein can become an inhibitor is still unknown. The buckwheat trypsin inhibitor (BTI) pertains to the Potato I type inhibitor family, which is a simple and essential bio-molecule that serves as a model for the investigation of protease-inhibitor interaction.

Objective: To study the effects of mutations at Trp10 and Ile25 in the hydrophobic cavity (scaffold) of rBTI on its inhibitory activity and stability.

Exploring the oral processing mechanisms for saltiness enhancement with NaCl nanocrystals in oleogel systems based on black pepper oleoresin and sunflower seed oil.

Reducing salt content in processed foods while maintaining flavor is crucial for human health. This study investigates the sensory interaction between the pungency of black pepper oleoresin and saltiness within an oleogel matrix by incorporating NaCl nanocrystals into a black pepper oleoresin formulated with glyceryl monostearate and soy lecithin (G-L-P). Psychophysical results revealed that the salt content in the G-L-P and G-L systems (G-L-P without black pepper oleoresin) was reduced by up to 66.

The Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Exogenous Melatonin Promote the Seed Germination of Maize ( L.) under Salt Stress.

Salt stress caused by high concentrations of Na and Cl in soil is one of the most important abiotic stresses in agricultural production, which seriously affects grain yield. The alleviation of salt stress through the application of exogenous substances is important for grain production. Melatonin (MT, N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indole-like small molecule that can effectively alleviate the damage caused by adversity stress on crops.

Pyroptotic-Spatiotemporally Selective Delivery of siRNA against Pyroptosis and Autoimmune Diseases.

Small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) offer promising prospects for treating pyroptosis-related autoimmune diseases. However, poor stability and off-target effects during in vivo transportation hinder their practical clinical applications. Precision delivery and adaptive release of siRNAs into inflamed tissues and immune cells could unleash their full therapeutic potential.

Cellobionate production from sodium hydroxide pretreated wheat straw by engineered Neurospora crassa HL10.

This study investigated cellobionate production from a lignocellulosic substrate using Neurospora crassa HL10. Utilizing NaOH-pretreated wheat straw as the substrate obviated the need for an exogenous redox mediator addition, as lignin contained in the pretreated wheat served as a natural mediator. The low laccase production by N.