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1.
Mediterranean diet for cardiovascular disease: an evidence mapping study.
Cai, ZL, Wang, LY, Zhang, BY, Zhu, AS
Public health nutrition. 2024;:1-22
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the methodological quality of existing meta-analyses (MAs) and the quality of evidence for outcome indicators to in order to provide an updated overview of the evidence concerning the therapeutic efficacy of the Mediterranean diet (MD) for various types of Cardiovascular diseases (CVD). DESIGN We conducted comprehensive searches of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. The quality of the MAs was assessed using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2) checklist, while the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence evaluation system was employed to evaluate the quality of evidence for significant outcomes. SETTING The burden of CVD remains a significant contributor to global mortality, garnering widespread attention. Multiple MAs have consistently demonstrated the efficacy of medical interventions in managing CVD. However, due to variations in the scope, quality, and outcomes of these reviews, definitive conclusions are yet to be established. PARTICIPANTS This study included a total of eleven studies, consisting of five randomized trials and twelve nonrandomized studies, with a combined participant population of 716,318. RESULTS The eligible MAs underwent evaluation using the AMSTAR 2 checklist, which revealed that 54.55% of the studies demonstrated high quality, while 9.09% exhibited low quality and 36.36% were deemed critically low quality. Additionally, there was moderate evidence supporting a positive correlation between MD and coronary heart disease/acute myocardial infarction (CHD/AMI), stroke, heart failure, cardiovascular events, coronary events, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). CONCLUSION This study indicates that although recognizing the potential efficacy of MD in managing CVD, the quality of the methodology and the evidence for the outcome indicators remain unsatisfactory. To establish the true benefits of MD for CVD patients, future research should not only adhere to rigorous methodological requirements but also prioritize enhancing the quality of primary studies and conducting patient-centered meta-analyses.
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Clinical manifestation, lifestyle, and treatment patterns of chronic erosive gastritis: A multicenter real-world study in China.
Yang, YY, Li, KM, Xu, GF, Wang, CD, Xiong, H, Wang, XZ, Wang, CH, Zhang, BY, Jiang, HX, Sun, J, et al
World journal of gastroenterology. 2024;(9):1108-1120
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although chronic erosive gastritis (CEG) is common, its clinical characteristics have not been fully elucidated. The lack of consensus regarding its treatment has resulted in varied treatment regimens. AIM: To explore the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and short-term outcomes in CEG patients in China. METHODS We recruited patients with chronic non-atrophic or mild-to-moderate atrophic gastritis with erosion based on endoscopy and pathology. Patients and treating physicians completed a questionnaire regarding history, endoscopic findings, and treatment plans as well as a follow-up questionnaire to investigate changes in symptoms after 4 wk of treatment. RESULTS Three thousand five hundred sixty-three patients from 42 centers across 24 cities in China were included. Epigastric pain (68.0%), abdominal distension (62.6%), and postprandial fullness (47.5%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Gastritis was classified as chronic non-atrophic in 69.9% of patients. Among those with erosive lesions, 72.1% of patients had lesions in the antrum, 51.0% had multiple lesions, and 67.3% had superficial flat lesions. In patients with epigastric pain, the combination of a mucosal protective agent (MPA) and proton pump inhibitor was more effective. For those with postprandial fullness, acid regurgitation, early satiety, or nausea, a MPA appeared more promising. CONCLUSION CEG is a multifactorial disease which is common in Asian patients and has non-specific symptoms. Gastroscopy may play a major role in its detection and diagnosis. Treatment should be individualized based on symptom profile.
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3.
[Characteristics of Bacterial Community Structure in Wuliangsu Lake During an Irrigation Interval in Hetao Plain].
Shi, YJ, Li, WB, Zhang, BY, Yao, GW, Shi, XH
Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue. 2022;(3):1424-1433
Abstract
In order to study the bacterial community composition and corresponding function in Wuliangsu Lake at the end of the Hetao Plain during the irrigation gap period, lake samples were collected in September 2020, and the pH, TN, TP, DIP, DTP, NH4+-N, Chla, EC, SAL, and other indicators were analyzed. The 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing method was used to explore the attached bacteria and bacterioplankton in 15 samples of the surface water in Wuliangsu Lake. The experimental results showed that:① the alpha diversity Chao and Shannon indices of attached bacteria were greater than that of bacterioplankton, but the median of Shannoneven index was the same. ② In each sampling point, the bacterioplankton of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria in the top five dominant bacteria phyla were higher than that of attached bacteria, and the abundance of attached bacteria and bacterioplankton of Bacteroidota were staggered. On the contrary, the contents of attached bacteria of Verrucomicrobiota and Cyanobacteria were all higher than that of bacterioplankton. ③ Redundant analysis showed that pH had the most significant effect on dominant attached bacteria, and the effect of conductivity and salinity in dominant bacterioplankton was the most significant. ④ PICRUSt2 function prediction analysis showed that attached bacteria and planktonic bacteria had the strongest metabolic functions, showing abundant metabolic functions. There were 29 nitrogen-related effective KOs and 88 phosphorus-related effective KOs, with the greatest nitrogen-fixing function and strong inorganic phosphorus-dissolving function, and bacterioplankton played a greater role in the two functions.
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Berberine reduces circulating inflammatory mediators in patients with severe COVID-19.
Zhang, BY, Chen, M, Chen, XC, Cao, K, You, Y, Qian, YJ, Yu, WK
The British journal of surgery. 2021;108(1):e9-e11
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Plain language summary
Berberine has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea and gastroenteritis owing to its antimicrobial, antimotility and antisecretory properties. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of berberine on laboratory parameters in patients who have been hospitalised due to COVID-19. This study enrolled prospectively 39 patients with severe COVID-19 who were hospitalized, of which 18 patients were allocated to the berberine group and 17 to the control group. Patients in the berberine group were given berberine plus routine therapy within 14 days of admission, and those in the control group received only routine therapy. Results indicate that there wasn’t any significant difference between the two groups in relation to the laboratory parameters namely interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and white blood cells levels within 14 days. In subgroup analyses of patients with diarrhoea, berberine significantly improved the changes in interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and C-reactive protein. Authors conclude that it is unclear whether berberine has any antiviral effect on SARS-CoV-2, and further experiments are needed to clarify this.
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Impact of taxanes on androgen receptor signaling.
Bai, S, Zhang, BY, Dong, Y
Asian journal of andrology. 2019;(3):249-252
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Abstract
The development and progression of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is the major challenge in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The androgen receptor signaling pathway remains active in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Docetaxel and cabazitaxel are the first- and second-line chemotherapy, respectively, for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. These two taxanes, in general, function by (i) inhibiting mitosis and inducing apoptosis and (ii) preventing microtubule-dependent cargo trafficking. In prostate cancer, taxanes have been reported to inhibit the nuclear translocation and activity of the androgen receptor. However, whether this is attainable or not clinically remains controversial. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive view of the effects of taxanes on androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer.
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Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3 in proliferation and perineural invasion of cholangiocarcinoma cells.
Feng, YJ, Zhang, BY, Yao, RY, Lu, Y
Hepatobiliary & pancreatic diseases international : HBPD INT. 2012;(4):418-23
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma, a type of malignant tumor, originates from epithelial cells of the bile duct. Perineural invasion is common path for cholangiocarcinoma metastasis, and it is highly correlated with postoperative recurrence and poor prognosis. It has been reported that muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3 (mAChR M3) is widely expressed in digestive tract cancer, and may play an important role in the proliferation, differentiation, transformation and carcinogenesis of tumors. This study was to explore the effect of mAChR M3 on the growth of cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro and provide a new approach to the pathogenesis and treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS Streptavidin-biotin complex immunohistochemistry was carried out to assess the expression of mAChR M3 in surgical specimens of cholangiocarcinomas (40 cases) and normal bile duct tissues (9), as well as to investigate nerve infiltration. The cholangiocarcinoma cells were treated with different concentrations of selective M-receptor agonist pilocarpine and M-receptor blocker atropine sulfate to induce changes in cell proliferation. The experimental data were analyzed by the Chi-square test. RESULTS The strongly-positive expression rate of mAChR M3 was much higher in poorly-differentiated (69%, 9/13) than in well- and moderately-differentiated cholangiocarcinomas (30%, 8/27) (X2=5.631, P<0.05). The strongly-positive mAChR M3 expression rate in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (50%, 14/28) was higher than that in cholangiocarcinomas from the middle and lower common bile duct (25%, 3/12) (X2=2.148, P<0.05). Cholangiocarcinomas with distant metastasis had a strongly-positive expression rate (75%, 9/12), which was much higher than those without distant metastasis (29%, 8/28) (X2=7.410, P<0.01). The absorbance value in the pilocarpine+atropine group was significantly higher than the corresponding value in the pilocarpine group. CONCLUSIONS The expression of mAChR M3 is influenced by the extent of differentiation, distant metastasis and the site of cholangiocarcinoma. It also plays a key role in the proliferation and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma.
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[Clinical evaluation of the antioxidant activity of astragalus in women with gestational diabetes].
Liang, HY, Hou, F, Ding, YL, Zhang, WN, Huang, XH, Zhang, BY, Liu, Y
Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University. 2009;(7):1402-4
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the antioxidant activity of astragalus and its therapeutic effect on gestational diabetes. METHODS Eighty-four pregnant women with gestational diabetes were divided into insulin and insulin plus astragalus groups after regular dietary control and insulin treatment to maintain stable blood glucose level. The 43 patients in insulin group received insulin injection, whereas the 41 patients in the other group received treatment with both insulin and astragalus. The SOD activity, MDA level, blood lipids and renal function were determined in both groups after the treatments. RESULTS The patients with both insulin and astragalus treatments showed significantly increased serum SOD activity and decreased MDA level, renal function and blood lipids in comparison with those with exclusive insulin treatment. CONCLUSION Astragalus can effectively control blood glucose, reduce the free radicals, and promote the antioxidative activity, and may play a role in the prevention and treatment of gestational diabetes.
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Effect of bio-surfactant on municipal solid waste composting process.
Xi, BD, Liu, HL, Huang, GH, Zhang, BY, Qin, XS
Journal of environmental sciences (China). 2005;(3):409-13
Abstract
Bio-surfactant is a new type of surfactant that is produced in microbial metabolism. Adding bio-surfactant during composting process, especially to those contain some toxic substances, has been proved to be a promising way. In this study, Strains III (2), a bacterial with high activity to produce bio-surfactant, were isolated firstly. Following comparison experiments with and without adding Strains III (2), namely Run 1 and Run R, were conducted, respectively. The experimental results showed that, by adding Strains III (2), the surface tension could reduce from 46.5 mN/m to 39.8 mN/m and the corresponding time to maintain the surface tension under 50 mN/ m could prolong from 60 h to 90 h. The oxygen uptake rate and total accumulated oxygen consumption with Stains III (2) were both higher than those without Strains III (2), while the accumulation of H2S in outlet gas was reduced to around 50% of Run R. Moreover, two additional experiments were also carried out to examine the effects of strains coming from different systems. One is adding Strains III (2) with a dose of 0.4% (Run 2), and the other is seedling commercial Strains at the same conditions, the composting experiments showed that: Run 2 was more effective than Run 3, because the commercial Strains can be suppressed significantly in a complex composting system with different pH, high temperature and some of metals. The bio-surfactant was also added into the solid waste, which contained some toxic substances, the corresponding results showed that the remove rate of Hg and sodium pentachlorophenolate (PCP-Na) could be improved highly. Thus, the microenvironment, reactionrate and composting quality could be enhanced effectively by adding bio-surfactant to the composting process.