Objective
This randomized double-blinded clinical study is to investigate the clinical efficacy of per-paravertebral disk ozone injection combined with steroids in the treatment of patients with ...chronic discogenic low back pain (CDLBP).
Methods
Group A (
N
= 60) received a per-paravertebral injection of a steroid mixture of 10 mL with pure oxygen 20 mL, while group B (
N
= 60) received a per-paravertebral injection of a steroid mixture of 10 mL combined with ozone 20 mL (30 μg/mL). Injections were administered once a week for 3 weeks, with a follow-up of 6 months. Clinical outcomes were assessed at week 1, month 3, and month 6 with the help of Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and Macnab efficacy evaluation.
Results
The VAS score of both group A (1.65 vs. 6.87,
p
= 0.000) and group B (1.25 vs. 6.85,
p
= 0.000) at week 1 was significantly reduced compared to baseline. The effect was sustained at the 3- and 6-month follow-up periods (
p
< 0.05). Group B had significantly lower VAS scores at month 3 (1.53 vs. 3.82,
p
= 0.000) and month 6 (2.80 vs. 5.05,
p
= 0.000) compared to group A, respectively. Based on Macnab criteria, 95 and 96.7% of patients in groups A and B had good rates “excellent plus good” at week 1, respectively. Good rates were significantly higher in group B at month 3 (91.7 vs. 78.3%,
p
= 0.041) and month 6 (85.0 vs. 68.3%,
p
= 0.031) compared to group A, respectively. No serious adverse events were noted in both groups.
Conclusion
Per-paravertebral injection of steroid and ozone combination resulted in better relief of CDLBP compared to pure oxygen plus steroid.
Clinical Trial Registration
ChiCTR2100044434
https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=121571
.
Density functional theory (DFT) has been carried out to investigate the electronic characteristics, UV–VIS–NIR absorption spectra, and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of two series of zinc ...porphyrin analogs (FPD‐Nx and TPD‐Nx, x = 0–4) with donor‐π‐donor frameworks. The design of these analogs is based on previously synthesized furan‐linked zinc porphyrins (FPDs) and thiophene‐linked zinc porphyrins (TPDs). It is noted that their electro‐optical features are sensitive to the numbers of N‐coordination atoms and the attached groups. A dramatic enhancement of static first and second hyperpolarizabilities (β0 and γ0) occurs when two furan/thiophene rings are attached to the zinc porphyrin. Among the two series, FPD‐N3 and TPD‐N3 have the largest β0 values of about 7600 a.u. The static γ0 values of these complexes range from 0.41 × 106 to 1.79 × 106 a.u. The FPD‐Nx has a larger γ0 value than the corresponding TPD‐Nx, but the γ0 value of FPD‐N2 is close to that of TPD‐N2. In the dynamic NLO process, the electro‐optical Pockels effect, second harmonic generation, and electro‐optic Kerr effect can be enhanced at the wavelength of 1907 nm. This study provides a new strategy for the experimental design of high‐performance NLO materials.
The electronic and nonlinear optical properties of zinc porphyrins linked by furan/thiophene rings were investigated using density functional theory. The static first (β0) and second hyperpolarizability (γ0) are significantly enhanced when carbon atoms replace the coordinated N atoms of the porphyrin. In most cases, the β0/γ0 value of the complex with furan units is larger than that of the corresponding complex with thiophene rings.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The electronic and second‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of small Agn clusters (n = 1 to 3) doped graphyne (GY) and pyrazine‐modified graphyne (pyGY) have been investigated employing ...(time‐dependent) density functional theory calculations. A large triangular hole of GY provides an efficient site to accommodate the Agn cluster, and an Ag atom prefers to be located in the center of the pyGY, interacting with the two pyridine N atoms. The silver clusters have strong interactions with GY/pyGY, and the intramolecular charge transfer is significant for determining NLO properties. The first hyperpolarizability (β0) values can be modulated by the introduction of silver clusters. The results show that the second‐order NLO response of Ag2/Ag3 doped pyGY complex is stronger than that of corresponding Ag2/Ag3 doped GY complex, while the β0 for single Ag doped GY is significantly higher than that of Ag@pyGY. Hence, the NLO responses of these complexes depend on the size of the clusters and the type of nanosheets. All complexes exhibit excellent transparency in the deep ultraviolet region, especially Ag3@GY/pyGY. These results suggest that these Agn clusters doped GY/pyGY are excellent candidates for potential applications in optical devices.
Small Agn clusters (n = 1–3) doped graphyne (GY) and pyrazine‐modified graphyne (pyGY) are constructed. By means of the density functional theory computations, the structures, electronic properties, and the first hyperpolarizabilities of these systems are investigated. The NLO responses of these complexes depend on the size of the clusters and the type of nanosheets. Ag@GY and Ag3@pyGY have the largest first hyperpolarizabilities in the two series.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Exploiting a pure culture strategy to investigate the composition of the human gut microbiota, two novel anaerobes, designated strains AF52-21
T
and CM04-06
T
, were isolated from faeces of ...two healthy Chinese donors and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The two strains were observed to be gram-negative, non-motile, and rod-shaped. Both strains grew optimally at 37 °C and pH 7.0. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the two strains clustered with species of the genus
Faecalibacterium
and were most closely related to
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
ATCC 27768
T
with sequence similarity of 97.18% and 96.87%, respectively. The two isolates shared a 16S rRNA gene sequence identity of 98.69%. Draft genome sequencing was performed for strains AF52-21
T
and CM04-06
T
, generating genome sizes of 2.85 Mbp and 3.01 Mbp. The calculated average nucleotide identity values between the genomes of the strains AF52-21
T
and CM04-06
T
compared to
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
ATCC 27768
T
were 83.20% and 82.54%, respectively, and 90.09% when comparing AF52-21
T
and CM04-06
T
. Both values were below the previously proposed species threshold (95–96%), supporting their recognition as novel species in the genus
Faecalibacterium
. The genomic DNA G + C contents of strains AF52-21
T
and CM04-06
T
calculated from genome sequences were 57.77 mol% and 57.51 mol%, respectively. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, we conclude that both strains represent two new
Faecalibacterium
species, for which the names
Faecalibacterium butyricigenerans
sp. nov. (type strain AF52-21
T
= CGMCC 1.5206
T
= DSM 103434
T
) and
Faecalibacterium longum
sp. nov. (type strain CM04-06
T
= CGMCC 1.5208
T
= DSM 103432
T
) are proposed.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Skeletal muscle atrophy is a common and serious complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Oxidative stress and autophagy are the primary molecular mechanisms involved in muscle atrophy. ...Calycosin, a major component of Radix astragali, exerts anti‐inflammatory, anti‐oxidative stress and anti‐autophagy effects. We investigated the effects and mechanisms of calycosin on skeletal muscle atrophy in vivo and in vitro. 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) rats were used as a model of CKD. We evaluated bodyweight and levels of serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum albumin (Alb). H&E staining, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress biomarkers, autophagosome and LC3A/B levels were performed and evaluated in skeletal muscle of CKD rat. Calycosin treatment improved bodyweight and renal function, alleviated muscle atrophy (decreased the levels of MuRF1 and MAFbx), increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in skeletal muscle of CKD rats. Importantly, calycosin reduced autophagosome formation, down‐regulated the expression of LC3A/B and ATG7 through inhibition of AMPK and FOXO3a, and increased SKP2, which resulted in decreased expression of CARM1, H3R17me2a. Similar results were observed in C2C12 cells treated with TNF‐α and calycosin. Our findings showed that calycosin inhibited oxidative stress and autophagy in CKD induced skeletal muscle atrophy and in TNF‐α‐induced C2C12 myotube atrophy, partially by regulating the AMPK/SKP2/CARM1 signalling pathway.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Stroke and subsequent cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a frequently occurring disease that can have serious consequences in the absence of timely intervention. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) ...in association with microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) can influence gene expression. However, whether circRNAs have a role in cerebral I/R injury pathogenesis, especially soon after onset, is unclear. In this study, we used the SD rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of stroke to examine the role of circRNAs in cerebral I/R injury. We used high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to compare the expression levels of circRNAs in cerebral cortex tissue from MCAO rats during the occlusion-reperfusion latency period 3 hours after I/R injury with those in control cerebral cortices. Our sequencing results revealed that expression levels of 44 circRNAs were significantly altered after I/R, with 16 and 28 circRNAs showing significant up- and down-regulation, respectively, relative to levels in control cortex. We extended these results in vitro in primary cultured neuron cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) using qRT-PCR to show that levels of circ-camk4 were increased in OGD/R neurons relative to control neurons. Bioinformatics analyses predicted that several miRNAs could be associated with circ-camk4 and this prediction was confirmed in a RNA pull-down assay. KEGG analysis to predict pathways that involve circ-camk4 included the glutamatergic synapse pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and apoptosis signaling pathways, all of which are known to be involved in brain injury after I/R. Our results also demonstrate that levels of the human homolog to circ-camk4 (hsa-circ-camk4) are elevated in SH-SY5Y cells exposed to OGD/R treatment. Overexpression of hsa-circ-camk4 in SH-SY5Y cells significantly increased the rate of cell death after OGD/R, suggesting that circ-camk4 may play a key role in progression of cerebral I/R injury.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The current study evaluated the effects of Xiao Yao San (XYS) on anxiety-like behaviors and sought to determine whether the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is involved. A total of 40 ...rats were divided into 5 groups (n=8): the control group (deionized water, per os (p.o.)), the model group (deionized water, p.o.), the SP600125 group (surgery), the per se group (surgery), and the XYS group (3.9 g/kg/d, p.o.). A 1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) citrate buffer solution (2 µL/ventricle/d) and SP600125 (10 µg/ventricle, 2 µL/ventricle/d) were separately and bilaterally injected into the rats of the two surgery groups via the ventricular system of the brain. All but the control group underwent 14 d of chronic immobilization stress (CIS; 3 h/d). On day 15, the body weights of all of the rats were measured; additionally, the rats were subjected to the elevated plus maze (EPM) and novelty suppressed feeding (NSF) tests. Finally, JNK signaling pathway indices, including phosphorylated JNK (P-JNK), JNK, phosphorylated c-Jun (P-c-Jun) and cytochrome C (Cyt-C), were examined. After modeling, the body weight and behavioral analyses of the model rats indicated that this modeling method induced anxiety-like behaviors. P-JNK, JNK, and P-c-Jun were altered in the hippocampus of the model rats. After 14 d of treatment with XYS and SP600125, rat body weight and behaviors as well as P-JNK, JNK, and P-c-Jun had changed. However, no significant difference in Cyt-C was found. XYS improves the anxiety-like behaviors induced by CIS, which might be related to the JNK signaling pathway in the hippocampus.
Summary
Natural killer (NK) cells exert anti‐viral effects after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The balance between inhibition and activation of NK cells determined by the inherited ...repertoire of killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR) genes may influence Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) reactivation after transplantation. To evaluate the relative contributions of KIR genotypes to EBV reactivation, we prospectively enrolled 300 patients with malignant haematological disease who were suitable for haploidentical HSCT. Univariate analysis showed that donors with KIR2DS1, KIR2DS3 or KIR3DS1 genes were associated with an increased risk of EBV reactivation hazard ratio (HR) 1·86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·19–2·9, P = 0·0067; HR 1·78, 95% CI 1·07‐2·97, P = 0·027; HR 1·86, 95% CI 1·19‐2·91, P = 0·0065 respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of KIR2DS1, KIR2DS3 or KIR3DS1 genes was associated with increased EBV reactivation after HSCT. This effect was more evident in the absence of the cognate ligands for the corresponding activating receptors. Our present data firstly showed that donors with activating KIR genes, specifically activating KIR2DS1, KIR2DS3 and KIR3DS1, had an increased risk of EBV reactivation. Precaution for patients whose donors carry activating genes will help prevent EBV reactivation and improve patient prognosis after HSCT.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
A novel mixed-valence polyoxovanadate-based copper–organic framework, Cu I (bbi) 2 {Cu I (bbi) 2 VIV2V V 8 O 26 }·2H 2 O (NENU-MV-5, bbi = 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole)), was facilely ...synthesized from routine reagents under mild hydrothermal conditions. Using NENU-MV-5 as a heterogeneous catalyst without any co-catalyst, one-step oxidative cleavage of β-O-4 lignin into phenols and aromatic acids with high catalytic activity and selectivity was realized under an oxygen atmosphere. No obvious decrease in activity was observed after five cycles, which indicates the excellent stability and sustainability of NENU-MV-5. The perfect catalytic performance of NENU-MV-5 can be attributed to the multi-site synergistic effect of the mixed-valence V V –O–V IV sites on polyoxovanadate for the oxidation of β-O-4 alcohol to β-O-4 ketone and the Cu( i ) sites on the framework for the rapid cleavage of the C α –C β bond of β-O-4 ketone. This system represented the first co-catalyst-free example for the one-step selective degradation of lignin catalyzed by a well-defined crystalline catalyst with definite composition and structure in a single solvent.
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