Mufangji tang ameliorates pulmonary arterial hypertension through improving vascular remodeling,inhibiting inflammatory response and oxidative stress,and inducing apoptosis

Background:Mufangji tang(MFJT)is composed of Ramulus Cinnamomi,Radix Ginseng,Cocculus orbiculatus(Linn.)DC.,and Gypsum.In clinical settings,MFJT has been effectively employed in addressing a range of respiratory disorders,notably including pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH).However,the mechanism of action of MFJT on PAH remains unknown.Methods:In this study,a monocrotaline-induced PAH rat model was established and treated with MFJT.The therapeutic effects of MFJT on PAH rat model were evaluated.Network pharmacology was conducted to screen the possible targets for MFJT on PAH,and the molecular docking between the main active components and the core targets was carried out.The key targets identified from network pharmacology were tested.Results:Results showed significant therapeutic effects of MFJT on PAH rat model.Analysis of network pharmacology revealed several potential targets related to apoptosis,inflammation,oxidative stress,and vascular remodeling.Molecular docking showed that the key components were well docked with the core targets.Further experimental validation results that MFJT treatment induced apoptosis(downregulated Bcl-2 levels and upregulated Bax levels in lung tissue),inhibited inflammatory response and oxdative stress(decreased the levels of IL-1β,TNF-α,inducible NOS,and malondialdehyde,and increased the levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase,nitric oxide,glutathione and superoxide dismutase),reduced the proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells(downregulated ET-1 andβ-catenin levels and ERK1/2 phosphorylation,increased GSK3βlevels).Conclusion:Our study revealed MFJT treatment could alleviate PAH in rats via induction of apoptosis,inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress,and the prevention of vascular remodeling.

Improvement Design for Distributed Real-Time Stream Processing Systems

In the era of Big Data, typical architecture of distributed real-time stream processing systems is the combination of Flume, Kafka, and Storm. As a kind of distributed message system, Kafka has the characteristics of horizontal scalability and high throughput, which is manly deployed in many areas in order to address the problem of speed mismatch between message producers and consumers. When using Kafka, we need to quickly receive data sent by producers. In addition, we need to send data to consumers quickly. Therefore, the performance of Kafka is of critical importance to the performance of the whole stream processing system. In this paper, we propose the improved design of real-time stream processing systems, and focus on improving the Kafka's data loading process.We use Kafka cat to transfer data from the source to Kafka topic directly, which can reduce the network transmission. We also utilize the memory file system to accelerate the process of data loading, which can address the bottleneck and performance problems caused by disk I/O. Extensive experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance, which show the superiority of our improved design.

Effect of strain rate on microstructural evolution and thermal stability of 1050 commercial pure aluminum

Effects of strain rate on the microstructure evolution and thermal stability of1050commercial pure aluminum processed by means of split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)and Instron?3369mechanical testing machine were investigated.Samples in the deformed state and after various annealing treatments at423?523K(150?250°C)for1h were characterized by TEM and hardness test.The result reveals that the samples in the deformed state were mainly composed of elongated subgrains/cells with high density of dislocations.Microstructures of the quasi-static compressed aluminum were quite stable throughout the temperature range studied,and no significant grain growth was observed.However,for the dynamic impacted one,recrystallized grains with an average grain size of4.7μm were evolved after annealing at523K(250°C)for1h.It is suggested that the annealing behavior of this dynamic deformed aluminum is a continuous process of grain coarsening,rather than the traditional discontinuous recrystallization for the quasi-static compressed aluminum.

CABG联合MVR治疗老年冠心病合并中重度功能性二尖瓣反流效果分析

目的 比较分析老年冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(以下简称冠心病)合并中重度功能性二尖瓣反流患者行单纯冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)和CABG联合二尖瓣置换术(MVR)的临床疗效。方法 选取2009年6月—2018年4月徐州医科大学附属淮安医院诊治的老年冠心病合并中重度功能性二尖瓣反流患者106例作为研究对象。根据手术方式将其分为CABG组和CABG+MVR组,分别于术前及术后1年检查患者左室射血分数、左心室舒张末期内径和二尖瓣反流面积,评估纽约心脏病协会(NYHA)心功能分级改善情况,并记录患者住院时间、ICU时间、体外循环时间等手术指标。结果 CABG+MVR组术中体外循环时间、升主动脉阻断时间及术后ICU时间与CABG组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),CABG+MVR组时间较长;IABP使用比例、住院时间和围手术期病死率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);两组患者术后1年较术前:左室舒张末期内径和二尖瓣反流面积减小,左室射血分数增加,NYHA心功能分级明显改善(P<0.05)。结论 老年冠心病合并中重度功能性二尖瓣反流患者行CABG+MVR手术可改善患者心功能,提高生活质量,具有临床疗效佳、安全性好等优点。

Can Yin-Chai-Xiao-Du decoction be useful of COVID-19?the mechanism research based on network pharmacology

Background:In this study,we preliminarily investigated the mechanism of Yin-Chai-Xiao-Du decoction for the treatment of COVID-19 by the method of network pharmacology.Methods:The potential targets and pathways of Yin-Chai-Xiao-Du decoction for the treatment of COVID-19 were examined using network pharmacology;the ingredient and active targets of Yin-Chai-Xiao-Du decoction were collected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and PharmMapper databases;the COVID-19-related targets were obtained from the online Mendelian inheritance in man,GeneCards,and GeneMANIA databases;the STRING database and Cytoscape were used to build a protein-protein interaction network,and a Network Analyzer tool was used to perform topology analysis to screen for the key ingredients and targets;the ClueGO and KOBAS 3.0 databases were for the enrichment analysis of gene function(Gene Oncology)and gene pathway(Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes);the herb-ingredient-target-pathway network diagram was constructed by Cytoscape.Results:The core herbs screened by the network pharmacological analysis were Jinyinhua(Lonicerae japonicae flos),Lianqiao(Forsythia suspensa),Chaihu(Bupleuri radix),Huangqin(Scutellariae radix),Yinchen(Herba Artemisiae Scopariae),Guanghuoxiang(Pogostemonis herba),Roudoukou(Semen myristicae)and Qinghao(Artemisiae annuae herba).A total of 293 active ingredients were screened by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform,and the key ingredients were quercetin,kaempferol,isorhamnetin,stigmasterol,beta-sitosterol,and luteolin.Yin-Chai-Xiao-Du decoction has 138 COVID-19-related targets,and the key targets were mitogen-activated protein kinase 3,interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor,vascular endothelial growth factor A,and CC motif ligand 2.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed 120 enriched gene pathways,and the key pathways were signaling by interleukins,immune system,cytokine signaling in the immune system,and the signaling pathways of interleukin-17,tumor necrosis factor,and relaxin.Conclusion:The core herbs of Yin-Chai-Xiao-Du decoction are Jinyinhua(Lonicerae japonicae flos),Lianqiao(Forsythia suspensa),Chaihu(Bupleuri radix),Huangqin(Scutellariae radix),Yinchen(Herba Artemisiae Scopariae),Guanghuoxiang(Pogostemonis herba),Roudoukou(Semen myristicae)and Qinghao(Artemisiae annuae herba).The key ingredients are quercetin,kaempferol,isorhamnetin,stigmasterol,and beta-sitosterol;the critical targets are luteolin,interleukin-6,mitogen-activated protein kinase 3,tumor necrosis factor,and CC motif ligand 2;and the core signaling pathways are those mediated by interleukin-17,tumor necrosis factor,and relaxin.

Query Acceleration of Graph Databases by ID Caching Technology

In this paper, we approach the design of ID caching technology(IDCT) for graph databases, with the purpose of accelerating the queries on graph database data and avoiding redundant graph database query operations which will consume great computer resources. Traditional graph database caching technology(GDCT)needs a large memory to store data and has the problems of serious data consistency and low cache utilization. To address these issues, in the paper we propose a new technology which focuses on ID allocation mechanism and high-speed queries of ID on graph databases. Specifically, ID of the query result is cached in memory and data consistency is achieved through the real-time synchronization and cache memory adaptation. In addition, we set up complex queries and simple queries to satisfy all query requirements and design a mechanism of cache replacement based on query action time, query times, and memory capacity, thus improving the performance furthermore.Extensive experiments show the superiority of our techniques compared with the traditional query approach of graph databases.

Data Bucket-Based Fragment Management for Solid State Drive Storage System

The current storage mechanism considered little in data’s keeping characteristics.These can produce fragments of various sizes among data sets.In some cases,these fragments may be serious and harm system performance.In this paper,we manage to modify the current storage mechanism.We introduce an extra storage unit called data bucket into the classical data manage architecture.Next,we modify the data manage mechanism to improve our designs.By keeping data according to their visited information,both the number of fragments and the fragment size are greatly reduced.Considering different data features and storage device conditions,we also improve the solid state drive(SSD)lifetime by keeping data into different spaces.Experiments show that our designs have a positive influence on the SSD storage density and actual service time.

Flexible Planar Micro-supercapacitors Based on Carbon Nanotubes

The boom in ultrathin electronic devices and the growing need for humanization greatly facilitated the development of wearable fexible microdevices.But the technology to deposit electrode material on fexible substrate is still in its infancy.Herein,the fexible symmetric micro-supercapacitors made of carbon nanotubes(CNTs)on commercial printing paper as electrode materials were fabricated by combining tetrahedral preparator auxiliary coating method and laser-cutting interdigital configuration technique on a large scale.The electrochemical performance of the obtained micro-supercapacitors can be controlled and tuned by simple choosing different models of tetrahedral preparatory to obtain CNTs film of different thicknesses.As expected,the micro-supercapacitor based on CNTs film can deliver an areal capacitance up to 4.56 m F/cm^(2) at current of 0.02 m A.Even if,micro-supercapacitor undergoes continuous 10000 cycles,the performance of device can still remain nearly 100%.The as-demonstrated tetrahedral preparator auxiliary coating method and laser-cutting interdigital configuration technique provide new perspective for preparing microelectronics in an economical way.The paper electrode appended by CNTs achieves steerable areal capacitance,showing broad application prospect in fabricating asymmetric micro-supercapacitor with fexible planar configurations in the future.

Advantages and prospects of traditional Chinese medicine in treating COVID-19

Towards the end of 2019,a novel coronavirus pneumonia(coronavirus disease 19,COVID-19)caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection emerged in Wuhan.The SARS-CoV-2 virus quickly spread across the globe,seriously affecting public health and economic development of countries worldwide.Currently,antiviral drugs developed for COVID-19 lack strong clinical trial support and the high mutation rate of the virus causes difficulties in vaccine development,thus a complex and delayed large scale role out of an efficacious vaccine.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been used for treating various conditions for thousands of years and has a unique systems theory.It can be individualized into specific therapeutic regimens according to the patients’physical condition,clinical symptoms,and other distinguishing factors.In addition,TCM often has different effects at different disease stages,thus contributing to disease prevention,treatment,and rehabilitation.Existing evidence shows that TCM has efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19.The active ingredients of TCM have various pharmacological properties,including antiviral,anti-inflammatory,and immunomodulatory activity,with clinical trials showing that these prescriptions reduce symptoms of COVID-19,promote viral clearance,and ultimately improve survival in infected patients.This article discusses the advantages and mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of COVID-19,hoping to provide a reference platform in the fight against the disease.

Advances in traditional Chinese medicine for respiratory disease therapy in 2021

Respiratory diseases are common conditions that endanger human health.Their etiology,pathogenesis,and prognosis are complex,and clinical research has been extensive.This paper reviews studies from the PubMed database to assess the progress of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of respiratory diseases in 2021,focusing on related animal and cell models of coronavirus disease 2019.Traditional Chinese medicine extracts,such as polysaccharides and emodin,and classic prescriptions,such as Mahuang decoction,respond to the treatment of influenza by reducing viral infections and regulating the body’s immune response.Chinese herbal extracts,such as schizandra B and andrographolide,treat asthma by inhibiting inflammatory response pathway formation,NLRP3 inflammasome formation,oxidative stress,and autophagy.Traditional Chinese medicine extracts such as fucoxanthin,and proprietary Chinese medicines such as the Xihuang pill is used in the treatment of lung cancer,as it regulates the cell cycle,inhibit tumor cell proliferation,and enhance the body’s immune function.Classic formulas such as the kidney tonic lung formula and proprietary Chinese medicine,such as compound grass stone silkworm granules,relieve airway inflammation and improve lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Chinese herbal extracts,such as jostilbene and sage phenol,inhibit epithelial cell-mesenchymal transformation and regulate the levels of inflammatory factors to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to provide a reliable basis for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Application of "dredging meridians and dispersing lung exercises" based on meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective:To investigate the effects of Tongjing xuanfei exercise on clinical symptoms,pulmonary function and exercise endurance of patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at stable stage.Methods:A total of 130 patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at stable stage from the Department of Pulmonary Diseases,Qingdao Haici Medical Group during September 2018 to September 2020 were collected and randomly divided into a observation group and a control group,with 65 patients in each group.The control group was given routine pulmonary rehabilitation nursing,and the observation group was given Tongjing Xuanfei exercise treatment combined with routine pulmonary rehabilitation nursing,12 months for treatment.The changes of symptoms and pulmonary function index were observed before and after treatment.Results:FEV1,FVC,FEV1%pred,FEV1/FVC,exercise endurance and CAT score,mMRC dyspnea index score and TCM clinical symptom score in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Tongjing Xuanfei exercise is helpful to improve the clinical symptoms,pulmonary function and exercise endurance of patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at stable stage.

Application of acupoint massage combined with acupoint application in stable stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective:To investigate the application of acupoint massage combined with acupoint application in pulmonary rehabilitation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Methods:Inhaled drugs,oral expectorant,such as conventional treatment,select our hospital on June 6,2019-March 2021 in lung disease clinics,a total of 130 patients with COPD,with digital method of random divided into control group and observation group,65 cases in each group,control group given observation group in the control group on the basis of joint acupoint sticking therapy combined with acupuncture point massage,two groups of treatment for 15 days,respectively,The total effective rate,TCM syndrome score,lung function index and dyspnea degree score(mMRC)were compared between the two groups after treatment.Results:After treatment,the total effective rate was 81.54%in the control group and 93.85%in the observation group.After treatment,the symptoms of cough,expectoration,wheezing,shortness of breath,fatigue,chills and tenderness of waist and knee were significantly improved in the two groups compared with the control group.After treatment,the symptoms of cough,expectoration,wheezing,shortness of breath,fatigue,chills and tenderness of waist and knee were significantly improved in the observation group compared with the control group.Compared with before treatment,FEV1 and FEV1/FVC values in 2 groups were increased(P<0.05),and the two indexes in observation group were better than control group(P<0.05),the differences were statistically significant.MMRC score in 2 groups was significantly lower than before treatment(P<0.05),and the improvement of mMRC score in observation group was significantly better than that in control group(P<0.05),the difference was statistically significant.Conclusion:Acupoint massage combined with acupoint application can effectively improve the lung function of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,relieve patients with dyspnea,achieve the purpose of promoting pulmonary rehabilitation,clinical efficacy is positive,worthy of promotion.

The relationship between gut microbiota and asthma

Asthma is.a common and recurrent airway inflammatory disorder[1]that mainly presents as chronic arway inflammation.Immunological mechanism plays an important role in asthma occurrence and progression[2].Moreover,the gut is the largest immune organ in the human body and gut microbiota can promote immune system development and immune cell homeostasis regulation.Recent studies have found a new mechanism by which gut microbiota and asthma mutually promote and affect each other[3-5].Gut microbiota activates the mucosal immune system,promotes immune cell migration,and regulates lung immune homeostasis through immune cell metabolites(e.g,short-chain fatty acid)and ligands[6-8].

Efficacy and safety of a parylene-coated occluder for atrial septal defect:a prospective,multi-center,randomized controlled clinical trial

Background:Nitinol-containing devices are widely used in clinical practice.However,there are concerns about nickel release after nitinol-containing device implantation.This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of a parylene-coated occluder vs.a traditional nitinol-containing device for atrial septal defect(ASD).Methods:One-hundred-and-eight patients with ASD were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to either the trial group to receive a parylene-coated occluder(n=54)or the control group to receive a traditional occluder(n=54).The plugging success rate at 6 months after device implantation and the pre-and post-implantation serum nickel levels were compared between the two groups.A non-inferiority design was used to prove that the therapeutic effect of the parylene-coated device was non-inferior to that of the traditional device.The Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel chi-squared test with adjustment for central effects was used for the comparison between groups.Results:At 6 months after implantation,successful ASD closure was achieved in 52 of 53 patients(98.11%)in both the trial and control groups(95%confidence interval(CI):[4.90,5.16])based on per-protocol set analysis.The absolute value of the lower limit of the 95%CI was 4.90%,which was less than the specified non-inferiority margin of 8%.No deaths or severe complications occurred during 6 months of follow-up.The serum nickel levels were significantly increased at 2 weeks and reached the maximum value at 1 month after implantation in the control group(P<0.05 vs.baseline).In the trial group,there was no significant difference in the serum nickel level before vs.after device implantation(P>0.05).Conclusions:The efficacy of a parylene-coated ASD occluder is non-inferior to that of a traditional uncoated ASD occluder.The parylene-coated occluder prevents nickel release after device implantation and may be an alternative for ASD,especially in patients with a nickel allergy.