Professor Du Xiaoquan’s Experience in Treating Acid Reflux

Acid regurgitation is a common symptom in digestive system diseases which is mainly caused by emotions, diet, and other factors. It is related to gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic gastritis, and other diseases in Western medicine. According to modern medical research, acid reflux is related to Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, weak effect of anti-reflux barrier, decreased clearance of esophageal acid, dysfunction of esophageal mucosal barrier, strong stimulation of reflux on esophageal mucosal wall, and other factors [1]. It can be divided into four types which are heat, cold, food stagnation, and yin deficiency. It is often accompanied by vomiting, heartburn, stomachache, and other symptoms. Clinically, it is a mixture of cold and heat, as well as excess and deficiency. Professor Du’s self-made method of “first soothing, second reducing, and third harmonizing” (soothing liver and stomach, relieving stomach qi, and neutralizing stomach acid) is used to treat both, symptoms and the root causes. The commonly used prescriptions are left-running metal pill, cuttlefish bone and fritillaria powder, calcined ark shell, oyster shell, etc.

Embryo Development and Behavior in Sea Urchin (Tripneustes gratilla) Under Different Light Emitting Diodes Condition

This study aims to evaluate the effect of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of different wavelengths on the embryonic development, covering behavior, righting behavior, and phototaxis of collector urchins (Tripneustes gratilla). The collector urchins were divided into three groups according to the type of LED illumination they received: full-spectrum (400–750 nm wavelength), red light (630 nm), or blue light (450 nm). The results of the embryonic development experiment indicated that the blue LED group had the highest proportion of embryos reaching the prism stage at the 24th hour and the highest proportion of embryos entering the 4-arm pluteus stage, but it also had the highest death rate at the 48th hour. The full-spectrum and red LED groups exhibited similar speeds of embryonic development. In the experiment on covering behavior performed on adult urchins, our findings indicated that the blue LED group gripped the most acrylic sheets for cover, exhibiting the most covering behavior, followed by the full-spectrum group and then the red LED group. Moreover, behavior varied with coloration, as collector urchins with a lower level of melanin exhibited more covering behavior than those with a higher melanin level. In addition, the righting behavior experiments demonstrated that the blue LED group spent the longest time righting themselves. It is possible that the relatively strong stimulation from the blue LED illumination led to a higher level of stress in the collector urchins and hence slowed their righting. The phototaxis experiment revealed the most significant negative phototactic response in collector urchins when they were under the blue LED light, followed by the full-spectrum light; the red LED light did not induce any positive or negative phototactic response in the collector urchins. This experimental result verified collector urchins’ high sensitivity to and dislike of the blue LED light. The study results confirmed that the blue LED light environment accelerated the embryonic development of collector urchins; however, the relatively strong stimulation from that light also caused them to engage in covering behavior or move away from the light. These results indicate that short-wavelength irradiation significantly affects the embryonic development and behavior pattern of this species.

Investigating Nuisance Effects Induced in EEG During tACS Application

Transcranial alternating-current stimulation (tACS) in the frequency range of 1–100 Hz has come to be used routinely in electroencephalogram (EEG) studies of brain function through entrainment of neuronal oscillations. It turned out, however, to be highly non-trivial to remove the strong stimulation signal, including its harmonic and non-harmonic distortions, as well as various induced higher-order artifacts from the EEG data recorded during the stimulation. In this paper, we discuss some of the problems encountered and present methodological approaches aimed at overcoming them. To illustrate the mechanisms of artifact induction and the proposed removal strategies, we use data obtained with the help of a schematic demonstrator setup as well as human-subject data.

Stimulation of c-Jun/AP-1-Activity by the Cell Cycle Inhibitor p57Kip2

p57 is a member of the Cip/Kip family of cell cycle inhibitors which restrict the eukaryotic cell cycle by binding to and inhibiting cyclin/CDK complexes. They are considered as tumor suppressors and inactivating genomic mutations of p57 are associated with human overgrowth disorders. Increasing evidence suggests that p57 controls additional cellular processes beyond cell cycle control such as apoptosis, cell migration or transcription. Here we report that p57 can stimulate AP-1 promotor activity. While transactivation by c-Jun is strongly activated by p57, it did not enhance c-Fos induced transcription. This indicates that c-Jun is the target of p57 in the canonical AP-1 heterodimeric transcription factor. We could detect endogenous p57/c-Jun containing complexes in cells by co-immunoprecipitation. The strong stimulation of c-Jun activity is not the consequence of activating phosphorylation in the transactivation domain (TAD) of c-Jun, but rather due to negative interference with c-Jun repressors and positive interference with c-Jun activators. In contrast to full-length p57, the amino- and carboxy-terminal domains of p57 are insufficient for a significant activation of c-Jun induced transcription. When expressed in presence of full length p57, the p57 C-terminus abrogated and the N-terminus enhanced c-Jun activation. This indicates that the C-terminus may bind and sequester a putative activator of c-Jun, whereas the N-terminus may sequester a c-Jun repressor. Interestingly, the p57 aminoterminus is sufficient for binding to the two c-Jun repressors HDAC1 and HDAC3. These data are consistent with a model of c-Jun activation where p57 is a part of large nuclear remodeling/transcription complexes. p57 might stimulate transcription by inhibiting transcription repressor proteins like HDACs via its N-terminus and/or attracting transcription activators through its C-terminus. These data suggest that in addition to its role as a CDK inhibitor and tumor suppressor, p57 may also exert tumor promoting functions by activation of the proto-oncoprotein c-Jun.

Implementation of Neuro-Memristive Synapse for Long-and Short-Term Bio-Synaptic Plasticity

In this paper, we propose a complex neuro-memristive synapse that exhibits the physiological acts of synaptic potentiation and depression of the human-brain. Specifically, the proposed neuromorphic synapse efficiently imitates the synaptic plasticity, especially long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD), and short-term facilitation (STF) and depression (STD), phenomena of a biological synapse. Similar to biological synapse, the short- or long-term potentiation (STF and LTP) or depression (STD or LTD) of the memristive synapse are distinguished on the basis of time or repetition of input cycles. The proposed synapse is also designed to exhibit the effect of reuptake and neurotransmitters diffusion processes of a bio-synapse. In addition, it exhibits the distinct bio-realistic attributes, i.e., strong stimulation, exponentially decaying conductance trace of synapse, and voltage dependent synaptic responses, of a neuron. The neuro-memristive synapse is designed in SPICE and its bio-realistic functionalities are demonstrated via various simulations.

FUBP1 and FUBP2 enforce distinct epigenetic setpoints for MYC expression in primary single murine cells

Physiologically, MYC levels must be precisely set to faithfully amplify the transcriptome, but in cancer MYC is quantitatively misregulated. Here, we study the variation of MYC amongst single primary cells (B-cells and murine embryonic fibroblasts, MEFs) for the repercussions of variable cellular MYC-levels and setpoints. Because FUBPs have been proposed to be molecular “cruise controls” that constrain MYC expression, their role in determining basal or activated MYC-levels was also examined. Growing cells remember low and high-MYC setpoints through multiple cell divisions and are limited by the same expression ceiling even after modest MYC-activation. High MYC MEFs are enriched for mRNAs regulating inflammation and immunity. After strong stimulation, many cells break through the ceiling and intensify MYC expression. Lacking FUBPs, unstimulated MEFs express levels otherwise attained only with stimulation and sponsor MYC chromatin changes, revealed by chromatin marks. Thus, the FUBPs enforce epigenetic setpoints that restrict MYC expression.

Trajectory and uniqueness of mutational signatures in yeast mutators

The acquisition of mutations plays critical roles in adaptation, evolution, senescence, and tumorigenesis. Massive genome sequencing has allowed extraction of specific features of many mutational landscapes but it remains difficult to retrospectively determine the mechanistic origin(s), selective forces, and trajectories of transient or persistent mutations and genome rearrangements. Here, we conducted a prospective reciprocal approach to inactivate 13 single or multiple evolutionary conserved genes involved in distinct genome maintenance processes and characterize de novo mutations in 274 diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutation accumulation lines. This approach revealed the diversity, complexity, and ultimate uniqueness of mutational landscapes, differently composed of base substitutions, small insertions/deletions (InDels), structural variants, and/or ploidy variations. Several landscapes parallel the repertoire of mutational signatures in human cancers while others are either novel or composites of subsignatures resulting from distinct DNA damage lesions. Notably, the increase of base substitutions in the homologous recombination-deficient Rad51 mutant, specifically dependent on the Polζ translesion polymerase, yields COSMIC signature 3 observed in BRCA1/BRCA2-mutant breast cancer tumors. Furthermore, “mutome” analyses in highly polymorphic diploids and single-cell bottleneck lineages revealed a diverse spectrum of loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) signatures characterized by interstitial and terminal chromosomal events resulting from interhomolog mitotic cross-overs. Following the appearance of heterozygous mutations, the strong stimulation of LOHs in the rad27/FEN1 and tsa1/PRDX1 backgrounds leads to fixation of homozygous mutations or their loss along the lineage. Overall, these mutomes and their trajectories provide a mechanistic framework to understand the origin and dynamics of genome variations that accumulate during clonal evolution.

The COVID-19 epidemic and contracts for construction works concluded on the general terms and conditions of FIDIC under the Act on Public Procurement

The COVID-19 epidemic does not stop investment processes. Moreover, the stimulation of the economy will consist, inter alia, in the strong stimulation of the public investment sector. Therefore, entrepreneurs who currently meet the challenges will not cease to fulfill their obligations and will meet the contractual conditions have a chance to implement further contracts - otherwise, they risk being excluded from future proceedings.

ACUPUNCTURE AND SELF ACUPRESSURE TREATMENT OF HEMIFACIAL SPASM: A CASE REPORT

Background: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a condition of unilateral, involuntary, irregular, spasmodic movements of the face. The condition is most commonly a result of vascular loop compression at the root entry zone of the facial nerve. Patient whose hemifacial spasm with left-sided facial complaints often twitching since 6 months ago. This 69-year-old man with hyperlipidemia and hypertension had diagnosed with hemifacial spasm by neurologist. Purpose: To prove the effect of acupuncture on Fengchi (GB 20), Neiguan (PC 6) and Taichong (LR 3) accompanied with acupressure on Taichong (LR 3) and auricular acupressure on the Ear Shenmen point in patient with hemifacial spasm. Methods: Handling Hemifacial spasm with acupuncture on Fengchi (GB 20), Neiguan (PC 6) and Taichong (LR 3) with the reducing method and strong stimulation three times a week, acupressure on the Taichong (LR 3) twice a day for 30 times pressure and auricular acupressure on ear Shenmen, twice a day for 5 minutes. Results: Biochemical mechanism of acupuncture and acupressure involve the stimulation of acupoint that lead to complex neuro-hormonal response. In handling hemifacial spasm, acupunture given for 15 times, taken three times a week combined with acupressure and auricular acupressure. This therapy overcome the symptoms of facial twitching in hemifacial spasm. Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with acupressure and auricular acupressure can be used to overcome facial twitching in hemifacial spasm.

Electro-acupuncture Improved the Outcome of the Patient with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report.

This case report demonstrated that electro-acupuncture treatment has improved the outcome of an adolescent with severe traumatic brain injury due to a traffic accident. The patient had a bilateral frontal hematoma, subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, stem hematoma and diffuse parenchymal swelling with the initial Glasgow Coma Scale score of E1V1M1. Daily electro-acupuncture therapy was prescribed with strong stimulation at GV 26 (Shuigou), PC6 (Neiguan) and EX-UE11(Shixuan) when the vital signs of the patient became stable. The patient had a full recovery of the consciousness in 30 days. The follow-up observation found that he has also restored the motor and speech functions. This result suggested a potential role of electro-acupuncture in the treatment of consciousness disturbance for patient with traumatic brain injury.