ObjectiveIt remains unclear whether Tai Chi is effective for preventing falls in older adults. We undertook this systematic review to evaluate the preventive effect of Tai Chi by updating the latest trial evidence.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsThe Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched up to February 2016 to identify randomised trials evaluating Tai Chi for preventing falls in older adults. We evaluated the risk of bias of included trials using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Results were combined using random effects meta-analysis.Outcome measuresNumber of fallers and rate of falls.Results18 trials with 3824 participants were included. The Tai Chi group was associated with significantly lower chance of falling at least once (risk ratio (RR) 0.80, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.88) and rate of falls (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.69, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.80) than the control group. Subgroup analyses suggested that the preventive effect was likely to increase with exercise frequency (number of fallers: p=0.001; rate of falls: p=0.007) and Yang style Tai Chi was likely to be more effective than Sun style Tai Chi (number of fallers: p=0.01; rate of falls: p=0.001). The results might be influenced by publication bias as the funnel plots showed asymmetry. Sensitivity analyses by sample size, risk of bias and comorbidity showed no major influence on the primary results.ConclusionsTai Chi is effective for preventing falls in older adults. The preventive effect is likely to increase with exercise frequency and Yang style Tai Chi seems to be more effective than Sun style Tai Chi.

EPLBD is an effective and safe method for the removal of large or difficult common bile stones. EPLBD should be considered as an alternative to EST for patients in whom EST could not be routinely performed. Based on EPLBD causing fewer cases of hemorrhaging, EPLBD is also recommended for removal of large or difficult common bile duct stones in patients with an underlying coagulopathy or need for anticoagulation following ERCP. The long-term prognosis of EPLBD need to be further investigated.

Bacillus subtilis natto B-12 was isolated from natto, a traditional fermented soybean food in Japan. A fibrinolytic enzyme (B-12 nattokinase) was purified from the supernatant of B. subtilis natto B-12 culture broth and showed strong fibrinolytic activity. The enzyme was homogenously purified to 56.1-fold, with a recovery of 43.2% of the initial activity. B-12 nattokinase was demonstrated to be homogeneous by SDS-PAGE and was identified as a monomer of 29000 +/- 300 Da in its native state by SDS-PAGE and size exclusion methods. The optimal pH value and temperature were 8.0 and 40 degrees C, respectively. Purified nattokinase showed high thermostability at temperatures from 30 to 50 degrees C and alkaline stability within the range of pH 6.0-9.0. The enzyme activity was activated by Zn(2+) and obviously inhibited by Fe(3+) and Al(3+). This study provides some important information for the effect factors of fibrinolytic activity, the purification methods, and characterization of nattokinase from B. subtilis natto B-12, which enriches the theoretical information of nattokinase for the research and development of nattokinase as a functional additive of food.

Colorectal cancer ( CRC ) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the USA. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive CRC tumorigenesis are still not clear. Several studies have reported that long noncoding RNA s (lnc RNA s) have important roles in tumor development. Here, we undertook a transcriptome microarray analysis in 6 pairs of CRC tissues and their corresponding adjacent normal tissues. A total of 1705 differentially expressed lnc RNA s were detected in CRC tissues at stages I/ II and III / IV (fold change greater than or equal to 2 or less than or equal to 0.5). Among them, we found that the lnc RNA lung cancer‐associated transcript 1 ( LUCAT 1 ) was upregulated in CRC tissues and was closely associated with poor overall survival of CRC patients, through analysis of clinical data and The Cancer Genome Atlas. Functional studies indicated that LUCAT 1 promoted CRC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, knockdown of LUCAT 1 rendered CRC cells hypersensitive to oxaliplatin treatment. Mechanistically, bioinformatic analysis indicated that low expression of LUCAT 1 was associated with the p53 signaling pathway. Chromatin isolation by RNA purification followed by mass spectrometry and RNA immunoprecipitation revealed that LUCAT 1 bound with UBA 52 , which encodes ubiquitin and 60S ribosomal protein L40 ( RPL 40). We found that RPL 40 functions in the ribosomal protein‐ MDM 2‐p53 pathway to regulate p53 expression. Taken together, our findings indicate that suppression of LUCAT 1 induces CRC cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by binding UBA 52 and activating the RPL 40‐ MDM 2‐p53 pathway. These results implicate LUCAT 1 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for CRC .