Objective To explore the effects of total flavonoids from portulaca against liver fibrosis in rats by detecting TGF-β1 gene and protein expressions. Methods A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model control, glucyrrhizin aqueous,and total flavonoids groups,with 12 rats in each group. Except those in the normal control group, rats in other groups were intraperitoneally injected with 2 mL · kg-1 · d-1 carbon tetrachloride to induce liver fibrosis. Rats in glucyrrhizin aqueous group and total flavonoids ones were intragastrically administered with 15. 75 mg · kg-1 of glycyrrhizin aqueous solution or 35. 6 mg·kg-1 of total flavonoids aqueous solution,respectively. The normal and model control groups were administered with equal volume of aqueous solution. Thirty days later,rats were sacrificed by anesthesia. Livers were obtained to detect TGF-β1 gene and protein expressions by RT-PCR and Western-Blot. Results Relative gene expression of TGF-β1 in the normal control,model control,glucyrrhizin aqueous and flavonoids groups was 0. 725±0. 130,7. 493±1. 410,3. 016±1. 240,and 2. 668±1. 150,respectively. Total flavonoids from portulaca significantly reduced the gene (P<0. 01) and protein (P<0. 01) expressions of TGF-β1 . Conclusion Efficacy of total flavonoids from portulaca in treating hepatic fibrosis may be related to decreased TGF-β1 expression in rats.

Combining with the data based on data mining,to collect the clinical experimental research ralating to thermal moxibustion from June 2010 to March 2015, and extract the representative clinical experimental research of clinical diseases. To summarize advances in clinic study of Thermal Moxibustion in recent five years.

Berberine(BBR),an isoquinoline alkaloid,has been found in many plants,such as Coptis chinensis Franch and Phellodendron chinense Schneid.Although BBR has a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects,its oral bioavailability is extremely low.In recent years,gut microbiota has emerged as a cynosure to un-derstand the mechanisms of action of herbal compounds.Numerous studies have demonstrated that due to its low bioavailability,BBR can interact with the gut microbiota,thereby exhibiting altered pharma-cological effects.However,no systematic and comprehensive review has summarized these interactions and their corresponding influences on pharmacological effects.Here,we describe the direct interactive relationships between BBR and gut microbiota,including regulation of gut microbiota composition and metabolism by BBR and metabolization of BBR by gut microbiota.In addition,the complex interactions between gut microbiota and BBR as well as the side effects and personalized use of BBR are discussed.Furthermore,we provide our viewpoint on future research directions regarding BBR and gut microbiota.This review not only helps to explain the mechanisms underlying BBR activity but also provides support for the rational use of BBR in clinical practice.

The latest research findings on bidirectional regulation of neuro-immunity through traditional neural circuits shed new light on the theoretical basis of the role of vidian neurectomy (VN). This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of VN, including the history of VN, the principle of neuroimmuno-interaction, the applied anatomy of VN as well as the methods of transnasal endoscopic surgery. Additionally, we introduce the concept of the nose-brain axis, which was proposed based on the advancement in the area of neuro-immune interactions.

[Objective]To explore if the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) who are undergoing elective cesarean delivery could cause perioperative glycemic abnormalities and heighten the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia.[Methods]A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of pregnant women with singleton pregnancies who underwent elective cesarean sections and received ERAS between May 1,2022,and October 31,2023,at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. A total of 150 patients were included in this study,comprising the GDM group (n=75) and the non-GDM group (n=75). The study included pregnant women with good glycemic control (GDM) and maternal age (18-30 years;30-35 years;35-40 years;>40 years),BMI (<18.5 kg/m2;18.5-24.9 kg/m2;25-30 kg/m2;>30 kg/m2),and gestational age (within 7 days). We used these criteria to match 1∶1 non-GDM women as the control group. After administering preoperative oral carbohydrates,we observed the trends of maternal glycemic changes,including hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia,at any time of the day. We also evaluated the incidence of hypoglycemic low Apgar scores in newborns,abnormal pH values in blood gases,and the rate of transfer to the pediatric unit immediately after delivery.[Results]No significant difference was observed in fasting blood glucose levels on the day of surgery between the two groups of pregnant women[(4.4±0.5) mmol/L vs. (4.3±0.5) mmol/L,t=1.395,P=0.165]. The blood glucose peak was reached 30 minutes after consuming 300 mL (42.6 g of low-dose carbohydrate) of a light drink[(7.2±0.9) mmol/L vs. (6.4±0.8) mmol/L,t=5.773,P<0.001],with a subsequent decline in blood glucose levels. At the 120-minute mark,blood glucose had returned to the pre-oral carbohydrate level. The blood glucose levels in GDM groups was significantly higher than those in the non-GDM group (P<0.005). Although the incidence of hyperglycemia was significantly higher in the GDM group than in the non-GDM group at the 30-minute peak blood glucose level after oral carbohydrate intake,and the difference was statistically significant (17.3％ vs. 1.3％,x2=11.354,P<0.001),severe hyperglycemia (≥10 mmol/L) did not occur. The incidence of hypoglycemia was not significantly higher in neonates in the GDM group than in the non-GDM group (22.7％ vs. 28％,x2=0.564,P=0.453). The incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia in the GDM group was not significantly elevated in comparison to the non-GDM group after adjusting for age and BMI (Model 1),primiparity and gestational week of delivery (Model 2),hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (Model 3),cesarean section indications,time of cesarean section,and intraoperative hemorrhage (Model 4),and neonatal weight (Model 5).[Conclusion]In GDM patients with excellent glycemic control,an ERAS regimen with a low oral dose of carbohydrates prior to elective cesarean section does not increase the risk of preoperative serious hyperglycemia in mothers,nor does it increase the incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia.

Aim To explore the mechanism of oxidized lipoprotein(a)(oxLp(a))inducing pyroptosis of vascu-lar endothelial cells.Methods After incubating human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)with 100 mg/L ox-Lp(a)for 24 hours,Western blot and RT-qPCR was used to detect pyroptosis related proteins,pro-inflammatory cytokines,mitochondrial related proteins NRF1,NRF2,PGC-1α and mitochondrial gene cytochrome b(CYTB),ELISA was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors,scanning electron microscopy was used to detect cell membrane rup-ture,transmission electron microscopy was used to detect mitochondrial morphology,Hoechst33342/PI staining was used to detect cell apoptosis,MitoSOX probe was used to detect mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(mtROS),Flu-4AM probe was used to detect calcium ions,JC-1 probe was used to detect mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),and Calcein AM staining was used to detect mitochondrial permeability transition pore(mPTP).Transfecting HUVEC with CYTB overexpressing lentivirus and analyzing its effects on oxLp(a)induced pyroptosis and mitochondrial function.Results After treatment with oxLp(a),the expression of NLRP3,pro-Caspase-1,Caspase-1,GSDMD and GSDMD-N proteins re-lated to pyroptosis were significantly increased(P＜0.05);the protein and mRNA levels of CYTB and pro-inflammatory cy-tokine IL-1β,IL-18 were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Small pores appeared on the cell membrane,the percentage of PI stained positive cells significantly increased(P＜0.05).OxLp(a)significantly inhibited the expression of mito-chondrial related proteins NRF1,NRF2 and PGC-1α,and the expression of mitochondrial gene CYTB,promoted an in-crease in mtROS generation,Ca2+overload,a decrease in ATP levels,a decrease in MMP,an increase in mPTP values,and abnormal mitochondrial morphology.After transfection with pHelper 2.0 lentivirus vector overexpressing CYTB,it was found that oxLp(a)induced HUVEC pyroptosis and mitochondrial morphological and functional abnormalities were par-tially reversed by overexpression of CYTB.Conclusion oxLp(a)promotes mitochondrial morphological and functional abnormalities and induces HUVEC pyroptosis by downregulating CYTB.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the diseases and effects of the manipulations to promoteby filiform needles, with the help of data mining technique.

METHODSLiterature about different manipulations to promoteby filiform needles in recent 60 years was collected in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI). Then databases were established to mine the relativities among the diseases, subjects, acupoints selection law,routes and directions of meridianand effects.

RESULTS①Total 489 articles were included. The basic manipulations with the frequency of 630 were on the top. The auxiliary and four methods ofrespectively appeared 70 times. The diseases in the internal medicine were treated with the basic and auxiliary methods of the higher frequencies, 311 and 44 times separately. While the four methods ofwere mostly used in the surgical area, 37 timestotally. ②The diseases treated from high to low by lifting, thrusting and twirling represented retention of urine, sequelae of stroke, pain in waist and lower limbs, of which the effect for retention of urine was better than those of the other two, and the lifting and thrusting method was superior to twirling. ③As for the auxiliary methods, 25 times were found about vibration needling; 18 times, twisting. The highest frequency of 6 times for the vibration needling was on the sequelae of stroke; while 4 times for the twisting, stranguria. ④As to the four methods of,was most frequently applied, and its highest frequency of 18 was onsyndrome.

CONCLUSIONSManipulations to promoteby filiform needles are crucial to achieving the effects of acupuncture. The basic methods are widely used in clinic and have been seen good efficacy. While the auxiliary means assist to promoteto stimulate the body,among which the four methods ofare mainly to smooth the meridians and driveof patients with surgical diseases and take meridian blocking the priority.