1.Development of the Spleen Deficiency Evidence Scale for County Residentsand Test of Reliability and Validity
Meng ZHU ; Lingjuan JIA ; Fuzhen PAN ; Huiqing CHEN ; Jing XIAO ; Pengfei SHAO ; Yuxuan GONG ; Weifang ZHENG ; Yongsheng ZHANG ; Xiaqiu WU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;26(7):1939-1945
Objective This study was to develop a"Spleen Deficiency Certificate Scale for County Residents"and test its reliability.It was then developed as an objective tool for Chinese medicine evidence and symptoms for the prevention and control of chronic diseases among county residents.Methods The scale was compiled based on the team's previous foundation.The reliability of the scale was evaluated using internal consistency reliability and split-half reliability,while its validity was evaluated using structural validity,content validity,calibration validity,and discriminant validity.Results The study included 213 adults from Lanxi,of whom 155 were tested for intestinal flora.Seven scale entries were identified:Fatigue,fear of cold,bland mouth,loss of appetite,diarrhea,weak bowel movements,and tooth-marked tongue.In the reliability test,Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.828 and McDonald's ω coefficient was 0.825.The"stomach pain"and"bloating"entries did not meet the inclusion requirements and were recommended to be deleted.The Spearman-Brown coefficient was 0.839.The exploratory factor analysis of the two common factors explained 61.6%of the cumulative variance.The calibration validity indicated that the ratio of salivary amylase activity before and after acid stimulation was 0.826±0.253 in the group with spleen deficiency.Significant differences(P<0.05)in the genera Dialister,Shigella,Leuconostoc,Photobacterium,Trabulsiella,and Parvimonas between the spleen deficiency group and the non-spleen deficiency group.Conclusion The Spleen Deficiency Scale for County Residents demonstrates good reliability and validity.
2.Analysis of Mechanism of Qinggan Jianpi Huoxue Prescription in Treatment of Hepatic Fibrosis Rats by Regulating M1/M2 Macrophages
Fuzhen PAN ; Hongxin CAO ; Yongsheng ZHANG ; Xiaqiu WU ; Weifang ZHENG ; Ding LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(21):94-102
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Qinggan Jianpi Huoxue prescription(QGJPHXP) on the polarization of M1/M2 macrophages in rats with hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4). MethodA rat hepatic fibrosis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 40% CCl4-olive oil suspension twice a week at the dosage of 2.0 mL·kg-1 for 8 weeks. After the model was successfully established, these rats were randomly divided into the model group, QGJPHXP group(32.084 g·kg-1) and Biejiajian pills(BJJP) group(0.925 5 g·kg-1), with 12 rats in each group. The blank group was injected intraperitoneally with the same amount of olive oil. The rats in the administration groups were given the corresponding solution according to the dose, and the blank and model groups were given the same dose of purified water, once a day. After 4 weeks of continuous administration, the liver tissues of rats were taken and stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Masson to observe the pathological changes. The serums were collected to detect the alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels. Interleukin(IL)-6, IL-12, IL-10, IL-1β, transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels in liver tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression levels of CD86 and CD206 were detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC). Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), arginase-1(Arg-1), phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p-p38 MAPK), nuclear transcription factor-κB p65(NF-κB p65) in liver tissues of rats. ResultCompared with the blank group, the hepatic cell plate was irregularly arranged, and local inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous hyperplasia were observed, while the serum levels of ALT and AST were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01), and IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TGF-β1, TNF-α, CD86, CD206, iNOS, p-p38 MAPK,p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 levels in liver tissues were obviously increased(P<0.05, P<0.01), while the levels of IL-10 and Arg-1 were obviously decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, QGJPHXP group reduced the degree of liver cell fibrosis,and serum levels of ALT and AST(P<0.01), and IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TGF-β1, TNF-α, CD86, iNOS, p-p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, and NF-κB p65 levels in liver tissues were obviously decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01), the levels of IL-10, CD206 and Arg-1 were obviously increased in the QGJPHXP group(P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionQGJPHXP has ability to inhibit the activation of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages, induce the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines by M2 macrophages, reduce the release of pro-fibrogenic cytokines, and promote the macrophage polarization of M1 to M2 in liver for tissue repair, thereby serving as an anti-inflammatory and anti-hepatic fibrosis drug.