Objective:To observe the effect of Weijinkang Oral Liquid on rats'models with siliconic nodules and the diffuse fibrosis of the lungs.Methods:45 rats were randomly divided into the blank group,dust-affected group,and treatment group.The rats in the blank group were fed in normal environment.The rats in the dust-affected group were given regular feed.The dust-affected rats in the treatment group were administrated 1.0mL/100g of Weijinkang condensed liquid in 30% by stomach perfusion,two times daily(33 times of human's dosage).Five of each group were killed and anatomized in turn on the 15th day,the 30th and the 90th day.Results:On the 90th day the pathological test showed massive cartilaginous changes projecting to the pulmonary surface in the dust-affected group.There was no abnormality of lungs in both treatment group and blank group.After receiving Weijinkang Oral Liquid the rats in the treatment group showed greater weights than those in the dust-affected group,and the weights of fresh and dehydrated lungs were lighter than those in dust-affected group.Conclusion:Weijinkang Oral Liquid had certain effect on siliconic nodules and the diffuse fibrosis of the lungs caused by pneumonoconiosis.

BACKGROUND: As a candidate gene of congenital heart disease, ACTC1 gene is related to congenital atrial septal defect inhumans.OBJECTIVE: To perform a mutation screen of ACTC1 gene in 110 nuclear families of congenital heart disease.METHODS: A case-control study was conducted based on 110 nuclear families of congenital heart disease and 300 normalhuman beings with no reported cardiac malformation. Six fragments in the coding region of ACTC1 gene was amplified by PCR invitro using five primers pairs. PCR products were screened for gene mutations.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A novel G-to-A variant was found at the third nucleotide of the intron downstream from exon 5.This mutation existed in a 5-year-old female with an isolated ventricular septal defect and her 30-year-old father, who had noreported cardiac anomalies. This mutation was not detected in 300 normal controls. These findings indicate that the mutation maybe related with congenital ventricular septal defects in humans.

ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of Shenling Guchang prescription on blood glucose of gestational diabetes mellitus rats by regulating intestinal flora and short chain fatty acids. MethodThe 30 pregnant rats were randomly selected from 36 pregnant rats which were successfully pregnant. The model rats were fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet for 1 week， and 35 mg·kg^-1 streptozotocin （ STZ ） was given for 3 consecutive days to construct a gestational diabetes model. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into model group， metformin group， Shenling Guchang prescription low-， medium- and high-dose group. The high dose group of Shenling Guchang prescription was given 18 mg·kg^-1， the middle dose group was given 9 mg·kg^-1， the low dose group was given 4.5 mg·kg^-1 drug solution by gavage， the metformin group was given 52.5 mg·kg^-1 drug solution by gavage， the blank group and the model group were given equal volume of normal saline by gavage.At 24 h after the last administration， blood samples were collected from the tail tip of the rats to measure the blood glucose， and blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta under anesthesia to measure the levels of triglyceride （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） and low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）. Lipopolysaccharides （LPS）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and insulin （INS） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）.The intestinal tissue of rats was taken， and the pathological changes of intestinal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Fecal samples were collected from rats， 16S rRNA sequencing was used to detect intestinal flora， and short-chain fatty acids were detected by gas chromatography. ResultCompared with the blank group， the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the model group was significantly increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the Shenling Guchang prescription groups and the metformin group was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， the levels of blood glucose， TG， TC， HDL-C， LDL-C， LPS， IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.05）， and the intestinal tissues had different degrees of inflammatory changes and mucosal damage. Compared with the model group， the levels of blood glucose， TG， TC， HDL-C， LDL-C， LPS， IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α in each group of Shenling Guchang prescription and metformin group were down-regulated （P<0.05）， and intestinal inflammation and intestinal mucosal damage were improved. Compared with the blank group， the functional structure and diversity of intestinal flora in the model group changed （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the functional structure and diversity of intestinal flora in the Shenling Guchang prescription groups and the metformin group were reversed， and the trend was close to the blank group （P<0.05）.Compared with the blank group， the abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli， Enterococcus， Klebsiella， and Dustella in the model group was significantly increased， and the abundance of probiotics such as Prevotella， Prevotella， Akmania， Rombustella， and Lachnospiraceae was decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli， Enterococcus， Klebsiella， and Dustella was decreased （P<0.05）， and the abundance of probiotic bacteria such as Prevotella， Akmanella， Rombustella， and Lachnospira was increased （P<0.05） in the Shenling Guchang prescription groups and the metformin group. Compared with the blank group， the content of short-chain fatty acids in the model group was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the content of short-chain fatty acids in each group of Shenling Guchang prescription and metformin group increased （P<0.05）. Correlation analysis showed that Proteobacteria was positively correlated with inflammatory factors， blood glucose and blood lipid in gestational diabetes mellitus （P<0.05）. ConclusionShenling Guchang prescription has a good regulatory effect on blood glucose， blood lipids and adverse pregnancy outcomes in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus. Its efficacy is comparable to that of metformin sustained-release tablets. Its mechanism may be related to regulating the structure of intestinal flora， increasing the content of short-chain fatty acids， reducing LPS， IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， and improving intestinal inflammation.

Objective To investigate the value of peripheral blood soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R),CD4+lymphocyte percentage/CD8+lymphocyte percentage ratio(hereinafter referred to as CD4+/CD8+)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy in elderly patients with newly treated active pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods A total of 102 elderly patients with newly treated active tu-berculosis admitted to the hospital from December 2019 to December 2022 were enrolled in the study as the observation group,and 102 healthy people aged 60 and older who underwent physical examination in the hos-pital during the same period were enrolled as the control group.The levels of sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+in peripheral blood were compared between the two groups,and the correlations between sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+were analyzed.The observation group was treated with 2HRZE/4HR anti-tuberculosis treatment regimen.The levels of sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+in peripheral blood of patients with different efficacy before treatment,1 month and 6 months after treatment in the observation group were compared.The correla-tion between sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+,TNF-α levels and therapeutic effect was analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the efficacy of indicators in evaluating the efficacy of chemo-therapy in elderly patients.Results The levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,while CD4+/CD8+was lower than that in the control group,and the differ-ences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).In the observation group,sIL-2R and TNF-α were negatively correlated with CD4+/CD8+(P＜0.05),sIL-2R was positively correlated with TNF-α(P＜0.05).After 1 month and 6 months of treatment,the levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α in patients with apparent efficacy were low-er than those in patients with efficacy,and the latter were lower than those in patients with no effect,while the CD4+/CD8+in patients with apparent efficacy was higher than that in patients with efficacy,and the latter was higher than that in patients with no efficacy,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α were negatively correlated with the efficacy(P＜0.05),and CD4+/CD8+was positively correlated with the efficacy(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+,and TNF-α used in combination to assess efficacy was significantly greater than the AUCs of the single indicators used in the assessment at each time point of treatment(P＜0.05),and the AUC of the combination of the indicators was greater after 6 months of treatment than after 1 month of treatment(P＜0.05).Conclusion The levels of sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+and TNF-α are closely related to the ef-ficacy of chemotherapy in elderly patients with newly treated active pulmonary tuberculosis,and the combina-tion of the above indicators has certain reference value in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the interventional effects of Shugan Jianpi Yangxin prescription on the expression of orexin-A （OXA）， orexin-1 receptor （OX1R）， and orexin-2 receptor （OX2R） in the mouse model of insomnia. MethodThe mouse model of insomnia was established by intraperitoneal injection of DL-4-chlorophenylalanine （PCPA）. Fifty BALB/c mice were randomized into a blank group， a model group， an eszopiclone （0.13 mg·kg^-1） group， and low- and high-dose （8.4 and 33.6 g·kg^-1， respectively） Shugan Jianpi Yangxin prescription groups and treated with the corresponding drugs for 14 consecutive days. The weight changes of mice were monitored， and Morris water maze and pentobarbital-induced sleep tests were conducted. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was employed to examine the expression of OXA in the hypothalamus. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of OXA and 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） in the hypothalamus， serum， and spleen. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine the mRNA levels of OXA， OX1R， and OX2R in the hypothalamus. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group had decreased body weight （P<0.01）， increased escape latency （P<0.01）， increased sleep latency （P<0.01）， shortened sleep duration （P<0.01）， elevated OXA level and lowered 5-HT level in the hypothalamus， serum， and spleen （P<0.05）， and up-regulated mRNA levels of OXA， OX1R， and OX2R in the hypothalamus （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the low- and high-dose groups of Shugan Jianpi Yangxin prescription showed increased body weight （P<0.05， P<0.01）， shortened escape latency （P<0.05）， shortened sleep latency and prolonged sleep duration （P<0.01）， and lowered OXA level and elevated 5-HT level in the hypothalamus， serum， and spleen （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， the two doses of Shugan Jianpi Yangxin prescription down-regulated the mRNA levels of OXA， OX1R， and OX2R in the hypothalamus （P<0.01）. ConclusionShugan Jianpi Yangxin prescription exerts sedative and hypnotic effects in mice by increasing the content of 5-HT in the brain and inhibiting the expression of OXA and its receptors in the hypothalamus.

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of ginsenoside Rb 1（G-Rb1）on epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）of renal tubular epithelial cells and its potential mechanism. METHODS The growth factor β1（TGF-β1）10 ng/mL was used to induce EMT of human renal tubular epithelial cells HK- 2. The morphological changes of HK- 2 cells were observed after treated with 10， 20，30 μmol/L G-Rb1 for 48 h. The transcriptional activities of biovector SBE in human embryonic kidney cell HEK 293 were determined after 24 h treatment with 1.0，2.5，5.0，10，20，30 μmol/L G-Rb1. Effects of above concentration of G-Rb 1 on the viability of HK- 2 cells were determined after 24 h of treatment. mRNA expressions of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA），collagen Ⅰ （COL-Ⅰ）and fibronectin （FN）in HK- 2 cells were detected after treated with 10，20，30 μmol/L G-Rb1 for 24 h. The expressions of α-SMA，Smad3，p-Smad3，COL-Ⅰ，FN and E-cadherin were detected after treated with 10，20，30 μmol/L G-Rb1 for 24 h. RESULTS G-Rb1 of 10-30 μmol/L significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced EMT in HK- 2 cells and the increase of transcriptional activities of biovector SBE induced by TGF-β1（P＜0.05），but had no effects on relative activities of HK- 2 cells（P＞0.05）. The protein and mRNA expressions of α-SMA，COL-Ⅰ and FN ， the protein expressions of Smad 3 and p-Smad 3 were significantly up-regulated induced by TGF-β1（P＜0.05），while the protein expression of E-cadherin was significantly down- regulated（P＜0.05）；G-Rb1 could effectively reverse aboveprotein or mRNA expressions. CONCLUSIONS G-Rb1 can protect renal tubular epithelial cells from EMT induced byxiezhishen TGF-β1 to a certain extent ，which may be related to inhibiting the activation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Yishen tongluo formula （YSTLF） in improving abnormal lipid metabolism based on the sterol regulatory element binding proteins （SREBPs） pathway. METHODS Using C57BLKS/J （db/db） mice as model and C57BLKS/J （db/m） mice as normal control， the mechanism of 1， 2.5 and 5 g/kg YSTLF improving abnormal lipid metabolism of db/db mice was investigated by determining the liver coefficient， the contents of serum total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL） and high-density lipoprotein （HDL）， observing steatosis and lipid accumulation in liver tissue of mice， detecting the protein expressions of SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 as well as mRNA transcription levels of Srebp- 1c， Srebp-2 and their downstream lipid metabolism-related target genes （Fasn， Acc1， Scd5， Fads1， Hmgcr， Dhcr24， Insig-1， Fdps） in liver tissue of mice. Using low-fat cultured human liver cancer cell HepG2 as an in vitro cell model for abnormal lipid metabolism， and 25-HC （SREBPs inhibitor， 10 μmol/L） as the control， the effects of 125， 250 and 500 μg/mL YSTLF on protein expressions of SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 as well as mRNA transcription of SREBP-1c， SREBP-2 and their downstream lipid metabolism-related target genes were investigated to verify the mechanism in vitro. RESULTS 1， 2.5， 5 g/kg YSTLF significantly reduced the levels of TC， TG and LDL， the percentage of lipid droplet-positive region in liver tissue and liver coefficient， significantly down-regulated protein expressions of Pre-SREBP-1， n-SREBP-1， Pre-SREBP-2 and n-SREBP-2， and mRNA transcription of Srebp-1c， Srebp-2 and their downstream target genes in liver tissue， while significantly increased HDL level， with statistical significance （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. In the cell experiment in vitro， the expressions of the above-mentioned proteins and genes in the cells treated with YSTLF at 125， 250 and 500 μg/mL for 24 hours were consistent with those in the animal experiment； there was no significant difference in the expressions of the above-mentioned proteins and genes between inhibitor control group and 250， 500 μg/mL YSTLF groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS YSTLF can regulate the expression of transcription factor SREBPs， so as to inhibit the high expression of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis-related genes， promote the degradation of TC and TG， improve the abnormality of lipid metabolism and inhibit lipid accumulation， thus playing the role of lipid-lowering.