AIM To investigate the effects of asiatic acid (AA) on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease (PD)-like motor symptoms in mice and its neuroprotective mechanism.METHODS Forty-five male C57BL/6 mice,except the nine mice in control group,were induced to be the PD models by peritoneal injection of 25 mg/kg MPTP for seven days and then were randomly assigned to model group,low-dose,high-dose AA groups and positive control group.Both the control group and the model group were administered with 0.5％ sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC-Na) solution,the AA groups were dosed with 12.5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg AA,respectively,and the positive control group was given 75 mg/kg daily intragastric gavage of levodopa for eleven days.On the twelfth day,behavioral tests were performed.Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells in substantia nigra were detected by immunohistochemistry.The mRNA expressions of iNOS,COX-2,TNF-α,IL-1β,and malonaldehyde (MDA) content in midbrain were measured.The levels of IL-1 β and TNF-α in the serum were detected using ELISA kits.RESULTS The mice treated with asiatic acid performed better in behavior tests than those in the model group (P ＜0.05,P ＜0.01).In addition,asiatic acid effectively protected the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra due to upregulated TH expression and increased number of TH positive cells (P ＜ 0.05).The asiatic acid-treated mice had their mRNA expressions of IL-1β,TNF-α,iNOS and COX-2 in midbrain markedly suppressed (P ＜0.05,P ＜0.01),and a significant MDA level decrease in the midbrain tissue as well (P ＜ 0.01).Furthermore,reductions of IL-1 β and TNF-α contents in the serum were observed (P ＜ 0.05,P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION Asiatic acid attenuates motor dysfunction and dopaminergic neuronal deficits in PD mice,and the neuroprotective mechanisms may attribute to its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point pricking-bloodletting plus auricular point sticking therapy for acne vulgaris. Methods: A total of 66 patients with acne vulgaris were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table, with 33 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with auricular point pricking-bloodletting plus auricular point sticking therapy, and the control group was treated only with auricular point sticking therapy. The treatments of both groups were performed twice a week, 4 weeks as a course of treatment, for 3 courses in total. The scores of skin lesions and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) scores were recorded before and after treatment to assess the clinical efficacy. Results: During the trial, there were 3 cases of drop-out both in the observation group and the control group. After 3 courses of treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was 96.7％, while that of the control group was 76.7％. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The intra-group comparison showed that the scores of skin lesion and DLQI were both decreased with the increase of treatment times, that was, the scores were lower than those at the previous time point (allP<0.05). After 1, 2, and 3 courses of treatment, the scores of skin lesion and DLQI of both groups were statistically different from those of the same group before treatment (allP<0.05). At every time point during the treatment, the scores of skin lesion and DLQI of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point pricking-bloodletting plus auricular point sticking has a better curative effect than auricular point sticking therapy alone in the treatment of acne vulgaris, and has a time-effect correlation.

To establish a method for determining the contents of six alkaloids (jatrorrhizine hydrochloride, columbamine hydrochloride, epiberberine hydrochloride, coptisine hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride, berberine hydrochloride) in six types of Coptidis Rhizoma pieces (crude pieces, ginger juice stir-fried pieces, vinegar stir-fried pieces, wine steamed pieces, wine stir-fried pieces, evodiae juice stir-fried pieces) by RP-HPLC, and explore the relationship with the curative effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and pharmacodynamics results. The chromatographic column was Welch XtimateTM C₁₈ (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm), with 0.1% triethylamine solution (adjust pH at 10 with ammonium bicarbonate and ammonia) as mobile phase A and acetonitrile as mobile phase B for gradient elution (0-15 min, 10%-25%B; 15-25 min, 25%-30%B; 25-40 min, 30%-45%B) at a rate of 1.0 mL•min⁻¹. The column temperature was set at 30 ℃, and the wavelength was set at 270 nm. The six alkaloids showed a good linear relationship within the range of 0.85-16.96 mg•L⁻¹ (r=0.999 7), 1.25-24.96 mg•L⁻¹ (r=0.999 9), 2.05-40.96 mg•L⁻¹ (r=0.999 9), 3.65-72.96 mg•L⁻¹ (r=0.999 9), 2.88-57.60 mg•L⁻¹ (r=0.999 8), and 13.25-264.96 mg•L⁻¹ (r=0.999 6) respectively. The average recoveries (n=9) of the six alkaloids were 102.4% (RSD 1.2%), 101.8% (RSD 1.3%), 100.3% (RSD 1.8%), 100.7%(RSD 1.8%), 101.2% (RSD 1.5%) and 97.90% (RSD 2.0%) respectively, and their average contents were 3.55, 4.49, 9.12, 19.17, 15.69, 62.56 mg•g⁻¹, respectively. This determination method was accurate and repeatable, which could be used for the content determination in six types of Coptidis Rhizoma pieces. Data analysis on contents determination and preliminary pharmacodynamics results was conducted by using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). The analysis results showed that three types of Coptidis Rhizoma pieces (wine steamed pieces, wine stir-fried pieces, and evodiae juice stir-fried pieces) had significant differences with crude pieces, and the wine steamed Coptidis Rhizoma pieces showed most difference with crude pieces especially, mainly related to triglyceride (TG) and fasting blood glucose levels (FBG) in serum. In addition, columbamine hydrochloride was most affected among the six alkaloids. Those three types of Coptidis Rhizoma pieces (wine steamed pieces, wine stir-fried pieces, and evodiae juice stir-fried pieces), had more advantages for "anti-diabetes" in TCM clinical application, especially in the treatment of diabetic hyperlipidemia.

The incidence of infertility has recently risen. Semen quality is an important male fertility indicator, and dietary factors can affect semen quality. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effects of healthy dietary patterns on semen quality. A literature search was conducted in 3 databases (Embase, Web of Science and PubMed) on August 21, 2021. The included cross-sectional studies examined the influence of the Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and prudent diet patterns on semen quality parameters; six studies (1244 subjects) were included. By comparing high consumption with low consumption of healthy dietary patterns, the results of the meta-analysis showed significantly higher sperm concentrations (mean difference [MD] = 6.88 × 10⁶ ml^-1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26 × 10⁶ ml^-1-12.49 × 10⁶ ml^-1; P < 0.05), a significant increase in total sperm count (MD = 16.70 × 10⁶, 95% CI: 2.37 × 10⁶-31.03 × 10⁶; P < 0.05), and a significant increase in progressive sperm motility (MD = 5.85%, 95% CI: 2.59%-9.12%; P < 0.01). The sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility, and total sperm count were significantly higher in men with higher versus lower consumption of healthy dietary patterns. However, the results must be interpreted with caution.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVE: To present an approach to phenotyping ACEs and explore the association between ACEs and adolescent health risky behaviors based on the social context of China. METHODS: Totally, 5,726 adolescents aged 12-18 years were investigated about their ACEs in the family, peer, school, and personal domains and the occurrence of six types of risky health behaviors (i.e., smoking, drinking, sexual intercourse, self-harm, and suicidal ideation and attempts). Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to explore the ACE patterns. RESULTS: Six latent classes of ACEs were identified, including low adversity, school adversity, school adversity and peer victimization, peer victimization, maltreatment and peer victimization, and high adversity, and associated with risky health behaviors in adolescents. Being physically punished by a teacher, experiencing sexual abuse, and experiencing family trauma most strongly differentiated from the six ACE classes and were correlated with an increased risk for risky adolescent health behaviors. CONCLUSION This study supports a positive association between ACEs and risky adolescent health behaviors. Peer victimization, school adversity and associated contexts need to be considered in future ACE studies.
Adverse Childhood Experiences ; Health Risk Behaviors ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Self-Injurious Behavior/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of integrated Chinese and Western medicine extending the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) patients after the first-line chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: The data of 67 LS-SCLC patients who received combined treatment of CM and Western medicine (WM) between January 2013 and May 2020 at the outpatient clinic of Guang'anmen Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-six LS-SCLC patients who received only WM treatment was used as the WM control group. The medical data of the two groups were statistically analyzed. Survival analysis was performed using the product-limit method (Kaplan-Meier analysis). The median OS and PFS were calculated, and survival curves were compared by the Log rank test. The cumulative survival rates at 1, 2, and 5 years were estimated by the life table analysis. Stratified survival analysis was performed between patients with different CM administration time. RESULTS: The median PFS in the CM and WM combination treatment group and the WM group were 19 months (95% CI: 12.357-25.643) vs. 9 months (95% CI: 5.957-12.043), HR=0.43 (95% CI: 0.27-0.69, P<0.001), respectively. The median OS in the CM and WM combination group and the WM group were 34 months (95% CI could not be calculated) vs. 18.63 months (95% CI: 16.425-20.835), HR=0.40 (95% CI: 0.24-0.66, P<0.001), respectively. Similar results were obtained in the further stratified analysis of whether the duration of CM administration exceeded 18 and 24 months (P<0.001). CONCLUSION The combination treatment of CM and WM with continuing oral administration of CM treatment after the first-line chemoradiotherapy for LS-SCLC patients produced better prognosis, lower risks of progression, and longer survival than the WM treatment alone. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200056616).
Humans ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/drug therapy* ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Combined Modality Therapy

Children's fever is often accompanied by food accumulation. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that removing food stagnation while clearing heat of children can effectively avoid heat damage. To systematically evaluate the efficacy of Xiaoer Chiqiao Qingre Granules(XRCQ) in clearing heat and removing food accumulation and explore its potential mechanism, this study combined suckling SD rats fed with high-sugar and high-fat diet with injection of carrageenan to induce rat model of fever and food accumulation. This study provided references for the study on the pharmacodynamics and mechanism of XRCQ. The results showed that XRCQ effectively reduced the rectal temperature of suckling rats, improved the inflammatory environment such as the content of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-2(IL-2), interferon-γ(IFN-γ), white blood cells, and monocytes. XRCQ also effectively repaired intestinal injury and enhanced intestinal propulsion function. According to the confirmation of its efficacy of clearing heat, the thermolytic mechanism of XRCQ was further explored by non-targeted and targeted metabolomics methods based on LTQ-Orbitrap MS/MS and UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. Non-target metabolomics analysis of brain tissue samples was performed by QI software combined with SIMCA-P software, and 22 endogenous metabolites that could be significantly regulated were screened out. MetaboAnalyst pathway enrichment results showed that the intervention mechanism was mainly focused on tyrosine metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, inositol phosphate metabolism, and other pathways. At the same time, the results of targeted metabolomics of brain tissue samples showed that XRCQ changed the vitality of digestive system, and inhibited abnormal energy metabolism and inflammatory response, playing a role in clearing heat and removing food stagnation from multiple levels.
Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Hot Temperature ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolomics ; Food ; Fever ; Interferon-gamma

Child ; Humans ; East Asian People ; Quality of Life ; Students ; Child Abuse, Sexual ; Young Adult ; Resilience, Psychological

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Xinling Wan on patients with stable angina pectoris, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo parallel-controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted. A total of 232 subjects were enrolled and randomly divided into experiment group and placebo group. The experiment group was treated with Xinling Wan (two pills each time, three times daily) for 4 weeks, and the placebo group was treated with placebo. The effectiveness evaluation showed that Xinling Wan could significantly increase the total duration of treadmill exercise among patients with stable angina pectoris. FAS analysis showed that the difference value of the total exercise duration was between experiment group (72.11±139.32) s and placebo group (31.25±108.32) s. Xinling Wan could remarkably increase the total effective rate of angina pectoris symptom score, and the analysis showed that the total effective rate was 78.95% in experiment group and 42.61% in placebo group. The reduction of nitroglycerin dose was (2.45±2.41) tablets in experiment group and (0.50±2.24) tablets in placebo group on the basis of FAS analysis. The decrease of symptom integral was (4.68±3.49) in experiment group and (3.19±3.31) in placebo group based on FAS analysis. Besides, Xinling Wan could decrease the weekly attack time and the duration of angina pectoris. PPS analysis results were similar to those of FAS analysis. In conclusion, Xinling Wan has an obvious therapeutic effect in treating stable angina pectoris, with a good safety and a low incidence of adverse event and adverse reaction in experiment group.