1.Mechanism of Astragaloside Ⅳ in Regulating PI3K/Akt Molecular Pathway in Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes Complications: A Review
Kexin HU ; Jinru ZHU ; Qing WU ; Shengmao WANG ; Mengfan WANG ; Ai QIAN ; Zhaohui FANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):307-314
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease caused by absolute or relative insulin deficiency and reduced insulin sensitivity in peripheral cells, posing a serious threat to global health. Chronic complications arising in the later stages of DM can lead to the decline or even loss of function in multiple organs, including the eyes, heart, liver, kidneys, nerves, and feet, making them the primary cause of mortality in DM patients. Although modern medicine has made some progress in the treatment of these complications, challenges such as high costs and adverse drug reactions remain. Thus, identifying highly effective drugs with minimal adverse effects has become a top priority. Astragalus membranaceus is a shining gem in the treasure trove of Chinese medicine. Numerous studies have shown that its primary active component, astragaloside Ⅳ, possesses various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral effects, as well as benefits for cardiac and cerebral function, nerve conduction, and myocardial protection. Meanwhile, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, apoptosis, and autophagy. Extensive research has highlighted the significant role of this pathway in various DM complications, leading to widespread studies on its interaction with astragaloside Ⅳ. This review summarizes research findings on how astragaloside Ⅳ alleviates pancreatic cytotoxicity in DM patients by modulating the PI3K/Akt pathway. Additionally, it highlights its protective effects on basic cardiac function, inhibition of retinal cell damage, improvement of cerebral nerve dysfunction, reduction of chronic kidney and liver damage, and mitigation of neurovascular toxicity in the lower limbs. These insights provide a valuable reference for the clinical application of A. membranaceus and its active monomer, astragaloside Ⅳ, in the treatment of DM and its complications.
2.Chemical constituents of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.
Qian-Wen LIU ; Rong-Qing ZHU ; Qian-Nan HU ; Xiang LI ; Guang YANG ; Zi-Dong QIU ; Zhi-Lai ZHAN ; Tie-Gui NAN ; Mei-Lan CHEN ; Li-Ping KANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):708-718
Sophorae Flavescentis Radix is one of the commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in China, and a large amount of pharmaceutical residue generated during its processing and production is discarded as waste, which not only wastes resources but also pollutes the environment. Therefore, elucidating the chemical composition of the residue of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and the differences between the residue and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix itself is of great significance for the comprehensive utilization of the residue. This study, based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology combined with multivariate statistical methods, provides a thorough characterization, identification, and differential analysis of the overall components of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue. Firstly, 61 compounds in Sophorae Flavescentis Radix were rapidly identified based on their precise molecular weight, fragment ions, and compound abundance, using a self-constructed compound database. Among them, 41 compounds were found in the residue, mainly alkaloids and flavonoids. Secondly, through principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), 15 key compounds differentiating Sophorae Flavescentis Radix from its residue were identified. These included highly polar alkaloids, such as oxymatrine and oxysophocarpine, which showed significantly reduced content in the residue, and less polar flavonoids, such as kurarinone and kuraridin, which were more abundant in the residue. In summary, this paper clarifies the overall composition, structure, and content differences between Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue, suggesting that the residue of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix can be used as a raw material for the extraction of its high-activity components, with promising potential for development and application in cosmetics and daily care. This research provides a scientific basis for the future comprehensive utilization of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*
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Mass Spectrometry/methods*
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Sophora/chemistry*
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Flavonoids/chemistry*
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Alkaloids/chemistry*
3.Data Spaces in Medicine and Health: Technologies, Applications, and Challenges.
Wan-Fei HU ; Si-Zhu WU ; Qing QIAN
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2025;40(1):18-28
Data space, as an innovative data management and sharing model, is emerging in the medical and health sectors. This study expounds on the conceptual connotation of data space and delineates its key technologies, including distributed data storage, standardization and interoperability of data sharing, data security and privacy protection, data analysis and mining, and data space assessment. By analyzing the real-world cases of data spaces within medicine and health, this study compares the similarities and differences across various dimensions such as purpose, architecture, data interoperability, and privacy protection. Meanwhile, data spaces in these fields are challenged by the limited computing resources, the complexities of data integration, and the need for optimized algorithms. Additionally, legal and ethical issues such as unclear data ownership, undefined usage rights, risks associated with privacy protection need to be addressed. The study notes organizational and management difficulties, calling for enhancements in governance framework, data sharing mechanisms, and value assessment systems. In the future, technological innovation, sound regulations, and optimized management will help the development of the medical and health data space. These developments will enable the secure and efficient utilization of data, propelling the medical industry into an era characterized by precision, intelligence, and personalization.
Humans
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Computer Security
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Information Dissemination
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Data Management
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Information Storage and Retrieval
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Data Mining
4.Gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk: an observational and Mendelian randomization study.
Yuanyue ZHU ; Linhui SHEN ; Yanan HUO ; Qin WAN ; Yingfen QIN ; Ruying HU ; Lixin SHI ; Qing SU ; Xuefeng YU ; Li YAN ; Guijun QIN ; Xulei TANG ; Gang CHEN ; Yu XU ; Tiange WANG ; Zhiyun ZHAO ; Zhengnan GAO ; Guixia WANG ; Feixia SHEN ; Xuejiang GU ; Zuojie LUO ; Li CHEN ; Qiang LI ; Zhen YE ; Yinfei ZHANG ; Chao LIU ; Youmin WANG ; Shengli WU ; Tao YANG ; Huacong DENG ; Lulu CHEN ; Tianshu ZENG ; Jiajun ZHAO ; Yiming MU ; Weiqing WANG ; Guang NING ; Jieli LU ; Min XU ; Yufang BI ; Weiguo HU
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(1):79-89
This study aimed to comprehensively examine the association of gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to estimate the observational associations of gallstones and cholecystectomy with cancer risk, using data from a nationwide cohort involving 239 799 participants. General and gender-specific two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was further conducted to assess the causalities of the observed associations. Observationally, a history of gallstones without cholecystectomy was associated with a high risk of stomach cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-4.28), liver and bile duct cancer (aOR=2.46, 95% CI 1.17-5.16), kidney cancer (aOR=2.04, 95% CI 1.05-3.94), and bladder cancer (aOR=2.23, 95% CI 1.01-5.13) in the general population, as well as cervical cancer (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.56) in women. Moreover, cholecystectomy was associated with high odds of stomach cancer (aOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.29-4.49), colorectal cancer (aOR=1.83, 95% CI 1.18-2.85), and cancer of liver and bile duct (aOR=2.58, 95% CI 1.11-6.02). MR analysis only supported the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer. This study added evidence to the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer, highlighting the importance of cancer screening in individuals with gallstones.
Humans
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Mendelian Randomization Analysis
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Gallstones/complications*
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Female
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Male
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Cholecystectomy/statistics & numerical data*
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Middle Aged
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Risk Factors
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Aged
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Adult
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Neoplasms/etiology*
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Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology*
5.Association between Serum Chloride Levels and Prognosis in Patients with Hepatic Coma in the Intensive Care Unit.
Shu Xing WEI ; Xi Ya WANG ; Yuan DU ; Ying CHEN ; Jin Long WANG ; Yue HU ; Wen Qing JI ; Xing Yan ZHU ; Xue MEI ; Da ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(10):1255-1269
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the relationship between serum chloride levels and prognosis in patients with hepatic coma in the intensive care unit (ICU).
METHODS:
We analyzed 545 patients with hepatic coma in the ICU from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Associations between serum chloride levels and 28-day and 1-year mortality rates were assessed using restricted cubic splines (RCSs), Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves, and Cox regression. Subgroup analyses, external validation, and mechanistic studies were also performed.
RESULTS:
A total of 545 patients were included in the study. RCS analysis revealed a U-shaped association between serum chloride levels and mortality in patients with hepatic coma. The KM curves indicated lower survival rates among patients with low chloride levels (< 103 mmol/L). Low chloride levels were independently linked to increased 28-day and 1-year all-cause mortality rates. In the multivariate models, the hazard ratio ( HR) for 28-day mortality in the low-chloride group was 1.424 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.041-1.949), while the adjusted hazard ratio for 1-year mortality was 1.313 (95% CI: 1.026-1.679). Subgroup analyses and external validation supported these findings. Cytological experiments suggested that low chloride levels may activate the phosphorylation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, promote the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and reduce neuronal cell viability.
CONCLUSION
Low serum chloride levels are independently associated with increased mortality in patients with hepatic coma.
Humans
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Male
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Female
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Middle Aged
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Intensive Care Units
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Prognosis
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Chlorides/blood*
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Aged
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Coma/blood*
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Adult
6.Expression of MCP-1 and CCR2 in Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Clinical Significance
Meng WANG ; Ping-Ping ZHANG ; Qing ZHU ; Zhong-Li HU ; Xue BAI ; Yan-Ping WU ; Jia-Jia LI
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(1):112-119
Objective:To analyze the expression of MCP-1 and CCR2 in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL),and to evaluate their correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis.Methods:A total of 141 patients with DLBCL diagnosed and treated in the Department of Hematology,the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from January 2017 to May 2022 were retrospectively collected.The clinical characteristics,pathological data and prognostic factors of the patients were collected.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of MCP-1 and CCR2 in the tissues of newly treated DLBCL patients,and to analyze the relationship between MCP-1 and clinical characteristics,prognosis and survival of patients.Results:The expression of MCP-1 and CCR2 were correlated with Ann Arbor stage,IPI score,lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),Ki-67 index and therapeutic effect.There were no significant correlation between the expression of MCP-1 or CCR2 and other clinical histopathological parameters such as gender,age,β2-microglobulin,BCL-2,BCL-6,Hans classification,initial location,B symptoms,bone marrow involvement.There was a statistical difference in OS and PFS between the MCP-1 or CCR2 positive group and the negative group,which was associated to poor prognosis.Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that β2-microglobulin,Ki-67 index,IPI score,MCP-1,CCR2 expression levels and disease remission affected the PFS and OS of DLBCL patients(P<0.05).Gender,age,LDH,BCL-2,BCL-6,Hans classification,primary tumor site,B symptoms,bone marrow involvement,Ann Arbor stage had no effect on PFS and OS(P>0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that β2-microglobulin,Ki-67 index,IPI score,MCP-1,CCR2 expression levels and disease remission were independent influencing factors of patients(P<0.05).Conclusion:The expression rate of MCP-1 or CCR2 in newly treated DLBCL is high,and it is correlated with the clinical features of poor prognosis such as stage and LDH of DLBCL patients,which is a poor prognostic factor affecting PFS and OS.
7.Effects of oral carbohydrate drinks before cesarean section on maternal and infant outcomes
Hao WANG ; Wei WU ; Hui-Qing LU ; Yong WANG ; Hao ZHU ; Jiang-Nan WU ; Yun ZHANG ; Rong HU
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2024;51(2):218-224
Objective To study the effect of drinking carbohydrate drinks before cesarean section on mothers and neonates,and to explore the application value of drinking carbohydrate drinks before cesarean section.Methods The clinical data of 206 singleton women who underwent selective cesarean section in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University from Jun 2020 to Jun 2021 were retrospectively studied.Patients were divided into enhanced recovery after delivery(ERAD)group and control group according to whether drinking carbohydrate drinks before cesarean section.A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the effect of preoperative carb drinks on preoperative fluid supplementation,postoperative rehabilitation and neonatal prognosis.Results Among patients who fasted for less than 12 hours,the ERAD group had a lower fluid supplementation rate and a smaller average fluid supplementation volume compared to the control group(P<0.05).The ERAD group had a lower rate of prokinetic agent using after surgery(P<0.05).Among women without a history of abdominal surgery,the ERAD group had less blood loss 24 hours after surgery(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in postoperative fever rate,incidence of nausea and vomiting,time of first flatus,neonatal apgar score,exit observation room neonatal blood,and neonatal neonatal intensive care unit(NICU)admission rate between the two groups.Among newborns with high-risk factors for hypoglycemia,the ERAD group had lower enter observation room neonatal blood compared to the control group,and a higher incidence of hypoglycemia(P<0.05).Conclusion Oral intake of carbohydrate drinks before cesarean section may be beneficial in reducing fluid supplementation before elective cesarean section,promoting postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery,and reducing postoperative bleeding.However,it may be related to the occurrence of neonatal hypoglycemia.
8.The mechanism of miR-10b targeting TGFBR1/SMAD3 pathway on chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophy in idiopathic short stature
Na HU ; Zhengyu LI ; Chunfeng YE ; Ying WU ; Qing YAO ; Shixiang HUANG ; Wen LI ; Haiqin ZHU
Tianjin Medical Journal 2024;52(2):124-128
Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of microRNA-10b(miR-10b)on idiopathic short stature(ISS).Methods A total of 54 children with ISS and 54 healthy children were collected.The serum expression of miR-10b was detected by RT-qPCR,and the relationship between serum miR-10b expression and clinical data of children with ISS was analyzed.miR-10b inhibitor,si-TGFBR1 and their negative control transfection C28/I2 cells were used.CCK-8 experimental detection was used to detect C28/I2 cell proliferation.Western blot assay was used to detect gnome related transcription factor 2(RUNX2),collagen type X alpha 1 chain(COL10A1),transforming growth factor beta receptor 1(TGFBR1),SMAD3 and pSMAD3 protein expression.The target of miR-10b was screened in StarBase database,and the targeting relationship between miR-10b and TGFBR1 was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay.Results The serum expression of miR-10b was higher in the ISS group than that of the healthy control group,and the higher the miR-10b expression,the more obvious the decrease of child height,IGF-1 and alkaline phosphatase(P<0.05).Compared with the NC group,the cell proliferation ability and RUNX2,COL10A1,TGFBR1,and pSMAD3 protein expression were up-regulated in the miR-10b inhibitor group(P<0.05).StarBase database suggested that miR-10b had a binding site of TGFBR1,and dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that TGFBR1 interacted with miR-10b(P<0.05).Compared with the si-NC group,the expression of TGFBR1 was down-regulated and the cell proliferation ability was decreased in the si-TGFBR1 group(P<0.05).Conclusion miR-10b inhibits chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophy in idiopathic short stature by targeting TGFBR1/SMAD3 pathway.
9.Identification of TEAD1 Transcripts and Functional Analysis in Chicken Preadipocytes
Min PENG ; Hu XU ; Zi-Qiu JIA ; Qing-Zhu YANG ; Lin PAN ; Wei-Yu WANG ; Ling-Zhe KONG ; Ying-Ning SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(1):215-229
ObjectiveAlthough expression of the TEAD1 protein in preadipocytes has been established, its function remains unclear. In this study, we sought to detect transcripts of TEAD1 in chicken and to examine the effects of this protein on the proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and differentiation of immortalized chicken preadipocyte cell lines (ICP1). MethodsThe full-length sequence of the TEAD1 gene was cloned and the two transcripts were subjected to bioinformatics analysis. The subcellsular localization of TEAD1 transcripts was determined based on indirect immunofluorescence. The effects of TEAD1 transcripts overexpression on the proliferation of ICP1 cells were examined by RT-qPCR, CCK-8, and EdU assays; the effects of TEAD1 transcripts on ICP1 cells migration were examined based on the scratch test; and the effects of TEAD1 transcripts overexpression on ICP1 cells apoptosis were analyzed using apoptosis-Hoechst staining and RT-qPCR. The expression of TEAD1 transcripts in different tissues, cells lines, and ICP1 at different periods of differentiation was analyzed by RT-qPCR. The effects of TEAD1 transcripts overexpression on lipid droplet accumulation and adipogenic-related gene expression in ICP1 cells were analyzed based on Oil Red O and BODIPY staining, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. Finally, the content of triglyceride (TG) was measured in TEAD1 overexpressed ICP1 cells. ResultsThe full-length TEAD1 was cloned and two TEAD1 transcripts were identified. The TEAD1-V1 protein was found to be localized primarily in the cell nucleus, whereas the TEAD1-V2 protein is localized in the cell cytoplasm and nucleus. The overexpression of both TEAD1-V1 and TEAD1-V2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of ICP1 cells. Whereas the overexpression of TEAD1-V1 promoted ICP1 cell migration, the overexpression of TEAD1-V2 had no significant effects on ICP1 migration; the overexpression of both TEAD1-V1 and TEAD1-V2 significantly promoted the apoptosis of ICP1 cells. We found that the different transcripts of TEAD1 have similar expression pattern in different tissues and cells lines. During induced preadipocyte differentiation, the expression of these genes initially declined, although subsequently increased. Overexpression of TEAD1-V1 promoted a significant reduction in lipid droplet formation and inhibited C/EBPα expression during the differentiation of ICP1 cells (P<0.05). However, the overexpression of TEAD1-V2 had no significant effect on lipid droplet accumulation or the expression of adipogenic-related proteins (P>0.05). Overexpression of TEAD1-V1 significantly decreased triglyceride content in ICP1 cells (P<0.05), while overexpression of TEAD1-V2 had no effect on triglyceride content in ICP1 cells (P>0.05). ConclusionIn this study, for the first time, identified two TEAD1 transcripts. Overexpressed transcripts TEAD1-V1 and TEAD1-V2 both inhibited the proliferation of chicken preadipocytes and promoted apoptosis of chicken preadipocytes. TEAD1-V1 inhibited the differentiation of preadipocytes and promoted the migration of preadipocytes, while TEAD1-V2 had no effect on the differentiation and migration of preadipocytes.
10.Clinical trial of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides in the continuation treatment of adults with mild and moderate depression
Shu-Zhe ZHOU ; Zu-Cheng HAN ; Xiu-Zhen WANG ; Yan-Qing CHEN ; Ya-Ling HU ; Xue-Qin YU ; Bin-Hong WANG ; Guo-Zhen FAN ; Hong SANG ; Ying HAI ; Zhi-Jie JIA ; Zhan-Min WANG ; Yan WEI ; Jian-Guo ZHU ; Xue-Qin SONG ; Zhi-Dong LIU ; Li KUANG ; Hong-Ming WANG ; Feng TIAN ; Yu-Xin LI ; Ling ZHANG ; Hai LIN ; Bin WU ; Chao-Ying WANG ; Chang LIU ; Jia-Fan SUN ; Shao-Xiao YAN ; Jun LIU ; Shou-Fu XIE ; Mao-Sheng FANG ; Wei-Feng MI ; Hong-Yan ZHANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(6):815-819
Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides in the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression.Methods An open,single-arm,multi-center design was adopted in our study.Adult patients with mild and moderate depression who had received acute treatment of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides were enrolled and continue to receive Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules for 24 weeks,the dose remained unchanged during continuation treatment.The remission rate,recurrence rate,recurrence time,and the change from baseline to endpoint of Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Clinical Global Impression-Severity(CGI-S)and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale(ASEX)were evaluated.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was reported.Results The scores of HAMD-17 at baseline and after treatment were 6.60±1.87 and 5.85±4.18,scores of HAMA were 6.36±3.02 and 4.93±3.09,scores of CGI-S were 1.49±0.56 and 1.29±0.81,scores of ASEX were 15.92±4.72 and 15.57±5.26,with significant difference(P<0.05).After continuation treatment,the remission rate was 54.59%(202 cases/370 cases),and the recurrence rate was 6.49%(24 cases/370 cases),the recurrence time was(64.67±42.47)days.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 15.35%(64 cases/417 cases).Conclusion Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules can be effectively used for the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression,and are well tolerated and safe.

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