OBJECTIVETo study the effect of sour TCM compound Recipe (SCCR) on insulin resistance in experimental rats with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2), under the guidance of TCM doctrine of "sour restrains sweet".

METHODSModel rats of DM2 were established by 8 weeks' feeding with high calorie forage combined with intraperitoneal injection of small dose of streptozotocin, and treated with SCCR (15 g/kg of crude drug/day). Levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, free fatty acids (FFA), tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-alpha), combining capacity and constant of insulin receptor in liver were determined before treatment and 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment, and the insulin sensitive index was calculated. The data were compared with those in the model group (untreated), sweet TCM compound recipe group and bitter TCM compound group (treated with sweet and bitter Chinese drugs respectively) and the control group (treated with dimethyldiguanide).

RESULTSSCCR could markedly reduce the FBG, serum FFA and TNF-alpha levels in rat model of DM2, stimulate the secretion of insulin, raise the combining capacity and constant of insulin receptor in liver and improve the insulin sensitivity, as compared with the effect of sweet or bitter Chinese compound recipe, the difference was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCCR could improve the glucose metabolic disorder and ameliorate the degree of insulin resistance in DM2 model rats, with the effect superior to those with sweet or bitter taste, which illustrates primarily that the therapeutic principle of "sour restrains sweet" of TCM is true of science in a certain degree and having its guiding significance in clinical practice.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Drug Compounding ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats

Objective This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength. Methods We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength.Results In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (β=-2.119), As (β=-1.318), Sr (β=-2.480), Ba (β=0.781), Fe (β= 1.130) and Mn (β=-0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength (P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95％ confidence interval:-1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn (Pinteractions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).Conclusion In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided subserratus anterior plane block on postoperative analgesia in patients un-dergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.Methods:Sixty patients who underwent elective laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were enrolled between May 2022 and October 2023 at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute&Hospital.Patients were assigned into two groups us-ing a random number table method:the control(group C)and the ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block(SAPB)(group S).Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA)was administered at the end of the surgery.After surgery,visual analogue scale(VAS)of static pain scores was evaluated at 1,6,12,24,and 48 hours.PCIA pump was started at the VAS pain score≥4 after surgery,and sufentanil 0.1μg/kg was intravenously injected when the efficacy was inadequate.The requirement for PCIA use,time to first postoperative anal exhaust,first postoperative out-of-bed activity,first oral intake,and the duration of hospitalization stay were recorded for the two groups.Results:VAS scores were significantly lower at postoperative 1,6,and 12 h in group S than in group C(P<0.05).Additionally,the number of effective uses of PCIA,and rescue analgesia were significantly lower in group S[(6.1±0.4)(2)]than in group C[(18.6±1.4)(17)](P<0.001).The time to first postoperative anal exhaust,first postoperative out-of-bed activity,first oral intake,and duration of hospital stay were shortened in group S than in group C(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in other parameters between these two groups.Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided SAPB can reduce postoperative pain and facilitate fast recovery in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy patients.