ObjectiveTo assess the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine compound Shenlong decoction in addressing the symptoms of pulmonary deficiency and stasis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF）. MethodsSixty eligible patients with lung deficiency and collateral stasis syndrome of IPF were randomly assigned to the observation （30 patients） and control groups （30 patients）. All patients underwent standard Western medical therapy. Additionally，the observation group received Shenlong decoction granules，while the control group received a placebo. Both treatments were packaged in four doses of 10.5 g each，taken twice daily for three months. The indexes of the patients during the treatment cycle were observed，and the main indexes include traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores and 6 min walk test （6MWT）. The secondary indexes include pulmonary function test ［actual value/expected value of total lung volume （TLC%），actual value/expected value of vital capacity（FVC%），actual/predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide（DLCO%），actual/predicted forced expiratory volume in one second （FEV₁%），and FEV₁/ forced vital capacity （FVC）］，blood gas analysis ［arterial blood diathesis partial pressure of oxygen （PaO₂），partial pressure of carbon dioxide （PaCO₂），and arterial oxygen saturation （SaO₂）］，serum inflammatory factors ［transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁），interleukin-4 （IL-4），interleukin-13 （IL-13），interleukin-12 （IL-12），and gamma-interferon （IFN-γ）］，and quality of survival evaluation ［St George's Respiratory Questionnaire （SGRQ） score］. The patients' clinical manifestations were determined at the end of the treatment， and the occurrence of adverse events was recorded. ResultsA total of 53 patients completed the study，comprising 27 in the control group and 26 in the observation group. Upon completion of the treatment period，the control group achieved a total effective rate of 33.33% （9/27），whereas the observation group demonstrated a total effective rate of 53.85% （14/26），which was statistically superior to the control group （χ²=4.034，P<0.05）. After the treatment，the TCM syndrome scores，6MWT，DLCO%，FEV₁%，PaO₂，PaCO₂，TGF-β₁，IL-4，IL-13，IL-12，and IFN-γ in the two groups were all significantly improved （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the control group after treatment at the same period，the TCM syndrome scores，6MWT，PaO₂，and PaCO₂ were significantly improved in the observation group after 60 days and 90 days of medication （P<0.01）. Three months after the end of medication，the SGRQ score in the observation group showed significant improvement when compared to that in the control group （P<0.05），and no severe adverse events were reported during the follow-up period. ConclusionCompound Shenlong decoction can alleviate clinical symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing in patients with lung deficiency and collateral stasis syndrome of IPF，enhance exercise tolerance，improve the quality of life，and have certain potential advantages in improving pulmonary function.

ObjectiveTo assess the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine compound Shenlong decoction in addressing the symptoms of pulmonary deficiency and stasis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF）. MethodsSixty eligible patients with lung deficiency and collateral stasis syndrome of IPF were randomly assigned to the observation （30 patients） and control groups （30 patients）. All patients underwent standard Western medical therapy. Additionally，the observation group received Shenlong decoction granules，while the control group received a placebo. Both treatments were packaged in four doses of 10.5 g each，taken twice daily for three months. The indexes of the patients during the treatment cycle were observed，and the main indexes include traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores and 6 min walk test （6MWT）. The secondary indexes include pulmonary function test ［actual value/expected value of total lung volume （TLC%），actual value/expected value of vital capacity（FVC%），actual/predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide（DLCO%），actual/predicted forced expiratory volume in one second （FEV₁%），and FEV₁/ forced vital capacity （FVC）］，blood gas analysis ［arterial blood diathesis partial pressure of oxygen （PaO₂），partial pressure of carbon dioxide （PaCO₂），and arterial oxygen saturation （SaO₂）］，serum inflammatory factors ［transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁），interleukin-4 （IL-4），interleukin-13 （IL-13），interleukin-12 （IL-12），and gamma-interferon （IFN-γ）］，and quality of survival evaluation ［St George's Respiratory Questionnaire （SGRQ） score］. The patients' clinical manifestations were determined at the end of the treatment， and the occurrence of adverse events was recorded. ResultsA total of 53 patients completed the study，comprising 27 in the control group and 26 in the observation group. Upon completion of the treatment period，the control group achieved a total effective rate of 33.33% （9/27），whereas the observation group demonstrated a total effective rate of 53.85% （14/26），which was statistically superior to the control group （χ²=4.034，P<0.05）. After the treatment，the TCM syndrome scores，6MWT，DLCO%，FEV₁%，PaO₂，PaCO₂，TGF-β₁，IL-4，IL-13，IL-12，and IFN-γ in the two groups were all significantly improved （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the control group after treatment at the same period，the TCM syndrome scores，6MWT，PaO₂，and PaCO₂ were significantly improved in the observation group after 60 days and 90 days of medication （P<0.01）. Three months after the end of medication，the SGRQ score in the observation group showed significant improvement when compared to that in the control group （P<0.05），and no severe adverse events were reported during the follow-up period. ConclusionCompound Shenlong decoction can alleviate clinical symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing in patients with lung deficiency and collateral stasis syndrome of IPF，enhance exercise tolerance，improve the quality of life，and have certain potential advantages in improving pulmonary function.

In a healthy human, the airway mucus forms a thin, protective liquid layer covering the surface of the respiratory tract. It comprises a complex blend of mucin, multiple antibacterial proteins, metabolic substances, water, and electrolytes. This mucus plays a pivotal role in the lungs' innate immune system by maintaining airway hydration and capturing airborne particles and pathogens. However, heightened mucus secretion in the airway can compromise ciliary clearance, obstruct the respiratory tract, and increase the risk of pathogen colonization and recurrent infections. Consequently, a thorough exploration of the mechanisms driving excessive airway mucus secretion is crucial for establishing a theoretical foundation for the eventual development of targeted drugs designed to reduce mucus production. Across a range of lung diseases, excessive airway mucus secretion manifests with unique characteristics and regulatory mechanisms, all intricately linked to mucin. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms associated with excessive airway mucus secretion in several prevalent lung diseases.
Humans ; Mucus/metabolism* ; Mucins/physiology* ; Lung Diseases/metabolism* ; Respiratory Mucosa/metabolism* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/physiopathology* ; Asthma/physiopathology* ; Cystic Fibrosis/physiopathology* ; Mucociliary Clearance/physiology*

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of hemorrhoids suppositories plus fumigation and hip bath with Chinese medicine on postoperative pain and edema of patients with mixed hemorrhoids.Methods A total of 62 cases of mixed hemorrhoids to be treated surgically were randomly divided into the trial group and the control group,with 31 cases in each group.Both groups of patients were given the surgery of mixed hemorrhoids(high ligation of hemorrhoids or Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy)and routine postoperative nursing.Additionally,the control group was treated with rectal hemorrhoids suppository,and the trial group was treated with rectal hemorrhoids suppository plus fumigation and hip bath with Chinese medicines of Carthami Flos,Persicae Semen,Corydalis Rhizoma,Talcum,Toosendan Fructus,Aurantii Fructus,Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex,Myrrha,and Olibanum.The course of treatment for the two groups covered 2 weeks.The changes of pain score and edema score in the two groups were observed before and after treatment,and time for the relief of the symptoms,clinical efficacy and therapeutic satisfaction were also compared.Results(1)After 2 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate of the trial group was 96.77%(30/31),and that of the control group was 80.65%(25/31).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the therapeutic efficacy of the trial group was significantly superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the pain scores and edema scores of patients in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of the scores in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group with statistically significant difference(P＜0.01).(3)The time for pain relief and time for edema subsidence in the trial group were significantly shorter than those of the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).(4)The total satisfaction rate of the trial group was 96.77%(30/31),while that of the control group was 77.42%(24/31).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the therapeutic satisfaction of the trial group was significantly superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The therapeutic effect of hemorrhoids suppository plus fumigation and hip bath with Chinese medicine in treating postoperative pain and edema of mixed hemorrhoids is remarkably,and the therapy can effectively improve the degree of edema and pain,promote the recovery of the patients,and improve the patient's therapeutic satisfaction.

Objective:To explore the relationship between BMI and levels of plasma amino acids and acylcarnitines in Chinese adults.Methods:Based on 2 182 individuals with targeted mass spectrometry metabolomic measurements from the first resurvey of the China Kadoorie Biobank, we assessed the linear and nonlinear associations between BMI and plasma levels of 20 amino acids and 40 acylcarnitines using linear regression models and restricted cubic spline models, and identified BMI-related metabolic pathways. We conducted one-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) with BMI genetic risk scores as the instrumental variable further to explore the potential causal relationships between BMI and 20 amino acids and 40 acylcarnitines, and tested for horizontal pleiotropy using the MR-Egger method.Results:Observational analyses found that BMI was associated with increased plasma levels of 3 branched-chain amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, and valine), 2 aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine and tyrosine), 3 other amino acids (cysteine, glutamate, lysine), and 7 acylcarnitines (C3, C4, C5, C10, C10:1, C14, and C16), and with decreased circulating levels of asparagine, serine, and glycine. Pathway analysis identified 7 BMI-related amino acids metabolic pathways (false discovery rate corrected all P<0.05), including branched-chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, etc. BMI showed a nonlinear relationship with leucine, valine, and threonine, and a linear relationship with other amino acids and acylcarnitines. One-sample MR analyses revealed that BMI was associated with elevated levels of tyrosine and 4 acylcarnitines [C5-DC(C6-OH), C5-M-DC, C12-DC, and C14], with tyrosine and acylcarnitine C14 positively correlated with BMI in both observational [the β values (95% CIs) were 0.057 (0.044-0.070) and 0.018 (0.005-0.032), respectively] and One-sample MR analyses [the β values (95% CIs) were 0.102 (0.035-0.169) and 0.104 (0.036-0.173), respectively]. The MR analyses of the current study satisfied the 3 core assumptions of instrumental variable. Conclusions:BMI was associated with circulating 11 amino acids and 7 acylcarnitines in Chinese adults, involving several pathways such as branched-chain amino acid and aromatic amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and oxidative stress. There may be a causal relationship between BMI and tyrosine and acylcarnitine C14.

Objective To analyze the configuration of testing equipment in blood testing laboratories of blood stations in Shandong Province to facilitate to optimize equipment configuration for blood testing laboratories.Methods Questionnaires were distributed to obtain information on the number,the proportions of domestic and imported equipment,the usage time and the number of annual sample detection for the testing equipment of 17 blood testing laboratories(one laboratory from blood center and 16 laboratories from central blood stations)in Shandong Province,including the equipment for blood group testing,alanine aminotransferase(ALT)testing,sample adding of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),ELISA micro-plate processing and nucleic amplification test(NAT).The testing equipment in the laboratories with different sizes were analyzed in terms of substitutability,localization,number of annual sample detection and average usage time.Results The blood group and ALT testing equipment had low substitutability;the imported equipment for ALT testing and ELISA sample adding had high proportions;the numbers of yearly sample detection of the equipment for ELISA sample adding,ELISA microplate processing and NAT rose significantly with the increase of laboratory sizes(P＜0.05);the equipment for ELISA sample adding and microplate processing had long usage time,and the differences between the usage time of the equipment for ELISA sample adding from the laboratories with different sizes were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The equipment configuration of blood testing laboratories of blood stations in Shandong Province varies greatly,and each laboratory has to take measures based on their own actual situations,such as increasing the number of equipment,purchasing domestic equipment or accelerating equipment updating.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(3):81-85]

Glycine receptors (GlyRs) belong to the ligand-gated ion channel receptor superfamily and are widely distributed throughout the central nervous system. GlyRs are essential for maintaining visual, auditory, sensory and motor functions, and abnormalities in its structure and function can lead to various neurological disorders. This review aims to provide an extensive analysis of the structure, function and regulatory mechanisms of GlyRs, and evaluate its role in various central nervous system diseases. Ultimately, this review will provide theoretical support for the development of novel drugs specifically targeting GlyRs.
Receptors, Glycine/physiology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Central Nervous System Diseases/metabolism*

This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in urban and rural China. A prospective cohort study was conducted from February 2014 to January 2016, with follow-up from June to December 2018. Women aged ≽20 years were recruited from urban and rural areas in six provinces of China using a multistage, stratified, cluster sampling method. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire. A total of 16 827 women without sexual dysfunction at baseline participated in this study, 9489 of them (urban, 5321; rural, 4168) who had complete information from baseline to follow-up were included in the final analysis. The rate of follow-up was 68.81%, and the median follow-up time was 4.13 years. The 4-year incidence of FSD was 43.07%, with an incidence density of 12.02 per 100 person-years. In particular, the 4-year incidence and incidence density of FSD were 41.03% and 11.88 per 100 person-years in the urban group and 45.68% and 12.17 per 100 person-years in the rural group. Among women with sexual dysfunction, difficulties in sexual desire, satisfaction, and arousal were the main symptoms. In urban women, the risk factors for FSD included age ≽45 years (adjusted relative risk 1.69, 95% confidence interval 1.57-1.81), hypertension (1.31, 1.14-1.49), previous delivery (1.26, 1.13-1.41), post-menopausal status (1.20, 1.10-1.32), pelvic inflammatory disease (1.13, 1.05-1.21), and multiparity (1.11, 1.03-1.19). In the rural group, the risk factors significantly associated with FSD were age ≽45 years (1.50, 1.40-1.61), previous delivery (1.39, 1.17-1.65), hypertension (1.18, 1.06-1.30), multiparity (1.16, 1.07-1.27), and post-menopausal status (1.15, 1.07-1.23). FSD is a hidden epidemic condition in China, and the development of prevention strategies should consider the distinct risk factors present in rural and urban areas.
Humans ; Female ; China/epidemiology* ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Adult ; Incidence ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Urban Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology* ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objective: A Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to assess the relationship between tea consumption and cancer. Methods: There were 100 639 participants with the information of gene sequencing of whole genome in the China Kadoorie Biobank. After excluding those with cancer at baseline survey, a total of 100 218 participants were included in this study. The baseline information about tea consumption were analyzed, including daily tea consumption or not, cups of daily tea consumption, and grams of daily tea consumption. We used the two-stage least square method to evaluate the associations between three tea consumption variables and incidence of cancer and some subtypes, including stomach cancer, liver and intrahepatic bile ducts cancer, colorectal cancer, tracheobronchial and lung cancer, and female breast cancer. Multivariable MR and analysis only among nondrinkers were used to control the impact of alcohol consumption. Sensitivity analyses were also performed, including inverse variance weighting, weighted median, and MR-Egger. Results: We used 54, 42, and 28 SNPs to construct non-weighted genetic risk scores as instrumental variables for daily tea consumption or not, cups of daily tea consumption, and grams of daily tea consumption, respectively. During an average of (11.4±3.0) years of follow-up, 6 886 cases of cancer were recorded. After adjusting for age, age², sex, region, array type, and the first 12 genetic principal components, there were no significant associations of three tea consumption variables with the incidence of cancer and cancer subtypes. Compared with non-daily tea drinkers, the HR (95%CI) of daily tea drinkers for cancer and some subtypes, including stomach cancer, liver and intrahepatic bile ducts cancer, colorectal cancer, tracheobronchial and lung cancer, and female breast cancer, are respectively 0.99 (0.78-1.26), 1.17 (0.58-2.36), 0.86 (0.40-1.84), 0.85 (0.42-1.73), 1.39 (0.85-2.26) and 0.63 (0.28-1.38). After controlling the impact of alcohol consumption and performing multiple sensitivity analyses, the results were similar. Conclusion: There is no causal relationship between tea consumption and risk of cancer in population in China.
Humans ; Female ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis/methods* ; Tea ; Breast Neoplasms ; Lung Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genome-Wide Association Study