Objective To investigate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) in a mouse model and to analyze the possible mechanism.Methods Fifty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups and respectively given normal diet (ND group), high-fat diet (HFD group), HFD containing Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (HFD+L) (2.2×109 CFU/ml), HFD containing FOS (HFD+FOS) (4 g/kg per day) and HFD containing Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 and FOS for 16 consecutive weeks.Levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and diamine oxidase (DAO) in serum samples from each group were measured.Expression of tight-junction proteins (Claudin-1 and Occludin), p38 and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) in intestinal tissues were analyzed.Results Compared with the HFD group, the HFD+FOS+L group showed decreased levels of TC, TG, LDL, LPS and DAO in serum samples, but increased serum HDL level (P<0.05).Moreover, combined treatment with Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 and FOS alleviated liver lipid deposition, significantly increased the expression of Claudin-1 and Occludin in intestine and inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 (P<0.05).Conclusion Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with FOS may increase the expression of Claudin-1 and Occludin through inhibiting the phosphorylation of intestinal p38, which is conducive to maintaining the intestinal mucosal barrier integrity and alleviating NAFLD.

To systematically construct a guideline to provide a methodological guide for researchers to develop patient decision aids.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice and its possible mechanism. Methods: A total of 50 male C57 mice were randomly and equally divided into five experimental groups. Group 1 received a normal diet (ND). Other four groups received a high-fat diet (HFD) to establish NAFLD models. In addition to HFD, group 3 received Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (2.2×10⁹ CFU/mL), group 4 received FOS (4 g/kg per day), and group 5 received Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (2.2×10⁹ CFU/mL) and FOS (4 g/kg per day). All groups received continuous intervention for 16 weeks. The following indices were measured for all groups after intervention: general condition, the levels of fasting blood glucose, insulin, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-γ in the serum and liver. The mRNA levels of Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, nuclear factor (NF)-κb, insulin receptor (InsR), and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 were measured by real-time RT-PCR. The data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and comparison between groups was made by Bonferroni method. Results: Compared with group 2, groups 3, 4, and 5 had significantly lower body weight, Lee's index, liver index, and the levels of blood glucose and insulin resistance (P < 0.05). The serum level of LPS in group 2 was significantly higher than that in the other experimental groups (group 1: 8.80 ± 0.85 U/L, group 3: 12.31 ± 1.01 U/L, group 4: 12.27 ± 0.98 U/L, and group 5: 10.17 ± 0.79 U/L vs group 2: 15.45 ± 1.14 U/L, F = 55.117, P < 0.001). The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ in the serum and liver in group 2 were also significantly higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). Group 2 had significantly higher mRNA levels of TLR4 and NF-κb in the liver than the other groups (F = 82.933, P < 0.001; F = 149.033, P < 0.001); however, it had significantly lower mRNA levels of InsR and IRS-1 in the liver than the other groups (F = 33.347, P < 0.001; F = 70.225, P < 0.001). Conclusion Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with FOS can reduce the level of LPS in the blood circulation, inhibit activation of the LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway, and reduce the release of inflammatory factor and the body's insulin resistance, so it can relieve NAFLD.

Objective To analyse the differential metabolites and related metabolic pathways in stable angina pectoris of coronary artery heart disease with spleen deficiency and phlegm turbidity syndrome by serum metabolomics.Methods This study observed 60 patients with stable angina pectoris of coronary artery heart disease with spleen deficiency and phlegm turbidity syndrome and 60 healthy volunteers in the same period.Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)was performed on the serum metabonomics.The differential metabolites were identified by multivariate statistical analysis of the original spectrogram and original data,and enrichment analysis of KEGG metabolic pathway was analyzed.Results A total of 60 patients in the group of stable angina pectoris of coronary artery heart disease with spleen deficiency and phlegm turbidity syndrome participated in the study,and a total of 60 healthy volunteers in the control group participated in the study.There was no statistical difference in general information and biochemical indicators between the two groups(P>0.05);Eighteen differential metabolites were found respectively,including phenylacetaldehyde,orthophosphate,guanosine,diethyl phosphate,2-dehydro-d-gluconate,guanine and 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole down-regulated expression,taurocholate,2-propylglutaric acid,8-amino-7-oxononanoate,l-tyrosine,s-sulfo-l-cysteine,cyclohexanecarboxylic acid,porphobilinogen,(r)-acetoin,octanoylglucuronide,melatonin and solanine up-regulated expression,involving phenylalanine metabolism,thiamine metabolism,purine metabolism.Conclusion The differential metabolites reveal the metabolic essence of stable angina pectoris of coronary artery heart disease with spleen deficiency and phlegm turbidity syndrome from the micro level,and can provide clues for clinical early warning of patients with stable angina pectoris of coronary artery heart disease with spleen deficiency and phlegm turbidity syndromet.

ObjectiveTo explore the suitability of four qualitative research methods in the development of TCM scale. MethodsTaking the development of "Seven Emotions Scale" as an example， we conducted semi-structured interviews with 31 patients of emotional disorders and 10 healthy people by objective sampling， and collected psychological feelings and emotional cognition data related to seven emotions according to the interview outline. Two qualitative methods， descriptive qualitative research and descriptive phenomenology， were used to analyze the data and construct the item library of the scale. The conceptual framework of the scale was constructed by using commonly used grounded theory and frame analysis. ResultsDuring data analysis， it is found that the themes extracted from descriptive phenomenology were not easily understood by the interviewees， and it is difficult for the researchers to truly achieve the "suspension" required by phenomenology. Considering the feasibility and convenience of the researchers' actual operation， as well as whether the initial purpose of the scale research can be intuitively included in the interviewees' views and feelings， descriptive phenomenology is not suitable for the formation of scale items. Using descriptive qualitative research method to analyze the interview data of healthy people and patients with emotional disorders， 306 and 476 scale items were obtained respectively. Through grounded theory， five selective codes were obtained： physical symptoms， external manifestations， psychological feelings， behaviors and emotional control. Using frame analysis， four themes including physical symptoms， psychological feelings， behavior and emotional cognition were constructed. Both methods can be used to construct the conceptual frame of scale， but the framework analysis is more convenient and can better ensure the transparency of the research. ConclusionDescriptive qualitative research methods can be used to form the item library of TCM scales. Framework analysis is more suitable for the construction of the conceptual framework of the scale than grounded theory， while descriptive phenomenology is not suitable for the development of TCM scales.

To systematically construct a guideline to provide a methodological guide for researchers to develop patient decision aids.