This study employed the "disease-medicine-dose" pattern to mine the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions containing Astragali Radix in ancient Chinese medical books, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines. The TCM prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were retrieved from databases such as Chinese Medical Dictionary and imported into Excel 2020 to construct the prescription library. Statical analysis were performed for the prescriptions regarding the indications, syndromes, medicine use frequency, herb effects, nature and taste, meridian tropism, dosage forms, and dose. SPSS statistics 26.0 and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 were used for association rules analysis and cluster analysis. A total of 2 297 prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were collected, involving 233 indications, among which sore and ulcer, consumptive disease, sweating disorder, and apoplexy had high frequency(>25), and their syndromes were mainly Qi and blood deficiency, Qi and blood deficiency, Yin and Yang deficiency, and Qi deficiency and collateral obstruction, respectively. In the prescriptions, 98 medicines were used with the frequency >25 and they mainly included Qi-tonifying medicines and blood-tonifying medicines. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium were frequently used. The medicines with high frequency mainly have warm or cold nature, and sweet, pungent, or bitter taste, with tropism to spleen, lung, heart, liver, and kidney meridians. In the treatment of sore and ulcer, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to promote granulation and heal up sores. In the treatment of consumptive disease, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 37.30 g and combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma to tonify deficiency and replenish Qi. In the treatment of sweating disorder, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to consolidate exterior and stop sweating. In the treatment of apoplexy, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 7.46 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to dispell wind and stop convulsions. Astragali Radix can be used in the treatment of multiple system diseases, with the effects of tonifying Qi and ascending Yang, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and expressing toxin and promoting granulation. According to the manifestations of different diseases, when combined with other medicines, Astragali Radix was endowed with the effects of promoting granulation and healing up sores, tonifying deficiency and Qi, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and dispelling wind and replenishing Qi. The findings provide a theoretical reference and a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; History, Ancient ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; China ; Astragalus propinquus

Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.

Humans ; Mitral Valve/surgery* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures

Humans ; Mitral Valve/surgery* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures

Deficiencies in the clearance of peripheral amyloid β (Aβ) play a crucial role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies have shown that the ability of blood monocytes to phagocytose Aβ is decreased in AD. However, the exact mechanism of Aβ clearance dysfunction in AD monocytes remains unclear. In the present study, we found that blood monocytes in AD mice exhibited decreases in energy metabolism, which was accompanied by cellular senescence, a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, and dysfunctional phagocytosis of Aβ. Improving energy metabolism rejuvenated monocytes and enhanced their ability to phagocytose Aβ in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, enhancing blood monocyte Aβ phagocytosis by improving energy metabolism alleviated brain Aβ deposition and neuroinflammation and eventually improved cognitive function in AD mice. This study reveals a new mechanism of impaired Aβ phagocytosis in monocytes and provides evidence that restoring their energy metabolism may be a novel therapeutic strategy for AD.
Animals ; Mice ; Alzheimer Disease ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Monocytes ; Cognition ; Energy Metabolism ; Phagocytosis

Aim To investigate the effect of heroin use in male rats of F0 generation on heroin addiction and relapse in rats of Fl generation and the underlying mechanism. Methods Male rats of F0 generation were treated with different doses of heroin (1, 3, 9 mg • kg

Under the guidance of the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory of "Zangfu-organs of spleen and stomach" and the modern theory of "microbiota-gut-brain axis", this study explored the effects of Nardostachys jatamansi on the gut microbiota of rats with Parkinson's disease(PD). The 40 SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, PD model group, levodopa group, and Nardostachys jatamansi ethanol extract group. The PD model was established by subcutaneous injection of rotenone in the neck and back area. After 14 days of intragastric administration, the PD rats' behaviors were analyzed through open field test, inclined plane test, and pole test. After the behavioral tests, the striatum, colon, and colon contents of rats in each group were collected. Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) and α-synuclein(α-syn) in striatum and that of α-syn in colon. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) in striatum and colon. High-throughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene was conducted to detect the differences in microbial diversity, abundance, differential phyla, and dominant bacteria of rats between groups. The results indicated that Nar. ethanol extract could relieve dyskinesia, reverse the increased levels of α-syn, TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF-κB in striatum, and improve the protein expression of TH in striatum of PD rats. The α diversity analysis indicated a significant decrease in diversity and abundance of gut microbiota in the PD model. The results of linear discriminant analysis effect size(LEfSe) of dominant bacteria indicated that Nardostachys jatamansi ethanol extract increased the relative abundance of Clotridiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Anaerostipes, and reversed the increased relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia-Shigella in PD model group to exhibit the neuroprotective effect. In summary, the results indicated that Nar. ethanol extract exert the therapeutic effect on PD rats. Specifically, the extract may regulate gut microbiota, decrease the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and reduce the protein aggregation of α-syn in the colon and striatum to alleviate intestinal inflammation and neuroinflammation. This study provides a basis for combining the theory of "Zangfu-organs of spleen and stomach" with the theory of "microbiota-gut-brain axis" to treat PD.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Nardostachys/metabolism* ; Parkinson Disease/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Deficits in the clearance of amyloid β protein (Aβ) by the peripheral system play a critical role in the pathogenesis of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Impaired uptake of Aβ by dysfunctional monocytes is deemed to be one of the major mechanisms underlying deficient peripheral Aβ clearance in AD. In the current study, flow cytometry and biochemical and behavioral techniques were applied to investigate the effects of polysaccharide krestin (PSK) on AD-related pathology in vitro and in vivo. We found that PSK, widely used in therapy for various cancers, has the potential to enhance Aβ uptake and intracellular processing by human monocytes in vitro. After administration of PSK by intraperitoneal injection, APP/PS1 mice performed better in behavioral tests, along with reduced Aβ deposition, neuroinflammation, neuronal loss, and tau hyperphosphorylation. These results suggest that PSK holds promise as a preventive agent for AD by strengthening the Aβ clearance by blood monocytes and alleviating AD-like pathology.
Alzheimer Disease/pathology* ; Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism* ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/metabolism* ; Animals ; Cognition ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Monocytes/pathology* ; Polysaccharides/therapeutic use* ; Proteoglycans

In this study, dexamethasone (DXMS) and captopril (CAP) were co-loaded into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles with a surface coating of a phospholipid bilayer, and then the core-shell nanoparticles were modified with polyethylene glycol and integrin α8 antibody to obtain immunoliposome-nanoparticle hybrids (DXMS/CAP@PLGA-ILs). The role of nanoparticles on the renal targeting, anti-inflammatory effects, and macrophage differentiation were investigated. The results showed that the particle size of the nanoparticles was 115.9 ± 2.89 nm, and the core-shell structure could be observed under an electron microscope. The drug loading capacity of DXMS and CAP was 5.72% ± 0.37% and 7.51% ± 0.07%, respectively. The results of in vitro experiments showed that DXMS/CAP@PLGA-ILs could reduce the secretion of specific cytokines and the mRNA expression of markers in M2-type macrophages, thus promoting the differentiation of M2-type macrophages in the direction of unpolarized macrophages. In vivo experiments in mice showed that DXMS/CAP@PLGA-ILs had a significant renal targeting effect, which could restore the renal index, serum creatinine, and urea nitrogen levels of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in mice. Moreover, DXMS/CAP@PLGA-ILs could reduce both the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and the mRNA expression levels of M1 and M2 macrophage markers in the kidney. All the animal experiments were in accordance with the regulations of Animal Ethics Committee of Sichuan Agricultural University. In conclusion, renal-targeting DXMS/CAP@PLGA-ILs could effectively regulate the polarization of macrophages and had an "anti-inflammatory/anti-fibrosis" therapeutic effect, providing a new strategy and basis for the targeted therapy of glomerulonephritis.

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a destructive pest native to America and has recently become an invasive insect pest in China. Because of its rapid spread and great risks in China, understanding of FAW genetic background and pesticide resistance is urgent and essential to develop effective management strategies. Here, we assembled a chromosome-level genome of a male FAW (SFynMstLFR) and compared re-sequencing results of the populations from America, Africa, and China. Strain identification of 163 individuals collected from America, Africa and China showed that both C and R strains were found in the American populations, while only C strain was found in the Chinese and African populations. Moreover, population genomics analysis showed that populations from Africa and China have close relationship with significantly genetic differentiation from American populations. Taken together, FAWs invaded into China were most likely originated from Africa. Comparative genomics analysis displayed that the cytochrome p450 gene family is extremely expanded to 425 members in FAW, of which 283 genes are specific to FAW. Treatments of Chinese populations with twenty-three pesticides showed the variant patterns of transcriptome profiles, and several detoxification genes such as AOX, UGT and GST specially responded to the pesticides. These findings will be useful in developing effective strategies for management of FAW in China and other invaded areas.
Animals ; China ; Genomics ; Humans ; Male ; Pesticides ; Spodoptera/genetics* ; Transcriptome