Objective:To establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of narirutin, limonin, honokiol and mag-nolol in Zhishi Xiaopi pills. Methods:The separation was performed on a Shim-pack VP-ODS C18(250 mm ×4.6 mm,5 μm)column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–methanol(1 ∶2) (A) and water (B) with gradient elution. The flow rate was 1. 0 ml ·min-1 . The column temperature was 30℃. All the injection volume was 20 μl. Narirutin, limonin, honokiol and magnolol was de-tected at 283 nm, 210 nm, 294 nm and 294 nm, respectively. Results:Narirutin, limonin, honokiol and magnolol had good linearity within the concentration range of 5. 26-105. 20 μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 8), 7. 65-153. 00 μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 4), 6. 21-124. 20 μg· ml-1(r=0.999 3)and 6.45-129.00 μg·ml-1(r=0.999 6), respectively; the average recovery was 99.00%(RSD=0.77%), 98. 17%(RSD=1. 19%), 98. 78%(RSD=0. 86%) and 97. 90%(RSD=0. 99%), respectively. Conclusion: The method is sim-ple, rapid and reliable, which can be used for the quality control of Zhishi Xiaopi pills.

BACKGROUND:Acupuncture is an effective method for lumbar pain in lumbar disc herniation,but its mechanism has not yet been clarified.Factors related to the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway regulate the body's inflammatory response and are involved in the process of neuropathic pain. OBJECTIVE:To study the mechanism of acupuncture on lumbar disc herniation in a rat model based on the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. METHODS:Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups:sham operation group,model group,acupuncture group,and acupuncture+agonist group,with 10 rats in each group.Animal models of L5 lumbar disc herniation was constructed through autologous disc cell transplantation in the model group,acupuncture group,and acupuncture+agonist group.Rats in the acupuncture group and the acupuncture+agonist group received acupuncture treatment(Yanglingquan,Shenshu,Huantiao,and Dachangshu acupoints)at 3 days after modeling,and acupuncture treatment was given once a day,20 minutes each,for 15 consecutive days.Rats in the acupuncture+agonist group were injected intrathecally with coumermycin A1,a JAK2 agonist,into the L4/L5 intervertebral space,once a day,20 minutes each,prior to the acupuncture at 6,12,and 18 days after modeling.Paw withdrawal mechanical threshold was detected before and 3,6,9,12,15,and 18 days after modeling.At 18 days after modeling,serum inflammatory factor levels were detected,hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the morphology of L5-L6 tissues,RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of JAK2 and STAT3 mRNAs in L5-L6 tissues,and western blot was performed to detect the expression of JAK2,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins in L5-L6 tissues. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The paw withdrawal mechanical thresholds of rats in the model group at different time points after modeling were lower than those in the sham operation group(P<0.05),the paw withdrawal mechanical thresholds of rats in the acupuncture group were higher than those in the model group at 9,12,15,and 18 days after modeling(P<0.05),and the paw withdrawal mechanical thresholds of rats in the acupuncture+agonist group were lower than those in the acupuncture group at 9,12,15,and 18 days after modeling(P<0.05).The levels of interleukin 6,tumor necrosis factor α,neurotransmitter substance P,and brain neuropeptide Y were elevated in the model group compared with the sham operation group(P<0.05);the levels of all four inflammatory factors were reduced in the acupuncture group compared with the model group(P<0.05);and the levels of all four inflammatory factors were elevated in the acupuncture+agonist group compared with the acupuncture group(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that lumbar degeneration was obvious in the model group but reduced in the acupuncture group and the acupuncture+agonist group.Moreover,the reduction was more obvious in the acupuncture group compared with the acupuncture+agonist group.The JAK2 and STAT3 mRNA expression as well as the p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein expression were elevated in the model group compared with the sham operation group(P<0.05),were decreased in the acupuncture group compared with the model group(P<0.05),and were increased in the acupuncture+agonist group compared with the acupuncture group(P<0.05).To conclude,acupuncture can alleviate inflammation to exert analgesic effects in the rat model of lumbar disc herniation,and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore the early clinical efficacy of ultrasound visualized platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of lower back myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) after sports injury.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 32 patients with lower back MPS after sports injury, who were admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2023 to March 2023. Ultrasound-guided PRP injection into the erector spinalis or quadratus psoas muscles was used for treatment. Before treatment, at 24 hours, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after treatment, pain and function were evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS), McGill pain questionnaire (McGill), Roland Morris dysfunction questionnaire (RMDQ), and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI). Before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment, the quality of life was evaluated using the short-form 36 item health survey questionnaire (SF-36). The adverse reactions were observed during treatment and follow-up.Results:A total of 32 patients with lower back MPS after sports injury were enrolled, including 10 males and 22 females; aged 12-68 years [(47.3±16.3)years]. All the patients were followed up for 4 weeks. Before and at 24 hours, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after treatment, the VAS was 5.0(4.0, 6.0)points, 3.5(3.0, 4.8)points, 2.0(2.0, 3.0)points, and 2.0(1.3, 3.0)points, respectively; the McGill score was 9.0(7.0, 11.0)points, 7.0(5.0, 9.0)points, 4.0(3.0, 5.0)points, and 3.0(3.0, 5.0)points, respectively; the RMDQ score was 8.0(5.3, 10.8)points, 5.5(3.0, 8.0)points, 4.0(3.0, 5.8)points, and 3.0(2.0, 4.8)points, respectively; the ODI was 22.0(14.5, 30.0), 20.0(14.5, 25.5), 9.0(6.0, 16.0), and 8.0(4.5, 14.0), respectively. Compared with the values before treatment, the VAS, McGill score, and RMDQ score were significantly decreased at 24 hours, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after treatment (all P<0.05); the ODI had no significant difference at 24 hours after treatment ( P>0.05), but it was significantly decreased at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment (all P<0.05). Compared with the values at 24 hours after treatment, the VAS, McGill score, RMDQ score and ODI further decreased at 2 weeks after treatment (all P<0.05). Compared with the values at 2 weeks after treatment, there was no significant difference in the VAS, McGill score, RMDQ score, or ODI at 4 weeks after treatment (all P>0.05). In the SF-36, the scores of physiological function [77.5(60.0, 93.8)points], physiological role [50.0(0.0, 100.0)points], body pain [64.0(44.5, 74.0)points], vitality [75.0(65.0, 78.8)points], social function [87.5(75.0, 100.0)points], emotional role [66.7(33.3, 100.0)points] and mental health [72.0(68.0, 83.0)points] before treatment were increased to 90.0(80.0, 98.8)points, 100.0(56.3, 100.0)points, 84.0(74.0, 84.0)points, 75.0(70.0, 80.0)points, 100.0(87.5, 112.5)points, 100.0(66.7, 100.0)points, and 76.0(68.0, 84.0)points after 4 weeks of treatment, respectively ( P<0.05 or 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the general health status or health changes before and after treatment (all P>0.05). During treatment and follow-up, no adverse reactions such as redness, swelling, pain, or subcutaneous bleeding were observed. Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided PRP treatment can improve the early pain, lumbar mobility and quality of life of patients with lower back MPS after sports injury, with no presence of adverse reactions.