OBJECTIVES: To explore the bioactive components in Jiawei Xiaoyao Pills (JWXYP) and their mechanisms for alleviating depression-like behaviors. METHODS: The active compounds, key targets, and pathways of JWXYP were identified using TCMSP and TCMIP databases. Thirty-six SD rats were randomized equally into 6 groups including a control group and 5 chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression groups. After modeling, the 5 model groups were treated with daily gavage of normal saline, 1.8 mg/kg fluoxetine hydrochloride (positive control drug), or JWXYP at 1.44, 2.88, and 4.32 g/kg. The depression-like behaviors of the rats were evaluated using behavioral tests, and pathological changes in the liver and hippocampus were examined with HE staining. The biochemical indicators in the serum and brain tissues were detected using ELISA. Serum metabolomics analysis was performed to identify the differential metabolites using OPLS-DA, and gut microbiota changes were analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing. RESULTS: Network pharmacology revealed that menthone and paeonol in JWXYP were capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier to regulate inflammatory pathways and protect the nervous system. In the rat models subjected to CUMS, treatment with JWXYP significantly improved body weight loss, sucrose preference and open field activities, reduced liver inflammation, alleviated structural changes in the hippocampal neurons, decreased serum levels of TNF‑α, IL-1β, IL-6 and LBP, and increased 5-HT and VIP concentrations in the serum and brain tissue, and these effects were the most pronounced in the high-dose group. Metabolomics analysis showed changes in such metabolites as indole-3-acetamide and acetyl-L-carnitine in JWXYP-treated rats, involving the pathways for bile acid biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism. 16S rDNA analysis demonstrated increased gut microbiota diversity and increased abundance of Lactobacillus species in JWXYP-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS JWXYP alleviates depression-like symptoms in rats by regulating the neurotransmitters, inhibiting inflammation and oxidation, and modulating gut microbiota.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Depression/drug therapy* ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism* ; Rats ; Inflammation ; Male ; Hippocampus ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects*

This paper summarized the clinical experience in the treatment of hemiplegia after stroke based on the theory of “sanjiao （三焦）-original yang". It is believed that original yang， distributed throughout the body through sanjiao， warms the zang-fu （脏腑） organs and tissues. The key pathogenesis of hemiplegia after stroke is original yang depletion and disturbance of sanjiao. The treatment principle should be reinforcing and assisting original yang， and regulating qi movement of sanjiao. The main acupoints selected should be Baihui （GV 20）， Shenting （GV 24）， Touwei （ST 8）， Sanyangluo （SJ 8）， Jiuwei （CV 15）， Qichong （ST 30）， Yanglingquan （GB 34）， Xuanzhong （GB 39） and Shenmai （BL 62）. Clinically， according to the clinical manifestations of hemiplegia in the flaccid and spastic stages and the differentiated syndromes and symptoms， acupoints can be modified， and different acupuncture techniques can be used to dredge and unblock the channels and collaterals.

In this study, the effective substance group and molecular mechanism of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma-Persicae Semen combination (RRR-PS) in activating blood circulation and dispelling blood stasis were investigated by integrating efficacy experiments, network pharmacology and HPLC. The rat model of blood stasis syndrome was established, and the blood rheology index and coagulation four comprehensive evaluation were carried out. The results showed that compared with the model group, the whole blood viscosity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and erythrocyte aggregation index of the rats in the RRR-PS group were significantly callback (P < 0.01). Network pharmacology found that RRR-PS combination exerted the effect of activating blood circulation and dispelling blood stasis by acting on calmodulin-1 (CALM1), nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2), glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and other targets, regulating platelet activation, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) and other signaling pathways, and found key components: sennoside B, (+)-catechin, emodin, physcion, rhein, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, gallic acid. HPLC was used to explore the dissolution rate of key components. The results showed that the contents of catechin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion were significantly increased after RRR-PS combination (P < 0.01). In summary, RRR-PS has a significant effect on promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and its mechanism of action is related to promoting angiogenesis, anti-coagulation, anti-thrombosis and anti-inflammation. The efficacy is related to the change of solvent system and the large dissolution of catechin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion after the RRR-PS combination. The results of the study can further provide a reference for the follow-up study on the active substances and mechanism of the RRR-PS combination. Animal experiments have been approved by the Experimental Animal Committee of Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. SUCMDL20210309002).

Objective:To explore the influence of pancreatic stents of different lengths on the incidence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP).Methods:Data of 299 patients with biliary tract diseases who received endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and 5 Fr prophylactic pancreatic stents placement at the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from January 2013 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the short-stent group (<5 cm, n=163) and the long-stent group (>5 cm, n=136). Baseline data, intraoperative procedures, and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups and propensity score matching (PSM) was used for complementary analysis. The primary endpoint was the incidence of PEP. The risk factors for PEP in patients with prophylactic pancreatic stents placement was explored by logistic regression analysis . Results:The overall PEP incidence was 11.0% (33/299). There was no significant difference in the PEP incidence [11.7% (19/163) VS 10.3% (14/136), χ 2=0.140, P=0.708], moderate-to-severe PEP incidence [1.8% (3/163) VS 2.2% (3/136), χ 2=0.000, P=1.000], or spontaneous stent dislodgement rate within two weeks [81.7% (103/126) VS 78.4% (87/111), χ 2=0.421, P=0.516] between the two groups. After PSM, 123 patients were included in each group, and the overall PEP incidence was 8.9% (22/246). There was no significant difference in PEP incidence [8.9% (11/123) VS 8.9% (11/123), χ 2=0.000, P=1.000], moderate-to-severe PEP incidence [0.8% (1/123) VS 1.6% (2/123), χ 2=0.000, P=1.000], or spontaneous stent dislodgement rate within two weeks [80.6% (75/93) VS 78.6% (77/98), χ 2=0.126, P=0.722] between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that normal liver function ( OR=2.36, 95% CI:1.01-5.51, P=0.046) and failed bile duct cannulation ( OR=7.51, 95% CI:2.18-25.96, P=0.001) were independent risk factors for PEP in patients with biliary tract diseases who received prophylactic pancreatic stents placement. Conclusion:Longer 5 Fr pancreatic stents (>5 cm) do not further reduce the overall risk of PEP or moderate-to-severe PEP compared with 5Fr-5 cm stent. Normal liver function and failure of bile duct intubation were independent risk factors for PEP after prophylactic pancreatic stent placement in patients with biliary diseases.

Gei Herba is a traditional folk herbal medicine with a variety of functions such as replenishing Qi and invigorating spleen， tonifying blood and nourishing Yin， moistening lung and resolving phlegm， activating blood and alleviating edema， moving Qi， and activating blood. The reports about the pharmacological effects of this herbal medicine have been increasing in recent years. By reviewing the ancient and modern literature about Gei Herba， we systematically organized the name， original plants， nature， taste， and functions of this herbal medicine， and summarized the modern pharmacological studies and clinical applications of Gei Herba in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Gei Herba was first recorded in the name of "Dijiao" in the Geng Xin Yu Ce（《庚辛玉册》） written in the Ming Dynasty. It is derived from Geum japonicum var. chinense （Rosaceae） and sometimes confused with Adina rubella （Rubiaceae）. This medicine had numerous synonyms in the local materia medica books. Gei Herba is widely distributed and harvested in summer and autumn， with the dried whole grass used as medicine. The historical records of the nature， taste， meridian tropism， main functions， and indications of Gei Herba are not consistent. It is generally believed that Gei Herba is pungent， bitter， sweet， cool， and has tropism to the liver， spleen， and lung meridians. Based on the effects of tonifying Qi， activating blood， and nourishing Yin， modern pharmacological studies have reported that the extracts of Gei Herba and the tannin phenolic acid compounds and triterpenoids isolated from Gei Herba have therapeutic effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension， myocardial ischemia， cerebral ischemia， and vascular dementia. This study provides a reference for discovering the clinical advantages of Gei Herba and developing new drugs.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma powder in treating dyslipidemia by regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway. MethodSixty patients with dyslipidemia （syndrome of combined phlegm and stasis） treated in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine from May 2021 to June 2022 were selected in this study and randomized into two groups according to the randomized， double-blind control principle. The control group was treated with Xuezhikang capsules + Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma powder placebo and the observation group with Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma powder + Xuezhikang capsules placebo for 6 weeks. The clinical efficacy， traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， and liver and kidney function indicators were evaluated at weeks 0， 3， and 6. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to determine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）， kinase insert domain receptor （KDR）， epidermal growth factor （EGF）， and epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） in the peripheral serum. Quantitative Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of KDR， EGFR， PI3K， and Akt in the mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood. ResultThe observation group （83.33%） showed the total effective rate comparable to that of the control group （89.66%） and no adverse reactions. Compared with before treatment， the patients in the observation group showed decreased TCM syndrome score and serum levels total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） and after being treated for 3 and 6 weeks （P<0.05）， the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） showed an upward trend, but the difference was not statistically significant. After treatment， the two groups showed no significant differences. Compared with that before treatment, the mRNA expression of PI3K, Akt and EGFR in peripheral blood mononuclear cell and the expression of EGF, VEGF and KDR in serum of the observation group showed a downward trend with time, in which the mRNA expression of PI3K, Akt, VEGF and KDR decreased more significantly (P<0.05)，The expression levels of KDR mRNA and serum EGFR show a trend of first increasing and then decreasing.Compared with the control group after treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in mRNA expression of PI3K, Akt, EGFR, and KDR, as well as serum levels of EGF, EGFR, VEGF, and KDR between the two groups of patients at the same time point. ConclusionNotoginseng Radix et Rhizoma powder is safe and effective in correcting dyslipidemia. It may inhibit the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by down-regulating the expression of VEGF/KDR to lower the blood lipid level.

Objective: To establish a rat model for laryngeal precancerous lesions histologically and pathologically comparable to the human counterpart. Methods: Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, with 18 rats in each group, and 1% 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) solution and saline were respectively applied to the laryngeal mucosas of rats in two groups. During subsequent 20 weeks, the changes of laryngeal mucosas were regularly observed with naked eyes and endoscope and lesions were determined by histology. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The food intake, water intake and body weight of the rats in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). White plaque, superficial ulcer, erosion and miliary particles were present in the larynxes of rats in the experimental group, with histological manifestations of atypical hyperplasia or carcinoma in situ, and normal epitheliums were shown in the control group. The number of Ki67 positive cells in the laryngeal mucosas of rats in the experimental group at the 4 th, 8 th, 12 th, 16 th, and 20 th weeks were 13.5±2.4, 35.6±5.8, 53.4±8.3, 78.8±11.6, 80.6±12.4, respectively, no Ki67 positive cells were found in the control group at individual time points, and the differences were statistically significant (t=9.74, 10.63, 11.14, 11.77, 11.26, respectively, all P<0.01). Conclusion: 4NQO can credibly cause rats laryngeal precancerous lesions, which morphologically and histologically mimic laryngeal carcinnogenesis. This method is practical, easy and reliable to prepare the animal model of laryngeal precancerous lesions.
Animals ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology* ; Humans ; Larynx/pathology* ; Precancerous Conditions/pathology* ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The morbidity of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is rising rapidly but no curative therapies to prevent its recurrence. Cell death is crucial to maintaining homeostasis. Necroptosis is a newly identified programmed cell death and its roles played in IBD need to be explored. Necroptosis is mediated by receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), which resulted in cell swelling, plasma membrane rupture, intracellular content leaking, and eventually cell death as well as the promotion of inflammation. Studies have found that inhibiting necroptosis alleviated IBD in animal models and IBD patients with an increased level of necroptosis in inflammatory tissues, indicating that necroptosis is related to the pathogenesis of IBD. However, due to the complexity in regulation of necroptosis and the involvement of multiple functions of relevant signaling molecules, the specific mechanism remains elusive. Necroptosis may play a vital regulatory role in the pathogenesis of IBD, which provides a new idea and method for further exploring the therapeutic target of IBD.

This article introduces the safety risks of the novel light-based home-use hair removal device, and analyzes the differences in regulation among China, the United States and the European Union. In China, household intense pulsed light hair removal devices will also be supervised in accordance with medical device regulations. Therefore, the safety standards adopted in the absence of specific regulations are no longer applicable to the new regulatory requirements. It is imperative to adopt the new standards available to home photoepilators, so as to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the approved devices.
China ; European Union ; Hair Removal ; Reference Standards ; United States

Objective To compare the influence of different admission modes on quality of life of patients with chronic schizophrenia.Methods 200 patients with chronic schizophrenia were randomly assigned to discontinuous group and continuous group with 100 cases in each group. All patients were treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs. A discontinuous hospitalization combined with home treatment was given to the discontinuous group and a continuous hospitalization to the continuous group for 1 year. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (SQLS) were respectively used to evaluate the patient's condition and quality of life before and after the intervention. Results The intervention methods on scores of PANSS and SQLS in both groups had a change trend with time. The scores of PANSS and SQLS were significantly lower in the end of 6 months and 1 year after intervention than before in both groups (F=2119.513, 390.981, P=0.000). There was a interaction effect between intervention method and time in both groups on the scores of PANSS and SQLS (F=17.660, 11.709, P=0.000). There was significant difference between 2 groups on the score of PANSS (F=19.673,P=0.000). The decrease range of those scores was greater in the discontinuous group than in the continuous group (P=0.000). Conclusion A discontinuous hospitalization combined with home treatment is more beneficial than a continuous hospitalization for the patients with chronic schizophrenia in controlling the syndrome and improving or keeping the quality of life.