Qing court records show that Arecae Semen was extensively applied. The royal medical records of the Qing Dynasty document nine types of Arecae Semen, with the Palace Museum preserving seven kinds, totaling twelve cultural relics. Historical documents and physical artifacts corroborate each other, providing evidence for the study of the supply channels and court processing of Arecae Semen in the Qing court. According to relevant Qing court archival records, the sources of Arecae Semen used in the imperial court were diverse, including tributes from foreign countries such as Vietnam and Gurkha, annual tributes from local governments in Guangdong, gifts from close aides, and commodities purchased by the Imperial Household Department from civilian shops. The imperial physicians of the Qing court placed great emphasis on the specifications of Arecae Semen slices and were extremely meticulous about their processing. The variety of Arecae Semen slices used in the Qing palace exceeded those recorded in the botanical texts of the era. Compared with the commonly used processing methods for Arecae Semen in the Qing Dynasty, the imperial physicians adjusted the properties and efficacy of the herbs through different processing techniques, based on the patient's condition, constitution, and other factors, in order to meet the clinical treatment needs of the court. The slicing of Arecae Semen in the Qing court required strict control of thickness, with an average thickness of 0.44 mm, which is significantly thinner than the Arecae Semen slices found in today's markets. The texture was softer, making them easier to chew and absorb. Both the Qing court Arecae Semen slices and the Muxiang Binglang Pills focused on the use of authentic medicinal materials, ensuring the quality of the medicine and enhancing the efficacy of Arecae Semen through meticulous selection and preparation.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; History, 19th Century ; History, Ancient ; History, 17th Century ; History, 18th Century

Objective To investigate the alterations of cerebral blood flow(CBF)in type 2 diabetic mellitus(T2DM) patients without cognitive impairment by using arterial spin labeling(ASL)technique.Methods A total of 23 T2DM patients without cognitive impairment and 23 healthy controls(HC)matched by age,sex,and education attainment were recruited.Their clinical data were collected,and neuropsychological tests and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging were performed.Then,the outcomes of clinical features,neuropsychological tests,and global and regional CBF were compared between the two groups.The significant regional zCBF(z-transformed relative CBF)values were extracted and correlated with clinical data and neuropsychological scores in T2DM patients,controlling age,sex,and education.Results No significant difference was found in whole brain CBF between the two groups(P=0.155),while significantly higher CBF was identified in the left superior temporal gyrus and left insula in the T2DM group(Gaussian random field correction,initial threshold P < 0.001,cluster level P < 0.05).No correlation was observed between the significant regional zCBF values and the clinical data or the neuropsychological scores in T2DM patients(all P>0.05).Conclusion Alterations in cerebral hemodynamics may precede cognitive function changes in T2DM,suggesting that the ASL technique is promising for early monitoring of cerebral hemodynamic changes associated with cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/physiopathology* ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Case-Control Studies ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Aged

Poria(Fu Ling) is a bulk traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)with a long history and complex varieties. The royal medical records of the Qing Dynasty include multiple medicinal materials of Fu Ling, such as Bai Fu Ling(white Poria), Chi Fu Ling(rubra Poria), and Zhu Fu Ling(Poria processed with cinnabaris). The Palace Museum preserves 6 kinds of specimens including Fu Ling Ge(dried Poria), Bai Fu Ling, Chi Fu Ling, Zhu Fu Ling, Bai Fu Shen(white Poria cum Radix Pini), and Fu Shen Mu(Poria cum Radix Pini). After trait identification and textual research, we found that Fu Ling Ge was an intact sclerotium, which was processed into Fu Ling Pi(Poriae Cutis), Bai Fu Ling and other medicinal materials in the Palace. The Fu Ling in the Qing Dynasty Pa-lace was mainly from the tribute paid of the officials in Yunnan-Guizhou region. The tribute situation was stable in the whole Qing Dynasty, and changed in the late Qing Dynasty. The cultural relics of Fu Ling in the Qing Dynasty Palace confirm with the archival documents such as the royal medical records and herbal medicine books, providing precious historical materials for understanding Fu Ling in the Qing Dynasty and a basis for the restoration of the processing of the Fu Ling in the Qing Dynasty Palace.
Animals ; Poria ; China ; Books ; Coleoptera ; Medical Records ; Wolfiporia

Objective To investigate the relationship between changes in protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) and receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 ( ROR2) expression in the brainstem and the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods Forty-four human superoxide dismutase 1( hSODl)-G93A mutant ALS transgenic mice were selected, and an equal number of wild-type littermates was used as control. The brainstems were isolated at da)' 70, day 95, day 108 and da)' 122 after birth, and the morphology of frypoglossal nucleus (12N) and nucleus of facial nerve(7N) neurons in the brainstem of the model mice were observed by Nissl staining. The mRNA and protein expression of PTK7 and ROR2 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively, and the cellular localization and distribution of PTK7 and ROR2 in 12N and 7N were observed by immunofluorescence double-labeling technique. Results The result of Nissl staining showed that Nissl bodies in the neurons reduced distinctly with vacuolar degeneration of neurons, cell body atrophy and nuclear volume reduction in the 12N and 7N brainstems of ALS transgenic mice. RT-PCR result indicated that ROR2 and PTK7 mRNA level in the brainstem of ALS transgenic mice were up-regulated at da)' 70, da)' 95, day 108 and day 122 compared with wild-type littermates. Western blotting result showed that PTK7 protein was up-regulated at day 70, day 95, day 108 and day 122, ROR2 protein was up-regulated at day 70, day 95, day 108, and down-regulated at day 122 in the brainstem of ALS transgenic mice compared with wild-type littermates. Immunofluorescence result showed that ROR2/neuronal nuclei (NeuN)and PTK7/NeuN double positive cells, ROR2/glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and PTK7/GFAP double positive cells were observed in the 12N and 7N of the brainstem of ALS transgenic mice and wild-type mice, suggesting that ROR2 and PTK7 were expressed both in neurons and astrocytes. Conclusion PTK7 and ROR2 are abnormally expressed in the brainstem of ALS transgenic mice, which is closely related to the pathogenesis of ALS.

The present study explored the drying effect of new spiral vibration drying technology on Chinese medicinal pills with Liuwei Dihuang Pills, Zhuanggu Guanjie Pills, and Muxiang Shunqi Pills as model drugs. With the drying uniformity, drying time, energy consumption, pill split, dissolution time, and change of index components as evaluation indicators, the drying effect of spiral vibration drying technology on model drugs was evaluated and compared with traditional drying methods, such as hot air drying and vacuum drying in the oven. The dynamic changes of moisture in Liuwei Dihuang Pills with different drying time were investigated. Compared with the traditional drying methods in the oven(hot air drying and vacuum drying) at 80 ℃, the spiral vibration drying only took 80 min, shortened by 80%, with 10%-13% energy consumed. The results showed that the moisture of Liuwei Dihuang Pills was negatively related to the drying time. By virtue of multi-layer countercurrent drying and super resonant fluidization techniques, the new spiral vibration drying technology can significantly improve the drying quality of Chinese medicinal pills, improve the drying efficiency, and enhance the manufacturing capacity of Chinese medicinal pills. This study is expected to provide references for the innovation and development of new drying technology of Chinese medicinal pills.
China ; Desiccation ; Physical Therapy Modalities ; Technology ; Vibration

Objective:To investigate the value of antithrombin Ⅲ (AT-Ⅲ) in evaluating patients with decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EVB).Methods:From January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021, clinical data of 193 hospitalized patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis diagnosed in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were retrospectively analyzed, which included coagulation indicator (AT-Ⅲ), liver function indicators (total bilirubin, etc.), abdominal ultrasound results (portal vein diameter, portal vein blood flow velocity), and the occurrence of esophagogastric varices. According to the presence or absence of main complications, 193 patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis were divided into compensated group (60 cases) and decompensated group (133 cases). According to the presence or absence of EVB, 133 patients of decompensated group were divided into non-bleeding subgroup (96 cases) and bleeding subgroup (37 cases). The above indicators were compared among compensated group, decompensated group and their subgroups. The independent related factors of decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and EVB were analyzed. The level of AT-Ⅲ of each group were compared, and the relationship between AT-Ⅲ and Child-Pugh score was analyzed. The diagnostic capability of AT-Ⅲ in decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with EVB were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test, independent sample t test, chi-square test, multiple logistic regression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:The total bilirubin level of the decompensated group was higher than that of the compensated group, the portal vein diameter was larger than that of the compensated group, and the portal vein blood flow velocity was lower than that of the compensated group (31.50 μmol/L (21.90 μmol/L, 48.80 μmol/L) vs. 19.40 μmol/L (15.00 μmol/L, 25.50 μmol/L); (14.31±3.53) mm vs. (12.57±3.83) mm; (13.39±3.49) cm/s vs. (15.08±4.28) cm/s), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-5.76, t=-2.78 and 2.40; P<0.001, =0.006 and 0.018). The incidence of esophagogastric varices of the compensated group and the decompensated group was compared (40.0%, 24/60 vs. 87.2%, 116/133), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=64.06, P<0.001). The diameter of portal vein of the bleeding subgroup was larger than that of the non-bleeding subgroup, and the portal vein blood flow velocity was lower than that of the non-bleeding subgroup ((15.54±4.23) mm vs. (13.87±3.16) mm; (12.05±3.12) cm/s vs. (13.85±3.51) cm/s), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-2.15 and 2.23, P=0.034 and 0.028). The AT-Ⅲ levels gradually decreased in the non-bleeding subgroup and bleeding subgroup of the compensated group and decompensated group, which were (79.52±16.02)%, (63.91±19.96)% and (35.92±13.69)%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant ( F=5.71, P=0.018). The AT-Ⅲ level of the compensated group was higher than that of the non-bleeding subgroup and the bleeding subgroup of the decompensated group, and the AT-Ⅲ level of the non-bleeding subgroup of the decompensated group was higher than that of the bleeding subgroup, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=5.11, 13.74 and 7.84, all P<0.001). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that total bilirubin and AT-Ⅲ were independent related factors of decompensation of hepatitis B liver cirrhosis ( OR (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.060 (1.018 to 1.104) and 0.945 (0.922 to 0.970), P=0.005 and <0.001). AT-Ⅲ was an independent related factor of decompensation of hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with EVB ( OR(95% CI) 0.902 (0.856 to 0.950, P<0.001). AT-Ⅲ was negatively correlated with Child-Pugh score ( r=-0.559, P<0.001). ROC analysis showed that the cut-off values of AT-Ⅲ in the diagnosis of decompensated stage of hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with EVB were 62.5% and 61.5%, the sensitivity was 88.3% and 89.2%, the specificity was 70.7% and 61.5%, and the area under the curve (95% CI) was 0.815 (0.755 to 0.874, P<0.001) and 0.899 (0.828 to 0.971, P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion:AT-Ⅲ is an important indicator in evaluating the severity of disease progression in patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis, and it has a certain clinical value in evaluating the bleeding tendency of patients with decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with esophagogastric varices.

Objective: To establish a method for the determination of butyronitrile and isobutyronitrile in the air of workplace by gas chromatography. Methods: In March 2020, butyronitrile and isobutyronitrile in the air of workplace was collected by silica gel, eluted with methanol, separated and determined by gas chromatogram with flame ionization detector, the characteristics of determination of nitrile and isobutyronitrile by gas chromatography were analyzed. Results: The limit of detection for butyronitrile and isobutyronitrile was 0.33 μg/ml. The linear range of butyronitrile determined by this method was 1.60-1600.00 μg/ml, y=2.295x-3.480, and the coefficient correlation was 0.99998, and the minimum detection concentration was 0.22 mg/m(3) (collected sample volume was 1.50 L) . The within-run precisions were 2.43%-4.12%, the between-run precisions were 1.72%-3.70%, and the desorption rates were 93.26%-98.41%. The linear range of isobutyronitrile determined by this method was 1.52-1520.00 μg/ml, y=2.208x-0.102, and the coefficient correlation was 0.99998, and the minimum detection concentration was 0.22 mg/m(3) (collected sample volume was 1.50 L) . The within-run precisions were 2.52%-3.22%, the between-run precisions were 1.20%-3.82%, and the desorption rates were 96.85%-102.50%. The sealed samples could be stored at least 10 days at room temperature without significant loss. Conclusion: The method has the advantages of good precision, high sensitivity and simple operation. It is suitable for the simultaneous determination of butyronitrile and isobutyronitrile in the air of workplace.
Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis* ; Chromatography, Gas/methods* ; Nitriles ; Workplace

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, the coronary artery stenosis or occlusion caused by atherosclerosis leads to myocardial ischemia, hypoxia, or necrosis, that is main histopathological features of coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis relates closely to abnormal lipid regulation, chronic inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Cardiac enzymes and high, low-density lipoprotein are currently used to diagnose a variety of coronary artery diseases, but the evidence is inadequate. Thus, new cardioprotective therapies are required to explore sensitive molecular markers for the prediction of cardiovascular events. Lipids have an important role in maintaining the myocardial cell structure as well as cardiac function. Lipidomics is a newly emerged discipline that studies lipids on a large scale. Recent advancements in lipidomics on coronary artery disease have shown that certain lipids, such as ceramide, sphingosine, lysophosphatidic acid, oxidized lipids, and so on, are associated with the clinical classification and characteristics of coronary artery disease. In addition, recent studies of lipid profiles of the cardiac, fat, liver, and other tissue samples in animal models also have provided a novel viewpoint. Given the increasing application of lipidomics techniques for coronary artery disease, we provide a review of lipidomics technology, sensitive lipid markers, recent studies of therapeutic targets, and drug discovery for coronary artery disease.

Objective: To establish a method for the determination of acetylacetone in the air of workplace by gas chromatography. Methods: In August 2020, acetylacetone in the air of workplace was collected by silica gel tube, eluted with methanol, separated and detected by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. The detection limit and precision of the method were also analyzed. Results: The linear range of acetylacetone was 1.95-1950.60 μg/ml with the regression equation of y=0.815x-3.667, and the correlation coefficient was 0.99993. The limit of detection of the method was 0.18 μg/ml and the minimum detection concentration was 0.12 mg/m(3) (collected sample volume was 1.50 L). The within-run precisions were 1.08%-4.11% and the between-run precisions were 1.98%-2.80%. The desorption rates were 99.68%-100.45%. The sealed samples could be kept at least 15 days at room temperature without significant loss. Conclusion: The solvent desorption-gas chromatography method for the determination of acetylacetone has good precision, high sensitivity and simple operation, and is suitable for the determination of acetylacetone in the air of the workplace.
Solvents ; Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis* ; Chromatography, Gas/methods* ; Workplace

Objective:As the problem of global aging intensifies，postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMOP） has become a global health problem among females. At present，the commonly used biological agents have been proved not suitable for long-term use due to multiple adverse reactions. Several Meta-analyses have confirmed the good safety and effectiveness of kidney-tonifying method against PMOP，but its therapeutic mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this Meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of kidney-tonifying method on osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor（OPG）/receptor activator of nuclear transcription factor （NF）-κB （RANK）/receptor activator of NF-κB ligand （RANKL） signaling pathway in PMOP animal model，so as to provide an experimental basis for the treatment of PMOP with kidney-tonifying method. Method:The related articles were retrieved from PubMed，Ovid Medline，Embase，China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI），Chongqing Weipu Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals （VIP），and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform with the retrieval time set from their inception to January 2020. The quality of each included article was evaluated using the SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. Then RevMan 5.3 was utilized for Meta-analysis according to the Cochrane systematic review methodology. Result:Thirty-two studies involving 619 rats were included. The quality score of these studies ranged from 3 to 5 points. The results of the Meta-analysis indicated obvious advantages of kidney-tonifying method in increasing bone mineral density （BMD）［standardized mean difference （SMD）=2.01，95% confidence interval（CI）=1.50-2.52，P<0.000 01］），serum OPG level （SMD=3.33，95% CI=2.59-4.07，P<0.000 01），and OPG mRNA expression （SMD=11.81，95% CI=7.49-16.13，P<0.000 01），promoting OPG protein production （SMD=4.95，95% CI=3.09-6.81，P<0.000 01），reducing serum RANKL（SMD=-4.88，95% CI=-6.01--3.75，P<0.000 01） and RANK levels （SMD=-7.30，95% CI=-9.53--5.07，P<0.000 01），and down-regulating RANKL （SMD=-6.22，95%CI=-8.95--3.49，P<0.000 01） and RANK mRNA （SMD=-3.18，95% CI=-6.19--0.18，P<0.05） expression and RANKL protein expression in bone tissue （SMD=-3.99，95% CI=-5.47--2.50，P<0.000 01）. Conclusion:The kidney-tonifying method has been proved to possess potential advantages in regulating the balance of OPG/RANK/RANKL signaling pathway in PMOP animal model. Nevertheless，more large-sample sized，properly designed，and high-quality animal experiments are still needed for further verification.