1.Effect of energy-enriched formula for catch-up growth in malnourished infants after congenital heart disease surgery
Yanqin CUI ; Lijuan LI ; Na ZHOU ; Jiangbo QU ; Chunmei HU ; Jianbin LI ; Sitang GONG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2017;25(3):176-182
Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of enriched-calorie formula in post-operative infants with congenital heart disease and malnutrition.Methods All malnourished infants less than 6 months diagnosed congenital heart disease: ventricular septal defect and had undergone surgery in Guangzhou Women and Children`s Medical Center from December 1,2014 to May 30,2015 were included in this study.All cases were randomly divided into intervention group(energy-enriched formula,intervention group)and control group(standard formula,control group)for enteral nutrition intervention and observed for 3 months.Body mass,body length,upper arm circumference,blood prealbumin(PA),retinol binding protein(RBP),and B-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)were measured before and after ICU,after discharge,and 1 month and 3 months after operation.Results Fifty-one cases were in intervention group and 50 cases in control group,respectively.There were no significant differences in body mass,body length,arm circumference,PA,RBP,mean enteral nutrition starting time,mechanical ventilation time,length of ICU stay,hospitalization time,and average fluid intake between the two groups(all P>0.05).The average caloric intake in intervention group was significantly higher than in control group [(437.24±6.68)kJ vs.(312.43±86.22)kJ,P=0.001].There was no significant difference in NT-proBNP,PA,and RBP at different time points between the two groups(all P>0.05).The improvement of nutrition in intervention group was significantly higher than that in control group at 1 month(25.0%vs.4.9%,P=0.011)and 3 months(64.1%vs.15.7%,P<0.001)after operation.Body mass increased in intervention group [(0.067±0.348)kg] compared with that in control group,and decreased [(0.125±0.425)kg] in control group(P=0.015).Body weight[(5.46±1.36)kg vs.(4.80±1.01)kg,P=0.008],weight for age Z score(WAZ)(-2.79±1.28 vs.-3.75±1.27,P<0.001),and height for weight Z score(WHZ)(-2.47±1.43 vs.-3.62±1.77,P=0.001)one month after surgery were significantly higher than those before operation.Body weight [(6.78±1.42)kg vs.(5.72±1.01)kg,P<0.001] arm circumference [(12.80±1.17)cm vs.(12.00±0.90)cm,P<0.001],WAZ(-1.60±1.17 vs.-3.10±1.40,P<0.001),height for age Z score(HAZ)(-1.41±1.63 vs.-2.10±1.41,P=0.034),and WHZ(-0.86±1.31 vs.-2.59±2.13,P<0.001)of the two groups at 3 months postoperative were significantly higher than those before operation,and the growth rate of intervention group was faster than control group.There were no significant adverse reactions in both groups.Conclusion Calorie-enriched formula powder can help malnourished infants to catch up after congenital heart disease surgery.
2.Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease with Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on β-amyloid: A Review
Yanqin QU ; Jinxin CHEN ; Chengjun DONG ; Manru XU ; Yue ZHU ; Qian LI ; Yan CHEN ; Wenbin WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(22):231-238
The massive accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain is believed to be the first pathological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the accumulation is mainly resulted from the overproduction and dysfunction in the clearance. Extensive and in-depth research has been carried out on AD. In addition to the drugs which are commonly used in clinical settings to improve cognitive function, Aβ monoclonal antibody aducanumab (Aduhelm) has been successfully marketed in the US, which may delay the progress of AD. Thus, it is a potential method for the treatment of AD to target Aβ, but it is expensive, with many adverse reactions and contraindications, which hinders the clinical promotion. Traditional Chinese medicine, featuring multiple components, multiple targets, multiple pathways, and high safety, can regulate the level of Aβ deposition in the brain, alleviate neurotoxicity, and prevent and treat AD by inhibiting the production and aggregation of Aβ and promoting the clearance in the brain. Berberine, gallic acid, osthole, scutellaria barbata flavonoids, Huannao Yicong decoction and Ditantang can promote α-secretase and inhibit the activity and expression of β- and γ-secretase, thus reducing production of Aβ. Baicalein, aloe-emodin, gallic acid, and curcumin can suppress the aggregation of Aβ, promote its depolymerization, and reduce the toxic effect of Aβ on nerve cells by interacting with the hydrophobic structure of Aβ and the H bond, salt bridge, and β-sheet that mediate the aggregation of Aβ. Curcumin and resveratrol can promote the expression of triggering receptor 2 in bone marrow cells of microglia and the migration and phagocytosis of Aβ in microglia. Bilobalide, Kaixinsan and curcumin can up-regulate the expression of encephalin-degrading enzyme and insulin degrading enzyme to promote Aβ degradation, and geniposide, dihydrotanshinone, dihydroartemisinin, and curcumin can degrade Aβ in cells by activating normal autophagy or inhibiting abnormal autophagy. Cycloastragenol, Danggui Shaoyaosan, Yizhi Fangdai formula and Linggui Zhugan decoction can promote the outflow of Aβ and inhibit the inflow of Aβ by improving the integrity and permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Yizhi Fangdai formula and Xueshuantong can promote the polarization of aquaporin 4(AQP4), allow Aβ to be cleared through the lymphatic system, and reduce the aggregation of Aβ in the brain, thereby relieving or preventing nerve cell damage and improving cognitive function. The above summary aims to provide more sufficient evidence and ideas for the clinical treatment of AD with traditional Chinese medicine.