Objective To explore the regulation of Chaihuang Qingyi Huoxue Granule on intestinal microecological changes in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and the potential mechanism for its treatment of SAP. Methods Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (SHAM),SAP model group (SAP),and Chaihuang Qingyi Huoxue Granule (CH)group,with 16 rats in each group. Each group was further divided into 12 h and 24 h subgroups. The SAP model was induced by retrograde injection of 5％ sodium taurocholate into the pancreaticobiliary duct through duodenal wall. The SHAM and SAP groups received normal saline by gavage,while the CH group received 1.2 g·kg-1 Chaihuang Qingyi Huoxue Granule solution by gavage every six hours. At 12 h and 24 h after operation,eight rats from each group were sacrificed to collect abdominal aortic blood,pancreatic and ileal tissues for analysis. Ascites,pancreatic and ileal tissues were observed. Serum amylase(AMY) and lipase (LPS) levels were measured biochemically. Pathological changes in pancreatic and ileal tissues were investigated by HE staining. Claudin-1 protein expression in ileal tissue was detected by Western Blot. Changes in the intestinal flora of ileocecal contents were analyzed by 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. Results Compared to the SHAM group at the same time points,the SAP group exhibited extensive pancreatic edema and necrosis. Serum AMY and LPS levels,pancreatic and ileal histopathological scores increased,and Claudin-1 protein expression in ileal tissue markedly decreased (all P<0.05). The differences in abundance of microbial community increased,while the evenness of community composition reduced. The microbial richness showed no significant change (P>0.05),but the microbial diversity decreased(P<0.05). Proteobacteria were dominant intestinal bacteria. Relative abundances of Oscillospira,Ruminococcus,Bifidobacterium,and Bacteroides S24-7 decreased,whereas relative abundances of Shigella and Allobaculum increased. The differences in abundance of microbial community reduced,and the evenness of community composition increased. The microbial richness showed no significant change(P>0.05),but the microbial diversity increased (P<0.05). Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant intestinal bacteria. Relative abundances of Oscillospira,Ruminococcus,Bifidobacterium,and Bacteroides S24-7 increased,whereas relative abundances of Shigella and Allobaculum decreased. After the intervention of CH,pathological damage in ileal tissue was improved. The expression of Claudin-1 protein in the intestinal mucosal barrier increased compared to the model group(P<0.05). The differences in abundance of microbial community reduced,and the evenness of community composition increased. CH group showed an increase in some beneficial bacteria and decrease in pathogenic bacteria compared to model group. Conclusion Chaihuang Qingyi Huoxue Granule may reduce pancreas injury in rats with SAP,which may be involved in modulating the intestinal microecology and improving intestinal mucosal barrier function.

Objective To investigate whether there was a correlation between serum liver enzyme levels and blood pressure in the Chinese Han population with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Shandong coastal regions in China. Methods A total of 269 NAFLD patients who lived in Shandong coastal regions and attended or underwent physical examination in Qingdao Municipal Hospital from December 2019 to June 2020 were enrolled, among whom 105 had hypertension and 164 did not have hypertension. Morning blood pressure was measured to calculate mean arterial pressure (MAP), and laboratory tests were performed to measure the serum levels of liver enzymes [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)] and fasting blood glucose (FBG). The independent samples t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation of four liver enzymes with the indices including MAP, and a binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the impact of serum liver enzymes on hypertension. Results Compared with the non-hypertension group, the hypertension group had significantly higher body mass index (BMI), MAP, and GGT (all P < 0.05). For all NAFLD patients and the NAFLD patients without hypertension, male patients had significantly higher BMI, MAP, ALT, AST, and GGT than female patients (all P < 0.05), and for the NAFLD patients with hypertension, male patients had a significantly higher level of GGT than female patients ( P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the distribution of GGT between the hypertension group and the non-hypertension group, and compared with the non-hypertension group, the hypertension group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with GGT exceeding the normal range ( χ 2 =4.781, P =0.029). Serum GGT level was correlated with MAP within the normal range (70-105 mm Hg) ( r =0.178, P =0.011), while there was no significant correlation when MAP exceeded the normal range ( P =0.415). After adjustment for age and sex, the binary logistic regression model showed that AST level was positively associated with hypertension in the population with NAFLD (odds ratio [ OR ]=1.011, 95% confidence interval [ CI ]: 1.000-1.022, P =0.040), and after further adjustment for BMI and FBG, the results showed that AST level was still positively associated with hypertension ( OR =1.011, 95% CI : 1.000-1.022, P =0.044). Conclusion In Chinese Han population with NAFLD in Shandong coastal regions, higher levels of AST may predict an increased risk of hypertension.

Objective To investigate the intervention effect of Xuanfuhua decoction on mice with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) induced by high-fat, high-fructose, and high-cholesterol diet. Methods A total of 32 male C57/BL6J mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Xuanfuhua decoction group, and obeticholic acid group, with 8 mice in each group. Since week 24 of modeling using high-fat, high-fructose, and high-cholesterol diet, each group was given the corresponding drug for intervention at a dose of 14.19 g/kg by gavage for the Xuanfuhua decoction group and 10 mg/kg by gavage for the obeticholic acid group and a volume of 20 mL/kg for gavage, once a day for 6 consecutive weeks. HE staining, oil red O staining, Sirius Red staining, and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes, lipid deposition, and collagen deposition of liver tissue; related kits were used to measure the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glucose, as well as the content of TG and hydroxyproline (Hyp) in liver tissue; quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis in liver tissue; immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the positive expression of F4/80 and α-SMA in liver tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t -test was used for further comparison between two groups. Results Compared with the normal group, the model group had significant increases in body weight, liver wet weight, and serum levels of AST, ALT, TC, TG, LDL-C and glucose (all P < 0.01). HE staining showed hepatocyte steatosis, a large number of fat vacuoles, hepatocyte ballooning degeneration, and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue of the mice in the model group, and the model group had a significant increase in NAFLD activity score (NAS) compared with the normal group ( P < 0.01). Oil red O staining showed the deposition of a large number of red lipid droplets with different sizes in hepatocytes of the mice in the model group, and compared with the normal group, the model group had significant increases in the area percentage of oil red O staining and the content of TG in the liver ( P < 0.01). Sirius Red staining and Masson staining showed significant collagen fiber hyperplasia in the perisinusoidal area, the central vein, and the portal area in the model group, and the model group had a significant increase in the content of Hyp in liver tissue compared with the normal group ( P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the Xuanfuhua decoction group had significant reductions in the serum levels of AST, ALT, TC, TG, LDL-C, and glucose (all P < 0.05), significant improvements in hepatic steatosis, inflammatory infiltration, lipid droplet deposition, and collagen fiber hyperplasia, and significant reductions in NAS score, area percentage of oil red O staining, and content of TG and Hyp in the liver (all P < 0.05). Compared with the normal group, the model group had significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes (SREBP-1c, FASN, SCD-1, PPAR-γ, and CD36), inflammation-related genes (F4/80, TNF-α, CCL2, and CD11b), and the fibrosis-related gene α-SMA (all P < 0.05), and immunohistochemical staining showed significant increases in the positive expression of F4/80 and α-SMA ( P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the Xuanfuhua decoction group had significant reductions in the mRNA expression levels of SREBP-1c, FASN, SCD-1, PPAR-γ, CD36, F4/80, TNF-α, CCL2, CD11b, and α-SMA in liver tissue (all P < 0.05), and immunohistochemical staining showed significant reductions in the positive expression of F4/80 and α-SMA ( P < 0.01). Conclusion Xuanfuhua decoction has a good intervention effect on mice with NASH induced by high fat, high fructose, and high-cholesterol diet and can significantly inhibit hepatic lipid deposition, inflammatory response, and liver fibrosis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complicated autoimmune disease affecting multiple systems and organs. It is highly heterogeneous, and it preferentially affects women at childbearing age, causing worldwide social burden. The pathogenesis of SLE mostly involves genetic predisposition, epigenetic dysregulation, overactivation of the immune system, and environment factors. Human microbiome, which is mostly composed of microbiota colonized in the gut, skin, and oral cavity, provides a natural microbiome barrier against environmental risks. The past decade of research has demonstrated a strong association between microbiota and metabolic diseases or gastrointestinal diseases. However, the role of microbiota in autoimmunity remains largely unknown until recently, when the technological and methodological progress facilitates further microbiota research in SLE. In this review, the latest research about the role and mechanisms of microbiota in SLE and the advances in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on microbiota for SLE were summarized.
Humans ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/therapy* ; Microbiota ; Autoimmunity ; Immune System