Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms of action of propolis in db/db mice. Methods: The chemical composition of propolis was analyzed using UHPLC-MS/MS. Thirty mice, including six wt/wt and 24 db/db mice, were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 6 per group): control, model, metformin (250 mg/kg), low dose propolis (100 mg/kg), and high dose propolis (HDP; 400 mg/kg). Treatments were administered orally for four weeks. Body weight and FBG levels were recorded weekly, and an oral glucose tolerance test was conducted on the 25th day. Serum levels of FIN, GSP, connecting peptide, AST, ALT, HDL, LDL, TG, and TC were quantified using ELISA. Liver histopathology was assessed using H&E and PAS staining. Western blotting was performed to examine the expression levels of NF-κB, phosphorylated NF-κB, IκBα, pIκBα, and AKT in liver tissues. Results: The top 10 metabolites of propolis were identified in positive and negative ion modes. The HDP group exhibited a significant reduction in FBG levels, body weight, connecting peptide levels, homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function scores, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance scores (all P < .05). GSP levels were significantly reduced in both treatment groups (all P < .001). The HDP group also exhibited a reduction in TC and LDL levels (both P < .05), whereas HDL levels increased in both treatment groups (all P < .05). Liver weight, AST levels, and ALT levels were reduced in both treatment groups (all P < .05). Histological analysis revealed improved liver morphology. Protein analysis demonstrated downregulation of phosphorylated NF-κB and phosphorylated IκB, alongside upregulation of AKT. Conclusion Propolis exhibited significant antihyperglycemic effects in db/db mice, potentially by modulating the AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for diabetes management.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of the water extracts of Trichosanthis Radix-Polygonati Rhizoma at different ratios on glucose and lipid metabolism in KKAy mice with spontaneous type 2 diabetes and explore the mechanism of the extract in alleviating insulin resistance based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/forkhead box O1 （FoxO1） signaling pathway. MethodThe 8-week-old C57BL/6J male mice were taken as the normal control group， and KKAy male mice of the same age were randomly assigned into a model group， a metformin group， Trichosanthis Radix-Polygonati Rhizoma groups at the ratios of 1∶1 （Trichosanthis Radix 30 g， Polygonati Rhizoma 30 g）， 1∶3 （Trichosanthis Radix 15 g， Polygonati Rhizoma 45 g）， and 1∶5 （Trichosanthis Radix 10 g， Polygonati Rhizoma 50 g） according to blood glucose level and body weight， with 6 mice in each group. The administration lasted for 8 weeks， and the body weight （BW） and fasting blood glucose （FBG） of mice were recorded at the same time points of the 2nd， 4th， 6th， and 8th weeks， respectively. Oral glucose tolerance test （OGTT） was performed at the 7th week. After drug administration， the serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， and fasting insulin （FINS） were measured， and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） index was calculated. The liver tissue samples were stained with hematylin-eosin （HE） and periodic acid-Schiff （PAS） for observation of the fat distribution and glycogen content. The protein levels of PI3K， Akt， p-Akt， FoxO1， and p-FoxO1 in the liver were determined by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed increased food intake， FBG， glucose tolerance， FINS， HOMA-IR， TC， TG， and LDL-C （P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein levels of PI3K， Akt， phosphorylaison （p）-Akt， FoxO1， and p-FoxO1 in the liver （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Trichosanthis Radix-Polygonati Rhizoma lowered FBG and HOMA-IR （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In particular， the combination at the ratio of 1∶3 showed the best performance （P<0.01） comparable to metformin. Furthermore， Trichosanthis Radix-Polygonati Rhizoma at different ratios lowered blood glucose at different time points of OGTT （P<0.05） and TC and LDL-C （P<0.01）. Additionally， the combination at the ratio of 1∶3 reduced TG （P<0.01）. The liver of mice in the drug administration groups showed regular morphology， with few lipid droplets and rich glycogen. Western blot showed that Trichosanthis Radix-Polygonati Rhizoma up-regulated the protein levels of PI3K and p-Akt， down-regulated the protein level of FoxO1， and up-regulated the protein level of p-FoxO1 （P<0.05）. ConclusionTrichosanthis Radix-Polygonati Rhizoma， especially at the ratio of 1∶3， lowered the FBG， TC， LDL-C， and HOMA-IR index， promoted liver glycogen synthesis， and reduced steatosis in KKAy mice， which may be related to the regulation of PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway in the liver.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Chuanshanlong granule on Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation protein 88 （MyD88）/nuclear transcription factor -κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway， and to explore the mechanism of its treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis （AIT） in rats. MethodForty AIT models were established following excess iodine and injection of porcine thyroglobulin and Freund's adjuvant into Lewis rats for six weeks. Then the rats were randomly divided into the model group， Chuanshanlong granule low-， medium- and high-dose group （0.52， 1.03， 2.06 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， with ten in each group. Rats in the Chuanshanlong granule low-， medium- and high-dose groups were separately given 0.01 mL·g^-1·d^-1 Chuanshanlong granule， and those in the normal group and the model group were given the same volume of deionized water for eight weeks. Serum of rats was taken to measure thyroglobulin antibody （TgAb） and thyroid peroxidase antibody （TPOAb） by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the concentrations of free triiodothyronine （FT₃）， free thyroxine （FT₄） and thyroid stimulating hormone （TSH） were detected. The rat thyroid lobes were stained with hematoxylin and eosin （HE）， and the pathological changes were observed under light microscope. In addition， the relative expression of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB protein and mRNA was determined by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the conditions in the normal group， the serum concentrations of TPOAb and TgAb （P<0.01） and FT₃ and FT₄ （P<0.01） increased and TSH decreased （P<0.01） in the model group. Compared with the conditions in the model group， the concentrations of TPOAb and TgAb in the Chuanshanlong granule treatment groups reduced （P<0.01）， and the concentrations of FT₃ and FT₄ were lowered （P<0.01） while TSH increased （P<0.01） in the Chuanshanlong granule high-dose group. HE staining showed that there was lymphocyte infiltration in the thyroid follicular space， a large number of destroyed or diminished follicular cavities， decreased colloid content， and thinned or destroyed follicular wall in the model group， while the thyroid lymphocyte infiltration in the Chuanshanlong granule treatment groups was significantly less and the structure of thyroid follicles was more complete than those in the model group. Compared with the normal group， the model group had up-regulated relative expression of TLR4， MyD88 and NF-κB protein （P<0.01） and mRNA （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Chuanshanlong granule high-dose group had down-regulated relative expression of TLR4 protein and mRNA （P<0.05）， MyD88 protein （P<0.01） and mRNA （P<0.05）， and NF-κB protein and mRNA （P<0.01）. ConclusionChuanshanlong granule may play a therapeutic role in AIT by inhibiting the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To study the clinical efficacy and safety of purse-string suture on the treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding. Methods Data of 42 patients with peptic ulcer bleeding treated by purse-string suture with hexiejia combined with endoloop in Dongguan Tung Wah Hospital from January 2016 to January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The immediate hemostasis rate, effective hemostasis rate, additional surgery rate, recurrence rate in two weeks and mortality were analyzed. Results Among 20 cases with active bleeding during operation, 19 were immediately arrested, and 1 case of failure was diagnosed as marginal ulcer after gastric resection. The overall effective hemostasis rate was 97. 6%(41/42), additional surgery rate was only 2. 4%( 1/42). The vital signs of 41 patients with successful endoscopic hemostasis were stable after operation, and no fever, hematemesis, black stool or other symptoms occurred. No recurrence of bleeding or death occurred within two weeks. The ulcers were healed well in follow-up of one month. Conclusion Endoscopic purse-string suture is a safe and feasible method for treatment of patients with peptic ulcer bleeding.

more coincidence with ultrasound than SPECT. ConclusionsUltrasonography is a noninvasive method for assessing the effect of multiple burr-hole operation in patients with moyamoya disease.

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound in assessing superficial temporal arterymiddle cerebral artery(STA-MCA)anastomosis in patients with moyamoya disease.Methods Ultrasonic Doppler studies were made pre-and postoperatively in 25 patients with moyamoya disease undergoing STAMCA anastomosis.The peak systolic velocity(PSV),end diastolic velocity(EDV),pulsatility index(PI)and resistance index(RI)were measured in external carotidartery(ECA) and superficial temporal artery (STA)pre-and postoperatively.The pattern of the collateral circulation through the bypass was categorized based on postoperative external carotid angiograms.Thus three categories were determined as extensive,moderate and poor.The patients were divided into three groups based on the pattern of the collateral circulation through the bypass,which was determined based on the angiographic findings.PSV,EDV,PI,RI of STA was compared between groups.Results ①The values of the PSV,EDV of anastomosed STA were significantly higher and the values of PI,RI were significantly lower after operation.②The values of the PSV,EDV of the anastomosed ECA tended to be higher and the values of PI,RI tended to be lower in postoperation patients,but the differences were not significant within preoperation and postoperation group.③The Values of the PSV,EDV of the anastomosed STA were significantly different among the groups.The PSV.EDV tended to be higher and the PI,RI tended to be lower in patients with more extensive bypass flow.④The blood flow direction of STA was from extracranial to intracranial.Conclusions The PSV,EDV,PI,RI of STA can predicting the extent of collateral flow through an STA-MCA bypass.Color Doppler ultrasonography is a noninvasive method of assessing the function of STA-MCA bypass in patients with moyamoya disease.

Objective To study the feasibility and characteristic findings of contrast-enhancedultrasound(CEUS)on peripheral pulmonary tumors.Methods Twenty patients with peripheral pulmonarytumors proven by pathology were studied.They were divided into two groups:primary pulmonary tumors (n=15),and metastatic pulmonary tumors(n=5). The dynamic enhancement images were stored and Strip enhancement was dominant in the primary pulmonary tumors,while dot enhancement was dominant in ascended quickly and descended slowly,while ascended slowly and descended slowly in majority of metastaticThe modes of enhancement and time-intensity curves were all different in primary and metastatic pulmonary tumors.Contrast-enhanced uhrasound is promising in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary tumors.