AIM:To evaluate the characteristics of ocular biometric parameters and the distribution of corneal astigmatism(CA)in patients with high myopia before cataract surgery.METHODS:A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted, and 695 cataract patients(695 eyes)with high myopia [defined as an axial length(AL)≥26.00 mm] scheduled to undergo cataract surgery at our hospital from January 2022 to December 2024 were consecutively enrolled, another 695 cataract patients(695 eyes)with normal ALs(22.00 mm ≤AL≤25.00 mm)who underwent cataract surgery at our hospital during the same period were included in the control group. For patients with both eyes eligible, the right eye was used for analysis. Before cataract surgery, IOL Master 700 was used to measure the ocular biometric parameters of both eyes for each patient in the two groups. The medical records and ocular biometric data in the two groups were recorded and collected.RESULTS:There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in genger, age, corneal diameter, and central corneal thickness(all P>0.05). In the high myopia group, the mean AL was 29.20±2.61 mm, and 252 eyes(34.1%)had AL ≥30.00 mm(extremely high myopia). The mean anterior chamber depth(ACD), lens thickness, vitreous chamber depth(VCD), CA, AL/corneal radius of curvature and VCD/AL in the high myopia group were 3.45±0.40, 4.41±0.47, 21.34±2.60 mm, 1.18±0.78 D, 3.79±0.38, and 0.73±0.03, respectively, which were all greater than those in the control group(all P<0.01). In the high myopia group, 350 eyes(50.4%)had CA ≥1.00 D, 192 eyes(27.6%)had CA ≥1.50 D, and 94 eyes(13.5%)had CA ≥2.00 D, which were all higher than those in the control group(32.8%, 15.1%, and 6.6%, respectively; all P<0.001). In the high myopia group, 87 eyes(12.5%)had flat corneas, 424 eyes(61.0%)had moderate CA, and 40 eyes(5.8%)had high CA. These proportions were all higher than those in the control group(6.0%, 46.9%, and 2.9%, respectively; all P<0.001). In the high myopia group, ACD and ACD/AL were negatively correlated with AL(r=-0.162 and -0.661, respectively; all P<0.001), while both ACD and ACD/AL in the control group were positively correlated with AL(r=0.338 and 0.105, respectively; both P<0.01). In the high myopia group, CA increased with age when the patient's age was ≥50 years(r=0.197, P<0.001), which was consistent with the control group.CONCLUSION: The standardized ocular biometric data of cataract patients with high myopia before cataract surgery are helpful for ophthalmologists to accurately calculate the intraocular lens(IOLs)power and select the appropriate IOL type. The majority of high myopia patients need simultaneous correction of CA during cataract surgery.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) capable of clearing heat and removing toxin is most commonly used in clinical practice and has the effect of removing fire-heat and toxin. Studies have shown that most of the Ilex plants have the effect of clearing heat and removing toxin, among which the varieties of I. cornuta, I. pubescens, I. rotunda, I. latifolia, and I. chinensis are most widely used. These plants generally contain triterpenoids and their glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and other chemical components, especially pentacyclic triterpenoids. According to their skeletons, pentacyclic triterpenoids can be divided into the oleanane type, the ursane type, the lupinane type, etc. Among them, ursane-type components are the most abundant, and 136 species have been found so far. These components have been proved to have pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, hypolipidemic, anti-thrombosis, cardiomyocyte-protective, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews the domestic and foreign literature on Ilex plants with a focus on the research progress on pentacyclic triterpenoids and their pharmacological activities, aiming to provide reference for the development of TCM resources with the effect of clearing heat and removing toxin.
Ilex/chemistry* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: Prunella vulgaris L. has long been used for liver protection according to traditional Chinese medicine theory and has been proven by modern pharmacological research to have multiple potential liver-protective effects. However, its effects on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are currently uncertain. Our study explores the effects of P. vulgaris polysaccharides on NASH and intestinal homeostasis. METHODS: An aqueous extract of the dried fruit spikes of P. vulgaris was precipitated in an 85% ethanol solution (PVE85) to extract crude polysaccharides from the herb. A choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD) was administrated to male C57BL/6 mice to establish a NASH animal model. After 4 weeks, the PVE85 group was orally administered PVE85 (200 mg/[kg·d]), while the control group and CDAHFD group were orally administered vehicle for 6 weeks. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and other methods were used to assess the impact of PVE85 on the liver in mice with NASH. 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis was employed to evaluate the gut microbiota abundance and diversity in each group to examine alterations at various taxonomic levels. RESULTS: PVE85 significantly reversed the course of NASH in mice. mRNA levels of inflammatory mediators associated with NASH and protein expression of hepatic nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) were significantly reduced after PVE85 treatment. Moreover, PVE85 attenuated the thickening and cross-linking of collagen fibres and inhibited the expression of fibrosis-related mRNAs in the livers of NASH mice. Intriguingly, PVE85 restored changes in the gut microbiota and improved intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by NASH by increasing the abundance of Actinobacteria and reducing the abundance of Proteobacteria at the phylum level. PVE85 had significant activity in reducing the relative abundance of Clostridiaceae at the family levels. PVE85 markedly enhanced the abundance of some beneficial micro-organisms at various taxonomic levels as well. Additionally, the physicochemical environment of the intestine was effectively improved, involving an increase in the density of intestinal villi, normalization of the intestinal pH, and improvement of intestinal permeability. CONCLUSION PVE85 can reduce hepatic lipid overaccumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis in an animal model of CDAHFD-induced NASH and improve the intestinal microbial composition and intestinal structure. Please cite this article as: Zhu MJ, Song YJ, Rao PL, Gu WY, Xu Y, Xu HX. Therapeutic role of Prunella vulgaris L. polysaccharides in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and gut dysbiosis. J Integr Med. 2025; 2025; 23(3): 297-308.
Animals ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/drug therapy* ; Male ; Dysbiosis/drug therapy* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Polysaccharides/therapeutic use* ; Prunella/chemistry* ; Mice ; Liver/metabolism* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Diet, High-Fat

Based on the literature review and the analysis of specific cases of postpartum frequent micturition,pediatric enuresis,elderly uremia complicated with bradyarrhythmia in clinic,the clinical application of the action of Ephedrae Herba in stimulating yang qi is discussed.Ephedrae Herba has the meridian tropism of the lung and bladder meridians,and is pungent,warm and dispersing,which is the most important medicine for the treatment of external contraction.Ephedrae Herba has the actions of inducing diaphoresis,calming asthma and inducing diuresis,and is widely used for the treatment of external contraction,coughing and asthma,and edema.For the patients with deficiency of both kidney yin and kidney yang without obvious bias of yin-yang consumption which result from the postpartum impairment of qi and blood,deficient innate endowment,and gradually exhaustion of essence in the kidney in the elderly or during chronic illness,a small dosage of Ephedrae Herba can stimulate yang qi during the treatment of warming kidney yang,which is helpful for promoting the drug arriving at the back shu-points of the internal organs distributed along the bladder meridian and enhancing the recovery of zang-fu organ function.Ephedrae Herba is strong in inducing diaphoresis with an intense action.When Ephedrae Herba is used to stimulate yang,the dosage of 3～9 g is appropriate,and medicines for warming yang are needs to be used together.The course of treatment with Ephedrae Herba should be avoided to be too long,in order to prevent the vital energy from the damage by its large cumulative dose.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Shenshuai Formula(composed of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Zingibere et Alumine,Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium,Poria,Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,Bambusae Caulis in Taenia,Morindae Officinalis Radix,Centellae Herba,Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,etc.)on patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD)at stage 3-4 of spleen-kidney qi deficiency with internal accumulation of turbid-phlegm and stasis type.Methods Seventy patients with CKD at stage 3-4 of spleen-kidney qi deficiency with internal accumulation of turbid-phlegm and stasis type were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 35 patients in each group.The control group was given the conventional western medicine integrated treatment for CKD,and the treatment group was given the Chinese herbal decoction of Shenshuai Formula on the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment for the two groups covered 8 weeks.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,renal function indicators of serum creatinine(Scr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),serum cystatin C(CysC),blood uric acid(UA)and estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),and the level of hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)in the two groups before and after the treatment were observed.Moreover,the TCM syndrome efficacy and clinical safety in the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)During the trial,5 cases in the treatment group and 3 cases in the control group fell off,and eventually a total of 62 patients were included in the trial,including 30 cases in the treatment group and 32 cases in the control group.(2)After 8 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate for TCM syndrome efficacy of the treatment group was 86.67%(26/30),and that of the control group was 59.38%(19/32).The intergroup comparison showed that the TCM syndrome efficacy in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the scores of TCM syndromes in the two groups were significantly decreased when compared with those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the decrease in the treatment group was more obvious than that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the renal function indicator levels of Scr,BUN,CysC and UA in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the level of eGFR was increased when compared with that before treatment(P＜0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the decrease in the levels of Scr,BUN,CysC and UA and the increase in the level of eGFR in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group(P＜0.05).(5)After treatment,the inflammatory factor level of serum hs-CRP in the two groups was improved when compared with that before treatment(P＜0.05),and the improvement in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(6)During the treatment period,no significant changes in the safety indicators such as blood routine test,stool routine test and occult blood test,liver function,electrolyte,and electrocardiogram were presented in the two groups.Conclusion Shenshuai Formula exerts certain effect in the treatment of patients with CKD at stage 3-4 of spleen-kidney qi deficiency with internal accumulation of turbid-phlegm and stasis type.It can relieve the clinical symptoms of the patients to certain extent,effectively decrease the levels of Scr,BUN,CysC and UA,increase the eGFR,improve renal function,lower the level of serum hs-CRP,reduce the micro-inflammatory state of patients,and delay the progress of the disease.

Objective:To explore the repair effect of resveratrol combined with Schwann cell-like cells(SCLCs)dif-ferentiated from adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs)on sciatic nerve injury in rats.Methods:ADSCs were primarily cultured and induced to differentiate into SCLCs.Cell morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy.West-ern Blot method was used to detect the expressions of S100 calcium-binding protein β(S100β),p75 neurotrophin receptor(p75NTR),and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP).Rats were randomly divided into Control group(Con-trol),Schwann cell-like cell group(SCLCs),resveratrol group(Res),and resveratrol+Schwann cell-like cell group(Res+SCLCs).Eight weeks after the successful establishment of the sciatic nerve injury model,the sciatic nerve func-tion index(SFI)of each group was detected by footprint experiment;the mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT)was measured by von Frey filament stimulation needle;The wet weight ratio(WR)of the tibialis anterior muscle was deter-mined by weighing method;Western Blot and RT-qPCR methods were used to detect the expressions of neurotrophin-3(NT-3),nerve growth factor(NGF),insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1),and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)at the injury site.Results:After 8 days of induction of ADSCs,the cells had elongated poles and increased extracellular components;S100β,p75NTR,and GFAP proteins were highly expressed.After treatment with SCLCs,Res,and Res+SCLCs,the SFI and WR of the treatment groups were significantly better than those of the Control group(P＜0.05);the MWT of rats in the Res+SCLCs group and SCLCs group was reduced(P＜0.05).Western Blot re-sults showed that the expressions of NT-3,IGF-1,NGF,and BDNF proteins in rats in the Res+SCLCs group were higher than those in other groups(P＜0.05);The expressions of NT-3,NGF,and BDNF proteins in rats in the SCLCs group were higher than those in the Control group(P＜0.05);the expressions of NT-3 and NGF proteins in rats in the Res group were higher than those in the Control group(P＜0.05).RT-qPCR results showed that the expressions of NT-3,IGF-1,NGF,and BDNF mRNA in rats in the Res+SCLCs group were highly expressed;the expressions of NT-3,IGF-1,NGF,and BDNF mRNA in rats in the SCLCs group were higher than those in the Control group(P＜0.05);The expressions of IGF-1 and NGF mRNA in rats in the Res group were higher than those in the Control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Res combined with SCLCs differentiated from ADSCs has a good repair effect on sciatic nerve inju-ry in rats.

Objective Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS)and network pharmacology technology combined with pharmacodynamic experiments were used to analyze the quality markers(Q-markers)in Saorilao Qingfei Zhike Capsules.Methods Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology,the chemical components in different polar extracts of Saorilao Qingfei Zhike Capsules was analyzed.Potential pharmacological components were screened by using antitussive and expectorant models.The"components-targets-diseases"network was constructed and potential Q-markers were screened by network pharmacology technology.Then we conducted pharmacodynamic validation to confirm the Q-markers,which have antitussive and expectorant effects in Saorilao Qingfei Zhike Capsules.Results A total of 120 compounds were obtained from the Saorilao Qingfei Zhike Capsules through qualitative analysis.Among the extracts of different polarity,44 compounds were derived from petroleum ether extract,85 compounds were derived from ethyl acetate extract,79 compounds were derived from n-butanol extract,and 71 compounds were derived from water extract.The results of pharmacological experiments showed that among extracts of different polarity,petroleum ether extract had the best antitussive effect,while n-butanol extract had the best expectorant effect.Three core components for eliminating phlegm and relieving cough were screened through network pharmacology techniques:farcalinol,farcalinediol,and rubimaillin.Pharmacodynamic studies verified that all core components mentioned above have certain antitussive and expectorant effects.Conclusion Based on the above research,farcalinol,farcalindiol,and rubimaillin can be used as Q-markers for the antitussive and expectorant effects of Saorilao Qingfei Zhike Capsules.This paper provides reference for the quality standard of Saorilao Qingfei Zhike Capsules.

Objective To analyze the hotspots and frontiers of researches related to exercise intervention for spinal curvature abnor-malities in children and adolescents. Methods Articles related to exercise intervention for spinal curvature abnormalities in children and adolescents were re-trieved from CNKI and Web of Science Core Collection,from January,2014 to December,2023.The literatures were analyzed wtih CiteSapce 6.2.R3 in terms of disciplines,countries,institutes and keywords. Results A total of 233 articles were retrived,including 71 articles in Chinese and 162 articles in English.The annual pub-lication volume was on the rise.China was the country with the highest number of publications.South Korea was seen a sudden increase in recent literature.For Chinese,the institutions with the largest number of publication were the Department of Health and Exercise Science in Tianjin University of Sport and Luoyang Orthopedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province(Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital).While the institutions with the largest number of publication in English were Marmara University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.The English literatures covered a wide range of disciplines,including clinical medicine,sports medicine,neurolo-gy and psychology.Common high-frequency keywords in both Chinese and English literatures were idiopathic scoliosis,Cobb's angle and Schroth exercise.The latest bursting words included physical health in Chinese,and health-related quality of life and respiratory muscle strength in English. Conclusion The research popularity related to exercise intervention for spinal curvature abnormality in children and ado-lescents is generally on the rise.The research hotspots focus on four main areas:disease,quality of life,research advances and clinical treatment.More attention should be paid to the effect and dosage of exercise intervention on the respiratory function,as well as the effect of Chinese medicine exercise therapy on pediatric patients with abnormal spinal curvature diseases.Future work should focus on constructing an evidence-based Chinese/West-ern medicine exercise prevention and treatment system in the context of China's national conditions,advancing high-quality randomized controlled trials,strengthening interdisciplinary and international collaborations,and fo-cusing on the development and evaluation of personalized exercise intervention programs.

This study investigated the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi,Anaplasma phagocy tophilum,Rickettsia typhi,Orientia tsutsugamushi,Leptospira interrogans,Francisella tularensis,and Babesia spp.in small mammals in the Qinghai plateau region,to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of local zoonotic diseases.Small mammals were cap-tured with snap traps at six sampling sites in the Qinghai plateau region.Liver,spleen,and kidney tissues were collected for detection of six bacterial pathogens with real-time PCR.Conventional PCR(cPCR)was used for Babesia detection,and the positive PCR products were sequenced and analyzed.The differences in pathogen detection rates among species and habitats were analyzed with x2 test or Fisher's exact test.In to-tal,235 small mammals from 15 species were captured.B.burgdorferi,L.interrogans,and Babesia were detected in 11 spe-cies of small mammals,whereas A.phagocytophilum,R.typhi,O.tsutsugamushi,and F.tularensis were not detected.B.burgdorferi was detected in 41 small mammals from nine species(Cricetulus longicaudatus,Apodemus peninsulae,Ochotona curzoniae,Mus m usc ulus,Meriones meridians,Microtus arvalis,Cricetidae,Ochotona cansus,and Allactaga sibirica),with an infection rate of 17.45％(41/235).L.interrogans was detected in eight small mammals from four species(C.longicaudatus,M.musculus,M.arvalis,and Microtus oeconomus),with an infection rate of 3.40％(8/235).Babesia was detected in only one Mustela altaica,with an infection rate of 0.85％(1/235).Statistically significant differences were ob-served in the detection rates of pathogens among small mammal species(x2=200.54,P＜0.05).Among habitats,the detection rate of B.burgdorferi was highest in the forest(Fisher's exact test,P＜0.05).B.burgdorferi and L.interrogans co-infection was observed in three M.arvalis and two C.longicaudatus.In addition,one Babesia sequence was obtained,which clustered with Babesia vulpes in the phylogenetic tree.B.burgdorferi,L.interrogans,and Babesia were the main pathogens prevalent in small mammals in the Qinghai plateau region and have potential to cause human diseases.Local authori-ties should strengthen the surveillance of corresponding zoonotic diseases,and formulate corresponding prevention and control measures.