OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nebulized inhalation of recombinant human interferon (IFN) α1b injection in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia and bronchiolitis) in children.Methods:A randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled add-on design was used.Children with pneumonia or bronchiolitis aged 2 months to 5 years who tested positive for RSV antigen within 72 hours of onset from 30 clinical trial sites including Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University between February 2021 and December 2022 were included in this study and randomly divided into 2 groups at a ratio of 1∶1 based on a stratified-block method.Both groups received basic treatments such as cough control, asthma relieving, expectorant treatment, fever reduction, oxygen therapy, etc.The experimental group received additional nebulized inhalation of IFN α1b injection at a dose of 2.0 μg/(kg·time), twice a day.The control group received nebulized inhalation of placebo twice a day.Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on indicators such as the duration of clinical symptoms and signs, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the median and 95% CI of the duration of clinical symptoms and signs.The Log-rank test was used to compared data between groups.Safety was assessed through the incidence of adverse reactions and laboratory tests, and the Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference between groups. Results:There were 123 children in the experimental group and 122 children in the control group.The median durations of all the 5 clinical symptoms and signs [including shortness of breath, wheezing, dyspnea (visible retractions), decreased transcutaneous oxygen saturation, and abnormal mental state] in the experimental group after treatment were slightly shortened than those in the control group [2.7 d(95% CI: 1.9-3.0 d)] vs.[2.9 d(95% CI: 2.6-3.6 d), P=0.027].The improvement in dyspnea (retractions) was especially pronounced in the experimental group, with a relief rate of 50.0% (0, 100%) on the first day of administration[compared with 0 (0, 50.0%) in the control group ( Z=2.002, P=0.025)].The median duration of dyspnea in the experimental group was nearly 1 day shorter than that in the control group [1.0 d(95% CI: 0.7-1.7 d) vs.1.8 d(95% CI: 1.0-2.5 d), P=0.046].There were no significant difference in hospital stay [6.0(5.0, 8.0) d vs.6.5(5.0, 8.0) d, Z=0.675, P=0.500], oxygen therapy duration [32.0(14.0, 96.3) h vs.39.0 (24.0, 83.2) h, Z=0.094, P=0.925], the recovery rate from clinical symptoms during treatment [(105/106, 99.1%) vs.(96/101, 95.0%)], and recurrence rate [(0/106, 0) vs.(2/101, 2.0%)] between the 2 groups (all P>0.05).However, the above-mentioned four indicators in the experimental group showed a trend of clinical benefits.The quantitative virus detection results showed that the RSV viral load in both groups decreased after treatment compared to before treatment.After 2 days of treatment, the decline rate of RSV viral load from the baseline was 0.90 lg copies/(mL·d) in the experimental group and 0.25 lg copies/(mL·d)in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05).Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the 2 groups ( P>0.05).Importantly, no drug-related serious adverse reactions occurred in both groups. Conclusions:The nebulized inhalation therapy of IFN α1b demonstrates efficacy and safety in treating pediatric RSV associated lower respiratory tract infections.It particularly offers outstanding clinical therapeutic value for severe children.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nebulized inhalation of recombinant human interferon (IFN) α1b injection in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia and bronchiolitis) in children.Methods:A randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled add-on design was used.Children with pneumonia or bronchiolitis aged 2 months to 5 years who tested positive for RSV antigen within 72 hours of onset from 30 clinical trial sites including Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University between February 2021 and December 2022 were included in this study and randomly divided into 2 groups at a ratio of 1∶1 based on a stratified-block method.Both groups received basic treatments such as cough control, asthma relieving, expectorant treatment, fever reduction, oxygen therapy, etc.The experimental group received additional nebulized inhalation of IFN α1b injection at a dose of 2.0 μg/(kg·time), twice a day.The control group received nebulized inhalation of placebo twice a day.Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on indicators such as the duration of clinical symptoms and signs, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the median and 95% CI of the duration of clinical symptoms and signs.The Log-rank test was used to compared data between groups.Safety was assessed through the incidence of adverse reactions and laboratory tests, and the Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference between groups. Results:There were 123 children in the experimental group and 122 children in the control group.The median durations of all the 5 clinical symptoms and signs [including shortness of breath, wheezing, dyspnea (visible retractions), decreased transcutaneous oxygen saturation, and abnormal mental state] in the experimental group after treatment were slightly shortened than those in the control group [2.7 d(95% CI: 1.9-3.0 d)] vs.[2.9 d(95% CI: 2.6-3.6 d), P=0.027].The improvement in dyspnea (retractions) was especially pronounced in the experimental group, with a relief rate of 50.0% (0, 100%) on the first day of administration[compared with 0 (0, 50.0%) in the control group ( Z=2.002, P=0.025)].The median duration of dyspnea in the experimental group was nearly 1 day shorter than that in the control group [1.0 d(95% CI: 0.7-1.7 d) vs.1.8 d(95% CI: 1.0-2.5 d), P=0.046].There were no significant difference in hospital stay [6.0(5.0, 8.0) d vs.6.5(5.0, 8.0) d, Z=0.675, P=0.500], oxygen therapy duration [32.0(14.0, 96.3) h vs.39.0 (24.0, 83.2) h, Z=0.094, P=0.925], the recovery rate from clinical symptoms during treatment [(105/106, 99.1%) vs.(96/101, 95.0%)], and recurrence rate [(0/106, 0) vs.(2/101, 2.0%)] between the 2 groups (all P>0.05).However, the above-mentioned four indicators in the experimental group showed a trend of clinical benefits.The quantitative virus detection results showed that the RSV viral load in both groups decreased after treatment compared to before treatment.After 2 days of treatment, the decline rate of RSV viral load from the baseline was 0.90 lg copies/(mL·d) in the experimental group and 0.25 lg copies/(mL·d)in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05).Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the 2 groups ( P>0.05).Importantly, no drug-related serious adverse reactions occurred in both groups. Conclusions:The nebulized inhalation therapy of IFN α1b demonstrates efficacy and safety in treating pediatric RSV associated lower respiratory tract infections.It particularly offers outstanding clinical therapeutic value for severe children.

Rare diseases have a significant and profound impact on society, the economy, and the healthcare system. The path to developing drugs for rare diseases is particularly arduous. Due to the small number of patients and limited market demand, pharmaceutical companies don′t have enough incentives and resources to invest in drug research and development. Additionally, the long development cycles, high costs, and high risks have led to a number of potential therapeutic drug failures at the early stages of development. This article summarizes a series of encouraging policies adopted by the National Medical Products Administration for rare diseases, which is an important public health issue, as well as the achievements in the review and approval of rare disease drugs in recent years. These policies have accelerated the approval process. Meanwhile, the policies ensure the safety and effectiveness of drugs and offer more treatment options and hopes to patients with rare diseases. With the continuous effort at optimizing the policy environment and the advancement of research and development technologies, China′s drug regulatory authorities will continue to focus on the clinical needs of rare diseases, to implement " patient-centered " approach to drug development, inject new vitality into the research and development of drugs of rare diseases, and offer more precise and effective treatment choices for patients with rare diseases.

Objective To evaluate the effect of para-esophageal and para-gastric vessels(PEPGV)on endoscopic secondary prophylaxis for varices.Methods The clinical data of patients with cirrhosis-related esophagogastric varices(EGV)who underwent endoscopic variceal ligation and/or obliteration,and had hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG)result between January 2020 and December 2020 in Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into a group without PEPGV and a group with PEPGV based on CT imaging of the portal vein.The main outcome was 2-year re-bleeding.Results A total of 69 patients were included,and 27 of them had PEPGV.There was no statistical difference in baseline characteristics,blood indexes(included hemoglobin level,prothrombin time and albumin level),HVPG,and the secondary prophylactic endoscopic treatment ways between the two groups.A total of 25 patients experienced re-bleeding within 2 years after endoscopic treatment,including 15 in the group with PEPGV and 10 in the group without PEPGV.Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative 2-year re-bleeding rate was significantly higher in the group with PEPGV than in the group without PEPGV(60.07％vs 32.79％,P=0.022).Further multivariate Cox analysis showed that PEPGV was an independent predictor of re-bleeding after endoscopic treatment in EGV patients(HR=2.33,95％CI 1.01-5.39,P=0.047).Conclusions The PEPGV is an independent predictor of re-bleeding after endoscopic treatment in EGV patients.It is suggested that when patients with EGV receive endoscopic treatment to prevent re-bleeding,portal vascular CT is suggested to evaluate PEPGV.For patients with giant extraluminal vascular masses,fully evaluating other treatment options such as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt,or adjusting endoscopic treatment ways is recommended.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Objective:A cohort of patients with oxaliplatin-associated portal hypertension was established and compared with patients with hepatitis B or schistosomiasis-associated cirrhotic portal hypertension to explore the course, disease features and prognosis of endoscopic treatment.Methods:From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2021, patients diagnosed with portal hypertension and gastroesophageal varices after oxaliplatin chemotherapy at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University were selected (oxaliplatin general group). The patients who received endoscopic treatment for the first time because of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in the oxaliplatin general group were included in the oxaliplatin group. From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016, patients who initially received endoscopic treatment for the first time because of esophagogastric variceal bleeding due to hepatitis B or schistosomiasis-associated cirrhotic portal hypertension at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled (hepatitis B group and schistosomiasis group). The history of oncology and chemotherapy, laboratory results, imaging and pathological findings were collected, and the clinical features were analyzed. Clinical data were collected, and the clinical features, 3-year cumulative non-bleeding rate and survival rate after endoscopic treatment of the 3 groups including oxaliplatin group, hepatitis B group and schistosomiasis group were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn to estimate treatment effects, and log-rank method was performed to test the differences in survival curves. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results:There were 93 patients in oxaliplatin general group, with a median chemotherapy course of 8 (ranged from 6 to 10) cycles, and the median time from the end of chemotherapy to the diagnosis of gastroesophageal varices was 4 (ranged from 2 to 6) years. There were 55 patients in oxaliplatin group, 191 cases in hepatitis B group and 96 cases in schistosomiasis group. There were 78.5% (73/93) of patients in the oxaliplatin group classified as Child-Pugh grade A, and 33 patients (35.5%) with portal vein thrombosis. The abdominal imaging showed no obvious liver cirrhosis such as liver shrinkage and uneven surface. The pathology of 11 patients with liver biopsy in the oxaliplatin general group showed mainly vascular injury and fibrous deposition in the confluent area with lymphocytic infiltration, mild hepatocellular injury, and no pseudolobule formation. In terms of baseline characteristics, direct bilirubin, alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase levels of patients in the oxaliplatin group were all lower than those of the hepatitis B group and schistosomiasis group (4.8 (3.9, 6.5) μmol/L vs. 6.4 (4.7, 9.0) and 6.5 (4.4, 9.4) μmol/L; 17 (13, 22) U/L vs. 22 (15, 31) and 19 (15, 27) U/L; 22 (19, 25) U/L vs. 28 (22, 39) and 29 (22, 42) U/L), while albumin and prealbumin levels and the proportion of patients with Child-Pugh grade A were all higher than those of the hepatitis B group and schistosomiasis group (39.0 (35.0, 42.5) g/L vs. 34.0 (30.0, 38.3) and 33.8 (29.5, 36.0) g/L; 0.160 (0.130, 0.197) g/L vs. 0.120 (0.090, 0.150) and 0.110 (0.080, 0.140) g/L; 74.5% (41/55) vs. 55.5% (106/191) and 42.7% (41/96)), and the differences were all statistically significant ( U=3 298.50, 2 749.00, 2 159.00, 7 759.00, 5 822.50, χ2=6.92 and U=1 622.00, 1 878.50, 1 305.50, 3 989.00, 3 264.50, χ2=16.36; all P<0.05). The 3-year rebleeding risk in the oxaliplatin group was higher than that in the hepatitis B group ( HR=1.80, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 3.02, P=0.026), but the difference was not statistically significant compared with that of the schistosomiasis group ( HR=1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.61 to 1.78, P=0.874). There were no statistically significant differences in the 3-year cumulative survival rate between the oxaliplatin group and the hepatitis B group and schistosomiasis group (96.4% (53/55) vs. 94.8% (181/191) and 95.8% (92/96), both P>0.05). Conclusions:The pathology of liver injury in patients with oxaliplatin-associated portal hypertension are mainly vascular injury and fibrous deposition in the confluent area. The efficacy of endoscopic treatment to prevent rebleeding in patients with oxaliplatin-associated portal hypertension is significantly inferior to that in patients with hepatitis B-associated portal hypertension, but comparable to that in patients with schistosomiasis-associated portal hypertension.

Parabacteroides distasonis is a gram-negative bacterium initially isolated from a clinical specimen in the 1930s. The strain was re-classified to form the new genus Parabacteroides in 2006. P. distasonis can regulate intestinal barrier function and plays a key role in immune response and metabolic regulation of bodies. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is closely related to the intestinal microbiota. Polysaccharides, saponins, and other ingredients of TCM can treat diseases by interacting with P. distasonis, but the specific mechanisms underlying these processes are still unclear, requiring further exploration. This study reviewed the roles and related mechanisms of P. distasonis in inflammatory-immune diseases, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular disease, neuropsychiatric diseases, cancer, and other diseases and summarized the relevant research results of TCM to prevent and treat diseases by regulating P. distasonis. This study provides a reference for subsequent exploration of P. distasonis and research on the interaction between TCM and intestinal microbiota.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Animals ; Bacteroidetes ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

Objective:A cohort of patients with oxaliplatin-associated portal hypertension was established and compared with patients with hepatitis B or schistosomiasis-associated cirrhotic portal hypertension to explore the course, disease features and prognosis of endoscopic treatment.Methods:From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2021, patients diagnosed with portal hypertension and gastroesophageal varices after oxaliplatin chemotherapy at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University were selected (oxaliplatin general group). The patients who received endoscopic treatment for the first time because of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in the oxaliplatin general group were included in the oxaliplatin group. From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016, patients who initially received endoscopic treatment for the first time because of esophagogastric variceal bleeding due to hepatitis B or schistosomiasis-associated cirrhotic portal hypertension at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled (hepatitis B group and schistosomiasis group). The history of oncology and chemotherapy, laboratory results, imaging and pathological findings were collected, and the clinical features were analyzed. Clinical data were collected, and the clinical features, 3-year cumulative non-bleeding rate and survival rate after endoscopic treatment of the 3 groups including oxaliplatin group, hepatitis B group and schistosomiasis group were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn to estimate treatment effects, and log-rank method was performed to test the differences in survival curves. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results:There were 93 patients in oxaliplatin general group, with a median chemotherapy course of 8 (ranged from 6 to 10) cycles, and the median time from the end of chemotherapy to the diagnosis of gastroesophageal varices was 4 (ranged from 2 to 6) years. There were 55 patients in oxaliplatin group, 191 cases in hepatitis B group and 96 cases in schistosomiasis group. There were 78.5% (73/93) of patients in the oxaliplatin group classified as Child-Pugh grade A, and 33 patients (35.5%) with portal vein thrombosis. The abdominal imaging showed no obvious liver cirrhosis such as liver shrinkage and uneven surface. The pathology of 11 patients with liver biopsy in the oxaliplatin general group showed mainly vascular injury and fibrous deposition in the confluent area with lymphocytic infiltration, mild hepatocellular injury, and no pseudolobule formation. In terms of baseline characteristics, direct bilirubin, alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase levels of patients in the oxaliplatin group were all lower than those of the hepatitis B group and schistosomiasis group (4.8 (3.9, 6.5) μmol/L vs. 6.4 (4.7, 9.0) and 6.5 (4.4, 9.4) μmol/L; 17 (13, 22) U/L vs. 22 (15, 31) and 19 (15, 27) U/L; 22 (19, 25) U/L vs. 28 (22, 39) and 29 (22, 42) U/L), while albumin and prealbumin levels and the proportion of patients with Child-Pugh grade A were all higher than those of the hepatitis B group and schistosomiasis group (39.0 (35.0, 42.5) g/L vs. 34.0 (30.0, 38.3) and 33.8 (29.5, 36.0) g/L; 0.160 (0.130, 0.197) g/L vs. 0.120 (0.090, 0.150) and 0.110 (0.080, 0.140) g/L; 74.5% (41/55) vs. 55.5% (106/191) and 42.7% (41/96)), and the differences were all statistically significant ( U=3 298.50, 2 749.00, 2 159.00, 7 759.00, 5 822.50, χ2=6.92 and U=1 622.00, 1 878.50, 1 305.50, 3 989.00, 3 264.50, χ2=16.36; all P<0.05). The 3-year rebleeding risk in the oxaliplatin group was higher than that in the hepatitis B group ( HR=1.80, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 3.02, P=0.026), but the difference was not statistically significant compared with that of the schistosomiasis group ( HR=1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.61 to 1.78, P=0.874). There were no statistically significant differences in the 3-year cumulative survival rate between the oxaliplatin group and the hepatitis B group and schistosomiasis group (96.4% (53/55) vs. 94.8% (181/191) and 95.8% (92/96), both P>0.05). Conclusions:The pathology of liver injury in patients with oxaliplatin-associated portal hypertension are mainly vascular injury and fibrous deposition in the confluent area. The efficacy of endoscopic treatment to prevent rebleeding in patients with oxaliplatin-associated portal hypertension is significantly inferior to that in patients with hepatitis B-associated portal hypertension, but comparable to that in patients with schistosomiasis-associated portal hypertension.

With the approach of untargeted metabolomics and correlation analysis, this study aimed to explore the mechanism of Aurantii Fructus from Lingnan region in alleviating dryness by analyzing the different effects of raw Aurantii Fructus(RAF) and processed Aurantii Fructus(PAF) on fecal endogenous metabolism in normal rats. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group(C), an RAF group(10 g·kg~(-1)), and a PAF group(10 g·kg~(-1)). After seven days of administration, the effects of RAF and PAF on dryness-related indexes were compared, including water intake, fecal water content, salivary secretion, the expression of AQP5, VIP, and 5-HT in the submandibular gland, as well as the expression of AQP3, VIP, and 5-HT in the colon. The fecal samples in each group were determined by LC-MS. Multivariate statistical analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for screening the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways in alleviating dryness of RAF. The results indicated that both RAF and PAF showed certain dryness, and the dryness of RAF was more significant. Moreover, PAF could alleviate dryness of RAF to a certain extent by reducing the water intake, fecal water content, and the expression of AQP3, VIP, and 5-HT in the colon and increasing the salivary secretion and the levels of AQP5, VIP, and 5-HT in the submandibular gland. According to the analysis of fecal metabolomics, 99 and 58 metabolites related to dryness were found in RAF and PAF respectively, where 16 of them played an important role in alleviating dryness of RAF. Pathway analysis revealed that the mechanism of PAF in alleviating dryness of RAF was presumably related to the regulation of riboflavin metabolism, purine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, alanine metabolism, aspartate metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and retinol metabolism pathways. This study suggested that PAF might alleviate dryness of RAF by affecting the metabolic levels of the body, which provides a new basis for further clarifying the processing mechanism of PAF.
Rats ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; Metabolomics ; Water