Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture aimed at awakening the mind and opening the orifices, when combined with a qi-tonifying and blood-circulating decoction, in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia due to qi deficiency and blood stasis. Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted involving 86 patients with post-stroke dysphagia due to qi deficiency and blood stasis who were admitted to the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion at Yan'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to March 2023. The patients were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group, with 43 cases in each group, using a random number table method. The control group received conventional treatment, while the treatment group received acupuncture aimed at awakening the mind and opening the orifices combined with a qi-tonifying and blood-circulating decoction. Both groups were treated for 1 month. Clinical efficacy, swallowing function, serological indicators, floating index, and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Results:After treatment, the Standardized Swallowing Assessment score in the treatment group was (18.23 ± 2.04) points, which was significantly lower than that in the control group [(22.52 ± 4.38) points, t = 5.82, P < 0.05]. The Water-Swallowing test score in the treatment group was (2.77 ± 0.55) points, which was significantly higher than that in the control group [(2.00 ± 0.42) points, t = 7.30, P < 0.05]. The level of superoxide dismutase in the treatment group was (147.54 ± 21.03) kU/L, which was significantly higher than that in the control group [(128.31 ± 18.54) kU/L, t = 4.50, P < 0.05]. The Pulsatility Index in the treatment group was (0.72 ± 0.25), which was significantly lower than that in the control group [(0.83 ± 0.24), t = 0.74, P < 0.05]. The cerebral vascular reserve in the treatment group was (42.28 ± 5.69)%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group [(35.45 ± 4.31)%, t = 2.03, P < 0.05]. The Swallowing Quality-of-Life Questionnaire score in the treatment group was (76.33 ± 11.54) points, which was significantly higher than that in the control group [(68.02 ± 12.16) points, t = 3.25, P < 0.05]. The response rate in the treatment group was 97.67% (42/43), which was significantly higher than that in the control group [86.05% (37/43), χ2 = 3.89, P < 0.05]. Conclusions:The use of acupuncture for awakening the mind and opening the orifices, combined with a qi-tonifying and blood-circulating decoction, can significantly enhance clinical efficacy and improve the quality of life for patients with post-stroke dysphagia due to qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome compared with conventional treatment.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Sishenwan in restoring the intestinal barrier function in the rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency based on intestinal flora and short-chain fatty acids. MethodsAfter the delivery of 10 SPF-grade pregnant rats， 4 male suckling rats were kept in each litter for the experiment. The male suckling rats were randomly allocated into blank， model， low-dose （3.51 g·kg^-1） Sishenwan， high-dose （7.02 g·kg^-1） Sishenwan， and Peifeikang （0.54 g·kg^-1） groups， with 8 rats in each group. The blank group was fed conventionally， and the other groups were subjected to mother-child separation and Sennae Folium gavage （1 g·mL^-1， 10 mL·kg^-1） for the modeling of IBS-D due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. After the modeling was completed， the rats in Sishenwan groups were administrated with the corresponding dose of Sishenwan decoction by gavage， and the Peifeikang group with bifidobacterium triple live powder+normal saline suspension. The blank and model groups were treated with an equal volume of normal saline by gavage. The general conditions and fecal characteristics of rats were observed. After 2 weeks of administration， the rats were anesthetized for sample collection. The pathological changes of the colon tissue in rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of transforming growth factor-beta （TGF-β）， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and interleukin-22 （IL-22）. Immumohistochemical staining （IHC） was performed to detect the positive expression of zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1） and occludin in the colon tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon tissue of rats， and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed for intestinal flora. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to determine the content of short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs） in the cecum contents of rats. ResultsThe colon tissue in the blank group presented a clear structure， neat glands， and no inflammatory cell infiltration. In the model group， the colon tissue showcased a disorganized structure， irregular arrangement of glands， and inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the model group， the low-dose and high-dose Sishenwan groups and the Peifeikang group exhibited an intact colon tissue structure， regular arrangement of glands， and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the blank group， the modeling lowered the levels of TGF-β， IL-10， and IL-22 in the serum （P<0.01）， down-regulated the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon tissue （P<0.01）， and decreased the content of acetic acid and propionic acid and increased the content of butyric acid in cecum contents （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， low-dose and high-dose Sishenwan raised the levels of TGF-β， IL-10， and IL-22 in the serum （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and Peifeikang elevated the levels of TGF-β and IL-10 in the serum （P<0.01）. High-dose Sishenwan and Peifeikang up-regulated the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased the content of acetic acid and propionic acid in cecum contents （P<0.05）， and decreased the content of butyric acid （P<0.05）. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that the intestinal flora structure of the model group changed compared with that of the blank group. Compared with the model group， Sishenwan and Peifeikang increased the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae， Muribaculaceae， Akkermansiaceae， Ligilactobacillus， UBA3282， Akkermansia， and Corynebacterium while reducing the relative abundance of Oscillospiraceae， Desulfovibrionaceae， Lactobacillus， Romboutsia， and Desulfovibrio. They can restore the intestinal flora structure similar to that in the blank group. ConclusionSishenwan can alleviate diarrhea symptoms and colonic mucosal inflammation， increase the expression of tight junction proteins in the colonic mucosa， and strengthen the intestinal barrier in IBS-D rats with the syndrome of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. The mechanism of action may be related to optimizing the structure and balance of intestinal flora and regulating the SCFAs， and the effect of high-dose Sishenwan is obvious.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Sishenwan in restoring the intestinal barrier function in the rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency based on intestinal flora and short-chain fatty acids. MethodsAfter the delivery of 10 SPF-grade pregnant rats， 4 male suckling rats were kept in each litter for the experiment. The male suckling rats were randomly allocated into blank， model， low-dose （3.51 g·kg^-1） Sishenwan， high-dose （7.02 g·kg^-1） Sishenwan， and Peifeikang （0.54 g·kg^-1） groups， with 8 rats in each group. The blank group was fed conventionally， and the other groups were subjected to mother-child separation and Sennae Folium gavage （1 g·mL^-1， 10 mL·kg^-1） for the modeling of IBS-D due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. After the modeling was completed， the rats in Sishenwan groups were administrated with the corresponding dose of Sishenwan decoction by gavage， and the Peifeikang group with bifidobacterium triple live powder+normal saline suspension. The blank and model groups were treated with an equal volume of normal saline by gavage. The general conditions and fecal characteristics of rats were observed. After 2 weeks of administration， the rats were anesthetized for sample collection. The pathological changes of the colon tissue in rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of transforming growth factor-beta （TGF-β）， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and interleukin-22 （IL-22）. Immumohistochemical staining （IHC） was performed to detect the positive expression of zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1） and occludin in the colon tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon tissue of rats， and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed for intestinal flora. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to determine the content of short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs） in the cecum contents of rats. ResultsThe colon tissue in the blank group presented a clear structure， neat glands， and no inflammatory cell infiltration. In the model group， the colon tissue showcased a disorganized structure， irregular arrangement of glands， and inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the model group， the low-dose and high-dose Sishenwan groups and the Peifeikang group exhibited an intact colon tissue structure， regular arrangement of glands， and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the blank group， the modeling lowered the levels of TGF-β， IL-10， and IL-22 in the serum （P<0.01）， down-regulated the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon tissue （P<0.01）， and decreased the content of acetic acid and propionic acid and increased the content of butyric acid in cecum contents （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， low-dose and high-dose Sishenwan raised the levels of TGF-β， IL-10， and IL-22 in the serum （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and Peifeikang elevated the levels of TGF-β and IL-10 in the serum （P<0.01）. High-dose Sishenwan and Peifeikang up-regulated the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased the content of acetic acid and propionic acid in cecum contents （P<0.05）， and decreased the content of butyric acid （P<0.05）. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that the intestinal flora structure of the model group changed compared with that of the blank group. Compared with the model group， Sishenwan and Peifeikang increased the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae， Muribaculaceae， Akkermansiaceae， Ligilactobacillus， UBA3282， Akkermansia， and Corynebacterium while reducing the relative abundance of Oscillospiraceae， Desulfovibrionaceae， Lactobacillus， Romboutsia， and Desulfovibrio. They can restore the intestinal flora structure similar to that in the blank group. ConclusionSishenwan can alleviate diarrhea symptoms and colonic mucosal inflammation， increase the expression of tight junction proteins in the colonic mucosa， and strengthen the intestinal barrier in IBS-D rats with the syndrome of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. The mechanism of action may be related to optimizing the structure and balance of intestinal flora and regulating the SCFAs， and the effect of high-dose Sishenwan is obvious.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture aimed at awakening the mind and opening the orifices, when combined with a qi-tonifying and blood-circulating decoction, in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia due to qi deficiency and blood stasis. Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted involving 86 patients with post-stroke dysphagia due to qi deficiency and blood stasis who were admitted to the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion at Yan'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to March 2023. The patients were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group, with 43 cases in each group, using a random number table method. The control group received conventional treatment, while the treatment group received acupuncture aimed at awakening the mind and opening the orifices combined with a qi-tonifying and blood-circulating decoction. Both groups were treated for 1 month. Clinical efficacy, swallowing function, serological indicators, floating index, and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Results:After treatment, the Standardized Swallowing Assessment score in the treatment group was (18.23 ± 2.04) points, which was significantly lower than that in the control group [(22.52 ± 4.38) points, t = 5.82, P < 0.05]. The Water-Swallowing test score in the treatment group was (2.77 ± 0.55) points, which was significantly higher than that in the control group [(2.00 ± 0.42) points, t = 7.30, P < 0.05]. The level of superoxide dismutase in the treatment group was (147.54 ± 21.03) kU/L, which was significantly higher than that in the control group [(128.31 ± 18.54) kU/L, t = 4.50, P < 0.05]. The Pulsatility Index in the treatment group was (0.72 ± 0.25), which was significantly lower than that in the control group [(0.83 ± 0.24), t = 0.74, P < 0.05]. The cerebral vascular reserve in the treatment group was (42.28 ± 5.69)%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group [(35.45 ± 4.31)%, t = 2.03, P < 0.05]. The Swallowing Quality-of-Life Questionnaire score in the treatment group was (76.33 ± 11.54) points, which was significantly higher than that in the control group [(68.02 ± 12.16) points, t = 3.25, P < 0.05]. The response rate in the treatment group was 97.67% (42/43), which was significantly higher than that in the control group [86.05% (37/43), χ2 = 3.89, P < 0.05]. Conclusions:The use of acupuncture for awakening the mind and opening the orifices, combined with a qi-tonifying and blood-circulating decoction, can significantly enhance clinical efficacy and improve the quality of life for patients with post-stroke dysphagia due to qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome compared with conventional treatment.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and possible mechanism of Sishenwan in ameliorating visceral sensitivity in the rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. MethodForty male SPF-grade rats were randomly assigned into five groups： blank control， model， low- （3.51 g·kg^-1） and high-dose （7.02 g·kg^-1） Sishenwan， and Peifikang （0.54 g·kg^-1） groups. Except the blank control group， the other groups underwent maternal separation stress and Sennae Folium decoction gavage for the modeling of IBS-D due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. After corresponding drug interventions， the general conditions of the rats were observed， and the number of defecation pellets within 6 h and the minimum threshold of abdominal withdrawal reflex （AWR） were measured. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， gastrin （GAS）， corticosterone （CORT）， and adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was employed to observe pathological changes in the colon tissue. Toluidine blue staining was used to assess mast cell degranulation in the colon tissue. Western blot was performed to determine the protein levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK）， transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 （TRPV1）， and protease-activated receptor 2 （PAR2） in the colon tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to measure the protein level of TRPV1 in the colon tissue， and immunofluorescence was used to detect the positive expression of substance P （SP） and calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） in the colon tissue. ResultCompared with the blank control group， the model group showed increased number of defecation pellets within 6 h （P<0.01）， decreased minimum threshold of AWR （P<0.01）， elevated serum TNF-α level （P<0.01）， lowered levels of GAS， CORT， and ACTH （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased mast cell degranulation rate （P<0.01）， increased positive expression of TRPV1， SP， and CGRP （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and upregulated protein levels of p38 MAPK， JNK， TRPV1， and PAR2 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the high-dose Sishenwan group showed increased minimum threshold of AWR （P<0.01）， reduced defecation frequency in both the high-dose Sishenwan and Peifikang groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered TNF-α level （P<0.05， P<0.01）， elevated levels of GAS， CORT， and ACTH （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased mast cell degranulation rate （P<0.01）， reduced positive expression of TRPV1， SP， and CGRP （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and downregulated protein levels of p38 MAPK， JNK， TRPV1， and PAR2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionSishenwan can ameliorate visceral sensitivity in the rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency by regulating the p38 MAPK/JNK/TRPV1 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate effects of combined regimen of low dose gossypol with steroid hormones on apoptosis of spermatocyte and phagocytosis of sertoli cells. Methods Adult male rats were divided into four groups randomly, group GH: rats were fed orally with gossypol(GA) [ 12.5mg / (kg·d) ] and desogestrel(DSG)[125μg/(kg·d) ]/ethinyloestradil(E)[25μg/ (kg·d) ]/testosterone undecanoate(TU)[100mg/(kg·d) ]; group G: a single does of GA[12.5mg/(kg·d ) ] was given; group H: DSG[125μg/(kg·d) ]/E[25μg/(kg·d) ]/TU[100mg/(kg·d) ] were administered; group C: rats only received vehicle(1% methyl cellulose). Testes from all the rats were removed at 4, 6 and 8 weeks after treatment for counting of spermatocyte and round spermatid using stereological assay, and for detecting apoptosis of spermatocyte and phagocytosis of sertoli cell by TUNEL and oil red O staining respectively. Results In GH group, the number of spermatocyte and round spermatid were reduced, while apoptosis of spermatocyte and staining of oil red O in seminiferous epithelium increased significantly. All changes were caused by steroid hormones in the combined regimen. Conclusion Induction of apoptosis of spermatocyte and then being phagocytosed by Sertoli cell is one of antifertility mechanisms of the combined regimen.