OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy and safety of inhaled salbutamol sulfate combined with beclomethasone dipropionate in the treatment of pediatric bronchial asthma. METHODS: A total of 106 children with bronchial asthma treated from December 2022 to November 2023 were randomly assigned to a control group (n=53) and a treatment group (n=53). The control group received conventional symptomatic management plus salbutamol sulfate, while the treatment group received additional inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate. The symptom relief time, asthma control status, complete blood count parameters, interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels, infection incidence, and adverse event rate were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the treatment group had shorter times to symptom relief and complete symptom resolution (P<0.05). After 7 days of therapy, the treatment group showed higher asthma control score, IFN-γ level, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio than the control group (P<0.05), and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, IL-4 level, infection incidence, and overall adverse event rate (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Inhaled salbutamol sulfate combined with beclomethasone dipropionate improves clinical efficacy, promotes T helper 1/T helper 2 immune balance, optimizes multiple hematologic indices, and demonstrates good safety in children with bronchial asthma.
Humans ; Beclomethasone/adverse effects* ; Asthma/immunology* ; Albuterol/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Administration, Inhalation ; Child, Preschool ; Interleukin-4/blood* ; Interferon-gamma/blood* ; Adolescent ; Drug Therapy, Combination

OBJECTIVE: To assess the independent and combined effects of air pollutants, meteorological factors, and greenspace exposure on new tuberculosis (TB) cases. METHODS: TB case data from Shanghai (2013-2018) were obtained from the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental data on air pollutants, meteorological variables, and greenspace exposure were obtained from the National Tibetan Plateau Data Center. We employed a distributed-lag nonlinear model to assess the effects of these environmental factors on TB cases. RESULTS: Increased TB risk was linked to PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, and rainfall, whereas NO ₂, SO ₂, and air pressure were associated with a reduced risk. Specifically, the strongest cumulative effects occurred at various lags: PM _2.5 ( RR = 1.166, 95% CI: 1.026-1.325) at 0-19 weeks; PM ₁₀ ( RR = 1.167, 95% CI: 1.028-1.324) at 0-18 weeks; NO ₂ ( RR = 0.968, 95% CI: 0.938-0.999) at 0-1 weeks; SO ₂ ( RR = 0.945, 95% CI: 0.894-0.999) at 0-2 weeks; air pressure ( RR = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.447-0.816) at 0-8 weeks; and rainfall ( RR = 1.404, 95% CI: 1.076-1.833) at 0-22 weeks. Green space exposure did not significantly impact TB cases. Additionally, low temperatures amplified the effect of PM _2.5 on TB. CONCLUSION Exposure to PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, and rainfall increased the risk of TB, highlighting the need to address air pollutants for the prevention of TB in Shanghai.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Tuberculosis/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Meteorological Concepts ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Environmental Exposure ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Air Pollution ; Middle Aged

Objective:To explore the mechanisms of Qianlie Jindan Tablets(QLJD)acting on chronic nonbacterial prostatitis(CNP)in rats based on non-targeted urine metabolomics.Methods:According to the body mass index,we equally randomized 30 eight-week-old male SD rats into a blank control,a CNP model control and a QLJD medication group.We established the CNP model in the latter groups and,from the 4th day of modeling,treated the rats in the blank and model control groups intragastrically with nor-mal saline and those in the QLJD medication group with QLJD suspension,qd,for 30 successive days.Then we detected the changes in the metabolites of the rats by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry,and identified the differential metabolites in different groups by multivariate statistical analysis,followed by functional annotation of the differential metabolites.Results:Eight common metabolites were identified by metabolomics analysis,of which 5 were decreased in the CNP model controls and increased in the QLJD medication group,while the other 3 increased in the former and decreased in the latter group.Creatinine and genistein were important differential metabolites,and the arginine and proline metabolic pathways and isoflavone biosynthesis pathways were the main ones for QLJD acting on CNP.Compared with the blank controls,the model controls showed up-regulated arginine and proline metabolic pathways,increased production of creatinine,down-regulated isoflavone biosynthetic pathway and decreased produc-tion of genistein.The above changes in the model controls were all reversed in the QLJD medication group.Conclusion:QLJD acts effectively on CNP in male rats by regulating L-arginine and proline metabolic pathways,as well as the isoflavone biosynthesis pathway and naringenin metabolism.

This study used the zebrafish model to explore the hepatotoxicity of Rhododendri Mollis Flos(RMF). The mortality was calculated according to the number of the survival of zebrafish larvae 4 days after fertilization under different concentration of RMF, and the dose-toxicity curve was fitted to preliminarily evaluate the toxicity of RMF. The liver phenotypes under the sublethal concentration of RMF in the treatment group and the blank control group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and acridine orange(AO) staining. Meanwhile, the activities of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) were determined to confirm the hepatotoxicity of RMF. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR) and Western blot were used to determine the expressions of genes and proteins in zebrafish larvae. Gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry(GC-TOF-MS) was used to conduct untargeted metabolomics testing to explore the mechanism. The results showed that the toxicity of RMF to zebrafish larvae was dose-dependent, with 1 100 μg·mL~(-1) of the absolute lethal concentration and 448 μg·mL~(-1) of sublethal concentration. The hepatocyte apoptosis and degeneration appeared in the zebrafish larvae under the sublethal concentration of RMF. The content of ALT and AST in zebrafish larvae at the end of the experiment was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner. Under the sublethal concentration, the expressions of genes and proteins related to apoptosis in zebrafish larvae were significantly increased as compared with the blank control group. The results of untargeted metabolomics showed that the important metabolites related to the he-patotoxicity of RMF were mainly enriched in alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and other pathways. In conclusion, it is inferred that RMF has certain hepatotoxicity to zebrafish larvae, and its mechanism may be related to apoptosis.
Animals ; Zebrafish/genetics* ; Apoptosis ; Larva ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of thumb-tack needles based on "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" on sequela symptoms, mental state and pulmonary ventilation function in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during recovery period. METHODS: Fifty cases of COVID-19 during recovery period were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 25 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with thumb-tack needles at Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taiyuan (LU 9). The patients in the control group were treated with sham thumb-tack needles at identical acupoints as the observation group. The treatment in the two groups was given once a day, 7-day treatment was taken as a course of treatment, and totally two courses of treatment were given. The TCM symptom score, Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) score, Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) score, pulmonary function (forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1], peak expiratory flow [PEF]), the severity of pulmonary ventilation dysfunction and pulmonary imaging changes in the two groups were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the total scores and each item scores of TCM symptom scale, HAMA scores and HAMD scores in the two groups were reduced after treatment (P<0.05). Except for the symptom scores of dry throat and dry stool, the total score and each item score of TCM symptom scale, HAMA score and HAMD score in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, FVC, FEV1 and PEF in the two groups were increased after treatment (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were higher than the control group (P<0.05). The severity of pulmonary ventilation dysfunction in the two groups was reduced after treatment (P<0.05), and the severity in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the lung shadow area in the two groups was decreased (P<0.05), and that in the observation group was smaller than the control group (P<0.05). The improvement of imaging change in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The thumb-tack needles based on "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" could significantly reduce the sequela symptoms, anxiety and depression in patients with COVID-19 during recovery stage, and improve the pulmonary ventilation function.
Acupuncture Points ; Anxiety/etiology* ; COVID-19/therapy* ; Depression/etiology* ; Humans ; Needles ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thumb

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of filiform-fire needling of "Biaoben acupoint combination" on the sequelae of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the recovery period. METHODS: A total of 33 patients with COVID-19 during the recovery period were treated with filiform-fire needling at the acupoints of Mingmen (GV 4), Shenzhu (GV 12), Gaohuang (BL 43), Zusanli (ST 36) and Shangjuxu (ST 37), etc., once every other day, 3 times a week, and 3 times was one course of treatment and totally 2 courses of treatment were required. The TCM symptom, Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) scores, pulmonary function indexes (forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1], peak expiratory flow [PEF]) and chest CT imaging change were observed before and after treatment, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of TCM symptom, HAMA and HAMD were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the levels of FVC, FEV1 and PEF were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the recovery rate of 22 patients with pulmonary ventilation dysfunction was 86.4% (19/22). After treatment, the lung shadow area was smaller than that before treatment (P<0.05). The effective rate of 25 patients with lung CT abnormalities was 84.0% (21/25). After treatment, 23 cases were cured, 5 cases were markedly effective, 4 cases were effective, 1 case was ineffective, the cured and markedly effective rate was 84.8%. CONCLUSION The filiform-fire needling of "Biaoben acupoint combination" could significantly reduce the sequelae of cough, fatigue, chest tightness, etc. and mental symptoms such as anxiety and depression in patients with COVID-19 during the recovery period, and promote inflammatory exudation absorption of pulmonary lesion and improve lung ventilation function.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; COVID-19/therapy* ; Humans ; Lung ; Vascular Surgical Procedures

ObjectiveTo retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 52 patients with coronavirus disease-2019 （COVID-19） and explore the clinical efficacy of modified Sanxiaoyin on mild/moderate COVID-19 patients. MethodThe propensity score matching method was used to collect the clinical data of mild or moderate COVID-19 patients enrolled in the designated hospital of the Second Hospital of Jingzhou from December 2019 to May 2020. A total of 26 eligible patients who were treated with modified Sanxiaoyin were included in the observation group， and the 26 patients treated with conventional method were the regarded as the control. The disappearance of clinical symptoms， disappearance time of main symptoms， efficacy on traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptoms， hospitalization duration， laboratory test indicators， and CT imaging changes in the two groups were compared. ResultThe general data in the two groups were insignificantly different and thus they were comparable. After 7 days of treatment， the disappearance rate of fever， cough， fatigue， dry throat， anorexia， poor mental state， and poor sleep quality in the observation group was higher than that in the control group （P<0.05）， and the difference in the disappearance rate of expectoration and chest distress was insignificant. For the cases with the disappearance of symptoms， the main symptoms （fever， cough， fatigue， dry throat， anorexia， chest distress） disappeared earlier in the observation group than in the control group （P<0.01）. After 7 days of treatment， the scores of the TCM symptom scale of both groups decreased （P<0.01）， and the decrease of the observation group was larger that of the control group （P<0.01）. All patients in the two groups were cured and discharged. The average hospitalization duration in the observation group ［（12.79±2.68） d］ was shorter than that in the control group ［（15.27±3.11） d］ （P<0.01）. The effective rate in the observation group （92.31%， 24/26） was higher than that in the control group （76.92%， 20/26） . After 7 days of treatment， the lymphocyte （LYM） count increased （P<0.05）， and white blood cell （WBC） count and neutrophil （NEUT） count decreased insignificantly in the two groups. Moreover， levels of C-reactive protein （CRP）， erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR）， and procalcitonin （PCT） reduced in the two groups after treatment （P<0.01） and the reduction in the observation group was larger than that in the control group （P<0.01）. Through 7 days of treatment， the total effective rate on pulmonary shadow in the observation group （90.00%， 18/20） was higher than that in the control group （77.27%， 17/22） （P>0.05） and the improvement of lung shadow in the observation group was better than that in the control group （P<0.01）. ConclusionModified Sanxiaoyin can significantly alleviate fever， cough， fatigue， anorexia， chest distress， poor sleep quality， and other symptoms of patients with mild or moderate COVID-19， improve biochemical indicators， and promote the recovery of lung function. This paper provides clinical evidence for the application of modified Sanxiaoyin in the treatment of mild or moderate COVID-19.

Objective:To study the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) regulating excitability of the vagus nerve on dysphagia after stroke. Methods:From September, 2020 to February, 2021, 28 patients with dysphagia after stroke were randomly divided into control group (n = 14) and tDCS group (n = 14). Both groups accepted swallowing function training, and tDCS group received anodal tDCS over vagus nerve, while the control group received sham tDCS. They were assessed with modified Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MMASA) and Australian Therapy Outcome Measures (AusTOMs)-swallowing scale before and after treatment. Results:The scores of MMASA (|t| > 5.593, P < 0.001) and AusTOMs swallowing scale (|Z| > 2.121, P < 0.05) increased in both groups after treatment, and were higher in tDCS group than in the control group (|t| = 2.439, |Z| = 2.079, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Anodal tDCS over vagus nerve may further release dysphagia after stroke.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and clinical efficiency of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in the treatment of small-volume BPH (SBPH) complicated by severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 82 cases of SBPH with severe LUTS treated by HoLEP from January 2017 to December 2018. The patients were aged (65.5 ± 7.6) years, with a mean prostate volume of <40 ml, a total IPSS of 24.8 ± 4.6, a QOL score of 5.2 ± 0.8, the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) of (7.6 ± 3.7) ml/s, and a mean PSA level of (1.8 ± 1.4) μg/L. RESULTS: All the operations were successfully completed, the mean operation time averaging (30.2 ± 5.0) min, enucleation time (26.7 ± 5.6) min and comminution time (3.5 ± 1.1) min, and the enucleated tissue weighing (20.3 ± 4.9) g. After surgery, the bladders were irrigated for (3.5 ± 1.9) h, with (3.0 ± 1.7) L of rinse solution, and catheterization lasted (24.8 ± 9.7) h. Histopathology revealed moderate or severe lymphocytic infiltration in 69 cases (84.1%). At 6 months after operation, significant improvement was observed in the IPSS, QOL, Qmax and PSA level compared with the baseline (P < 0.05). To date, no urethral stricture-related reoperation was ever necessitated. CONCLUSIONS HoLEP is safe and effective for the treatment of SBPH complicated by severe LUTS and can be employed after adequate preoperative evaluation of the patient.《.
Humans ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/surgery* ; Male ; Prostate/surgery* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia/surgery* ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies

Objective::To explore the possible mechanisms of Erzhiwan in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the network pharmacology. Method::The candidate active components and targets of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and Ecliptae Herba were obtained through retrieval of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) systems pharmacology database (TCMSP) and literatures. Through Uniprot database and the human genome database (GeneCards), the overlapping genes of Erzhiwan and hepatocellular carcinoma were collected. The " candidate active components-targets" network of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and Ecliptae Herba was built with Cytoscape 3.6.0 software. Drug target proteins and disease targets were mapped, and Venn map was drawn by Omicshare database. Major targets interaction network was formed by using String database and " Generate style from statistics" tool in Cytoscape 3.6.0 software. Molecular docking with active components was carried out by Systems Dock Web Site. The Gene Ontology (GO) classification enrichment analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis for the targets were carried out in DAVID database. Result::Totally 21 active components, including beta-sitosterol, quercetin, luteolin, demethylwedelolactone, kaempferol, and 151 targets, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), N-terminal kinase (JUN), proto-oncogene (c-MYC), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) of Erzhiwan were collected. Erzhiwan exerts its effects on HCC mainly by acting on signal pathways, including Hepatitis B, TNF, Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K/Akt), tumor suppressor gene p53 and Toll-like receptor. Conclusion::Based on the methodology of network pharmacology, this study preliminarily predicted the major targets and pathways of Erzhiwan in the treatment of HCC, providing a direction for further studies.