OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Aim To explore the key components and mechanisms of Lizhong decoction in treating rats with cold-damp diarrhea based on network pharmacology,molecular docking technology and animal experiments.Methods By literature review and database collec-tion,the components of Lizhong decoction,therapeutic targets,and the mapping with diarrhea disease targets were conducted to construct an intersection target pro-tein-protein interaction network for screening core tar-gets,and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed to build an"active component-target-pathway"network,followed by molecular docking vali-dation.Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into the normal control group(K),model group(DG),Lizhong decoction group(LZDG),and Pulsatilla decoction group(BTDG).Subsequently,a rat cold-damp diar-rhea model was established using Senna combined with low-temperature high-humidity environment,and the rats were intervened with Lizhong decoction and Pul-satilla decoction.HE staining was used to detect path-ological changes in intestinal tissue,ELISA was em-ployed to measure the levels of peripheral blood IL-6,IL-10,IL-1 β,and TNF-α,and western blot was used to determine the expression of colon tight junction pro-teins.Results Network pharmacology initially identi-fied 125 compounds in Lizhong decoction,5 186 drug target components,438 disease targets,and 60"drug-disease"shared targets.GO and KEGG enrichment a-nalysis showed that signaling pathways such as IL-17 and TNF were highly enriched.Molecular docking in-dicated that the core components of the drug had good binding activity with corresponding key targets.Liz-hong decoction could effectively improve the clinical symptoms of rats with cold-damp diarrhea,and com-pared with the DG group,the diarrhea rate,diarrhea in-dex,and other related indicators also gradually de-creased to normal levels.Compared with the DG group,the LZDG group showed reduced inflammation levels and a recovery in energy metabolism levels.Conclusion It can regulate targets such as MMP9 and IL-17 signaling pathways through multi-components like Calycosin and formononetin to exert its therapeutic effect on cold-damp diarrhea.

Aim To explore the key components and mechanisms of Lizhong decoction in treating rats with cold-damp diarrhea based on network pharmacology,molecular docking technology and animal experiments.Methods By literature review and database collec-tion,the components of Lizhong decoction,therapeutic targets,and the mapping with diarrhea disease targets were conducted to construct an intersection target pro-tein-protein interaction network for screening core tar-gets,and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed to build an"active component-target-pathway"network,followed by molecular docking vali-dation.Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into the normal control group(K),model group(DG),Lizhong decoction group(LZDG),and Pulsatilla decoction group(BTDG).Subsequently,a rat cold-damp diar-rhea model was established using Senna combined with low-temperature high-humidity environment,and the rats were intervened with Lizhong decoction and Pul-satilla decoction.HE staining was used to detect path-ological changes in intestinal tissue,ELISA was em-ployed to measure the levels of peripheral blood IL-6,IL-10,IL-1 β,and TNF-α,and western blot was used to determine the expression of colon tight junction pro-teins.Results Network pharmacology initially identi-fied 125 compounds in Lizhong decoction,5 186 drug target components,438 disease targets,and 60"drug-disease"shared targets.GO and KEGG enrichment a-nalysis showed that signaling pathways such as IL-17 and TNF were highly enriched.Molecular docking in-dicated that the core components of the drug had good binding activity with corresponding key targets.Liz-hong decoction could effectively improve the clinical symptoms of rats with cold-damp diarrhea,and com-pared with the DG group,the diarrhea rate,diarrhea in-dex,and other related indicators also gradually de-creased to normal levels.Compared with the DG group,the LZDG group showed reduced inflammation levels and a recovery in energy metabolism levels.Conclusion It can regulate targets such as MMP9 and IL-17 signaling pathways through multi-components like Calycosin and formononetin to exert its therapeutic effect on cold-damp diarrhea.

AIM To study the effects of Dianxianqing Granules on Tau protein in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD).METHODS The mice expressing P301S mutant Tau variant were randomly divided into the model group,the MCC950 group (NLRP3 inhibitor,10 mg/kg),the Dianxianqing Granules group (12.48 g/kg),the MCC950+Dianxianqing Granules group,in contrast to the C57BL/6 mice of the control group.After 5 months of administration,the mice had their learning and memory ability tested by Y maze test and Morris water maze test;their cerebral morphological changes observed by HE staining;their cerebral expressions of Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins detected by immunohistochemical method;their expression of cerebral Tau protein detected by immunofluorescence;and their cerebral expressions of Tau,p-Tau (ser202),p-Tau (thr205),NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18 detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the model group displayed decreased rate of spontaneous alternate reaction and times of crossing platform (P<0.05,P<0.01);abnormal hippocampal morphology,decreased number of neurons,increased cerebral positive expressions of Caspase-1 and GSDMD (P<0.05);deposition of a large number of brown granules in cytoplasm,and increased protein expressions of Tau,p-Tau (ser202),p-Tau (thr205),NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1βand IL-18 in the hippocampus and the cortex (P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the group intervened with Dianxianqing Granules demonstrated both increased rate of spontaneous alternate reaction and times of crossing platform (P<0.05);complete and normal morphology of the brain,a diversity of fine neurons,reduced cerebral positive expressions of Caspase-1 and GSDMD (P<0.05);and decreased protein expressions of Tau,p-Tau (ser202),p-Tau (thr205),NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18 in the hippocampus and the cortex (P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Dianxianqing Granules may inhibit Tau protein expression in the mouse model of AD via NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway.

Vascular calcification is a highly regulated process of ectopic calcification in cardiovascular system while no effective intervention can be clinically performed up to date.As vascular calcification undergoes a common regulatory mechanism within bone formation,bone morphogenetic protein 7(BMP-7)main-tains contractile phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells and further inhibits vascular calcification via promoting the process of osteoblast differentiation,reducing ectopic calcification pressure by increasing bone formation and reducing bone resorption.This work systematically reviews the role of BMP-7 in vascular calcifi-cation and the possible mechanism,and their current clinical application as well.The current proceedings may help develope early diagnostic strategy and therapeutic treatment with BMP-7 as a new molecular marker and potential drug target.The expec-tation could achieve early prevention and intervention of vascular calcification and improve poor prognosis on patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) at sensitized acupoints could reduce sympathetic-sensory coupling (SSC) and neurogenic inflammatory response by interfering with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)ergic neural pathways to relieve colitis and somatic referred pain, and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Rats were treated with 5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) solution for 7 days to establish a colitis model. Twelve rats were randomly divided into the control and model groups according to a random number table (n=6). According to the "Research on Rat Acupoint Atlas", sensitized acupoints and non-sensitized acupoints were determined. Rats were randomly divided into the control, model, Zusanli-EA (ST 36), Dachangshu-EA (BL 25), and Xinshu (BL 15) groups (n=6), as well as the control, model, EA, and EA + GR113808 (a 5-HT inhibitor) groups (n=6). The rats in the control group received no treatment. Acupuncture was administered on 2 days after modeling using the stimulation pavameters: 1 mA, 2 Hz, for 30 min, with sparse and dense waves, for 14 consecutive days. GR113808 was injected into the tail vein at 5 mg/kg before EA for 10 min for 7 consecutive days. Mechanical sensitivity was assessed with von Frey filaments. Body weight and disease activity index (DAI) scores of rats were determined. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to observe colon histopathology. SSC was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect 5-HT and substance P (SP) expressions. The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in skin tissue and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein levels in DRG were detected by Western blot. The levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), bradykinin (BK), prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) in skin tissue, 5-HT, tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1), serotonin transporters (SERT), 5-HT 3 receptor (5-HT3R), and 5-HT 4 receptor (5-HT4R) in colon tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: BL 25 and ST 36 acupoints were determined as sensitized acupoints, and BL 15 acupoint was used as a non-sensitized acupoint. EA at sensitized acupoints improved the DAI score, increased mechanical withdrawal thresholds, and alleviated colonic pathological damage of rats. EA at sensitized acupoints reduced SSC structures and decreased TH and CGRP expression levels (P<0.05). Furthermore, EA at sensitized acupoints reduced BK, PGI2, 5-HT, 5-HT3R and TPH1 levels, and increased HA, 5-HT4R and SERT levels in colitis rats (P<0.05). GR113808 treatment diminished the protective effect of EA at sensitized acupoints in colitis rats (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA at sensitized acupoints alleviated DSS-induced somatic referred pain in colitis rats by interfering with 5-HTergic neural pathway, and reducing SSC inflammatory response.
Rats ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; Acupuncture Points ; Pain, Referred ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Signal Transduction ; Colitis/therapy* ; Indoles ; Sulfonamides

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of LUO's Nephropathy Recipe Ⅲ(composed of Sargassum,Astragali Radix,Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata,calcined Ostreae Concha,Houttuyniae Herba,Schizonepetae Spica,etc.)combined with conventional western medicine in treating stage 3-5 non-dialysis chronic kidney disease(CKD)of spleen-kidney deficiency with turbidity-toxin-stasis obstruction type.Methods A total of 180 patients with stage 3-5 non-dialysis CKD of spleen-kidney deficiency with turbidity-toxin-stasis obstruction type were randomly divided into observation group and control group,with 90 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional western medicine for symptomatic treatment,and the observation group was treated with LUO's Nephropathy RecipeⅢon the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment for the two groups covered one month.Before and after treatment,the levels of serum inflammatory factors,renal function indicators and urine protein parameters in the two groups were observed.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)After one month of treatment,the total effective rate in the observation group was 95.56%(86/90)and that in the control group was 81.11%(73/90).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the efficacy of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.01).(2)After treatment,the serum levels of inflammatory factors of transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1),monocyte chemotactic protein 1(MCP-1),and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the levels of renal function indicators of blood urea nitrogen(BUN),serum creatinine(Scr),blood uric acid(UA),and cystatin C(Cys-C)in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the levels of 24-hour urine protein quantification and urine microalbumin in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(5)The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 4.44%(4/90),which was significantly lower than that of 15.56%(14/90)in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant between the two groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion LUO's Nephropathy Recipe Ⅲ combined with conventional western medicine exerts satisfactory efficacy in treating stage 3-5 non-dialysis CKD patients with spleen-kidney deficiency with turbidity-toxin-stasis obstruction syndrome type,and the therapy can significantly alleviate the inflammatory response,improve the renal function,decrease the urinary protein excretion of the patients,with high safety profile.

AIM To study the effects of Dianxianqing Granules on Tau protein in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD).METHODS The mice expressing P301S mutant Tau variant were randomly divided into the model group,the MCC950 group (NLRP3 inhibitor,10 mg/kg),the Dianxianqing Granules group (12.48 g/kg),the MCC950+Dianxianqing Granules group,in contrast to the C57BL/6 mice of the control group.After 5 months of administration,the mice had their learning and memory ability tested by Y maze test and Morris water maze test;their cerebral morphological changes observed by HE staining;their cerebral expressions of Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins detected by immunohistochemical method;their expression of cerebral Tau protein detected by immunofluorescence;and their cerebral expressions of Tau,p-Tau (ser202),p-Tau (thr205),NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18 detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the model group displayed decreased rate of spontaneous alternate reaction and times of crossing platform (P<0.05,P<0.01);abnormal hippocampal morphology,decreased number of neurons,increased cerebral positive expressions of Caspase-1 and GSDMD (P<0.05);deposition of a large number of brown granules in cytoplasm,and increased protein expressions of Tau,p-Tau (ser202),p-Tau (thr205),NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1βand IL-18 in the hippocampus and the cortex (P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the group intervened with Dianxianqing Granules demonstrated both increased rate of spontaneous alternate reaction and times of crossing platform (P<0.05);complete and normal morphology of the brain,a diversity of fine neurons,reduced cerebral positive expressions of Caspase-1 and GSDMD (P<0.05);and decreased protein expressions of Tau,p-Tau (ser202),p-Tau (thr205),NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18 in the hippocampus and the cortex (P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Dianxianqing Granules may inhibit Tau protein expression in the mouse model of AD via NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway.

The study investigated the effects of different processed products of Polygonati Rhizoma(black bean-processed Polygonati Rhizoma, BBPR; stewed Polygonati Rhizoma, SPR) on the urinary metabolites in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease(AD). Sixty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomized into a control group, a model group, a donepezil group, a BBPR group, and a SPR group, with twelve rats in each group. Other groups except the control group were administrated with D-galactose injection(100 mg·kg~(-1)) once a day for seven weeks. The control group was administrated with an equal volume of normal saline once a day for seven consecutive weeks. After three weeks of D-galactose injection, bilateral hippocampal Aβ_(25-35) injections were performed for modeling. The rats were administrated with corresponding drugs(10 mL·kg~(-1)) by gavage since week 2, and the rats in the model and control group with an equal volume of double distilled water once a day for 35 continuous days. The memory behaviour and pathological changes in the hippocampal tissue were observed. The untargeted metabolites in the urine were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q/TOF-MS). Principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were employed to characterize and screen differential metabolites and potential biomarkers, for which the metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was conducted. The results indicated that BBPR and SPR increased the new object recognition index, shortened the escape latency, and increased the times of crossing the platform of AD rats in the Morris water maze test. The results of hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining showed that the cells in the hippocampal tissue of the drug administration groups were closely arranged. Moreover, the drugs reduced the content of interleukin-6(IL-6, P<0.01) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the hippocampal tissue, which were more obvious in the BBPR group(P<0.05). After screening, 15 potential biomarkers were identified, involving two metabolic pathways: dicoumarol pathway and piroxicam pathway. BBPR and SPR may alleviate AD by regulating the metabolism of dicoumarol and piroxicam.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Dicumarol ; Galactose ; Piroxicam ; Metabolomics/methods* ; Biomarkers/urine*

Aim To observe the effect of epimedium on the proliferation and stem cell-like character expression of breast cancer cells, and investigate the relationship between the inhibition of stem cell-like character and miR-148a by epimedium, and its molecular mechanism. Methods After treatment with different concentrations of epimedium, cell viability and population dependence were detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay; the breast cancer stem cell-derived mammosphere formation was examined by Mammosphere assay; the expression levels of CD44,ALDH-1, Oct4,BMIl and EpCAM were detected by qPCR; the protein expression levels of EpCAM, SOX4, ZO-1, E-cadherin and vimentin were detected by Western blot; the protein localization of EpCAM was observed by im-munofluorescence assay; the effect of epimedium on migration was detected by wound healing assay. The miR-148a mimic was transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells, and the effects of epimedium on stem-like character expression of transfected MDA-MB-231 cells were observed. Results Epimedium significantly inhibited the proliferation and population dependence of MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05 ), and reduced the breast cancer stem cell-derived mammosphere formation; compared with control group, epimedium significantly decreased mRNA levels of CD44, ALDH-1, Oct4, BMI1 and EpCAM (P <0.05) ,decreased protein contents of EpCAM, SOX4 and Vimentin (P < 0.05 ), up-regulated the protein expression of ZO-1 and e-cadherin ( P <0.05) ,and decreased the migration ability of MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.05). Epimedium up-regulated the expression of miR-148a in MDA-MB-231 cells (P <0.01). YYH + miR-148a mimic group significantly inhibited stem-like character expression and EMT process of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells compared with control group (P <0.05). Conclusions Epimedium can inhibit the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells, which may be related to the up-regulation of miR-148a, decrease of stem-like character expression of breast cancer cells,and inhibition of EMT.