ObjectiveTo explore the possible action mechanism of Qingshi Anti-itch Ointment （青石止痒软膏， QAO） in the treatment of psoriasis. MethodsForty mice were randomly divided into four groups， blank group， model group， calcipotriol group and QAO group， with 10 mice in each group. Except for the blank group， psoriasis was induced by applying imiquimod cream to the dorsal skin. After modeling for 6 hours daily， the calcipotriol group and QAO group were treated with 0.5 g of calcipotriol ointment or 0.5 g of QAO， respectively， applied to the treated dorsal skin. The blank group and the model group received no treatment. The skin lesions were observed， and the psoriasis area and severity index （PASI） score was assessed every other day. After 7 days， Hematoxylin and Eosin （HE） staining was performed on dorsal skin tissue to observe pathological changes. The levels of interleukin 1β （IL-1β） and interleukin 18 （IL-18） were determined by enzym-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein levels of Caspase-1，Pro-Caspase-1， gasdermin D （GSDMD） and gasdermin-D-N （GSDMD-N） were detected by Western Blot （WB）. The protein levels of GSDMD were observed by immunohistochemistry. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group mice showed redness， erythema， and white scales on their skin， with histological observations indicating epidermal thickening， elongated spines， and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The PASI scores of the skin tissue on days 1， 3， 5， and 7 were elevated； the IOD and AOD values of GSDMD protein increased； the protein levels of Caspase-1， Pro-Caspase-1，GSDMD， GSDMD-N， and IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly elevated （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the QAO group and calcipotriol group showed lighter skin lesions； the PASI scores on day 5 and day 7 in the QAO group， and on day 3， 5， and 7 in the calcipotriol group， were reduced； the IOD and AOD values of GSDMD protein， and the protein level of Caspase-1， GSDMD， and GSDMD-N， as well as level of IL-18 and IL-1β decreased in both groups； in the calcipotriol group， Pro-Caspase-1 protein level also decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the calcipotriol group， the QAO group showed slightly redder skin， more obvious thickening of the stratum corneum， and less capillary dilation； the PASI scores on day 3 and day 7 increased， while the score on day 5 was reduced； the protein level of Pro-Caspase-1， GSDMD， GSDMD-N， and the level of IL-18 and IL-1β were increased in the QAO group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionQAO can effectively relieve psoriasis dermatitis in mice. Its potential mechanism may be related to the regulation of the Caspase-1/GSDMD protein pathway， down-regulation of IL-18 and IL-1β levels， and alleviation of pyroptosis.

BACKGROUND:Pinoresinol diglucoside promotes bone formation and bone matrix synthesis and accelerates bone tissue repair.However,the mechanism of action and effects of this compound in osteoblasts need to be further explored. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect and mechanism of action of pinoresinol diglucoside on dexamethasone-treated osteoblasts based on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. METHODS:Different concentrations of dexamethasone groups and pinoresinol diglucoside groups were set to treat osteoblasts for 24 hours,and the optimal intervention concentrations were screened.Osteoblasts were treated with dexamethasone,pinoresinol diglucoside and inhibitor XAV-939.Then,control group,dexamethasone group,XVA-939 group,pinoresinol diglucoside group,pinoresinol diglucoside+XVA-939 group were set up.Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect cell activity.Alkaline phosphatase activity and caspase3/7 enzyme activity in cells were detected.Annexin V/PI staining and EdU assay were used to detect cell apoptosis and proliferation.Real-time qPCR and western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of Wnt3a,β-catenin,c-myc,osteocalcin,and type I collagen,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After dexamethasone and pinoresinol diglucoside intervened in osteoblasts for 24 hours,10 μmol/L dexamethasone was found to be the optimal intervention concentration for cell inhibition,and cell proliferation was most pronounced at a concentration of pinoresinol diglucoside of 100 μmol/L.Compared with the dexamethasone group,alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly enhanced(P<0.05)and caspase3/7 enzyme activity was significantly reduced(P<0.05)in the pinoresinol diglucoside group.Annexin V/PI staining and cell proliferation assay by EdU method showed that pinoresinol diglucoside inhibited apoptosis and promoted proliferation of osteoblasts after dexamethasone intervention.The mRNA and protein expression levels of Wnt3a,β-catenin,c-myc,osteocalcin,and type I collagen were significantly higher in the pinoresinol diglucoside group and pinoresinol diglucoside+XVA-939 group compared with the dexamethasone and XVA-939 groups(P<0.05).To conclude,pinoresinol diglucoside can inhibit osteoblast apoptosis after dexamethasone intervention,protect osteoblast activity and promote osteoblast proliferation by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,which may play a role in delaying steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Avian coccidiosis, an acute parasitic disease that mainly harms chicks, is widely prevalent across the world, which poses a serious threat to poultry industry. Because of the single prophylactic formulations, veterinary clinical treatment of coccidiosis mainly relies on chemically synthesized agents, polyether ionophores and Chinese herbal medicines. The introduction of novel anticoccidial drugs is slow for a long period of time, and there is an increasing problem of anticoccidial drug resistance following long-term use, which has become an urgent problem to be solved in poultry industry. This review summarizes the levels of anticoccidial drug resistance across China from 2018 to 2023, and analyzes the resistance to various anticoccidial agents in coccidia. It is indicated that the overall prevalence of anticoccidial drug resistance is high in coccidia, and development of novel anticoccidial agents and products with reduced antibiotics use and alternatives of antibiotics is of an urgent need.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Huaban Jiedu Formulation （化斑解毒方， HJF） in treating psoriasis vulgaris with blood-heat syndrome. MethodsA randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled study was conducted with 60 patients diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris of blood-heat syndrome. Patients were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group， with 30 cases in each. The treatment group received HJF granules orally， one dose a day， combined with topical Qingshi Zhiyang Ointment （青石止痒软膏）， while the control group received placebo granules， one dose a day， combined with the same topical ointment. Both groups were topically treated twice daily of 28 days treatment cours. Psoriasis area and severity index （PASI）， visual analogue scale for pruritus （VAS）， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， dermatology life quality index （DLQI）， and psoriasis life stress inventory （PLSI） were assessed before treatment and on day 14 and day 28. Response rates for PASI 50 （≥50% reduction） and PASI 75 （≥75% reduction）， as well as overall clinical efficacy， were compared between groups. Serum levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6） and interleukin-17 （IL-17） were measured before and after 28 days of treatment. Adverse reactions during treatment were recorded. ResultsAfter 28 days of treatment， both groups showed significant reductions in PASI total score， lesion area score， erythema， scaling， and infiltration scores， pruritus VAS score， TCM syndrome score， DLQI， PLSI， and serum IL-6 and IL-17 levels （P＜0.05）. Compared to the control group， the treatment group had significantly greater improvements in PASI total score and erythema score， TCM syndrome score， serum IL-6 and IL-17 levels， and PASI 50 response rate after 28 days （P＜0.05）. Between-group comparisons of score differences before and after 28-day treatment revealed that the treatment group showed significantly better improvements in PASI total， lesion area score， erythema score， TCM syndrome score， DLQI， PLSI， and inflammatory markers （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The total effective rate on day 14 and day 28 was 40.00% （12/30） and 83.33% （25/30） in the treatment group， versus 6.90% （2/29） and 41.38% （12/29） in the control group， respectively. The clinical efficacy in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group （P＜0.05）. Mild gastric discomfort occurred in 3 patients in the treatment group and 1 in the control group. ConclusionHJF can effectively improve skin lesions and TCM symptoms relieve pruritus， enhance quality of life， and reduce inflammatory markers IL-6 and IL-17， in patients with blood-heat syndrome of psoriasis vulgaris， with a good safety profile.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiaoji Hufei Formula in protecting children with close contact exposure to influenza， and to provide reference and evidence-based support for better clinical prevention and treatment of influenza in children. MethodsA multicenter， prospective， non-randomized， parallel， controlled trial was conducted from October 2021 to May 2022 in five hospitals， including Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Confirmed influenza cases and influenza-like illness （ILI） cases were collected， and eligible children with close contact exposure to these cases were recruited in the outpatient clinics. According to whether the enrolled close contacts were willing to take Xiaoji Hufei formula for influenza prevention， they were assigned to the observation group （108 cases） or the control group （108 cases）. Follow-up visits were conducted on days 7 and 14 after enrollment. The primary outcomes were the incidence of ILI and the rate of laboratory-confirmed influenza. Secondary outcomes included traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom score scale for influenza， influenza-related emergency （outpatient） visit rate， influenza hospitalization rate， and time to onset after exposure to influenza cases. ResultsA total of 216 participants were enrolled， with 108 in the observation group and 108 in the control group. Primary outcomes： （1） Incidence of ILI： The incidence was 12.0% （13/108） in the observation group and 23.1% （25/108） in the control group， with the observation group showing a significantly lower incidence （χ²=4.6， P<0.05）. （2） Influenza confirmation rate： 3.7% （4/108） in the observation group and 4.6% （5/108） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference. Secondary outcomes： （1） TCM symptom score scale： after onset， nasal congestion and runny nose scores differed significantly between the two groups （P<0.05）， while other symptoms such as fever， sore throat， and cough showed no significant differences. （2） Influenza-related emergency （outpatient） visit rate： 84.6% （11 cases） in the observation group and 96.0% （24 cases） in the control group， with no significant difference. （3） Time to onset after exposure： The median onset time after exposure to index patients was 7 days in the observation group and 4 days in the control group， with a statistically significant difference （P<0.05）. ConclusionIn previously healthy children exposed to infectious influenza cases under unprotected conditions， Xiaoji Hufei formula prophylaxis significantly reduced the incidence of ILI. Xiaoji Hufei Formula can be recommended as a specific preventive prescription for influenza in children.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiaoji Hufei Formula in protecting children with close contact exposure to influenza， and to provide reference and evidence-based support for better clinical prevention and treatment of influenza in children. MethodsA multicenter， prospective， non-randomized， parallel， controlled trial was conducted from October 2021 to May 2022 in five hospitals， including Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Confirmed influenza cases and influenza-like illness （ILI） cases were collected， and eligible children with close contact exposure to these cases were recruited in the outpatient clinics. According to whether the enrolled close contacts were willing to take Xiaoji Hufei formula for influenza prevention， they were assigned to the observation group （108 cases） or the control group （108 cases）. Follow-up visits were conducted on days 7 and 14 after enrollment. The primary outcomes were the incidence of ILI and the rate of laboratory-confirmed influenza. Secondary outcomes included traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom score scale for influenza， influenza-related emergency （outpatient） visit rate， influenza hospitalization rate， and time to onset after exposure to influenza cases. ResultsA total of 216 participants were enrolled， with 108 in the observation group and 108 in the control group. Primary outcomes： （1） Incidence of ILI： The incidence was 12.0% （13/108） in the observation group and 23.1% （25/108） in the control group， with the observation group showing a significantly lower incidence （χ²=4.6， P<0.05）. （2） Influenza confirmation rate： 3.7% （4/108） in the observation group and 4.6% （5/108） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference. Secondary outcomes： （1） TCM symptom score scale： after onset， nasal congestion and runny nose scores differed significantly between the two groups （P<0.05）， while other symptoms such as fever， sore throat， and cough showed no significant differences. （2） Influenza-related emergency （outpatient） visit rate： 84.6% （11 cases） in the observation group and 96.0% （24 cases） in the control group， with no significant difference. （3） Time to onset after exposure： The median onset time after exposure to index patients was 7 days in the observation group and 4 days in the control group， with a statistically significant difference （P<0.05）. ConclusionIn previously healthy children exposed to infectious influenza cases under unprotected conditions， Xiaoji Hufei formula prophylaxis significantly reduced the incidence of ILI. Xiaoji Hufei Formula can be recommended as a specific preventive prescription for influenza in children.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with blade needle therapy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of 60 patients with KOA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases each group. The control group received acupuncture at Neixiyan (EX-LE4)，Dubi (ST35), Yinlingquan (SP9), Liangqiu (ST34), Xuehai (SP10), Yanglingquan (GB34) and Zusanli (ST36) on the affected side, once every other day, 3 times a week. The observation group received blade needle therapy on the basis of the treatment in the control group, once every 3 days, 2 times a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Before treatment, after 2, 4 weeks of treatment, and after 1 month of treatment completion (in follow-up), the scores of pain visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and Lequesne index were observed in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated. RESULTS: After 2, 4 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the pain VAS scores, Lequesne index scores, and pain, stiffness, function scores of WOMAC in both groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the VAS scores, Lequesne index scores and pain, function scores of WOMAC in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The effective response rate in the observation group was 76.7% (23/30), while that in the control group was 70.0% (21/30), there was no statistically significant difference in the effective response rates between the two groups (P>0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in either group. CONCLUSION Acupuncture combined with blade needle therapy could alleviate pain and promote functional recovery in KOA patients, and achieve long-lasting improvements.
Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Needles ; Combined Modality Therapy

BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

In recent years, the reform of the registration, evaluation, and approval system for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has been promoted at the national level, with establishment of an evaluation evidence system for TCM registration that combines TCM theory, human use experience, and clinical trials(known as the "three-combined" evaluation evidence system). This system, which aligns with the characteristics of TCM clinical practice and the laws of TCM research and development, recognizes the unique value of human use experience in medicine and returns to the essence of medicine as an applied science, thus receiving widespread recognition from both academia and industry. However, it meanwhile poses new and higher challenges. This article delves into the value and challenges faced by the "three-combined" evaluation evidence system from three perspectives: registration management, medical institutions, and the TCM industry. Furthermore, it discusses how the China Association of Chinese Medicine, leveraging its academic platform advantages and leading roles, has made exploratory and practical efforts to facilitate the research and development of new TCM drugs and the implementation of the "three-combined" evaluation evidence system.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; China ; Drug Development

This paper aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of the Yiqi Fumai Formula(YQFM), a kind of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), on mice with experimental heart failure based on the "heart-gut axis" theory. Based on the network pharmacology integrated with the group collaboration algorithm, the active ingredients were screened, a "component-target-disease" network was constructed, and the potential pathways regulated by the formula were predicted and analyzed. Next, the model of experimental heart failure was established by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin at a single high dose(15 mg·kg~(-1)) in BALB/c mice. After intraperitoneal injection of YQFM(lyophilized) at 7.90, 15.80, and 31.55 mg·d~(-1) for 7 d, the protective effects of the formula on cardiac function were evaluated using indicators such as ultrasonic electrocardiography and myocardial injury markers. Combined with inflammatory factors in the cardiac and colorectal tissue, as well as targeted assays, the relevant indicators of potential pathways were verified. Meanwhile, 16S rDNA sequencing was performed on mouse fecal samples using the Illumina platform to detect changes in gut flora and analyze differential metabolic pathways. The results show that the administration of injectable YQFM(lyophilized) for 7 d significantly increased the left ventricular end-systolic internal diameter, fractional shortening, and ejection fraction of cardiac tissue of mice with experimental heart failure(P<0.05). Moreover, markers of myocardial injury were significantly decreased(P<0.05), indicating improved cardiac function, along with significantly suppressed inflammatory responses in cardiac and intestinal tissue(P<0.05). Additionally, the species of causative organisms was decreased, and the homeostasis of gut flora was improved, involving a modulatory effect on PI3K-Akt signaling pathway-related inflammation in cardiac and colorectal tissue. In conclusion, YQFM can affect the "heart-gut axis" immunity through the homeostasis of the gut flora, thereby exerting a therapeutic effect on heart failure. This finding provides a reference for the combination of TCM and western medicine to prevent and treat heart failure based on the "heart-gut axis" theory.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Heart Failure/microbiology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Male ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Heart/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*