This study aims to explore the mechanism of lung and gut protection by Tanreqing Capsules on the mice infected with influenza virus based on "the lung-gut axis". A total of 110 C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control group, model group, oseltamivir group, and low-and high-dose Tanreqing Capsules groups. Ten mice in each group underwent body weight protection experiments, and the remaining 12 mice underwent experiments for mechanism exploration. Mice were infected with influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/08/1934(PR8) via nasal inhalation for the modeling. The lung tissue was collected on day 3 after gavage, and the lung tissue, colon tissue, and feces were collected on day 7 after gavage for subsequent testing. The results showed that Tanreqing Capsules alleviated the body weight reduction and increased the survival rate caused by PR8 infection. Compared with model group, Tanreqing Capsules can alleviate the lung injury by reducing the lung index, alleviating inflammation and edema in the lung tissue, down-regulating viral gene expression at the late stage of infection, reducing the percentage of neutrophils, and increasing the percentage of T cells. Tanreqing Capsules relieved the gut injury by restoring the colon length, increasing intestinal lumen mucin secretion, alleviating intestinal inflammation, and reducing goblet cell destruction. The gut microbiota analysis showed that Tanreqing Capsules increased species diversity compared with model group. At the phylum level, Tanreqing Capsules significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, while reducing the abundance of Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria to maintain gut microbiota balance. At the genus level, Tanreqing Capsules significantly increased the abundance of unclassified＿f＿Lachnospiraceae while reducing the abundance of Bacteroides, Eubacterium, and Phocaeicola to maintain gut microbiota balance. In conclusion, Tanreqing Capsules can alleviate mouse lung and gut injury caused by influenza virus infection and restore the balance of gut microbiota. Treating influenza from the lung and gut can provide new ideas for clinical practice.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Lung/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Capsules ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections/virology* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Influenza A virus/physiology* ; Influenza, Human/virology*

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response caused by severe infection or trauma, and is one of the common causes of acute lung injury(ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). Sepsis-acute lung injury(SALI) is a critical clinical condition with high morbidity and mortality. Its pathogenesis is complex and not yet fully understood, and there is currently a lack of targeted and effective treatment options. Pyroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death, plays a key role in the pathological process of SALI by activating inflammasomes and releasing inflammatory factors, making it a potential therapeutic target. In recent years, the role of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in regulating signaling pathways related to pyroptosis through multi-components and multi-targets has attracted increasing attention. TCM may intervene in pyroptosis by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and regulating the expression of Caspase family proteins, thus alleviating inflammatory damage in lung tissues. This paper systematically reviews the molecular regulatory network of pyroptosis in SALI and explores the potential mechanisms and research progress on TCM intervention in cellular pyroptosis. The aim is to provide new ideas and theoretical support for basic research and clinical treatment strategies of TCM in SALI.
Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Sepsis/genetics* ; Acute Lung Injury/physiopathology* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*

Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium , icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium , its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.
Male ; Epimedium/chemistry* ; Humans ; Genitalia, Male/drug effects* ; Flavonoids/therapeutic use* ; Animals

Hemorrhagic shock is a common clinical emergency that can aggravate cell injury after resuscitation. Astrocytes are crucial for the survival of neurons because they regulate the surrounding ionic microenvironment of neurons. Although hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR) injury can impair cognition, it remains unclear how this insult directly affects astrocytes. In this study, we established an HSR model by bleeding and re-transfusion in mice. The social interaction test and new object recognition test were applied to evaluate post-operative cognitive changes, and the results suggest that mice experience cognitive impairment following exposure to HSR. In the HSR group, the power spectral density of β and γ oscillations decreased, and the coupling of the θ oscillation phase and γ oscillation amplitude was abnormal, which indicated abnormal neuronal oscillation and cognitive impairment after HSR exposure. In brief, cognitive impairment in mice is strongly correlated with Ca²⁺ signal strength in lateral septum astrocytes following HSR.
Animals ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; Shock, Hemorrhagic/metabolism* ; Resuscitation/adverse effects* ; Male ; Mice ; Calcium Signaling/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Septal Nuclei/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Cognition Disorders/etiology*

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Objective To analysis the effectiveness and cost of Internet-based anticoagulation clinic versus traditional anticoagulation clinic treatment at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods We reviewed and analyzed the clinical data of patients receiving anticoagulation management through Internet-based outpatient care and traditional outpatient care in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital,from June 1,2020 to June 30,2021.Variability in time in therapeutic range(TTR)and international normalized ratio(INR)were calculated for enrolled patients.Patients meeting TTR≥60%and INR variability<0.65 were considered optimal anticoagulation quality.Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from the patients'perspective,with results expressed using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio(ICER).Results In the"Internet-based anticoagulation outpatient care"and"traditional face-to-face anticoagulation outpatient care"groups,19 individuals(67.86%)and 67 individuals(76.14%)met the criteria for optimal anticoagulation quality,respectively.The mean TTR was(71.83±19.17)%in the Internet-based group and(71.74±23.41)%in the traditional face-to-face group,indicating similar levels of warfarin anticoagulation quality between the two groups.The ICER was calculated as 327.17 yuan,less than the per capita gross domestic product(GDP)of 2021.Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic,Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital's Internet-based anticoagulation outpatient care effectively complemented the government's epidemic control policies.It ensured equivalent anticoagulation outcomes and significantly reduced patients'financial burdens.This approach offers new insights and guidance for optimizing healthcare services in the post-pandemic era.

Objective:To investigate the strategies and clinical effects of free tissue flaps in repairing massive destructive burn wounds.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From June 2014 to October 2023, 51 burn patients with 53 massive destructive burn wounds which met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University & Wuhan Third Hospital, including 47 males and 4 females, aged 21 to 77 years. After debridement, the wound area needed to be repaired by tissue flaps ranged from 20.0 cm×12.5 cm to 50.0 cm×15.0 cm. Emergency, early, or delayed transplantation of tissue flaps was performed to repair the wounds. Six head, face, and neck wounds, 5 upper limb wounds, and 1 lower limb wound were repaired with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps. Eleven upper limb wounds and 6 lower limb wounds were repaired with anterolateral thigh flaps. Seven upper limb wounds, 5 lower limb wounds, and 2 face and neck wounds were repaired with paraumbilical perforator flaps. One lower limb wound was repaired with lower abdominal flap. Two face and neck wounds, 2 upper limb wounds, and 1 lower limb wound were repaired with inguinal flaps. One upper limb wound was repaired with scapular flap. One trunk wound was repaired with the "fillet flap" from the abandoned upper limb after amputation. Three head, face, and neck wounds, 3 lower limb wounds, and 1 upper limb wound were repaired with omental flaps. Four wounds were repaired by combined transplantation of the above-mentioned tissue flaps. Three wounds were repaired by fractional transplantation of the above-mentioned tissue flaps. The size of a single harvested tissue flap ranged from 15.0 cm×5.0 cm to 45.0 cm×25.0 cm. The arterial and venous anastomoses were added as the circumstances might require to improve tissue flap circulation. The wounds in the flap donor sites were sutured directly or repaired by split-thickness skin grafts from head. The general condition of patients during treatment was recorded. After surgery, the survival of tissue flaps, the healing of wounds in the recipient sites, limb salvage, the healing of wounds in the flap donor sites, and the survival of skin grafts were observed. The healing of wounds in the recipient sites was observed during follow-up. At the last follow-up, the upper limb function after successful limb salvage was evaluated by the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Disability Scoring Scale, the weight-bearing walking ability of patients with successful lower limb salvage was evaluated by the Holden walking ability classification, and the patient's satisfaction with the efficacy was assessed by 5-grade Likert scale.Results:During treatment, one case with electrical burn of the head suffered from aggravated cerebral edema, cerebral hernia and coma recurred. After dehydration, hormone therapy, and so on, the patient recovered and incomplete hemiplegia on the right limb was left. The shock symptoms of 4 patients got worse, which were gradually controlled after anti-shock with fluid supplement and colloid injection. One patient developed hemorrhagic shock after tissue flap transplantation, which was corrected by fluid infusion and red blood cell suspension transfusion. Vascular crisis occurred in 3 tissue flaps after surgery, of which 2 survived and 1 eventually became necrotic after exploration. Partial necrosis occurred in 2 tissue flaps and slight necrosis occurred at the edge of 5 tissue flaps, which all healed after tissue flap trimming, vacuum sealing drainage (VSD), and skin grafting treatment. All the other tissue flaps survived. There were 12 recipient wounds with residual necrotic tissue after surgery, which healed after debridement, VSD, and skin grafting treatment. The remaining 41 wounds healed well. Among the 40 limb wounds of 39 patients, 5 patients had 3 upper limb and 2 lower limb amputations. The remaining 35 limbs of 34 patients were successfully salvaged. The donor site wounds healed well, and the skin grafts survived well. During the follow-up of 6 to 52 months, all the head, face, neck, and trunk wounds were well repaired. The fester recurred in 7 limb wounds 3 to 9 months after surgery and healed after debridement, drainage, and tissue flap repair. At the last follow-up, the functional scores of 22 upper limbs after successful limb salvage ranged from 0 to 100 (with an average of 50), and the Holden walking ability classification of 12 patients with 13 lower limbs after successful limb salvage was level Ⅴ in 8 cases, level Ⅳ in 2 cases, and level Ⅲ in 2 cases. The patients were very satisfied with the efficacy in 33 cases, relatively satisfied in 12 cases, and not quite satisfied in 6 cases.Conclusions:Systematic evaluation and treatment of the whole body condition, choosing the appropriate repair time, and using appropriate tissue flaps to repair massive destructive burn wounds will help ensure the safety of treatment, improve the repair effect, and reduce the injury of donor sites, thus optimizing the repair effect.

Objective:To explore potential predictors of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) in early stage. Methods:The prospective multicenter study was conducted in Zhejiang, China from May 1 st, 2019 to January 31 st, 2020. A total of 1 428 patients with fever >48 hours to <120 hours were studied. Their clinical data and oral pharyngeal swab samples were collected; Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA in pharyngeal swab specimens was detected. Patients with positive Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA results underwent a series of tests, including chest X-ray, complete blood count, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and procalcitonin. According to the occurrence of RMPP, the patients were divided into two groups, RMPP group and general Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (GMPP) group. Measurement data between the 2 groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between clinical data and RMPP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyse the power of the markers for predicting RMPP. Results:A total of 1 428 patients finished the study, with 801 boys and 627 girls, aged 4.3 (2.7, 6.3) years. Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA was positive in 534 cases (37.4%), of whom 446 cases (83.5%) were diagnosed with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, including 251 boys and 195 girls, aged 5.2 (3.3, 6.9) years. Macrolides-resistant variation was positive in 410 cases (91.9%). Fifty-five cases were with RMPP, 391 cases with GMPP. The peak body temperature before the first visit and LDH levels in RMPP patients were higher than that in GMPP patients (39.6 (39.1, 40.0) vs. 39.2 (38.9, 39.7) ℃, 333 (279, 392) vs. 311 (259, 359) U/L, both P<0.05). Logistic regression showed the prediction probability π=exp (-29.7+0.667×Peak body temperature (℃)+0.004×LDH (U/L))/(1+exp (-29.7+0.667×Peak body temperature (℃)+0.004 × LDH (U/L))), the cut-off value to predict RMPP was 0.12, with a consensus of probability forecast of 0.89, sensitivity of 0.89, and specificity of 0.67; and the area under ROC curve was 0.682 (95% CI 0.593-0.771, P<0.01). Conclusion:In MPP patients with fever over 48 to <120 hours, a prediction probability π of RMPP can be calculated based on the peak body temperature and LDH level before the first visit, which can facilitate early identification of RMPP.

Six compounds were isolated from the roots of Ephedra sinica Stapf using various chromatographic techniques such as silica gel column chromatography, thin layer chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC. Their chemical structures were identified by analysis of physicochemical properties and spectral data, and determined as (Z)-docosanylferulate (1), (E)-docosanylferulate (2), bis (2-ethylheptyl) phythalate (3), 2,2′-oxybis (1,4-di-tert-butylbenzene) (4), diisobutyl phthalate (5), bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (6). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, compounds 2-4 were first isolated from Ephedra. A corticosterone-induced PC-12 cell injury model was used for compound activity screening. The results showed that compounds 1 and 5 significantly improved corticosterone-induced PC-12 cell injury and significantly increased 5-HT₇ receptor protein expression in the cells, indicating potential antidepressant activity.

Objective Based on the theory of five circuits and six qi,the characteristics of circuit-qi indicators of the date of birth of hospitalized patients with pneumonia of Shaoyin-disease syndrome were explored.Methods The data collection was conducted in 422 hospitalized patients with pneumonia of shaoyin-disease syndrome admitted to the Department of Classical Chinese Medicine,Fangcun Hospital of Guangdong Provincinal Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January 20,2012 to June 30,2022.And then statistical analysis was performed for circuit-qi indicators of the date of birth of the patients.Results The goodness of fit by chi-square test showed that there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of the heavenly-stem year,earthly-branch year,yearly circuit,recombinant yearly circuit,predominant qi,and sitian-zaiquan(circuit qi of the first and second half of a year)at birthdate of hospitalized patients with pneumonia of shaoyin-disease syndrome(P＜0.05 or P＜0.001).And the results indicated that a higher risk of suffering from pneumonia of shaoyin-disease syndrome existed in the population born in the heavenly-stem ji year and earthly-branch chou year,in the yearly circuit being deficient earth circuit,in the recombinant yearly circuit being wind,in the predominant qi being taiyin damp earth,and in the sitian-zaiquan being taiyin damp earth and taiyang cold-water.Conclusion There is a correlation between the incidence of pneumonia of shaoyin-disease syndrome and the circuit-qi indicators of the date of birth of the patients,and the pathogenesis of circuits and qi at birth date is probably related with yang deficiency of spleen and kidney,and cold interweaved with dampness.