Alcoholic liver disease(ALD), a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, poses a serious threat to human health. Despite the availability of various drugs for treating ALD, their efficacy is often uncertain, necessitating the search for new therapeutic approaches. Traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides have garnered increasing attention in recent years due to their versatility, high efficiency, and low side effects, and they have demonstrated significant potential in preventing and treating ALD. Emerging studies have suggested that these polysaccharides exert their therapeutic effects through multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of oxidative stress and the regulation of lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and programmed cell death. This review summarizes the recent research progress in the pharmacological effects and regulatory mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides in treating ALD, aiming to provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for their application in the prevention and treatment of ALD.
Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/metabolism* ; Polysaccharides/administration & dosage* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects*

Osteoporosis(OP) is a senile bone disease characterized by an imbalance between bone remodeling and bone formation. Targeting pathogenesis of kidney deficiency, spleen deficiency, and blood stasis, Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction has a significant effect on the treatment of OP by tonifying kidney, invigorating spleen, and activating blood circulation. MicroRNA(miRNA) and the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma-2-like protein 1(BCL2L1) are closely related to bone cell metabolism. Therefore, in this study, the binding of miR-140-5p to BCL2L1 was detected by dual luciferase assay and polymerase chain reaction(PCR). After silencing or overexpressing miR-140-5p, the apoptosis, autophagy, and osteogenic function of human fetal osteoblast cell line 1.19(HFOB1.19) were observed by flow cytometry and Western blot. Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction-containing serum was prepared by intragastric administration of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction in rats. Different concentrations of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction-containing serum were used to treat HFOB1.19 with or without miR-140-5p mimic. The expression of osteogenic proteins in each group was observed, and the role of miR-140-5p/BCL2L1 in apoptosis and autophagy of HFOB1.19 was studied, along with the effect of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction on these processes. As indicated by the dual luciferase assay, miR-140-5p bound to BCL2L1. Flow cytometry and Western blot showed that miR-140-5p promoted apoptosis and inhibited autophagy in HFOB1.19. After intervention with high, medium, and low doses of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction-medicated serum, compared with the miR-140-5p NC group, the expression of osteocalcin(OCN), osteopontin(OPN), Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2), and transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1) decreased in the miR-140-5p mimic group, while the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP2) showed no significant difference under high-dose intervention. Therefore, miR-140-5p/BCL2L1 can promote apoptosis and inhibit autophagy in HFOB1.19. Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction can affect the osteogenic effect of miR-140-5p through BMP2.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Cell Line ; bcl-X Protein/metabolism* ; Osteoblasts/metabolism* ; Rats ; Osteoporosis/physiopathology* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Osteogenesis/drug effects*

This paper aimed to explore the effects of Duzhong Decoction(DZD)-containing serum on the proliferation and osteoblast differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells through L-type voltage-gated calcium channels(L-VGCCs). L-VGCCs inhibitors, nifedipine and verapamil, were used to block L-VGCCs in osteoblasts. MC3T3-E1 cells were divided into a control group, a low-dose DZD-containing serum(L-DZD) group, a medium-dose DZD-containing serum(M-DZD) group, a high-dose DZD-containing serum(H-DZD) group, a nifedipine group, a H-DZD + nifedipine group, verapamil group, and a H-DZD + verapamil group. The CCK-8 method was used for cell proliferation analysis, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) assay kits for intracellular ALP activity measurement, Western blot for protein expression level in cells, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR technology for intracellular mRNA expression level determination, fluorescence spectrophotometer for free Ca~(2+) concentration determination in osteoblasts, and alizarin red staining(ARS) for mineralized nodule formation in osteoblasts. The experimental results show that compared to the control group, DZD groups can promote MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, ALP activity, and mineralized nodule formation, increase intracellular Ca~(2+) concentrations, and upregulate the protein expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP2), collagen Ⅰ(COL1), α2 subunit protein of L-VGCCs(L-VGCCα2), and the mRNA expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2), and BMP2. After blocking L-VGCCs with nifedipine and verapamil, the intervention effects of DZD-containing serum were inhibited to varying degrees. Both nifedipine and verapamil could inhibit ALP activity, reduce mineralized nodule areas, and downregulate the expression of bone formation-related proteins. Moreover, the effects of DZD-containing serum on increasing MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, osteoblast differentiation, and Ca~(2+) concentrations, upregulating the mRNA expression of osteoprotegerin(OPG) and protein expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-Akt) and phosphorylated forkhead box protein O1(p-FOXO1), and upregulating phosphatase and tensin homolog(PTEN) expression were reversed by nifedipine. The results indicate that DZD-containing serum can increase the Ca~(2+) concentration in MC3T3-E1 cells to promote bone formation, which may be mediated by L-VGCCs and the PTEN/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway, providing a new perspective on the mechanism of DZD in treating osteoporosis.
Animals ; Osteoblasts/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Mice ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Calcium Channels, L-Type/genetics* ; Alkaline Phosphatase/genetics* ; Serum/chemistry* ; Cell Line ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/genetics*

PURPOSE: Although there are significant differences between China and the United States (US) in trauma medical services, there has been no direct comparative research on the epidemiological data of trauma centers between the 2 countries. This study aims to fill this research gap by directly comparing trauma centers in China and the US, providing valuable data and insights for the development of trauma centers in both countries, promoting academic exchange and cooperation internationally, and enhancing the level of global trauma medical care. METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective descriptive study. Data were collected for trauma patients with an injury severity score ≥16 treated from September 2013 to September 2019 at 2 hospital trauma centers in these 2 countries. Detailed clinical data (including injury mechanism, age, injury site, injury severity score, pre-hospital transport time, whether blood transfusion was performed, whether resuscitative thoracotomy was conducted, hospital and intensive care unit stay duration, the number of organ donor patients, mortality rates, and costs) were meticulously compiled and retrospectively analyzed to identify differences between the 2 trauma centers. The comparison was conducted using SPSS 23 software. Continuous variables are reported as median (Q₁, Q₃), and Mann Whitney U test is used to compare the median of continuous variables. Use clinically relevant critical points to classify continuous variables, with categorical variables represented as n (%), and comparisons were made between the 2 groups using the χ² test or Fisher's exact test. Statistical significance was defined as a 2-sided p < 0.05. RESULTS: These results point to significant differences in trauma center capacity, pre-hospital transport times, treatment procedures, hospital stay duration, mortality rates, and costs between the 2 centers. The volume of patients in trauma centers is less in China (2465 vs. 5288). Pre-hospital transport time was notably longer in China (180 min vs. 14 min), and the rate of emergency blood transfusions was lower in China (18.4% vs. 50.6%), Emergency thoracotomy was not performed in China but was conducted in 9.8% of cases in the US. Hospitalization costs were significantly lower in China than in the US ($5847 vs. $75,671). CONCLUSION There are clear differences in trauma center capacity (number of patients treated), pre-hospital transport time, age distribution of injured patients, injury mechanisms, injury sites, whether emergency thoracotomy is performed, hospital costs, and length of stay between the 2 trauma centers in China and America. Understanding these differences can help us further recognize the characteristics of Eastern and Western trauma patients.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Trauma Centers/statistics & numerical data* ; Retrospective Studies ; United States/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Wounds and Injuries/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Injury Severity Score ; Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of endocrinotherapy combined with Shenqi Pills on hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC). METHODS: Eighty patients who were diagnosed with HSPC and renal-yang deficiency at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Mayang Miao Autonomous County from 1st April 2021 to 30th April 2024 were randomly divided into 2 groups. The patients in the control group were treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). And the patients in treatment group were treated with Shenqi Pills orally on the basis of the control group. The baseline data of the two groups were analyzed. After 36 months of treatment, the differences between the two groups were compared in terms of overall survival (OS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, PSA response rate, Functional Assessment Scale for Prostate Cancer Therapy (FACT-P), Chinese medicine evidence scores, testosterone level and safety. RESULTS: A total of 80 study subjects were included in this study, including 42 cases in the treatment group and 38 cases in the control group. There was no statistical difference in the baseline data between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). At the end of the observation period, a statistically significant difference in OS was found in the treatment group compared to the control group in the subgroup of patients with a disease duration ranged of 0-6 months (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in PSA levels in the treatment group at 3 months (P>0.05). And the differences in the proportion of PSA50 (98.1% vs 91.4%), PSA90 (92.9% vs 84.6%) and the proportion of decrease in PSA (56.7% vs 33.8%) in the treatment group were found compared to those in the control group after 6 months of tre atment. After 12 months of treatment, the scores of FACT-4 and renal-yang deficiency in the treatment group were (95.28±7.93) and (15.73±5.70) respectively, compared to the scores in the control group (［85.46±10.12］ and ［18.20±4.27］ (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in serum testosterone (［0.60±0.24］ nmol/L vs ［1.09±2.10］ nmol/L) between the two groups (P>0.05). After 24 months of treatment, there were significant differences in in the FACT-4 total score (［97.95±7.54］ vs ［80.33±8.58］), renal-yang deficiency syndrome score (［14.64±5.15］ vs ［24.94±8.75］) between the treatment group and the control group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in serum testosterone ( ［0.73±1.01］ nmol/L vs ［0.59±0.25］ nmol/L) between the two groups (P> 0.05). Better therapeutic results were showed in the treatment group in terms of total FACT-P score, physical situation score, social and family situation score, emotional state score, functional state score, additional score and renal-yang deficiency symptom score (P<0.05). After treatment, there was no serious adverse reaction in the course of treatment, and no obvious abnormality was found in the liver and kidney function of the patients from two groups. CONCLUSION Endocrinotherapy combined with Shenqi Pills is safe and effective in HSPC and can reduce the risk of death in HSPC patients, and the earlier the intervention, the longer the overall survival of the patients. In addition, this treatment regimen can increase the PSA response rate, improve patients' quality of life, and reduce the renal-yang deficiency syndrome score without the risk of elevating serum testosterone levels.
Humans ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Testosterone

Objective:To analyze the efficacy and safety of nalbuphine for analgesia in patients with non-mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU).Methods:From December 2018 to August 2021, a multicenter randomized controlled clinical study was conducted to select non-mechanical ventilation patients with analgesic needs admitted to ICU of four hospitals in Henan Province and Guizhou Province. Patients were randomly assigned to nalbuphine group and fentanyl group. The nalbuphine group was given continuous infusion of nalbuphine [0.05~0.20 mg/(kg·h)], and the fentanyl group was given continuous infusion of fentanyl [0.5~2.0 μg/(kg·h)]. The analgesic target was critical-care pain observation tool (CPOT) score<2. The observation time was 48 hours. The primary endpoint was CPOT score, the secondary endpoints were Richmond agitation-sedation score (RASS), ICU length of stay, adverse events, and proportion of mechanical ventilation. The quantitative data of the two groups were compared by t test or Mann-Whitney U test. The enumeration data were compared by chi square test or Fisher exact probability method. The data at different time points between groups were compared by repeated measures analysis of variance. Results:A total of 210 patients were enrolled, including 105 patients in the nalbuphine group and 105 patients in the fentanyl group. There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in CPOT score between nalbuphine group and fentanyl group at each time point after medication ( P>0.05), the CPOT score of both groups at each time point after medication was significantly lower than that before medication, and the analgesic target could be achieved and maintained 2 hours after medication. There was no significant difference in RASS between the two groups at each time point after medication ( P>0.05), which was significantly lower than that before medication, and the target sedative effect was achieved 2 hours after medication. There was no significant difference in ICU length of stay between nalbuphine group and fentanyl group [5.0(4.0,7.5) d vs. 5.0(4.0,8.0) d, P=0.504]. The incidence of delirium, nausea and vomiting, abdominal distension, pruritus, vertigo and other adverse events in the nalbuphine group was lower than that in the fentanyl group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of other adverse events such as deep sedation, hypotension and bradycardia between the two groups (all P>0.05). The incidence of respiratory depression in nalbuphine group was not significantly different from that in fentanyl group ( P>0.05), but the proportion of mechanical ventilation was significantly lower than that in the fentanyl group [1.9% (2/105) vs. 8.6%(9/105), P=0.030]. Conclusions:Nalbuphine could be used for analgesia in ICU patients with non-mechanical ventilation. The target analgesic effect could be achieved within 2 hours, and it had a certain sedative effect with a low incidence of adverse reactions.

Objective:To investigate the safety and therapeutic effect of split liver transplantation (SLT) in clinical application.Methods:This is a retrospective case-series study. The clinical data of 203 consecutive SLT, 79 living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and 1 298 whole liver transplantation (WLT) performed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2014 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred and three SLT liver grafts were obtained from 109 donors. One hundred and twenty-seven grafts were generated by in vitro splitting and 76 grafts were generated by in vivo splitting. There were 90 adult recipients and 113 pediatric recipients. According to time, SLT patients were divided into two groups: the early SLT group (40 cases, from July 2014 to December 2017) and the mature SLT technology group (163 cases, from January 2018 to July 2023). The survival of each group was analyzed and the main factors affecting the survival rate of SLT were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used for survival analysis.Results:The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 74.58%, 71.47%, and 71.47% in the early SLT group, and 88.03%, 87.23%, and 87.23% in the mature SLT group, respectively. Survival rates in the mature SLT group were significantly higher than those in the early SLT group ( χ2=5.560, P=0.018). The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3- and 5-year were 93.41%, 93.41%, 89.95% in the LDLT group and 87.38%, 81.98%, 77.04% in the WLT group, respectively. There was no significant difference among the mature SLT group, the LDLT group and the WLT group ( χ2=4.016, P=0.134). Abdominal hemorrhage, infection, primary liver graft nonfunction,and portal vein thrombosis were the main causes of early postoperative death. Conclusion:SLT can achieve results comparable to those of WLT and LDLT in mature technology liver transplant centers, but it needs to go through a certain time learning curve.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of establishing combat readiness blood bank with low titer group O whole blood and group A plasma.Methods:The Galileo automatic blood analyzer was used to detect the titers of IgM anti-A and anti-B antibodies in the samples of group O blood donors and IgM anti-B titer in the samples of group A blood donors.Group O blood donors with antibody titers below 128 were selected and included in the mobile blood bank for combat readiness,group A plasma with anti-B titer lower than 128 and group O whole blood with antibody titers below 128 were included in the combat readiness entity blood bank.Results:A total of 1 452 group O blood donors were selected,and the anti-A/B antibody titers were detected.Both antibody titers were distributed below 512,and both peak values of sample distribution were at titer 4.The proportion of samples with titers＞128 for both antibodies was relatively low.There was a significant positive correlation between the titers of the two antibodies(r=0.383),and the proportion of samples with IgM anti-A titer higher than IgM anti-B titer was relatively high.1 335(91.94％)group O blood donors with IgM anti-A and anti-B antibody titers＜128 could be included in the mobile blood bank.The anti-B titer of group A blood was detected in 512 cases and the results showed that as the antibody titer increased,the proportion of blood donors gradually decreased.99.8％of group A blood donors had anti-B antibody titer less than 128,and only one case did not meet the inclusion criteria.Conclusion:The proportion of group O blood donors whose whole blood meet the low antibody titer standard is high,and almost all plasma of group A blood donors meet the low titer standard,which improves the blood supply rate in emergencies.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium levels with peripheral leukocyte classification counts among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.Methods:The research was based on the survey of the impact of soil quality of agricultural land on human health in typical areas conducted in 2019-2020. A total of 5 600 middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years were included by using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. Baseline characteristics of the subjects were collected and physical examinations were performed. Random midstream urine was collected to measure urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine and fasting venous blood was collected to measure the leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count and eosinophil count. The linear mixed effect model was used to analyse the association of urinary cadmium levels with leukocyte classification counts, and the dose-response relationship between them was analyzed by using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) function.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.17±12.02) years; 2 851 (50.91%) were males; and the M ( Q 1, Q 3) of urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels was 2.69 (1.52, 4.69) μg/g·creatinine. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of linear mixed effects model analysis showed that for each 1-unit increase in urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium level, the percentage change [% (95% CI)] of leukocyte count and lymphocyte count was -1.70% (-2.61%, -0.79%) and -1.57% (-2.86%, -0.26%), respectively. RCS function showed a negative linear relationship between urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels and leukocyte counts and lymphocyte counts, respectively (all Pnon-linear>0.05). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium levels are negatively associated with leukocyte count and lymphocyte count among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.

Objective:To investigate the safety and therapeutic effect of split liver transplantation (SLT) in clinical application.Methods:This is a retrospective case-series study. The clinical data of 203 consecutive SLT, 79 living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and 1 298 whole liver transplantation (WLT) performed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2014 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred and three SLT liver grafts were obtained from 109 donors. One hundred and twenty-seven grafts were generated by in vitro splitting and 76 grafts were generated by in vivo splitting. There were 90 adult recipients and 113 pediatric recipients. According to time, SLT patients were divided into two groups: the early SLT group (40 cases, from July 2014 to December 2017) and the mature SLT technology group (163 cases, from January 2018 to July 2023). The survival of each group was analyzed and the main factors affecting the survival rate of SLT were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used for survival analysis.Results:The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 74.58%, 71.47%, and 71.47% in the early SLT group, and 88.03%, 87.23%, and 87.23% in the mature SLT group, respectively. Survival rates in the mature SLT group were significantly higher than those in the early SLT group ( χ2=5.560, P=0.018). The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3- and 5-year were 93.41%, 93.41%, 89.95% in the LDLT group and 87.38%, 81.98%, 77.04% in the WLT group, respectively. There was no significant difference among the mature SLT group, the LDLT group and the WLT group ( χ2=4.016, P=0.134). Abdominal hemorrhage, infection, primary liver graft nonfunction,and portal vein thrombosis were the main causes of early postoperative death. Conclusion:SLT can achieve results comparable to those of WLT and LDLT in mature technology liver transplant centers, but it needs to go through a certain time learning curve.