1.Short-Term Efficacy and Long-Term Recurrence Rate of Traditional Chinese Medicine Versus Western Surgical Treatment for Mixed Hemorrhoids:A Multi-Center Retrospective Cohort Study Based on Real-World Data
Kang DING ; Zhimin FAN ; Xiaojie ZHOU ; Xiaoxiao WANG ; Yuanyuan GE ; Huiting ZHU ; Yuxin ZHU ; Xia YANG ; Jun DU ; Shicai HUANG ; Yang ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(7):747-754
ObjectiveTo observe the short-term and long-term efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) surgical operations in treating mixed hemorrhoids. MethodsA multi-center retrospective cohort study was conducted, collecting clinical data from 17,831 mixed hemorrhoid surgery patients in 8 top-tier TCM hospitals in Jiangsu Province. Standardized and structured datasets were obtained through artificial intelligence models. Patients who underwent western surgical treatment were categorized into the western surgery group (11,646 cases), and those receiving TCM surgical operations were categorized into the TCM surgery group (6185 cases). Propensity score matching (1∶1 matching) was used to balance baseline data between groups. The primary outcome was the one-year recurrence rate, and secondary outcomes included the main symptoms (rectal bleeding, degree of prolapse) and secondary symptoms (anal distension, anal edema, wound secretion and exudation, anal stenosis, residual skin tags, perianal itching, and anal pain) measured on days 7, 28, and 60 after discharge. ResultsAfter matching, 2194 patients were included in each group. Symptom scores showed that at 28 days after discharge, the TCM surgical group had superior improvement in rectal bleeding [OR=5.786, 95%CI (3.092,10.827)], degree of prolapse [OR=4.510, 95%CI (1.649,12.333)], and anal edema [OR=3.188, 95%CI (1.295,7.845)] compared to the western surgical group. At 60 days post-discharge, the TCM group still showed advantages in improving rectal bleeding [OR=5.237, 95%CI (1.077,25.464)] and anal pain [OR=11.697, 95%CI (1.186,115.336)] (P<0.05). Long-term follow-up showed that the one-year recurrence rate in the TCM surgery group was 1.1% (8/726), while that in the western surgery group was 2.3% (10/444), with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionBased on real-world data, TCM surgical treatment for mixed hemorrhoids shows significant short-term symptom improvement, particularly in terms of hemostasis, reducing swelling, and alleviating prolapse of anal masses.
2.Effect of Optimized New Shengmai Powder (优化新生脉散方) on Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure of Qi Deficiency,Blood Stasis and Fluid Retention Syndrome:A Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial
Xianliang WANG ; Jingyi ZHANG ; Zhao GE ; Tongzuo LIU ; Maozhe ZHANG ; Shuai WANG ; Zhiqiang ZHAO ; Yingfei BI ; Ruijuan ZHOU ; Ying ZHENG ; Jingyuan MAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):425-431
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects and safety of the optimized new Shengmai Powder (优化新生脉散方) on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of qi deficiency, blood stasis, and fluid retention syndrome. MethodsA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 78 CHF patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis, and fluid retention syndrome were recruited and randomly assigned to a treatment group (39 cases) and a control group (39 cases). On the basis of conventional western medical therapy, patients in the treatment group additionally received the optimized new Shengmai Powder granules, while the control group was given an oral placebo of optimized new Shengmai Powder granules. Patients in both groups took 30.6 g each time, twice a day, mixed with water for administration, with a total treatment course of 4 weeks. The primary outcomes were 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and peak oxygen uptake (Peak VO2) measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary outcomes included New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, cardiac function indexes including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventri-cular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) scores, and scores of four diagnostic information of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). All indicators were assessed once before and after treatment respectively. Safety indicators were evaluated, and adverse events during the trial were recorded. ResultsAll patients in both groups were included in the full ana-lysis set (FAS) and safety set (SS). Compared with baseline, the 6MWD and Peak VO₂ of cardiopulmonary exercise test in the treatment group significantly increased after treatment, while the MLHFQ scores, serum BNP levels and scores of TCM four diagnostic information significantly decreased, and the NYHA cardiac function grade significantly improved (P<0.01). After treatment, the 6MWD and Peak VO₂ of cardiopulmonary exercise test, as well as their changes from baseline in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group; the MLHFQ scores, serum BNP levels and scores of TCM four diagnostic information in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group; and the improvement of NYHA cardiac function grade in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant differences in all indicators after treatment in the control group (P>0.05). The incidence of adverse events was 5.1% (2/39) in the treatment group and 2.6% (1/39) in the control group, with no statistically significant difference between groups (P>0.05). ConclusionOn the basis of conventional western medicine treatment, the addition of the optimized new Shengmai Powder can further improve exercise tolerance, cardiac function and quality of life in patients with CHF of qi deficiency, blood stasis and fluid retention syndrome, and show good safety.
3.Establishment and application of a determination method for plasma concentrations of venetoclax,busulfan and voriconazole in patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Zhenhua ZHANG ; Mengru ZHANG ; Aoxiang GUO ; Hui CHEN ; Shijian XIANG ; Benjie ZHOU ; Bingchen GE
China Pharmacy 2026;37(10):1323-1328
OBJECTIVE To establish a method for simultaneous determination of venetoclax, busulfan and voriconazole in plasma of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and apply it clinically. METHODS Plasma samples were subjected to protein precipitation using acetonitrile and subsequently analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using venetoclax-D 8 , busulfan-D 8 and posaconazole as internal standards. The separation was performed on a Phenomenex Kinetex ® C 18 column with a mobile phase composed of 0.1% formic acid solution (2 mmol/L ammonium acetate)-0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile (gradient elution) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The column temperature was set at 40 ℃, the sample size was 5 μL, and the total run time was 3.10 min. An electrospray ionization source was employed, and positive ion scanning was conducted using multiple reaction monitoring mode. The ion pairs used for quantitative analysis included m/z 868.4→636.3 (venetoclax), m/z 264.1→151.1 (busulfan), and m/z 350.1→224.0 (voriconazole). The above LC-MS/MS method was adopted to determine plasma concentrations of venetoclax and voriconazole in 10 AML patients, as well as plasma concentration of busulfan in 5 patients undergoing conditioning treatment for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. RESULTS The linear ranges of venetoclax, busulfan and voriconazole were 50-10 000, 15-3 000 and 50-10 000 ng/mL, respectively ( R 2 ≥0.999 0), with lower limits of quantification of 50, 15 and 50 ng/mL, respectively. The RSDs of intra-day and inter-day precision tests for all three analytes were all less than 10%, with accuracy (relative errors) ranging from -10.00% to 12.96%. The average extraction recovery ranged from 92.54% to 100.95%, and the average matrix effect was 89.98%-101.49%. Dilution reliability covered all dilution factors used in the test samples, and the absolute values of relative errors in stability tests were all≤16.25%. The plasma concentrations of venetoclax, busulfan and voriconazole in enrolled patients were 496.20-4 250.45, 233.48-2 002.28 and 475.51-5 710.18 ng/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The LC-MS/MS method established in this study is rapid, sensitive and easy to operate, and can be used for the therapeutic drug monitoring of venetoclax, busulfan and voriconazole.
4.Umbrella decision-making model for diagnosis and treatment of elderly lung cancer patients: Construction and practice
Lunxu LIU ; Jian ZHOU ; Xiang DING ; Nan CHEN ; Jianxin XUE ; Xuelei MA ; Ye WANG ; Weiya WANG ; Liqing PENG ; Xin YOU ; Minggang SU ; Xu CHENG ; Jiao WANG ; Ning GE ; Deying KANG ; Yuchen HUANG ; Jinghan WANG ; Yu TONG ; Yaoxi ZHANG ; Jirong YUE ; Hu LIAO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(06):833-839
With the accelerating trend of population aging, the number of elderly patients with lung cancer continues to rise, and the disease burden is becoming increasingly heavy. The clinical management of these patients faces severe challenges due to their decreased physiological reserve, complex comorbidities, and significant individual heterogeneity. Consequently, under traditional diagnosis and treatment models, doctors often struggle to identify the individualized risks of elderly patients in a timely and comprehensive manner, which can easily lead to decision biases such as undertreatment or overtreatment. In view of this, this study advocates for the establishment of an umbrella decision-making model specifically tailored for elderly lung cancer patients. Grounded in a multidisciplinary team (MDT) platform, this model deeply integrates oncological indicators with the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) system. By holistically considering multidimensional variables including tumor burden, organ function, frailty index, cognitive status, and social support, the model establishes an operational mechanism characterized by "single entry, precise stratification, and targeted selection". Accordingly, patients can be scientifically triaged into distinct intervention tiers, such as active surveillance, minimally invasive surgery, drug therapy, radiotherapy, and best supportive care, thereby achieving real-time alignment between treatment intensity and patient fitness. This article elaborates on the construction logic and key operational procedures of this novel decision-making framework, aiming to guide clinical practice beyond the limitations of a tumor-centric perspective toward a holistic, dynamic, whole-course management strategy. This transition seeks to ensure optimal quality of life and clinical net benefit for elderly patients alongside survival prolongation.
5.Seasonal variation of adult mosquitoes in Yantai, Shandong Province, China: a study based on the circular distribution method
Chun-hui LI ; Cheng-juan LIU ; Ting WANG ; Xiao-ge ZHOU ; Pei-Jun GUO
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(2):108-113
Objective This study aimed to investigate the seasonal variation of mosquitoes in Yantai, Shandong Province, and provide a scientific basis for mosquito and mosquito-borne disease control. Methods From March to November for each of the years between 2020 and 2023, adult mosquitoes were collected from different habitats, including parks, hospitals, urban residential areas, rural households and livestock sheds, in 13 counties of Yantai City using a mosquito trap lamp method, among which, female mosquitoes were separated and identified, and the numbers were counted. We used the circular distribution method to analyze the temporal distribution characteristics of mosquito density. Results The γ values obtained for mosquitoes in Yantai from 2020 to 2023, the distribution of mosquitoes in different habitats, and dominant mosquito species in different months showed strong seasonality, with values ranging from 0.7461 to 0.8531(P < 0.05). The peak period of seasonal variation in mosquitoes occurred from June 28thto September 13th, with August 5thbeing identified as the peak day. The peak periods of seasonal variation in mosquitoes in residential areas, parks, hospitals, peasant households, and animals sheds were observed from June 24thto September 14th, June 25thto September 10th, June 22ndto September 12th, July 1stto September 9th, and July 2ndto September 17th, respectively, with corresponding peak days on August 4th,3rd, 2nd, 5th, and 9th, respectively. The peak periods of Culex pipiens pallens, Aedes albopictus, and Anopheles sinensis were from June 26thto September 11th, June 28thto September 17th, and July 12thto September 17th, respectively, with corresponding peak days on August 3rd,7th, and 14th, respectively. Conclusions Our findings in this study revealed that the peak of mosquito activity in Yantai was concentrated in early August, with a peak period extending from June 28thto September 13th, and there were differences between different habitats(with peak periods for rural households and livestock sheds occurring later than those in residential areas, parks, and hospitals). Moreover, with respect to the mosquito species, populations of Cx. pipiens pallens and Ae. albopictus peaked earlier than those of An. sinensis. Based on these findings, we recommend that city-wide mosquito control work should commence in late June, and include appropriate early prevention and control measures for key habitats, such as livestock sheds, and dominant mosquito species, such as Cx. pipiens pallens, to minimize the density of mosquito vectors and the risk of disease transmission.
6.Risk analysis of drug-related medical insurance claim denials in healthcare institutions and exploration of phar-macist-led intervention model
Xiaolan WANG ; Jie PAN ; Yi GE ; Bo LYU ; Qian ZHOU ; Aiming SHI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(14):1832-1837
OBJECTIVE To develop a pharmacist-led intervention model for reducing drug-related medical insurance claim denial risks, so as to provide practical references for healthcare institutions in fulfilling their primary responsibility for medical insurance fund supervision. METHODS A risk matrix method was employed by the pharmacists to assess the risks associated with drug‑related medical insurance claim rejections in our hospital during 2024. Intervention measures were developed targeting high‑risk factors (including inappropriate indications for medical insurance coverage, exceeding the covered treatment course, and inappropriateness of gender and age) from three dimensions, namely organizational structure, technical prevention and control, and closed‑loop management. Changes in drug‑related claim rejection data were compared between 2024 (pre‑intervention) and 2025 (post‑intervention), and the interception effect of the pre‑prescription review system was evaluated after the intervention. RESULTS After the intervention, the total amount of drug‑related medical insurance claim rejections in our hospital was reduced by 57.24% compared with that before the intervention, and the number of rejected items decreased from 10 108 to 2 892. Specifically, the number of rejected items due to inappropriate indications, exceeded treatment course, inappropriate gender, and inappropriate age was reduced by 70.94%, 74.26%, 83.86%, and 96.70%, respectively. Throughout the year following the intervention, a total of 5.605 yuan million in outpatient prescription drug amounts and 4.683 million yuan in inpatient medication order amounts that did not meet the insurance‑limited payment requirements were intercepted by the pre‑prescription review system. The proportion of drug‑related claim rejection amount to the total medical service claim rejection amount of our hospital decreased to 19.7%. CONCLUSIONS The pharmacist-led multi-department collaborative, technical prevention and control, and dynamic optimization integrated full-process intervention model is highly operable and has significant practical effects. It has important promotion value in reducing drug-related medical insurance claim denial risks.
7.Effect of hypoxic environment on tumor cell apoptosis mediated by the antitumor drug pemetrexed
Wenjing ZHOU ; Ruomu GE ; Zihan WANG ; Xiaoli JIANG ; Jian ZHONG ; Qingya HE ; Shengquan ZHANG ; Sumei ZHANG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(7):1208-1214
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of hypoxia on pemetrexed (PE)-mediated apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells. MethodsA549 cells were cultured under 21% O₂ (normoxia) or 1% O₂ (hypoxia), and treated with 8 μmol/L PE for 48 h. The cells were divided into normoxic control group, normoxic vehicle group, normoxic drug-treated group, hypoxic control group, hypoxic vehicle group and hypoxic drug-treated group. Trypan blue staining was used to observe cell death after PE intervention under normoxia and hypoxia. Flow cytometry was adopted to detect cell apoptosis rate. Wound healing assay was used to assess cell migration. Western blot was performed to detect the protein levels of MRP-1, Cleaved Caspase-3, E-Cadherin and N-Cadherin. ResultsTrypan blue staining results showed that the cell death rate was reduced in PE-treated cells under hypoxia compared with the normoxic PE group (P<0.001). Flow cytometry results indicated that PE induced cell apoptosis under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions.However, the apoptosis rate of the normoxic PE group was significantly higher than that of the hypoxic PE group (P<0.000 1). Wound healing assay showed that the migration distance of A549 cells decreased after PE treatment for 24 h and 48 h under normoxia and hypoxia when compared with the control group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was found between the normoxic PE group and the hypoxic PE group. Western blot results revealed that MRP-1 expression was markedly higher in hypoxic PE-treated cells than in normoxic PE-treated cells (P<0.000 1). Compared with the control group, Cleaved Caspase-3 expression was upregulated in A549 cells following PE intervention under normoxia (P<0.05), whereas no obvious alteration in Cleaved Caspase-3 expression was detected in hypoxic PE-treated cells. Under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions, PE treatment downregulated the expression of E-Cadherin (P<0.000 1,P<0.001) and N-Cadherin (P<0.05,P<0.000 1). In addition, the expression levels of E-Cadherin and N-Cadherin in the hypoxic PE group were significantly lower than those in the normoxic PE group (all P<0.000 1). ConclusionHypoxia significantly attenuates the pro-apoptotic effect of PE on A549 cells and blocks Cleaved Caspase-3 activation. This mechanism may be related to hypoxia-induced MRP-1 overexpression and reduced drug accumulation. Interfering with MRP-1 or restoring the activity of the apoptosis pathway may serve as a novel strategy to overcome hypoxia-induced drug resistance.
8.Correlation Between Gut Microbiota Characteristics and Immunotherapy Efficacy in Patients with Advanced Microsatellite Stable Gastrointestinal Tumors
Yanfei LIU ; Ting GE ; Xi XIE ; Yujie ZHOU ; Min CHENG ; Yan ZHANG ; Guang FU ; Hongyan JIN
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(8):600-608
Objective To investigate the correlation between gut microbiota characteristics and immunotherapy efficacy in patients with advanced microsatellite stable (MSS) advanced gastrointestinal tumors. Methods Thirty patients with advanced MSS gastrointestinal tumors, including fourteen cases of gastric cancer and sixteen cases of colorectal cancer, who were admitted from November 1, 2022, to July 31, 2025 were enrolled. All patients underwent gut microbiota testing and received corresponding interventions on the basis of the results, followed by treatment with antiangiogenic agents combined with immunotherapy. Some patients additionally received probiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation. The primary endpoints were disease control rate (DCR) and objective response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess potential prognostic factors. Results Among the thirty patients, no complete response was observed. Two cases of partial response (PR), twelve cases of stable disease, and sixteen cases of progressive disease were recorded. The ORR was 6.7%, and the DCR was 46.7%. The median PFS was 6.4 months, and the median OS was 8.3 months. Both PR patients were classified as having a medium risk of gut microbiota dysbiosis and exhibited a Bacteroides-dominated enterotype. Multivariate analysis indicated that tumor type, liver metastasis, and bone metastasis were potential prognostic factors for PFS and OS. Conclusion Patients with a medium risk of gut dysbiosis may exhibit a relatively favorable response to immunotherapy, suggesting that gut microbiota status could serve as a potential biomarker for predicting treatment efficacy in advanced MSS gastrointestinal tumors.
9.Rehmanniae Radix Iridoid Glycosides Protect Kidneys of Diabetic Mice by Regulating TGF-β1/Smads Signaling Pathway
Hongwei ZHANG ; Ming LIU ; Huisen WANG ; Wenjing GE ; Xuexia ZHANG ; Qian ZHOU ; Huani LI ; Suqin TANG ; Gengsheng LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):56-66
ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of Rehmanniae Radix iridoid glycosides (RIG) on the kidney tissue of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and explore the underlying mechanism. MethodsTwelve of 72 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly selected as the normal group, and the remaining 60 mice were fed with a high-fat diet for six weeks combined with injection of 60 mg·kg-1 STZ for 4 days to model type 2 diabetes mellitus. The successfully modeled mice were randomized into model, metformin (250 mg·kg-1), catalpol (100 mg·kg-1), low-dose RIG (RIG-L, 200 mg·kg-1) and high-dose RIG (RIG-H, 400 mg·kg-1) groups (n=11). Mice in each group were administrated with corresponding drugs, while those in the normal group and model group were administrated with the same dose of distilled water by gavage once a day. After 8 weeks of intervention, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. After mice were sacrificed, both kidneys were collected. The body weight, kidney weight, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured. Biochemical assays were performed to measure the serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), serum creatinine (SCr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to determine the serum level of fasting insulin (FINS), and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. The pathological changes in kidneys of mice were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining. The immunohistochemical method (IHC) was employed to assess the expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and collagen-3 (ColⅢ) in the kidney tissue. The protein levels of TGF-β1, cell signal transduction molecule 3 (Smad3), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and ColⅢ in kidneys of mice were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group showcased decreased body weight and ISI (P<0.01), increased kidney weight, FBG, AUC, FINS, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, SCr, and BUN (P<0.01), glomerular hypertrophy, capsular space narrowing, and collagen deposition in the kidney, up-regulated protein levels of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β1, ColⅢ, and Smad3 (P<0.01), and down-regulated protein level of MMP-9 (P<0.01) in the kidney tissue. Compared with the model group, the treatment groups had no significant difference in the body weight and decreased kidney weight (P<0.05, P<0.01). The FBG level declined in the RIG-H group after treatment for 4-8 weeks and in the metformin, catalpol, and RIG-L groups after treatment for 6-8 weeks (P<0.01). The AUC in the RIG-L, RIG-H, and metformin groups decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The levels of TC, SCr, and BUN in the serum of mice in each treatment group became lowered (P<0.05, P<0.01). The level of TG declined in the RIG-L, RIG-H, and metformin groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). The serum level of FINS declined in the catalpol, RIG-L, and metformin groups (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the treatment groups showed decreased HOMA-IR (P<0.01), increased ISI (P<0.01), alleviated pathological changes in the kidney tissue, and down-regulated expression of IL-1 and TGF-β1. In addition, the protein levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and ColⅢ in the RIG-H and metformin groups and IL-6 and TNF-α in the RIG-L group were down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the protein levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and ColⅢ in the catalpol group and ColⅢ in the RIG-L group showed a decreasing trend without statistical difference. The protein levels of TGF-β1, Smad3, and ColⅢ in the RIG-H and metformin groups were down-regulated (P<0.01). Compared with that in the model group, the protein level of MMP-9 was up-regulated in each treatment group (P<0.01). ConclusionRIG can improve the renal structure and function of diabetic mice by regulating the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.
10.Yishen Huashi Granules Protect Kidneys of db/db Mice via p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway
Kaidong ZHOU ; Sitong WANG ; Ge JIN ; Yanmo CAI ; Xin ZHOU ; Yunhua LIU ; Xinxue ZHANG ; Min ZHANG ; Zongjiang ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):58-68
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Yishen Huashi granules in alleviating renal tubular epithelial cell injury and relieving diabetic kidney disease by regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. MethodsThe db/db mice of 12 weeks old were randomly assigned into model , dapagliflozin (1.6 mg·kg-1), and Yishen Huashi granules (4.7 g·kg-1), and db/m mice were used as the control group. The general conditions of mice were observed, and fasting blood glucose and 24-h urinary protein and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) were measured at weeks 0 and 12 of administration. After 12 weeks of treatment, the levels of serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea (UREA), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were measured. The pathological changes in the renal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, Mallory staining, and transmission electron microscopy. Real-time PCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and CC chemokine receptor-2 (CCR2) in the renal tissue of mice. The immunohistochemical assay was employed to examine the expression of p38, phospho-p38 (p-p38), MCP-1, and CCR2 in the renal tissue of mice. Western blotting was employed to measure the protein levels of p-p38, p38, MCP-1, and CCR2 in the renal tissue of mice.HK-2 cells cultured in vitro were grouped as follows: negative control, high glucose(30 mmol·L-1), Yishen Huashi granule-containing serum, and SB203580. After 48 h of cell culture in each group, RNA were extracted and the levels of MCP-1, and CCR2 mRNA were determined by Real-time PCR,proteins were extracted and the levels of p38, p-p38, MCP-1, and CCR2 were determined by Western blot. ResultsThe in vivo experiments showed that before treatment, other groups had higher body weight, blood glucose level, 24 h urinary protein, and ACR than the control group (P<0.05,P<0.01). After 12 weeks of treatment, compared with the model group, the Yishen Huashi granules group showed improved general conditions, a decreasing trend in body weight, lowered levels of blood glucose, 24-h urinary protein, and ACR (P<0.01), reduced SCr and UREA (P<0.01), and declined levels of TC, TG, and LDL (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Yishen Huashi granules group showed alleviated damage and interstitial fibrosis in the renal tissue as well as reductions in glomerular foot process fusion and basement membrane thickening. Moreover, the Yishen Huashi granules group showed down-regulated mRNA levels of MCP-1 and CCR2 (P<0.01), reduced positive expression of p-p38, MCP-1, and CCR2 (P<0.01), and down-regulated protein levels of p-p38/p38, MCP-1, and CCR2 (P<0.05) in the renal tissue. The cell experiment showed that compared with the high glucose group, the Yishen Huashi granule-containing serum group showcased down-regulated mRNA levels of MCP-1 and CCR2 (P<0.01) and down-regulated protein levels of p-p38/p38, MCP-1, and CCR2(P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionYishen Huashi granules can regulate glucose-lipid metabolism, reduce 24 h urinary protein and ACR, improve the renal function, alleviate the renal tubule injury caused by high glucose, and protect renal tubule epithelial cells in db/db mice by reducing MCP-1/CCR2 activation via the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.


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