Objective To investigate the mechanism of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma drug pair in the treatment of hypertension based on the network pharmacology method and animal experiment verification.Methods(1)TCMSP,BATMAN and TCMIP databases were used to screen the active components and targets of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma drug pair.The hypertension-related targets were obtained by searching the Drugbank,Genecard,TTD and Disgenet databases.The intersection(common target)of the active component target and the target related to hypertension disease was taken,and the obtained intersection target was the potential target of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma drug pair for the treatment of hypertension.The active ingredients and their targets of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma drug pair were imported into Cytoscape 3.9.1 software to construct a'Chinese medicines-active ingredients-targets'network and screen key active ingredients.The protein-protein interaction(PPI)network of potential targets was constructed to screen potential core targets.The Metascape platform was used to analyze the GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment of potential targets.The key active components and potential core targets were selected for molecular docking verification.(2)Thirty male spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR)were randomly divided into model group,western medicine group(Candesartan Cilexetil,0.72 mg·kg-1)and low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(2.25,4.50,9.00 g·kg-1).Another male WKY rats were selected as blank group,with 6 rats in each group,once a day for 8 weeks.The systolic blood pressure of rat tail artery was detected before administration and 2,4,6 and 8 weeks after drug intervention.The pathological changes of thoracic aorta were observed by HE staining.The protein expression levels of GRP78,CHOP and Caspase-12 in aorta abdominalis were detected by Western Blot.Results(1)A total of 83 active components of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were obtained,and 158 potential targets(intersection targets)for the treatment of hypertension were screened out.Five key active ingredients:p-hydroxybenzoic acid,4-hydroxybenzylamine,tanshinone I,tanshinone,γ-sitosterol;6 potential core targets:IL6,TNF,CASP3,JUN,PTGS2,IL1B;GO functional enrichment analysis obtained 1 826 biological process items,89 cell component items,and 199 molecular function items.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis obtained 186 pathways,mainly involving neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,calcium signaling pathway,inflammatory response(such as TNF and MAPK signaling pathway),vascular protection(such as HIF-1 and cAMP signaling pathway),oxidative stress(such as PI3K-Akt signaling pathway)and other signaling pathways.Tanshinone I and tanshinone had strong binding force to 6 potential core targets,and γ-sitosterol had strong binding force to IL6,CASP3,JUN,PTGS2 and IL1B.(2)Compared with the blank group,the systolic blood pressure of the model group was significantly increased(P＜0.01).The thoracic aortic endothelial injury was obvious,the endothelial cell morphology was abnormal,swelling and exfoliated cells could be seen,the intima of the tissue was disordered,the intima structure was incomplete,and the intima was thickened.The protein expressions of GRP78,CHOP and Caspase-12 in abdominal aorta were significantly increased(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the systolic blood pressure of the rats in the administration group was significantly decreased(P＜0.01);the injury of thoracic aorta was alleviated,and the morphology,intima structure and thickness of endothelial cells were improved to varying degrees.The protein expressions of GRP78,CHOP and Caspase-12 in abdominal aorta were significantly decreased(P＜0.01).Conclusion Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma drug pair may act on core targets such as IL6,TNF,CASP3,JUN,PTGS2,and IL1B through key active components such as p-hydroxybenzoic acid,tanshinone,and γ-sitosterol,and regulate key signaling pathways such as TNF signaling pathway,MAPK signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,and PERK signaling pathway to improve vascular endothelial dysfunction,inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress,and lower blood pressure.

This article summarized the experience of Professor Xiong Jibai,a national TCM master,in treating pulmonary nodules based on the theory of"body fluids and blood stasis mixing"in Huang Di Nei Jing.Professor Xiong Jibai believes that the basic pathogenesis of pulmonary nodules is that"body fluids and blood stasis mixing"accumulate in lung collaterals,and the fundamental pathological factor is phlegm and blood stasis.Xiong's treatment is based on dissipating phlegm and activating qi,activating blood circulation and resolving masses,paying attention to syndrome differentiation and treatment,examining syndromes and seeking causes,flexibly selecting prescriptions and treating both symptoms and root causes;attaching importance to maintaining healthy qi,preventing both illness and change,and preventing recovery after illness.Clinical medical records were attached to prove the clinical thinking and medication characteristics.

Objective:To explore the genetic etiology for a patient with Alstr?m syndrome (ALMS) presenting as dilated cardiomyopathy.Methods:A 41-year-old male patient who had presented at the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital on October 20, 2021 was selected as the study subject. Clinical and laboratory examinations were carried out. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was employed for genetic testing, and candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and pathogenicity analysis.Results:The patient had a 14-year medical history characterized by dilated cardiomyopathy, complete atrioventricular block, visual impairment, sensorineural hearing loss, truncal obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, renal dysfunction, and paranoid delusions. Genetic testing revealed that he has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the ALMS1 gene, namely c. 6823C>T (p.Arg2275Ter) and c. 9442_9445dup (p.Ser3149LysfsTer2). Sanger sequencing confirmed that they were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), both variants were predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1_VeryStrong+ PM2_Supporting+ PM3+ PP3, PVS1_VeryStrong+ PM2_Supporting+ PM3). Literature review indicated that the complete atrioventricular block in the patient was a phenotype unreported previously. Conclusion:The c. 6823C>T (p.Arg2275Ter) and c. 9442_9445dup (p.Ser3149LysfsTer2) compound heterozygous variants of the ALMS1 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis in this patient. Above findings have expanded the phenotypic spectrum of ALMS and provided insights for clinicians dealing with similar cases.

Objective To assess effect of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block(ESPB)combined with patient controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA)on postoperative analgesia after cesarean section.Methods A total of 120 full-term singleton pregnant women who underwent cesarean section under spinal anesthesia at Jiaxing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from May 2022 to August 2023 were selected.Participants were randomly divided into three groups using a random number table:Group E(ESPB combined with PCIA),group T[transversus abdominis plane(TAP)block combined with PCIA],and control group(PCIA alone),with 40 women in each group.Visual analogue scale(VAS)and Bruggrmann comfort scale(BCS)scores during rest and coughing were recorded at 4h,8h,12h,24h,and 48h postoperatively.Number of effective PCIA presses,total sufentanil dosage,proportion of rescue analgesia and maternal satisfaction were also documented within 48h.Additionally,adverse reactions and neonatal outcomes were observed within the same 48h period.Results Postoperatively,VAS scores for rest and coughing in group E at 8h,12h,24h were significantly lower than those in group T,those in two groups were lower than those in control group(P＜0.05).Postoperatively at 8h,12h,and 24h,BCS scores in group E were significantly higher than those in group T,with both higher than those in control group(P＜0.05).Within 48h after surgery,the number of effective PCIA presses,proportion of rescue analgesia and total sufentanil dosage in group E were lower than those in group T,both lower than those in control(P＜0.05).Moreover,maternal satisfaction score in group E was significantly higher than that in group T,that in two groups was significantly higher than that in control group(P＜0.05).Within 48h after surgery,there were no significant differences in adverse reactions or neonatal outcomes among the three groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Ultrasound-guided ESPB combined with PCIA outperforms TAP block combined with PCIA,with reducing analgesic dose and enhancing maternal satisfaction and comfort.

Objective To investigate the expression and role of the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway in intestinal mucosal barrier injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods A total of 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham-operation group (Sham group), SAP model group (SAP group), SAP+Shh signaling pathway-specific agonist purmorphamine group (PUR+SAP group), and SAP+Shh signaling pathway-specific antagonist cyclopamine group (CYC+SAP group) using a random number table, with 12 rats in each group, and each group was further divided into 12-hour and 24-hour subgroups, with 6 rats in each subgroup. Rats were given retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic and bile ducts to establish a model of SAP, and rats in the intervention groups were given intraperitoneal injection of 0.69 mg/kg purmorphamine and 0.69 mg/kg cyclopamine before modeling. Related samples were collected at 12 and 24 hours after modeling. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the pancreas and the ileum; ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of amylase, lipase, diamine oxidase (DAO), and endotoxin-core antibody (EndoCAb); the TUNEL method was used to observe the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells; Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of Shh, Ptch1, and Gli1 in ileal tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t -test was used for further comparison between two groups; the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups and further comparison between two groups. Results Compared with the Sham group, the SAP group had significant increases in the pathological scores of pancreatic and ileum tissue, the serum levels of lipase, amylase, DAO, and EndoCAb, the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, and the protein expression levels of Shh, Ptch1, and Gli1 in ileal tissue (all P < 0.05). Compared with the SAP group, the PUR+SAP group had significantly alleviated pathological injury and dysfunction of the pancreas and intestine, a significant reduction in the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, and significant increases in the protein expression levels of Shh, Ptch1, and Gli1 in ileal tissue (all P < 0.05). Compared with the SAP group, the CYC+SAP group had significant aggravation of the pathological injury and dysfunction of the pancreas and intestine, a significant increase in the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, and significant reductions in the protein expression levels of Shh, Ptch1, and Gli1 in ileal tissue (all P < 0.05). Conclusion The Shh signaling pathway may be involved in intestinal mucosal barrier injury in SAP and exerts a protective effect.

Immunoglobulin (IgG) glycosylation affects the effector functions of IgG in a myriad of biological processes and has been closely associated with numerous autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), thus underlining the pathogenic role of glycosylation aberration in autoimmunity. This study aims to explore the relationship between IgG sialylation patterns and lupus pregnancy. Relative to that in serum samples from the control cohort, IgG sialylation level was aberrantly downregulated in serum samples from the SLE cohort at four stages (from preconception to the third trimester of pregnancy) and was significantly associated with lupus activity and fetal loss during lupus pregnancy. The type I interferon signature of pregnant patients with SLE was negatively correlated with the level of IgG sialylation. The lack of sialylation dampened the ability of IgG to suppress the functions of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). RNA-seq analysis further revealed that the expression of genes associated with the spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) signaling pathway significantly differed between IgG- and deSia-IgG-treated pDCs. This finding was confirmed by the attenuation of the ability to phosphorylate SYK and BLNK in deSia-IgG. Finally, the coculture of pDCs isolated from pregnant patients with SLE with IgG/deSia-IgG demonstrated the sialylation-dependent anti-inflammatory function of IgG. Our findings suggested that IgG influences lupus activity through regulating pDCs function via the modulation of the SYK pathway in a sialic acid-dependent manner.
Humans ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/pathology* ; Signal Transduction ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/metabolism* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Dendritic Cells/pathology*

AIM:To explore the effect of tomatidine(TA)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced nerve cell in-jury and the underlying mechanism.METHODS:The neuroinflammation model was induced by treating SH-SY5Y cells with LPS.These cells were divided into control(CON),LPS,and LPS+TA groups.The LPS group was treated with 5 μg/mL LPS for 24 h to establish an inflammatory model.The LPS+TA group was first treated with 5 μmol/L tomatidine for 24 h and then co-cultured with 5 μg/mL LPS for 24 h.Cell viability was detected using the CCK-8 assay.RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β).The protein expression of transcription factor EB(TFEB),p-TFEB,P62,and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)expression was detected through Western blot.TFEB localization and cleaved caspase-3 expression were detected through immunofluorescence.The cell apoptosis rate was detected through flow cytometry.RESULTS:(1)Compared with the CON group,the LPS group exhibited significant increases in IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA levels(P＜0.05),the cell apoptosis rate,and the p-TFEB level(P＜0.01).By contrast,P62,LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ,and TFEB protein ex-pression levels decreased significantly(P＜0.05),and TFEB was mainly localized in the cytoplasm.(2)Compared with the LPS group,tomatidine treatment significantly decreased the p-TFEB protein expression level(P＜0.01),increased the TFEB protein expression level(P＜0.01),and promoted the TFEB protein to migrate into the nucleus.After treatment of tomatidine,the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ protein expression level significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the cell apoptosis rate signifi-cantly decreased(P＜0.01).In addition,the TNF-α mRNA level significantly decreased after tomatidine treatment(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Tomatidine improves autophagy dysfunction,inflammatory reaction,and cell apoptosis induced by LPS via activating the transcription factor EB.

Randomized controlled trials (RCT) have long been considered the gold standard for assessing clinical efficacy. However, RCT are inappropriate for some diseases due to related ethical issues and costs, such as rare diseases that are seriously life-threatening but without adequate treatment. Using real world data (RWD) as external control for RCT could make recruitment less complicated and reduce time and cost. This paper introduces common application scenarios, data sources, study design, basic principles, and statistical methods of RWD as an external control based on the latest guidelines related to RWD and combined with our team's previous research experience. This study could provide references for scholars and sponsors who want to conduct RWD research.

Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has long been used for the treatment of common metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the main limitation of its wider application is ingredient complexity of this formula. Thus, it is critically important to identify the major active ingredients of GQD and to illustrate mecha-nisms underlying its action. Here, we compared the effects of GQD and berberine, a hypothetical key active pharmaceutical ingredient of GQD, on a diabetic rat model by comprehensive analyses of gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, proinflammatory cytokines, and ileum transcriptomics. Our results show that berberine and GQD had similar effects on lowering blood glucose levels, modulating gut microbiota, inducing ileal gene expression, as well as relieving systemic and local inflammation. As expected, both berberine and GQD treatment significantly altered the overall gut microbiota structure and enriched many butyrate-producing bacteria, including Faecalibacterium and Roseburia, thereby attenuating intestinal inflammation and lowering glucose. Levels of short-chain fatty acids in rat feces were also significantly elevated after treatment with ber-berine or GQD. Moreover, concentration of serum proinflammatory cytokines and expression of immune-related genes, including Nfkb1, Stat1, and Ifnrg1, in pancreatic islets were significantly reduced after treatment. Our study demonstrates that the main effects of GQD can be attributed to berberine via modulating gut microbiota. The strategy employed would facilitate further stan-dardization and widespread application of TCM in many diseases.

Background and Objectives: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)-based treatment for degeneration of intervertebral disc (IVD) has been proposed recently. We here addressed whether MSC secreted factors can rejuvenate nucleus pulposus- derived stem/progenitor cells from degenerated disc (D-NPSCs) in vitro. Methods: and Results: We analyzed the expression of MSCs and NP cell specific surface markers, pluripotency related genes, multilineage potential and cell proliferative capacity of D-NPSCs upon incubation with the conditioned medium which was collected from the umbilical cord derived MSCs (UCMSCs). Our results indicated that the conditioned medium restore the stemness of D-NPSCs by up-regulating the expression level of CD29 and CD105, pluripotency related genes OCT4 and Nanog, and NP progenitor marker Tie2. The increased stemness was accompanied by promoted cell proliferative capacity and improved osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential. Conclusions Our findings suggested that the UCMSCs derived conditioned medium might be used to rejuvenate the degenerated NP stem/progenitor cells.