The quality of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is a critical foundation for ensuring the stability of its efficacy, as well as the safety and effectiveness of its clinical use. The identification of critical quality attributes(CQAs) is one of the core components of TCM preparation quality control. This study focuses on Jianwei Xiaoshi Tablets and explores their CQAs related to property and flavor from the perspective of taste receptor proteins. Three taste receptor proteins, T1R2, T1R3, and TRPV1, were selected, and a biosensor based on high-electron-mobility transistor(HEMT) was constructed to detect the interactions between Jianwei Xiaoshi Tablets and taste receptor proteins. Simultaneously, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) technology was used to analyze the chemical composition of Jianwei Xiaoshi Tablets. In examining the interaction strength, the results indicated that the interaction between Jianwei Xiaoshi Tablets and TRPV1 protein was the strongest, followed by T1R3, with the interaction with T1R2 being relatively weaker. By combining biosensing technology with LC-MS, 16 chemical components were identified from Jianwei Xiaoshi Tablets, among which six were selected as CQAs for sweetness and seven for pungency. Further validation experiments demonstrated that CQAs such as hesperidin and hesperetin had strong interactions with their corresponding taste receptor proteins. Through the combined use of multiple technological approaches, this study successfully determined the property and flavor-related CQAs of Jianwei Xiaoshi Tablets. It provides novel ideas and approach for the identification of CQAs in TCM preparations and offers comprehensive theoretical support for TCM quality control, contributing to the improvement and development of TCM preparation quality control systems.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Biosensing Techniques/methods* ; TRPV Cation Channels/chemistry* ; Tablets/chemistry* ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics* ; Quality Control ; Taste ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVES: To assess the regulatory effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on circadian rhythm sleep disorders following general anesthesia and explore its potential mechanism in a rat model of propofol-induced rhythm sleep disorder. METHODS: An electrode was embedded in the skull for cortical EEG recording in 24 male SD rats, which were randomized into control, propofol, CBD treatment, and diazepam treatment groups (n=6). Eight days later, a single dose of propofol (10 mg/kg) was injected via the tail vein with anesthesia maintenance for 3 h in the latter 3 groups, and daily treatment with saline, CBD or diazepam was administered via gavage; the control rats received only saline injection. A wireless system was used for collecting EEG, EMG, and body temperature data within 72 h after propofol injection. After data collection, blood samples and hypothalamic tissue samples were collected for determining serum levels of oxidative stress markers and hypothalamic expressions of the key clock proteins. RESULTS: Compared with the control rats, the rats with CBD treatment showed significantly increased sleep time at night (20:00-6:00), especially during the time period of 4:00-6:00 am. Compared with the rats in propofol group, which had prolonged SWS time and increased sleep episodes during 18:00-24:00 and sleep-wake transitions, the CBD-treated rats exhibited a significant reduction of SWS time and fewer SWS-to-active-awake transitions with increased SWS aspects and sleep-wake transitions at night (24:00-08:00). Diazepam treatment produced similar effect to CBD but with a weaker effect on sleep-wake transitions. Propofol caused significant changes in protein expressions and redox state, which were effectively reversed by CBD treatment. CONCLUSIONS CBD can improve sleep structure and circadian rhythm in rats with propofol-induced sleep disorder possibly by regulating hypothalamic expressions of the key circadian clock proteins, suggesting a new treatment option for perioperative sleep disorders.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Cannabidiol/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Circadian Rhythm/drug effects* ; Propofol/adverse effects* ; Anesthesia, General/adverse effects* ; Sleep Wake Disorders/chemically induced* ; Hypothalamus/metabolism* ; Electroencephalography

Approximately 30%-40% of epilepsy patients do not respond well to adequate anti-seizure medications (ASMs), a condition known as pharmacoresistant epilepsy. The management of pharmacoresistant epilepsy remains an intractable issue in the clinic. Its early prediction is important for prevention and diagnosis. However, it still lacks effective predictors and approaches. Here, a classical model of pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was established to screen pharmacoresistant and pharmaco-responsive individuals by applying phenytoin to amygdaloid-kindled rats. Ictal electroencephalograms (EEGs) recorded before phenytoin treatment were analyzed. Based on ictal EEGs from pharmacoresistant and pharmaco-responsive rats, a convolutional neural network predictive model was constructed to predict pharmacoresistance, and achieved 78% prediction accuracy. We further found the ictal EEGs from pharmacoresistant rats have a lower gamma-band power, which was verified in seizure EEGs from pharmacoresistant TLE patients. Prospectively, therapies targeting the subiculum in those predicted as "pharmacoresistant" individual rats significantly reduced the subsequent occurrence of pharmacoresistance. These results demonstrate a new methodology to predict whether TLE individuals become resistant to ASMs in a classic pharmacoresistant TLE model. This may be of translational importance for the precise management of pharmacoresistant TLE.
Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/diagnosis* ; Animals ; Drug Resistant Epilepsy/drug therapy* ; Electroencephalography/methods* ; Rats ; Anticonvulsants/pharmacology* ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Male ; Humans ; Phenytoin/pharmacology* ; Adult ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Young Adult ; Convolutional Neural Networks

Polysaccharides, predominantly extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Lycium barbarum, Angelica sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Dendrobium officinale, Ganoderma lucidum, and Poria cocos, represent principal bioactive constituents extensively utilized in Chinese medicine. These compounds have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory capabilities, especially anti-liver injury activities, while exhibiting minimal adverse effects. This review summarized recent studies to elucidate the hepatoprotective efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms of these herbal polysaccharides. It underscored the role of these polysaccharides in regulating hepatic function, enhancing immunological responses, and improving antioxidant capacities, thus contributing to the attenuation of hepatocyte apoptosis and liver protection. Analyses of molecular pathways in these studies revealed the intricate and indispensable functions of traditional Chinese herbal polysaccharides in liver injury management. Therefore, this review provides a thorough examination of the hepatoprotective attributes and molecular mechanisms of these medicinal polysaccharides, thereby offering valuable insights for the advancement of polysaccharide-based therapeutic research and their potential clinical applications in liver disease treatment.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Liver Diseases/drug therapy* ; Antioxidants ; Polysaccharides/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Artificial chord is a mature mitral valve repair technique, especially in adult mitral valve repair. It is still challenging to repair mitral valve in children with artificial chords because the quality of mitral valve is soft and immature. There are some differences in the methods of suture, the choice of suture size and the number of artificial chords. Although the artificial chords could not grow naturally, we found through the long-term research that most children did not have mitral valve restriction or even chords rupture due to itself can compensate through the growth of the flap and papillary muscle. This article summarizes the recent research progress on the treatment of mitral valve insufficiency in children with artificial chords, providing reference for clinical treatment.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of recombinant human anti-severe acute respiratory syn-drome coronavirus 2(anti-SARS-CoV-2)monoclonal antibody injection(F61 injection)in the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)combined with renal damage.Methods Patients with COVID-19 and renal damage who visited the PLA General Hospital from January to February 2023 were selected.Subjects were randomly divided into two groups.Control group was treated with conventional anti-COVID-19 therapy,while trial group was treated with conventional anti-COVID-19 therapy combined with F61 injection.A 15-day follow-up was conducted after drug administration.Clinical symptoms,laboratory tests,electrocardiogram,and chest CT of pa-tients were performed to analyze the efficacy and safety of F61 injection.Results Twelve subjects(7 in trial group and 5 in control group)were included in study.Neither group had any clinical progression or death cases.The ave-rage time for negative conversion of nucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 in control group and trial group were 3.2 days and 1.57 days(P=0.046),respectively.The scores of COVID-19 related target symptom in the trial group on the 3rd and 5th day after medication were both lower than those of the control group(both P＜0.05).According to the clinical staging and World Health Organization 10-point graded disease progression scale,both groups of subjects improved but didn't show statistical differences(P＞0.05).For safety,trial group didn't present any infusion-re-lated adverse event.Subjects in both groups demonstrated varying degrees of elevated blood glucose,elevated urine glucose,elevated urobilinogen,positive urine casts,and cardiac arrhythmia,but the differences were not statistica-lly significant(all P＞0.05).Conclusion F61 injection has initially demonstrated safety and clinical benefit in trea-ting patients with COVID-19 combined with renal damage.As the domestically produced drug,it has good clinical accessibility and may provide more options for clinical practice.

Objective:To explore the expression and clinical significance of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and quinone oxidoreductase (NQO-1) in children with different severity levels of mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection.Methods:A total of 140 children with MP infection who were treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January to June 2022 were selected as the observation group, while 100 healthy children who underwent physical examination were selected as the control group. The serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interferon γ (IFN-γ), HO-1, and relative expression of NQO-1 protein were compared between the control group and the observation group, as well as between children with different degrees of MP infection, Forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), 50% forced expiratory flow rate and maximum mid expiratory flow rate (MEF 25-70), 50% forced expiratory flow rate (MEF 50), and 25% forced expiratory flow rate (MEF 25). Pearson correlation method was used to analyze the correlation between the expression of HO-1 and NQO-1 with inflammatory factors and lung function indicators. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of HO-1 and NQO-1 expression in predicting severe MP. Results:The serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and HO-1 in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05), while the relative expression level of NQO-1 protein was significantly lower than that in the control group ( P<0.05). The FVC, FEV 1, PEF, MEF 25-70, MEF 50, and MEF 25 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and HO-1 in the observation group of severe children were significantly higher than those in mild children (all P<0.05), while the relative expression of NQO-1 protein, FVC, FEV 1, PEF, MEF 25-70, MEF 50, and MEF 25 were significantly lower than those in mild children (all P<0.05). HO-1 in children with MP infection is positively correlated with IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ, while the relative expression level of NQO-1 protein is negatively correlated with IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ (all P<0.05); HO-1 was negatively correlated with MEF 50 and MEF 25, while the relative expression level of NQO-1 protein was positively correlated with MEF 50 (all P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve for predicting the relative expression levels of HO-1 and NQO-1 proteins in severe MP was 0.871 and 0.934, respectively (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The expression of serum HO-1 and NQO-1 in children with MP infection is correlated with cytokines and lung function indicators, and has certain application value in predicting severe illness.

Objective To investigate the key genes associated with ferroptosis in peri-implantitis and explore the potential mecha-nisms regulating peri-implantitis.Methods Several datasets were obtained from the GEO database.Differential expressed genes were screened,and GO and KEGG analyses were performed.A PPI network was constructed using the STRING website.Key genes were val-idated using a test set,and the diagnostic value of key genes was determined.The content and proportion of 22 immune cells in peri-im-plantitis tissues were obtained through immune infiltration analysis.Key genes were validated by qRT-PCR and Western Blot(WB).Results There were 1 138 differential genes between peri-implantitis tissues and normal gingival tissues,of which 29 were related to ferroptosis.The gene expression in peri-implantitis tissues mainly involved processes such as immune response activation.Five key genes in the ferroptosis-related differential genes,namely SOX2,GJA1,IL1B,GPX2 and CHAC1,were differentially expressed in peri-implantitis tissues and had high diagnostic value.Immune infiltration analysis showed significant changes in immune cells such as memory B cells and plasma cells in peri-implantitis tissues.qRT-PCR and WB confirmed significant differential expression of mRNA and the protein transcribed by key genes.Conclusion Differential genes between peri-implantitis and ferroptosis are screened using bioinformatics analysis and biological validation,providing new insights into the study on peri-implantitis.

Uncovering the risk factors of pulmonary hypertension and its mechanisms is crucial for the prevention and treatment of the disease.In the current study,we showed that experimental periodontitis,which was established by ligation of molars followed by orally smearing subgingival plaques from patients with periodontitis,exacerbated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice.Mechanistically,periodontitis dysregulated the pulmonary microbiota by promoting ectopic colonization and enrichment of oral bacteria in the lungs,contributing to pulmonary infiltration of interferon gamma positive(IFNγ+)T cells and aggravating the progression of pulmonary hypertension.In addition,we identified Prevotella zoogleoformans as the critical periodontitis-associated bacterium driving the exacerbation of pulmonary hypertension by periodontitis,and the exacerbation was potently ameliorated by both cervical lymph node excision and IFNγ neutralizing antibodies.Our study suggests a proof of concept that the combined prevention and treatment of periodontitis and pulmonary hypertension are necessary.