Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Dachengqi decoction on patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP).Methods:A parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted. Sixty-eight patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) admitted to Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-Integrated Hospital from March 2018 to February 2021 were enrolled. Referring to the condition on admission of the patients and whether they agreed to receive the Dachengqi decoction or not, they were divided into conventional treatment group and Dachengqi decoction group according to the principle of 1∶1 equal randomness. Meanwhile, 20 healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. Both groups of patients were treated with octreotide, fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, antipyretic and analgesic, anti-inflammatory, inhibition of gastric acid and pancreatic juice secretion, maintenance of electrolyte balance and other western conventional medicine. The patients in the Dachengqi decoction group received Dachengqi decoction orally on the basis of routine treatment, 100 mL each time, twice a day, for seven consecutive days. The inflammation parameters [white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6)] before and after treatment and the recovery time of gastrointestinal function (first exhaust time, time to recover bowel sounds, first defecation time) of patients were recorded. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of stool samples was recorded, and normalized data were obtained after quality control and other related processing. The data were subjected to diversity analysis (Alpha diversity and Beta diversity) and linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis (LEfSe analysis) to observe changes in the gut microbiota of MAP patients. Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between inflammatory indexes and microorganisms at the intestinal genus level. Blood, urine, stool samples, renal function, and electrocardiogram (ECG) during treatment of MAP patients were detected to assess the safety of the treatment.Results:Of the 68 patients with AP, 16 were excluded from moderate-severe AP, 4 were not collected or voluntarily abandoned treatment. Finally, 48 patients with MAP were enrolled, 24 in the conventional treatment group and 24 in the Dachengqi decoction group. The inflammation parameters levels at 7 days of treatment in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment. CRP, PCT and IL-6 levels in the Dachengqi decoction group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group [CRP (mg/L): 8.50 (3.50, 13.00) vs. 16.00 (9.25, 29.75), PCT (μg/L): 0.06 (0.03, 0.08) vs. 0.09 (0.05, 0.11), IL-6 (ng/L): 6.36 (3.96, 10.79) vs. 13.24 (6.69, 18.87), all P < 0.05]. The first exhaust time, time to recover bowel sounds and first defecation time in the Dachengqi decoction group were significantly shorter than those in the conventional treatment group [first exhaust time (days): 1.62±0.65 vs. 2.80±0.65, time to recover bowel sounds (days): 1.13±0.58 vs. 2.31±0.76, first defecation time (days): 3.12±0.75 vs. 4.39±0.76, all P < 0.05]. The analysis of intestinal microflora diversity showed that both the diversity and abundance of microbial communities were the highest in the healthy control group and the lowest in the conventional treatment group. In addition, the coincidence degree of microbial communities in healthy controls and MAP patients was small, while the coincidence degree of MAP patients among different treatment methods was relatively large. LEfSe analysis showed that Dachengqi decoction reduced the relative abundance of Escherichia coli-Shigella and Clostridium erysipelae, and increased the relative abundance of three beneficial bacteria, namely Lactobacillus, Rombutzia and Brutella. In the intestines of MAP patients, Lactobacillus mucilaginus and Lactobacillus conjunctus were significantly enriched. Correlation analysis showed that positive correlations between Escherichia coli- Shigella and the four inflammatory indicators including WBC, CRP, PCT, IL-6 were statistically significant ( r value was 0.31, 0.41, 0.57, 0.43, respectively, all P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between other bacteria and inflammatory indicators. During the treatment, there was no obvious abnormality in blood, urine and feces, renal function and ECG of MAP patients. Conclusions:Dachengqi decoction could reduce inflammatory responses and promote recovery of intestinal microecological balance and gastrointestinal function in patients with MAP by regulating the composition of intestinal flora. No significant adverse effects were observed during the treatment period.

The etiology and pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) remain unclear at present, and it is believed that the change in bile duct microenvironment and autoimmune response are the main factors for the onset of this disease. Anion exchanger 2 (AE2) is an HCO3-/Cl- exchange protein located on the membrane of epithelial cells and has been taken seriously by scholars since studies have shown that it can induce and aggravate PBC. This article summarizes the role of AE2 in bile duct microenvironment and autoimmune response from the aspects of AE2 and related regulatory mechanisms and further analyzes the pathogenesis of PBC, so as to find new therapies and diagnostic and prognostic indicators for PBC by exploring the regulatory mechanism of AE2 in PBC.

Objective To retrospectively review our experience of correction of type Ⅰa endoleak after thoracic endovascular aortic repair(TEVAR). Methods From August 2009 to May 2016, 29 patients with type Ⅰa endoleak after TEVAR (25 males, 4 females at mean age of 56±10 years (range, 41–86 years) underwent treatment: open surgery in 15 patients (an open surgery group), hybrid aortic arch repair in 6 patients (a hybrid group) and cuff extension in 8 patients(a cuff group). A history of hypertension was noted in 25 patients, diabetes mellitus in 3 patients, coronary artery disease in 3 patients, lung infection in one patient, aortic root aneurysm in one patient and aberrant right subclavian artery in one patient. Results In the open surgery group, no death was observed. Continuous renal replacement therapy and re-intubation was done in one patient and drainage of pericardial effusion in one patient. No death was noted in the hybrid group and persistent type Ⅰa endoleak in one patient. In the cuff group, thrombosis of the left common artery was noted in one patient and bypass of the left axillary artery to the left axillary artery and the left common carotid artery was done. Unfortunately, he died of cerebral infarction and total in-hospital death rate was 3.4% (1/29). Bypass of the left axillary artery to the left axillary artery was done in one patient with left upper limb ischemia. There were 4 (14.2%) deaths during follow-up: 3 deaths in the open surgical group and one death in the cuff group. Endoleak was observed in one patient in the hybrid group and one in the cuff group. Conclusion The corresponding procedure, including open surgery, hybrid aortic arch repair or cuff extension, is scheduled to be done according to the characteristics of type Ⅰa endoleak. Satisfactory outcomes are achieved in patients with typeⅠa endoleak.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Humans ; Rituximab ; Thrombocytopenia ; gamma-Globulins

Objective To study the effects of chronic manganism on hearing and cochlear cells in rats by using animal model of chronic manganism .Methods Sixty adult SD rats were randomly divided into Mn - exposed and controlgroups.RatsweretreatedwithMnCl24H2O(100mg·kg -1·d-1)ordeionizedwaterbygastricperfusion, lasted for 12 weeks .The Mn concentration in peripheral blood was measured respectively at 4 weeks ,8 weeks and 12 weeks after treatment .At 12 weeks after treatment ,the auditory brainstem response was recorded ,the hair cells morphology and counting were examined by stretched preparation of basilar membrane stained with FITC -phalloi-din ,and the spiral ganglion cells morphology and counting were studied by HE staining ,the ultrastructure changes of hair cells and spiral ganglion cells were detected by transmission electron microscopy .Results The blood Mn concentration increased gradually with time after treatment .ABR thresholds at 4 ,8 ,16 ,24 and 32 kHz were sig-nificantly increased at 12 weeks after treatment ,especially in the high-frequency range .Morphological study at 12 weeks after treatment showed loss of outer hair cells ,mainly in the basal turn of the cochlea ,and decreased number of spiral ganglion cells .The ultrastructure changes of outer hair cells and spiral ganglion cells included the break -ups ,disappearance or vacuolar change of mitochondria cristas .Conclusion Our data demonstrate that chronic man-ganism can cause loss of outer hair cells and spiral ganglion cells in cochlear in rats ,leading to hearing loss .

To study the distribution pattern of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in fatty liver disease.

To study the action mechanisms of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QGHXR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and its separated recipes by observing their effects on expressions of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in rats with alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF).

Objective: To study the phenotypes and functions of dendritic cells (DCs) derived from peripheral blood monocytes of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome types, and to explore the relationship between TCM syndrome type and DC functions. Methods: Sixty CHB patients were included in this study. All the CHB patients were divided into spleen deficiency and liver stagnation, spleen deficiency and dampness-heat and deficiency of both spleen and kidney groups according to TCM syndrome diagnosis standard. There were 20 cases in each group, and ten healthy people were included as normal control. The volunteer's peripheral blood was collected for monocyte separation, biochemical test and hepatitis B virus DNA loads detection. DCs were induced and isolated from peripheral blood monocytes, and then the expressions of surface markers CD80, CD86, CD1a and HLA-DR were detected by flow cytometric analysis method. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) production of the DCs was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The proliferation of DCs in the CHB patients was slower than that in the healthy volunteers (P<0.05). The expressions of DC surface molecules such as CD80, CD86, and CD1a were obviously decreased in the CHB patients as compared with those in the healthy volunteers (P<0.05). More over, expressions of DC surface molecules were different among CHB patients with different TCM syndrome types. The positive expressions of CD80, CD1a, and HLA-DR in the CHB patients with spleen deficiency and liver stagnation were obviously higher than those in the CHB patients with deficiency of both spleen and kidney (P<0.05), and the CD1a expression in the CHB patients with spleen deficiency and dampness-heat was higher than that in the CHB patients with deficiency of both spleen and kidney (P<0.05). In DC culture supernatant, the IL-10 concentration of the CHB patients with deficiency of both spleen and kidney was higher than that of the CHB patients with spleen deficiency and liver stagnation (P<0.05), and the IL-10 concentrations of the CHB patients with different TCM syndrome types were higher than that of the healthy volunteers (P<0.05). Conclusion: During the pathogenic course of CHB, the phenotypes and functions of DCs are different in CHB patients with different TCM syndrome types. It suggests that there is a correlation between TCM syndrome type and body immunity function.

To study the effects of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QGHXR), the compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and its separated recipes on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA and serum TNF-alpha content in rats with alcoholic liver injury (ALI).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Danning Tablet (DNT) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) of damp-heat syndrome type. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded and positive drug parallel controlled trial was performed. One hundred and thirty-five patients were enrolled into the study and divided into two groups: DNT-treated group (n=102) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-treated group (n=33). Body mass index (BMI), principal symptoms, liver function, blood lipids, iconographic, and compositional parameters were measured before and after treatment, respectively. RESULTS: In the two groups, BMI, distress in hepatic region, fatigue, anorexia, liver function, blood lipids and iconographic parameters were significantly improved, and the improvements of BMI, distress in hepatic region were better in DNT-treated group than in UDCA-treated group. The histological study also showed that DNT had positive effect in treatment of NAFLD. CONCLUSION: DNT is an effective drug to treat patients with NAFLD of damp-heat syndrome type and is more effective than UDCA.