Objective To investigate the effectiveness of self-prescribed Changning Formula combined with Mesalazine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC),and to analyze its effect on protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)/nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)pathway.Methods A total of 100 patients with UC admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 were selected and divided into control group and combined group by random number table method,with 50 cases in each group.The control group was given Mesalazine,and the combined group was given self-prescribed Changning Formula combined with Mesalazine.After 2 months of treatment,the effectivenesses in two groups were compared.The clinical symp-toms,disease activity(Mayo index score),colonoscopy pathological status(Baron score),mucosal healing status(Geboes index)and PERK/NF-κB pathway-related protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells[phosphorylated PERK(P-PERK),phos-phorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α(P-eIF2α),phosphorylated NF-κB(P-NF-κB)],the levels of PERK/NF-κB pathway downstream factors[interleukin-1β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-8(IL-8)]before and after treatment,as well as adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results The total effective rate of the combined group was 96.00％,which was higher than that of the control group(76.00％),and the clinical symptom score was lower than that of the control group(both P＜0.05).After treatment,the Mayo index score,Baron score,and Geboes index score in the combined group were(2.32±0.28),(0.51±0.11),and(0.41±0.10),respectively,which were lower than those in the control group[(3.45±0.50),(1.17±0.28),and(1.00±0.22),all P＜0.05].After treatment,the levels of P-PERK,P-eIF2α,and P-NF-κB in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the combined group were(1.07±0.14),(0.88±0.14),and(0.95±0.18),respectively,which were lower than those in the control group[1.85±0.20),(1.29±0.23),and(1.14±0.23),all P＜0.05].The levels of serum IL-1 β,TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-8 in the combined group after treatment were(4.02±1.26)pg/mL,(6.15±1.64)pg/mL,(8.52±2.04)pg/mL,and(25.34±5.28)pg/mL,respectively,which were lower than those in the control group[(6.00±1.54)pg/mL,(8.79±2.33)pg/mL,(11.23±3.19)pg/mL,and(41.78±9.34)pg/mL,all P＜0.05].The inci-dence of adverse reactions in the combined group was 4.00％,and the difference was not significant compared to the control group(8.00％,P＞0.05).Conclusion The effectiveness and safety of self-prescribed Changning Formula combined with Me-salazine in the treatment of UC are confirmed.It can improve clinical symptoms,control disease progression and alleviate inflam-matory response,the mechanism of which may be related to inhibition PERK/NF-κB pathway activation.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of self-prescribed Changning Formula combined with Mesalazine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC),and to analyze its effect on protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)/nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)pathway.Methods A total of 100 patients with UC admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 were selected and divided into control group and combined group by random number table method,with 50 cases in each group.The control group was given Mesalazine,and the combined group was given self-prescribed Changning Formula combined with Mesalazine.After 2 months of treatment,the effectivenesses in two groups were compared.The clinical symp-toms,disease activity(Mayo index score),colonoscopy pathological status(Baron score),mucosal healing status(Geboes index)and PERK/NF-κB pathway-related protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells[phosphorylated PERK(P-PERK),phos-phorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α(P-eIF2α),phosphorylated NF-κB(P-NF-κB)],the levels of PERK/NF-κB pathway downstream factors[interleukin-1β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-8(IL-8)]before and after treatment,as well as adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results The total effective rate of the combined group was 96.00％,which was higher than that of the control group(76.00％),and the clinical symptom score was lower than that of the control group(both P＜0.05).After treatment,the Mayo index score,Baron score,and Geboes index score in the combined group were(2.32±0.28),(0.51±0.11),and(0.41±0.10),respectively,which were lower than those in the control group[(3.45±0.50),(1.17±0.28),and(1.00±0.22),all P＜0.05].After treatment,the levels of P-PERK,P-eIF2α,and P-NF-κB in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the combined group were(1.07±0.14),(0.88±0.14),and(0.95±0.18),respectively,which were lower than those in the control group[1.85±0.20),(1.29±0.23),and(1.14±0.23),all P＜0.05].The levels of serum IL-1 β,TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-8 in the combined group after treatment were(4.02±1.26)pg/mL,(6.15±1.64)pg/mL,(8.52±2.04)pg/mL,and(25.34±5.28)pg/mL,respectively,which were lower than those in the control group[(6.00±1.54)pg/mL,(8.79±2.33)pg/mL,(11.23±3.19)pg/mL,and(41.78±9.34)pg/mL,all P＜0.05].The inci-dence of adverse reactions in the combined group was 4.00％,and the difference was not significant compared to the control group(8.00％,P＞0.05).Conclusion The effectiveness and safety of self-prescribed Changning Formula combined with Me-salazine in the treatment of UC are confirmed.It can improve clinical symptoms,control disease progression and alleviate inflam-matory response,the mechanism of which may be related to inhibition PERK/NF-κB pathway activation.

Male infertility is a significant cause of psychosocial and marital distress in approximately 50% of couples who are unable to conceive, with male factors being the underlying cause. Guijiajiao (Colla Carapacis et Plastri, CCP) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine commonly used to treat male infertility. The present study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying the preventive effects of CCP on male infertility. An infertile male rat model was established using cyclophosphamide (CTX), and CCP was administered for both treatment and prevention. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was also performed to explore the role of gut microbiota in the CCP-mediated prevention of male infertility in rats. Sperm motility and concentration were determined using a semi-automatic sperm classification analyzer. Subsequently, histopathological analysis using HE staining was performed to examine the changes in the small intestine and testis. Moreover, the serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and testosterone were measured by ELISA. In addition, immunohistochemistry was conducted to detect CD3 expression in the small intestine, while RT-qPCR was employed to assess the expressions of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3), Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL-10) in the small intestine and epididymis. Finally, gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. CCP improved sperm motility, number, and concentration in CTX-induced infertile male rats. CCP increased the serum testosterone level, inhibited the immune cell infiltration of the intestinal lamina propria, and promoted the aggregation of CD3⁺ T cells in CTX-induced male infertility rats. CCP also inhibited the expressions of MCP-1, CXCL-10, and IL-1β in the epididymis of male infertility rats. At the genus level, CTX led to a reduction in the abundance of Lactobacillus, Clostridia_UCG.014, and Romboutsia in the intestinal tract of rats. In contrast, CCP decreased the abundance of Ruminococcus and increased the abundance of Romboutsia in infertile male rats. Additionally, FMT experiments proved that the gut microbiota of CCP-treated rats facilitated testicular tissue recovery and spermatogenesis while also reducing the serum LPS level in infertile male rats. CCP improves the spermatogenic ability of infertile male rats by restoring gut microbiota diversity and inhibiting epididymal inflammation.
Humans ; Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Semen ; Sperm Motility ; Infertility, Male/prevention & control* ; Testosterone