OBJECTIVE To optimize the preparation process of Pollen Typhae dripping pills.METHODS Using appearance morphology， roundness， tailing phenomenon， adhesion condition， friability， and total flavonoids content of Pollen Typhae as evaluation indicators， the analytic hierarchy process-entropy weight method （AHP-EWM） hybrid weighting method was employed to determine the weight coefficients of each indicator and calculate the comprehensive score as the response value. The effects of matrix type and ratio， drug-to-matrix ratio， and condensation temperature on the forming process of dripping pills were respectively investigated， through single-factor experiments and Box-Behnken response surface methodology and the optimal process was optimized and validated. The cumulative dissolution rate of Pollen Typhae dripping pills within 150 min was determined and compared with that of total flavonoid extract from Pollen Typhae .RESULTS The optimal preparation process for Pollen Typhae dripping pills was determined as follows： the ratio of PEG4000 to PEG6000 was 2∶1， the drug-to-matrix ratio was 1∶2， and the condensation temperature was 17.5 ℃. The measured average comprehensive score of dripping pills prepared under these conditions was 9.208 （RSD＝0.91%， n ＝3）， with a relative error of 0.83% compared to the predicted value of 9.285. The release mechanism of Pollen Typhae dripping pills was Fickian diffusion controlled deceleration release. The initial dissolution rate was fast， and the dissolution rate decreased in the middle and later stages. The total flavonoid extract from Pollen Typhae was released rapidly in the initial dissolution stage and quickly entered the plateau phase. Their maximum dissolution rates were 95.96% and 84.07%， respectively.CONCLUSIONS The optimized preparation process for Pollen Typhae dripping pills was stable and reliable. The dissolution rate of Pollen Typhae dripping pills prepared by optimized process was higher than that of the total flavonoid extract from Pollen Typhae .

Objective To investigate the mechanism by which Erdong Xiaoke Formula(EDXKF)regulates lacrimal gland autophagy in type 2 diabetes-induced dry eye rats through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signal pathway.Methods Healthy male SD rats were fed with high-sugar and high-fat chow and then injected intraperitoneally 30 mg·kg-1 streptozotocin to construct type 2 diabetes-induced dry eye rat models.Healthy male SD rats were selected as a blank group.Type 2 diabetes rats were randomly divided into a model group,a Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)group(given 11 g·kg-1 of EDXKF through gavage),an antagonist group(given 2 mg·kg-1 PPARγ antagonist through intraperitoneal injection),and a TCM plus antagonist group(given 11 g·kg-1 EDXKF through gavage and 2 mg·kg-1 PPARγ antagonist through intraperitoneal injection).Fasting blood glucose(FBG),corneal fluorescein(FL)staining,tear film break-up time(BUT)and phenol red cotton thread test(Prtt)were examined before modeling,after modeling,and after intervention.The weight of the lacrimal gland was compared among different groups after sampling.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was performed to analyze lacrimal gland hismorphol-ogy.The expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)and Sequestosome-1(p62)in the lacrimal gland was examined by immunofluorescence.Western blot was used to detect the expression of PPARγ,p62,LC3 Ⅱ,LC3 I,mTOR and p-mTOR in the lacrimal gland.Results FBG levels in the antagonist group were significantly increased after intervention,compared with those in the TCM group(P＜0.01).Ocular surface examination showed that compared with the model group,the TCM group had increased BUT and Prtt scores and decreased FL scores,the antagonist group had de-creased BUT and Prtt scores and increased FL scores(all P＜0.05).Compared with the antagonist group,the TCM plus antagonist group showed increased BUT and Prtt scores and decreased FL scores(all P＜0.05).The weight analysis of lac-rimal glands revealed that the lacrimal gland weight increased in the TCM group and decreased in the antagonist group,compared with that in the model group(all P＜0.01).The lacrimal gland weight in the TCM plus antagonist group was higher than that in the antagonist group(P＜0.01).HE staining of the lacrimal gland showed atrophy of glandular lobules,increased fusion and expansion of follicles,and dense distribution of nuclei in model and antagonist groups.These symp-toms were more obvious in the antagonist group.Compared with antagonist and TCM plus antagonist groups,the TCM group showed improved symptoms,with tightly arranged follicles,partial atrophy and fusion,and a small amount of expan-sion.Immunofluorescence staining for detecting the average fluorescence intensity of LC3 and p62 showed that compared with the model group,the TCM group had increased LC3 levels and decreased p62 levels,and the antagonist group had de-creased LC3 levels and increased p62 levels(all P＜0.01).Compared with those in the antagonist group,LC3 levels were increased and p62 levels were decreased in the TCM plus antagonist group(both P＜0.01).Western blot results showed that compared with the model group,the TCM group had increased PPARγ and LC3 levels and decreased p62 and p-mTOR/mTOR levels.PPARγ and LC3 levels were decreased and p62 and p-mTOR/mTOR levels were increased in the antagonist group,compared with those in the model group.The TCM plus antagonist group had higher PPARγ and LC3 levels and low-er p62 and p-mTOR/mTOR levels than the antagonist group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion EDXKF can regulate the PPARy/mTOR signal pathway to promote lacrimal gland autophagy and thus alleviate dry eyes in type 2 diabetes rats.

Objective To investigate the mechanism by which Erdong Xiaoke Formula(EDXKF)regulates lacrimal gland autophagy in type 2 diabetes-induced dry eye rats through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signal pathway.Methods Healthy male SD rats were fed with high-sugar and high-fat chow and then injected intraperitoneally 30 mg·kg-1 streptozotocin to construct type 2 diabetes-induced dry eye rat models.Healthy male SD rats were selected as a blank group.Type 2 diabetes rats were randomly divided into a model group,a Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)group(given 11 g·kg-1 of EDXKF through gavage),an antagonist group(given 2 mg·kg-1 PPARγ antagonist through intraperitoneal injection),and a TCM plus antagonist group(given 11 g·kg-1 EDXKF through gavage and 2 mg·kg-1 PPARγ antagonist through intraperitoneal injection).Fasting blood glucose(FBG),corneal fluorescein(FL)staining,tear film break-up time(BUT)and phenol red cotton thread test(Prtt)were examined before modeling,after modeling,and after intervention.The weight of the lacrimal gland was compared among different groups after sampling.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was performed to analyze lacrimal gland hismorphol-ogy.The expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)and Sequestosome-1(p62)in the lacrimal gland was examined by immunofluorescence.Western blot was used to detect the expression of PPARγ,p62,LC3 Ⅱ,LC3 I,mTOR and p-mTOR in the lacrimal gland.Results FBG levels in the antagonist group were significantly increased after intervention,compared with those in the TCM group(P＜0.01).Ocular surface examination showed that compared with the model group,the TCM group had increased BUT and Prtt scores and decreased FL scores,the antagonist group had de-creased BUT and Prtt scores and increased FL scores(all P＜0.05).Compared with the antagonist group,the TCM plus antagonist group showed increased BUT and Prtt scores and decreased FL scores(all P＜0.05).The weight analysis of lac-rimal glands revealed that the lacrimal gland weight increased in the TCM group and decreased in the antagonist group,compared with that in the model group(all P＜0.01).The lacrimal gland weight in the TCM plus antagonist group was higher than that in the antagonist group(P＜0.01).HE staining of the lacrimal gland showed atrophy of glandular lobules,increased fusion and expansion of follicles,and dense distribution of nuclei in model and antagonist groups.These symp-toms were more obvious in the antagonist group.Compared with antagonist and TCM plus antagonist groups,the TCM group showed improved symptoms,with tightly arranged follicles,partial atrophy and fusion,and a small amount of expan-sion.Immunofluorescence staining for detecting the average fluorescence intensity of LC3 and p62 showed that compared with the model group,the TCM group had increased LC3 levels and decreased p62 levels,and the antagonist group had de-creased LC3 levels and increased p62 levels(all P＜0.01).Compared with those in the antagonist group,LC3 levels were increased and p62 levels were decreased in the TCM plus antagonist group(both P＜0.01).Western blot results showed that compared with the model group,the TCM group had increased PPARγ and LC3 levels and decreased p62 and p-mTOR/mTOR levels.PPARγ and LC3 levels were decreased and p62 and p-mTOR/mTOR levels were increased in the antagonist group,compared with those in the model group.The TCM plus antagonist group had higher PPARγ and LC3 levels and low-er p62 and p-mTOR/mTOR levels than the antagonist group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion EDXKF can regulate the PPARy/mTOR signal pathway to promote lacrimal gland autophagy and thus alleviate dry eyes in type 2 diabetes rats.

With the rapid growth of metabolic dysfunction （MD） worldwide， there is also a gradual increase in the number of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection and MD. Comorbidity with metabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia， hypertension， and dyslipidemia may increase the risk of adverse liver outcomes and cardiovascular events in patients with chronic HBV infection and affect the response to anti-HBV therapy. The standardized management of patients with chronic HBV infection and MD has become a challenge at present， and further in-depth research on the interaction between MD and HBV and targeted management strategies will help to optimize the clinical management of patients with chronic HBV infection.

Humans ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2

The intestinal mucus layer is a barrier that separates intestinal contents and epithelial cells, as well as acts as the "mucus layer-soil" for intestinal flora adhesion and colonization. Its structural and functional integrity is crucial to human health. Intestinal mucus is regulated by factors such as diet, living habits, hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines, and intestinal flora. The mucus layer's thickness, viscosity, porosity, growth rate, and glycosylation status affect the structure of the gut flora colonized on it. The interaction between "mucus layer-soil" and "gut bacteria-seed" is an important factor leading to the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and wash microbial transplantation are efficient methods for managing NAFLD, but their long-term efficacy is poor. FMT is focused on achieving the goal of treating diseases by enhancing the "gut bacteria-seed". However, a lack of effective repair and management of the "mucus layer-soil" may be a reason why "seeds" cannot be well colonized and grow in the host gut, as the thinning and destruction of the "mucus layer-soil" is an early symptom of NAFLD. This review summarizes the existing correlation between intestinal mucus and gut microbiota, as well as the pathogenesis of NAFLD, and proposes a new perspective that "mucus layer-soil" restoration combined with "gut bacteria-seed" FMT may be one of the most effective future strategies for enhancing the long-term efficacy of NAFLD treatment.
Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/therapy* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Probiotics ; Prebiotics ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Bacteria ; Liver/pathology*

The community structure and diversity of the gut microbiota are associated with human diseases. However, the analysis of different community structure might be influenced by experimental approaches such as the quality of DNA extraction. Therefore, evaluating the efficiency of different DNA extraction methods for specific intestinal species is a guideline for obtaining a comprehensive human gut microbial profile, which may assist the in-depth investigation into the structure of the gut microbial community. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of five different DNA extraction methods. With the aid of qPCR, the efficiency of five DNA extraction kits was evaluated in terms of the purity of the extracted DNA, the DNA concentration, and the abundance of genomic DNA extracted from specific intestinal species. The results showed that the kit Q gave the best extraction results, especially for Gram-positive bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. The average DNA concentration of the N kit was lower than that of the Q kit, but there was no significant difference between the two in terms of the purity. Compared to the other three commercial kits (M, PSP, TG), the efficiency of the N kit in extracting the genomic DNA of the specified microorganisms were the least different from those of the Q kit. In contrast, the DNA extracted by the M kit was of higher quality but of lower concentration, and was not very efficient for Gram-positive bacteria. The DNA extracted by the TG and PSP kits was inferior to the other validated kits in terms of the concentration, quality and bacterial abundance. These results provide a basis for the selection of genomic DNA extraction methods in microecological research experiments.
DNA/genetics* ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics* ; Feces/microbiology* ; Humans ; Microbiota/genetics* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics*

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with hydroquinone cream for melasma treatment.Methods Thirty-five patients with melasma were treated between February 2015 and February 2017,20 patients treated with IPL combined with hydroquinone cream and 15 patients with IPL alone.All cases were female patients with Fitzpatrick skin types Ⅲ and Ⅳ,and subjected to 4 weeks treatment 1 time,5 times for a course of treatment.All patients were followed up for six months and the efficacy and safety of the treatment were analyzed comprehensively by subjective satisfaction and physician evaluation.Results All the patients were treated without discomfort and treated patients were effectively followed up.The satisfactory rate of IPL treatment group was 73.3％,and that of combined with hydroquinone cream group was 100％.Two groups of satisfactory rates were higher in IPL combined with hydroquinone cream.The total effective rate of the IPL treatment group was 53.3％ compared with that of the 35 patients before and after treatment;in IPL combined with hydroquinone cream treatment group the total effective rate was 85.0％.IPL combined with hydroquinone cream treatment group was significantly more effective than the treatment group (P＜0.05).All treatment patients did not present with tissue damage,pigmentation and other adverse reactions.Conclusions IPL combined with hydroquinone cream is a safe and effective treatment of melasma,and patients get a higher rate of satisfaction.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a global health problem that causes major illnesses and disabilities worldwide. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of AR has increased progressively over the last few decades in more developed countries and currently affects up to 40% of the population worldwide. Likewise, a rising trend of AR has also been observed over the last 2–3 decades in developing countries including China, with the prevalence of AR varying widely in these countries. A survey of self-reported AR over a 6-year period in the general Chinese adult population reported that the standardized prevalence of adult AR increased from 11.1% in 2005 to 17.6% in 2011. An increasing number of original articles and imporclinical trials on the epidemiology, pathophysiologic mechanisms, diagnosis, management and comorbidities of AR in Chinese subjects have been published in international peer-reviewed journals over the past 2 decades, and substantially added to our understanding of this disease as a global problem. Although guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AR in Chinese subjects have also been published, they have not been translated into English and therefore not generally accessible for reference to non-Chinese speaking international medical communities. Moreover, methods for the diagnosis and treatment of AR in China have not been standardized entirely and some patients are still treated according to regional preferences. Thus, the present guidelines have been developed by the Chinese Society of Allergy to be accessible to both national and international medical communities involved in the management of AR patients. These guidelines have been prepared in line with existing international guidelines to provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of AR in China.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; China ; Comorbidity ; Developed Countries ; Developing Countries ; Diagnosis* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Global Health ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis, Allergic*

BACKGROUND:Adipose-derived stem cel s (ADSCs) are a subset of mesenchymal stem cel s obtained from adipose tissue, which have paracrine functions, already becoming a focus in anti-aging researching. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress and application outlook of ADSCs’ paracrine functions in facial anti-aging. METHODS:The first author searched the PubMed and CNKI databases using the keywords of“adipose-derived stem cel s, paracrine, anti-aging”in English and Chinese, respectively, to retrieve relevant articles published from January 2001 to May 2016. Repetitive articles or those with no originality were eliminated. Total y 176 articles were searched initial y, and 66 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:ADSCs have paracrine function, which can secrete various growth factors (e.g., epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factorβ, platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, col agen and fibronectin) and inflammatory factors (e.g., interferon-γ, interleukin-lβ, interleukin-8, interleukin-9, interleukin-12, interleukin-15, interleukin-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α). These paracrine products of ADSCs have significant effects on anti-aging, such as inhibiting skin aging, whitening skin, assisting lipotransfer, promoting hair regeneration.