Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets in treating hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or comorbid phlegm-stasis syndrome and explore its therapeutic mechanisms through plasma metabolomics.Methods:Thirty-six hypertension patients(4 dropouts)diagnosed with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome were enrolled as the treatment group from June 2022 to September 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine,while 30 healthy volunteers with balanced constitutions were recruited as the blank group.Plasma samples were collected from patients pre-and post-treatment and from healthy volunteers.Clinical outcomes,including syndrome scores,office blood pressure(BP),and 24-hour ambulatory BP,were recorded.Plasma metabolomic profiling was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS).Results:Compared with baseline,Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets significantly reduced traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores(P＜0.01),office systolic/diastolic BP(P＜0.01),and 24-hour ambulatory BP parameters(24-hour mean BP,daytime/nighttime mean BP;all P＜0.01).Metabolomic analysis identified 45 differential metabolites between the blank group and pretreatment patients,and 64 metabolites altered post-treatment(VIP＞1,P＜0.05).Enrichment analysis of 16 overlapping endogenous metabolites revealed that Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets primarily modulated arachidonic acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism pathways.Conclusion:Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets demonstrates significant clinical efficacy in hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome,potentially mediated through regulation of arachidonic acid and sphingolipid metabolism.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets in treating hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or comorbid phlegm-stasis syndrome and explore its therapeutic mechanisms through plasma metabolomics.Methods:Thirty-six hypertension patients(4 dropouts)diagnosed with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome were enrolled as the treatment group from June 2022 to September 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine,while 30 healthy volunteers with balanced constitutions were recruited as the blank group.Plasma samples were collected from patients pre-and post-treatment and from healthy volunteers.Clinical outcomes,including syndrome scores,office blood pressure(BP),and 24-hour ambulatory BP,were recorded.Plasma metabolomic profiling was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS).Results:Compared with baseline,Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets significantly reduced traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores(P＜0.01),office systolic/diastolic BP(P＜0.01),and 24-hour ambulatory BP parameters(24-hour mean BP,daytime/nighttime mean BP;all P＜0.01).Metabolomic analysis identified 45 differential metabolites between the blank group and pretreatment patients,and 64 metabolites altered post-treatment(VIP＞1,P＜0.05).Enrichment analysis of 16 overlapping endogenous metabolites revealed that Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets primarily modulated arachidonic acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism pathways.Conclusion:Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets demonstrates significant clinical efficacy in hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome,potentially mediated through regulation of arachidonic acid and sphingolipid metabolism.

Aim To prepare tripterygium glycoside nanoparticles and probe into their therapeutic effect on collagen-induced arthritis ( CIA) rats. Methods Tripterygium glycosides polyglycoside nanoparticles were prepared by thin film dispersion method and their quality was assessed. The CIA model was established and drug intervention performed. The body weight, toe swelling degree and arthritis index were measured. The pathological changes of the organs, knee and ankle synovium were observed. The serum levels of kidney function and inflammatory cytokine expression were detected in rats. Results The prepared tripterygium wil-fordii polyglycoside nanoparticles were round particles with uniform distribution and stable properties under electron microscope. Compared with the model group, the swelling of the left and right toes of medication group significantly decreased (P < 0. 01), and the ar-thritis index markedly decreased ( P < 0. 01). Among them, the efficacy of the TG-NPs group was better than that of the TG group. Compared with the normal group, the indexes of heart, spleen, kidney and testis all significantly decreased (P <0. 05, P<0.01). TG-NPs group had a significantly reduced pathological ankle-joint injury in knee cartilage and increased apoptotic synovial cells. Compared with the model group, the serum levels of ALT and BUN and CRE in TG-NPs group were significantly lower (P < 0. 05 ), and IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 levels decreased significantly (P <0. 05). Conclusions TG-NPs have good therapeutic effect on CIA through induction of synovial cell apoptosis and decrease of the expression of inflammatory cytokines. By intravenous injection of blood circula-tion, slow and controlled release of drugs can be achieved, the first pass effect caused by oral drug can be avoided, the viscera toxicity can be reduced, which provides an experimental basis for the development of new nanoagents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective Data mining method was used to analyze the Chinese herbal prescriptions for oral use in treating venomous snake bites collected from the major domestic literature databases and the surgery volume of Zhong Hua Yi Fang(Chinese Medical Prescriptions),so as to explore their potential prescription and medication rules,and to provide references for the treatment of venomous snake bites in the primary hospitals.Methods The Chinese herbal prescriptions for oral use in treating venomous snake bites were retrieved from the CNKI,VIP and Wanfang databases,and the ancient formulas for treating venomous snake bites were screened in the surgery volume of Zhong Hua Yi Fang(Chinese Medical Prescriptions).Excel software was used to extract the relevant information of the formulas,and R language was used to analyze the medication frequency,properties,flavors and meridian tropism of the herbs as well as their association rules and clustering analysis.Results A total of 187 prescriptions for oral use in treating venomous snake bite were obtained,involving 284 Chinese herbal medicines.The top 15 Chinese herbal medicines in decreasing sequence of medication frequency were Lobeliae Chinensis Herba,Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Angelicae Dahuricae Radix,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Paridis Rhizoma,Rehmanniae Radix,Coptidis Rhizoma,Scutellariae Radix,Lonicerae Japonicae Flos,Paeoniae Radix Rubra,Moutan Cortex,Hedyotis Diffusae Herba,Imperatae Rhizoma,Plantaginis Herba,and Scutellariae Barbatae Herba.The flavor of herbs in the prescription for the treatment of venomous snakebite was usually bitter,pungent and sweet,and their property was relatively cold.Most of the herbs had the meridian tropism of the liver meridian and lung meridian.The core prescription mainly composed of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Lobeliae Chinensis Herba,and Paridis Rhizoma was obtained after association rule analysis and cluster analysis.Conclusion The herbs for the treatment of venomous snake bites often have the actions of clearing heat and removing toxins,and the prescription is usually composed of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Lobeliae Chinensis Herba,Paridis Rhizoma together with the compatibility of medicines for clearing heat and cooling blood,extinguishing wind and arresting convulsion,clearing heat and promoting urination.

AIM:To observe how total flavonoids of Pterocarya hupehensis Skan(PHSTF)affects the migra-tion and invasion of human rheumatoid fibroblast-like synoviocyte line MH7A.METHODS:The MH7A cells were divided into control group(without any treatment),low-,medium-and high-dose(6.25,12.5 and 25 mg/L,respectively)PHSTF groups,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)inhibitor 740Y-P(10 μmol/L)group,and 740Y-P(10 μmol/L)+high-dose(25 mg/L)PHSTF group.The viability of the MH7A cells was determined by CCK-8 assay,while the migration and inva-sion were assessed by scratch and Transwell assays.The protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2),MMP-9,PI3K,p-PI3K,AKT and p-AKT were detected by Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with control group,the cell via-bility in PHSTF treatment groups was reduced(P<0.05),the cell wound healing area was significantly decreased(P<0.01),migratory and invasive cells in the lower chamber were significantly reduced(P<0.01),and the protein expres-sion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the ratios of p-PI3K/PI3K and pAKT/AKT were decreased(P<0.01).Compared with high-dose PHSTF group,the addition of PI3K/AKT pathway agonist 740Y-P significantly increased the migration and invasion ability of MH7A cells(P<0.01)and elevated the protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the ratios of p-PI3K/PI3K and pAKT/AKT(P<0.01)under the treatment with PHSTF.CONCLUSION:Total flavonoids of Pterocarya hupehensis Skan could inhibit the migration and invasion of MH7A cells by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Extracting extracts of secondary metabolites from the karst cave fungus Metarhizium anisopliae NHC-M3-2 from the Yilingyan Scenic Area in Guangxi. Ten compounds were isolated and purified from fungal secondary metabolites using thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. 7-Hydroxy-3-hydroxypropyl-5,6-dimethylisochrome-1-one (1) and 7-hydroxy-3,5,6-trimethyl-isochromen-1-one (2) were new isocoumarin compounds, N-acetyl phenylalanine (3), chaetosumin J (4), 2-one-13-hydroxy-3,5,8,7(11)-eudesmatetraen-12,8-olide (5), 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde (6), irpexolaceus B (7), irlactin L (8), cytochalasin K (9), and helvolic acid (10), a total of 8 known compounds. The structure of the compound was determined using methods such as NMR and mass spectrometry. The tumor cytotoxicity of the compound was evaluated using the CCK-8 method. The results showed that the IC₅₀ of compound 2 on HepG2 cells was 29.83 µmol·L^-1, and compound 9 on HCT116 cells was 27.44 µmol·L^-1.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of needle-knife on the chondrocyte apoptosis of knee joint in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) based on the CircSERPINE2-miR-1271-5P-E26 specific transformation-related gene (ERG) axis, and to explore the mechanism of needle-knife for KOA. METHODS: Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a needle-knife group and a sham needle-knife group, 9 rabbits in each group. The rabbits in the model group, the needle-knife group and the sham needle-knife group were treated with modified Videman method to prepare KOA model. After successful modeling, the rabbits in the needle-knife group were treated with needle-knife at cord adhesion and nodules near quadriceps femoris tendon and internal and external collateral ligament on the affected knee joint; the rabbits in the sham needle-knife group were treated with sham needle-knife baside the needle insertion point of the needle-knife group (needle-knife was only inserted, without any operation). The treatment was given once a week, 3 times in total. The Lequesne MG behavioral score was used to evaluate the knee joint damage in each group before and after intervention. After intervention, HE staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the cartilage tissue morphology and ultrastructure of chondrocytes in the knee joint in each group; TUNEL method was used to detect the level of chondrocyte apoptosis in the knee joint; real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of CircSERPINE2, miR-1271-5P and ERG mRNA in knee cartilage tissue in each group. RESULTS: After intervention, compared with the normal group, the Lequesne MG behavioral score in the model group was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group and the sham needle-knife group, the Lequesne MG behavioral score in the needle-knife group was decreased (P<0.01). In the model group and the sham needle-knife group, the number of chondrocytes and organelles was decreased, the cell nucleus was shrunk, mitochondria was swelling or disappeared; in the needle-knife group, the number of chondrocytes and organelles was increased, the cell nucleus was not obviously shrunk and the mitochondria was not obviously swelling. Compared with the normal group, the level of chondrocyte apoptosis in the model group was increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group and the sham needle-knife group, the level of chondrocyte apoptosis in the needle-knife group was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the expression of CircSERPINE2 and ERG mRNA in the model group was decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of miR-1271-5P mRNA was increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group and the sham needle-knife group, the expression of CircSERPINE2 and ERG mRNA in the needle-knife group was increased (P<0.01), and the expression of miR-1271-5P mRNA was decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Needle-knife could reduce the knee joint damage and chondrocyte apoptosis in KOA rabbits, which may be related to up-regulating the expression of CircSERPINE2 and ERG mRNA, and inhibiting the expression of miR-1271-5P mRNA.
Rabbits ; Animals ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism* ; Chondrocytes/metabolism* ; Knee Joint/surgery* ; Apoptosis ; MicroRNAs/genetics*

Objective In this study,we attempted to investigate whether Electroacupuncture(EA)could promote the autophagy function in macrophages of inflammatory skin tissues by activating CB2 receptor,thus relieving inflammatory pain induced by CFA in mice,and whether activation of CB2 receptor in NR8383 macrophages cell line can simulate the effect of EA on the autophagy function and mitochondrial damage.Methods Inflammatory pain model was induced by CFA injection into the planta the hind paw of wildtype and CB2 knockout mice.EA or sham EA was applied on the left Huantiao(GB30)and Yanglingquan(GB34)sites.Thermal hyperalgesia was determined with the Hargreaves test.Mechanical sensitivity was assessed with von Frey filaments.NR8383 microphage cell line was used to study the effect of CB2 activation on macrophage function induced by CFA.The expression level of autophagy protein LC3 and p62 in wildtype and CB2 knockout mice skin tissue and NR8383 cell line were determined by Western blot.And flow cytometry analysis was applied to detect damaged mitochondria and mitochondrial superoxide.Results CFA significantly reduced the thermal and mechanical pain threshold in both wildtype and CB2 knockout mice,comparing with the vehicle control groups(P<0.01).EA significantly inhibited thermal and mechanical hyperpathia induced by CFA in wildtype mice(P<0.05),but had no effect on CB2 knockout mice with CFA(P>0.05).CFA significantly increased the expression of p62 protein and decreased LC3-II/I ratio,which was inversed by EA in wildtype mice but wasn't affected by EA in CB2 knockout mice.CFA increased the expression of p62 protein and decreased LC3-II/I ratio in NR8383 cell line,which were inversed by CB2 agonist AM1241.CFA increased mitochondria damage,which were then attenuated by CB2 agonist AM1241.Conclusion The analgesic effect of EA on inflammatory pain induced by CFA was mediated by activation of CB2 receptor,which promoted the autophagy function and the clearance of damaged mitochondria in macrophage.

Background Overweight/obesity in children are a global health issue. Preschool age is an important stage of children's growth and development and dietary behaviors, so it is crucial to explore dietary behavior characteristics and childhood overweight/obesity. Objective To explore the association between dietary behavior characteristics and overweight/obesity in preschool children in Shanghai, and the consistency of children's eating behavior characteristics with their parents'. Methods The children aged 3 to 6 years in 5 kindergartens in Shanghai in 2015 were selected by convenience sampling and surveyed. Their height and weight were measured. Children's and parents' dietary behavior characteristics were self-reported by their parents. According to the weight-for-height recommended by the World Health Organization, excess weight was calculated by the following formula: excess-weight%=[(measured weight - standard weight)/standard weight×100%]; obese is determined at excess-weight% > 20%, overweight: excess-weight% at 10%-20%, normal weight: excess-weight% at −10%-<10%. Chi-squared test and t test were used to compare the differences of demographic and dietary behavior characteristics between overweight/obese and normal weight children. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between dietary behaviors and overweight/obesity. The consistency of dietary behavior characteristics was tested between children and their parents. Results Among the 897 preschool children, 217 (24.2%) were overweight/obese and 680 (75.8%) were of normal weight. The birth weight [(3439±472) g vs. (3361±418) g] and proportion of monthly household income < 10000 yuan (17.1% vs. 10.7%) in the overweight/obese children were significantly higher than those in the normal weight children, and there were no statistical differences in sex, age, gestational age, time of adding complementary foods, outdoor activities after school every day, and parental BMI. After adjusting for potential confounders such as sex, age, household income, outdoor activities after school every day, and parental overweight/obesity, frequently having puffed food (OR=2.46, 95%CI: 1.20-4.95), western-style fast food (OR=3.52, 95%CI: 1.41-8.79), and carbonated drinks (OR=2.92, 95%CI: 1.37-6.13), often eating a lot (OR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.09-2.08) and having a good appetite (OR=2.60, 95%CI: 1.87-3.62), having regular meals (OR=1.48, 95%CI: 1.07-2.03), and fast eating (OR=3.37, 95%CI: 2.10-5.42) were positively associated with children's overweight/obesity (P<0.05). Children's partial/picky eating was inconsistent with fathers' behavior (P<0.05), while the other dietary behaviors were similar with both mothers' and fathers'. Conclusion Eating behavior characteristics of preschool children are associated with overweight/obesity, and affected by their parents. Early identifying dietary behavior problems and improving dietary habits of children might be an effective strategy in preventing and controlling the occurrence and development of obesity in childhood.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of etoposide (ETO) on elimination of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) stem cells by imatinib mesylate(IM) in vivo. METHODS: SCL-tTA/BCR-ABL mice were used as CML animal model. Flow cytometry was used to assess the effect of ETO alone or in combination with IM on the number of leukemia stem cell （LSC） in bone marrow and spleen, and peripheral blood neutrophils in CML mice and normal control FVB mice. RESULTS: The results showed that in CML mice, the number and proportion of LSC in bone marrow and the proportion of neutrophils in peripheral blood decreased significantly after ETO and IM combined treatment, and the degree of decrease was more significant than that of both alone. While in wild type FVB mice, the combination of ETO and IM showed no significant effect on the number and proportion of LSK cells in bone marrow and the proportion of neutrophils in spleen. CONCLUSION ETO can selectively enhance elimination of CML LSC by IM in vivo.
Animals ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Etoposide ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy* ; Mice ; Stem Cells