Rubi Fructus has a long history of medicinal and edible use in China. It contains chemical components such as terpenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, and alkaloids, and possesses various pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, anti-tumor, anti-osteoporosis, and liver-protective effects. Rubi Fructus is widely applied in medical, health, and food fields. The quality of Rubi Fructus can directly affect the safety and effectiveness of clinical medication. Therefore, this article reviews the research progress on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Rubi Fructus. Based on the concept of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) quality markers(Q-markers), the article explores the screening and determination of Q-markers for Rubi Fructus from various aspects, including plant kinship, traditional efficacy, medicinal properties, measurability of chemical composition, different processing methods, producing areas, harvesting periods, and planting conditions. The components ellagic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, rutin, astragalin, tiliroside, and hyperoside are preliminarily proposed as Q-markers for Rubi Fructus, providing a reference for the quality control of Rubi Fructus.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Rubus/chemistry* ; Fruit/chemistry* ; Quality Control ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of 3D printing spinal external fixator combined with McKenzie therapy for patients with lumbar dics herniation (LDH). METHODS: Sixty patients with LDH between January 2022 and January 2023 were enrolled. Among them, 30 patients were given McKinsey training. According to different treatment methods, all patients were divided into McKenzie group and McKenzie + 3D printing group, 30 patients in each group. The McKenzie group provided McKenzie therapy. The McKenzie + 3D printing group were treated with 3D printing spinal external fixation brace on the basis of McKenzie therapy. Patients in both groups were between 25 and 60 years of age and had their first illness. In the McKenzie group, there were 19 males and 11 females, with an average age of (48.57±5.86) years old, and the disease duration was (7.03 ±2.39) months. The McKenzie + 3D printing group, there were 21 males and 9 females, with an average age of (48.80±5.92) years old, and the disease duration was(7.30±2.56) months. Pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and lumbar spine function was assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. VAS, ODI and JOA scores were compared between two groups before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12 months. The VAS for the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(6.533±0.860), (5.133±1.008), (3.933±0.868), (2.900±0.759), (2.067±0.640), (1.433±0.504), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were (6.467±0.860), (5.067±1.048), (4.600±0.968), (3.533±1.008), (2.567±0.728), (1.967±0.809), respectively. The ODI of the McKenzie group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were (41.033±6.810)%, (37.933±6.209)%, (35.467±6.962)%, (27.567±10.081)%, (20.800±7.531)%, (13.533±5.158)%, respectively. For the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group, the corresponding ODI were(38.033±5.605)%, (33.000±6.192)%, (28.767±7.045)%, (22.200±5.517)%, (17.700±4.836)%, (11.900±2.771)%, respectively. The JOA scores of the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(8.900±2.074), (13.133±2.330), (15.700±3.583), (20.400±3.480), (22.267±3.084), (24.833±2.640), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were(9.200±2.091), (12.267±2.406), (15.333±3.198), (18.467±2.240), (20.133±2.751), (22.467±2.849), respectively. Before the initiation of treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed in the VAS, ODI, and JOA scores between two groups (P>0.05). At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the VAS in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly lower than that in the McKenzie group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The comparison of ODI between two groups at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment revealed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). At 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the JOA score in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly higher than that in the McKenzie-only group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of 3D printed functional spinal external fixation brace with McKenzie therapy can significantly improve and maintain lumbar function in patients with LDH.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; External Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Adult ; Braces ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of zedoarondiol on neovascularization of atherosclerotic (AS) plaque by exosomes experiment. METHODS: ApoE^-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish AS model and treated with high- and low-dose (10, 5 mg/kg daily) of zedoarondiol, respectively. After 14 weeks, the expressions of anti-angiogenic protein thrombospondin 1 (THBS-1) and its receptor CD36 in plaques, as well as platelet activation rate and exosome-derived miR-let-7a were detected. Then, zedoarondiol was used to intervene in platelets in vitro, and miR-let-7a was detected in platelet-derived exosomes (Pexo). Finally, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with miR-let-7a mimics and treated with Pexo to observe the effect of miR-let-7a in Pexo on tube formation. RESULTS: Animal experiments showed that after treating with zedoarondiol, the neovascularization density in plaques of AS mice was significantly reduced, THBS-1 and CD36 increased, the platelet activation rate was markedly reduced, and the miR-let-7a level in Pexo was reduced (P<0.01). In vitro experiments, the platelet activation rate and miR-let-7a levels in Pexo were significantly reduced after zedoarondiol's intervention. Cell experiments showed that after Pexo's intervention, the tube length increased, and the transfection of miR-let-7a minics further increased the tube length of cells, while reducing the expressions of THBS-1 and CD36. CONCLUSION Zedoarondiol has the effect of inhibiting neovascularization within plaque in AS mice, and its mechanism may be potentially related to inhibiting platelet activation and reducing the Pexo-derived miRNA-let-7a level.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Exosomes/drug effects* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/genetics* ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Humans ; Blood Platelets/drug effects* ; Apolipoproteins E/deficiency* ; Thrombospondin 1/metabolism* ; CD36 Antigens/metabolism* ; Platelet Activation/drug effects* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

BACKGROUND: The effects of acupuncture have varied in different randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and there are many factors that influence treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes, with conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors and their impact on the treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes. METHODS: Acupuncture RCTs were searched from 7 databases including Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biology Medicine disc between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2019. Eligible studies must compare acupuncture to no acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waiting lists, and report at least 1 patient-important outcome. A multi-level meta-regression was conducted using a 3-level robust mixed model and univariate analyses were performed for all independent variables, even those excluded from the multivariable model due to collinearities. We used thresholds of 0.2 and 0.4 for the difference of standardized mean differences (SMDs), categorising them as small (<0.2), moderate (0.2-0.4), or large (>0.4) effects. RESULTS: The pain construct analysis involved 211 effect estimates from 153 studies and 14 independent variables. High-frequency acupuncture treatment sessions produced larger effects compared to low-frequency sessions [large magnitude, the difference of adjusted SMDs 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 0.84; P=0.02]. The non-pain symptoms construct analysis comprised 323 effect estimates from 231 studies and 15 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture showed moderately larger effects when compared to non-penetrating acupuncture (0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). The function construct analysis included 495 effect estimates from 274 studies and 14 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture and the flexible acupuncture regimen showed moderately larger effects, compared to non-penetrating acupuncture and fixed regimen, respectively (0.40, 95% CI 0 to 0.80; P=0.05; 0.29, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS High-frequency acupuncture sessions appear to be a more effective approach to managing painful symptoms. Penetrating acupuncture demonstrated greater effect in relieving non-painful symptoms. Both penetrating acupuncture type and flexible acupuncture regimen were linked to significant treatment effects in function outcomes. Future studies should consider the factors that are significantly associated with the effects of acupuncture in patient-important outcomes.
Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Pain ; Pain Management ; China

AIM To investigate the variation rules of main secondary metabolites in Hedysari Radix before and after rubbing strip.METHODS UPLC-MS/MS was adopted in the content determination of formononetin,ononin,calycosin,calycosin-7-glucoside,medicarpin,genistein,luteolin,liquiritigenin,isoliquiritigenin,vanillic acid,ferulic acid,γ-aminobutyric acid,adenosine and betaine,after which cluster analysis,principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were used for chemical pattern recognition to explore differential components.RESULTS After rubbing strip,formononetin,calycosin,liquiritigenin and γ-aminobutynic acid demonstrated increased contents,along with decreased contents of ononin,calycosin-7-glucoside and vanillic acid.The samples with and without rubbing strip were clustered into two types,calycosin-7-glucoside,formononetin,γ-aminobutynic acid,vanillic acid,calycosin-7-glucoside and formononetin were differential components.CONCLUSION This experiment clarifies the differences of chemical constituents in Hedysari Radix before and after rubbing strip,which can provide a reference for the research on rubbing strip mechanism of other medicinal materials.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy and feasibility of performing a new surgical procedure, tunnel esophagogastrostomy, to perform proximal gastrectomy.Methods:The study cohort comprised 10 consecutive patients who had undergone esophagogastrostomy by the tunnel technique in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital between October 2019 and July 2022. All patients were male. Their average age was (64.2±8.1) years and body mass index (25.5±3.2) kg/m2. Nine had upper gastric body adenocarcinoma, the remaining one having signet ring cell carcinoma. TNM staging of the tumors showed that seven were Stage IA, one Stage IB, one Stage IIA, and one Stage IIIA. Briefly, tunnel esophagogastrostomy is performed as follows: After performing a proximal gastrectomy, a rectangular seromuscular flap (3.0 cm × 3.5 cm) is created. The posterior esophageal wall is sutured to the gastric wall at the orad end of the seromuscular flap 5 cm from the stump with three to four stitches. Next, the stump of the esophagus is opened, the posterior esophageal wall is sutured to the gastric mucosa and submucosa, and the anterior esophageal wall is sutured to the full layer of the stomach. Finally, the caudad end of the seromuscular flap is closed. Data on surgical safety, postoperative morbidity, and postoperative reflux esophagitis were analyzed. All enrolled patients completed endoscopic follow-up 1 year and 2 years after surgery.Results:All procedures were completed. They comprised four cases of laparoscopic assisted surgery, four of DaVinci robotic surgery, and two of open surgery. The mean operation time was 212.7±33.2 mins, mean anastomosis time (51.6±5.3) minutes, mean tunnel preparation time (20.0±3.5) minutes, and mean operative blood loss (90.0±51.6) mL. The time to first postoperative passage of flatus was (64.8±11.5) hours. The mean hospital stay after surgery was (9.2±1.7) days. There were no postoperative complications above Clavien-Dindo Grade II. The mean preoperative Reflux Disease Questionnaire score was (3.3± 0.4) before the surgery, (3.8±1.0) 1 month postoperatively, and (3.3±0.4) 12 months postoperatively. All patients underwent endoscopic follow-up; no anastomotic stenoses were found. However, one patient had Grade A reflux esophagitis 1 year after surgery and another Grade B reflux esophagitis 2 years after surgery.Conclusion:Esophagogastrostomy by the tunnel technique is a safe and feasible means of performing proximal gastrectomy.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy and feasibility of performing a new surgical procedure, tunnel esophagogastrostomy, to perform proximal gastrectomy.Methods:The study cohort comprised 10 consecutive patients who had undergone esophagogastrostomy by the tunnel technique in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital between October 2019 and July 2022. All patients were male. Their average age was (64.2±8.1) years and body mass index (25.5±3.2) kg/m2. Nine had upper gastric body adenocarcinoma, the remaining one having signet ring cell carcinoma. TNM staging of the tumors showed that seven were Stage IA, one Stage IB, one Stage IIA, and one Stage IIIA. Briefly, tunnel esophagogastrostomy is performed as follows: After performing a proximal gastrectomy, a rectangular seromuscular flap (3.0 cm × 3.5 cm) is created. The posterior esophageal wall is sutured to the gastric wall at the orad end of the seromuscular flap 5 cm from the stump with three to four stitches. Next, the stump of the esophagus is opened, the posterior esophageal wall is sutured to the gastric mucosa and submucosa, and the anterior esophageal wall is sutured to the full layer of the stomach. Finally, the caudad end of the seromuscular flap is closed. Data on surgical safety, postoperative morbidity, and postoperative reflux esophagitis were analyzed. All enrolled patients completed endoscopic follow-up 1 year and 2 years after surgery.Results:All procedures were completed. They comprised four cases of laparoscopic assisted surgery, four of DaVinci robotic surgery, and two of open surgery. The mean operation time was 212.7±33.2 mins, mean anastomosis time (51.6±5.3) minutes, mean tunnel preparation time (20.0±3.5) minutes, and mean operative blood loss (90.0±51.6) mL. The time to first postoperative passage of flatus was (64.8±11.5) hours. The mean hospital stay after surgery was (9.2±1.7) days. There were no postoperative complications above Clavien-Dindo Grade II. The mean preoperative Reflux Disease Questionnaire score was (3.3± 0.4) before the surgery, (3.8±1.0) 1 month postoperatively, and (3.3±0.4) 12 months postoperatively. All patients underwent endoscopic follow-up; no anastomotic stenoses were found. However, one patient had Grade A reflux esophagitis 1 year after surgery and another Grade B reflux esophagitis 2 years after surgery.Conclusion:Esophagogastrostomy by the tunnel technique is a safe and feasible means of performing proximal gastrectomy.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of real-time tracking and virtual reality technology(RTVI)used to assist the intraoperative alignment of the trauma orthopaedic surgery robot for the treatment of femoral neck fractures and its impact on the treatment outcome.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 patients with femoral neck fractures treated with trauma orthopedic robotic surgery from September 2020 to September 2022.Patients were divided into two groups according to whether RTVI technology was used during surgery to assist robotic surgery.There were 28 patients in the RTVI group(12 males and 16 females),with an average age of(46.2±9.3)years old ranging from 28 to 60 years old.There were 32 patients in the simple Tianji surgical robot group,including 15 males and 17 females,aged(48.2±7.8)years old ranging from 32 to 58.The number of registered fluoroscopy,operation time,total number of intraoperative fluoroscopy,intraoperative blood loss,and hospitalization time of the two groups of patients were observed and recorded.All patients received regular follow-up after surgery,and hip X-rays were routinely reviewed to record Garden alignment index,fracture healing time,postoperative complications,and Harris score.Results All 60 patients were followed up.The RTVI group was followed up for 9 to 16 months with an average of(13.0±l.2)months,and the Tianji surgical robot group alone was followed up for 10 to 14 months with an average of(12.0±1.3)months.During the follow-up period,the femoral neck fractures of both groups of patients healed well,and no complications such as internal fixation loosening and incision infection occurred.The number of registered fluoroscopy,operation time,and number of intraoperative fluoroscopy of patients in the RTVI group were significantly better than those in the simple Tianji surgical robot group(P＜0.01).There was no statistically significant difference in intraoperative blood loss,hospital stay,Garden alignment index,fracture healing time,and hip Harris score between two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Although RTVI technology assisted by the surgical robot for femoral neck fracture surgery has little impact on its postoperative outcome,it can effectively reduce the operating time,the number of intraoperative X-ray projections,and the risk of intraopera-tive radiation exposure to patients.It also shortened the learning curve of the operator and better reflected the precision and ef-ficiency of the trauma orthopaedic surgery robot.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficiency of robotic visualization system(RVS)-assisted microsurgical re-construction of the reproductive tract in male rats and the satisfaction of the surgeons.Methods:We randomly divided 8 adult male SD rats into an experimental and a control group,the former treated by RVS-assisted microsurgical vasoepididymostomy(VE)or vaso-vasostomy(VV),and the latter by VE or VV under the standard operating microscope(SOM).We compared the operation time,me-chanical patency and anastomosis leakage immediately after surgery,and the surgeons'satisfaction between the two groups.Results:No statistically significant difference was observed the operation time between the experimental and the control groups,and no anasto-mosis leakage occurred after VV in either group.The rate of mechanical patency immediately after surgery was 100％in both groups,and that of anastomosis leakage after VE was 16.7％in the experimental group and 14.3％in the control.Compared with the control group,the experimental group achieved dramatically higher scores on visual comfort(3.00±0.76 vs 4.00±0.53,P＜0.05),neck/back comfort(2.75±1.16 vs 4.38±1.06,P＜0.01)and man-machine interaction(3.88±1.55 va 4.88±0.35,P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the scores on image definition and operating room suitability between the two groups.Conclusion:RVS can be used in microsurgical reconstruction of the reproductive tract in male rats and,with its advantages over SOM in ergonomic design and image definition,has a potential application value in male reproductive system micosurgery.