OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Xiangshao Granules (XSG) on post-stroke depression (PSD) and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Forty-three C57BL/6J mice were divided into 3 groups: sham (n=15), PSD+vehicle (n=14), and PSD+XSG (n=14) groups according to a random number table. The PSD models were constructed using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The sham group only experienced the same surgical operation, but without MACO and CUMS stimulation. The XSG group received XSG (60 mg/kg per day) by gavage for 4 weeks. The mice in the sham and vehicle groups were given the same volume of 0.9% saline at the same time. The body weight and behavior tests including open field test, sucrose preference test, tail suspension test, and elevated plus-maze test, were used to validate the PSD mouse model. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of XSG. The potential molecular mechanisms were explored and verified through network pharmacology analysis, Nissl staining, Western blot, ELISA, and RT-qPCR, respectively. RESULTS: The body weight and behavior tests showed that MCAO combined with CUMS successfully established the PSD models. XSG alleviated neuronal damage, reduced the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins Caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2)-associated X (BAX), and increased the expression of anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 in PSD mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). XSG inhibited microglial activation and the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1 β, and IL-6 via the toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway in PSD mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, XSG decreased the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase1 (IDO1) and increased the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine in PSD mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION XSG could reverse the anxiety/depressionlike behaviors and reduce the neuronal injury in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of PSD mice, which may be a potential therapeutic agent for PSD.
Animals ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/metabolism* ; Depression/etiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Prefrontal Cortex/pathology* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Stroke/drug therapy* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects*

This study aimed to investigate the effect of saltwater stir-fried Plantaginis Semen(SPS) on renal fibrosis in rats and decipher the underlying mechanism. Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into control, model, losartan potassium, and low-, medium-, and high-dose(15, 30, and 60 g·kg~(-1), respectively) SPS groups. Rats in other groups except the control group were subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO) to induce renal fibrosis, and the modeling and gavage lasted for 14 days. After 14 consecutive days of treatment, the levels of serum creatinine(Scr) and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) in rats of each group were determined by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Masson staining were used to evaluate pathological changes in the renal tissue. Western blot and immunofluorescence assay were conducted to determine the protein levels of fibronectin(FN), collagen Ⅰ, vimentin, and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) in the renal tissue. The mRNA levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-associated transcription factors including twist family bHLH transcription factor 1(TWIST1), snail family transcriptional repressor 1(SNAI1), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1(ZEB1), as well as inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), were determined by RT-qPCR. Human renal proximal tubular epithelial(HK2) cells exposed to transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) for the modeling of renal fibrosis were used to investigate the inhibitory effect of SPS on EMT. Network pharmacology and Western blot were employed to explore the molecular mechanism of SPS in alleviating renal fibrosis. The results showed that SPS significantly reduced Scr and BUN levels and alleviated renal injury and collagen deposition in UUO rats. Moreover, SPS notably down-regulated the protein levels of FN, collagen Ⅰ, vimentin, and α-SMA as well as the mRNA levels of SNAI1, ZEB1, TWIST1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the kidneys of UUO rats and TGF-β-treated HK-2 cells. In addition, compared with Plantaginis Semen without stir-frying with saltwater, SPS showed increased content of specific compounds, which were mainly enriched in the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway. SPS significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) and p38 MAPK in the kidneys of UUO rats and TGF-β-treated HK2 cells. In conclusion, SPS can alleviate renal fibrosis by attenuating EMT through inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway.
Animals ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Rats ; Fibrosis/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Kidney Diseases/pathology* ; Kidney Tubules/pathology* ; Humans

The chemical composition of Paeoniae Radix Alba(PRA) is complex, with primary secondary metabolites including monoterpenoids, tannins, triterpenoids, and flavonoids. In previous studies on the material basis of PRA, it was found that, in addition to the widely studied characteristic monoterpene glycosides, tannic acid components also play an important role in the efficacy of PRA. However, their pharmacological effects have not been thoroughly investigated. This paper reviews the tannic acid components in PRA, including pentagaloyl glucose(PGG), tetragaloyl glucose(TGG), trigaloyl glucose(TriGG), and gallic acid, along with their structures, properties, and characteristics to provide a detailed discussion of their pharmacological activities and related mechanisms, aiming to offer a theoretical basis for the material basis research and clinical application of PRA.
Paeonia/chemistry* ; Tannins/chemistry* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Animals ; Plant Extracts

Objective To compare the effects of different doses of adenine(ADE)by oral gavage in a mouse model of renal fibrosis(RF),and to provide a more suitable mouse model for further RF research.Methods Thirty C57BL/6J Nifdc mice were divided randomly into a control group,low-dose ADE group(ADE-L group,50 mg/kg),and high-dose ADE group(ADE-H group,100 mg/kg),and the general condition,mortality,and body mass changes of the mice were observed.Serum creatinine(CREA),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),and uric acid(UA)were measured on day 30 to evaluate renal function.Histopathological changes in kidney tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and Masson staining,and expression levels of fibronectin(FN),collagen Ⅰ(COL Ⅰ),and alpha smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in kidney tissues were detected by Western Blot.Results The cumulative mortality rates in the ADE-L and ADE-H groups were 91.7％and 58.3％,respectively.The body mass of mice in the ADE-L group was similar to that in the control group(P＞0.05),but the body mass of mice in the ADE-H group was significantly lower than that of mice in the control and ADE-L groups from day 3 to day 30(P＜0.001).Day 30 CREA and BUN levels in the ADE-L group were similar to those in the blank group,but CREA and BUN levels were significantly increased in the ADE-H group(P＜0.001).There were no significant differences in UA levels among all groups.Inflammatory infiltration and tubular dilatation were observed in the ADE-L group on day 30,accompanied by tubular epithelial necrosis,while crystal accumulation in the tubular lumen and interstitium was observed in the ADE-H group,and the degree of interstitial fibrosis was significantly higher than in the control group(P＜0.01).Expression levels of interstitial fibrosis-related proteins in the ADE-H group on day 30 were significantly higher than in the control and ADE-L groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01 or P＜0.001).Conclusions Both 50 and 100 mg/kg of ADE can be used to establish a mouse model of RF,with different doses leading to varying degrees of renal injury.Mice in the ADE-L group developed mild interstitial fibrosis on day 30,while mice in the ADE-H group developed moderate to severe interstitial fibrosis.

AIM To evaluate the chemical constituent consistency in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula.METHODS HPLC characteristic chromatograms were established,the analysis was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic YMC-Triart C18 column(4.6 mm× 250 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.2％phosphoric acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 240 nm.Puerarin was used as an internal standard to calculate the relative correction factors of 3'-methoxy puerarin,puerarin apioside,magnolflorine,paeoniflora,daidzin,baicalin,palmatine,berberine,wogonoside and benzoylpaeoniflorin,after which the content detemination was made by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker(QAMS).RESULTS The characteristic chromatograms of 9 batches of formula granules and 15 bacthes of traditional decoctions demonstrated the similarities of more than 0.90 at the detection wavelengths of 192,210,240,260,280,300,320,360 nm,along with similar total peak areas.Eleven constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r＞0.999 0),whose average recoveries were 97.27％-101.64％with the RSDs of 0.36％-1.11％,the result obtained by QAMS and external standard method demonstrated no significant differences(P＞0.05).The contents of various constituents in the formula granules approximated those in the traditional decoctions.CONCLUSION The consistent kinds and contents of various constituents are obversable in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula,which can provide a reference for the reasonable clinical application of this formula.

BACKGROUND:Patients with chronic ankle instability tend to overpronate when walking,which increases the risk of ankle sprain during the stance phase of the walking cycle.Clinicians often use Kinesio taping or athletic taping for ankle taping.Since Kinesio taping is elastic and athletic taping cannot be stretched,there are differences in technical applications and physiological mechanisms between them,which may result in different rehabilitation effects.OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of Kinesio taping and athletic taping on the frontal plane of the foot motion and the horizontal plane of the tibia motion in patients with chronic ankle instability during the stance phase of walking.METHODS:Forty patients with chronic ankle instability were randomly divided into Kinesio taping group and athletic taping group.In the Kinesio taping group,two patches were pasted from the inside to the outside of the hind foot to generate pulling tension that facilitates foot eversion;in the athletic taping group,ankle locking basket taping was used.Walking tests were conducted on an electric treadmill before and after taping.A three-dimensional motion analysis system was used to obtain the kinematic parameters of the subjects'foot and tibia.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After taping,in the Kinesio taping group,the foot valgus angle increased in the early stance phase(P<0.05),but there was no effect on foot position in the late stance phase(P>0.05).After taping,in the athletic taping group,internal rotation of the tibia increased in the late stance phase(P<0.05);however,there was no significant change in tibial position in the early stance phase(P>0.05).To conclude,compared with athletic taping,Kinesio taping can provide a flexible pulling force that is beneficial for foot eversion in the early stance phase of the gait cycle,while not restricting normal foot inversion in the late stance phase.Therefore,Kinesio taping may be a practical rehabilitation therapy for patients with chronic ankle instability,correcting abnormal motion of the ankle joint without restricting its natural motion.

Objective To compare the effects of different doses of adenine(ADE)by oral gavage in a mouse model of renal fibrosis(RF),and to provide a more suitable mouse model for further RF research.Methods Thirty C57BL/6J Nifdc mice were divided randomly into a control group,low-dose ADE group(ADE-L group,50 mg/kg),and high-dose ADE group(ADE-H group,100 mg/kg),and the general condition,mortality,and body mass changes of the mice were observed.Serum creatinine(CREA),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),and uric acid(UA)were measured on day 30 to evaluate renal function.Histopathological changes in kidney tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and Masson staining,and expression levels of fibronectin(FN),collagen Ⅰ(COL Ⅰ),and alpha smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in kidney tissues were detected by Western Blot.Results The cumulative mortality rates in the ADE-L and ADE-H groups were 91.7％and 58.3％,respectively.The body mass of mice in the ADE-L group was similar to that in the control group(P＞0.05),but the body mass of mice in the ADE-H group was significantly lower than that of mice in the control and ADE-L groups from day 3 to day 30(P＜0.001).Day 30 CREA and BUN levels in the ADE-L group were similar to those in the blank group,but CREA and BUN levels were significantly increased in the ADE-H group(P＜0.001).There were no significant differences in UA levels among all groups.Inflammatory infiltration and tubular dilatation were observed in the ADE-L group on day 30,accompanied by tubular epithelial necrosis,while crystal accumulation in the tubular lumen and interstitium was observed in the ADE-H group,and the degree of interstitial fibrosis was significantly higher than in the control group(P＜0.01).Expression levels of interstitial fibrosis-related proteins in the ADE-H group on day 30 were significantly higher than in the control and ADE-L groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01 or P＜0.001).Conclusions Both 50 and 100 mg/kg of ADE can be used to establish a mouse model of RF,with different doses leading to varying degrees of renal injury.Mice in the ADE-L group developed mild interstitial fibrosis on day 30,while mice in the ADE-H group developed moderate to severe interstitial fibrosis.

BACKGROUND:Patients with chronic ankle instability tend to overpronate when walking,which increases the risk of ankle sprain during the stance phase of the walking cycle.Clinicians often use Kinesio taping or athletic taping for ankle taping.Since Kinesio taping is elastic and athletic taping cannot be stretched,there are differences in technical applications and physiological mechanisms between them,which may result in different rehabilitation effects.OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of Kinesio taping and athletic taping on the frontal plane of the foot motion and the horizontal plane of the tibia motion in patients with chronic ankle instability during the stance phase of walking.METHODS:Forty patients with chronic ankle instability were randomly divided into Kinesio taping group and athletic taping group.In the Kinesio taping group,two patches were pasted from the inside to the outside of the hind foot to generate pulling tension that facilitates foot eversion;in the athletic taping group,ankle locking basket taping was used.Walking tests were conducted on an electric treadmill before and after taping.A three-dimensional motion analysis system was used to obtain the kinematic parameters of the subjects'foot and tibia.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After taping,in the Kinesio taping group,the foot valgus angle increased in the early stance phase(P<0.05),but there was no effect on foot position in the late stance phase(P>0.05).After taping,in the athletic taping group,internal rotation of the tibia increased in the late stance phase(P<0.05);however,there was no significant change in tibial position in the early stance phase(P>0.05).To conclude,compared with athletic taping,Kinesio taping can provide a flexible pulling force that is beneficial for foot eversion in the early stance phase of the gait cycle,while not restricting normal foot inversion in the late stance phase.Therefore,Kinesio taping may be a practical rehabilitation therapy for patients with chronic ankle instability,correcting abnormal motion of the ankle joint without restricting its natural motion.

AIM To evaluate the chemical constituent consistency in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula.METHODS HPLC characteristic chromatograms were established,the analysis was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic YMC-Triart C18 column(4.6 mm× 250 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.2％phosphoric acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 240 nm.Puerarin was used as an internal standard to calculate the relative correction factors of 3'-methoxy puerarin,puerarin apioside,magnolflorine,paeoniflora,daidzin,baicalin,palmatine,berberine,wogonoside and benzoylpaeoniflorin,after which the content detemination was made by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker(QAMS).RESULTS The characteristic chromatograms of 9 batches of formula granules and 15 bacthes of traditional decoctions demonstrated the similarities of more than 0.90 at the detection wavelengths of 192,210,240,260,280,300,320,360 nm,along with similar total peak areas.Eleven constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r＞0.999 0),whose average recoveries were 97.27％-101.64％with the RSDs of 0.36％-1.11％,the result obtained by QAMS and external standard method demonstrated no significant differences(P＞0.05).The contents of various constituents in the formula granules approximated those in the traditional decoctions.CONCLUSION The consistent kinds and contents of various constituents are obversable in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula,which can provide a reference for the reasonable clinical application of this formula.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]