1.Association of the joint effect of body fat levels and dyslipidemia with cardiovascular structural changes among children
ZHANG Qiyue, ZHAO Min, WANG Mingming, XI Bo
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(4):480-485
Objective:
To investigate the association of the joint effect of body fat levels and dyslipidemia with cardiovascular structural abnormalities in children, so as to provide a scientific reference for the early prevention of cardiovascular damage.
Methods:
Based on the data from the second follow up (October 2021 to January 2022) of the Huantai Children Cardiovascular Health Follow up Cohort, 1 308 children with complete data were included. The fat mass percentage (FMP), fat mass index (FMI), subcutaneous fat mass (SFM) and visceral fat mass (VFM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), thickening of carotid intima-media thickening (cIMT) , left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left ventricular geometric remodeling (LVG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) ,high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were obtained. Multivariable Logistic regression model was used to analyze the associations of FMP, FMI, SFM and VFM with thickening of cIMT, LVH and LVG. The joint effects of these body fat indicators and dyslipidemia on the aforementioned cardiovascular outcomes were further explored. Restricted cubic spline model was used to examine the dose response relationships between body fat levels and cardiovascular structural abnormalities.
Results:
Elevated body fat levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular structural abnormalities, exhibiting J shaped dose response relationships (all P <0.05). Compared with the group with normal body fat and normolipidemia, the risks of thickening of cIMT, LVH, and LVG in the group with elevated FMP combined with dyslipidemia were higher[ OR (95% CI )=11.70 (6.49-21.27), 5.53 (2.97-10.17), 2.33 (1.30-4.05)]; in the group with elevated FMI combined with dyslipidemia, the corresponding risks were higher[ OR (95% CI )= 11.68 (6.43-21.38), 6.98 (3.73-12.92), 2.65 (1.50-4.61)]; in the group with elevated SFM combined with dyslipidemia, the corresponding risks were higher[ OR (95% CI )=10.55 (5.83-19.24), 5.11 (2.71-9.45), 1.99 (1.11- 3.46 )]; and in the group with elevated VFM combined with dyslipidemia, the corresponding risks were higher[ OR (95% CI )=12.44 (6.76-23.14), 6.17 ( 3.31 -11.38), 2.30 (1.30-3.99)] (all P <0.05). Sex stratified analyses showed that the risk of thickening of cIMT in the combined exposure group of all four body fat indicators and dyslipidemia was significantly higher in girls than in boys (all P <0.01).
Conclusions
Elevated body fat levels and dyslipidemia have a combined effect in children, collectively increasing the risk of cardiovascular structural abnormalities. Prevention of cardiovascular damage in children should focus on both adiposity management and blood lipid regulation.
2.A study of factors associated with neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis
Qiyue YANG ; Xinhua ZHANG ; Xiaoyun JIA ; Hao ZHOU ; Yanan KANG ; Xingyu WANG ; Lixia BAI
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(3):492-498
Objective:To explore the related risk factors of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) by constructing and comparing nine regression models.Methods:All NEC patients admitted to the neonatal internal medicine department, neonatal surgery department, and neonatal intensive care unit of Shanxi Provincial Children's Hospital (Shanxi Provincial Maternity and Child Health Center) from 2020 to 2022 were included as the case group. A control group consisted of children admitted during the same period based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The NEC data collected were used for feature selection by using the Boruta algorithm. Logistic regression, multi-decision tree gradient boosting, efficient gradient one-sided sampling, random forest, decision tree, gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT), neural network, support vector machine, and K-nearest neighbor models were constructed. The optimal model was selected through rigorous comparison and Shap explainable analysis was performed on the GBDT model.Results:Thirteen key factors were identified through screening for nine regression models construction. After strict comparison and analysis, the GBDT model showed higher stability compared with other eight regression models. In the validation set, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the GBDT model was 0.958, with an accuracy of 0.925, and sensitivity and specificity of 0.827 and 0.950, respectively. Shap explainable analysis on the GBDT model revealed that suffering from anemia, non-invasive ventilator use, procalcitonin use, premature birth, and low birth weight increased the risk for NEC, while breastfeeding and probiotics decreased the risk for NEC.Conclusion:This study identified the risk factors and protective factors for NEC by using the GBDT model, which provided evidnce for the prevention and treatment of NEC.
3.Pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Xuanfei Baidu Decoction in the treatment of viral pneumonia
Jingsheng ZHANG ; Bo PANG ; Qiyue SUN ; Jing SUN ; Shan CAO ; Yingli XU ; Yu ZHANG ; Xinqi DENG ; Shanshan GUO ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Shuran LI ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Daohan WANG ; Xiaolan CUI ; Bin QU ; Yu WANG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;3(2):145-157
Objective: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Xuanfei Baidu Decoction (XFBD) in a mouse model of dampness-heat toxin pneumonia. By exploring how XFBD exerts its effects, we seek to deepen our understanding of its role in treating pulmonary diseases and to address the current knowledge gap regarding its mechanisms of action, thereby supporting its clinical application. Methods: Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) were employed to analyze the chemical constituents of XFBD. The protective effects of XFBD were evaluated using a dampness-heat toxin-induced mouse model, established through dampness-heat exposure and HCoV-229E infection. XFBD was administered orally, followed by assessments including lung index measurement, micro-CT imaging, viral load quantification, cytokine analysis, and histological evaluation via hematoxylin-eosin staining. Proteomics and single-cell transcriptomic analyses were conducted to explore the potential mechanisms underlying XFBD’s pharmacological effects. A cellular model of HCoV-229E infection was developed to investigate changes in the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. Molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments confirmed the strong binding affinity between key XFBD components and PKA. Finally, PKA activators and inhibitors were applied in vitro to validate these mechanistic findings. Results: In vivo studies demonstrated that XFBD significantly reduced the lung index, improved the structural integrity of lung and tongue tissues, and decreased levels of proinflammatory mediators, including IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. Proteomic and single-cell transcriptomic analyses showed that the differentially expressed proteins after XFBD treatment were primarily associated with inflammatory responses and immune regulation. The cAMP/PKA signaling pathway was identified as a key mechanism underlying these therapeutic effects. Notably, Western blot, ELISA, molecular docking, and SPR analyses confirmed that XFBD elevated cAMP levels and p-PKA expression, thereby activating the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in vitro. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that XFBD significantly alleviates symptoms in mice with dampness-heat toxin pneumonia. Its therapeutic effects are mediated, at least in part, through activation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. These findings provide compelling evidence that XFBD is an effective herbal remedy against HCoV-229E infection.
4.Bufei Tongbi Decoction Inhibits Pulmonary Fibrosis in Diabetic Rats via TGF-β1/p-Smad3 Signaling Pathway
Gang WANG ; Rensong YUE ; Qiyue YANG ; Dan ZHANG ; Xin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(10):176-184
ObjectiveTo study the effect of Bufei Tongbi decoction on pulmonary fibrosis in diabetic rats via the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/phosphorylated Smad family member 3 (p-Smad3) signaling pathway. MethodsStreptozotocin (60 mg·kg-1) and bleomycin (24.80 U·kg-1) were used to prepare the rat model of diabetes with pulmonary fibrosis by intratracheal injection. Sixty rats were randomly assigned into blank, model, low-, medium-, and high-dose (3.98, 7.95, and 15.90 g·kg-1, respectively) Bufei Tongbi decoction, and pirfenidone (0.36 mg·kg-1) groups (n=10). The successfully modeled rats in each group were administrated with corresponding agents once per day for four consecutive weeks. After drug administration, fasting blood glucose and lung function indicators were measured. Chemical immunoassay was employed to determine the serum levels of hydroxyproline (Hyp), hyaluronic acid (HA), and laminin (LN). The lung index was determined by the wet and dry methods. The pathological changes in the lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and the degree of fibrosis was detected by Masson staining. The mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β1, p-Smad3, Smad3, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1 (Col1A1), and fibronectin were determined by PCR and Western blotting, respectively. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed alveolar septa thickening, obvious thickening of the basement membrane of pulmonary blood vessels, severe destruction of the alveolar structure, structural disarrangement of the lung parenchyma, and an increase in the proportion of inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissue, together with a large amount of blue collagen deposition and a large amount of collagen fibroplasia in the bronchial wall, vessel wall, interstitium, and alveolar wall, which indicated severe fibrosis. Bufei Tongbi decoction groups and the pirfenidone group showed lower fasting blood glucose level (P<0.05) and higher forced vital capacity (FVC), cytoplasmic dynein (Cydn), FEV0.3/FEV ratio, and lung index (P<0.05) than the model group. Moreover, these groups demonstrated alleviated lung fibrosis, elevated Hyp, HA, and LN levels, down-regulated mRNA levels of α-SMA, Col1A1, and fibronectin, and down-regulated protein levels of TGF-β1, Smad3, p-Smad3, α-SMA, Col1A1, and fibronectin (P<0.05). ConclusionBufei Tongbi decoction can inhibit pulmonary fibrosis in diabetic rats by inhibiting the TGF-β1/p-Smad3 signaling pathway.
5.Therapeutic Effect of Cranial Painkiller Pills' Extract Powder in Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Injection of Talci Pulvis into Infraorbital Foramen of Model Rats Based on OTULIN-regulated Neuroinflammation
Shuran LI ; Xinwei WANG ; Jing SUN ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Yaxin WANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xinying LI ; Bing HAN ; Tianjiao LU ; Xiaolan CUI ; Liying LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):21-28
ObjectiveThis paper aims to verify the therapeutic effect of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder prepared by the new process on the rat's trigeminal neuralgia model caused by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, evaluate its potential clinical application value, and compare the therapeutic effect with that of Cranial Painkiller granules, so as to provide data support for the application of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and precise treatment. MethodsThe rat's trigeminal neuralgia model was constructed by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and the rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, carbamazepine group (60 mg·kg-1), Cranial Painkiller granules group (2.70 g·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dosage groups of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder (1.35, 2.70, 5.40 g·kg-1) according to the basal mechanical pain thresholds, and there were 10 rats in each group. The drug was administered by gavage to each group 2 h after modeling, and distilled water was given by gavage to the normal and model groups under the same conditions once a day for 10 d. Von Frey brushes were used to measure mechanical pain thresholds in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect pathological changes in the trigeminal ganglion, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the inflammatory factors interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in rat serum, as well as neuropeptide substance P (SP) and β-endorphin (β-EP) levels in rat brain tissue. Western blot technique was used to detect the levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and OTULIN proteins in rat brain tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the pain threshold of rats in the model group showed a continuous significant decrease (P<0.01). The pathological damage of brain tissue was significant (P<0.01), and the inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in serum were significantly elevated (P<0.01). The level of the SP in the brain tissue was significantly elevated (P<0.01), and the level of β-EP was significantly reduced (P<0.01), while the level of OTULIN was significantly reduced, and NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 protein levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01). After administration of the drug, compared with the model group, the pain threshold of each dose group of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and the Cranial Painkiller granules group significantly increased (P<0.01). The inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and SP levels significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the β-EP levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01), while the levels of OTULIN protein were significantly elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of NLRP3, ASC proteins were decreased (P<0.01)in high dose Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder. Meanwhile, compared with those in the model group, the trigeminal ganglion lesions of rats in the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and Cranial Painkiller granules groups showed different degrees of improvement (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder has significant therapeutic effects on the rat model of trigeminal neuralgia induced by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and its mechanism is related to the improvement of OTULIN-regulated neuroinflammation.
6.Therapeutic Effect of Jidesheng Sheyao Tablets on VZV-induced Skin Vesicles in Guinea Pigs and Postherpetic Neuralgia in Rats
Rui XIE ; Shanshan GUO ; Zihan GENG ; Lei BAO ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Shuran LI ; Qiyue SUN ; Xinwei WANG ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xiaolan CUI ; Jing SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):38-47
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets on varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and its associated postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) to provide experimental evidence for the clinical application and secondary development of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets. MethodsFifty-six guinea pigs were randomly divided into seven groups according to their body weight, namely the normal group, the model group, the positive control group, the high-dose group, medium-dose group, and low-dose group of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (1.92, 0.96, 0.48 g·d-1), and the group treated with oral administration combined with topical application of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (0.96 g·d-1 + 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1). The skin on the back of the guinea pigs in each group was depilated and then abraded with sandpaper. Except for the normal group, 200 μL of VZV solution was dropped on the damaged parts of the back of the guinea pigs in the other groups, and the infection lasted for 2 consecutive days. The drug administration started 2 hours after the infection on the first day and lasted for 7 days. The pathological changes of the back of the guinea pigs in each group were observed every day starting from the second day after the infection. On the 7th day, the guinea pigs were sacrificed by CO2 anesthesia. The locally infected skin was taken, and the viral DNA nucleic acid load was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The pathological histology examination was carried out after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups according to their body weight, namely the normal group, the model group, the positive control group, the high-dose group, medium-dose group, and low-dose group of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (1.08, 0.54, 0.27 g·d-1), and the group treated with oral administration combined with topical application of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (0.54 g·d-1 + 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1). The rats in each group (except the normal group) were subcutaneously inoculated with 50 μL of VZV suspension between the web of the first and second fingers of the left forelimb. The skin on the back of the rats was depilated, and the drug administration started 2 hours after the infection and lasted for 10 days. The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws of the rats was detected by a Von Frey filament algometer before inoculation and on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 10th days after inoculation, and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats was detected by a hot and cold plate algometer. On the 10th day after the virus inoculation, the rats were anesthetized after the behavioral examination, and the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord segments were taken. The contents of substance P (SP), neurokinin (NK), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with those in the normal group, the guinea pigs in the model group had obvious skin herpes lesions (P<0.01). The viral nucleic acid load was high (P<0.01), and there were disorganized subcutaneous cellular structures and obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells and cell necrosis (P<0.01). The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the contents of NK, SP, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord of the rats were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose and medium-dose groups of topical administration of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets and the group of oral administration combined with topical application could significantly improve the lesions such as skin redness and herpes of the guinea pigs caused by VZV infection (P<0.01), reduce the VZV viral nucleic acid load in the skin tissues of the guinea pigs (P<0.01), alleviate the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and skin cell necrosis in the skin tissue (P<0.05), significantly increase the mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats (P<0.05), and decrease the contents of NK, SP, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord of the rats (P<0.01). ConclusionJidesheng Sheyao tablets demonstrated significant therapeutic effects on VZV-induced skin infections and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), providing a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of VZV infections.
7.Mechanism of Tibetan Medicine Sanwei Doukoutang to Improve Cognitive Dysfunction in 5×FAD Mice Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Shuran LI ; Yaxin WANG ; Jing SUN ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Yanyan BAO ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xinwei WANG ; Xinying LI ; Xihe CUI ; Xiaowei YANG ; LIUXIAN ; Mengyao CUI ; Qingshan LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):54-60
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of the Tibetan medicine Sanwei Doukoutang (SWDK) on cognitive dysfunction in mice suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its related mechanism. MethodsFifty SPF 5 × FAD mice were randomly divided into model group, total ginsenoside group(0.04 g·kg-1), high-, medium-, and low-dose groups of SWDK (32.60, 16.30, 8.15 g·kg-1), with 10 mice in each group, and ten wild-type mice of the same age were used as the normal group, male and female in 1∶1. Gavage administration was performed once daily for 8 weeks. The Morris water maze test and contextual fear memory experiment were used to observe learning and memory function. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was utilized to observe the changes in the pathomorphology of brain tissue in mice. The levels of synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic dense substance 95 (PSD95) in mice serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The positive expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the dentate gyrus (DG) region of mouse brain tissue was observed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The protein levels of BDNF, Wnt family member 3A(Wnt3a), and β-catenin were detected in the hippocampus of mice by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group of mice, the model group of mice had significantly more complex swimming routes and lower swimming speed (P<0.01), significantly lower percentage of time spent in the target quadrant (P<0.01), and a significantly lower percentage of freezing time (P<0.05). The number of neurons in the hippocampal region of mice was obviously reduced and unevenly arranged. The levels of SYP and PSD95(P<0.01) in the serum of mice were reduced, and the positive expression of BDNF in the DG region of the brain tissue of mice was reduced. The levels of hippocampal BDNF, Wnt3a, and β-catenin proteins in the hippocampus of mice were obviously reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the mice in the SWDK group and the total ginsenoside group had significantly shorter swimming routes, the high- and medium- dose SWDK groups significantly higher swimming speeds (P<0.01), significantly higher percentage of time spent in the target quadrant (P<0.01), obviously higher percentage of Freezing time (P<0.05), and obviously more neurons in the hippocampal region of the mice with tighter arrangement. The mice had elevated levels of serum SYP (P<0.05, P<0.01), PSD95 (P<0.01), increased BDNF-positive cells in the DG region of brain tissue, and obviously elevated levels of BDNF, Wnt3a, and β-catenin proteins in the hippocampus of mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionSWDK can significantly improve the cognitive dysfunction of AD mice, and its mechanism may be related to regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which promotes BDNF expression and thereby enhances synaptic plasticity, allowing neuronal signaling to be restored.
8.Therapeutic Effect of Cranial Painkiller Pills' Extract Powder in Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Injection of Talci Pulvis into Infraorbital Foramen of Model Rats Based on OTULIN-regulated Neuroinflammation
Shuran LI ; Xinwei WANG ; Jing SUN ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Yaxin WANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xinying LI ; Bing HAN ; Tianjiao LU ; Xiaolan CUI ; Liying LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):21-28
ObjectiveThis paper aims to verify the therapeutic effect of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder prepared by the new process on the rat's trigeminal neuralgia model caused by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, evaluate its potential clinical application value, and compare the therapeutic effect with that of Cranial Painkiller granules, so as to provide data support for the application of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and precise treatment. MethodsThe rat's trigeminal neuralgia model was constructed by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and the rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, carbamazepine group (60 mg·kg-1), Cranial Painkiller granules group (2.70 g·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dosage groups of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder (1.35, 2.70, 5.40 g·kg-1) according to the basal mechanical pain thresholds, and there were 10 rats in each group. The drug was administered by gavage to each group 2 h after modeling, and distilled water was given by gavage to the normal and model groups under the same conditions once a day for 10 d. Von Frey brushes were used to measure mechanical pain thresholds in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect pathological changes in the trigeminal ganglion, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the inflammatory factors interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in rat serum, as well as neuropeptide substance P (SP) and β-endorphin (β-EP) levels in rat brain tissue. Western blot technique was used to detect the levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and OTULIN proteins in rat brain tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the pain threshold of rats in the model group showed a continuous significant decrease (P<0.01). The pathological damage of brain tissue was significant (P<0.01), and the inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in serum were significantly elevated (P<0.01). The level of the SP in the brain tissue was significantly elevated (P<0.01), and the level of β-EP was significantly reduced (P<0.01), while the level of OTULIN was significantly reduced, and NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 protein levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01). After administration of the drug, compared with the model group, the pain threshold of each dose group of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and the Cranial Painkiller granules group significantly increased (P<0.01). The inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and SP levels significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the β-EP levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01), while the levels of OTULIN protein were significantly elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of NLRP3, ASC proteins were decreased (P<0.01)in high dose Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder. Meanwhile, compared with those in the model group, the trigeminal ganglion lesions of rats in the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and Cranial Painkiller granules groups showed different degrees of improvement (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder has significant therapeutic effects on the rat model of trigeminal neuralgia induced by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and its mechanism is related to the improvement of OTULIN-regulated neuroinflammation.
9.Therapeutic Effect of Jidesheng Sheyao Tablets on VZV-induced Skin Vesicles in Guinea Pigs and Postherpetic Neuralgia in Rats
Rui XIE ; Shanshan GUO ; Zihan GENG ; Lei BAO ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Shuran LI ; Qiyue SUN ; Xinwei WANG ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xiaolan CUI ; Jing SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):38-47
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets on varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and its associated postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) to provide experimental evidence for the clinical application and secondary development of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets. MethodsFifty-six guinea pigs were randomly divided into seven groups according to their body weight, namely the normal group, the model group, the positive control group, the high-dose group, medium-dose group, and low-dose group of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (1.92, 0.96, 0.48 g·d-1), and the group treated with oral administration combined with topical application of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (0.96 g·d-1 + 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1). The skin on the back of the guinea pigs in each group was depilated and then abraded with sandpaper. Except for the normal group, 200 μL of VZV solution was dropped on the damaged parts of the back of the guinea pigs in the other groups, and the infection lasted for 2 consecutive days. The drug administration started 2 hours after the infection on the first day and lasted for 7 days. The pathological changes of the back of the guinea pigs in each group were observed every day starting from the second day after the infection. On the 7th day, the guinea pigs were sacrificed by CO2 anesthesia. The locally infected skin was taken, and the viral DNA nucleic acid load was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The pathological histology examination was carried out after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups according to their body weight, namely the normal group, the model group, the positive control group, the high-dose group, medium-dose group, and low-dose group of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (1.08, 0.54, 0.27 g·d-1), and the group treated with oral administration combined with topical application of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (0.54 g·d-1 + 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1). The rats in each group (except the normal group) were subcutaneously inoculated with 50 μL of VZV suspension between the web of the first and second fingers of the left forelimb. The skin on the back of the rats was depilated, and the drug administration started 2 hours after the infection and lasted for 10 days. The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws of the rats was detected by a Von Frey filament algometer before inoculation and on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 10th days after inoculation, and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats was detected by a hot and cold plate algometer. On the 10th day after the virus inoculation, the rats were anesthetized after the behavioral examination, and the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord segments were taken. The contents of substance P (SP), neurokinin (NK), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with those in the normal group, the guinea pigs in the model group had obvious skin herpes lesions (P<0.01). The viral nucleic acid load was high (P<0.01), and there were disorganized subcutaneous cellular structures and obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells and cell necrosis (P<0.01). The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the contents of NK, SP, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord of the rats were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose and medium-dose groups of topical administration of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets and the group of oral administration combined with topical application could significantly improve the lesions such as skin redness and herpes of the guinea pigs caused by VZV infection (P<0.01), reduce the VZV viral nucleic acid load in the skin tissues of the guinea pigs (P<0.01), alleviate the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and skin cell necrosis in the skin tissue (P<0.05), significantly increase the mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats (P<0.05), and decrease the contents of NK, SP, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord of the rats (P<0.01). ConclusionJidesheng Sheyao tablets demonstrated significant therapeutic effects on VZV-induced skin infections and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), providing a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of VZV infections.
10.Mechanism of Tibetan Medicine Sanwei Doukoutang to Improve Cognitive Dysfunction in 5×FAD Mice Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Shuran LI ; Yaxin WANG ; Jing SUN ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Yanyan BAO ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xinwei WANG ; Xinying LI ; Xihe CUI ; Xiaowei YANG ; LIUXIAN ; Mengyao CUI ; Qingshan LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):54-60
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of the Tibetan medicine Sanwei Doukoutang (SWDK) on cognitive dysfunction in mice suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its related mechanism. MethodsFifty SPF 5 × FAD mice were randomly divided into model group, total ginsenoside group(0.04 g·kg-1), high-, medium-, and low-dose groups of SWDK (32.60, 16.30, 8.15 g·kg-1), with 10 mice in each group, and ten wild-type mice of the same age were used as the normal group, male and female in 1∶1. Gavage administration was performed once daily for 8 weeks. The Morris water maze test and contextual fear memory experiment were used to observe learning and memory function. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was utilized to observe the changes in the pathomorphology of brain tissue in mice. The levels of synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic dense substance 95 (PSD95) in mice serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The positive expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the dentate gyrus (DG) region of mouse brain tissue was observed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The protein levels of BDNF, Wnt family member 3A(Wnt3a), and β-catenin were detected in the hippocampus of mice by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group of mice, the model group of mice had significantly more complex swimming routes and lower swimming speed (P<0.01), significantly lower percentage of time spent in the target quadrant (P<0.01), and a significantly lower percentage of freezing time (P<0.05). The number of neurons in the hippocampal region of mice was obviously reduced and unevenly arranged. The levels of SYP and PSD95(P<0.01) in the serum of mice were reduced, and the positive expression of BDNF in the DG region of the brain tissue of mice was reduced. The levels of hippocampal BDNF, Wnt3a, and β-catenin proteins in the hippocampus of mice were obviously reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the mice in the SWDK group and the total ginsenoside group had significantly shorter swimming routes, the high- and medium- dose SWDK groups significantly higher swimming speeds (P<0.01), significantly higher percentage of time spent in the target quadrant (P<0.01), obviously higher percentage of Freezing time (P<0.05), and obviously more neurons in the hippocampal region of the mice with tighter arrangement. The mice had elevated levels of serum SYP (P<0.05, P<0.01), PSD95 (P<0.01), increased BDNF-positive cells in the DG region of brain tissue, and obviously elevated levels of BDNF, Wnt3a, and β-catenin proteins in the hippocampus of mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionSWDK can significantly improve the cognitive dysfunction of AD mice, and its mechanism may be related to regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which promotes BDNF expression and thereby enhances synaptic plasticity, allowing neuronal signaling to be restored.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail