OBJECTIVES: To explore the therapeutic effect of LuoFuShan Rheumatism Plaster (LFS) on neuropathic pain (NP) and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: Mouse models of sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury (CCI) were treated with low, medium, and high doses (2.2, 4.4, and 8.8 cm², respectively) of LFS by topical application for 14 consecutive days. The therapeutic effects were assessed by evaluating the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT), paw withdrawal latency (PWL), plasma IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and histopathology of the sciatic nerve. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to identify the key targets and signaling pathways. The key targets were verified by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. The biosafety of LFS was evaluated by measuring the organ indices and damage indicators of the heart, liver, and kidneys. RESULTS: Compared with the CCI group, LFS dose-dependently increased MWT and PWL, reduced plasma IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and alleviated sciatic nerve inflammation in the mouse models. Network pharmacology identified 378 bioactive compounds targeting 279 NP-associated genes enriched in TLR and TNF signaling. Molecular docking showed that quercetin and ursolic acid in LFS could stably bind to TLR4 and TNF‑α. In the mouse models of sciatic nerve CCI, LFS significantly downregulated the mRNA expression levels of Tlr4 and Tnf-α in the spinal cord in a dose-dependent manner and lowered the protein expressions of TLR4 and TNF-α in the sciatic nerve. LFS treatment did not cause significant changes in the organ indices or damage indicators of the heart, liver and kidneys as compared with those in the CCI model group and sham-operated group. CONCLUSIONS LFS alleviates NP in mice by suppression of TLR4/TNF-α-mediated neuroinflammation with a good safety profile.
Animals ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Sciatic Nerve/injuries* ; Male ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin-6

OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the effects of C3435T polymorphism in ABCB1 gene on lipid-lowering efficacy of statins. METHODS Retrieved from PubMed， Web of Science， the Cochrane Library， CNKI and VIP， the cohort studies on the use of statins were collected from the inception to November 1， 2023. After literature screening， data extraction and quality evaluation， meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS A total of 11 literature involving 1 575 patients were included. The results showed that under the dominant genetic model， the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） [MD＝－1.87， 95%CI （－3.62， －0.13）， P＝0.04]， total cholesterol （TC） [MD＝－1.42， 95%CI （－2.80， －0.04）， P＝0.04] in patients with CT+TT genotype was significantly higher than CC genotype. There was no significant difference in the increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） [MD＝－0.65， 95%CI （－2.48， 1.18）， P＝0.49] or the decrease of triglyceride （TG） [MD＝－0.05， 95%CI （－2.94， 2.84）， P＝0.97] between patients with CT+TT genotype and CC genotype. Under the recessive genetic model， the reduction of TC [MD＝2.26， 95%CI （0.97， 3.56）， P＝0.000 6] and the increase of HDL-C [MD＝2.38， 95%CI （0.42， 4.35）， P＝0.02] in patients with TT genotype were significantly higher than CC+ CT genotype. There was no significant difference in the reduction of LDL-C [MD＝1.53， 95%CI （－0.10， 3.15）， P＝0.07] or TG [MD＝0.06， 95%CI （－2.98， 3.10）， P＝0.97] between CC+CT genotype and TT genotype. Under the additive genetic model， the reduction of TC [MD＝2.98， 95%CI （1.27， 4.69）， P＝0.000 6] and LDL-C [MD＝2.84， 95%CI （0.67， 5.01）， P＝0.01] in patients with TT genotype were significantly higher than CC genotype. There was no significant difference in the increase of HDL-C [MD＝2.40， 95%CI （－0.17， 4.97）， P＝0.07] or the decrease of TG [MD＝0.97， 95%CI 　　 （－2.93， 4.87）， P＝0.63] between patients with TT genotype and CC genotype. CONCLUSIONS The reduction of LDL-C and TC in patients with dyslipidemia treated with statins may be related to the heterozygous and homozygous mutation of C3435T in ABCB1 gene， and the reduction of LDL-C and TC in patients with CT or TT genotype is more obvious， compared with patients with CC genotype. The elevation of HDL-C may be related to homozygous mutation， and the effect of HDL-C elevation may be more obvious in patients with TT genotype， compared with CC+CT genotype. However， the change of TG may not be related to the C3435T polymorphism in ABCB1 gene.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of pattern elements and the distribution of patterns of femoral head necrosis, hip osteoarthritis, and hip rheumatoid arthritis, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the "different diseases with the same pattern" of chronic bone diseases. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted to select patients with femoral head necrosis Association Research Circulation Osseous Ⅰ-Ⅱ stages, hip osteoarthritis Kellgren & Lawrence Ⅰ-Ⅱ stages, and acute or subacute hip rheumatoid arthritis who visited the Minimally Invasive Arthrology Department, Traumatology Department, and Rheumatology and Immunology Department of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital from June 2020 to June 2022. The " case report form - traditional Chinese medicine pattern manifestation scale" previously developed by our team was used to collect the pattern manifestations, which were included into an Excel 2020 spreadsheet to establish a database. SPSS 20.0 software was used for factor analysis and cluster analysis to extract pattern element information, such as disease nature and location, in order to summarize the characteristics of pattern elements, the distribution of patterns, and the similarities and differences of the three kinds of early hip joint diseases.Results A total of 410 patients were included, including 150 patients with femoral head necrosis, 160 patients with hip osteoarthritis, and 100 patients with hip rheumatoid arthritis. The pattern elements of the disease nature of femoral head necrosis include phlegm (dampness), blood stasis, yang deficiency, essence deficiency, and qi deficiency. The pattern types were initially divided into four categories: syndrome of meridian obstruction (43.33％), syndrome of phlegm and blood stasis blocking collaterals (38.00％), syndrome of liver and kidney deficiency (12.00％), and syndrome of kidney essence deficiency (6.67％). The pattern elements of the disease nature of hip osteoarthritis include phlegm (dampness), blood stasis, qi deficiency, essence deficiency, yang deficiency, and cold (dampness). The pattern types were preliminarily divided into five categories: syndrome of spleen and kidney deficiency (37.50％), syndrome of meridian obstruction (26.87％), syndrome of cold and dampness obstruction (18.75％), syndrome of phlegm and blood stasis obstruction (9.38％), and syndrome of liver and kidney deficiency (7.50％). The pattern elements of the disease nature of hip rheumatoid arthritis include phlegm (dampness), blood stasis, qi deficiency, yin and yang deficiency, cold (dampness), and essence deficiency. The pattern types were preliminarily divided into four categories: syndrome of phlegm and blood stasis obstruction (34.00％), syndrome of cold and dampness obstruction (28.00％), syndrome of blood stasis blocking collaterals (23.00％), and syndrome of liver and kidney deficiency (15.00％). Overall, the top five pattern manifestations of the three kinds of hip joint diseases were hip joint pain (96.59％), tenderness (93.90％), fixed pain (87.56％), heavy joints (85.37％), and sourness of lower limbs (75.37％). The pattern elements of the disease nature include phlegm (dampness), blood stasis, qi deficiency, etc. The pattern types were preliminarily divided into five categories: syndrome of phlegm stasis blocking collaterals (33.17％), syndrome of meridian obstruction (31.95％), syndrome of cold dampness obstruction (21.46％), syndrome of liver and kidney deficiency (7.32％), and syndrome of spleen and kidney deficiency (6.10％). There were 21 similar pattern manifestations in the three kinds of early hip joint diseases, with blood stasis and spleen deficiency being the main pattern.Conclusion The common pattern characteristics of three kinds of early hip joint diseases are spleen deficiency and blood stasis. In addition, femoral head necrosis is accompanied with phlegm-dampness pattern, hip osteoarthritis is accompanied with kidney deficiency and phlegm-dampness pattern, hip rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied with kidney deficiency and cold-dampness pattern.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between early postoperative cognitive dysfunction and neuromodulator protein 1β(NRG1β) in aged rats.Methods:Pathogen-free healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 18-20 months, weighing 600-700 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=10 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), operation group (group O) and NRG1β group (group N). Exploratory laparotomy was performed in group O and group N. NRG1β 0.5 μg/kg was slowly injected into the lateral ventricle on 1 day before surgery in group N, while the equal volume of 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer solution was given instead in C and O groups.Learning and memory function was assessed using Morris water maze test performed at day 3 after operation.The rats were then sacrificed, and the hippocampi were removed for determination of the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 (by Western blot) and contents of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results:Compared with group C, the postoperative escape latency was significantly prolonged, the expression of NF-κB p65 was up-regulated, and the contents of IL-1β and TNF-α were increased in group O and group N ( P<0.05). Compared with group O, the postoperative escape latency was significantly shortened, the expression of NF-κB p65 was down-regulated, and the contents of IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased in group N ( P<0.05). Conclusion:NRG1β is involved in the endogenous protective mechanism of early postoperative cognitive dysfunction probably by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB pathway and inhibiting inflammatory responses in aged rats.

OBJECTIVE： To analyze the formulation regularity of Chinese patent medicine for knee osteoarthritis （KOA）， and to provide reference for the clinical standard use of Chinese patent medicine for KOA and the research and development of new drugs. METHODS： Chinese Pharmacopoeia （2015 edition， part Ⅰ），National Drug Reimbursement List （2017 edition）， National Essential Drug List （2017 edition）， Chinese Materia Medica Preparation （1992 version）， Compilation of National Standard for Chinese Patent Medicines （2002 edition）， Handbook of Rational Application of Chinese Patent Medicines in Surgery and Orthopedics （2010 edition） were searched to collect the type and formulation of Chinese patent medicines for “KOA”， “osteoarthritis”， “Bi syndrome”， “promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis， dispelling wind and removing dampness， tonifying liver and kidney”. Supplementary the type and formulations of Chinese patent medicines for KOA by questionaire survey of clinial experts. The types， properties， meridian tropism， frequency and combination of medicinal materials used in Chinese patent medicine formulations were counted by using TCM inheritance auxiliary platform software V 2.5. The association rules and entropy clustering method were used to analyze the formulation regularity. RESULTS： A total of 190 Chinese patent medicines were collected， involving 289 TCM. With the top 10 used frequency being Angelica sinensis （75 times）， Boswellia carterii （55 times）， Carthamus tinctorius （53 times）， Commiphora myrrha （51 times）， Achyranthes bidentata （49 times）， Notopterygium incisum （47 times）， Angelica pubescens （45 times）， Saposhnikovia divaricata （45 times）， Angelica dahurica （39 times）， Ligusticum chuanxiong （39 times）. Medicinal material were mainly Xinwen in properties field and mainly liver meridian and spleen meridian in meridian entry field. Top 5 frequency of medicinal material combinations were C. myrrha-B. carterii， B. carterii-A. sinensis， A. sinensis-N. incisum， A. bidentata-A. sinensis， L. chuanxiong-A. sinensis. 14 core medicinal material combinations and 7 new developed formulations were concluded. CONCLUSIONS： This study analyzed the formulation regularity of Chinese patent medicines for KOA with the help of TCM inheritance auxiliary platform software V 2.5， which can provide reference for clinical differentiation of symptoms and signs and research and development of related new medicines related to KOA.

Objective To evaluate the role of conventional protein kinase Cγ (cPKCγ)/growthassociated protein-43 (GAP-43) signaling pathway in ketamine-induced apoptosis in hippocampal neurons of developing rats in an in vitro experiment.Methods Primarily cultured hippocampal neurons were seeded in culture plates at a density of 1×10.6 cells/ml and divided into 2 groups (n=10 each) using a random number table:control group (C group) and ketamine group (K group).Group C received no treatment.Ketamine was added with the final concentration of 300 μmol/L in group K.At 12 h of culture or incubation,the apoptosis in hippocampal neurons was detected by flow cytometry.The apoptotic rate was calculated.The expression of cPKCγ,GAP-43 and phosphorylated GAP-43 in hippocampal neurons was measured by Western blot.Results Compared with group C,the apoptotic rates of hippocampal neurons were significantly increased,and the expression of cPKCγ,GAP-43 and phosphorylated GAP-43 was down-regulated in group K (P<0.01).Conclusion The mechanism by which ketamine induces apoptosis in hippocampal neurons of developing rats may be related to inhibition of cPKCγ/GAP-43 signaling pathway activation in an in vitro experiment.

Objective To evaluate the role of Ras homolog family member A (RhoA)/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) signaling pathway in propofol-induced neuroapoptosis in the hippocampus of newborn rats.Methods Experiment Ⅰ Primarily cultured hippocampal neurons were seeded in 6-well culture plates at a density of 1×106 cells/ml and divided into 2 groups (n=6 each) using a random number table:solvent control group (C group) and propofol group (P group).Propofol was added with the final concentration of 60 μg/ml in group P.Dimethyl sulfoxide was added with the final concentration of 0.04％ in group C.The expression of RhoA and ROCK2 in hippocampal neurons was measured by Western blot at 24 h of incubation.Experiment Ⅱ Primarily cultured hippocampal neurons were seeded in 6-well culture plates at a density of 1 × 106 cells/ml and divided into 3 groups (n =6 each) using a random number table:solvent control group (C group),propofol group (P group) and propofol plus specific RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway blocker Y27632 group (P+Y group).Propofol was added with the final concentration of 60 μg/ml in group P.Propofol at the final concentration of 60 μg/ml and Y27632 at the final concentration of 10 μmol/L were added in group P+Y.Dimethyl sulfoxide was added with the final concentrauon of 0.04％ in group C.At 24 h of incubation,the neuroapoptosis in hippocampi was detected by flow cytometry,and the expression of activated caspase-3 in hippocampal neurons was measured by Western blot.The apoptotic rate was calculated.Results Experiment Ⅰ Compared with group C,the expression of RhoA and ROCK2 in hippocampal neurons was significantly up-regulated in group P (P＜0.05).Experiment Ⅱ Compared with group C,the apoptotic rate of hippocampal neurons was significantly increased,and the expression of activated caspase-3 was up-regulated in P and P+Y groups (P＜0.05 or 0.01).Compared with group P,the apoptotic rate of hippocampal neurons was significantly decreased,and the expression of activated caspase-3 was down-rcgulatcd in group P + Y (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Activation of RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway is involved in propofol-induced neuroapoptosis in hippocampi of newborn rats.

Objective Toexplore the findings of bile flow artifacts (BFA)on MR cholangiopancreatography(MRCP). MethodsEighty five patients with normal common bile duct (CBD)and 95 patients with dilated CBD who had MRCP examination were studied retrospectively. Findings of BFA on original thin images of MRCP were recorded. Date were tested by Chi-square test and Spearman ceefficient of rank correlation analysis. ResultsThe rate of BFA in CBD with normal group was 38. 8％ ( 33/85 ), in dilated group was 83.2％ (79/95), there was statistically significant difference between them( x2 ＝ 37. 512,P ＝ 0. 000). BFA was not observed when the diameter of CBD was no more than 4 mm. BFA was partly observed when the diameter of CBD was 4 mm ＜ ψ≤ 8 mm, single- string sign was predominant findings (52.6％ ,30/57 ). Three-string sign was predominant findings in CBD with slight-dilated group ( 85.7％,36/42). Multi-string sign was predominant findings in CBD with medium-dilated group (84. 6％, 22/26 ).There was statistically significant difference between each groups ( x2 ＝ 284. 561, P ＝ 0. 000 ).BFA had different manifestations with CBD of different diameter, there was relative between them ( r ＝ 0. 553, P ＝0. 000). ConclusionBFA can occur in CBD with normal diameter. CBD with dilated group has higher rate of BFA than CBD with normal diameter. Manifestations of BFA are relative with the diameter of CBD.

Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP)and its diagnostic value.Methods Imaging examinations and clinical data of 13 patients with AIP were reviewed retrospectively.Results All patients had enlargement of pancreas either diffusely ( n =11 ) or focally in pancreatic head ( n =2 ).The swollen pancreas was of homogeneous density on CT scan ( n =13 ),hypointense on T1-weighted images and mildly hyperintense on T2-weighted images in 4 patients.It was demonstrated as mild enhancement on artery phase of dynamic imaging and progressive enhancement on portal and delayed phase images.Capsule-like enhanced rim was presented around the pancreas in 9 patients.Stricture or obliteration of the common bile duct located in pancreatic head was found in 10 patients accompanied by intrahepatic bile duct dilation.Pancreatic duct was invisible on axial images in 11 cases.Among the 6 patients underwent MRCP,it was showed diffuse and irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct and stricture of common bile duct located in pancreatic head in 4 cases.ERCP showed diffuse and irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct in 7 cases.Extra-pancreatic lesion included veins around pancreas involvement in 8 cases;multiple low density renal lesions in 6 cases; retroperitoneal fibrosis in 2 cases; stricture of hilar duct,interstitial lung disease and ankylosing spondylitis in 1 case,respectively.Conclusions AIP shows some characteristic imaging features,and imaging examinations play an important role in the diagnosis of AIP.Recognition of extra-pancreatic lesions aids in the correct diagnosis of AIP.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of propofol against lung injury following ischemia-reperfusion of hind limbs. Methods Thirty-six Wistar rats weighing 300-350 g were anesthetized with mtraperitoneal 3% pentobarbital 40 mg?kg-1. Bilateral femoral artery and vein were exposed for occlusion of the circulation of the hind limbs. Right internal jugular vein was cannulated for drug administration. The animals were randomly assigned into 3 groups ( n = 12 in each group) : (1) sham-operated group in which bilateral femoral artery and vein were exposed but not occluded; (2) I/R group in which the bilateral femoral artery and vein were occluded for 4h with the atraumatic microclips and the released for 6h reperfusion , and (3) I/R + propofol group received a bolus of 5 mg?kg-1 propofol 10 min before reperfusion followed by propofol infusion at 10 mg?kg-1?h-1. In group 1 and 2 the animals received same amount of normal saline instead of propofol. At the end of 6h reperfusion the animals were sacrificed by bloodletting. The lungs were immediately removed for determination of MDA content, SOD activity, the lung water, iNOS and ICAM-1 expression and microscopic examination. Results I/R significantly increased lung water and MDA content, and expression of iNOS and ICAM-1 and decreased SOD activity, while propofol significantly attenuated these changes induced by I/R of hind limbs. Light microscopic findings in I/R group included alveolar edema, localized pulmonary atelectasis and hemorrhage and large amount of polymorphonuclear infiltration. Electron microscopic examination showed a series of ultrastructural changes such as diffuse irregular thickening of basement membrene, alveolar type Ⅰ cell swelling, alveolar type Ⅱ cell injury associated with emptying of lamella bodies. These changes were significantly less prominent in the rats which received propofol. Conclusion Propofol has protective effects on the lungs against injury induced by I/R of the hind limbs.