Zhishi Shaoyaosan is the 34^th prescription in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic Formulas （Second Batch） published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2023. It is widely used in clinical practice and has a definite curative effect. However， there is currently a lack of its ancient literature analysis and textual research， and there is no corresponding Chinese patent medicine preparation. By consulting and combing the relevant ancient books of traditional Chinese medicine， this paper analyzes and conducts textual research of the origin， composition， measurement， administration， and efficacy of Zhishi Shaoyaosan. The results show that Zhishi Shaoyaosan is derived from Essentials from the Golden Cabinet written by Zhang Zhongjing in the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is mainly recorded in the name of Zhishi Shaoyaosan in the literature of the past dynasties. The prescription is composed of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus and Paeoniae Radix Alba. The processing method is stir-frying Aurantii Fructus Immaturus to scorch and using raw Paeoniae Radix Alba. The dose of the prescription recorded in the ancient books is mainly an equal amount of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus and Paeoniae Radix Alba in one square-cun spoon， taken three times a day， which is converted into a modern dose of 1.5 g each time （0.75 g Aurantii Fructus Immaturus and 0.75 g Paeoniae Radix Alba each time）. The components of the prescription are ground into powder and taken with barley porridge， three times a day. The efficacy is to break stagnated Qi， harmonize blood， and relieve restlessness and pain. It is mainly used to treat postpartum abdominal pain， acute pelvic inflammatory disease， acute cholecystitis and intestinal diseases， stroke sequelae， and other diseases. This study combs and analyzes the ancient literature recording Zhishi Shaoyaosan and clarifies the key information of the prescription， which provides a basis for promoting the research and development of its patent medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of Chinese medicine (CM) Fuzheng Huazhuo Decoction (FHD) in treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who persistently tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Shanghai New International Expo Center shelter hospital in China between April 1 and May 30, 2022. Patients diagnosed as COVID-19 with persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results for ⩾8 days after diagnosis were enrolled. Patients in the control group received conventional Western medicine (WM) treatment, while those in the FHD group received conventional WM plus FHD for at least 3 days. The primary outcome was viral clearance time. Secondary outcomes included negative conversion rate within 14 days, length of hospital stay, cycle threshold (Ct) values of the open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab) and nucleocapsid protein (N) genes, and incidence of new-onset symptoms during hospitalization. Adverse events (AEs) that occurred during the study period were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 1,765 eligible patients were enrolled in this study (546 in the FHD group and 1,219 in the control group). Compared with the control group, patients receiving FHD treatment showed shorter viral clearance time for nucleic acids [hazard ratio (HR): 1.500, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.353-1.664, P<0.001] and hospital stays (HR: 1.371, 95% CI: 1.238-1.519, P<0.001), and a higher negative conversion rate within 14 days (96.2% vs. 82.6%, P<0.001). The incidence of new-onset symptoms was 59.5% in the FHD group, similar to 57.8% in the control group (P>0.05). The Ct values of ORF1ab and N genes increased more rapidly over time in the FHD group than those in the control group post-randomization (ORF1ab gene: β =0.436±0.053, P<0.001; N gene: β =0.415 ±0.053, P<0.001). The incidence of AEs in the FHD group was lower than that in the control group (24.2% vs. 35.4%, P<0.001). No serious AEs were observed. CONCLUSION FHD was effective and safe for patients with persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200063956).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; SARS-CoV-2/drug effects* ; COVID-19/virology* ; Adult ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Patients suffering from nerve injury often experience exacerbated pain responses and complain of memory deficits. The dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), a well-defined region responsible for learning and memory, displays maladaptive plasticity upon injury, which is assumed to underlie pain hypersensitivity and cognitive deficits. However, much attention has thus far been paid to intracellular mechanisms of plasticity rather than extracellular alterations that might trigger and facilitate intracellular changes. Emerging evidence has shown that nerve injury alters the microarchitecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and decreases ECM rigidity in the dHPC. Despite this, it remains elusive which element of the ECM in the dHPC is affected and how it contributes to neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits. Laminin, a key element of the ECM, consists of α-, β-, and γ-chains and has been implicated in several pathophysiological processes. Here, we showed that peripheral nerve injury downregulates laminin β1 (LAMB1) in the dHPC. Silencing of hippocampal LAMB1 exacerbates pain sensitivity and induces cognitive dysfunction. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of hippocampal LAMB1 causes dysregulated Src/NR2A signaling cascades via interaction with integrin β1, leading to decreased Ca²⁺ levels in pyramidal neurons, which in turn orchestrates structural and functional plasticity and eventually results in exaggerated pain responses and cognitive deficits. In this study, we shed new light on the functional capability of hippocampal ECM LAMB1 in the modulation of neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits, and reveal a mechanism that conveys extracellular alterations to intracellular plasticity. Moreover, we identified hippocampal LAMB1/integrin β1 signaling as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain and related memory loss.
Animals ; Laminin/genetics* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Male ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/metabolism* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Pyramidal Cells/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

Objective For more focused prevention and management,this investigation examines the risk factors for multidrug resistant organisms(MDRO)infections in intensive care unit(ICU)patients.Methods Case-control studies and cohort studies of risk factors for MDRO infection in ICU patients were searched in the Embase,Website of Science,Cochrane Library,PubMed,CNKI,WanFang,and VIP databases from their start to October 26,2022.The Meta-analysis was carried out with RevMan 5.3.Results A total of 32 papers were included,with 10 985 cases studied,with the quality of the literature rated as moderate to high.The results of Meta-analysis of this study showed that gender[OR=1.21,95% CI=(1.08,1.36),P=0.002],ICU length of stay[WMD=5.36,95% CI=(3.99,6.73),P<0.000 01],total length of stay[WMD=8.96,95% CI=(6.51,11.41),P<0.000 01],hypertension[OR=1.33,95% CI=(1.10,1.60),P=0.003],abnormal renal function[OR=1.69,95% CI=(1.33,2.16),P<0.000 01],hypoproteinemia[OR=1.87,95% CI=(1.51,2.32),P<0.000 01],mechanical ventilation[OR=2.26,95% CI=(1.18,4.33),P=0.01],duration of mechanical ventilation[WMD=8.83,95% CI=(2.52,15.14),P=0.006],arteriovenous placement[OR=1.46,95% CI=(1.23,1.72),P<0.000 1],placement of urinary catheter[OR=1.71,95% CI=(1.25,2.36),P<0.000 01],gastrointestinal tube placement[OR=0.10,95% CI=(0.03,0.18),P=0.008],antimicrobial drug type≥3[OR=4.27,95% CI=(2.06,8.85),P<0.000 01],use of carbapenem antibiotics[OR=4.09,95% CI=(300,5.58),P<0.000 01],the use of the third-generation cephalosporin[OR=1.63,95% CI=(1.15,2.33),P=0.007],the use of quinolone antibacterials[OR=1.86,95% CI=(1.42,2.44),P<0.000 01],the use of aminoglycoside antibiotics[OR=1.99,95% CI=(1.49,2.67),P<0.000 01],use of piperacillin-tazobactam[OR=2.94,95% CI=(1.56,5.54),P=0.000 9],use of glycopeptide antibiotics[OR=3.78,95% CI=(2.48,5.78),P<0.000 01],use of sedatives[OR=3.25,95% CI=(2.06,5.14),P<0.000 01],and use of acid suppressants[OR=1.51,95% CI=(1.06,2.16),P=0.02]are risk factors for MDRO infection in ICU patients.Conclusion MDRO infections in ICU patients are associated with gender,duration of ICU stay,chronic lung disease,total length of stay,hypertension,abnormal renal function,hypoproteinemia,mechanical ventilation,duration of mechanical ventilation,arteriovenous placement,placement of urinary catheters,gastrointestinal placement,type of antimicrobial drugs≥3,use of carbapenem antibiotics,use of third-generation cephalosporin,use of quinolone antibacterials,use of aminoglycoside antibiotics,use of piperacillin-tazobactam,use of glycopeptide antibiotics,use of sedatives,use of acid suppressants,and other factors.Targeted controls of different factors such as underlying diseases,comorbidities,invasive procedures performed,and the use of antimicrobial medications and other therapeutic pharmaceuticals could limit the risk of infection in MDRO in ICU patients.

Objective:To discuss the protective effect of sodium butyrate(NaB)on acute liver injury in the mice induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)combined with D-galactosamine(D-Gal),and to clarify its mechanism.Methods:Thirty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,and NaB group,and there were 10 mice in each group.The mice in NaB group were given 200 mg·kg-1·d-1 NaB,while the mice in control group and model group were given an equal volume of sterile water.The mice in model group and NaB group were intraperitoneally injected with 20 μg·kg-1 LPS and 600 mg·kg-1 D-Gal to induce the acute liver injury models.The body weights and liver weights of the mice in various groups were detcted,and the liver index was calculated.HE staining was used to observe the pathomorphology of liver tissue of the mice in various groups;kits were used to detect the activities of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)in serum,and the activities of total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)and catalase(CAT),and the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)in liver tissue of the mice in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)proteins in liver tissue of the mice in various groups.Results:There were no significant differences in body weights of the mice among various groups(P>0.05).Compared with control group,the liver index of the mice in model group was significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with model group,the liver index of the mice in NaB group was significantly decreased(P<0.01).The HE staining results showed that the liver tissue of the mice in control group exhibited normal structure,with clear boundaries of hepatocytes,consistent size,radially arranged around the central vein,and the nucleus located in the center of the cells;in model group,the arrangement of hepatocytes was disordered,the cells were swollen,there were multiple foci of hepatocellular necrosis,inflammatory cell infiltration,and hemorrhage;compared with model group,the cells in NaB group showed improved hepatocellular structure and reduced inflammatory infiltration.Compared with control group,the activities of ALT and AST in serum of the mice in model group were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with model group,the activities of ALT and AST in serum of the mice in NaB group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with control group,the activities of T-SOD and CAT in liver tissue of the mice in model group were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the level of MDA was significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with model group,the activities of T-SOD and CAT in liver tissue of the mice in NaB group were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the level of MDA was significantly decreased(P<0.01).The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins in liver tissue of the mice in model group were significantly decreased(P<0.05);compared with model group,the expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins in liver tissue of the mice in NaB group were significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:NaB has a protective effect on LPS/D-Gal induced acute liver injury in the mice,and its mechanism may be related to the upregulation of the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins and the increas of the activity of oxidant enzyme in liver tissue by NaB,thereby reduces the liver oxidative stress level of liver.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly ravaged the world and infected hundreds of millions of people since its outbreak. Early diagnosis of COVID-19 is conducive to the control of virus transmission and the timely treatment of patients. Among the imaging techniques, chest CT is an important basis for the diagnosis and evaluation of COVID-19. 18F-FDG PET is not generally recommended as a routine diagnostic tool for COVID-19, but it plays an important role in the assessment of SARS-CoV-2-related events based on the characteristic of whole-body multi-systemic scan and functional imaging diagnosis. In this paper, the application of 18F-FDG PET in COVID-19 diagnosis, prognostic evaluation and long-term sequelae evaluation, and clinical performance of 18F-FDG PET after COVID-19 vaccine are summarized on the basis of literature research and clinical reports analysis. Furthermore, the application and development direction of other new molecular probes for nuclear medicine in COVID-19 are prospected.

ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive indicators of early efficacy of Bushen Shengxue prescription combined with western medicine in the treatment of aplastic anemia， and provide prognosis indicators for the treatment of aplastic anemia （AA） with kidney-tonifying therapy in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） combined with western medicine. MethodA total of 126 patients treated by Bushen Shengxue prescription combined with western medicine in 19 hospitals including Xiyuan Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from September 2018 to March 2021 were selected for a retrospective study. The therapy was proven to be effective after six months of treatment. According to the efficacy after 4 months of treatment， the patients were assigned into a 4-month effective group and a 4-month ineffective group. The age， sex， disease severity （including severe aplastic anemia and non-severe aplastic anemia）， course of disease， degree of bone marrow nucleated cell proliferation， baseline hemogram levels ［including white blood cell count （WBC）， absolute neutrophil count （ANC）， hemoglobin （HGB）， platelets （PLT）， and reticulocytes （RET）］， T lymphocytes subsets， and the expression levels of T-box transcription factor （T-bet） and GATA-binding protein-3 （GATA-3） were compared between the two groups before treatment. ResultThe proportions of patients within the age ranges of ［20， 40） and ［60， 80） were higher in the 4-month effective group （P<0.05）. The sex， disease severity， course of disease， and comorbidities had no significant differences between the two groups. The 4-month effective group had higher baseline levels of HGB， WBC， ANC， and PLT than the 4-month ineffective group （P<0.05）， and there was no significant difference in the RET level between the two groups before treatment. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that the PLT level before treatment was an independent factor affecting the onset time， while other indicators did not affect the onset time. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was established to analyze the value of PLT level before treatment for predicting the onset time， and the area under the curve was 0.691. With the critical value of 40.5×10⁹/L， the sensitivity and specificity of the prediction that the therapy will take effect within 4 months were 0.569 and 0.893， respectively. The two groups of patients were graded according to age ｛（14， 20）， ［20， 40）， ［40， 60）， and ［60， 80）｝ and PLT level before treatment （PLT<40×10⁹/L， PLT≥40×10⁹/L）. The proportion of the patients with PLT≥40×10⁹/L before treatment in the 4-month effective group was significantly higher than that in the 4-month ineffective group （P<0.05）. The degree of bone marrow nucleated cell proliferation before treatment had no significant difference between the two groups. The level of total T lymphocytes in the 4-month effective patients was lower than that in the 4-month ineffective patients before treatment （P<0.05）. The levels of Th1 cells， Th2 cells， CD4⁺ T cells， and CD8⁺ T cells showed no significant differences between the two groups before treatment. The T-bet expression level in the 4-month effective group was higher than that in the 4-month ineffective group before treatment （P<0.05）， while the expression level of GATA-3 showed no significant difference between the two groups before treatment. ConclusionBushen Shengxue prescription combined with western medicine will achieve faster effect for the patients within the age ranges of ［20， 40） or ［40， 60）， with higher levels of HGB， WBC， ANC， and PLT （especially those with PLT≥40×10⁹/L）， lower level of total T lymphocytes， or higher T-bet expression level before treatment.

Brachial plexus avulsion (BPA) is a combined injury involving the central and peripheral nervous systems. Patients with BPA often experience severe neuropathic pain (NP) in the affected limb. NP is insensitive to the existing treatments, which makes it a challenge to researchers and clinicians. Accumulated evidence shows that a BPA-induced pain state is often accompanied by sympathetic nervous dysfunction, which suggests that the excitation state of the sympathetic nervous system is correlated with the existence of NP. However, the mechanism of how somatosensory neural crosstalk with the sympathetic nerve at the peripheral level remains unclear. In this study, through using a novel BPA C7 root avulsion mouse model, we found that the expression of BDNF and its receptor TrκB in the DRGs of the BPA mice increased, and the markers of sympathetic nervous system activity including α1 and α2 adrenergic receptors (α1-AR and α2-AR) also increased after BPA. The phenomenon of superexcitation of the sympathetic nervous system, including hypothermia and edema of the affected extremity, was also observed in BPA mice by using CatWalk gait analysis, an infrared thermometer, and an edema evaluation. Genetic knockdown of BDNF in DRGs not only reversed the mechanical allodynia but also alleviated the hypothermia and edema of the affected extremity in BPA mice. Further, intraperitoneal injection of adrenergic receptor inhibitors decreased neuronal excitability in patch clamp recording and reversed the mechanical allodynia of BPA mice. In another branch experiment, we also found the elevated expression of BDNF, TrκB, TH, α1-AR, and α2-AR in DRG tissues from BPA patients compared with normal human DRGs through western blot and immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed that peripheral BDNF is a key molecule in the regulation of somatosensory-sympathetic coupling in BPA-induced NP. This study also opens a novel analgesic target (BDNF) in the treatment of this pain with fewer complications, which has great potential for clinical transformation.
Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; Hyperalgesia/metabolism* ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism* ; Hypothermia/metabolism* ; Neuralgia ; Brachial Plexus/injuries* ; Edema/metabolism*

Aim To explore the effect of tanshinone II A (Tan II A) on reverse cholesterol transport in atherosclerosis model mice and RAW264. 7 cells and the underlying mechanism. Methods Thirty-two male LDLR -/- mice were randomly divided into four groups. These mice were fed with normal diet or high fat diet for 12 weeks. The control group and model group were given normal saline. Tan II A group and atorvastatin group were given Tan II A solution and atorvastatin solution for 12 weeks. RAW264. 7 cells were induced with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) 100 mg • L-

Aim To explore the protective effect of Zishen Huoxue Prescription on OGD/R-induced primary hippocampal neuron damage in rats and the possible mechanism. Methods After the isolated primary hippocampal neurons were identified by immunofluorescence, OGD/R induced neuronal damage, and the changes of autophagic flux at different re-oxygenation time were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. After OGD/R-induced primary hippocampal neurons were intervened with serum containing Zishen Huoxue Prescription, cell viability was detected by CCK-8, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, autophagosomes were detected by transmission electron microscopy, and autophagy-related protein expressions were detected by Western blot. Results 10% Zishen Huoxue Prescription-containing serum could significantly improve cell viability and reduce the proportion of cell apoptosis, increase the number of autophagosomes in neurons, and up-regulate the expression of autophagy-related protein PINK1, Parkin, and pATG16L1. Conclusions Zishen Huoxue Prescription can effectively resist OGD/R-induced apoptosis of primary hippocampal neurons in rats, and its effect may be related to the regulation of PINK1-Parkin pathway to promote mitophagy.