OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the optimal dose ratio and mechanisms of the primary active components in Yinchenhao decoction (geniposide, chlorogenic acid, and rhubarb polysaccharides) for ameliorating metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the normal control group, model control group, uniform design groups 1-6, and Yinchenhao Decoction group; except for the normal control group, mice in all other groups were fed a Western diet to establish a MASLD model, and after 8 weeks of modeling, mice in the uniform design groups 1-6 and Yinchenhao Decoction group were given the corresponding drugs by gavage. At 12 weeks, all mice were sacrificed: their body weight and liver weight were measured, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of liver tissue, the plasma levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were detected, and the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in plasma and liver were measured. Based on these results, the optimal uniform design group was identified; subsequently, with plasma AST, plasma TG, and liver TC levels as screening indicators, the optimal dose ratio was obtained via a regression equation, which was further verified from two dimensions, namely functional indicators and tissue morphology. Meanwhile, glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were conducted to evaluate glucose metabolic homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in mice, periodic acid-Schiff staining was used to observe glycogen accumulation, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was employed to detect the mRNA expression of genes related to glycolipid metabolism and bile acid metabolism, Western blotting was performed to measure the protein expression of molecules involved in bile acid metabolism, and commercial kits were used to determine the plasma levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), and total bile acid (TBA). RESULTS: Combinations of geniposide, chlorogenic acid, and rhubarb polysaccharide all reduced the liver-to-body weight ratio, alleviated liver injury, and decreased lipid accumulation, among which the uniform design group 6 (200 mg/kg geniposide+160 mg/kg chlorogenic acid+340 mg/kg rhubarb polysaccharide) exhibited the optimal efficacy. Meanwhile, regression analysis indicated that the dosage ratio of uniform design group 6 was the optimal one for MASLD intervention. Validation experiments showed that, compared with single-drug intervention, the optimal dosage ratio resulted in significantly lower body weight, as well as lower plasma levels of ALT, AST and TC in mice (all P<0.05), along with a more pronounced reduction in the area of hepatic lipid accumulation. Mechanistic investigation experiments demonstrated that intervention with the optimal dosage ratio significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in mice (all P<0.05), reduced hepatic glycogen deposition, and downregulated the mRNA expression of glycolipid metabolism-related genes such as Gsk3, G6pc, Pck1, Fbp1, Fasn, Srebp-1c, Scd1, Slc27a2, and Slc27a5 (all P<0.05); it also decreased plasma levels of TBIL, DBIL, and TBA (all P<0.05), reversed the abnormal protein expression of bile salt export pump (BSEP), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), and cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in the liver (all P<0.05), and reversed the abnormal mRNA expression of bile acid metabolism-related genes including Nr1h4, Cyp7a1, Cyp27a1, Slc10a1, and Slco1a1 (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The combination of geniposide (200 mg/kg), chlorogenic acid (160 mg/kg), and rhubarb polysaccharide (340 mg/kg) exerts the optimal ameliorative effect on MASLD in mice. This superior efficacy is presumably achieved by synergistically regulating the key nodes of glycolipid metabolism and bile acid metabolism, ultimately optimizing the therapeutic outcome.

Objective To explore the effect of sucralfate on cytokines in rats with paraquat (PQ) poisoning. Methods Seventy-two healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into PQ model group, sodium bicarbonate intervention group (SB group) and sucralfate suspension gel group (LTL group), with 24 rats in each group. The rat model of PQ poisoning was reproduced by one-time intragastric administration of PQ solution 25 mg/kg. The rats in SB group and LTL group were intragastricly administrated with 5 mL·kg-1·d-1of 100 g/L sodium bicarbonate or 200 g/L sucralfate at 2 hours after exposing to PQ, and the rats in PQ model group were given the same amount of sterile saline. The abdominal aortic blood of rats was collected at 1, 3, 6, and 10 days after PQ poisoning, and the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The left lung tissue was harvested, and lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio was assessed. Results With prolonged exposure, lung W/D ratios in all the groups were increased gradually, reached the peak at 10 days, but in the SB group and LTL group, the amplitude of increase was obviously reduced, the ratios were significantly decreased at 6 days and 10 days as compared with those in PQ model group (SB group vs. PQ model group: 4.99±0.79 vs. 6.98±0.86 at 6 days, 5.61±0.36 vs. 7.36±0.95 at 10 days; LTL group vs. PQ model group: 4.61±0.24 vs. 6.98±0.86 at 6 days, 4.24±0.20 vs. 7.36±0.95 at 10 days, all P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between SB group and LTL group (all P > 0.05). After PQ poisoning, the levels of TNF-α, IL-10 and TGF-β1 were elevated, and reached the peak at 3 days and then decreased gradually. Compared with the PQ model group, serum TNF-α, IL-10 and TGF-β1 levels in SB group and LTL group were decreased significantly [SB group vs. PQ model group: 3-day TNF-α (ng/L) was 147.6±12.3 vs. 168.2±11.3, 3-day IL-10 (ng/L) was 65.4±3.2 vs. 115.1±9.2, 3-day TGF-β1 (ng/L) was 356.3±50.3 vs. 415.6±68.3; LTL group vs. PQ model group: 3-day TNF-α (ng/L) was 82.2±7.4 vs. 168.2±11.3, 3-day IL-10 (ng/L) was 44.4±5.2 vs.115.1±9.2, 3-day TGF-β1 (ng/L) was 296.3±40.2 vs. 415.6±68.3, all P < 0.05], especially in LTL group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Early gastrointestinal lavage with sucralfate could effectively reduce the inflammatory exudation in lung tissue after PQ poisoning, and inhibit the cytokine secretion.

Objective To study family typology of stroke survivors′spouse and its relationship with perceived social support and offer a basic reference for family intervention. Methods A total of 327 qualified spouses of stroke survivors were investigated in the Family Cohesion and Adaptability Questionnaire (FACESII-CV) and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) for their family typology proportion and relationship with PSSS. Results Compared with normal group, the ratios of extremity type family and middle family type were increased in this study: 23.9%(78/327)vs. 16.4%(20/122), 45.0%(147/327) vs. 29.5%(36/122), while the equilibrium family type were decreased:31.1% (102/327) vs. 54.1%(66/122), and there were significant differences (χ2=23.089, P<0.01). PSSS scores of spouses were (61.99±11.90) points, which included family support (21.71±4.27) points and social support (40.28±8.31) points. The scores were all in high level. Inter-comparison of three types of family showed the scores of PSSS were higher in extremity type families than those in middle and equilibrium type families: (68.27±11.27) points vs. (61.04±12.18), (59.56±10.34) points, and there were significant differences (F=5.636, P=0.005), but no significant difference between the last two (P > 0.05). Family typology was the most important factor to PSSS (β=0.212, P<0.05) in spouses of stroke survivors, followed by education degree of spouses (β=-0.190, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the patients' spouses the baseline indicators in three types of families (P> 0.05). Conclusions Among the spouses of stroke survivors, the ratios of extremity and middle family type are increased but equilibrium family type are decreased. Family typology is the most important factor to PSSS of survivors′spouse. The PSSS of survivors′spouse in extremity type families is higher than that in middle and equilibrium type families. Intervention should be offered to the families, guiding the conversion of family typology from other types to extremity.

Objective To explore the reversion effect of Gemcitabine-resistance A549 cell (A549/Gem) by silencing CXCR4.Methods A549 cell was induced by continuous stepwise exposure to Gemcitabine in order to obtain Gemcitabine-resistance A549 cell ( A549/Gem) in vitro.The CXCR4 expressions level of A549 and A549/Gem were detected by Quantitative RT-PCR ( RT-qPCR) and Western blot analyses.The CXCR4 shRNA vector was transfected into the A549/Gem cell by targeting silence CXCR4.Furthermore, MTT assay was used to explore the IC50 and RI in A549, A549/Gem and A549/Gem-CXCR4 cells.Moreover, Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expressions of phospho-JNK, phospho-p38 and phospho-ERK 1/2 in A549, A549/Gem and A549/Gem-CXCR4 cells.Results Gemcitabine-resistance A549 cell ( A549/Gem) was successful constructed by using continuous stepwise exposure to Gemcitabine in vitro.The expression level of CXCR4 was up-regulated in A549/Gem cell than in A549 cell.The CXCR4 shRNA vector could significantly decrease CXCR4 expression in A549/Gem cell.The IC50 values of Gemcitabine in A549, A549/Gem and A549/Gem-CXCR4 cell were (0.08 ±0.01)μmol/L, (14.01 ±0.21)μmol/L and (1.84 ±0.61)μmol/L, respectively.The RI value of Gemcitabine was (127.12 ±12.28) in A549/Gem cells, while the value of RI was (27.3 ±0.98) in A549/Gem-CXCR4 cells.The expression level of phospho-JNK, phospho-p38 and phospho-ERK 1/2 were also markedly inhibited in A549/Gem-CXCR4 cell than in A549/Gem cell.Conclusion CXCR4 is up-regulated in A549/Gem cell.Targeting silence CXCR4 can successfully reverse drug-resistance of Gemcitabine in A549/Gem cells, which hints CXCR4 is associated with lung cancer radiation therapy as an effective molecular target.