ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Sanren Runchang formula in treating constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-C） by regulating the brain-gut axis and the effects of the formula on serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）， vasoactive intestinal peptide （VIP）， and substance P （SP）. MethodsA randomized controlled design was adopted， and 72 IBS-C patients meeting Rome Ⅳ criteria were randomized into observation and control groups （36 cases）.The observation group received Sanren Runchang formula granules twice daily， and the control group received lactulose oral solution daily for 4 weeks. IBS Symptom Severity Scale （IBS-SSS）， IBS Quality of Life Scale （IBS-QOL）， and Bristol Stool Form Scale （BSFS） were used to assess clinical symptoms， and bowel movement frequency was recorded. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale （SAS） and Self-Rating Depression Scale （SDS） were employed to evaluate psychological status. ELISA was employed to measure the serum levels of 5-HT， VIP， and SP. ResultsThe total response rate in the observation group was 91.67% （33/36）， which was higher than that （77.78%， 28/36） in the control group （χ²=4.50， P<0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed increased defecation frequency and BSFS scores， decreased IBS-SSS total score， abdominal pain and bloating scores， IBS-QOL health anxiety， anxiety， food avoidance， and behavioral disorders scores， SAS and SDS scores， serum 5-HT and VIP levels， and increased SP levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， the observation group showed more significant changes in the indicators above than the control group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The SP level showed no significant difference between the two groups. During the 4-week follow-up， the recurrence rate was 5.88% in the observation group and 31.25% in the control group. No adverse events occurred in observation group， and 2 cases of mild diarrhea occurred in the control group. ConclusionSanren Runchang formula demonstrated definitive efficacy in alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms and improving the psychological status and quality of life in IBS-C patients， with a low recurrence rate. The formula can regulate serum levels of neurotransmitters such as 5-HT and VIP， suggesting its potential regulatory effect on the brain-gut axis through modulating neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. However， its complete mechanism of action requires further investigation through detection of additional brain-gut axis-related biomarkers.

BACKGROUND:In recent years,numerous studies have found that long non-coding RNA is involved in the occurrence and development of osteoporosis.p38MAPK signaling pathway is involved in the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,osteoblasts and osteoclasts,and participates in the development of osteoporosis.LncRNA can directly or indirectly participate in the occurrence and development of osteoporosis by affecting the p38MAPK signaling pathway. OBJECTIVE:To review the effect of long non-coding RNA directly or indirectly on the progression of osteoporosis through the p38MAPK signaling pathway,and to provide a new idea for long non-coding RNA in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. METHODS:PubMed,CNKI,and Wanfang databases were searched with"long non-coding RNA,osteoporosis,mesenchymal stem cells,osteoblasts,osteoclasts,p38 signaling pathway"as the Chinese and English search terms.Old,repeated and low-credibility views were excluded.The retrieved literature was summarized,summed up,and analyzed.Seventy-six representative articles were selected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Long non-coding RNA participates in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis through a variety of ways,including promoting the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,promoting the differentiation and secretion activity of osteoblasts,inhibiting the proliferation and bone resorption of osteoclasts,and regulating the activation or inhibition of osteoblast-related cellular pathways.Activation of p38MAPK signaling pathway can delay the progression of osteoporosis,and inhibition of p38MAPK signaling pathway can inhibit the absorption of osteoclasts,thereby affecting the occurrence and development of osteoporosis.(2)The overexpression or low expression of the corresponding long non-coding RNA can affect the proliferation or differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts through the p38MAPK signaling pathway,regulate the process of bone remodeling,and then affect the occurrence and development of osteoporosis.A large number of basic research results show that long non-coding RNA and p38MAPK signaling pathway may be potential application and clinical translation value in the treatment of osteoporosis.Moreover,the corresponding long non-coding RNA overexpression or low expression lentivirus,transfection plasmid,and the corresponding p38MAPK signaling pathway inhibitor have been confirmed to have targeted regulatory effects in vitro cell experiments and animal models.(3)Therefore,targeting long non-coding RNA and p38MAPK signaling pathways to regulate the differentiation and function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells or inhibiting the proliferation and differentiation of osteoclasts may provide an innovative therapeutic strategy to delay the progression of osteoporosis.

Lumbosacral radiculopathy refers to the pain syndrome caused by inflammation or mechanical compression of the lumbar nerve root, mainly manifested as low back pain, and radiating to the lower limbs in cutaneous mode, which can be accompanied by numbness, paresthesia, tingling, muscle weakness and loss of specific reflexes and other symptoms, which not only bring physical pain and life inconvenience to the patients, but also bring huge economic burden to the social medical care. Selective nerve root block(SNRB), as a safe, effective, low-cost, precise and minimally invasive clinical technique, can accurately intervene in specific nerve roots and quickly relieve pain symptoms by reducing inflammation and improving the surrounding environment of nerves. However, there are still many challenges and controversies in practice, such as precise targeting requirements, drug selection, potential risks and complications, and differences in efficacy among different patient populations. The purpose of this review is to systematically review and analyze the existing research results on SNRB, so as to provide useful reference and guidance for the further development of this field.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of Polygala tenuifolia compatibility on toxicity， anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy of sand-ironing Strychnos nux-vomica （SS）. METHODS The preparation of SS single decoction， SS-P. tenuifolia core-removed （PC） （1∶2.5） or （1∶5） combined decoction， and SS-PC （1∶5） mixture were carried out to investigate their median lethal dose （LD50）. Using aspirin as positive control， the number of writhing movements， analgesic rate， pain latency， ear swelling degree and inflammation inhibition rate induced by the above-mentioned medicinal liquids in mice were compared. The contents of the active and toxic components， strychnine and brucine， in the above-mentioned medicinal liquids were also determined. RESULTS The LD50 values of SS single decoction， SS-PC （1∶2.5） combined decoction， SS-PC （1∶5） combined decoction and SS- PC （1∶5） mixture were 302.00， 614.47， 1 445.44 and 1 778.28 mg/kg， respectively. Compared with control group， the number of writhing movements and ear swelling degree in the mice of the above-mentioned medicinal liquid groups were reduced or decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； pain latency [at 90 and 120 minutes in the SS single decoction group， at 60 and 90 minutes in the SS-PC （1∶2.5） combined decoction group， and at 60，90， 120 minutes in the SS-PC （1∶5） combined decoction group and SS-PC （1∶5） mixture group] was significantly prolonged （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； analgesic rates of the respective medicinal liquids were 39.30%， 70.87%， 80.00% and 82.46%， and inflammation inhibition rates were 38.08%，TD 57.89%， 76.47% and 50.46%； analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of combined decoction and mixture were generally better than those of the single decoction （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. In the above-mentioned four medicinal liquids， the total contents of strychnine were 0.71%， 0.42%， 0.47% and 0.64%， and the total contents of brucine were 0.88%， 0.63%， 0.57% and 0.88%， respectively. CONCLUSIONS The combination of P. tenuifolia can reduce the toxicity of SS and enhance its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Moreover， there is a tendency for the toxicity-reducing and efficacy-enhancing effects to increase with the increasing dosage of P. tenuifolia. Additionally， the combined decoction of SS and P. tenuifolia can reduce the contents of the active and toxic components， strychnine and brucine， in SS.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.