Objective To observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of astragalus polysaccharide on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced periodontitis in vivo and in vitro.Methods Ligation/LPS induction was used to construct a mouse model of periodontitis,and LPS treatment was used to establish a periodontitis cellular model.After administration of astragalus polysaccharide intervention,hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to detect pathological damage in mouse periodontal tissues,and kits were used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS)and malondialdehyde(MDA)content as well as oxidative stress-related indexes such as superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)activities,and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP)staining was used to detect the formation of osteoclasts in periodontal tissues and the RAW264.7 cell differentiation to osteoblasts,actin cytoskeleton/focal adhesion protein(Vinculin)staining method was used to analyze the formation of F-actin ring in RAW264.7 cells,alkaline phosphatase(ALP)staining and alizarin red S(ARS)staining and ALP activity assays were performed to evaluate the osteoclast formation ability of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(mBMSCs),and Western Blot was used to detect the expression levels of osteoclast-and osteoblast-related proteins.Results Astragali polysaccharide significantly reduced LPS-induced alveolar bone loss and histopathological damage,as well as improved the parameters related to periodontal bone regeneration in mice.Astragalgali polysaccharide reduced ROS production in LPS-induced periodontal ligament cells(mPDLCs),inhibited MDA content and increased SOD and CAT activities in LPS-treated mPDLCs and in periodontal tissues and serum in periodontitis mice.Astragalus polysaccharide decreased TRAP expressions in LPS-treated mouse periodontal tissues and RAW264.7 cells,and F-actin ring formation in RAW264.7 cells.Astragalgali polysaccharide decreased ALP expression and activity in LPS-treated mBMSCs cells,and reduced calcium deposition.In addition,astragalus polysaccharide down-regulated the expressions of osteoclast-related proteins[cathepsin k(CTSK),nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1(NFATcl)and c-Fos]in LPS-inducedRAW264.7 cells,and up-regulated the expressions of osteoblast-related proteins[ALP,runt-related transcription factor 2(Runx2),collagen type Ⅰ(COL-1)and DMP1)]in mBMSCs.Conclusion Astragalus polysaccharide can alleviates LPS-induced periodontitis by inhibiting oxidative stress and promoting ERK/AMPK pathway-mediated bone formation capacity.

Inflammation represents a critical immune response triggered by cellular activities and inflammatory mediators following tissue damage. It plays a central role in the pathological progression of diverse diseases, including psychiatric disorders, cancer, and immunological conditions, rendering it an essential target for therapeutic intervention. Periodontitis, a prevalent oral inflammatory disease, is a leading cause of tooth loss and poses significant health challenges globally. Traditionally, inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis have been treated with systemic administration of synthetic chemicals. However, recent years have witnessed challenges, including drug resistance and microbial dysbiosis associated with these treatments. In contrast, natural products derived from Chinese medicine offer numerous benefits, such as high safety profiles, minimal side effects, innovative pharmacological mechanisms, ease of extraction, and multiple targets, rendering them viable alternatives to conventional antibiotics for treating inflammatory conditions. Numerous effective anti-inflammatory natural products have been identified in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, lignans, and other natural products that exhibit inhibitory effects on inflammation and are potential therapeutic agents. Several studies have confirmed the substantial anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of these compounds. This comprehensive review examines the literature on the anti-inflammatory effects of TCM-derived natural products from databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI, focusing on terms like "inflammation", "periodontitis", "pharmacology", and "traditional Chinese medicine". The analysis systematically summarizes the molecular pharmacology, chemical composition, and biological activities of these compounds in inflammatory responses, alongside their mechanisms of action. This research seeks to deepen understanding of the mechanisms and biological activities of herbal extracts in managing inflammatory diseases, potentially leading to the development of promising new anti-inflammatory drug candidates. Future applications could extend to the treatment of various inflammatory conditions, including periodontitis.
Humans ; Periodontitis/immunology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry*

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the current status and risk factors of oral health-related quality of life OHRQoL in patients with mental disorders and provide evidence for effective intervention measures. METHODS: A total of 397 patients diagnosed with mental illness were selected by convenience sampling, and investigation was carried out using general data questionnaire, health literacy in dentistry-14 (HeLD-14), oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14), and oral health status checklist. RESULTS: The total score of OHIP-14 in patients with mental disorders was 8(2, 14). The score of HeLD-14 was negatively correlated with the score of OHIP-14 (r=-0.142, P<0.01). The results of multiple linear regression showed that six variables including annual family income, schizophrenia, sweets, frequency of visits to the dentist, dental caries, and missing teeth affected OHRQoL of patients with mental disorders (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The poor OHRQoL of psychiatric patients is associated with many factors. Medical personnel should pay attention to their oral health problems and develop targeted oral care programs throughout the course of disease to improve oral health and related quality of life of patients.
Humans ; Quality of Life ; Oral Health ; Mental Disorders ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Male ; Female ; Dental Caries ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of the comparison between pit and fissure sealants and fluoride varnishes, as well as various types of sealants, in preventing caries on the occlusal surface of children's first permanent molars (FPM). METHODS: Conduct a comprehensive search of literature published between January 1, 1988, and May 30, 2024, in the following databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, China Science Periodical Database and China Biology Medicine database. Meta-analysis and subgroup analyses were performed on the literature that met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: A total of 5 618 pieces of literature were retrieved, resulting in the inclusion of 14 in the study. Meta-analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the efficacy between varies pit and fissure sealants compared to fluoride varnishes, and between varies types of sealants in preventing caries on the occlusal surface of children's first permanent molars within 24 months post-surgery (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Within 24 months, there was no significant difference in the effectiveness of using resin-based or glass iomomer pit and fissure sealants compared with fluoride varnishes in preventing occlusal caries in FPM in children; within 24 months, there was no significant difference in the effectiveness of using resin-based sealants compared with ART sealants in preventing occlusal caries in FPM in children. ART sealants are recommended over resin-based sealers for children who have no conditions for chair-side manipulation or who are poorly co-operative.
Humans ; Pit and Fissure Sealants/therapeutic use* ; Dental Caries/prevention & control* ; Molar ; Child ; Fluorides, Topical/therapeutic use* ; Dentition, Permanent

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening condition associated with macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses. Effective therapies and drugs are still lacking to date. Here, we reveal that a derivative of xanthohumol, CAM12203, alleviates lipopolysaccharide (LPS) + d-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced ALF through limiting macrophage-mediated inflammation, with the most significant impact on interleukin-1β (IL-1β) transcription. Through biotin labeling-mediated pull-down and LC-MS/MS analysis, diacylglycerol kinase ζ (DGKζ), a lipid-metabolizing kinase, is identified as the direct target of CAM12203. Mechanistically, DGKζ is induced in macrophages upon inflammatory stimuli and is upregulated observed on clinical liver failure samples. Its product phosphatidic acid (PA) boosts phospholipase C (PLC)-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃)-Ca²⁺ signaling and subsequent janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) cascade, ultimately promoting IL-1β production and liver failure. DGKζ knockdown/ablation or inhibition significantly impairs the DGKζ-STAT3-IL-1β pathway along with ALF progression. Finally, CAM12203 is confirmed to be a new DGKζ inhibitor and acts against inflammation in a DGKζ-reliant manner. Taken together, CAM12203 inhibits IL-1β transcription in macrophages by binding to DGKζ and blocking the DGKζ-STAT3 axis, thereby exerting an ameliorative effect on ALF. These results not only highlight CAM12203 as a promising lead compound for ALF treatment, but also define DGKζ as a novel therapeutic target.

This study aims to evaluate the preventive effect of the exogenous protein chIFN-γ-chCD154 against Salmonella typhimurium(S.typhimurium)infection in White Leghorn chick-ens,and the potential mechanism.In this study,Escherichia coli was used to express the proteins chIFN-γ,chCD154 and chIFN-γ-chCD154.Before S.typhimurium infection,the White Leghorn chickens were pre-immunized via drinking water for three consecutive days,and infected with S.typhimurium by gavage.The results from Western blot,quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)analysis and histopathology analysis showed that compared to chIFN-γ and chCD154,chIFN-γ-chCD154 pre-treatment could synergistically increase the survival rate of infected chickens,reduce the bacterial load in the liver and cecum,and attenuate the pathological damage of liver and cecum.Moreover,chIFN-γ-chCD154 significantly decreased the mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor-4(TLR-4)and myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88(MyD88)in the cecum,and then inhibited the mRNA expression of NF-κB and pro-inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α and IL-6),and maintained the integrity of the intestinal tight junction proteins(zo-1,claudin-1,occlu-din).Compared with single protein pretreatment,chIFN-γ-chCD154 pretreatment significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of the genes related to the vitamin D(VD)pathway(cyp27b1,VD receptor VDR,antimicrobial peptide AvBD7 and cathelicidin-b1)in S.typhimurium-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs).The results of colony counting showed that the num-ber of S.typhimurium in the chIFN-γ-chCD154 group were the lowest.Also,chIFN-γ-chCD154 could up-regulate the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Blautia,Ruminococcus,En-terococcus and Faecalibacterium,while down-regulate the relative abundance of harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcaceae in the cecum and improve the intestinal dysbiosis.In conclusion,chIFN-γ-chCD154 could activate the VD-antimicrobial peptide pathway and inhibit the TLR-4/MyD88/NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway in S.typhimurium-infected chickens,which significantly improve the intestinal barrier function,reduce the inflammatory damage of liver and cecum,im-prove the structure of cecum microbial,promote the health of intestinal tract,and provide theoreti-cal basis for the development of chIFN-γ-chCD154 as a safe and effective alternative antibiotic.

Objective To investigate the effects of Yishen Zhuyu Tongluo Decoction on chondrocyte pyroptosis and ferroptosis in rats with knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Methods Forty SD were divided randomly into a sham operation group(n=10)and a modeling group(n=30).A KOA model was established in the modeling group by anterior cruciate ligament transection of the right hind limb knee joint.The drawer test was used to confirm the successful establishment of the model.Post-surgery,the rats were subjected to 30 min of forced activity daily to induce KOA.Lameness and hopping movements were observed after 4 weeks,and hematoxylin and eosin staining confirmed cartilage surface damage,deformation,and inflammatory cell infiltration,indicating successful modeling.The model rats were then assigned randomly to a model group(n=8),celecoxib group(n=8),and Yishen Zhuyu Tongluo Decoction group(n=8).The sham operation and model groups received 10 mL/kg of saline by gavage,the celecoxib group received 12 mg/kg of celecoxib solution,and the Yishen Zhuyu Tongluo Decoction group received 5.4 g/kg of the herbal decoction,once daily for 8 weeks.After the interventions,the rats were anesthetized,blood was collected from the abdominal aorta and serum was separated,and the knee joints were isolated.Three samples were fixed in paraformaldehyde,while the remaining cartilage tissue was reserved.Pathological changes in joint cartilage were observed by hematoxylin and eosin and Safranin O-Fast Green staining.Bone microstructure was analyzed using micro-computed tomography.Serum interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-18 protein levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Relative mRNA expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18,ACSL-4,FTH-1,GPX-4,and cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 were detected by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR,and protein expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1,and COX-2 were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the sham operation group,model rats showed surface damage and deformation of cartilage tissue,disordered cell arrangement in all layers,significant loss of Safranin O-Fast Green staining,and sparse and irregular trabecular bone distribution.Serum levels of the inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18 were elevated(P＜0.01).mRNA expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18,ACSL-4,and COX-2 were also significantly increased(all P＜0.01),while FTH-1 and GPX-4 mRNA expression levels were decreased(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,rats in the celecoxib and Yishen Zhuyu Tongluo Decoction groups showed smoother and more intact cartilage surfaces,significantly increased cell counts,less loss of Safranin O-Fast Green staining,denser trabecular bone,and thicker cortical bone,with improved bone microstructure.Serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels were reduced(P＜0.01),NLRP3(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),ASC,Capase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18,ACSL-4,and COX-2 mRNA levels were decreased(all P＜0.01),and relative expression levels of FTH-1 and GPX-4 mRNA were significantly increased(P＜0.01).Conclusions Yishen Zhuyu Tongluo Decoction can treat KOA by inhibiting chondroptosis and ferroptosis in chondrocytes,reducing serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels,and improving bone microstructure.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib neoadjuvant therapy for newly diagnosed locally advanced thyroid cancer (LATC).Methods:Twenty-four newly diagnosed LATC patients (10 males and 14 females, age (47.1±3.3) years) admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine were prospectively included from January 2023 to April 2024. Patients were given anlotinib neoadjuvant therapy (12mg/d, 2 weeks of medication, 1 week of discontinuation), and the efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by CT and multi-disciplinary treatment at the end of each treatment cycle. Patients assessed as suitable for surgery would be scheduled for surgery, while those who were not suitable for surgery would continue to receive neoadjuvant therapy and periodic evaluations. The primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR), and the R0/1 resection rate and adverse events (AE) after neoadjuvant therapy were observed. Paired- t test was used to analyze the differences between groups, and the Clopper-Person accurate method was used to calculate the bilateral 95% CI of ORR and other indicators. Results:Twenty-four patients received 2(2, 3) cycles of neoadjuvant therapy with anlotinib, of which 23 underwent surgery after anlotinib therapy. After neoadjuvant therapy, the mean maximum diameter of target lesions decreased by 23.5%(95% CI: 2.8%-44.3%) compared with baseline ( t=9.22, P<0.001). The ORR and DCR were 37.5%(95% CI: 18.8%-59.4%) and 100%(95% CI: 85.8%-100%), respectively. About 91.7%(95% CI: 73.0%-99.0%) of patients eventually underwent R0/1 resection. Hand and foot skin reactions, hypertension, oral mucositis, and leukopenia were common AE; grade 4 and 5 AE were not observed. Conclusion:Anlotinib can be safely used as neoadjuvant therapy for newly diagnosed LATC patients with good antitumor effects, providing better surgical opportunities for R0/1 resection.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy, safety and possible neuroimaging mechanism of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of refractory migraine.Methods:Thirty patients with refractory migraine were selected from the Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from October 2022 to August 2023. The patients were randomly divided into dTMS group ( n=10), rTMS group ( n=10) and sham stimulation group ( n=10). The dTMS group was treated with H7 coil and the rTMS group with "8" coil, and the sham stimulation group was treated with sham stimulation rTMS with the frequency of 10 Hz. The stimulation site was the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1) of headache, which was treated for 2 weeks (3 600 pulses per time, 5 times per week, 10 times in total). Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) evaluations were performed before treatment, on the first day after treatment, and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. The resting-state functional magnetic resonance images of the 3 groups of patients before and after treatment were collected and analyzed by MATLAB2018b, SPM12 and RESTPLUS softwares, and the brain regions with different regional homogeneity (ReHo) before and after treatment were obtained. The general clinical data and scale scoring data were analyzed and processed by SPSS 26.0 version software. Results:There were significant differences in VAS scores among the dTMS group (before treatment 6.70±0.68, the first day after treatment 5.60±0.70, 1 month after treatment 5.00±0.82, 3 months after treatment 3.50±0.85, 6 months after treatment 3.90±1.45), the rTMS group (before treatment 6.90±0.74, the first day after treatment 5.90±0.74, 1 month after treatment 5.30±0.82, 3 months after treatment 5.30±0.82, 6 months after treatment 6.80±0.63) and the sham stimulation group (before treatment 6.60±0.97, the first day after treatment 6.70±0.95, 1 month after treatment 6.90±1.10, 3 months after treatment 6.70±0.68, 6 months after treatment 7.10±0.88; F=16.054, P<0.001), VAS scores among different time points ( F=34.292, P<0.001), and the interaction between groups and time ( F=24.136, P<0.001). Compared with those before treatment, VAS scores in the dTMS group and the rTMS group decreased on the first day after treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment (all P<0.05); VAS scores decreased in the dTMS group 6 months after treatment ( P<0.05). Compared with the sham stimulation group, the VAS scores of the dTMS group were lower at the same time points after treatment (all P<0.05), and the VAS scores of the rTMS group were lower on the first day after treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment (all P<0.05). Compared with the rTMS group, VAS scores were lower at 3 and 6 months after dTMS treatment (both P<0.05). There were significant differences in HIT-6 scores among groups ( F=13.173, P<0.001), HIT-6 scores among different time points ( F=60.788, P<0.001), and interaction between groups and time ( F=35.576, P<0.001). Compared with those before treatment, the HIT-6 scores in the dTMS group decreased on the first day after treatment ( P<0.05); the HIT-6 scores in the dTMS group and the rTMS group decreased 1 month and 3 months after treatment (both P<0.05); the HIT-6 scores decreased in the dTMS group 6 months after treatment ( P<0.05). Compared with the sham stimulation group, the HIT-6 scores were lower in the dTMS group at the same time points after treatment (all P<0.05), and the HIT-6 scores were lower in the rTMS group at 1 and 3 months after treatment (both P<0.05). Compared with the rTMS group, HIT-6 scores were lower at 3 and 6 months after dTMS treatment (both P<0.05). Analysis of ReHo results: compared with those before treatment, the ReHo values of the right cerebellar angle area 1 increased in the dTMS group and the sham stimulation group, decreased in the rTMS group. The ReHo values of the right middle occipital gyrus, left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus and right cerebellar area 8 increased in the dTMS group, but decreased in the rTMS group and the sham stimulation group. The ReHo values of the left precentral gyrus and left superior temporal gyrus decreased in the dTMS group, while those in the rTMS group and the sham stimulation group increased. There were no obvious adverse reactions in the 3 groups during the treatment and follow-up period. Conclusions:dTMS and rTMS may help to improve the headache degree and quality of life of patients with refractory migraine, and they are safe, which may be related to the changes of brain network in the right cerebellar angle area 1, right middle occipital gyrus, left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, left precentral gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus and right cerebellar area 8.

Objective To analyze ancient prescriptions for knee osteoarthritis(KOA),and explore their application patterns,for providing clinical reference value.Methods Prescriptions were collected from ancient documents,and a database was created by using Excel 2016 for frequency analysis.Association rules and hidden structures were analyzed by using SPSS Modeler 18.0 and Lantern 5.0.Results A total of 373 prescriptions and 421 herbs were collected,with 3894 times of frequency of medication.Danggui was the most frequently used herb.Herbs primarily tonified deficiencies,relieved exterior symptoms,and expelled wind-dampness,with warm properties and pungent,sweet,or bitter tastes,mainly targeting the spleen and kidney meridians.Thirteen strong association rules were identified,including Chuanxiong+Niuxi-Danggui,and Bixie-Niuxi.Hidden structure analysis revealed 10 variables,leading to 4 clusters and 4 core prescriptions.Common syndromes included wind-damp,wind-cold-damp,wind-damp-heat,and qi-blood deficiency.Conclusion The treatment of KOA in ancient literature focuses on dispelling wind and removing dampness,taking into account both positive deficiency and evil excess,flexible use of tonifying spleen and kidney,clearing dampness-heat,tonifying Qi and blood and other drugs.