This study employed the "disease-medicine-dose" pattern to mine the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions containing Astragali Radix in ancient Chinese medical books, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines. The TCM prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were retrieved from databases such as Chinese Medical Dictionary and imported into Excel 2020 to construct the prescription library. Statical analysis were performed for the prescriptions regarding the indications, syndromes, medicine use frequency, herb effects, nature and taste, meridian tropism, dosage forms, and dose. SPSS statistics 26.0 and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 were used for association rules analysis and cluster analysis. A total of 2 297 prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were collected, involving 233 indications, among which sore and ulcer, consumptive disease, sweating disorder, and apoplexy had high frequency(>25), and their syndromes were mainly Qi and blood deficiency, Qi and blood deficiency, Yin and Yang deficiency, and Qi deficiency and collateral obstruction, respectively. In the prescriptions, 98 medicines were used with the frequency >25 and they mainly included Qi-tonifying medicines and blood-tonifying medicines. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium were frequently used. The medicines with high frequency mainly have warm or cold nature, and sweet, pungent, or bitter taste, with tropism to spleen, lung, heart, liver, and kidney meridians. In the treatment of sore and ulcer, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to promote granulation and heal up sores. In the treatment of consumptive disease, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 37.30 g and combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma to tonify deficiency and replenish Qi. In the treatment of sweating disorder, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to consolidate exterior and stop sweating. In the treatment of apoplexy, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 7.46 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to dispell wind and stop convulsions. Astragali Radix can be used in the treatment of multiple system diseases, with the effects of tonifying Qi and ascending Yang, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and expressing toxin and promoting granulation. According to the manifestations of different diseases, when combined with other medicines, Astragali Radix was endowed with the effects of promoting granulation and healing up sores, tonifying deficiency and Qi, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and dispelling wind and replenishing Qi. The findings provide a theoretical reference and a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; History, Ancient ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; China ; Astragalus propinquus

This study explored the mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction(XSLJZD) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia(FD) based on inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1)/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) pathway-mediated autophagy in interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC). Forty-eight SPF-grade male SD suckling rats were randomly divided into a blank group and a modeling group, and the integrated modeling method(iodoacetamide gavage + disturbance of hunger and satiety + swimming exhaustion) was used to replicate the FD rat model. After the model replications were successfully completed, the rats were divided into a model group, high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose groups of XSLJZD(12, 6, and 3 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a positive drug group(mosapride of 1.35 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and the intervention lasted for 14 days. The gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of rats in each group were measured. The histopathological changes in the gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The ultrastructure of ICC was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The immunofluorescence double staining technique was used to detect the protein expression of phospho-IRE1(p-IRE1), TNF receptor associated factors 2(TRAF2), phospho-ASK1(p-ASK1), phospho-JNK(p-JNK), p62, and Beclin1 in ICC of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Western blot was used to detect the related protein expression of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Compared with those in the blank group, the rats in the model group showed decreased body weight, gastric emptying rate, and intestinal propulsion rate, and transmission electron microscopy revealed damage to the endoplasmic reticulum structure and increased autophagosomes in ICC. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the ICC of gastric sinus tissue showed a significant elevation of p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins and a significant reduction of p62 protein. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. Compared with the model group, the body weight of rats in the high-dose and medium-dose groups of XSLJZD was increased, and the gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were increased. Transmission electron microscopy observed amelioration of structural damage to the endoplasmic reticulum of ICC and reduction of autophagosomes, and the p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins in the ICC of gastric sinus tissue were significantly decreased. The p62 protein was significantly increased. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. XSLJZD can effectively treat FD, and its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the expression of molecules related to the endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1/ASK1/JNK pathway in ICC and the improvement of autophagy to promote gastric motility in ICC.
Animals ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal/metabolism* ; Dyspepsia/physiopathology* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Humans ; Endoribonucleases/genetics* ; Multienzyme Complexes

This study employed bioinformatics to screen the feature genes related to efferocytosis in diabetic kidney disease(DKD) and explores traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) regulating these feature genes. The GSE96804 and GSE30528 datasets were integrated as the training set, and the intersection of differentially expressed genes and efferocytosis-related genes(ERGs) was identified as DKD-ERGs. Subsequently, correlation analysis, protein-protein interaction(PPI) network construction, enrichment analysis, and immune infiltration analysis were performed. Consensus clustering was conducted on DKD patients based on the expression levels of DKD-ERGs, and the expression levels, immune infiltration characteristics, and gene set variations between different subtypes were explored. Eight machine learning models were constructed and their prediction performance was evaluated. The best-performing model was evaluated by nomograms, calibration curves, and external datasets, followed by the identification of efferocytosis-related feature genes associated with DKD. Finally, potential TCMs that can regulate these feature genes were predicted. The results showed that the training set contained 640 differentially expressed genes, and after intersecting with ERGs, 12 DKD-ERGs were obtained, which demonstrated mutual regulation and immune modulation effects. Consensus clustering divided DKD into two subtypes, C1 and C2. The support vector machine(SVM) model had the best performance, predicting that growth arrest-specific protein 6(GAS6), S100 calcium-binding protein A9(S100A9), C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1(CX3CL1), 5'-nucleotidase(NT5E), and interleukin 33(IL33) were the feature genes of DKD. Potential TCMs with therapeutic effects included Astragali Radix, Trionycis Carapax, Sargassum, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Curcumae Radix, and Alismatis Rhizoma, which mainly function to clear heat, replenish deficiency, activate blood, resolve stasis, and promote urination and drain dampness. Molecular docking revealed that the key components of these TCMs, including β-sitosterol, quercetin, and sitosterol, exhibited good binding activity with the five target genes. These results indicated that efferocytosis played a crucial role in the development and progression of DKD. The feature genes closely related to both DKD and efferocytosis, such as GAS6, S100A9, CX3CL1, NT5E, and IL33, were identified. TCMs such as Astragali Radix, Trionycis Carapa, Sargassum, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Curcumae Radix, and Alismatis Rhizoma may provide a new therapeutic strategy for DKD by regulating efferocytosis.
Humans ; Computational Biology ; Diabetic Nephropathies/physiopathology* ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Phagocytosis/genetics* ; Efferocytosis

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships of white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (PLT) count, and PLT-to-WBC ratio (PWR) with muscle mass in Chinese older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis involved 4,033 Chinese older adults aged ≥ 65 years from the Healthy Ageing and Biomarkers Cohort Study. Muscle mass and total skeletal muscle mass index (TSMI) were measured by bioelectric impedance analysis. WBC, PLT, and PWR were measured using standard methods. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the associations of WBC count, PLT count, and PWR with TSMI. RESULTS: High WBC count, PLT count, and PWR were associated with low TSMI, with coefficients of -0.0091 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0142 to -0.0041), -0.0119 (95% CI: -0.0170 to -0.0068), and -0.0051 (95% CI: -0.0102 to -0.0001). The associations between the three inflammatory indices and TSMI were linear. Stratified analyses indicated that the relationship between inflammatory markers and TSMI was more evident in male participants and in individuals aged < 80 years than in their counterparts. CONCLUSION Elevated WBC count, PLT count, and PWR correlated with muscle mass loss. This study highlights the importance of regular monitoring of inflammatory markers as a potential strategy for the screening and management of sarcopenia in older adults.
Humans ; Aged ; Male ; Female ; China ; Leukocyte Count ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Platelet Count ; Aged, 80 and over ; Muscle, Skeletal/anatomy & histology* ; Independent Living ; Blood Platelets ; Leukocytes ; Sarcopenia

Objective: To explore the changes of mechanosensitive channels Piezos (Piezo 1 and Piezo 2) in neurogenic bladder (NB) of young rats and their effects，so as to provide reference for clinical search of new therapeutic targets. Methods: A total of 30 female young SD rats were divided into 5 groups based on random number table method：sham operation group (sham)，2-week nerve transection group (NB-2W)，6-week nerve transection group (NB-6W)，2-week nerve transection + Piezos inhibitor group (NB-P-2W) and 6-week nerve transection + Piezos inhibitor group (NB-P-6W)，with 6 rats in each group.The NB models were constructed by transecting the L6 and S1 spinal nerves of young rats.The NB-2W and NB-6W groups were not intervened after modeling，while the NB-P-2W and NB-P-6W groups were intraperitoneally injected with Piezos inhibitor GsMTx4 (10 mg/kg) every 2 days after modeling.Bladder cystometry and ultrasound were performed after 2 and 6 weeks of transection.The expressions of Piezos and fibrosis-related indexes (Collagen Ⅰ and α-smooth muscle actin) were detected in bladder tissues. Results: The results of bladder cystometry showed that the basal bladder pressure in NB-2W group was significantly increased，while it was slightly decreased but was still higher in NB-6W group than in the sham group (P<0.05).Basal bladder pressure was lower in NB-P-2W group than in NB-2W group，but was higher than that in the sham group; basal bladder pressure was lower in NB-P-6W group than in NB-6W group，but higher than that in the sham group (P<0.05).Compared with the sham group，the NB-2W and NB-6W groups had firstly increased and then decreased maximum cystometric capacity (MCC) (P<0.05).Compared with NB-2W group，NB-P-2W group had lower bladder leakage point pressure (BLPP)，but higher MCC and bladder compliance (BC) (P<0.05).Compared with NB-6W group，NB-P-6W group had significantly lower BLPP but higher MCC and BC (P<0.05).HE and MASSON staining and ultrasound results showed that，with the extension of nerve transection time，bladder fibrosis gradually worsened，the bladder wall became rough and thickened，calculi were visible inside，and hydronephrosis gradually appeared; the degree of fibrosis in NB-P-2W and NB-P-6W groups was less than that in NB-2W and NB-6W groups，and no hydronephrosis was observed in the upper urinary tract.In addition，Western blotting and immunohistochemical results showed that NB-2W and NB-6W groups had significantly higher relative expression levels of Piezos，Collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA than the sham group (P<0.01)，while NB-P-2W and NB-P-6W groups had lower relative expression levels of Piezos,Collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA than NB-2W and NB-6W groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: The increased expressions of mechanosensitive channels Piezos in NB young rats may be involved in the progression of bladder fibrosis，but its mechanism needs further study.

Depression is a prevalent mental and emotional disor-der that often results in significant emotional disturbances,cog-nitive dysfunction,and memory impairments.It is characterized by a high incidence rate,a substantial disability burden,and limited therapeutic efficacy.Currently,the long-term use of medications for the treatment of depression can result in a range of adverse reactions,highlighting the urgent need to explore no-vel approaches that can effectively alleviate depressive symptoms while minimizing side effects.Curcumin,a natural polyphenolic compound derived from the rhizome of turmeric,demonstrates considerable potential in the prevention and treatment of depres-sion,owing to its diverse array of biological activities.In recent years,numerous studies have investigated the use of curcumin for the treatment of depression.This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the mechanisms of action underlying curcumin's efficacy in treating depression.Specifically,it focu-ses on its ability to improve neurotransmitter imbalances,restore neural plasticity,alleviate neural damage,mitigate dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis,regulate in-flammatory factors and neuroinflammatory signaling pathways,and inhibit oxidative stress.This review is intended to offer in-sights and methodological references for basic research on curcu-min,as well as for the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of depression.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of intravesical injections of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) for the treatment of pediatric refractory urinary frequency and incontinence (UFI), and to analyze the factors predicting the therapeutic effect of BTX-A injections.Methods:A retrospective case series study was made on 35 children with UFI [(12.3±4.2) years old], including 13 males (37.1%) and 22 females (62.9%), treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2021 to March 2024.Urotherapy and drug treatments were ineffective in all children, who then received intravesical injections of BTX-A.The urodynamic study (UDS) was performed 1 week before treatment and 3 months after treatment, and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) were collected.Perioperative and postoperative adverse events were also recorded.A global response assessment (GRA) score of ≥2 at 3 months postoperatively was defined as effective treatment.According to the postoperative GRA score, the patients were divided into effective and ineffective groups to explore the predictive factors affecting the outcome of BTX-A treatment, such as age, gender, preoperative urodynamic parameters, and the types of urinary incontinence. t-test was used to compare quantitative data such as age, UDS parameters, OABSS, and I-QOL scores.The comparison of count data such as gender and urinary incontinence types was conducted using Fisher′s exact test. Results:The bladder compliance, bladder capacity ratio, OABSS and I-QOL scores of patients significantly improved after BTX-A injection (all P<0.05).The 77.1% (27/35) of the patients were satisfied with BTX-A treatment effects.The main adverse event during the follow-up was a temporary increase in postvoid residual urine after injecting BTX-A (7 cases), which was alleviated by the Creade action or clean intermittent catheterization.There was significant difference in age [(13.00±4.32) years vs.(10.00±2.67) years] and preoperative bladder compliance [(11.21±5.74) mL/cmH 2O vs.(5.13±2.42) mL/cmH 2O] between effective (27 cases) and ineffective groups (8 cases) ( t=2.383, 2.899, all P<0.05).The differences in preoperative bladder capacity ratio, maximum filling detrusor pressure, postvoid residual urine, voiding efficiency, gender, and the types of urinary incontinence were not statistically significant between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Intravesical injection of BTX-A is a safe and effective treatment for children with refractory UFI.A young age and poor bladder compliance at treatment are associated with poor prognosis of BTX-A treatment.

Depression is a prevalent mental and emotional disor-der that often results in significant emotional disturbances,cog-nitive dysfunction,and memory impairments.It is characterized by a high incidence rate,a substantial disability burden,and limited therapeutic efficacy.Currently,the long-term use of medications for the treatment of depression can result in a range of adverse reactions,highlighting the urgent need to explore no-vel approaches that can effectively alleviate depressive symptoms while minimizing side effects.Curcumin,a natural polyphenolic compound derived from the rhizome of turmeric,demonstrates considerable potential in the prevention and treatment of depres-sion,owing to its diverse array of biological activities.In recent years,numerous studies have investigated the use of curcumin for the treatment of depression.This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the mechanisms of action underlying curcumin's efficacy in treating depression.Specifically,it focu-ses on its ability to improve neurotransmitter imbalances,restore neural plasticity,alleviate neural damage,mitigate dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis,regulate in-flammatory factors and neuroinflammatory signaling pathways,and inhibit oxidative stress.This review is intended to offer in-sights and methodological references for basic research on curcu-min,as well as for the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of depression.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of intravesical injections of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) for the treatment of pediatric refractory urinary frequency and incontinence (UFI), and to analyze the factors predicting the therapeutic effect of BTX-A injections.Methods:A retrospective case series study was made on 35 children with UFI [(12.3±4.2) years old], including 13 males (37.1%) and 22 females (62.9%), treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2021 to March 2024.Urotherapy and drug treatments were ineffective in all children, who then received intravesical injections of BTX-A.The urodynamic study (UDS) was performed 1 week before treatment and 3 months after treatment, and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) were collected.Perioperative and postoperative adverse events were also recorded.A global response assessment (GRA) score of ≥2 at 3 months postoperatively was defined as effective treatment.According to the postoperative GRA score, the patients were divided into effective and ineffective groups to explore the predictive factors affecting the outcome of BTX-A treatment, such as age, gender, preoperative urodynamic parameters, and the types of urinary incontinence. t-test was used to compare quantitative data such as age, UDS parameters, OABSS, and I-QOL scores.The comparison of count data such as gender and urinary incontinence types was conducted using Fisher′s exact test. Results:The bladder compliance, bladder capacity ratio, OABSS and I-QOL scores of patients significantly improved after BTX-A injection (all P<0.05).The 77.1% (27/35) of the patients were satisfied with BTX-A treatment effects.The main adverse event during the follow-up was a temporary increase in postvoid residual urine after injecting BTX-A (7 cases), which was alleviated by the Creade action or clean intermittent catheterization.There was significant difference in age [(13.00±4.32) years vs.(10.00±2.67) years] and preoperative bladder compliance [(11.21±5.74) mL/cmH 2O vs.(5.13±2.42) mL/cmH 2O] between effective (27 cases) and ineffective groups (8 cases) ( t=2.383, 2.899, all P<0.05).The differences in preoperative bladder capacity ratio, maximum filling detrusor pressure, postvoid residual urine, voiding efficiency, gender, and the types of urinary incontinence were not statistically significant between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Intravesical injection of BTX-A is a safe and effective treatment for children with refractory UFI.A young age and poor bladder compliance at treatment are associated with poor prognosis of BTX-A treatment.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of Fuzheng Hejie Prescription(composed of Scutellariae Radix,Lonicerae Japonicae Flos,Agastachis Herba,Bupleuri Radix,Atractylodis Rhizoma,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,etc.)in the treatment of respiratory viral infections in children and to observe its effect on inflammatory factors and immune function.Methods A total of 203 children with respiratory viral infection of H1N1 virus were randomly divided into 101 cases in the observation group and 102 cases in the control group.Both groups were given the routine treatment for subsiding fever,maintaining water-electrolyte balance,and ensuring enough sleep.And additionally,the control group was given Ribavirin Granules and Ibuprofen Granules,and the observation group was given Fuzheng Hejie Prescription based on the treatment for the control group.The course of treatment covered 7 days.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores and the levels of immunological indicators and inflammatory factors in the two groups were observed before and after the treatment.Moreover,the clinical efficacy,symptom resolution time and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups of children.Results(1)In the course of the trial,one case fell off in the observation group and 2 cases fell off in the control group,and eventually 100 children in each group were included in the trial.(2)After 7 days of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 93.00%(93/100),and that of the control group was 88.00%(88/100),and the intergroup comparison showed that the therapeutic effect of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,but the difference was not statistically significant(χ2= 1.454,P = 0.228).(3)After treatment,the scores of primary symptoms and secondary symptoms as well as the total TCM syndrome scores in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the time for the resolution of clinical symptoms such as fever,cough,expectoration and sore throat in the observation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group(P＜0.01).(5)After treatment,the levels of immunological indicators of T lymphocyte subset CD3+ and CD4+ in the two groups were increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the levels of CD8+ and B cells were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the increase in the levels of CD3+ and CD4+ as well as the decrease in the levels of CD8+ and B cells of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.01).(6)After treatment,the levels of inflammatory factors of serum amyloid A(SAA),C-reactive protein(CRP),serum tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α),soluble interleukin 2 receptor(SIL-2R),and interleukin 6(IL-6)in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the levels of interleukin 2(IL-2)and interferon γ(IFN-γ)ls were all significantly increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the decrease of serum SAA,CRP,TNF-α,SIL-2R,and IL-6 levels and the increase of serum IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.01).(7)The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 2.00%(2/100),which was significantly lower than that of 8.00%(8/100)in the control group,but the difference was not statistically significant(χ2 = 3.789,P = 0.052).Conclusion Fuzheng Hejie Prescription exerts certain effect in treating children with respiratory viral infection of H1N1 virus,which can effectively decrease children's TCM syndrome scores,regulate the inflammatory response,improve the immune function,accelerate the relief of clinical symptoms and shorten the course of the disease.