The mild-natured and bitter-flavored traditional Chinese medicines (MB-TCMs) are an important class of TCMs that have been widely used in clinical practice and recognized as safe long-term treatments for chronic diseases. However, as an important class of TCMs, the panorama of pharmacological effects and the mechanisms of MB-TCMs have not been systemically reviewed. Compelling studies have shown that gut microbiota can mediate the therapeutic activity of TCMs and help to elucidate the core principles of TCM medicinal theory. In this systematic review, we found that MB-TCMs commonly participated in the modulation of metabolic syndrome, intestinal inflammation, nervous system disease and cardiovascular system disease in association with promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria Bacteroides, Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Roseburia as well as inhibiting the proliferation of harmful bacteria Helicobacter, Enterococcus, Desulfovibrio and Escherichia-Shigella. These alterations, correspondingly, enhance the generation of protective metabolites, mainly including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acid (BAs), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), indole and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and inhibit the generation of harmful metabolites, such as proinflammatory factors trimethylamine oxide (TAMO) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), to further exert multiplicative effects for the maintenance of human health through several different signaling pathways. Altogether, this present review has attempted to comprehensively summarize the relationship between MB-TCMs and gut microbiota by establishing the TCMs-gut microbiota-metabolite-signaling pathway-diseases axis, which may provide new insight into the study of TCM medicinal theories and their clinical applications.

The comparison between traditional Chinese medicine Jinzhen oral liquid (JZOL) and Western medicine in treating children with acute bronchitis (AB) showed encouraging outcomes. This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the JZOL for improving cough and expectoration in children with AB. 480 children were randomly assigned to take JZOL or ambroxol hydrochloride and clenbuterol hydrochloride oral solution for 7 days. The primary outcome was time-to-cough resolution. The median time-to-cough resolution in both groups was 5.0 days and the antitussive onset median time was only 1 day. This randomized controlled trial showed that JZOL was not inferior to cough suppressant and phlegm resolving western medicine in treating cough and sputum and could comprehensively treat respiratory and systemic discomfort symptoms. Combined with clinical trials, the mechanism of JZOL against AB was uncovered by network target analysis, it was found that the pathways in TRP channels like IL-1β/IL1R/TRPV1/TRPA1, NGF/TrkA/TRPV1/TRPA1, and PGE2/EP/PKA/TRPV1/TRPA1 might play important roles. Animal experiments further confirmed that inflammation and the immune regulatory effect of JZOL in the treatment of AB were of vital importance and TRP channels were the key mechanism of action.

【Objective】 To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma (CCPRCC). 【Methods】 The clinicopathological and follow-up data of 40 CCPRCC patients treated during Jun. 2011 and Oct.2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The prognosis was compared with that of 40 cases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and 19 cases of papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) treated in the same period. Survival analysis was performed by Log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted. 【Results】 Among the 40 patients, 28 were male and 12 were female, aged 31-84 years; 38 cases had unilateral and 2 cases had bilateral tumors; 3 cases had multifocal lesions. All patients received surgery. The maximum diameter of the masses ranged from 3.0 to 95.0 mm, with an average of (27.6±18.1) mm. Pathological grade was Fuhrman 1-2 in all cases. Immunohistochemical tests were positive for CK7 and CA-IX. During the follow-up of 5-129 (average 56) months, 1 case died after bone metastasis, 2 had ipsilateral recurrence, and 1 developed primary esophageal cancer. CCPRCC patients had a significantly better prognosis than CCRCC (P<0.001) and PRCC (P=0.005) patients, while there was no significant difference in the prognosis between CCRCC and PRCC patients (P=0.93). 【Conclusions】 CCPRCC has low malignancy. The diagnosis relies on characteristic pathological and immunohistochemical features. Surgery is an effective treatment. CCPRCC has a better overall prognosis than CCRCC and PRCC.

Objective:To explore the surgical technique and efficacy of pure retroperitoneoscopic extravesical standardized seeable (P.R.E.S.S.) technique for bladder cuff excision (BCE).Methods:Ninety five patients with UTUC from five domestic centers (30 cases from Changzheng Hospital, 21 cases from Peking University First Hospital, 20 cases from Yuhuangding Hospital, 21 cases from Dalian Medical University affiliated No.2 Hospital and 3 cases from General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command)between August 2017 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 57 males and 38 females with a mean age of (67.7±10.0) years and median tumor size of 3.0 cm. All patients underwent pure retroperitoneoscopic radical nephroureterectomy with a single surgical position and four (36 cases) or five (59 cases) trocar layout according to the surgeon’s prefer habit and experience. The demographics of the two groups were the age of [(66.3±11.2)years vs. (68.6±9.1)years], male/female ratio of (25/11 cases vs. 32/27 cases), body mass index of [(25.0± 3.0)kg/m 2 vs. (24.8±3.4)kg/m 2], tumor maximum diameter of [2.8(1.6, 3.5)cm vs. 3.0(2.0, 4.0)cm], left/right side tumor of(19/17 cases vs. 34/25 cases), T 1-2/T 3-4/Tis stage of(25/10/4 cases vs. 49/10/0 cases), and multifocal tumors of(3 cases vs. 2 cases), and the difference was not statistically significant( P>0.05). On the other hand, the differences of hydronephrosis of the operated kidney(13 cases vs. 39 cases, P=0.004), and tumor location (in renal pelvis or calyx or upper/middle/lower ureter being 23/9/4 cases vs. 35/4/20 cases, P=0.005), were statistically significant. The umbilical artery cord was used as anatomical landmark in the process of P. R.E.S.S. bladder cuff excision. The pelvic floor and extraperitoneal space around the ureter were expanded, the bladder wall was opened to form pneumovesicum, and a sufficient bladder cuff resection and exact bladder cuff closure was performed. Perioperative outcomes and follow-up data were analyzed, and the clinical outcomes between the four and five trocars were compared to evaluate the impact of trocar layout on the surgical outcomes. Results:There were 91(95.8%) cases successfully undergoing P. R.E.S.S. BCE technique, with one case converted to open BCE due to bleeding and three cases converted to distal ureter Hem-o-lok clipping because of poor exposure. Median operative time was 180(125, 230)min, and estimated blood loss was 100(50, 100)ml. The overall complication rate was 10.5%(10/95), including 2 cases(2.1%) of intraoperative bleeding, with 1 case treated by transfusion (400 ml), the other case converted to open surgery without transfusion. There were 8 cases of postoperative complications(8.4%), including 7 cases of Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅱ(3 cases of secondary hemorrhage, one case for each of drug allergy, acute renal insufficiency, blood creatinine increased to 490 μmol/L, or lung infection with lymphatic leakage), 1 case of grade Ⅲa(intestinal obstruction treated with insertion of the intestinal obstruction catheter under local anesthesia), and all these patients were discharged smoothly. The difference between the four and five trocars was not statistically significant in the following variables, including the rate of surgical conversion(8.3% vs. 1.7%), estimated intraoperative blood loss(100 ml vs. 60 ml), ratio of intraoperative lymph node dissection (25.0% vs.20.3%), P. R.E.S.S. bladder cuff excision success rate(91.7% vs.98.3%), the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications (13.8% vs.8.5%), pT 1-2/pT 3-4/pTis stage(22/11/3 cases vs.37/19/3 cases) and the proportion of recurrence or metastasis(8.3% vs.3.4%)(all P>0.05). However, the differences in the operation time(190 min vs.170 min, P=0.011)and postoperative hospital stay(5 d vs.6 d, P=0.005) were statistically significant. Conclusions:P. R.E.S.S. bladder cuff resection technique is safe and feasible during the procedure of pure retroperitoneoscopic radical nephroureterectomy by a single surgical position and facilitates seeable adequate bladder cuff excision by establishing an enlarged pelvic lateral extraperitoneal space and pneumovesicum. Five-trocar technique is more suitable for patients with lower ureteral tumors but may be associated with a longer postoperative hospital stay compared with the four-trocar technique.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the E2 and E4 alleles of apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene and myocardial infarction (MI) in type 2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients, and to explore the relationship between apoE polymorphism and blood lipid metabolism.Methods:This case control study was conducted from August 2016 to March 2020 in China-Japan Friendship Hospital, 3 459 inpatients with T2DM were included including 3 044 patients without MI (T2DM group) and 415 patients with MI (T2DM+MI group). Real time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect apoE polymorphism. Automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect lipid levels. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association of apoE with risk of MI in patients with T2DM.Results:(1) The frequency of E4 allele in T2DM+MI group (12.29%, 102/830) was significantly higher than in T2DM group (9.13%,556/6 088), while the frequency of E2 allele in T2DM+MI group (7.35%,61/830) was significantly lower than that in T2DM group (8.21%,500/6 088), P=0.012. Logistic regression analyses showed that E4 allele carrier (E3/E4+E4/E4) faced a higher risk for MI in T2DM patients ( OR=1.48, 95% CI 1.14-1.92, P=0.003), while E2 allele carrier(E2/E3+E2/E2)did not face a higher risk of MI in T2DM patients ( OR=0.88, P=0.642). (2) The levels of apoE polymorphism and blood lipid: The levels of TC, LDL-C and apoB increased in the order of E4 allele, wild type and E2 allele ( P<0.05). The levels of HDL-C, apoA1 and apoE decreased in the order of E4 allele, Wild type and E2 allele ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The E4 allele is a risk factor for MI in T2DM patients, and apoE polymorphism can affect blood lipid level in this patent cohort.

Objective To understand the status of depression and anxiety in patients with chronic hepatitis B in Tianjin, and to analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide references for scientific psychological intervention and health education. Methods Chronic hepatitis B cases whose addresses were Tianjin were randomly selected from the report of infectious disease surveillance system from January 2018 to December 2019 as the study subjects. A certain number of healthy people living in Tianjin were selected as the control. A unified mental health questionnaire survey was conducted by telephone follow-up or face-to-face survey. The distribution characteristics of depression and anxiety were described, and influencing factors of depression and anxiety were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 825 cases of chronic hepatitis B and 376 cases of healthy people were investigated. The crude SDS and SAS were (35.47±9.34) and (32.33±8.26), respectively, which were higher than those of healthy people ( P <0.05). The rates of depression and anxiety in chronic hepatitis B patients were 25.45% and 20.61%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in healthy people (15.96% and 11.70%, respectively) (P < 0.001). The analysis of depression influencing factors showed that the OR of high average monthly income was 0.791 ( 95% CI：0.655～0.955 ), the OR of not knowing correct preventive measures was 1.509 (95% CI：1.084～2.102 ), and the OR of feeling discriminated was 1.650 ( 95% CI：1.166～2.335 ). The multifactor analysis of anxiety influencing factors showed that the OR of not knowing correct preventive measures was 1.490 ( 95% CI:1.049～2.117)), while the OR of feeling discriminated was 1.854 ( 95% CI: 1.289～2.666). Conclusion The levels of depression and anxiety of chronic hepatitis B patients were higher than that of general healthy people. Not knowing correct preventive measures and feeling discriminated in daily life were risk factors while high income was a protective factor.

Epilepsy mostly starts in childhood and can cause severe mental disorders.Treatment with antiepileptic drugs is effective in most patients, but 20%-30% of the patients continue to have uncontrolled seizures despite medical therapy, these are called drug-resistant epilepsy and need surgical treatment.Critical to discussion of surgical therapy are detailed presurgical evaluation and the lateralization and localization of epileptogenic zone.With deepening of the knowledge of epilepsy and progress of imaging technology, the evaluation of epilepsy surgery is changing gradually.Now, some methods and advances of surgical evaluation for children with drug-resistant epilepsy are reviewed.

Objective To investigate the effects of simultaneous multi-level surgery for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods A retrospective analysis was made on surgical cases of one hundred and thirty seven patients with moderate to severe OSAHS diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG). They were divided into multi-level group (n = 95) and UPPP group (n = 42). The two groups were compared in terms of postoperative complications as well as the related indicators of PSG , calgary sleep apnea quality of life index (SAQLI), epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), snore scales (SS) before operation and after operation. Results Just one patient in the multi-level group had difficulties in respiration and was rescued by timely tracheotomy. The AHI, LSaO2, TS90%, the total score and the scores on the four dimensions of SAQLI, ESS score, SS score in the multi-level group were significantly improved as compared both to the results after operation (P < 0.01) and to the UPPP group (P < 0.05). But only the AHI, LSaO2 and TS90% in the UPPP group were improved (P < 0.05). Conclusions The multi-level surgery is a safe and feasible therapy or moderate to severe OSAHS. The evaluation in subjective and objective ways can be more accurate in comprehensive reflecting the surgical efficacy and effects of OSAHS on patients′ of life quality.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of simultaneous multi-level surgery intervention on the changes of the oxidative stress and the cognitive function in young and middle-aged patients with moderate-severe OSAHS. METHOD: One hundred and sixteen young and middle-aged patients with moderate-severe OSAHS received simultaneous multi-level surgery. PSG,malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and 8-isoprostaneF2α (8-iso-PGF2α) were tested, together with the evaluation of the questionnaires of Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) before and 6 months after surgery. RESULT: (1) The AHI, TS90% and LSaO₂ were all improved significantly 6 months after operation. No severe complications were observed in any patient. (2) The preoperative MoCA and MMSE scores were (23.52 ± 2.64) and (26.54 ± 1.07) respectively. The cognitive impairment were detected in OSAHS patients. MoCA was negatively correlated with AHI, TS90%, MDA, AOPP and 8-iso-PGF2a, while positively correlated with LSaO₂ (P < 0.05, r = -0.233, -0.190, -0.256, -0.247, -0.221 and 0.215, respectively). Cognitive impairment was mainly manifested as disorder in the visual space and execu- tive function, memory and delayed recall (mainly short-term memory). (3) MoCA and MMSE scores were both increased (P < 0.05) after the operation. MoCA showed negative correlations with MDA, AOPP, 8-iso-PGF2α, AHI and TS90%, and positive correlation with LSaO₂ (P < 0.05, r = -0.495, -0.463, -0.397, -0.332, -0.292 and 0.336, respectively). CONCLUSION Oxidative stress and cognitive dysfunction are closely related in young and middle-aged patients with Moderate-severe OSAHS. Oxidative stress may play an important role in cognitive function of young and middle-aged patients with Moderate-severe OSAHS. Multi-level surgery can improve oxidative stress so that to improve cognitive impairment.
Adult ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; complications ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the root of Angelica dahurica cv. Qibaizhi.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and purified by the methods of solvent extraction and chromatographic technique, and their structures were identified on the basis of the analyses of spectral data.

RESULTTwenty-seven compounds were obtained and identified as isoimperatorin (1), alloisoimperatorin (2), oxypeucedanin hydrate (3), byakangelicin (4), alloimperatorin (5), beta-sitosterol (6), dibutylphthalate (7), 6-(3,3-dimethylallyloxy) -7-hydroxycoumarin {7-hydroxy-6-[ (3-methyl-2-butenyl) oxy] -coumarin, 8}, xanthotoxol (9), 5-hydroxy-8-methoxypsoralen ( 5-hydroxyxanthotoxin, 10), smyrindiol (11), umbelliferone (12), bergapten (13), imperatorin (14), phellopterin (15), isoimpinellin (16), 6-acyl-7-methoxycoumarin (17), psoralen (18), isoscopletin (19), scoparone (20), xanthotoxin (21), angelol A (22), oxypeucedanin ethanolate (oxypeucedanin hydrate-3"-ethyl ether, 23), dehydrogeijerin (pablohopin, 24) , ulopterol (25), heraclenol (26), and pabulenol (27), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompound 8 was a new natural product and the above-mentioned all the compounds except for compounds 1, 3 and 14 were isolated from the root of A. dahurica cv. Qibaizhi for the first time.

Angelica ; chemistry ; China ; Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Furocoumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry