The gut microbiota regulates intestinal nutrient absorption, participates in modulating host glucolipid metabolism, and contributes to ameliorating glucolipid metabolism disorder. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can compromise the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, induce inflammatory responses, and exacerbate insulin resistance and abnormal lipid metabolism in the host. Dangua Humai Oral Liquid, a hospital-developed formulation for regulating glucolipid metabolism, has been granted a national invention patent and demonstrates significant clinical efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Dangua Humai Oral Liquid on gut microbiota and the intestinal mucosal barrier in a mouse model with glucolipid metabolism disorder. A glucolipid metabolism disorder model was established by feeding mice a high-glucose and high-fat diet. The mice were divided into a normal group, a model group, and a treatment group, with eight mice in each group. The treatment group received a daily gavage of Dangua Humai Oral Liquid(20 g·kg~(-1)), while the normal group and model group were given an equivalent volume of sterile water. After 15 weeks of intervention, glucolipid metabolism, intestinal mucosal barrier function, and inflammatory responses were evaluated. Metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics were employed to analyze changes in gut microbiota and associated metabolic pathways. Significant differences were observed between the indicators of the normal group and the model group. Compared with the model group, the treatment group exhibited marked improvements in glucolipid metabolism disorder, alleviated pathological damage in the liver and small intestine tissue, elevated expression of recombinant claudin 1(CLDN1), occluding(OCLN), and zonula occludens 1(ZO-1) in the small intestine tissue, and reduced serum levels of inflammatory factors lipopolysaccharides(LPS), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein(LBP), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Bacteroidota decreased, while that of Firmicutes increased. Lipid-related metabolic pathways were significantly altered. In conclusion, based on the successful establishment of the mouse model of glucolipid metabolism disorder, this study confirmed that Dangua Humai Oral Liquid effectively modulates gut microbiota and mucosal barrier function, reduces serum inflammatory factor levels, and regulates lipid-related metabolic pathways, thereby ameliorating glucolipid metabolism disorder.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Mice ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology* ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Glycolipids/metabolism* ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Administration, Oral ; Disease Models, Animal

Aim To study the difference in hepatotox-icity of psoralen on normal rats and Yin-deficiency rats from the perspective of lipid metabolism,so as to help explain the mechanism of psoralen cautiously used in patients with Yin deficiency recorded in ancient books.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into the nor-mal control group(carboxymethyl cellulose-Na,CMC-Na),normal administration group(CMC-Na+psor-alen),Yin-deficiency control group(CMC-Na+thy-roxine)and Yin-deficiency administration group(CMC-Na+thyroxine+psoralen).The model of Yin-deficiency was established by thyroxine(1 mg·kg-1)for ten days,and then psoralen(200 mg·kg-1)was given for three days.The serum indexes related to liver injury were detected by automatic biochemical analy-zer,the morphological changes of liver tissue were ob-served using HE and oil red O staining,and the relative transcription levels of lipid metabolism related enzymes and mRNA of transporter and endoplasmic reticulum stress related factors were detected using Real-time PCR.Results After intragastric administration of psoralen for three days,compared with the normal group,the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate transaminase(AST),total bile acid(TBA)and triglyeride(TG)in Yin deficiency group increased more significantly,while TC,ALB and TP de-creased more significantly,and liver HE and oil red O staining showed more obvious lipid degeneration.TG synthesis factors adrenocortical carcinoma(ACC),fatty acid synthase(FASN)and sterolregulatory element binding protein-1(SREBP-1)were down-regulated more significantly,TG transport factors mili-total pro-tein(MTP)and lipoprotein pipase(LPL)were down-regulated more evidently,fatty acid β-oxidation related factors carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A(CPT1A),carnitine/organic cation transporter 2(OCTN2)and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-alpha(PPARα)were down-regulated more apparently,TC transporter adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter G8(ABCG8)and bile acid receptor farne-soid X receptor(FXR)were down-regulated more ob-viously,and endoplasmic reticulum stress factor activa-ting transcription factor 4(ATF4)was up-regulated more significantly.Conclusions Psoralen can cause more severe hepatotoxicity in Yin deficiency rats than that in normal administration group,and its mechanism may be related to the disorder of hepatic lipid metabo-lism,aggravation of hepatic cholestasis and steatosis,and activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress re-sponse.

Aim To study the difference in hepatotox-icity of psoralen on normal rats and Yin-deficiency rats from the perspective of lipid metabolism,so as to help explain the mechanism of psoralen cautiously used in patients with Yin deficiency recorded in ancient books.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into the nor-mal control group(carboxymethyl cellulose-Na,CMC-Na),normal administration group(CMC-Na+psor-alen),Yin-deficiency control group(CMC-Na+thy-roxine)and Yin-deficiency administration group(CMC-Na+thyroxine+psoralen).The model of Yin-deficiency was established by thyroxine(1 mg·kg-1)for ten days,and then psoralen(200 mg·kg-1)was given for three days.The serum indexes related to liver injury were detected by automatic biochemical analy-zer,the morphological changes of liver tissue were ob-served using HE and oil red O staining,and the relative transcription levels of lipid metabolism related enzymes and mRNA of transporter and endoplasmic reticulum stress related factors were detected using Real-time PCR.Results After intragastric administration of psoralen for three days,compared with the normal group,the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate transaminase(AST),total bile acid(TBA)and triglyeride(TG)in Yin deficiency group increased more significantly,while TC,ALB and TP de-creased more significantly,and liver HE and oil red O staining showed more obvious lipid degeneration.TG synthesis factors adrenocortical carcinoma(ACC),fatty acid synthase(FASN)and sterolregulatory element binding protein-1(SREBP-1)were down-regulated more significantly,TG transport factors mili-total pro-tein(MTP)and lipoprotein pipase(LPL)were down-regulated more evidently,fatty acid β-oxidation related factors carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A(CPT1A),carnitine/organic cation transporter 2(OCTN2)and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-alpha(PPARα)were down-regulated more apparently,TC transporter adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter G8(ABCG8)and bile acid receptor farne-soid X receptor(FXR)were down-regulated more ob-viously,and endoplasmic reticulum stress factor activa-ting transcription factor 4(ATF4)was up-regulated more significantly.Conclusions Psoralen can cause more severe hepatotoxicity in Yin deficiency rats than that in normal administration group,and its mechanism may be related to the disorder of hepatic lipid metabo-lism,aggravation of hepatic cholestasis and steatosis,and activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress re-sponse.

Objective The leptin receptor,encoded by the LEPR gene,is involved in tumorigenesis.A potential functional variant of LEPR,rs1137101(Gln223Arg),has been extensively investigated for its contribution to the risk of digestive system(DS)cancers,but results remain conflicting rather than conclusive.Here,we performed a case-control study and subsequent meta-analysis to examine the association between rs1137101 and DS cancer risk. Methods A total of 1,727 patients with cancer(gastric/liver/colorectal:460/480/787)and 800 healthy controls were recruited.Genotyping of rs1137101 was conducted using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)assay and confirmed using Sanger sequencing.Twenty-four eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results After Bonferroni correction,the case-control study revealed that rs1137101 was significantly associated with the risk of liver cancer in the Hubei Chinese population.The meta-analysis suggested that rs1137101 is significantly associated with the risk of overall DS,gastric,and liver cancer in the Chinese population. Conclusion The LEPR rs1137101 variant may be a genetic biomarker for susceptibility to DS cancers(especially liver and gastric cancer)in the Chinese population.

Objective:In thyroid surgery,evaluating the combination of near-infrared auto-fluorescence imaging(NIRAF)with injection of mitoxantrone hydrochloride(MHI)as a tracer to en-hance the identification rate of parathyroid glands,thereby reducing the occurrence of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia and parathyroid dysfunction.Methods:A prospective study was conducted from October 2022 to March 2023 at Yidu Central Hospital in Weifang City,involving 80 patients undergoing thyroid surgery.Patients were randomly divided into a combined group and a control group based on their admission time,with 40 patients in each group.In the combined group,0.6 mL of mitoxantrone hydrochloride(MHI)was injected into the thyroid gland during sur-gery,and near-infrared autofluorescence(NIRAF)was used for parathyroid gland identification.The control group only used NIRAF during surgery.Compared the preoperative levels of serum calcium and parathyroid hormone(PTH)between the two groups,as well as the intraoperative accuracy of parathyroid gland identification and the rate of autotransplantation.Postoperatively,the study ana-lyzed PTH levels,blood calcium levels,the rate of inadvertent parathyroidectomy,and the inci-dence of hypocalcemia symptoms.Results:In the combined group,there were 4 cases(10.0％)of parathyroid transplantation,compared to 12 cases(30.0％)in the control group,with a statisti-cally significant difference between the two groups(x2=3.828,P=0.049).The accuracy of parathy-roid gland identification in the combined group was higher than that in the control group(x2=3.899,P=0.048).Additionally,there were 2 cases(5.0％)of inadvertent parathyroidectomy in the com-bined group compared to 10 cases(25.0％)in the control group,with a statistically significant dif-ference between the two groups(x2=4.804,P=0.028).Postoperatively at day 1,the blood calcium levels were(2.24±0.11)mmol/L in the combined group and(2.16±0.17)mmol/L in the control group,and the PTH levels were(27.18±11.77)ng/L in the combined group and(18.57±9.55)ng/L in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05)observed in both parameters.At day 3 postoperatively,the blood calcium levels were(2.32±0.17)mmol/L in the combined group and(2.23±0.12)mmol/L in the control group;the PTH levels were(33.03±7.88)ng/L in the com-bined group and(24.89±9.29)ng/L in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05)observed in both parameters.After surgery,3 cases(7.5％)of numbness in the extremities or around the mouth were observed in the combined group compared to 10 cases(25.0％)in the con-trol group,with a statistically significant difference(P=0.034).Conclusion:The use of NIRAF combined with MHI can effectively improve the accuracy of parathyroid gland identification during thyroid surgery,thereby avoiding inadvertent removal,reducing the occurrence of postoperative hypocalcemia and parathyroid dysfunction,lowering the incidence of postoperative numbness in the extremities or around the mouth,and enhancing the overall patient experience.

Objective Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has precise traits and advantages in the scientific prevention and remedy practice of diabetic gastroparesis(DGP).The review gathered and reviewed the research on the therapy of DGP with TCM in current years.It was once located that it performed an essential function by regulating Cajal interstitial cells,enteric nervous system,gastrointestinal hormones and gut microbiota.The research development of the mechanism and effect of TCM in the treatment of DGP were respectively reviewed from the above factors,providing thoughts and scientific foundation for the prevention and treatment of DGP.

This study aimed to explore the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and reduced risk of readmission in patients having rheumatoid arthritis with hypoproteinemia(RA-H). A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 2 437 rheumatoid arthritis patients in the information system database of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from 2014 to 2021, and 476 of them were found to have hypoproteinemia. The patients were divided into TCM users and non-TCM users by propensity score matching. Exposure was defined as the use of oral Chinese patent medicine or herbal decoction for ≥1 month. Cox regression analysis was performed to explore the risk factors of clinical indicators of rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, the use of TCM during hospitalization was analyzed, and analysis of association rules was conducted to investigate the correlation between TCM, improvement of indicators and readmission of patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted to compare the readmission rate of TCM users and non-TCM users. It was found the readmission rate of RA-H patients was significantly higher than that of RA patients. By propensity score matching, 232 RA-H patients were divided into TCM group(116 cases) and non-TCM group(116 cases). Compared with the conditions in the non-TCM group, the readmission rate of the TCM group was lowered(P<0.01), and the readmission rate of middle-aged and elderly patients was higher than that of young patients(P<0.01). Old age was a risk factor for readmission of RA-H patients, while TCM, albumin(ALB) and total protein(TP) were the protective factors. During hospitalization, the TCMs used for RA-H patients were mainly divided into types of activating blood and resolving stasis, relaxing sinew and dredging collaterals, clearing heat and detoxifying, and invigorating spleen and resolving dampness. The improvement of rheumatoid factor(RF), immunoglobulin G(IgG), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein(CRP) and ALB was closely related to TCM. On the basis of western medicine treatment, the application of TCM could reduce the readmission rate of RA-H patients, and longer use of TCM indicated lower readmission rate.
Middle Aged ; Aged ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Patient Readmission ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Hypoproteinemia/drug therapy*

The 3-succinate-30-stearyl glycyrrhetinic acid(18-GA-Suc) was inserted into glycyrrhetinic acid(GA)-tanshinone Ⅱ_A(TSN)-salvianolic acid B(Sal B) liposome(GTS-lip) to prepare liver targeting compound liposome(Suc-GTS-lip) mediated by GA receptors. Next, pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of Suc-GTS-lip and GTS-lip were compared by UPLC, and in vivo imaging tracking of Suc-GTS-lip was conducted. The authors investigated the effect of Suc-GTS-lip on the proliferation inhibition of hepatic stellate cells(HSC) and explored their molecular mechanism of improving liver fibrosis. Pharmacokinetic results showed that the AUC_(Sal B) decreased from(636.06±27.73) μg·h·mL~(-1) to(550.39±12.34) μg·h·mL~(-1), and the AUC_(TSN) decreased from(1.08±0.72) μg·h·mL~(-1) to(0.65±0.04) μg·h·mL~(-1), but the AUC_(GA) increased from(43.64±3.10) μg·h·mL~(-1) to(96.21±3.75) μg·h·mL~(-1). The results of tissue distribution showed that the AUC_(Sal B) and C_(max) of Sal B in the liver of the Suc-GTS-lip group were 10.21 and 4.44 times those of the GTS-lip group, respectively. The liver targeting efficiency of Sal B, TSN, and GA in the Suc-GTS-lip group was 40.66%, 3.06%, and 22.08%, respectively. In vivo imaging studies showed that the modified liposomes tended to accumulate in the liver. MTT results showed that Suc-GTS-lip could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HSC, and RT-PCR results showed that the expression of MMP-1 was significantly increased in all groups, but that of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 was significantly decreased. The mRNA expressions of collagen-I and collagen-Ⅲ were significantly decreased in all groups. The experimental results showed that Suc-GTS-lip had liver targeting, and it could inhibit the proliferation of HSC and induce their apoptosis, which provided the experimental basis for the targeted treatment of liver fibrosis by Suc-GTS-lip.
Humans ; Liposomes ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid/pharmacology* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis/genetics* ; Collagen/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression level of miR-342-3p in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its effect on inflammatory response and migration of synovial fibroblasts in RA (RA-FLS). METHODS: PBMCs were collected from 30 healthy individuals and 50 RA patients for detecting the expression of miR-342-3p, and its correlation with the clinical indicators RF, ESR, anti-CCP, hs-CRP, C3, DAS-28, SAS, and SDS was analyzed. In RA-FLS cultures, the effect of transfection of miR-342-3p mimics and inhibitor on TNF-α-induced inflammatory response of the cells was evaluated by detecting the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α using ELISA. CCK8 assay and Transwell assay were used for detecting the changes in cell viability and migration ability of the synovial cells. RESULTS: In RA patients, the expression level of miR-342-3p was significantly lowered in the PBMCs (P < 0.05) with an area under the ROC curve of 97.53% and showed inverse correlations with RF (r=-0.321), ESR(r=-0.284), anti-CCP (r=-0.355), hs-CRP (r=-0.320), C3 (r=-0.294), DAS-28 (r=-0.395), SAS (r=-0.366), and SDS (r=-0.397) (all P < 0.05); a low expression of miR-342-3p was strongly associated with elevated levels of anti-CCP, DAS-28, SDS, and SAS (all with a rule support greater than 85%, confidence greater than 88%, and lift greater than 1). In cultured RA-FLS, TNF-α stimulation significantly increased the cell viability (P < 0.05), upregulated the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and lowered the expression of IL-10 (P < 0.05). These changes were significantly suppressed by transfection of the cells with miR-342-3p mimics (P < 0.05) but enhanced by transfection with miR-342-3p inhibitor (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The expression of miR-342-3p is decreased in the PBMCs of RA patients. A lowered expression of miR-342-3p contributes to the pathogenesis of RA by promoting inflammatory responses and migration of RA-FLS.
Humans ; Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies ; Interleukin-10 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; C-Reactive Protein ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Interleukin-6 ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Inflammation ; Fibroblasts ; MicroRNAs/genetics*

An epidemiological investigation was carried out on a local cluster of outbreak caused by imported cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in rural areas of Chengdu in December 2020, to find out the source of infection and the chain of transmission. According to
COVID-19 ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemics ; Humans ; Quarantine ; SARS-CoV-2