ObjectiveTo establish fingerprint profiles and a quantitative determination method for Lycii Cortex， providing a scientific basis for the formulation of quality standards for Lycii Cortex and its roasted products. MethodsHigh performance liquid chromatography（HPLC） was developed for the quantitative method for determining kukoamine B in Lycii Cortex and its roasted products on an Alphasil XD-C₁₈ CH column（4.6 mm×250 mm， 5 μm）. HPLC fingerprint profiles were established for 10 batches of Lycii Cortex and its roasted products， and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） was used to identify the common peaks based on reference standards， literature and MS information. Quality evaluation indicators included yield of decoction pieces， appearance properties， content of kukoamine B， and fingerprint profiles. The temperature and time of the roasting process were investigated to select the optimal preparation process， which was then verified. Additionally， chemical pattern recognition was combined to assess the differences in the chemical composition of Lycii Cortex before and after roasting， as well as among samples from different origins. ResultsQuantitative analysis indicated that the contents of kukoamine B in Lycii Cortex and its roasted products were 0.35%-5.51% and 0.24%-4.15%， respectively. The transfer rate of kukoamine B was 58.6%-78.9% after roasting. The fingerprint profile analysis demonstrated that the method established in this study effectively separated kukoamine B from other components in the samples and distinctly differentiated it from its impurity peak， cis-N-caffeoylputrescine. The HPLC fingerprint profiles of Lycii Cortex and its roasted products showed high similarity（all above 0.95）， with 7 common peaks identified and five common components， including kukoamine B， cis-N-caffeoylputrescine， N-coumaroyl tyramine， feruloyltyramine， and glucosyringic acid， confirmed. Process optimization confirmed that baking at 110 ℃ for 20 min was a stable and feasible method for roasting Lycii Cortex. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed that there was little difference in the chemical composition between raw and roasted Lycii Cortex， but the quality of Lycii Cortex from different origins differed greatly. ConclusionThis study successfully established the fingerprint profiles and a quantitative method for the effective component kukoamine B in Lycii Cortex and roasted Lycii Cortex. The qualitative and quantitative analyses clarified that the impact of the roasting process on the chemical composition of Lycii Cortex was less significant than the variations due to its geographical origin. The findings of this study offer a reference for the development of quality evaluation methods and the establishment of quality standards for Lycii Cortex and its processed products.

ObjectiveTo explore psychological experiences and care needs of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) following dysphagia. MethodsFrom April to June, 2024, 13 elderly patients with COPD and dysphagia received treatment in Yixing No. 2 People's Hospital (Yixing Occupational Disease Institute) and Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital were interviewed. Nvivo 11.0 and content analysis were employed to analyze and summarize themes. ResultsTwo main themes were identified. The psychological experiences included fear of eating due to swallowing and choking, swallowing anxiety in social situations, concerns about malnutrition, and emotional loss related to family. The care needs included improvement in swallowing function, adjustment of food texture, assistance with disease adaptation and effective access to health education information. ConclusionHealthcare professionals should thoroughly understand the psychological and needs of elderly patients with COPD-related dysphagia, and comprehensive nursing strategies should be developed and implemented to improve swallowing function and overall quality of life.

ObjectiveTo elucidate the chemical composition of Danshenyin and its blood components in rats after oral administration. MethodsUltra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS） coupled with PeakView 1.2 software was used to systematically characterize and identify the components of Danshenyin aqueous extract and its migratory components in rat blood after oral administration based on the retention time， quasi-molecular ion peaks， secondary fragmentation ions， and literature reports， and a preliminary compounds identification of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma aqueous extract， the co-decoction of Santali Albi Lignum and Amomi Fructus was carried out to attribute the chemical constituents of the aqueous extract of Danshenyin. ResultsA total of 73 compounds， including 21 phenolic acids， 23 diterpenes， 6 flavonoids， 7 organic acids， 3 volatile oils and 13 others， were identified from the aqueous extract of Danshenyin. And 36 prototypes and 15 metabolites were identified in rat plasma， the major metabolic pathways included reduction， hydration， hydroxylation， demethylation， methylation， sulfation and others， these metabolites were mainly derived from tanshinones and salvianolic acids. ConclusionThe main blood components of the aqueous extract of Danshenyin are salvianolic acids and tanshinones， which may be the material basis of the efficacy. This study can provide reference for pharmacological research， quality control， and clinical application of Danshenyin.

The neonatal mammalian heart has a remarkable regenerative capacity, while the adult heart has difficulty to regenerate. A metabolic reprogramming from glycolysis to fatty acid oxidation occurs along with the loss of cardiomyocyte proliferative capacity shortly after birth. In this study, we sought to determine if and how metabolic reprogramming regulates cardiomyocyte proliferation. Reversing metabolic reprogramming by carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) inhibition, using cardiac-specific Cpt1a and Cpt1b knockout mice promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation and improved cardiac function post-myocardial infarction. The inhibition of CPT1 is of pharmacological significance because those protective effects were replicated by etomoxir, a CPT1 inhibitor. CPT1 inhibition, by decreasing poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 expression, reduced ADP-ribosylation of dual-specificity phosphatase 1 in cardiomyocytes, leading to decreased p38 MAPK phosphorylation, and stimulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation. Our present study indicates that reversing metabolic reprogramming is an effective strategy to stimulate adult cardiomyocyte proliferation. CPT1 is a potential therapeutic target for promoting heart regeneration and myocardial infarction treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule (DZJTC) for repairing renal vascular endothelial injury in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS: Fifty male SD rat models of DN, established by left nephrectomy, high-sugar and high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection, were randomized into DN model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose DZJTC treatment groups, and DAPT (a γ-secretase inhibitor) treatment group, with 10 rats with normal feeding as the control group. DZJTC was administered by daily gavage at 0.315, 0.63, or 1.26 g/kg, and DAPT (20 mg/kg, dissolved in 50% CMC-Na solution) was given by gavage every other day for 4 weeks; normal saline was given in the control and model groups. After treatment, the levels of creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and microalbuminuria (mALB) were detected with ELISA, and renal pathologies were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Renal expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured by immunohistochemistry, and the protein expressions of CD31 and Notch signaling pathway components were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: The rat models of DN showed significantly increased CRE, BUN, and mALB levels, obvious renal pathologies under electron microscopy, increased renal VEGF, ET-1 and CD31 expressions, and upregulated Notch1, NICD, and MAML1 protein levels. Treatment with DZJTC at the 3 doses and DAPT significantly reduced CRE, BUN, and mALB levels, improved renal pathology, decreased VEGF, ET-1 and CD31 expressions, and lowered Notch1, NICD and MAML1 levels, and the effects were the most pronounced with high-dose DZJTC. CONCLUSIONS DZJTC ameliorates hyperproliferation and dysfunction of renal vascular endothelium in DN rats possibly by regulating renal VEGF and ET-1 levels via inhibiting NICD- and MAML1-mediated Notch signaling pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/drug therapy* ; Receptor, Notch1/metabolism* ; Kidney/blood supply* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Down-Regulation ; Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism* ; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism*

Adolescent depression is increasingly recognized as a serious mental health disorder with distinct clinical and molecular features. Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing, we identified cell-specific transcriptomic changes in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), particularly in astrocytes, of adolescent macaques exhibiting depressive-like behaviors. The level of diacylglycerol kinase beta was significantly reduced in neurons and glial cells of depressed macaques, while FKBP5 levels increased in glial cells. Disruption of GABAergic synapses and disruption of D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism were linked to depressive phenotypes in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) and subtypes of astrocytes. Communication pathways between astrocytes and D1/D2-MSNs were also disrupted, involving factors like bone morphogenetic protein-6 and Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase-4. Bulk transcriptomic and proteomic analyses corroborated these findings, and FKBP5 upregulation was confirmed by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence in the NAc of rats and macaques with chronic unpredictable mild stress. Our results highlight the specific roles of different cell types in adolescent depression in the NAc, offering potential targets for new antidepressant therapies.
Animals ; Nucleus Accumbens/metabolism* ; Male ; Transcriptome ; Depression/genetics* ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Rats

Objective To construct a risk prediction model for delayed medical treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI),and to evaluate the predictive performance of the model.Methods Convenience sampling method was used to select 219 patients with AMI who were hospitalized in Yancheng Third People's Hospital from March 2023 to May 2024 as investigation objects.The patients with AMI were divided into delayed group(n=106)and undelayed group(n=1 13)with the 6-hour interval.Logistic regression analysis was used to establish a risk prediction model for AMI patients with delayed medical treatment.Hosmer-Lemeshow test and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to evaluate the goodness of fit and prediction ability of the model.Results Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that age,unknown heart disease at the time of onset,first chest pain and low score of brief health literacy screen were all risk factors for delayed medical treatment in AMI patients(P＜0.05).The model predicted that the area under the curve of AMI patients with delayed hospitalization was 0.771,the Youden index was 0.562,the optimal cutoff value was 0.514,and the sensitivity and specificity were 77.3％and 86.5％,respectively.Conclusion The constructed risk prediction model can effectively predict and screen the high-risk groups of AMI patients with delayed medical treatment,reduce the risk of AMI patients with delayed medical treatment,and provide a scientific basis for taking reasonable intervention measures to shorten the time of medical treatment for AMI patients.

As the location with special public health environments,funeral parlors are of paramount importance in the prevention and control of infectious diseases as well as disinfection practices.This paper analyzes the unique hy-gienic characteristics of funeral parlors,summarizes relevant laws,regulations,standards,and literatures in funeral parlors at home and abroad,and elaborates the problems relevant to infection prevention and control in funeral par-lors from perspectives of body disposal risks,microbial contamination characteristics in funeral parlors,and the current status of staff's knowledge on infectious diseases.It aims to enhance the professional prevention and control capabilities of funeral service personnel and management personnel,ensure the health and safety of service recipients and staff,optimize service quality,provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for forming a sound infectious disease prevention and control system for funeral service institutions,and clarify research directions for the preven-tion and control of infectious diseases in funeral parlors in the future.

Objective To compare differences in the pharmacological activities of Angelica sinensis and its components on hematopoietic and laxative effects.Methods Kunming mice were randomly divided into eight groups,with 12 mice in each group consisting of equal numbers of males and females.These groups included a normal group,a model group,a positive group,a Angelica sinensis(AS)group,an Angelica sinensis water-soluble(AW)group,an Ethanol extract of Angelicae sinensis(AE)group,and an Angelica sinensis essential oil(AO)group.Except for the normal group,all other groups were established as blood deficiency constipation mouse models through subcutaneous injection of N-acetylphenylhydrazine combined with oral administration of loperamide hydrochloride.On the 7th day of modeling,each group received oral administration of the respective test substance once daily for three consecutive days.General condition and body weight changes of the mice were observed,peripheral blood cells were counted,stool morphology and fecal output were recorded,fecal moisture content and colonic tissue moisture content were determined,small intestine propulsion rate was assessed by a charcoal meal method,and serum levels of β-endorphin(β-EP),cholecystokinin octapeptide(CCK-8),substance P(SP),and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)were determined by ELISA.Differences in the pharmacological activities of Angelica sinensis and its components on hematopoietic and laxative effects were analyzed.Results Compared with the normal group,model group mice showed significantly reduced white blood cell(WBC),red blood cell(RBC),hemoglobin(HGB),hematocrit(HCT),and platelet(PLT)counts,and body weight(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Additionally,fecal moisture content,colon moisture content,and small intestine propulsion rate were decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01)and serum CCK-8 and SP levels were also lower(P＜0.01),while serum β-EP and VIP levels increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,AS and AW groups had higher WBC,RBC,HGB,HCT,and PLT counts,defecation volume,fecal moisture content,and colon moisture content(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The AE group showed increased WBC,RBC,HGB,HCT,and PLT counts,and colon moisture content(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),but defecation volume and fecal moisture content were not significantly altered.The AO group exhibited increased fecal moisture content,colon moisture content,and defecation volume(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),but no significant changes in WBC,RBC,HGB,HCT,and PLT counts.The AE group showed no significant changes in defecation volume,fecal moisture content,and colon moisture content.The AS and AO groups had increased small intestine propulsion rates(P＜0.01),while there was no significant difference in small intestine propulsion rate between the AW and AE groups.The AS group had elevated serum CCK-8 and SP levels(P＜0.01)and decreased serum β-EP and VIP levels(P＜0.01).The AO group had increased serum CCK-8 and SP levels(P＜0.05),but no significant change in serum β-EP and VIP levels.The AW group had decreased serum VIP levels(P＜0.05),but no statistically significant difference in serum CCK-8 and SP levels.Compared with the AS group,the AW group had higher WBC,RBC,HGB,HCT,and PLT counts,while the AO and AE groups had lower levels of these parameters(P＜0.05).Both AW and AO groups had increased fecal moisture content(P＜0.05),and both AW and AE groups had increased colon moisture content(P＜0.05).AO,AE,and AW groups had elevated serum CCK-8 and SP levels and decreased serum β-EP and VIP levels(P＜0.05).In summary,the groups were ordered as follows:AE＞AO＞AS＞AW in terms of blood replenishment,AO＞AS＞AW＞AE in terms of promoting bowel movements,and AO＞AS＞AE＞AW in terms of intestinal motility.Conclusions Angelica sinensis and its components have varying degrees of blood replenishing and bowel-promoting activities.The AE component has strong blood replenishing activity,while the AO component has strong bowel-promoting and defecation-stimulating activity.These findings provide a reference for the development of traditional Chinese medicines based on Angelica sinensis components.