OBJECTIVES: To investigate pharmacologically active components of Yiqi Zishen Formula (YZF) and their mechanisms for alleviating airway inflammation in mice with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry was employed to characterize the chemical components in YZF and YZF-medicated rat serum. A compound-disease target network was constructed based on serum components of YZF to screen the key pathways and targets using enrichment analysis. A mouse model of cigarette smoke-induced COPD was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of YZF and validate the expression of key proteins in network pharmacology-enriched pathways. Fifty male C57BL/6J mice were randomized equally into control group, COPD model group, high- and low-dose YZF treatment groups, and N-acetylcysteine treatment group. Pulmonary function of the mice was assessed using whole-body plethysmography, and lung histopathology, alveolar structure, and airway remodeling were analyzed using HE staining. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF‑α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined with ELISA, and pulmonary expressions of PI3K, Akt, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), p65, and phosphorylated p65 (p-p65) were detected using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We identified a total of 156 chemical components (including 26 flavonoids or flavonoid glycosides, 27 alkaloids, and 11 saponins) in YZF and 43 prototype components in medicated rat serum. Network pharmacology revealed 704 YZF-related targets and 1199 COPD-associated targets. Integrated analysis suggested that the anti-COPD effects of YZF were associated with the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. In mouse models of COPD, YZF treatment significantly increased mean alveolar number and peak expiratory flow (P<0.05), reduced mean linear intercept, bronchial wall thickness, lung coefficient, and BALF cytokine levels, and suppressed the expressions of PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, p65, and p-p65 in the lung tissues. CONCLUSIONS YZF alleviates COPD symptoms and airway inflammation in mice possibly by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/NF‑κB pathway through its multiple components that interact with multiple targets.
Animals ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Rats

The ambiguity of etiology makes temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) "difficult-to-treat". Emerging evidence underscores the therapeutic promise of exosomes in osteoarthritis management. Nonetheless, challenges such as low yields and insignificant efficacy of current exosome therapies necessitate significant advances. Addressing lower strontium (Sr) levels in arthritic synovial microenvironment, we studied the effect of Sr element on exosomes and miRNA selectively loading in synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs). Here, we developed an optimized system that boosts the yield of SMSC-derived exosomes (SMSC-EXOs) and improves their miRNA profiles with an elevated proportion of beneficial miRNAs, while reducing harmful ones by pretreating SMSCs with Sr. Compared to untreated SMSC-EXOs, Sr-pretreated SMSC-derived exosomes (Sr-SMSC-EXOs) demonstrated superior therapeutic efficacy by mitigating chondrocyte ferroptosis and reducing osteoclast-mediated joint pain in TMJOA. Our results illustrate Alix's crucial role in Sr-triggered miRNA loading, identifying miR-143-3p as a key anti-TMJOA exosomal component. Interestingly, this system is specifically oriented towards synovium-derived stem cells. The insight into trace element-driven, site-specific miRNA selectively loading in SMSC-EXOs proposes a promising therapeutic enhancement strategy for TMJOA.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/drug effects* ; Osteoarthritis/drug therapy* ; Exosomes/drug effects* ; Strontium/pharmacology* ; Synovial Membrane/cytology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/therapy* ; Temporomandibular Joint

Objective To investigate pharmacologically active components of Yiqi Zishen Formula(YZF)and their mechanisms for alleviating airway inflammation in mice with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry was employed to characterize the chemical components in YZF and YZF-medicated rat serum.A compound-disease target network was constructed based on serum components of YZF to screen the key pathways and targets using enrichment analysis.A mouse model of cigarette smoke-induced COPD was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of YZF and validate the expression of key proteins in network pharmacology-enriched pathways.Fifty male C57BL/6J mice were randomized equally into control group,COPD model group,high-and low-dose YZF treatment groups,and N-acetylcysteine treatment group.Pulmonary function of the mice was assessed using whole-body plethysmography,and lung histopathology,alveolar structure,and airway remodeling were analyzed using HE staining.The levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were determined with ELISA,and pulmonary expressions of PI3K,Akt,phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt),p65,and phosphorylated p65(p-p65)were detected using immunohistochemistry.Results We identified a total of 156 chemical components(including 26 flavonoids or flavonoid glycosides,27 alkaloids,and 11 saponins)in YZF and 43 prototype components in medicated rat serum.Network pharmacology revealed 704 YZF-related targets and 1199 COPD-associated targets.Integrated analysis suggested that the anti-COPD effects of YZF were associated with the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.In mouse models of COPD,YZF treatment significantly increased mean alveolar number and peak expiratory flow(P<0.05),reduced mean linear intercept,bronchial wall thickness,lung coefficient,and BALF cytokine levels,and suppressed the expressions of PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,p65,and p-p65 in the lung tissues.Conclusion YZF alleviates COPD symptoms and airway inflammation in mice possibly by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway through its multiple components that interact with multiple targets.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture at "four pharyngeal points" on simple vocal tics with liver hyperactivity disturbed wind in children. METHODS: Sixty children with simple vocal tics of liver hyperactivity disturbed wind were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a control group (30 cases). The control group was given Changma Xifeng tablets orally, 3 times a day, while the observation group was treated with acupuncture at "four pharyngeal points" on the basis of the treatment in the control group, 15-20 min a time, once daily for 7 days, with a 3-day break. Both groups were treated for 3 months. The TCM syndrome score and Yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS) score of the two groups were observed before treatment and after 1, 2, 3 months of treatment, the disappearance time of simple vocal tics was recorded, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: After 1, 2, 3 months of treatment, the TCM syndrome scores and YGTSS scores of the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the scores of the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The disappearance time of simple vocal tics in the observation group was earlier than that in the control group (P<0.05). The effective rate of the observation group was 93.1% (27/29), which was higher than 73.3% (22/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture at "four pharyngeal points" could improve symptoms in children with simple vocal tics of liver hyperactivity disturbed wind, and shorten the disappearance time of simple vocal tics.
Humans ; Male ; Acupuncture Points ; Female ; Child ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Child, Preschool ; Liver/drug effects* ; Tics/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

AIM:To exploring the mechanism of Xin Mai Jia(XMJ)in inhibiting hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy through network pharmacology and animal experiments.METHODS:Retrieving the ac-tive ingredients and target points of XMJ by search-ing the TCMSP database and related literature re-ports;using the Gene Cards,OMIM,and Drug Bank databases to screen targets for hypertensive cardi-ac hypertrophy;constructing a network of tradi-tional Chinese medicine-active ingredients-poten-tial targets and a protein-protein interaction(PPI)network;using DAVID software for target gene on-tology(GO)functional enrichment analysis and Kyo-to Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis;using Auto Dock soft-ware for molecular docking.A spontaneously hy-pertensive rat(SHR)model was established,and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to detect the morphology of cardiac tissue and cellular hy-pertrophy,Masson staining was used to detect col-lagen deposition in cardiac tissue,and Western blot to detect the expression of heat shock protein(HSP90AA1),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor y(PPARG),and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α)in car-diac tissue.RESULTS:A total of 56 potential active ingredients were identified in XMJ,and 5,492 tar-gets related to hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy were obtained.The targets in the core network were ranked according to their Degree values,and four main targets were selected:HSP90AA1,mTOR,PPARG,and TNF-α.The results of HE staining showed that compared with the normal group,the average area of cardiomyocytes in the SHR group increased significantly(P＜0.05),while there was no significant change in the XMJ group.The hypertro-phy in the SHR+XMJ group was significantly alleviat-ed(P＜0.05).The results of Masson staining showed that compared with the normal group,the levels of interstitial fibrosis and perivascular fibrosis in the SHR group rats increased significantly(P＜0.01),and XMJ could significantly reduce the fibrosis levels in the SHR group rats(P＜0.01).The results of Western blot showed that compared with the normal group rats,the expression of HSP90AA1 and PPARG in the myocardial tissue of SHR group rats was downregu-lated,mTOR phosphorylation was downregulated,and TNF-α was significantly upregulated(P＜0.01).In the SHR+XMJ group,the expression of HSP90AA1,PPARG,and TNF-α in the myocardial tis-sue of rats returned to normal levels,and mTOR phosphorylation returned to normal levels.In the XMJ group,there were no significant changes in the above indicators compared with the normal group rats.CONCLUSION:The mechanism underly-ing the inhibitory effect of XMJ on myocardial cell hypertrophy in hypertension involves a comprehen-sive action through multiple components,multiple targets,and multiple pathways.

Music intervention is an innovative nursing method that integrates music,medicine,and psychology.It is safe,effective,and easy for implemention.It has demonstrated positive effects in alleviating psychotic symptoms,stabilizing emotions,and improving sleep,and it is gradually being applied in psychiatric disorders.This article provides a review of the theoretical basis and current research status of music intervention,and offers a perspective on future applications,with the aim of providing a reference for the application of music intervention in the rehabilitation nursing of mental illnesses.

Music intervention is an innovative nursing method that integrates music,medicine,and psychology.It is safe,effective,and easy for implemention.It has demonstrated positive effects in alleviating psychotic symptoms,stabilizing emotions,and improving sleep,and it is gradually being applied in psychiatric disorders.This article provides a review of the theoretical basis and current research status of music intervention,and offers a perspective on future applications,with the aim of providing a reference for the application of music intervention in the rehabilitation nursing of mental illnesses.

AIM:To exploring the mechanism of Xin Mai Jia(XMJ)in inhibiting hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy through network pharmacology and animal experiments.METHODS:Retrieving the ac-tive ingredients and target points of XMJ by search-ing the TCMSP database and related literature re-ports;using the Gene Cards,OMIM,and Drug Bank databases to screen targets for hypertensive cardi-ac hypertrophy;constructing a network of tradi-tional Chinese medicine-active ingredients-poten-tial targets and a protein-protein interaction(PPI)network;using DAVID software for target gene on-tology(GO)functional enrichment analysis and Kyo-to Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis;using Auto Dock soft-ware for molecular docking.A spontaneously hy-pertensive rat(SHR)model was established,and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to detect the morphology of cardiac tissue and cellular hy-pertrophy,Masson staining was used to detect col-lagen deposition in cardiac tissue,and Western blot to detect the expression of heat shock protein(HSP90AA1),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor y(PPARG),and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α)in car-diac tissue.RESULTS:A total of 56 potential active ingredients were identified in XMJ,and 5,492 tar-gets related to hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy were obtained.The targets in the core network were ranked according to their Degree values,and four main targets were selected:HSP90AA1,mTOR,PPARG,and TNF-α.The results of HE staining showed that compared with the normal group,the average area of cardiomyocytes in the SHR group increased significantly(P＜0.05),while there was no significant change in the XMJ group.The hypertro-phy in the SHR+XMJ group was significantly alleviat-ed(P＜0.05).The results of Masson staining showed that compared with the normal group,the levels of interstitial fibrosis and perivascular fibrosis in the SHR group rats increased significantly(P＜0.01),and XMJ could significantly reduce the fibrosis levels in the SHR group rats(P＜0.01).The results of Western blot showed that compared with the normal group rats,the expression of HSP90AA1 and PPARG in the myocardial tissue of SHR group rats was downregu-lated,mTOR phosphorylation was downregulated,and TNF-α was significantly upregulated(P＜0.01).In the SHR+XMJ group,the expression of HSP90AA1,PPARG,and TNF-α in the myocardial tis-sue of rats returned to normal levels,and mTOR phosphorylation returned to normal levels.In the XMJ group,there were no significant changes in the above indicators compared with the normal group rats.CONCLUSION:The mechanism underly-ing the inhibitory effect of XMJ on myocardial cell hypertrophy in hypertension involves a comprehen-sive action through multiple components,multiple targets,and multiple pathways.

Objective:To investigate the correlation of retinal blood vessel density with blood pressure and retinal thickness in the macular region of glaucoma.Methods:A retrospective study. From March 2019 to March 2022, 100 glaucoma patients of 100 eyes (glaucoma group) and 100 healthy people of 100 eyes (control group) diagnosed in Department of Ophthalmology of Luoyang First People's Hospital were included in the study. The patients in the glaucoma group were subdivided into the early, intermediate, and late groups based on the average visual field defect value, which were 38, 32, and 30 cases, respectively. Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to scan the macular area of the examined eyes in a 3 mm × 3 mm area. The software automatically divided the retina within 3 mm of the macular central concavity into 2 concentric circles centered on the macular central concavity, which were the central concave area with a diameter of 1 mm and the paracentral concave area with a diameter of 1-3 mm. The blood flow density and retinal thickness of the superficial retinal capillary plexus in the nasal, temporal, inferior, and superior quadrants of the retina within 3 mm of the macula were measured. Blood pressure was measured at the brachial artery using an electronic sphygmomanometer. Comparisons between two groups were made by independent samples t test, and comparisons between multiple groups were made by one-way analysis of variance. Correlations between retinal blood flow density and blood pressure and retinal thickness were analyzed by Spearman's correlation analysis. Results:The retinal blood vessel density in the central fovea, parafoveal, inferior, and superior macular areas in the glaucoma group were lower than that in the control group, and with the aggravation of the disease, the retinal blood vessel density in the central fovea, parafoveal, inferior and superior macular areas gradually decreased; the retinal thicknesses in the foveal, parafoveal, inferior, and superior macular areas in the glaucoma group were lower than those in the control group, and with the aggravation of the disease, the retinal thicknesses in the foveal, parafoveal, inferior, and superior macular areas gradually decreased, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in the glaucoma group than in the control group, and they increased gradually as the disease worsened ( P<0.05). Spearman's correlation analyses showed that in glaucoma patients, the density of retinal blood vessels in the macular central plexus, paracentral plexus, and inferior and superior retinas was positively correlated with retinal thickness in the corresponding areas and negatively correlated with blood pressure ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The density of retinal blood vessels in the macular central plexus, paracentral plexus, and inferior and superior retinas are positively correlated with retinal thickness in the corresponding areas and negatively correlated with blood pressure.

Objective To explore the interventional mechanism of Bufei Yishen formula on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from pathway level.Methods Macrophage inflammatory model was established by LPS stimulation.Based on gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)method,macrophage inflammation related pathways were screened,and normalized enrichment score(NES)was used to identify pathways that were reversed by traditional Chinese medicine treatment,revealing the interventional mechanism of Bufei Yishen formula and its compatibility.Results The NES of Bufei Yishen formula was-1377.23,among which the NES of Bushen compatibility was-485.07,that of Huoxue was-351.86,Huatan was-303.71,and Yiqi was-236.59.There were 213 significantly disturbed pathways reversed after the intervention of Bufei Yishen formula,among which there were 184 reversed pathways for Huoxue compatibility,147 reversed pathways for Bushen,134 reversed pathways for Huatan,133 reversed pathways for Yiqi,and the reversal rate was 75.41%,60.25%,54.92%,54.51%,respectively.90 pathways,including TGF-β production,were significantly reversed in the four compatibilities.Positive regulation of cytokine production involved in inflammatory response etc were specifically reversed pathways for compatibility.Conclusion The intensity of Bufei Yishen formula that reversed macrophage-inflammatory related pathways was in order of Bushen,Huoxue,Huatan and Yiqi compatibility.And the number of pathways that could be reversed by the compatibility of Bufei Yishen formula was Huoxue,Bushen,Huatan and Yiqi.Bufei Yishen formula could regulate the common and specific reversal pathways of the compatibilities to intervene the inflammatory response.