1.Exploring on Processing Mechanism of Enhanced "Invigorating Spleen and Stopping Diarrhea" Effect of Soil-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma Based on "Microscopic Characterization, Chemical Analysis and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation" Trinity
Guoshun SHAN ; Yuyan XIAO ; Chu YUAN ; Xiuai CHEN ; Qimiao ZHAO ; Xiang LIU ; Hao WU ; Ke ZHANG ; Siqi LIU ; Yongduo YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):182-193
ObjectiveTo analyze the processing mechanism underlying the enhanced effect of invigorating spleen and stopping diarrhea of soil-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(AMR) by analyzing the changes of microstructure, chemical composition and anti-ulcerative colitis(UC) activity before and after soil stir-frying. MethodsThe microstructure and elemental composition of AMR before and after soil stir-frying were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy(SEM-EDS), to investigate the differences in microstructure and the underlying causes. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) coupled with UNIFI 1.9.2 natural product analysis platform were used to analyze and identify the chemical constituents in raw and soil-fried products, and multivariate statistical methods including principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used to explore the differences and sources of chemical constituents between them. A dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced UC mouse model was established. The method of disease activity index(DAI) was used to evaluate the severity of intestinal inflammation. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors, Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) and Western blot were used to analyze the expressions of key genes and proteins involved in the intestinal mucosal barrier. The 16S rRNA sequencing was used to evaluate the diversity of intestinal flora, headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(HS-GC-MS) was used to explore the levels of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs) in feces. Base on the above findings, this paper investigated the effects of raw and soil-fried AMR on the biological, chemical, mechanical and immune barriers of model animals, and the differences in pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms from the perspective of regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. ResultsSEM observation revealed numerous hearth soil particles on the surface of soil-fried AMR, accompanied by bubble-like bulges. At the same time, there were many cracks and folds on the surface of the hearth soil. EDS analysis revealed that the contents of Si, Al, Mg and Ca in soil-fried AMR were significantly higher than those of raw products, and these elements constituted the primary components of hearth soil. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with database comparison was used to identify the chemical constituents of raw and soil-fried AMR. In positive ion mode, a total of 132 components were identified, primarily comprising three categories of terpenoids, polyphenols and amino acids. In negative ion mode, a total of 40 components were identified, primarily polyphenolic and glycoside compounds. Among them, the contents of sesquiterpenes and polyphenolic acids were changed significantly before and after processing. Soil-fried AMR could reduce the DAI score of UC mice, alleviate the shortening of colon length, reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin(IL)-17, IL-18, γ-interferon(IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in serum, increase the levels of anti-inflammatory factors such as secretory immunoglobulin A(sIgA), IL-10, IL-4 and transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) in serum, increase the expressions of key genes and proteins of intestinal mucosal barrier such as tight junction protein-1(ZO-1), Occludin, Claudin-1 and mucin 2(MUC2) in colonic mucosa, and improve the disorders of intestinal flora diversity and the levels of SCFAs(P<0.05, P<0.01). The raw and stir-fried products of AMR also exhibited the aforementioned effects, but they were weaker than the soil-fried products. Additionally, the auxiliary material hearth soil also had a certain pharmacodynamic effect. ConclusionSoil-fried AMR can enhance the protective effect on intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. These changes or heating-induced alterations in the microscopic structure and chemical composition of AMR may be attributed to the dual effects of adsorption of hearth soil.
2.Exploring on Processing Mechanism of Enhanced "Invigorating Spleen and Stopping Diarrhea" Effect of Soil-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma Based on "Microscopic Characterization, Chemical Analysis and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation" Trinity
Guoshun SHAN ; Yuyan XIAO ; Chu YUAN ; Xiuai CHEN ; Qimiao ZHAO ; Xiang LIU ; Hao WU ; Ke ZHANG ; Siqi LIU ; Yongduo YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):182-193
ObjectiveTo analyze the processing mechanism underlying the enhanced effect of invigorating spleen and stopping diarrhea of soil-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(AMR) by analyzing the changes of microstructure, chemical composition and anti-ulcerative colitis(UC) activity before and after soil stir-frying. MethodsThe microstructure and elemental composition of AMR before and after soil stir-frying were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy(SEM-EDS), to investigate the differences in microstructure and the underlying causes. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) coupled with UNIFI 1.9.2 natural product analysis platform were used to analyze and identify the chemical constituents in raw and soil-fried products, and multivariate statistical methods including principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used to explore the differences and sources of chemical constituents between them. A dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced UC mouse model was established. The method of disease activity index(DAI) was used to evaluate the severity of intestinal inflammation. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors, Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) and Western blot were used to analyze the expressions of key genes and proteins involved in the intestinal mucosal barrier. The 16S rRNA sequencing was used to evaluate the diversity of intestinal flora, headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(HS-GC-MS) was used to explore the levels of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs) in feces. Base on the above findings, this paper investigated the effects of raw and soil-fried AMR on the biological, chemical, mechanical and immune barriers of model animals, and the differences in pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms from the perspective of regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. ResultsSEM observation revealed numerous hearth soil particles on the surface of soil-fried AMR, accompanied by bubble-like bulges. At the same time, there were many cracks and folds on the surface of the hearth soil. EDS analysis revealed that the contents of Si, Al, Mg and Ca in soil-fried AMR were significantly higher than those of raw products, and these elements constituted the primary components of hearth soil. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with database comparison was used to identify the chemical constituents of raw and soil-fried AMR. In positive ion mode, a total of 132 components were identified, primarily comprising three categories of terpenoids, polyphenols and amino acids. In negative ion mode, a total of 40 components were identified, primarily polyphenolic and glycoside compounds. Among them, the contents of sesquiterpenes and polyphenolic acids were changed significantly before and after processing. Soil-fried AMR could reduce the DAI score of UC mice, alleviate the shortening of colon length, reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin(IL)-17, IL-18, γ-interferon(IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in serum, increase the levels of anti-inflammatory factors such as secretory immunoglobulin A(sIgA), IL-10, IL-4 and transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) in serum, increase the expressions of key genes and proteins of intestinal mucosal barrier such as tight junction protein-1(ZO-1), Occludin, Claudin-1 and mucin 2(MUC2) in colonic mucosa, and improve the disorders of intestinal flora diversity and the levels of SCFAs(P<0.05, P<0.01). The raw and stir-fried products of AMR also exhibited the aforementioned effects, but they were weaker than the soil-fried products. Additionally, the auxiliary material hearth soil also had a certain pharmacodynamic effect. ConclusionSoil-fried AMR can enhance the protective effect on intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice. These changes or heating-induced alterations in the microscopic structure and chemical composition of AMR may be attributed to the dual effects of adsorption of hearth soil.
3.Clinical characteristics and risk factors for plastic bronchitis in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
Fang YOU ; Duanxia HOU ; Guangzhi YU ; Changcun ZHAI ; Yuyan ZHANG ; Yuqing WANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(18):2786-2790
OBJECTIVE T o explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors for plastic bronchitis(PB)in the chil-dren with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP).METHODS A retrospective case-control study was con-ducted for the medical data of the children with MPP who hospitalized in pediatrics department of Affiliated Hos-pital of Jining Medical College and underwent bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage from Jan.2023 to Dec.2024.The enrolled children were divided into the PB group and the non-PB group according to the status of complication with PB.The baseline data,clinical characteristics,laboratory test indexes,imaging features,bron-choscopy findings and treatment outcomes were observed and compared between the two groups of children.RESULTS A total of 734 children with MPP were included in the study,131 of whom were assigned as the PB group,and 603 were assigned as the non-PB group.The children were younger[4.83(1.88,7.00)years],the du-ration of fever was longer,the peak temperature was higher[39.50(39.20,39.80)℃],the percentage of compli-cation with pleural effusion was higher(33.59%),the percentage of extrapulmonary organs involved was higher(27.48%),the levels of white blood cells,neutrophils percentage,C-reactive protein(CRP),lactic dehydrogen-ase(LDH),D-dimer(DD)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)were higher in the PB group than in the non-PB group,and there were significant differences(P<0.05).There were significant differences in the percentage of mucosal necrosis under bronchoscopy,number of times of treatments assisted by bronchoscopy and length of hospital stay between the two groups(P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS The MPP children with PB are characterized by younger rage,longer duration of fever,higher peak temperature,higher percentage of complication with pleural effusion,extrapulmonary organs more likely to be involved,more intensive inflammatory reactions and higher percentage of mucosal necrosis under bronchoscopy.Some of the children need to be treated repeatedly with assis-tance of bronchoscopy,and the length of hospital stay is long.
4.Effects of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. alkaloids on behavior and hippocampal tissue damage in manganese-exposed rats
Qian LEI ; Xiaodong YAO ; Yan LI ; Mengheng ZOU ; Zongyang PAN ; Yu CHEN ; Jinping LIU ; Jida LI ; Yuyan CEN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(5):616-621
Background Manganese is an essential trace element for the human body and maintains normal development of many organs including the brain. However, long-term exposure to a high manganese environment or excessive manganese intake will lead to manganese poisoning and result in neurological diseases, and currently no effective treatment plan is available. Objective To develop an animal model for subchronic manganese exposure and assess the impact of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. alkaloids (DNLA) on manganese associated behavioral and hippocampal effects in rats. Methods Fifty male SPF SD rats were randomly allocated into a control group (0.9% normal saline by intraperitoneal injection), two experimental groups [7.5 mg·kg−1 (low) or 15 mg·kg−1 (high) of MnCl2·4H2O by intraperitoneal injection], and two DNLA antagonistic groups [15 mg·kg−1 MnCl2·4H2O by intraperitoneal injection then either 20 mg·kg−1 (low) or 40 mg·kg−1 (high) DNLA by oral administration]. All groups of rats were adminaistered 5 d per wek, once a day, for consecutive 13 weeks. Following modeling, neurobehavioral assessments were conducted using open field, Morris water maze, and Y maze. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was utilized to measure manganese levels in the blood and brain tissues of the rats, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to examine neuronal morphological changes in the hippocampal tissues of the rats. Results The neurobehavioral tests revealed that the manganese-exposed rats exhibited decreased total movement distance, prolonged central zone dwelling time, and reduced motor activity in the open field test, indicating tendencies toward depression and anxiety (P<0.05). In the Y-maze test, the mean exploration distance in the novel arm, the number of entries into the novel arm, and the time spent in the novel arm of the managanses-exposed rats were all reduced, while the latency period increased, suggesting impaired spatial exploration and learning-memory functions (P<0.05). In the Morris water maze navigation test, the escape latency was significantly longer in the manganese-exposed rats compared to the control group, and the number of platform crossings decreased in the spatial probe test, indicating a significant decline in spatial learning and memory (P<0.05). The ICP-MS analysis showed elevated manganese concentrations in the blood and hippocampus of the exposed rats (P<0.05), and the histopathological observation revealed hippocampal damage. Following the DNLA intervention, the manganese-exposed rats showed increased total movement distance and reduced central zone dwelling time in the open field test (P<0.05). In the Y-maze test, the mean exploration distance in the novel arm, the number of entries into the novel arm, and the time spent in the novel arm increased, while the latency period decreased, suggesting alleviation of anxiety and improved exploratory behavior (P<0.05). In the Morris water maze test, the escape latency gradually shortened, and both the number of platform crossings and the percentage of time spent in the target quadrant increased, indicating improved spatial learning and memory (P<0.05). Additionally, the manganese levels in the blood and hippocampus decreased (P<0.05), and the hippocampal pathological changes were partially restored. Conclusion DNLA demonstrates the ability to counteract multiple neurotoxic effects following the elevation of manganese levels in the blood and hippocampal tissues of rats induced by subchronic manganese exposure. Specifically, DNLA is shown to ameliorate the behavioral alterations observed in rats after manganese exposure, and mitigate the hippocampal damage in manganese-exposed rats.
5.Clinical characteristics and risk factors for plastic bronchitis in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
Fang YOU ; Duanxia HOU ; Guangzhi YU ; Changcun ZHAI ; Yuyan ZHANG ; Yuqing WANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(18):2786-2790
OBJECTIVE T o explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors for plastic bronchitis(PB)in the chil-dren with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP).METHODS A retrospective case-control study was con-ducted for the medical data of the children with MPP who hospitalized in pediatrics department of Affiliated Hos-pital of Jining Medical College and underwent bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage from Jan.2023 to Dec.2024.The enrolled children were divided into the PB group and the non-PB group according to the status of complication with PB.The baseline data,clinical characteristics,laboratory test indexes,imaging features,bron-choscopy findings and treatment outcomes were observed and compared between the two groups of children.RESULTS A total of 734 children with MPP were included in the study,131 of whom were assigned as the PB group,and 603 were assigned as the non-PB group.The children were younger[4.83(1.88,7.00)years],the du-ration of fever was longer,the peak temperature was higher[39.50(39.20,39.80)℃],the percentage of compli-cation with pleural effusion was higher(33.59%),the percentage of extrapulmonary organs involved was higher(27.48%),the levels of white blood cells,neutrophils percentage,C-reactive protein(CRP),lactic dehydrogen-ase(LDH),D-dimer(DD)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)were higher in the PB group than in the non-PB group,and there were significant differences(P<0.05).There were significant differences in the percentage of mucosal necrosis under bronchoscopy,number of times of treatments assisted by bronchoscopy and length of hospital stay between the two groups(P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS The MPP children with PB are characterized by younger rage,longer duration of fever,higher peak temperature,higher percentage of complication with pleural effusion,extrapulmonary organs more likely to be involved,more intensive inflammatory reactions and higher percentage of mucosal necrosis under bronchoscopy.Some of the children need to be treated repeatedly with assis-tance of bronchoscopy,and the length of hospital stay is long.
6.Detection of etomidate,metomidate,propoxate,and isopropoxate in human hair by UPLC-MS/MS
Xingang MIAO ; Limei LU ; Mingyang JIN ; Yuting HUANG ; Yuyan CAI ; Yu ZOU ; Kejun ZHANG ; Qihua CHEN
Chinese Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;40(3):273-277
Objective To develop a rapid and accurate ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)method for the detection of etomidate,metomidate,propoxate,and isopropoxate in human hair.Methods Hair samples containing etomidate,metomidate,propoxate,and isopropoxate were extracted with methanol containing the internal standard orthoxine,filtered with a 0.22 μm organic filter membrane and detected vio UPLC-MS/MS.All components were separated by using a gradient elution procedure consisting of 0.01%formic acid(1 mmol/L ammonium acetate)and acetonitrile.Positive electrospray ionization was performed using multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)mode.Results The linear relationships of etomidate,metomidate,propoxate,and isopropoxate were good in the range of 0.01~1 ng/mg(r ≥ 0.997 9),with recovery rates ranging from 87.9%to 101.5%.The accuracy was between 80.0%and 110.0%.The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations(RSD)were 2.9%~9.6%and 3.6%~19.9%.Conclusion This method is easy to operate and has high recovery efficiencies.It is sufficiently simple and sensitive to be applied to detect etomidate,metomidate,propoxate,and isopropoxate in hair.
7.Short-chain fatty acids modulate the role of NLRP3 inflammatory ves-icle pathway in CKD and the progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention
Zitian GAO ; Yu CHEN ; Haidong HE ; Yuyan TANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(6):812-819
The regulation of gut flora metabo-lites-short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs),NLRP3 inflam-matory vesicles,and interactions has been shown to play a key role in many diseases.While chronic kidney disease(CKD)is a common progressive dis-ease whose pathogenesis is related to the reduc-tion of SCFAs,a metabolite of intestinal flora,and the over-activation of NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles.In this paper,we summarize the role of SCFAs and NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in the pathogenesis of CKD,and sort out the research on the interven-tion of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in this inflammatory pathway in the treatment of CKD in recent years,so as to provide the direction and ideas for the exact mechanism of TCM in the treat-ment of CKD.
8.Detection of etomidate,metomidate,propoxate,and isopropoxate in human hair by UPLC-MS/MS
Xingang MIAO ; Limei LU ; Mingyang JIN ; Yuting HUANG ; Yuyan CAI ; Yu ZOU ; Kejun ZHANG ; Qihua CHEN
Chinese Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;40(3):273-277
Objective To develop a rapid and accurate ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)method for the detection of etomidate,metomidate,propoxate,and isopropoxate in human hair.Methods Hair samples containing etomidate,metomidate,propoxate,and isopropoxate were extracted with methanol containing the internal standard orthoxine,filtered with a 0.22 μm organic filter membrane and detected vio UPLC-MS/MS.All components were separated by using a gradient elution procedure consisting of 0.01%formic acid(1 mmol/L ammonium acetate)and acetonitrile.Positive electrospray ionization was performed using multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)mode.Results The linear relationships of etomidate,metomidate,propoxate,and isopropoxate were good in the range of 0.01~1 ng/mg(r ≥ 0.997 9),with recovery rates ranging from 87.9%to 101.5%.The accuracy was between 80.0%and 110.0%.The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations(RSD)were 2.9%~9.6%and 3.6%~19.9%.Conclusion This method is easy to operate and has high recovery efficiencies.It is sufficiently simple and sensitive to be applied to detect etomidate,metomidate,propoxate,and isopropoxate in hair.
9.Short-chain fatty acids modulate the role of NLRP3 inflammatory ves-icle pathway in CKD and the progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention
Zitian GAO ; Yu CHEN ; Haidong HE ; Yuyan TANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(6):812-819
The regulation of gut flora metabo-lites-short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs),NLRP3 inflam-matory vesicles,and interactions has been shown to play a key role in many diseases.While chronic kidney disease(CKD)is a common progressive dis-ease whose pathogenesis is related to the reduc-tion of SCFAs,a metabolite of intestinal flora,and the over-activation of NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles.In this paper,we summarize the role of SCFAs and NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in the pathogenesis of CKD,and sort out the research on the interven-tion of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in this inflammatory pathway in the treatment of CKD in recent years,so as to provide the direction and ideas for the exact mechanism of TCM in the treat-ment of CKD.
10.Inhibition of sigma-1 receptor reduces DRG cell apoptosis of rats with neuropathic pain
Dongling YU ; Shaoe MO ; Wen FU ; Shi CHEN ; Chouqin XIE ; Yuyan LAN
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(8):1101-1106
Objective To investigate the effect of sigma-1 receptor(sig-1R)inhibition on apoptosis in the dorsal root ganglion(DRG)of rats with sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury(CCI)-mediated neuropathic pain.Methods Rats undergoing intrathecal intubation were randomly divided into three groups with 12 in each:sham group,model group(CCI modeling one week after intrathecal intubation)and sig-1R inhibitor group(BD1047 group)that was injected intrathecally on the fourth,fifth,and sixth days after the CCI operation.The mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT)of rats was detected on the day before surgery and then first,third,fifth and sev-enth days after surgery.The expression of sig-1R,Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by Western blot and immunofluo-rescence in DRG cell;TUNEL staining microscopy was used to observe the apoptosis of DRG cells.The changes of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscopy of DRG cells.Results Compared with the sham group,the model group showed a decreased MWT at all time points after surgery,up-regulation of DRG cell apoptosis,up-regulation of sig-1R and Bax,down-regulation of Bcl-2,swelling of en-doplasmic reticulum,disruption of mitochondrial membrane and reduction of mitochondrial cristae in the DRG cell endoplasmic reticulum after surgery(P<0.05).BD1047 group showed elevated MWT at the fifth and seventh postoperative days,down-regulation of DRG cell apoptosis,down-regulated expression of sig-1R and Box,up-regulated expression of Bcl-2 and slightly damaged endoplasmic reticulum as well as mitochondria of DRG cells compared with model group(P<0.05).Conclusions Inhibition of sig-1R up-regulates mechanical withdrawal threshold and reduces DRG cell apoptosis in CCI rats.

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