Melatonin (Mel) has been shown to have cardioprotective effects, but its action on ion channels is unclear. In this experiment, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Mel on late sodium currents (I_Na.L) in mouse ventricular myocytes and the anti-arrhythmic effect at the organ level as well as its mechanism. The whole-cell patch clamp technique was applied to record the ionic currents and action potential (AP) in mouse ventricular myocytes while the electrocardiogram (ECG) and monophasic action potential (MAP) were recorded simultaneously in mouse hearts using a multichannel acquisition and analysis system. The results demonstrated that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of Mel on transient sodium current (I_Na.T) and specific I_Na.L opener 2 nmol·L^-1 sea anemone toxins II (ATX II) increased I_Na.L were 686.615 and 7.37 μmol·L^-1, respectively. Mel did not affect L-type calcium current (I_Ca.L), transient outward current (I_to), and AP. In addition, 16 μmol·L^-1 Mel shortened ATX II-prolonged action potential duration (APD), suppressed ATX II-induced early afterdepolarizations (EADs), and significantly reduced the incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) in Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts. In conclusion, Mel exerted its antiarrhythmic effects principally by blocking I_Na.L, thus providing a significant theoretical basis for new clinical applications of Mel. Animal welfare and experimental process are in accordance with the regulations of the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Wuhan University of Science and Technology (2023130).

Traditional decoction pieces have low efficiency, poor batch-to-batch consistency, and irregular physical form, making it difficult to meet the demands of modern automated production and precise and rapid clinical blending. Therefore, this study aims to develop a new type of granular drinking tablet to meet the demand for high-quality development in the traditional Chinese medicine industry. In the current study, the differences and similarities between the new Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (LJF) granular drinking tablets and the traditional ones were evaluated based on the flowability, the paste rate of the standard soup, the characterization fingerprint, the degree of pasting, the content of active ingredients, the transfer rate, and its traditional antipyretic and anti-inflammatory efficacy, using the traditional LJF decoction piece as a reference. The flowability experiments showed that the flowability of medium-sized granules (10-24 mesh) was significantly better than that of traditional drinking tablets (P < 0.01); the results of the paste rate showed that there was no significant difference between the different particle sizes and the original decoction pieces (P > 0.05), but the small particle sizes (24-65 mesh) had poor decoction clarity and gelatinization; the transfer rate was calculated as chlorogenic acid and luteoloside, and there was no significant difference in the transfer rate between traditional slices and different particle sizes (P > 0.05); the pharmacological results showed that the contents of rat tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), rat interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and rat prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), xylene ear swelling inhibition rate and granuloma inhibition rate showed that there was no significant difference between the traditional and new granule decoction pieces (P > 0.05). In this study, by examining the fluidity, paste rate, paste degree, and antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects of the new granular decoction piece of LJF, it was initially revealed that the new granular drinking tablets of LJF were consistent with the basic properties and pharmacological effects of the commercially available traditional drinking tablets. Still, the new granular tablets were characterized by high utilization rate, homogeneous quality, and ease of clinical transfer, which had a good prospect for application. The animal experiment was approved by the Ethics Committee of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (approval number. 2022B214).

The objective of this study was to analyze the effects on cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells after intervention with Agrimonia pilosa (AP) and investigate Agrimonia pilosa anti-tumor activity in vitro. Meanwhile, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics technology was used to analyze the changes of cellular metabolites and metabolic pathways. The results of this study will provide a theoretical and experimental basis for investigating the mechanism of the effect of Agrimonia pilosa on non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. The results showed that the cell nucleus of A549 cells crumpled and apoptosis occurred with the increase of drug concentration. The survival rate of the cells decreased, and the inhibition rate reached 21.5% and 91.74% under the low and high dose conditions, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content increased (P < 0.05). Metabolomics results showed significant differences in metabolism between groups, thirty-three distinct metabolites including LysoPC(24:0/0:0), LysoPC(17:0/0:0) and PC(O-40:5) were deduced. The pathway enrichment showed that the Agrimonia pilosa plays an anti-tumor role mainly by regulating the metabolism of glycerophosphate and purine in A549 cells, in which the effect on glycerophosphate metabolism pathway was most significant. The results of combined pharmacodynamics suggested that Agrimonia pilosa might induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of A549 cells by regulating LysoPC(24:0/0:0), LysoPC(17:0/0:0) and PC(O-40:5) metabolites in A549 cells.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of Dongbai Tonglin Mixture(DTM)in the treatment of chronic prostatitis(CP)with the damp-heat downward diffusion syndrome.Methods:We randomly selected 76 cases of CP with the damp-heat downward dif-fusion syndrome,equally divided them into a DTM and a control group,and treated them by oral administration of DTM and Qianlie Tai Tablets,respectively,both for 8 weeks.We obtained the NIH-CPSI and TCM Syndrome Scores of the patients,recorded the counts of white blood cells(WBC)and small particles of lecithin(SPL)in the prostate fluid,and compared them between the two groups before and after treatment.Results:Compared with the baseline,the total NIH-CPSI scores were significantly reduced in both groups after treatment(P<0.05),particularly the scores on urination symptoms,pain/discomfort and quality of life(P<0.05),even more sig-nificantly in the DTM than in the control group(P<0.05),and so were the TCM Syndrome Scores(P<0.05),especially the scores on urinary incontinence,abdominal pain,perineal pain,and scrotal dampness(P<0.05),even more significantly in the former than in the latter group(P<0.05).The count of WBC in the prostate fluid was remarkably decreased(P<0.05),while that of SPL markedly increased in both groups after treatment(P<0.05),with an even more significant improvement in the DTM than in the con-trol group(P<0.05),and the overall effectiveness rate of treatment was significantly higher in the former group than in the latter(88.89%vs 70.27%,P<0.05).Conclusion:Dongbai Tonglin Mixture is effective for the treatment of CP with the damp-heat downward diffusion syndrome.

Objective: To analyze whether the upper airway of patients with catathrenia has obstructive manifestations using nasal resistance, craniofacial, and upper airway imaging methods, which could benefit the exploration of the etiology and treatment options. Methods: From August 2012 to September 2019, a total of 57 patients with catathrenia in the Department of Orthodontics at Peking University Hospital of Stomatology were included in the study, including 22 males and 35 females, aged (31.1±10.9) years, with a body mass index of (21.7±2.7) kg/m². All the patients were diagnosed by full-night polysomnography at the Sleep Division, Peking University People's Hospital, of which 10 patients were combined with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). The median groaning index of patients was 4.8 (1.8, 13.0) events/h. Nasal resistance and cone-beam CT were conducted on the patients, and measurements were performed on the craniofacial structures, upper airway, and surrounding soft tissues, compared with non-snoring normal occlusion individuals' references published by the same research team (144 college students recruited at Peking University and 100 non-snoring young adults with normal occlusion recruited at six universities in Beijing). Results: The total nasal resistance of patients with catathrenia was (0.26±0.08) Pa·cm^-3·s^-1. The patients had overall well-developed mandibular hard tissues. However, the patients were found with increased FH/BaN (steep anterior cranial base plane), increased MP/FH (forward rotation of the mandible); increased U1/NA and L1/MP (proclined upper and lower incisors). The sagittal diameter of the velopharynx [(19.2±4.5) mm] was significantly larger than the normal reference (t=8.44, P<0.001), while the sagittal diameter at the hypopharynx [(17.4±6.4) mm] was statistically smaller than the normal reference (t=-2.79, P=0.006). Catarhrenia patients combined with OSAHS presented longer soft palate, tongue, and lower hyoid bone than those with primary catathrenia. Conclusions: In patients with catathrenia, the overall craniofacial characteristics are well-developed skeletal structures, lower nasal resistance, proclined upper and lower incisors, wide upper sagittal development of the upper airway and narrow hypopharynx. Groaning sounds might be related to the narrowing of the hypopharynx during sleep.

Currently,the research or publications related to the clinical comprehensive evaluation of Chinese patent medicine are increasing,which attracts the broad attention of all circles. According to the completed clinical evaluation report on Chinese patent medicine,there are still practical problems and technical difficulties such as unclear responsibility of the evaluation organization,unclear evaluation subject,miscellaneous evaluation objects,and incomplete and nonstandard evaluation process. In terms of evaluation standards and specifications,there are different types of specifications or guidelines with different emphases issued by different academic groups or relevant institutions. The professional guideline is required to guide the standardized and efficient clinical comprehensive evaluation of Chinese patent medicine and further improve the authority and quality of evaluation. In combination with the characteristics of Chinese patent medicine and the latest research achievement at home and abroad,the detailed specifications were formulated from six aspects including design,theme selection,content and index,outcome,application and appraisal,and quality control. The guideline was developed based on the guideline development requirements of China Assoication of Chinese medicine. After several rounds of expert consensus and public consultation,the current version of the guideline has been developed.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nonprescription Drugs ; Consensus ; China ; Reference Standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Objective:To explore our self-designed classification system of irreducible intertrochanteric fractures based on reduction stage and bone block position and to evaluate the reduction techniques guided by the classification system.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 115 patients with irreducible intertrochanteric fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Hospital from September 2014 to November 2022. There were 24 males and 91 females with a mean age of (80.9±11.0) years. The reduction for the fractures was divided into a diaphysis reduction stage (Phase Ⅰ) and a cortical reduction stage (Phase Ⅱ). Based on the relative positions of the intraoperative bone blocks, Phase Ⅰ was divided into an anterior and posterior interlocking type (Phase Ⅰa) and a distal bone block sinking displacement type (Phase Ⅰb) while Phase Ⅱ into a proximal lifting type (Phase Ⅱa), a posterior angulation type (Phase Ⅱb), a positive support type (Phase Ⅱc), and a negative support type (Phase Ⅱd). Depending on the difficulties encountered in different reduction stages, corresponding close reduction strategies (such as top rod support, percutaneous prying, and Joystick technique) were adopted to restore the proximal femoral neck shaft angle, anteversion angle, anterior medial cortex, and length of the affected limb before fixation with intramedullary nails. Recorded were the patient's surgical time, intraoperative bleeding, quality of postoperative reduction, fracture union time, and complications.Results:The surgical time for this group of patients was 70.0(60.0, 92.0) minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss 200.0 (170.0, 200.0) mL. According to the standards by Baumgaertner et al., the quality of postoperative reduction was evaluated as excellent in 103 cases and as good in 12 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 100.0% (115/115). Of the 115 patients, 86 were followed up for more than 6 months to reveal fracture union in all after a duration of 6.0 (4.0, 8.0) months. One patient died of an acute cardiovascular event in the hospital 5 days after surgery. Two patients lost their mobility within 3 months after surgery due to acute cerebral infarction. There was no internal fixation failure requiring secondary surgery or no incision infection.Conclusion:Guided by our self-designed classification system of irreducible intertrochanteric fractures based on the intraoperative reduction stage and the relative position of bone block, real time intraoperative fluoroscopy images can be used to effectively clarify the difficulty of fracture reduction in stages so that corresponding reduction strategies can be adopted, leading to fine clinical efficacy.

This study used machine learning techniques combined with routine blood cell analysis parameters to build preliminary prediction models, helping differentiate patients with depression from healthy controls, or patients with anxiety. A multicenter study was performed by collecting blood cell analysis data of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from 2020 to 2021. Machine learning techniques, including support vector machine, decision tree, naïve Bayes, random forest and multi-layer perceptron were explored to establish a prediction model of depression. The results showed that based on the blood cell analysis results of healthy controls and depression group, the accuracy of prediction model reached as high as 0.99, F1 was 0.975. Receiver operating characteristic curve area and average accuracy were 0.985 and 0.967, respectively. Platelet parameters contributed mostly to depression prediction model. While, to random forest differential diagnosis model based on the data from depression and anxiety groups, prediction accuracy reached 0.68 and AUC 0.622. Age, platelet parameters, and average volume of red blood cells contributed the most to the model. In conclusion, the study researched on the prediction model of depression by exploring blood cell analysis parameters, revealing that machine learning models were more objective in the evaluation of mental illness.
Humans ; Depression ; Bayes Theorem ; Machine Learning ; Support Vector Machine ; Blood Cell Count

This study used machine learning techniques combined with routine blood cell analysis parameters to build preliminary prediction models, helping differentiate patients with depression from healthy controls, or patients with anxiety. A multicenter study was performed by collecting blood cell analysis data of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from 2020 to 2021. Machine learning techniques, including support vector machine, decision tree, naïve Bayes, random forest and multi-layer perceptron were explored to establish a prediction model of depression. The results showed that based on the blood cell analysis results of healthy controls and depression group, the accuracy of prediction model reached as high as 0.99, F1 was 0.975. Receiver operating characteristic curve area and average accuracy were 0.985 and 0.967, respectively. Platelet parameters contributed mostly to depression prediction model. While, to random forest differential diagnosis model based on the data from depression and anxiety groups, prediction accuracy reached 0.68 and AUC 0.622. Age, platelet parameters, and average volume of red blood cells contributed the most to the model. In conclusion, the study researched on the prediction model of depression by exploring blood cell analysis parameters, revealing that machine learning models were more objective in the evaluation of mental illness.
Humans ; Depression ; Bayes Theorem ; Machine Learning ; Support Vector Machine ; Blood Cell Count

Objective: To analyze the influencing factors of healthy life expectancy (HLE). Methods: Seven Chinese and English databases were used for the retrieval of related literatures published by May 7, 2022 to identify influencing factors of HLE, including diseases and injuries and their risk factors. Based on the ecological model of health determinants, this study classifies the risk factors of diseases and injuries into five levels: personal characteristics, individual behavior and lifestyle, social network, living and working conditions, and macroscopic socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions. Contents of research area, HLE indicators, research population, influencing factors, data sources and results were extracted. The frequencies of reported documents of different HLE indicators and influencing factors of different dimensions were visualized by using evidence map, and the empirical studies of four authoritative English medical journals and Chinese core medical journals were further compared and described. Results: A total of 90 studies were selected, in which 26 were conducted in China (28.9%). Fifty-three studies are about diseases and injuries in the first dimension, and all of them have studied non-communicable diseases, accounting for the highest proportion (58.9%). There were 77 studies about the analysis on the determinants of health at five levels by an ecological model, all the studies reported multi-level results. Among them, 53 studies reported personal characteristics (58.9%), 47 studies reported individual behavior and lifestyle (52.2%), 10 studies reported social networks (11.1%), 35 studies reported living and working environment (38.9%), 8 studies reported social economy, culture status and environment condition (8.9%). The literatures about HLE published by 4 authoritative English medical journals and 21 Chinese core medical journals in recent three years were selected. Non-communicable diseases and personal characteristics were the top two most commonly studied factors of HLE, and 11 (52.3%) and 12 (57.1%) studies reported these two kinds of factors respectively. The most important factor contributing to the global disability-adjusted life years of non-communicable diseases was individual behavior and lifestyle, which was the most changeable factor. Conclusions: In recent three years, studies involving influencing factors of HLE were mainly non-communicable diseases and personal characteristics. In the future, individual behavior, lifestyle and working environment should be strengthened.
Humans ; Noncommunicable Diseases ; Healthy Life Expectancy ; Life Style ; Asian People ; Risk Factors