Astragali Radix (AR) and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma (NR) are frequently employed in cardiovascular disease treatment. However, the efficacy of the AR-NR medicine pair (AN) in improving cardiac remodeling and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate AN's cardioprotective effect and potential mechanism on cardiac remodeling using transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice and angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) and fibroblasts in vitro. High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) characterized 23 main components of AN. AN significantly improved cardiac function in the TAC-induced mice. Furthermore, AN considerably reduced the serum levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin T (CTn-T), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and mitigated inflammatory cell infiltration. Post-AN treatment, TAC-induced heart size approached normal. AN decreased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and attenuated the upregulation of cardiac hypertrophy marker genes (ANP, BNP, and MYH7) in vivo and in vitro. Concurrently, AN alleviated collagen deposition in TAC-induced mice. AN also reduced the expression of fibrosis-related indicators (COL1A1 and COL3A1) and inhibited the activation of the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (Smad3) pathway. Thus, AN improved TAC-induced cardiac remodeling. Moreover, AN downregulated p-dynamin-related protein (Drp1) (Ser616) expression and upregulated mitogen 2 (MFN-2) and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) expression in vivo and in vitro, thereby restoring mitochondrial fusion and fission balance. In conclusion, AN improves cardiac remodeling by regulating mitochondrial dynamic balance, providing experimental data for the rational application of Chinese medicine prescriptions with AN as the main component in clinical practice.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Mice ; Rats ; Male ; Mitochondrial Dynamics/drug effects* ; Ventricular Remodeling/drug effects* ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Rhizome/chemistry* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/genetics* ; Humans ; Angiotensin II ; Astragalus propinquus

Methods: This study enrolled 40 patients with AIS, 20 patients with congenital scoliosis (CS), and 20 patients with spinal degenerative disease (SDD). All patients underwent open posterior surgery in our hospital, and a paravertebral muscle (multifidus muscle) biopsy was performed intraoperatively. This study included many indexes that describe muscle, especially dystrophin staining. The above pathological results were compared among the AIS, CS, and SDD groups. The correlation between the Cobb angle and Nash–Moe classification and the above pathological results was analyzed in patients with AIS. Results: Significant reductions in the dystrophin staining of dystrophin-1 (p<0.001), dystrophin-2 (p<0.001), and dystrophin-3 (p<0.001) were observed in the AIS group than in the CS and SDD groups. The higher the Nash–Moe classification in the AIS group, the more significant the loss of dystrophin-2 (p=0.042) in the convex paraspinal muscles. Additionally, a significantly positive correlation was observed between the reductions of dystrophin-2 on the concave side of the AIS group and Cobb angle (p=0.011). Conclusions Dystrophin protein deficiency in the paraspinal muscles plays a crucial role in AIS formation and progression. The severity of scoliosis in patients with AIS is correlated with the extent of dystrophin loss in the paravertebral muscles. Therefore, dystrophin dysfunction may be relevant to AIS occurrence and development.

Methods: This study enrolled 40 patients with AIS, 20 patients with congenital scoliosis (CS), and 20 patients with spinal degenerative disease (SDD). All patients underwent open posterior surgery in our hospital, and a paravertebral muscle (multifidus muscle) biopsy was performed intraoperatively. This study included many indexes that describe muscle, especially dystrophin staining. The above pathological results were compared among the AIS, CS, and SDD groups. The correlation between the Cobb angle and Nash–Moe classification and the above pathological results was analyzed in patients with AIS. Results: Significant reductions in the dystrophin staining of dystrophin-1 (p<0.001), dystrophin-2 (p<0.001), and dystrophin-3 (p<0.001) were observed in the AIS group than in the CS and SDD groups. The higher the Nash–Moe classification in the AIS group, the more significant the loss of dystrophin-2 (p=0.042) in the convex paraspinal muscles. Additionally, a significantly positive correlation was observed between the reductions of dystrophin-2 on the concave side of the AIS group and Cobb angle (p=0.011). Conclusions Dystrophin protein deficiency in the paraspinal muscles plays a crucial role in AIS formation and progression. The severity of scoliosis in patients with AIS is correlated with the extent of dystrophin loss in the paravertebral muscles. Therefore, dystrophin dysfunction may be relevant to AIS occurrence and development.

Methods: This study enrolled 40 patients with AIS, 20 patients with congenital scoliosis (CS), and 20 patients with spinal degenerative disease (SDD). All patients underwent open posterior surgery in our hospital, and a paravertebral muscle (multifidus muscle) biopsy was performed intraoperatively. This study included many indexes that describe muscle, especially dystrophin staining. The above pathological results were compared among the AIS, CS, and SDD groups. The correlation between the Cobb angle and Nash–Moe classification and the above pathological results was analyzed in patients with AIS. Results: Significant reductions in the dystrophin staining of dystrophin-1 (p<0.001), dystrophin-2 (p<0.001), and dystrophin-3 (p<0.001) were observed in the AIS group than in the CS and SDD groups. The higher the Nash–Moe classification in the AIS group, the more significant the loss of dystrophin-2 (p=0.042) in the convex paraspinal muscles. Additionally, a significantly positive correlation was observed between the reductions of dystrophin-2 on the concave side of the AIS group and Cobb angle (p=0.011). Conclusions Dystrophin protein deficiency in the paraspinal muscles plays a crucial role in AIS formation and progression. The severity of scoliosis in patients with AIS is correlated with the extent of dystrophin loss in the paravertebral muscles. Therefore, dystrophin dysfunction may be relevant to AIS occurrence and development.

Objective:To investigate the mediating effect of dyadic coping on the relationship between self-disclosure and fertility anxiety in women of childbearing age with thyroid cancer.Methods:A total of 258 women of childbearing age diagnosed with thyroid cancer who received treatment at the Department of Thyroid Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between January and October 2024 were selected using convenience sampling. Participants completed a general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer scale (RCAC), the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), and the Distress Disclosure Index (DDI). Structural equation modeling was constructed using SPSS PROCESS v4.1 to examine the mediating role of dyadic coping between self-disclosure and fertility anxiety. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships among self-disclosure, dyadic coping, and fertility anxiety.Results:A total of 258 questionnaires were distributed, and 245 valid responses were collected, with an effective response rate of 94.96% (245/258). Among the 245 participants, the mean score of DDI was (37.38±8.42), RCAC was (53.54±12.53), and DCI was (117.10±29.07). Self-disclosure was positively correlated with dyadic coping ( P<0.01), while both self-disclosure and dyadic coping were negatively correlated with fertility anxiety ( P<0.01). Dyadic coping played a partial mediating role between self-disclosure and fertility anxiety, accounting for 43.38% of the total effect. Conclusions:Fertility anxiety in women of childbearing age with thyroid cancer deserves close clinical attention. Interventions should focus on enhancing patients' self-disclosure and dyadic coping abilities to effectively reduce fertility-related anxiety.

Objective:To investigate the mediating effect of dyadic coping on the relationship between self-disclosure and fertility anxiety in women of childbearing age with thyroid cancer.Methods:A total of 258 women of childbearing age diagnosed with thyroid cancer who received treatment at the Department of Thyroid Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between January and October 2024 were selected using convenience sampling. Participants completed a general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer scale (RCAC), the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), and the Distress Disclosure Index (DDI). Structural equation modeling was constructed using SPSS PROCESS v4.1 to examine the mediating role of dyadic coping between self-disclosure and fertility anxiety. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships among self-disclosure, dyadic coping, and fertility anxiety.Results:A total of 258 questionnaires were distributed, and 245 valid responses were collected, with an effective response rate of 94.96% (245/258). Among the 245 participants, the mean score of DDI was (37.38±8.42), RCAC was (53.54±12.53), and DCI was (117.10±29.07). Self-disclosure was positively correlated with dyadic coping ( P<0.01), while both self-disclosure and dyadic coping were negatively correlated with fertility anxiety ( P<0.01). Dyadic coping played a partial mediating role between self-disclosure and fertility anxiety, accounting for 43.38% of the total effect. Conclusions:Fertility anxiety in women of childbearing age with thyroid cancer deserves close clinical attention. Interventions should focus on enhancing patients' self-disclosure and dyadic coping abilities to effectively reduce fertility-related anxiety.

Objective To investigate the imaging manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease-associated spondyloarthritis(IBD-SpA).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 85 patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)who underwent abdominal CT and MRI examinations.Patients with pregnancy,lactation,psoriasis,tumors,and other conditions were excluded through medical record screening,all patients met the diagnostic criteria for IBD.The presence of spondyloarthritis(SpA)was confirmed through ima-ging findings,and the imaging characteristics of the location and bone changes of SpA were observed.Twenty patients who under-went abdominal CT examination during the same period were selected as the control group.Results A total of 85 patients with IBD under-went CT and MRI examinations,the detection rate of MRI(37.6％)was significantly higher than that of CT(30.6％)(P＜0.05).Based on comprehensive imaging features,5 cases of grade 1,13 cases of grade 11,11 cases of grade Ⅲ,and 3 cases of grade Ⅳ,IBD-SpA were diagnosed.In the control group,1 case of sacroiliitis was detected,of which 1 case of grade Ⅱ.The detection rate of CT in the IBD group(30.6％)was significantly higher than that in the control group(5％)(P＜0.05).Conclusion The incidence of SpA is relatively high in patients with IBD.Both CT and MRI have certain diagnostic value for IBD-SpA.CT has diagnostic advantages in bone sclerosis and joint space narrowing,while MRI can better reflect minor lesions and early bone marrow edema changes.The com-bination of CT and MRI examinations can provide diagnostic evidence for clinicians and effectively improve patient symptoms.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the odor composition changes of two kinds of traditional Chinese medicine sachet （children type and adults type） with different placement time by using ultra-fast gasphase electronic nose technology. METHODS The change rule of sachet components at different storage times was analyzed by gas chromatography. At the same time， the qualitative results were obtained by combining electronic nose with Arochembase database. Discriminant factor analysis was used to analyze the overall odor composition differences of the two sachet samples. RESULTS A total of 10 odor compositions were identified in children-type sachet， including α-pinene and β-pinene as the functional index compositions； five odor compositions of children-type sachet disappeared after 0.25 days， and most of them disappeared after 7 days； the cumulative contribution rate of discriminant factor analysis was 99.225%. A total of 8 odor compositions were identified in adult-type sachets， including α-pinene and α-phellandrene as the functional index compositions； four odor components disappeared after the adult-type sachet was placed for 0.25 days； after 15 days of placement， the peak 6-8 disappeared， and the intensity of peak 5 decreased by 34.3% compared with 0 day of placement； the cumulative contribution rate of discriminant factor analysis was 91.965%. CONCLUSIONS With the extension of storage time， the smell and composition of the two traditional Chinese medicine sachets are decreasing. It is recommended that the use time of children-type sachet is 7 days， and that of adult-type sachet is 15 days.

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Kuaisong yin in the prevention and treatment of constipation. METHODS Slow transit constipation （STC） model was established with Compound difenoxylate tablet in mice and rats. Two batches of mice were divided into blank group， model group， positive control group （Maren soft capsule， 0.64 g/kg）， Kuaisong yin low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （3.2， 6.4， 12.8 g/kg）， with 10 mice in each group. The effect of Kuaisong yin on constipation in mice was evaluated by intestinal propulsion experiment and defecation experiment. Rats were divided into blank group， model group， positive control group （Maren soft capsule，0.36 g/kg）， Kuaisong yin low-dose and high-dose groups （2.4， 4.8 g/kg）， with 7 or 8 rats in each group. They were given relevant medicine once a day for 1 week. The metabonomics of serum and urine of rats were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technology. RESULTS Compared with model group， the ink propulsion rate and 5 h defecation volume of mice in Kuaisong yin high-dose group were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； the first defecation time of mice in Kuaisong yin medium-dose and high-dose groups was significantly shortened， and the quality of defecation was significantly reduced within 5 h （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Serum metabonomics screened 16 compounds （such as proline， propionylcarnitine， hemolytic phosphatidylcholine， etc.） and 6 metabolic pathways （such as sphingomyelin metabolism， arginine and proline metabolism， sphingolipid biosynthesis-lactose and neolactone series）. Urine metabonomics screened 20 different metabolites （such as prostaglandin A2， L-valine， phosphatidylcholine， sphingomyelin， etc.） and 8 metabolic pathways （such as valine， leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis， sphingomyelin metabolism， pyruvate metabolism， etc.）. CONCLUSIONS Kuaisong yin can play a role in improving constipation by regulating different metabolites such as hemolytic phosphatidylcholine， phosphatidylcholine， prostaglandin A2， L-valine， proline， and regulating metabolic pathways such as multiple amino acid metabolism， sphingomyelin metabolism， etc.

OBJECTIVE To study the mechanism of Compound zaoren granule in improving insomnia. METHODS Forty-nine mice were divided into blank group， model group， positive control group 1 （Estazolam tablets 0.5 mg/kg），control group 2 （Shumian capsule 0.6 g/kg）， Compound zaoren granule low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （2.5， 5， 10 g/kg）， with 7 mice in each group. The insomnia model was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress combined with 4-chloro-DL- phenylacetic acid. The behavioral changes of mice were investigated through open field test and pentobarbital sodium synergistic hypnosis experiment， as well as the pathomorphology of mice hypothalamus tissue was observed by HE staining. The metabonomics analysis and multivariate statistical analysis of serum in mice were performed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS， and the differential metabolites were screened out； the metabolic pathway analysis was conducted based on MetaboAnalyst 5.0 database. RESULTS Compared with blank group， the total travelling distance， the number of entering the central region and the moving distance in the central region of the model group were significantly reduced （P＜0.05）， the proportion of total rest time was significantly increased （P＜0.05）， the sleep duration of mice was significantly shortened （P＜0.05）， and hypothalamic nerve cells damaged and severely vacuolated. Compared with model group， the total travelling distance of Compound zaoren granule low-dose and medium-dose groups were increased significantly and the proportions of total rest time of those groups were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）， and the sleep duration of mice in Compound zaoren granule high-dose group was prolonged significantly （P＜0.05）； the hypothalamic nerve cells of mice in each administration group recovered to varying degrees， and the hypothalamus histiocytes of mice in the Compound zaoren granules high-dose group were closer to those in the blank group. A total of 18 differential metabolites （such as phenylalanine， taurine， norvaline， methionine） and 4 important amino acid metabolic pathways （L-phenylalanine， tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis； taurine and hypotaurine metabolism； L-phenylalanine metabolism； cysteine and methionine metabolism） were identified through metabolomics analysis. CONCLUSIONS Compound zaoren granules can normalize the disordered metabolism in vivo by regulating differential metabolites such as phenylalanine， taurine， and four amino acid metabolic pathways， so as to improve insomnia.