Objective To explore the mechanism of the modified Erchen Decoction in preventing and treating hyperlipidemia with phlegm-dampness syndrome based on network pharmacology and animal experiment.Methods Active components and potential targets of modified Erchen Decoction were screened using TCMSP database.Hyperlipidemia disease targets were retrieved from GeneCards,DrugBank,DisGeNET,OMIM and TTD databases,and the intersection of drugs and disease targets was taken.A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using STRING database,and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on intersecting targets was conducted using DAVID database.Cytoscape 3.9.1 software constructed a component-target-pathway network to analyze key pathways.The molecular docking between main active components and key targets was performed.A rat model of hyperlipidemia with phlegm dampness syndrome was prepared,and was intervened with modified Erchen Decoction.Liver index was calculated,lipid levels were detected,liver tissue morphology was observed by HE staining,and related protein expressions in liver tissue were detected by Western blot.Results Network pharmacology analysis showed that there were 41 targets of modified Erchen Decoction in preventing and treating hyperlipidemia,including HMGCR,SREBF1,FASN,etc.,involved in AMPK signaling pathway,lipid and atherosclerosis,chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation,etc.The animal experiment results showed that modified Erchen Decoction could effectively regulate the blood lipid levels of model rats,reduce liver fat accumulation,significantly increase p-AMPK protein expression in liver tissue(P<0.05),and reduce HMGCR,SREBP1c and FAS protein expressions(P<0.05).Conclusion Modified Erchen Decoction may inhibit the synthesis and absorption of cholesterol and fatty acids by activating AMPK/SREBP1c signaling pathway,so as to improve hyperlipidemia.

Objective To explore the mechanism of the modified Erchen Decoction in preventing and treating hyperlipidemia with phlegm-dampness syndrome based on network pharmacology and animal experiment.Methods Active components and potential targets of modified Erchen Decoction were screened using TCMSP database.Hyperlipidemia disease targets were retrieved from GeneCards,DrugBank,DisGeNET,OMIM and TTD databases,and the intersection of drugs and disease targets was taken.A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using STRING database,and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on intersecting targets was conducted using DAVID database.Cytoscape 3.9.1 software constructed a component-target-pathway network to analyze key pathways.The molecular docking between main active components and key targets was performed.A rat model of hyperlipidemia with phlegm dampness syndrome was prepared,and was intervened with modified Erchen Decoction.Liver index was calculated,lipid levels were detected,liver tissue morphology was observed by HE staining,and related protein expressions in liver tissue were detected by Western blot.Results Network pharmacology analysis showed that there were 41 targets of modified Erchen Decoction in preventing and treating hyperlipidemia,including HMGCR,SREBF1,FASN,etc.,involved in AMPK signaling pathway,lipid and atherosclerosis,chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation,etc.The animal experiment results showed that modified Erchen Decoction could effectively regulate the blood lipid levels of model rats,reduce liver fat accumulation,significantly increase p-AMPK protein expression in liver tissue(P<0.05),and reduce HMGCR,SREBP1c and FAS protein expressions(P<0.05).Conclusion Modified Erchen Decoction may inhibit the synthesis and absorption of cholesterol and fatty acids by activating AMPK/SREBP1c signaling pathway,so as to improve hyperlipidemia.

Janus kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)signaling pathway regulates multiple processes in neurons,including growth,development,proliferation and differentiation,and is closely associated with the onset,progression and treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI).This article provides an overview of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and its relationship with CIRI,followed by a comprehensive review of the current research status on the regulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)to ameliorate CIRI.Among them,TCM monomers and compound prescriptions such as glycyrrhetinic acid,triptolide,and Taohong siwu decoction can inhibit inflammatory responses,enhance cellular autophagy,and suppress apoptosis by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway,thereby alleviating CIRI.In addition,TCM monomers and compound prescriptions like astragaloside Ⅳ,ginkgolide K,and Qingnao dripping pills can mitigate CIRI by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway to inhibit oxidative stress,promote angiogenesis,and enhance neuronal survival rates.

AIM:To investigate whether crocin alleviates right ventricular injury induced by monocrotaline(MCT)in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH),and to explore the underlying mechanisms.METHODS:Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal group,PAH group,crocin group and sildenafil group,with 10 rats in each group.The rats in PAH,crocin and sildenafil groups received subcutaneous injection of MCT(50 mg/kg)to establish the PAH model.Starting from the day of MCT injection,the rats in crocin group received crocin(200 mg/kg),the rats in sildenafil group received sildenafil(30 mg/kg),and those in PAH and normal groups were orally gavaged with an equal volume of saline once daily.After 4 weeks,measurements of right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP),mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP),right ventricular hypertrophy index(RVHI)and right ventricular mass index(RVMI)were taken for the rats in each group.Tissue staining was conducted to observe pathological changes in the right ventricle,and the expression levels of inflammatory factors(IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α),the p38 MAPK/NF-κB inflammato-ry pathway,CCL2,CCR2,and the macrophage marker CD68 were assessed.RESULTS:Compared with PAH group,the rats in crocin and sildenafil groups exhibited significant reductions in RVSP,mPAP,RVHI and RVMI(P＜0.05).Right ventricular tissue displayed no evident infiltration of inflammatory cells or proliferation of collagen fibers.The down-regulation of the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway and inflammatory factors(IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α)was significant(P＜0.05).Additionally,the CCL2/CCR2 pathway and the infiltration of CD68+ macrophages were markedly decreased(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:Crocin effectively mitigates right ventricular damage in MCT-induced PAH rats,with its effica-cy comparable to that of sildenafil at the dosage utilized in this experiment.Some protective mechanisms of crocin may be attributed to its regulatory effects on inflammation.

Objective To detect the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)and nu-clear factor(NF)-κB in hepatic tissues of the patients with chronic hepatitis B,and to analyze their correlation with the hepatic inflammatory activity and fibrosis degree.Methods The liver biopsy specimens from 66 pa-tients with hepatitis B and 10 non-hepatopathic controls were selected,and immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to detect ICAM-1 and NF-κB expression levels in different liver tissues.Results The positive rate of ICAM-1 and NF-κB expression in liver tissues of the patients with chronic hepatitis B was higher than that in normal liver tissues,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The expres-sion of ICAM-1 and NF-κB in the patients with hepatitis B was positively correlated with the inflammatory ac-tivity and fibrosis degree(r=0.493,0.496,P＜0.01;r=0.580,0.519,P＜0.01).Conclusion ICAM-1 and NF-κB in the patients with chronic hepatitis B are highly expressed,which is useful in judging the hepatic in-flammatory activity and fibrosis degree.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the changes of midbrain raphe nucleus echo and blood trace metals, non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson′s disease (PD).Methods:A total of 177 patients with PD were recruited from Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from November 2017 to December 2019. Their non-motor symptoms were assessed by a series of PD-related scales. All subjects completed transcranial color-coded sonography, and were divided into two groups according to the continuity of raphe nucleus echo. The difference of trace metals in peripheral blood and the scores of non-motor symptoms were analyzed.Results:The serum iron level of PD patients in the continuous echo of raphe nucleus group (117 cases; 15.33 （11.30, 18.93） μmol/L) was higher than that of the discontinuous group (60 cases; 12.52 （4.15, 16.00） μmol/L, t=-2.294, P=0.022), so was the scores of Scale for outcomes in PD for Autonomic Symptoms (34.00 （28.00, 39.00） vs31.00 （26.25, 36.00）， t=-2.044, P=0.041). There was no significant difference in the level of serum copper, hemoglobin, ceruloplasmin, and the scores of Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson′s Disease Rating Scale, Parkinson′s Disease Sleeping Scale, 39 items Parkinson′s Disease Questionnaire, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale between the two groups. Conclusion:There was significant difference in serum iron levels and the scores of SCOPA-AUT between the two groups, but no difference in depression, sleep, and daily living ability.

Objective To investigate the correlation of substantia nigra hyperecho with essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson disease (PD).Methods The clinical data of 158 patients with ET or PD who underwent transcranial ultrasonography in Tongji Hospital from March 2016 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 35 patients with ET (ET group),113 patients with PD who had no previous history of ET (PD group),and 10 PD patients with previous history of ET (ET-PD group).And 58 healthy subjects served as controls (control group).The hyperechoic area of substantia nigra in different groups was compared.Results The hyperechoic areas of the substantia nigra were [0 (0,0)]cm2 (control group),[0.27(0,0.41)]cm2 (ET group),[0.33(0.21,0.40)]cm2 (ET-PD group) and [0.35(0.29,0.45)]cm2 (PD group);the differences between control group and ET group,between the ET group and PD group were statistically significant (Z=-5.24,P=0.01;Z=-3.09,P=0.02),and there were no significant difference between the ET group and ET-PD group,between ET-PD group and PD group (Z=-0.98,P=0.32;t=-0.98,P=0.33).The ratio of substantia nigra hyperechoic positive to negative in ET-PD group was 9.00 (9/1),while that in ET group was 0.94 (17/18) (OR=9.53,95％ CI:1.09-83.43,x2=3.91,P=0.04).Conclusion Substantia nigra hyperecho is an objective imaging indicator for patients with ET and PD,and has a certain differential value for their diagnosis.

Objective To explore the risk factors of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia ( MPP ) combined with mucous plug in children. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on the clinical data of one hundred and forty-nine patients with MMP who received fiber bronchoscope from September 2013 to September 2016. Based on the airway mucosal lesions seen through the bronchoscope,patients were divided into two groups:the mucous plug group( 82 cases) and the control group( 67 cases) . The risk factors of mucous plug in MMP children were analyzed through single factor and multifactor analysis. Area under curve ( AUC ) was calculated according to receiver operator characteristic ( ROC ) curve to evaluate the diagnostic value of independent risk factor. Results The result of univariate analysis showed that,in the mucous plug group,the age was (5.88±2.01)ages,pleural effusion cases was 64.63％,febrile course was (10.65±2.87)d,CRP was (50. 99±20. 23) mg/L,serum LDH was (429. 94±160. 28)U/L,significantly higher than those in the control group ( age(5. 12±2. 15)ages,pleural effusion cases was 28. 36％,febrile course was(8. 97±3. 01)d,CRP was (20. 89±9. 98) mg/L and serum LDH was(300. 12±125. 14)U/L),the differences were statistically significant (P<0. 05) . Multiple factors analysis showed that age of onset, febrile course, CRP, serum LDH were the independent risk factors, the differences were statistically significant ( 95％CI= 2. 054 ～ 18. 305, 1. 539 ～21. 778,1. 159 ～ 24. 565,1. 883 ～ 9. 469,P<0. 05) . . ROC curve analysis indicated that the AUC of CRP and LDH was 0. 897,0. 829,respectively. Conclusion Old age,long febrile course,and high level of CRP and LDH are the independent risk factors for the mucous plug formation in MPP children. The diagnostic value of CRP is higher than that of LDH. Monitoring these factors can help the doctor determine whether the patient need do bronchoscope without delay and prevent the formation of mucous plug and improve the prognosis.

Objective: To study serum zinc level in pregnancy and umbilical cord blood and their association with newborn birth weight. Methods: Pregnant women accepting obstetric examination in Ma'anshan Maternal and Child Care Center were recruited from May 2013 to September 2014. The follow up was conducted during their first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy and the self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information of social and demographic characteristics. Blood samples in the first, second pregnancy period and umbilical cord blood samples were collected and serum concentrations of zinc were assayed. 3 239 mother-infant entered the final analysis. We divided serum zinc level into low (<P₂₅), medium (P₂₅-P₇₅) and high (>P₇₅) groups according to their exposure concentrations at each trimesters. Non-conditional multivariate logistic regression model was conducted to evaluate the association between serum zinc level in first, second trimesters of pregnancy and umbilical cord blood with small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA). Results: Serum zinc level in P₅₀ (P₂₅-P₇₅) during the first, second trimesters and cord blood were 1 016.18 (907.09-1 145.60), 813.36 (732.47-897.89) and 903.44 (808.71-1 015.64) μg/L, respectively. The prevalence of zinc deficiency during the first, second trimesters and cord blood were 1.5% (44/2 957), 15.9% (492/3 087) and 6.5% (176/2 707), respectively. The prevalence of total SGA and LGA were 9.7% (313/3 239) and 16.5% (536/3 239), respectively. Compared to high-level serum zinc group, the risk of SGA (OR (95%CI) in low-level serum zinc group during first trimesters was 1.51 (1.05-2.19)). Serum zinc level among second pregnancy period and umbilical cord blood had no statistically significant effect on SGA and LGA (both P values >0.05). Conclusion Zinc nutritional status of pregnant women in Ma'anshan city was at a good level. The low serum zinc level in first trimester increased the risk of SGA.

Objective To explore the relationship between the obstetric factors defined by Robson Ten-Group Classification System (RTGCS) and cesarean section rate (CSR),and to evaluate the validity of predictive models established based on the RTGCS for cesarean section.Methods Clinical data of 41 295 cases delivered in Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital from January 1,2012 to September 30,2014 were retrospectively collected.CSR of different groups categorized by the RTGCS was analyzed by descriptive epidemiological methods by three models.Model 1 was obstetrics factors (parity,history of cesarean section,number of fetus,mode of labor,fetal presentation and gestational age);model 2 was obstetrics factors (model 1) + demographic characteristics and severity (maternal age and with/without treatment in intensive care unit);model 3 was defined as model 2+ complications (placenta previa,placental abruption,chronic or gestational hypertension,preeclampsia,renal disease,or human immunodeficiency virus infection).The relationship between obstetrics factors classified by the RTGCS and CSR was analyzed by the logistic regression model (the potential confounders were controlled).The validity of predictive models was evaluated by analyzing the area under the receiver operative characteristic (ROC) curve.Results (1) There were statistical differences in total CSR and CSR before labor among those cases respectively grouped by age,medical insurance,parity,signal/multiple pregnancy,fetal presentation and gestational age (all P＜0.05).(2) The recruited cases were categorized into ten groups according to the RTGCS and among them,the second group (single,cephalic presentation,nulliparous,≥ 37 gestational weeks,induced labor or cesarean section before labor) accounted for most of the cesarean section cases (61.2％,11 217/18 322),followed by the fourth group (single,cephalic presentation,multiparous,no previous cesarean section,≥ 37 gestational weeks,induced labor or cesarean section before labor),which were 11.2％ (2 061/18 322).(3) Obstetrical parameters,including parity,number of fetus,mode of delivery,history of cesarean section,fetal presentation and gestational weeks at delivery were related to CSR,even after adjustment for maternal age and medical insurance,or obstetrical complications,or both above factors (all P＜0.05).(4) Areas under the ROC curves and the 95％ confidence intervals of model 1,2 and 3 were 0.867 (0.863-0.870),0.875 (0.872-0.878) and 0.881 (0.878-0.885),respectively (all P＜0.01).Conclusion Related variables of RTGCS highly correlate with CSR and could be used as promising indicators for prediction of cesarean section.The RTGCS is of great application value to those research subjects.