1.Effects of Modified shaoyao gancao decoction on intestinal transit function,intestinal flora and metabolite content in slow transit constipation rat
Ziqi ZHANG ; Hongyun ZHOU ; Qiong ZHAO ; Yuan DENG ; Yu ZHAN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):154-159
OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of Modified shaoyao gancao decoction on intestinal transit function, intestinal flora and the contents of metabolites [γ aminobutyric acid (GABA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] in slow transit constipation (STC) rats. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into blank group (10 rats) and modeling group (30 rats), with half male and half female. The STC model was established by intragastric administration of Compound diphenoxylate tablets in the modeling group. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group, Modified shaoyao gancao decoction group [56 g/(kg·d), calculated by crude drug] and positive control group [lactulose 2.09 g/(kg·d)], with 10 rats in each group. Each administration group was given relevant medicine intragastrically, the blank group and model group received an equivalent volume of normal saline, once a day, for 14 consecutive days. During the experiment, the general situation of rats was observed in each group. After the last medication, the body weight was measured, and the Bristol score was used to evaluate the fecal characteristics. The fecal moisture content, intestinal propulsion rate, and the contents of GABA and 5-HT in intestinal content were detected; the diversity of intestinal flora in intestinal contents was investigated, and the correlation between the contents of GABA, 5-HT and relative abundance of microbiota was analyzed. RESULTS Compared with the model group, general conditions such as small body shape, sparse and rough fur, and slow movement were all improved in Modified shaoyao gancao decoction body weight, Bristol score, fecal moisture content,intestinal propulsion rate, 5-HT content, Chao1 index and Shannon index were increased significantly, while GABA content and Simpson index were decreased significantly (P<0.05). The intestinal flora of rats in the Modified shaoyao gancao decoction group could be classified as the same as the blank group, but was far from the model group; the relative abundances of Desulfobacterota, Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in this group showed a tendency of pull back, but the differences were not statistically significant compared to model group (P>0.05). Desulfobacterota was an intergroup differential factor (P<0.05). The content of GABA was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Cyanobacteria, Patescibacteria and Actinobacteriota (P<0.05). The content of 5-HT was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Campilobacterota (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Modified shaoyao gancao decoction can improve the fecal properties and intestinal motility of STC rats. Its mechanism may be related to improving intestinal flora and then affecting the contents of GABA and 5-HT in intestinal contents. In addition, the contents of GABA and 5-HT may be significantly correlated with the relative abundance of specific bacterial phyla such as Bacteroidota and Campilobacterota.
2.Effects of Modified shaoyao gancao decoction on intestinal transit function,intestinal flora and metabolite content in slow transit constipation rat
Ziqi ZHANG ; Hongyun ZHOU ; Qiong ZHAO ; Yuan DENG ; Yu ZHAN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):154-159
OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of Modified shaoyao gancao decoction on intestinal transit function, intestinal flora and the contents of metabolites [γ aminobutyric acid (GABA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] in slow transit constipation (STC) rats. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into blank group (10 rats) and modeling group (30 rats), with half male and half female. The STC model was established by intragastric administration of Compound diphenoxylate tablets in the modeling group. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group, Modified shaoyao gancao decoction group [56 g/(kg·d), calculated by crude drug] and positive control group [lactulose 2.09 g/(kg·d)], with 10 rats in each group. Each administration group was given relevant medicine intragastrically, the blank group and model group received an equivalent volume of normal saline, once a day, for 14 consecutive days. During the experiment, the general situation of rats was observed in each group. After the last medication, the body weight was measured, and the Bristol score was used to evaluate the fecal characteristics. The fecal moisture content, intestinal propulsion rate, and the contents of GABA and 5-HT in intestinal content were detected; the diversity of intestinal flora in intestinal contents was investigated, and the correlation between the contents of GABA, 5-HT and relative abundance of microbiota was analyzed. RESULTS Compared with the model group, general conditions such as small body shape, sparse and rough fur, and slow movement were all improved in Modified shaoyao gancao decoction body weight, Bristol score, fecal moisture content,intestinal propulsion rate, 5-HT content, Chao1 index and Shannon index were increased significantly, while GABA content and Simpson index were decreased significantly (P<0.05). The intestinal flora of rats in the Modified shaoyao gancao decoction group could be classified as the same as the blank group, but was far from the model group; the relative abundances of Desulfobacterota, Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in this group showed a tendency of pull back, but the differences were not statistically significant compared to model group (P>0.05). Desulfobacterota was an intergroup differential factor (P<0.05). The content of GABA was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Cyanobacteria, Patescibacteria and Actinobacteriota (P<0.05). The content of 5-HT was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Campilobacterota (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Modified shaoyao gancao decoction can improve the fecal properties and intestinal motility of STC rats. Its mechanism may be related to improving intestinal flora and then affecting the contents of GABA and 5-HT in intestinal contents. In addition, the contents of GABA and 5-HT may be significantly correlated with the relative abundance of specific bacterial phyla such as Bacteroidota and Campilobacterota.
3.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
4.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
5.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
6.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
7.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
8.The molecular epidemiological characteristics of the gastroenteritis outbreaks caused by norovirusin Hainan Province,2020-2022
Yunting ZENG ; Haiyun CHEN ; Dandan LI ; Yanhui YANG ; Miao JIN ; Qiong HUANG ; Lei CUI ; Zhengfan PAN ; Lina REN ; Xiaojie YU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(2):336-343
Objective To understand the molecular epidemiological characteristics of Norovirus outbreaks and the genome evolution of Norovirus epidemic strains in Hainan Province from 2020 to 2022.Methods The information and samples have been collected from the norovirus outbreaks from 2020 to 2022.Norovirus was detected by using the real-time PCR in these samples,then the detected sequences were amplified the analyzed.The Norovirus se-quences of 8 strains had been amplified and analyzed.Results From 2020 to 2022,39 gastroenteritis outbreaks were reported,and 25 outbreaks caused by Norovirus which mainly occurred in childcare institutions and schools(20/25,80%).The Norovirus outbreaks were mainly concentrated in counties around Haikou(northeast),which including Ding'an(5 cases),Wenchang(4 cases),Chengmai(4 cases),and Lingao(3 cases);following by western regions which included Baisha(2 cases),Ledong(2 cases),and Dongfang(3 cases).1 case was in Wanning in the southeast.Among individuals aged 2-17,the positive proportion of Norovirus in males was higher than that in females.Among individuals aged over 55,the proportion of Norovirus positive in females was higher than that in males.The gender of positive samples among individuals aged 18-40 was related to their profession.According to RT-PCR typing and sequencing,GⅡ group Norovirus were classified in13 outbreaks.There were 4 genotypes detected.GⅡ.2[P1 6]was the main epidemic strain with 60%(9/13),and the other three genotypes were GⅡ.4 Sydney[P31](15.4%,2/13)GⅡ.4 Sydney[P16](7.7%,1/13)and GⅡ.3[P12](7.7%,1/13).Further genic analysis of 8 Norovirus strains showed that all of them were still in the same branch as the previ-ous strain,and all exhibited a certain amount of amino acid variation.Conclusion Norovirus is the main pathogen of gastroenteritis outbreaks in Hainan province,and the main epidemic strain is GⅡ.2[P16].It is necessary to continue to strengthen the monitoring that provides scientific evidence for the prevention and control of norovirus out-breaks in Hainan region.
9.Clinical Analysis of Sangxing Zhike Prescription for the Treatment of Postinfectious Cough of Warm Dryness Invading the Lung Type
Zi-Xing LIU ; Yin-He DENG ; Meng-Zhao LI ; Yu-Jing CHEN ; Qiong LIU
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(4):856-861
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Sangxing Zhike Prescription in treating postinfectious cough(PIC)of warm dryness invading the lung type.Methods A total of 66 PIC patients with warm dryness invading the lung type who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to June 2022 were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 33 patients in each group.The treatment group was given Sangxing Zhike Prescription combined with Compound Methoxyphenamine Capsules,and the control group was given Compound Methoxyphenamine Capsules combined with Chinese medicine placebo.The course of treatment covered 7 days.The changes in the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)scores of the severity of cough,the scores of cough symptom,and the scores of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome in the two groups were observed before and after the treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and safety in the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)During the trial,one case fell off from the treatment group and 4 cases fell off from the control group,and eventually 61 cases completed the observation,of which 32 cases were in the treatment group and 29 cases were in the control group.(2)After 7 days of treatment,the total effective rate of the treatment group was 84.38%(27/32)and that of the control group was 58.62%(17/29),and the intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P<0.05).(3)After treatment,the VAS scores of the severity of cough,and the scores of daytime cough,nighttime cough of the Cough Symptom Score Scale as well as the overall cough scores in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the reduction of the VAS scores and the overall cough symptom scores in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P<0.05).(4)After treatment,obvious improvement was presented in the scores of TCM symptoms of cough,throat itching,dry throat,foreign body sensation in the throat,sore throat and pharyngeal signs as well as total TCM syndrome scores in the treatment group when compared with the pre-treatment period(P<0.01),whereas in the control group,only the scores of cough,throat itching,dry throat,and sore throat and the total TCM syndrome scores were improved compared with the pre-treatment period(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The post-treatment intergroup comparison showed that the treatment group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the scores of throat itching,foreign body sensation in the throat,and pharyngeal signs as well as total TCM syndrome scores(P<0.05 or P<0.01).(5)During the treatment process,no significant adverse reactions occurred in both groups,or no abnormal changes were shown in the safety indexes such as blood routine test,liver and kidney functions of the patients.Conclusion Sangxing Zhike Prescription combined with Compound Methoxyphenamine Capsules exerts certain effect in treating patients with PIC of warm dryness invading the lung type,and its efficacy is significantly superior to that of Compound Methoxyphenamine Capsules treatment alone with relatively high safety profile.
10.Role of PNEC and GABA in pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors
Xiao-Qiong ZHAO ; Wen CHEN ; Yu-Jie SUN ; Chen-Yu LIN ; Yuan YUE ; Rui LI ; Tao ZHANG ; Li XIAO
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(3):288-296
Objective To investigate the role of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells(PNEC)and γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)in patients with pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors(PNET).Methods The pathological specimens of 29 cases of PNET treated in the eighth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from October 2018 to January 2022 were collected.The morphological characteristics were observed by HE staining,and the expression levels of synaptophysin(Syn),chromogranin A(CgA),CD56,Ki-67,CD86 and CD163 were observed by immunohistochemical staining.Calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)and glutamic acid decarboxylase(GAD)65/67 in different types of PNETs were detected by double antibody immunofluorescence co-staining,and the correlation between GAD65/67 positive PNEC and macrophage polarization was analyzed.Results The results of HE staining showed that all four types of PNET tissues had neuroendocrine(NE)characteristics:rosette structure and organ nesting or palisade pattern,but they were different,and the proportion of mitotic cells from low to high was typical carcinoid(TC),atypical carcinoid(AC),large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma(LCNEC)and small cell lung cancer(SCLC).The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the positive expression rate of Syn and CgA and the positive degree of Syn,CgA and CD56 in carcinoid(TC and AC)were significantly higher than those in LCNEC and SCLC(P<0.05).The Ki-67 indices of the four types of PNET are:TC<5%,AC 5%-20%,LCNEC and SCLC>75%respectively.The number of PNEC in carcinoid was significantly higher than that in LCNEC,SCLC and paratumoral tissues(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference in the number of PNEC between LCNEC and SCLC and para-tumor tissues(P>0.05).The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of GAD65/67 positive cells co-expressing GAD65/67 in 95%PNEC was significantly higher than that in LCNEC,SCLC and para-tumor tissues(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between LCNEC and SCLC GAD65/67 positive cells and para-tumor tissues(P>0.05).The results of immunohistochemical staining also showed that the number of CD86 positive M1 macrophages was significantly higher than that of CD163 positive M2 macrophages in para-tumor tissues(P<0.05),while M2 macrophages were significantly more than M1 macrophages in AC,LCNEC and SCLC(P<0.01).Correlation analysis showed that the number of GAD65/67 positive PNEC cells in PNET was negatively correlated with the number of CD163 positive M2 macrophages in tumor stroma(r=-0.6336,P=0.0174).Conclusions PNEC is the main source of GABA in lung tissue and plays an immunomodulatory role in the lung,which may be involved in the progression of PNET.

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