The vagus nerve, as an important "guardian" of the body, is involved in the steady-state regulation of cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal digestion and endocrine systems. Recent studies have shown that the vagus nerve plays an important regulatory role in inflammatory response via the inflammatory reflex, which is closely related to the fact that the afferent and efferent fibers of the vagus nerve can sense and regulate inflammation, respectively. The pathophysiological mechanism of sepsis is based on the dysregulation of immune response, and it is often initiated by the excessive inflammatory response of the innate immune system. In recent years, in order to expand intervention strategies for the immune dysregulation of sepsis, researchers have made many efforts on regulating the inflammatory response of the vagus nerve in sepsis. This article focuses on the mechanism of vagus nerve-mediated inflammatory reflex and the regulatory role of vagus nerve in inflammatory response of sepsis, in order to reveal new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of sepsis.

Abstract OBJECTIVE To optimize the extraction process of Guiqi Yiyuan decoction and establish its quality control method. METHODS L9(34) orthogonal test was used to optimize the extraction process of Guiqi Yiyuan decoction by using index as comprehensive evaluation of the extraction rate, total polysaccharide content and n-butanol extract content. Thin layer chromatography(TLC) was used to identify Astragali Radix, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Lycii Fructus and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma in the decoction. The content of glucoside of calycosin as the main active ingredient of Astragali Radix was determined by HPLC. The differences in relative density, insoluble matter and loading amount were checked according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 edition, and the quality control method was established. RESULTS The optimum process was 12 times water, 4 h extraction time and 2 times extraction. TLC identification results showed that the chromatograms had clear spots, good separation and strong specificity. The linear range of calycosin glucoside was 0.089 6-1.344 0 µg(r2=0.999 4), the average recovery was 99.51%, RSD was 2.59%(n=9). The relative density of decoction was 1.39, and the difference of insoluble matter and loading amount was in accordance with the provisions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 edition. CONCLUSION The optimized water extraction process is scientific and reasonable, and the quality standard is effective and controllable, which can be used for the quality control of Guiqi Yiyuan decoction.

Objective To investigate the role of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in indeterminate solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) diagnosis and to compare with conventional diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Methods From March 2016 to Dec 2017, forty-three consecutive patients (30 male, 13 female, age: 56 ± 11 years) with indeterminate SPNs were included. All patients underwent axial multi-b factor DWI (with b values=0, 50, 200, 400, 800, 1400, 2000 s/mm2) examination and were divided into benign group (19 cases) and malignant group (24 cases) according to pathological results of SPN. ADC Kurtosis (K) and Diffusivity (Dk) values were compared between malignant and benign group and among different subtypes of lung cancer using independent t test (normal distribution and homogeneity of variance) and Mann-Whitney U test (skewed distribution or variance). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to evaluate the diagnostic performance. Results K values were significantly higher for malignant SPNs than for benign SPNs (0.839 ± 0.197 vs. 0.718 ± 0.120;t=2.359, P=0.023). ADC values were found to be significantly higher in benignity than malignant SPNs [(1.605 ± 0.422) × 10-3mm2/s vs. (1.278 ± 0.210) × 10-3mm2/s; t=-3.089, P=0.005). No difference was observed in Dk between the two groups (P=0.922). All parameters cannot differentiate subtypes of lung cancer. The ADC value had higher AUC (area under ROC curve) than that of K value. The sensitivity (70.8％) and accuracy (72.1％) of ADC value was higher than K value, the specificity of both methods was equal. Conclusion DKI is a feasible non-invasive tool which has comparable capability of conventional DWI in SPNs differentiation, although with lower sensitivity and accuracy. DKI can provide additional information for SPNs characterization and has a potential to be a robust way in SPNs interpretation.

Objective To evaluate the features and diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) diffusion weighted imaging in placenta implantation .Methods 30 patients suspected with placenta implantation were selected.MRI diffusion weighted imaging was applied to examine placenta implantation ,pathological diagnosis was used as the gold standard of placenta implantation .The display rate of MRI direct signs and indirect signs in placenta implantation,ADC values in different degree of implanted placenta ( adherent placenta , implanted placenta and penetrated placenta) were evaluated.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy for placenta implantation and Kappa consistence check with pathology were calculated . Results The display rates were all high of direct signs and indirect signs of MRI diffusion weighted imaging in diagnosing placenta implantation .The ADC value of the implanted placenta was higher than that of the adherent placenta,the difference was statistically significant (t=5.216,P=0.001).There was no statistically significant differ-ence in ADC value between the implanted placenta and penetrated placenta (t=1.014,P=0.105).There was no statistically significant difference in ADC value between the non -implanted placenta and adherent placenta ( t =1.478,P =0.090).MRI diffusion weighted imaging detected the non -implanted placenta in 7 cases,placenta implantation in 23 cases,while the pathological diagnosis detected the non -implanted placenta in 6 cases,placenta implantation in 24 cases.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value ,negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of MRI diffusion weighted imaging in the diagnosis of placenta implantation were 92.00％,87.50％, 95.65％,71.43％,90.00％,respectively.Based on the pathological results ,the consistency checking Kappa value of MRI diffusion weighted imaging in diagnosis of placenta implantation was 0.772.Conclusion The display rate of MRI diffusion weighted imaging in diagnosing placenta implantation is high ,and it has high clinical value .Application of ADC value can distinguish the degree of placenta implantation .

Objective To establish a suitable extraction and purification process line for industrial production of liquiritin. Methods With the extraction rate of liquiritin as index, orthogonal test was used to determine the optimum conditions; with the retention rate of liquiritin and impurity removal rate as the indexes, orthogonal test was used to optimize the best ultrafiltration process parameters. Results The optimum extraction conditions were: 24 times 0.75%ammonia water, extracted three times, each time under 60 min. The liquiritin average extraction rate was 72.3%. The best ultrafiltration process parameters were: 10 nm inorganic ceramic membrane, pressure of 0.12 MPa, temperature of 25 ℃. The liquiritin average retention rate was 98.9%, and the average removal rate of impurity was 23.3%. Conclusion This process has low production cost and good safety, and is suitable for industrial application.

Objective To study the effects of ultrafiltration process on activating blood and removing blood stasis efficacy ofShentong Zhuyu Decoction; To investigate the feasibility of applying ultrafiltration technology in purifying Shentong Zhuyu Decoction.Methods The mice micro artery and vein diameter, clotting time and opening capillary of auricle microcirculation of mice were used as indexes to observe the effects of different ultrafiltration process on activating blood and removing blood stasis efficacy ofShentong Zhuyu Decoction.ResultsShentong Zhuyu Decoction showed satisfying efficacy of activating blood and removing blood stasis. There was no significant difference between the non-ultrafiltration process and ultrafiltration processed by 20 and 50 nm ultrafiltration membranes.Conclusion Ultrafiltration technology can be applied to purifying Shentong Zhuyu Decoction, and the membrane pore size must be more than 20 nm.

Objective To optimize technology of three can group dynamic countercurrent extraction process of ferulic acid from Angelicae Sinensis Radix.Methods The content of ferulic acid was determined by HPLC. With content of ferulic acid as index, comprehensive test was used to investigate effect of extraction solvent and extraction time on extraction efficiency.Results The optimum process parameters were as follows:extraction solvent with 10 times of water;20 minutes for each extraction time.Conclusion The process which uses method of three can group of dynamic countercurrent extraction of ferulic acid from Angelicae Sinensis Radix is reliable, highly efficient and energy saving.

Objective To compare the micromeritics properties and external dissolution rates of Sanhuang Powder in different particle sizes;To provide references for its direct use and application as raw materials for TCM preparation.Methods Particle size, bulk density, tap density, angle of repose, and hygroscopicity ofSanhuang micro-powder and common powder were investigated and evaluated. External dissolution rates ofSanhuang micro-powder and common powder were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.Results The flowability of bothSanhuang micro-powder and common powder were not very well. With the sizes decreasing, the hygroscopicity of micro-powder became stronger. The external dissolution ofSanhuang micro-powder was more sufficient and much more quickly than common powder.Conclusion Properties ofSanhuang micro-powder and common powder are obviously different.Sanhuang micro-powder has stronger hygroscopicity and worse flowability compared with common powder. However, external dissolution ofSanhuang micro-powder is more sufficient and much more quickly than common powder. WhenSanhuang micro-powder is used directly and used as raw materials for TCM preparation, much more discretion should be considered.

Objective To discuss the teaching outcomes of project draft design combined with PBL teaching method in TCM pharmaceutics technology.Methods Fifty students majoring in 2009 TCM Pharmaceutics Technolgy were divided into A and B groups. 25 students in group A were set as experimental group by using project draft design combined with PBL teaching method, while 25 students in group B were set as control group by using traditional teaching method. This study evaluated the effects of teaching methods through questionnaire and score analysis of the two groups.Results Students taught by project draft design combined with PBL teaching method generally believed that this teaching method can stimulate their learning interest, improve their ability of locating problems, solving problems, and comprehensively applying knowledge and enhance test scores.Conclusion Project draft design combined with PBL teaching method shows better teaching outcomes than traditional teaching method, which can cultivate students’ all-round ability and comprehensive quality.

Objective To investigate the effects of volatile oil of Fructus Evodia, mustar d oil and total anthraquinone in Rheum on the transcutaneous permeability of paeoniflorin. Methods Using intelligent transdermal diffusion cell and excised mice skin in vitro as transdermal barrier, the kinetics parameters such as cumulative permeation quantity, permeation rate and permeation lagged time of the three kinds of penetration enhancers on paeoniflorin were determined by HPLC in 12 hours. Results The penetration rate of volatile oil of Fructus Evodia, mustard oil and total anthraquinone in Rheum were 8.188 6, 3.411 7, 1.230 3 μg/(cm2?h), respectively, the enhancement ratios were 22.6, 9.40, 3.40, respectively, and the permeation lagged times were 0.93, 0.51, 0.83 h, respectively. Conclusion Three penetration enhancers all can enhance previously percutaneous absorption of paeoniflorin, which provides reference for the selection of the penetration enhancers of transdermal delivery.