1.Effects and mechanism of total alkaloids of Corydalis Rhizoma on the regulation of cuproptosis in rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy
Jun LI ; Yazhi QI ; Ya TANG ; Rui CAO ; Qiang XU ; Yusheng HAN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(7):801-806
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and mechanism of total alkaloids of Corydalis Rhizoma (TAC) on the regulation of cuproptosis in rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) based on silence information regulator 1(Sirt1)/tumor protein 53(P53)signaling pathway. METHODS DCM rat model was induced by high-fat and high-sugar diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Thirty-two model rats were randomly divided into model group, TAC low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups (7, 10.5, 14 mg/kg), with 8 rats in each group. An additional 8 rats were assigned to normal control group. Related drugs or normal saline were administered intragastrically in each group, once a day, for 4 weeks. After the last medication, the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of the rats were measured. The levels of myocardial creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum and myocardial tissue of rats were all detected. The pathological morphology, fibrosis degree, and Cu2+ deposition of myocardial tissue in rats were observed. The levels of Cu2+ and glutathione (GSH) in myocardial tissue, the expressions of Sirt1/P53 signaling pathway-related proteins [Sirt1, P53, solute carrier family 7 membrane 11 (SLC7A11)], and iron-sulfur cluster-related proteins [ferredoxin 1 (FDX1), lipoic acid synthetase (LIAS), aconitase 2 (ACO2), NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit S8 (NDUFS8), dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (DLAT), dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase (DLST)], and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were all determined. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated levels of FBG, CK, CK-MB and LDH in both serum and myocardial tissue, as well as increased 2+ levels of Cu in myocardial tissue and the expression of P53 and HSP70 proteins (P<0.05); the level of GSH and the expression levels of Sirt1, SLC7A11, FDX1, LIAS, ACO2, NDUFS8, DLAT, and DLST proteins in myocardial tissue were all significantly decreased (P<0.05); the myocardial tissue exhibited severe pathological damage, with numerous inflammatory cell infiltrations and significant fibrosis, as well as increased deposition of Cu2+. Compared with model group, most of the above quantitative indicators in rats were significantly reversed in TAC groups (P<0.05); the pathological damage to the myocardial tissue was alleviated, with reduced fibrosis and Cu2+ deposition. CONCLUSIONS TAC can ameliorate DCM in rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to activating the activity of the Sirt1/P53 signaling pathway, promoting the chelation of GSH with Cu2+, and inhibiting cuproptosis of cardiomyocyte.
2.Marginal Zone Lymphoma with Recurrent Intestinal Obstruction After Multiple Chemotherapy: A Case Report
Sirui HAN ; Yan ZHANG ; Guannan ZHANG ; Peijun LIU ; Wen SHI ; Wenbo LI ; Rongrong LI ; Congwei JIA ; Jian CAO ; Wei WANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(5):1344-1351
This article reports a diagnostically and therapeutically challenging case of small intestinal marginal zone lymphoma. The patient presented with recurrent abdominal pain as the chief complaint, and imaging revealed multifocal small bowel wall thickening with high uptake, multisegmental luminal stenosis, and proximal dilation. Initial diagnostic workup, including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and enteroscopy with biopsy, failed to establish a definitive diagnosis. Empirical anti-tuberculosis therapy was ineffective. A repeat enteroscopic biopsy performed over eight months after symptom onset eventually confirmed the diagnosis of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) extranodal marginal zone lymphoma. Despite three different chemotherapy regimens, the patient's intestinal obstruction symptoms persisted, with imaging still showing multifocal bowel wall thickening and hypermetabolic activity. A critical diagnostic dilemma arose regarding whether the PET/CT-positive lesions represented residual lymphoma or fibrotic scarring, whether further chemotherapy adjustments were warranted, and whether surgical resection was necessary. Multidisciplinary discussion concluded that imaging had limited discriminatory value in this scenario and that surgical intervention should be pursued if feasible. The patient successfully underwent partial small bowel resection, with postoperative pathology confirming no residual lymphoma but significant fibrotic changes. The patient has since resumed a normal diet, with body weight nearly restored to pre-illness levels. This case highlights that fibrotic transformation is a common sequela of treated marginal zone lymphoma and that PET/CT may misleadingly suggest residual disease, potentially leading to unnecessary chemotherapy. Timely surgical intervention is crucial in such scenarios.
3.Shuangshen Ningxin Capsules Regulates Mitochondrial Fission and Fusion to Alleviate Myocardial Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in Rats
Gaojie XIN ; Yuanyuan CHEN ; Zixin LIU ; Yue YOU ; Ce CAO ; Aoao WANG ; Hongxu MENG ; Xiao HAN ; Jianxun LIU ; Lei LI ; Jianhua FU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(7):87-94
ObjectiveTo explore whether the mechanism of Shuangshen Ningxin capsules (SSNX) in alleviating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) in rats is related to the regulation of mitochondrial fission and fusion. MethodThis study focused on Sprague Dawley (SD) rats and ligated the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery to construct a rat model of MIRI. The rats were divided into the sham operation group, model group, SSNX group (90 mg·kg-1) and trimetazidine group (5.4 mg·kg-1). The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by micro method. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (△Ψm) and the degree of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening were detected by the chemical fluorescence method. The intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level was detected by the luciferase assay. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein expression levels of mitochondrial fission and fusion related factors dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), mitochondrial fission 1 protein (FIS1), optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1), mitochondrial outer membrane fusion protein 1 (MFN1), and MFN2 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) and Western blot. ResultCompared with the sham operation group, the model group showed a decrease in serum SOD activity and an increase in MDA content. The opening level of mPTP, the level of △Ψm and ATP content decreased, the protein expressions of mitochondrial fission factors DRP1 and FIS1 increased, and the protein expressions and mRNA transcription levels of fusion related factors OPA1 and MFN1 decreased. Compared with the model group,SSNX significantly increased serum SOD activity, reduced MDA content, increased intracellular ATP level and △Ψm, reduced the opening level of mPTP, downregulated the protein expressions of mitochondrial fission factors DRP1 and FIS1, and increased the mRNA transcription levels and protein expressions of fusion related factors OPA1 and MFN1. ConclusionSSNX inhibits the expressions of mitochondrial fission factors DRP1 and FIS1, and increases the expressions of fusion related factors OPA1 and MFN1, inhibiting mitochondrial fission and increasing mitochondrial fusion, thereby alleviating MIRI.
4.Construction and verification of a nomogram of factors influencing the risk of death in patient with sepsis-associated thrombocytopenia
Chao GU ; Han WANG ; Yanxiu LI ; Quan CAO ; Xiangrong ZUO
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2024;36(2):131-136
Objective:To construct a nomogram prediction model for predicting the risk of death in patients with sepsis-associated thrombocytopenia (SAT) in intensive care unit (ICU) for early indentification and active intervention.Methods:Clinical data of SAT patients admitted to ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from December 2019 to August 2021 were retrospectively collected, including demographic data, laboratory indicators, etc. According to the prognosis at 28 days, the patients were divided into the death group and the survival group, and the differences of clinical variables between the two groups were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the independent risk factors influencing mortality of patients within 28 days, then a nomogram predictive model was constructed and its performance was verified with internal data. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of the nomogram model, and the clinical applicability of this model was evaluated by clinical decision curve analysis (DCA).Results:A total of 275 patients were included, with 95 deaths at 28 days and a 28-day mortality of 34.5%. Compared with the survival group, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), lactic acid (Lac), platelet distribution width (PDW) on day 5 of ICU admission, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bilirubin (TBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), C-reactive protein (CRP) of patients in the death group were higher, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) were longer, platelet count (PLT) on day 3 and day 5 of ICU admission, direct bilirubin (DBIL), fibrinogen (FIB) were lower, the history of chronic lung disease, mixed site infection, lung infection, bloodstream infection, Gram-negative bacterial infection and fungal infection accounted for a higher proportion, the history of diabetes mellitus, urinary tract infection and no pathogenic microorganisms cultured accounted for a lower proportion, and the proportion of the use of vasoactive drugs, mechanical ventilation (MV), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), bleeding events and platelet transfusion were higher. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that APACHEⅡ score at the day of ICU admission [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.417, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.153-1.743, P = 0.001], chronic lung disease ( OR = 72.271, 95% CI was 4.475-1?167.126, P = 0.003), PLT on day 5 of ICU admission ( OR = 0.954, 95% CI was 0.922-0.987, P = 0.007), vasoactive drug ( OR = 622.943, 95% CI was 10.060-38?575.340, P = 0.002), MV ( OR = 91.818, 95% CI was 3.973-2?121.966, P = 0.005) were independent risk factors of mortality in SAT patients. The above independent risk factors were used to build a nomogram prediction model, and the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity were 0.979, 94.7% and 91.7%, respectively, suggesting that the model had good discrimination. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed a good calibration with P > 0.05. At the same time, DCA showed that the nomogram model had good clinical applicability. Conclusions:Patients with SAT has a higher risk of death. The nomogram model based on APACHEⅡ score at the day of ICU admission, chronic lung disease, PLT on day 5 of ICU admission, the use of vasoactive drug and MV has good clinical significance for the prediction of 28-day mortality, and the discrimination and calibration are good, however, further verification is needed.
5.Clinical efficacy of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement in cardiac implantable electronic lead-related tricuspid regurgitation: A multi-center retrospective cohort study
Jingyi CAO ; Xiaoping NING ; Ning LI ; Fan QIAO ; Fan YANG ; Bailing LI ; Guangwei ZHOU ; Lin HAN ; Zhiyun XU ; Fanglin LU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2024;31(06):818-825
Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) in cardiac implantable electronic lead-related tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Methods The patients with severe TR who underwent LuX-Valve TTVR in 9 Chinese medical centers from June 2020 to August 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. They were divided into a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) group and a non-CIED group based on whether they had pre-existing CIED implantation. Success of the procedure was defined as safe implantation of the LuX-Valve and complete withdrawal of the delivery system. Prognostic improvement was defined as a decrease of TR grade to≤2+ and an improvement of cardiac function by≥2 grades. Surgical success and postoperative prognosis were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 190 patients were collected, including 50 males and 140 females with a mean age of 66.2±7.8 years. There were 29 patients in the CIED group, and 161 patients in the non-CIED group. In the CIED group, 28 patients were implanted with a permanent pacemaker and 1 patient with a cardioverter-defibrillator. Preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function class, TR degree, left ventricular ejection fraction, tricuspid annular plane systolic excusion, and cardiac risk scores were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). Postoperative TR was reduced to≤2+ in all patients, and there was no statistical difference in the incidence of perivalvular leakage between the two groups (P=0.270). Postoperative CT of CIED patients showed the valve was in place, and the lead was not extruded, twisted, or deflected. The in-hospital mortality of the two groups were 10.3% and 1.9%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.047). In addition, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative improvement of cardiac function and mortality in the 1- and 2-year follow-up. Conclusion TTVR is feasible, safe, and effective in patients with CIED implantation, and the pre-existing lead has no significant effect on the clinical efficacy.
6.Mechanism of Prevention and Treatment of Myocardial Ischemia-reperfusion Injury by Qi-replenishing and Blood-activating Chinese Medicines Based on Theory of Qi and Blood Interacting in Vessels
Han PENG ; Gaojie XIN ; Ce CAO ; Fan GUO ; Lingmei LI ; Jianhua FU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):27-34
Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) is a common injury in the treatment of ischemic heart diseases. MIRI can be categorized as chest impediment and palpitation in traditional Chinese medicine, with the pathogenesis related to Qi and blood disharmony. The simultaneous disorders of Qi and blood are the key mechanism of MIRI, and thus the differentiation of Qi and blood syndromes is the prerequisite for the treatment. The theory of Qi and blood interacting in vessels is proposed by our team based on Qi being the commander of blood and blood being the mother of Qi as well as previous pharmacological studies. Specifically, Qi marshals blood by vessels, and the blood carries Qi by vessels. Accordingly, Qi and blood interact in the vessels. MIRI is accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction, platelet function abnormality, and vascular endothelial damage, which are correlated with Qi deficiency, blood stasis, and vessel damage, respectively. Mitochondrial, platelet, and vascular endothelial structural and functional changes triggered by their interactions are one of the mechanisms by which Qi deficiency, blood stasis, and vessel damage lead to the occurrence and development of MIRI. By exploring the correlations between Qi and mitochondria, between blood and platelets, and between vessels and blood vessels, we can explain the modern scientific content of the theory of Qi and blood interacting in vessels in traditional Chinese medicine. According to the pathogenesis of Qi and blood disharmony in vessels, we discussed the pharmacological mechanisms of Qi-replenishing medicines, blood-activating medicines, and their combinations in the prevention and treatment of MIRI. On the basis of the research achievements in the prevention and treatment of MIRI by Qi-replenishing and blood-activating Chinese medicines based on the theory of Qi and blood interacting in vessels, we analyzed the effects of these medicines on Qi, blood, and vessels. According to the theory of Qi and blood, this article reveals the theoretical basis and scientific connotations of the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, with the aim of providing new ideas and references for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
7.Expert consensus on the evaluation and management of dysphagia after oral and maxillofacial tumor surgery
Xiaoying LI ; Moyi SUN ; Wei GUO ; Guiqing LIAO ; Zhangui TANG ; Longjiang LI ; Wei RAN ; Guoxin REN ; Zhijun SUN ; Jian MENG ; Shaoyan LIU ; Wei SHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Yue HE ; Chunjie LI ; Kai YANG ; Zhongcheng GONG ; Jichen LI ; Qing XI ; Gang LI ; Bing HAN ; Yanping CHEN ; Qun'an CHANG ; Yadong WU ; Huaming MAI ; Jie ZHANG ; Weidong LENG ; Lingyun XIA ; Wei WU ; Xiangming YANG ; Chunyi ZHANG ; Fan YANG ; Yanping WANG ; Tiantian CAO
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2024;40(1):5-14
Surgical operation is the main treatment of oral and maxillofacial tumors.Dysphagia is a common postoperative complication.Swal-lowing disorder can not only lead to mis-aspiration,malnutrition,aspiration pneumonia and other serious consequences,but also may cause psychological problems and social communication barriers,affecting the quality of life of the patients.At present,there is no systematic evalua-tion and rehabilitation management plan for the problem of swallowing disorder after oral and maxillofacial tumor surgery in China.Combining the characteristics of postoperative swallowing disorder in patients with oral and maxillofacial tumors,summarizing the clinical experience of ex-perts in the field of tumor and rehabilitation,reviewing and summarizing relevant literature at home and abroad,and through joint discussion and modification,a group of national experts reached this consensus including the core contents of the screening of swallowing disorders,the phased assessment of prognosis and complications,and the implementation plan of comprehensive management such as nutrition management,respiratory management,swallowing function recovery,psychology and nursing during rehabilitation treatment,in order to improve the evalua-tion and rehabilitation of swallowing disorder after oral and maxillofacial tumor surgery in clinic.
8.miR-20a regulates pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy
Teng SUN ; Yu HAN ; Shuang WANG ; Jialei LI ; Jimin CAO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(7):1021-1028
BACKGROUND:Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive response of the heart to physiological and pathological stimuli such as pressure overload.It is of compensatory significance in the early stage,but if the stimulation continues,it can cause cardiomyopathy leading to heart failure.MicroRNAs are involved in the regulation of cardiac hypertrophy.However,the role of miR-20a in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy has not been reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of miR-20a in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS:Transverse aortic constriction was used to induce cardiac hypertrophy in vivo and angiotensin Ⅱ was used to induce H9c2 cell models of cardiac hypertrophy in vitro.MiR-20a was overexpressed in vivo by intramyocardial injection of miR-20a overexpressing adenovirus and in vitro by transfecting miR-20a mimic into H9c2 cells.Cardiac hypertrophy was assessed by measuring heart weight/body weight ratio,cell surface area,and myocardial fibrosis.The expression levels of atrial natriuretic peptide,brain natriuretic peptide,β-myosin heavy chain and miR-20a were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Mitochondrial fission was detected by MitoTracker.The downstream target genes of miR-20a were predicted by RNAhybrid software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The expression level of miR-20a was significantly decreased in both hypertrophic cardiomyocytes and hearts(P<0.05).(2)At the animal level,overexpression of miR-20a significantly inhibited transverse aortic constriction-induced cardiac hypertrophy,including decreasing the upregulated expression level of hypertrophic marker genes(P<0.05),reduced the enlarged heart volume,reducing the increased heart weight/body weight ratio(P<0.01),reducing the increased myocardial cross-sectional area(P<0.05),and attenuating fibrosis(P<0.01).(3)At the cellular level,overexpression of miR-20a significantly inhibited angiotensin Ⅱ-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,including decreasing the upregulated expression levels of atrial natriuretic peptide(P<0.05),brain natriuretic peptide(P<0.01)and β-myosin heavy chain(P<0.05),reducing the increased protein/DNA ratio(P<0.01),and suppressing the increased cell surface area(P<0.05).(4)Overexpression of miR-20a significantly inhibited angiotensin Ⅱ-induced mitochondrial fission(P<0.05).(5)The results of RNAhybrid software analysis showed that miR-20a and the mRNA 3'untranslated region of cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor alpha were well complementary and the predicted binding sites were highly conserved.(6)In conclusion,miR-20a is significantly down-regulated in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy.Overexpression of miR-20a inhibits cardiac hypertrophy at both the cellular level and animal level and attenuates angiotensin Ⅱ-induced mitochondrial fission.
9.Stepwise treatment strategy for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle of the knee joint
Jianke PAN ; Meiping YANG ; Yanhong HAN ; Di ZHAO ; Hetao HUANG ; Houran CAO ; Jun LIU ; Minghui LUO ; Xiang LI ; Hongyun CHEN ; Weiyi YANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(12):1907-1913
BACKGROUND:Currently,there have been a variety of conservative and surgical treatment plans for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee,achieving excellent results.However,a broad consensus on indication and guide of surgical treatment has not been announced.In clinical practice,there is still a misunderstanding that unicondylar replacement or total knee arthroplasty should be performed upon the discovery of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee,while an urgent need for universal access to the concept of stepwise therapy. OBJECTIVE:To summarize and find the factors leading to the poor effect of conservative treatment in spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee,which occurred on the medial femoral condyle,from the literature and clinical cases,at the same time,combined with the Koshino stage,to propose the strategy of stepwise spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee treatment on the medial femoral condyle. METHODS:A systematic search of the literature database was conducted to summarize the factors leading to poor outcomes of conservative treatment in spontaneous osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle.Meanwhile,according to the Clinical&Health Records for analytics&Sharing system,the cases receiving conservative and surgical treatment in spontaneous osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle in the Department of Orthopedics of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to January 2023 were analyzed retrospectively,then the causes of success and failure in typical cases were summarized and analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Early diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee were very important for prognosis.For sudden knee pain in some patients,if no obvious abnormality was found in the X-ray examination,and the symptoms persisted and could not be relieved for more than 1 week,an MRI examination was recommended to detect early spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee.(2)The X-ray images of Koshino stage 1 and stage 2 of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle were difficult to be distinguished,which needed to be probed by MRI.MRI images of Koshino stage 1 were mainly characterized by bone marrow edema,and an osteonecrosis area with a clear boundary was not formed,while MR images of Koshino stage 2 showed a necrotic area with a clear boundary.(3)Five factors leading to the poor effect of conservative treatment on spontaneous osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle were summarized:a.The necrotic area was>5 cm2;b.The necrotic area accounted for more than 40%of the condyle;c.relative compression percentage of medial meniscus≥33%(with or without medial meniscus injury and subchondral bone marrow edema);d.MRI depth of necrotic area(anterior-posterior diameter of sagittal necrotic area)>20 mm;e.varus deformity of lower limb>6°.(4)Conservative treatment of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee in Koshino stage 1 was good.For spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee in Koshino stage 2,conservative treatment was preferred or combined with drilling decompression.If there was no relief or improvement of symptoms or in MRI after 3 months,while the patient had any of the previous five factors,then knee preservation surgery should be considered.For spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee in Koshino stage 3 and stage 4,knee preservation surgery should be selected based on the previous five factors,including age,gender and activity level of the patient.Total knee arthroplasty was used for spontaneous osteonecrosis in Koshino stage 4,which was associated with symptomatic patellofemoral arthritis,valgus alignment,or necrotic area,which greatly affected the stability of unicondyle prosthesis.
10.Efficacy and Mechanism of Lutongning Granules in Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Injection of Talc into Infraorbital Foramen of Model Rats Based on P2X7R-mediated Neuroinflammation
Qiyue SUN ; Shuran LI ; Shuangrong GAO ; Shanshan GUO ; Zihan GENG ; Lei BAO ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Bo PANG ; Yingli XU ; Yu ZHANG ; Shan CAO ; Yaxin WANG ; Xiaolan CUI ; Bing HAN ; Jing SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(15):56-63
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of Lutongning granules in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia in animal models and study its mechanism of action, so as to provide laboratory data support for the clinical application of Lutongning granules and precise treatment. MethodMale SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, carbamazepine group (0.06 g·kg-1·d-1), high-dose Lutongning group (2.70 g·kg-1·d-1), and low-dose Lutongning group (1.35 g·kg-1·d-1) according to the stratified basic mechanical pain thresholds, with 10 rats in each group. A trigeminal neuralgia model of rats was prepared by injecting 30% talc suspension into the infraorbital foramen area of the rat. The drug groups were administered 10 mL·kg-1 of drugs by gavage after 2 h of modeling. The normal group and the model group were administered distilled water by gavage under the same conditions once a day for 10 consecutive days. Von Frey brushes were used to determine the mechanical pain threshold of rats. A fully automated blood and body fluid analyzer was employed to detect the blood routine of rats. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was utilized to detect the pathological changes in the trigeminal ganglion and medulla oblongata tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was used to scan the ultrastructure of the medulla oblongata tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, neuropeptide substance P, and β-endorphins (β-EP) in the serum of rats, and Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of IL-1β, purinergic receptor P2X7 (P2X7R), and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK). ResultCompared with that in the normal group, the pain threshold of rats in the model group was significantly lower (P<0.01). The absolute value of neutrophils (NEUT#) and the percentage of neutrophils (NEUT) were significantly improved, and the percentage of lymphocytes (LYMPH) was significantly reduced (P<0.01). The serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were significantly increased (P<0.01). SP content in brain tissue was significantly increased, and β-EP content was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The relative protein expression of IL-1β, P2X7R, and p-p38 MAPK was significantly increased (P<0.05). HE staining and transmission electron microscopy results of medulla oblongata tissue revealed neuronal degeneration, mild proliferation of microglial cells, reduction in the number of myelinated nerves, and obvious demyelination. The trigeminal nerve fibers of rats were disarranged, and some nerve fibers showed vacuolization. Axons were swollen, and Schwann cells proliferated. Demyelination was observed. Compared with the model group, each administration group significantly increased the pain threshold of rats (P<0.05, P<0.01), reduced NEUT# and NEUT, and elevated LYMPH (P<0.05, P<0.01). The administration group significantly decreased the levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in serum and SP in brain tissue (P<0.01) and increased the level of β-EP (P<0.01). They significantly down-regulated the protein expression of IL-1β, P2X7R, and p-p38 MAPK(P<0.05, P<0.01) and significantly ameliorated the pathological changes in medulla oblongata tissue and trigeminal nerves of rats. ConclusionLutongning Granules had significant therapeutic effects on trigeminal neuralgia induced by injection of talc into the infraorbital foramen of model rats, and the mechanism may be related to amelioration of P2X7R-mediated neuroinflammation and inhibition of demyelination of myelinated nerves.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail