This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of Yunkang Oral Solution on the improvement of spleen deficiency and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant mice with spleen deficiency syndrome induced by irregular diet and over consumption of cold and bitter foods. To simulate human irregular diet and over consumption of cold and bitter foods leading to spleen deficiency, the pregnant mice with spleen deficiency syndrome were prepared using an alternate-day fasting and high-fat diet combined with oral administration of Sennae Folium. During the experiment, spleen deficiency-related indicators and diarrhea-related parameters were measured. Gastric and intestinal motility(gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate) were evaluated. The levels of serum ghrelin, growth hormone(GH), gastrin(Gas), total cholesterol(TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c), chorionic gonadotropin β(β-CG), progesterone(P), and estradiol(E_2) were measured. Intestinal barrier function in pregnant mice with spleen deficiency syndrome was assessed. Conception rate, ovarian coefficient, litter-bearing uterine coefficient, number of live fetuses, average fetal weight, and fetal length were calculated. The results showed that Yunkang Oral Solution significantly improved spleen deficiency-related indicators and diarrhea in pregnant mice with spleen deficiency syndrome, increased gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate, elevated the levels of gastrointestinal hormones(ghrelin, GH, and Gas) in the serum, and reduced lipid levels(TC and LDL-c), thereby improving lipid metabolism disorders. It also improved colonic tissue morphology, increased the number of goblet cells, and promoted the mRNA and protein expression of occludin and claudin-1 in colonic tissues, thereby alleviating intestinal barrier damage. Yunkang Oral Solution also regulated the levels of pregnancy hormones(β-CG, P, and E_2) in the serum of pregnant mice with spleen deficiency syndrome. Moreover, it increased the conception rate, ovarian coefficient, litter-bearing uterine coefficient, number of live fetuses, average fetal weight, and fetal length. These findings suggest that Yunkang Oral Solution can improve spleen deficiency-related symptoms in pregnant mice before and during pregnancy, regulate pregnancy-related hormones, and improve pregnancy outcomes.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Mice ; Humans ; Animals ; Spleen ; Ghrelin ; Fetal Weight ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diarrhea

Aim To study the protective effect of eplerenone on the contralateral kidney in pregnant rats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its mechanism. Methods Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, sham-operation pregnancy group, model group and eplerenone group. The rats in the model group and eplenone group had ligation unilateral ureter, and the rats in the eplenone group were treated with 100 mg • kg

Cross-Sectional Studies ; Urodynamics ; China

Objective: To examine the application effect of the modified wire-loop snare technique in retrieving severely tilted inferior vena cava filters (IVCF). Methods: The clinical data of 18 patients (12 males and 6 females, aged (62.1±13.1) years (range: 29 to 78 years)) who underwent the modified wire-loop snare technique to retrieve IVCF at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, and Jimo District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2017 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The applied filters included drum-type filters (OptEase in 7 cases, Aegisy in 2 cases) and conical filters (Celect in 6 cases and Denali in 3 cases). Preoperative CT angiography and intraoperative digital subtraction angiography showed that the filter was severely tilted and the hook was covered by hyperplastic intima of the vena cave vein. A modified wire-loop snare technique was used to retrieve drum-type filters and conical filters via femoral and jugular vein approaches, respectively. After successful puncture, the long sheath was placed, the 4 F (1 F≈0.33 mm) vertebral catheter and a snare were inserted through the long sheath, and the 5 F pigtail catheter was inserted simultaneously to guide a 0.035 inch soft guide-wire (260 cm in length) to pass through the top of the filter and turning back. The tip of the soft guide-wire was snared by the vertebral catheter and pulled out of the sheath. The 4 F vertebral catheter was inserted following the tip of the guide-wire to form a wire-loop using the vertebral catheter and the pigtail catheter. After fixing the tip and tail of the soft guide-wire in vitro, the long sheath was pushed forward to cut the hyperplastic intima and the hook was pulled away from the vena cava wall to retrieve the filter under the support of two catheters. Results: The filters were successfully retrieved in 17 cases, the operation time was (25.5±8.7) minutes (range: 15 to 45 minutes), no complication occured. The hook of one filter (Celect) penetrated out of the vena vava wall and the wire-loop could not pull the hook back into the vena cava. Then the filter was removed by laparotomy. Conclusion: The modified wire-loop snare technique could retrieve the severely tilted retrivable drum-type filters and conical filters, even when serve adhesion exists between the filter and the vena cava wall.
Humans ; Vena Cava Filters ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Longmu Zhuanggu granule for the treatment of children recurrent respiratory infection due to lung-spleen Qi deficiency. Method:This multicenter stratified， block-randomized， double-blind， double-dummy， positive drug （pidotimod granule） parallel controlled， and non-inferiority trail intended to included 240 children patients and divided them into the experimental group （n=120） and the control group （n=120） at the ratio of 1∶1. Patients in both groups were treated for eight successive weeks and followed up for 12 months. The cure rates， numbers of respiratory infections， average courses of disease， curative effects of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome， curative effects of individual symptoms， curative effects of immune indexes， and safety indexes between the two groups were observed and compared. Result:A total of 237 subjects were collected from 10 research centers， including 119 cases in the control group and 118 in the experimental group. There were 236 cases enrolled into the full analysis set （FAS）， 210 into the per-protocol set （PPS）， and 236 into the safety set （SS）. The baseline data of the two groups were not significantly different from each other， indicating that they were comparable. The cure rates of the experimental group and control group were 75.21% （88/117） and 73.95%（88/119）， respectively， with the 95% confidence interval （CI） of difference between the two groups being 1.26% （-9.85%，12.37%） for FAS and 3.81% （-6.28%，13.90%） for PPS. The 95% CI fell within the 10% non-inferiority margin， implying that non-infertility test of the cure rate in the treatment of endpoint disease was valid， and the conclusions of FAS and PPS analysis were consistent. There was no significant difference in the number or course of upper respiratory infection， bronchitis， and pneumonia. The difference in curative effects of TCM syndrome between the two groups after four weeks of treatment was not remarkable. After eight weeks of treatment， the total effective rate of the experimental group was 84.62%（99/117）， statistically higher than 78.15%（93/119） of the control group（χ²=-3.26，P<0.05）. There were no significant differences in the disappearance rates of individual symptoms between the two groups after four weeks of treatment. After eight weeks of treatment， the experimental group and control group exhibited the disappearance rates of 67.50%（54/80） and 47.37%（36/76） for shortness of breath and laziness to speak， 75.00%（54/72） and 53.33%（40/75） for poor appetite， 54.55%（60/110） and 37.84%（42/111） for hyperhidrosis， respectively， with obviously better outcomes observed in the experimental group （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The inter-group comparison revealed significant differences in immune indexes after eight weeks of treatment. As demonstrated by comparison with the situations before treatment， IgA， IgG， IgM， and CD4 did not change significantly after treatment. Except for CD8 in the experimental group (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in other immune indexes before and after treatment There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions. Conclusion:Longmu Zhuanggu granule is not inferior to pidomod granule in the treatment of children recurrent respiratory infection due to lung-spleen Qi deficiency， and it exhibits good safety， implying its promising clinical application value.

Astragali Radix is one of the most commonly used medicinal materials. In recent years, its cultivated varieties and a variety of adulterants have flooded the market, which makes its quality uneven, and the development of quality control methods has become a research hotspot. Therefore, figuring out the quality markers of Astragali Radix is of great significance for its comprehensive evaluation. In this study, the fingerprints of 15 batches of Astragali Radix were established by HPLC, and the main components causing intergroup differences were screened out by PLS-DA. On the basis of literature review and network pharmacology analysis, the targets and pathways of active ingredients were obtained from SwissTargetPrediction, PubChem Compound and other databases, and then the "component-target-pathway" network was constructed with Cytoscape 3.7.1 for the prediction of potential quality markers. Twenty-eight common peaks were identified in the established fingerprint, and three differential components were selected as potential quality markers for Astragali Radix, which were astragaloside Ⅳ, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside and ononin. The proposed method based on HPLC fingerprint of Astragali Radix is convenient and feasible, facilitating the improvement in its quality control.
Astragalus Plant ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Plant Roots ; Quality Control

This Radix study cum aims Melle to explore(HRPM)the on efficacy spleen differences deficiency between syndrome.modeling Astragali A Radix of Praeparata110cum rats Melle were(ARPM)randomized fatigue),and into rats Hedysari a Praeparata(n qi total irregular HRPM male diet,SD diarrhea,control were(n Yiqi=10)the=100).Pill group fied and model a modeling group,group Buzhong After(BYP)(through ARPM and the HRPM-H),classimedium-dose into(ARPM-M raised group,and high-dose(ARPM-H each and Rats BYP and under HRPM-M),normal and low-dose and(ARPM-L in and group HRPM-L)were groups,continuously10rats induced.were in group.the in group the were18.9,control given group were g·kg~(-1)conditions while those the the model Rats respectively in18.912.6,BYP kg~(-1)water extract,decoction those in ARPM/HRPM-H,the-M,dosage lasted and of-L groups treated the with control and model6.3group g·rewere motilin determined m L·kg~(-1)·day~(-1).days.of dose Spleen ARPM/HRPM of in water.morning,The at the10Rats spleen in index group thymus and index ceived equal calculated.(MTL),distilled tissue administration to15observe Then the and Routine of each group D-xylose,were was(IL-2),the subjected HE stainingγ(IFN-γ),lower to the pathological changes.(IgA),blood gastric indexes,mucosa index,interleukin-2group.interferon group immunoglobulin of A and spleen pepsin index,of in Ig A,IL-2spleen IFN-γ,control each MTL,levels Rats pepsin the in model(P<0.01),had higher levels routine(P<0.01),blood and indexes,more thymus lesions D-xylose,the and in index,level decreased HRPM-L of IL-2severe compared spleen with than the those model in group.thymus group.that(P<0.05group,P<0.01)index administration thymus groups Ig A or spleen as that and in spleen routine Except index,spleen the Ig A,index,group and were in in ARPM-M model group,group,index,indexes,P<0.01)and thymus MTL index,those in ARPM-L insignificantly Ig A,different pepsin from other those in the the blood index,compared IFN-γ,group,(P<0.05The D-xylose,model MTL,spleen and lesions high-dose in each administration administration groups group increased relieved.blood or comparison as of with HRPM in as the folARPM and the effect in and were white and result than ARPM and is of lows:(P stronger<0.05),of medium-dose high-dose HRPM HRPM on IL-2cell high-dose of(WBC)and count medium-dose the HRPM and corresponding doses than IFN-γmore ARPM the obvious effect(P<0.05of on evident(P<0.05of impact P<0.01),on low-dose between the on corresponD-xylose P<0.01),doses ding MTL doses than Meanwhile,in of or more high-dose,and medium-dose,difference HRPM the and indexes.corresponding there of ARPM in or IL-2no levels in the HRPM-L effect and two groups,on but conclusion,other the both functions IFN-γwas group no was difference more the than recovery that of the and ARPM-H between(IL-2,P<0.01;ARPM-L recovery HRPM the IFN-γ,P<0.05).HRPM-H and obvious therapeutic in rats group qi In ARPM dose have are certain equivalent,effects on with spleen function deficiency.the Specifically,is the better difference immunomodulatory of two at g·low kg~(-1).and but the promote immunomodulatory the of former rats significantly ARPM.than that between of the later two at in the dose>18.9HRPM promotion can of better digestion digestion absorption and may absorption due of than The immunoregulation and be to the difference in clinical medication.
Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Plant Roots ; Rats ; Spleen

Xiaojin pills, the first choice for clinical treatment of breast hyperplasia, were selected to explore the suitability of a bioactivity assay with chemical fingerprinting for the development of an overall quality evaluation assay. The liposoluble and water-soluble fraction fingerprints of Xiaojin pills were established. The ability to inhibit platelet aggregation and the rate of inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) for 16 batches of Xiaojin pills from several manufacturers was analyzed; the chemical fingerprints of these samples were correlated with the bioactivity and chemical analysis. The animal protocol was approved by the Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experiments of Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Approval, ID: 2018BL-002. Results showed that the antiplatelet aggregation activity of 16 batches was 0.712-1.278 U∙mg^-1, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 15.4%. COX-2 inhibition was 52.07%-68.95% and the RSD was 8.91%. The results showed that there was little difference in the biological effects of these samples. However, the chemical fingerprint consistency of these 16 batches of Xiaojin pills was poor, and the similarity of nearly half of the samples was less than 0.9. The total peak area of Xiaojin pills was 32.74%-165.37% across samples, showing very poor chemical consistency. In order to explore the reasons for the poor chemical consistency despite good consistency in the biological assays, the fingerprint chromatogram was analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. The main chromatographic peaks were identified. The results showed that the similarity of Xiaojin pills was mainly determined by the prominent chromatographic peaks 17, 18, 20, 23 and 27 in the liposoluble fingerprints, which were identified from Liquidambaris resina and Angelica sinensis Radix. However, Liquidambaris resina and Angelicae sinensis Radix had almost no anti-platelet aggregation activity or COX-2 inhibitory effect at the normal prescription ratio. As a result, the ability to utilize chemical fingerprints to evaluate the quality consistency of Xiaojin pills is limited. The selection of biological evaluation methods that reflect clinical efficacy could make up for the shortcomings of chemical evaluation methods for quality assessment, and provide new ideas and methods for the overall quality evaluation of complex Chinese patent medicines.

Objective To explore the feasibility of low-concentration contrast agent and low-dose technology for pulmonary angiography by comparing the image quality and radiation doses to the patient by different tube voltages and concentrations of contrast agents.Methods Totally 60 patients suspected with pulmonary embolism were divided into C, L1 and L2 groups, of which,Group C had the scanning parameters of 120 kV and 350 mgI/ml,Group L1 had the parameters as 100 kV and 350 mgI/ml and Group L2 had the parameters of 100 kV and 270 mgI/ml.The three groups had the tube voltage as 500 mA, the contrast agent dose as 25 ml,physiological saline dose as 40 ml and flow rate as 4.5 ml/s.SPSS 19.0 software was used to compare and analyze the CT values of pulmonary artery segment,superior vena cava and ascending aorta,main pulmonary artery noises,the image quality as well as the radiation doses of volume scanning. Results The three groups had the main pulmonary aortas and their branches display clearly to meet clinical requirements.When compared with Group C,Group L1 had higher CT values of the main pulmonary aorta and its branches,higher image noise while lower radiation dose (P<0.01);Group L2 had equivalent CT values of the main pulmonary aorta and its branches (P>0.05),higher image noise while lower radiation dose (P<0.01).When compared with Group L1,Group L2 had lower CT values of the main pulmonary aorta and its branches (P<0.01),and equivalent image noise and radiation dose (P>0.05).Conclusion Low-concentration contrast agent and low-dose technology gains feasibility and advantages when used in 320-slice CT pulmonary angiography.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and genetic cause for a family affected with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL).

METHODSClinical manifestations, neuroimaging, and genetic analysis were performed.

RESULTSThe main clinical features have included stroke, emotional disturbance and history of migraine without progressive memory impairment. A positive family history was confirmed. Cranial MRI has revealed multi-infarct lesions and white matter hyperintensity involving bilateral basal ganglia, subcortex and brain stem. All such features were in keeping with the diagnosis of CADASIL. A rare 2182C>T mutation in exon 14 of the NOTCH3 gene was identified in all available cases.

CONCLUSIONBoth clinical and molecular features suggested that the family has been affected with CADASIL.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Migraine Disorders ; genetics ; Receptor, Notch3 ; Receptors, Notch ; genetics