ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the potential molecular biological mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction in treating hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology and preliminarily verify the mechanism through animal experiments. MethodsThe active ingredients and targets in the Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction were obtained by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and ETCM databases. The DisGeNET and GeneCards databases were utilized to acquire disease targets associated with hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. These disease targets were then intersected with drug targets to identify key targets. The R language ClusterProfiler package and Python were employed for conducting gene ontology（GO） enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） enrichment analysis. The regulatory network diagram of the drug-key target-function-pathway was visualized using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software， and the protein-protein interaction （PPI） network for key targets was depicted. Finally， the hub gene was determined through topological analysis. Auto Dock， PyMOL， and other software were used for molecular docking to explore the possible therapeutic mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction for hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. In animal experiments， a composite rat model of hyperuricemia induced by intraperitoneal injection of oteracil potassium combined with gouty arthritis induced by the modified Coderre method was established. Through hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， uric acid test， enzyme linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）， Western blot， and real-time polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）， the molecular mechanism and key targets of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction for treating hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis were observed. ResultsAfter screening and removing duplicate values， 76 active ingredients and 15 key targets were finally obtained. GO enrichment analysis yielded that the treatment of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis with Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction was significantly associated with acute inflammatory response， astrocyte activation， regulation of interleukin （IL）-8 production， nuclear receptor activity， and binding of growth factor receptor. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis obtained that the key target genes were significantly associated with the IL-17 signaling pathway， advanced glycosylation end/receptor of advanced glycation endproducts（AGE/RAGE） signaling pathway， anti-inflammatory， and other pathways. PPI network indicated that albumin（ALB）， peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ （PPAR-γ）， IL-6， IL-1β， and C-reactive protein（CRP） were the key protein targets. The molecular docking results showed that ALB had the strongest binding force with beta-carotene （β-carotene）. Biochemical results showed that blood uric acid decreased in the Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction groups. HE staining results showed that the low-dose （7.76 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， medium-dose （15.53 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high-dose （31.05 g·kg^-1·d^-1） groups of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction had different degrees of remission， and the remission of the high-dose group was the most obvious. Fibroblastic tissue hyperplasia in synovial joints accompanied with inflammatory cell infiltration， as well as inflammatory cell infiltration in renal tissue of the high-dose group was significantly reduced， followed by the medium-dose and low-dose groups， and the expression of ALB， PPAR-γ， IL-6， IL-1β， and CRP was down-regulated to different degrees. ConclusionBy regulating the targets such as ALB， PPAR-γ， IL-6， IL-1β， and CRP， inhibiting the PPAR-γ/nuclear transcription factor （NF）-κB pathway， and reducing AGEs/RAGE-mediated inflammation， Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and activates blood circulation and diuresis in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of liver injury induced by tripterygium glycosides tablets （TG） and the molecular mechanism of compound glycyrrhizin tablets （CG） in alleviating the abnormalities of cholesterol metabolism caused by TG via cholesterol metabolism. MethodsAccording to the body weights， male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly grouped as follows： control （pure water）， low-dose TG （TG-L， 189.0 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， high-dose TG （TG-H， 472.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， TG-L+CG （189.0 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 TG + 20.25 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 CG）， and TG-H+CG （472.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 TG + 20.25 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 CG）， with 6 rats in each group. Rats were administrated with corresponding drugs once daily for 3 weeks. At the end of the last administration， the mRNA and protein levels of liver X receptor-alpha （LXR-α）， low-density lipoprotein receptor （LDLR）， adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 （ABCA1）， adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter G1 （ABCG1）， 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase （HMGCR）， cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase （CYP7A1）， cholesterol 12α-hydroxylase （CYP8B1）， and sterol 27-hydroxylase （CYP27A1） in the liver tissue were determined by Real-time PCR and Western blotting， respectively. The level of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase （HMG-CoAR）， a regulatory enzyme of cholesterol synthesis， was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. HepG2 cells were used to observe the effect of TG on the cell proliferation in vitro. Specifically， HepG2 cells were grouped as follows： Low-dose TG （TG-l， 15 mg·L^-1）， medium-dose TG （TG-m， 45 mg·L^-1）， high-dose TG （TG-h， 135 mg·L^-1）， fenofibrate （FB， 10 μmol·L^-1）， CG extract， TG-h+FB （135 mg·L^-1 TG + 10 μmol·L^-1 FB）， TG-m+FB （45 mg·L^-1 TG + 10 μmol·L^-1 FB）， TG-l+FB （15 mg·L^-1 TG + 10 μmol·L^-1 FB）， TG-h+CG （135 mg·L^-1 TG + 60 μmol·L^-1 CG）， TG-m+CG （45 mg·L^-1 TG + 60 μmol·L^-1 CG）， and TG-l+CG （15 mg·L^-1 TG + 60 μmol·L^-1 CG）. The mRNA and protein levels of LXR-α， ABCG1， LDLR， CYP7A1， CYP8B1， and CYP27A1 in HepG2 cells were determined by Real-time PCR and Western blotting， respectively. ResultsThe rat experiment showed that compared with the control group， the TG-H group showed down-regulated mRNA levels of CYP7A1， CYP8B1， and CYP27A1 in the liver tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， which were up-regulated by the application of CG （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the TG-H+CG group showed up-regulated mRNA level of LDLR （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group， the TG-L and TG-H groups showed down-regulated protein levels of LDLR， CYP7A1， and CYP8B1 in the liver tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， the protein levels of ABCG1 and LXR-α were down-regulated in the TG-H and TG-L groups， respectively （P<0.05）. Compared with TG alone， TG+CG up-regulated the protein levels of ABCG1 and LDLR （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein levels of CYP7A1 and CYP8B1 in the TG-H+CG group were up-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The cell experiment showed that compared with the control group， the TG-h group presented up-regulated mRNA level of LXR-α （P<0.01）， and the TG-m and TG-h groups showcased down-regulated mRNA levels of LDLR and CYP7A1 （P<0.01） and up-regulated mRNA level of CYP27A1 （P<0.01） in HepG2 cells. The combination of CG with TG restored the above changes （P<0.01）. Western blotting results showed that compared with the control group， the TG-m and TG-h groups showed down-regulated protein levels of LXR-α， ABCG1， LDLR， CYP7A1， CYP8B1， and CYP27A1 in HepG2 cells （P<0.01）. Compared with the TG-h group， the TG-h+CG group showed up-regulated protein level of LDLR （P<0.05）. Compared with the TG-m group， the TG-m+CG group showcased up-regulated protein levels of LDLR， ABCG1， CYP7A1， and CYP27A1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThe administration of TG at 189.0， 472.5 mg·kg^-1 for 3 weeks could modulate the signaling pathways associated with cholesterol efflux， endocytosis， and cholesterol biotransformation in hepatocytes， leading to the accumulation of cholesterol and subsequent liver injury in rats. CG could ameliorate the liver injury induced by lipid metabolism disorders caused by TG by up-regulating the expression of LXR-α， LDLR， ABCG1， CYP7A1， CYP8B1， and CYP27A1 to promote cholesterol biotransformation.

Objective To investigate the correlation between insulin resistance and interleukin-6 (IL-6), chemerin, total cholesterol (TC)/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, triglyceride (TG)/HDL-C ratio, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/HDL-C ratio and insulin resistance in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to provide scientific basis for T2DM prevention and control. Methods A total of 355 obese T2DM patients in Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine were selected from January 2021 to December 2023. IL-6, chemerin and lipids were detected, and the assessment of insulin resistance was conducted through the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Results Among the 355 obese T2DM patients, there were 280 cases of insulin resistance, with the incidence rate of 78.87%. The BMI, IL-6, chemerin, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and TG/HDL-C in the insulin resistance group were higher than those in the non-insulin resistance group (P<0.05). The above insulin resistant patients were divided into 4 subgroups by means of insulin resistance, and there were significant differences in BMI, IL-6, chemerin, and TG/HDL-C among the subgroups (P<0.05). IL-6, chemerin, and TG/HDL-C were positively correlated with HOMA-IR in obese T2DM patients (P<0.05), while TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C had no significant correlation with HOMA-IR (P>0.05). BMI, IL-6, chemerin, and TG/HDL-C were all influencing factors of insulin resistance in obese T2DM patients (P<0.05). Conclusion IL-6, chemerin and TG/HDL-C are correlated with insulin resistance in obese patients with T2DM and are influencing factors for the occurrence of insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND:Many studies have focused on acupuncture,such as silver needles,for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation,but there are few studies based on the myofascial trigger point theory. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of silver needle comprehensive therapy on the ultrasound morphology and clinical efficacy of multifidus muscles in patients with lumbar disc herniation based on the theory of myofascial trigger points. METHODS:A total of 159 patients with lumbar disc herniation who were seen from January 2022 to April 2023 were selected as the research subjects and randomly divided into three groups:conventional group(n=53),traditional acupuncture group(n=53),and silver needle group(n=53).The conventional group received routine western medicine treatment;the traditional acupuncture group used traditional acupuncture therapy based on meridian pathways and symptom localization;and the silver needle group used silver needle warm acupuncture at myofascial trigger points for intervention.All three groups received continuous treatment for 4 weeks.The number of myofascial trigger points,pain assessment,lumbar function evaluation,ultrasound morphology changes of multifidus muscles,clinical efficacy,and traditional Chinese medicine symptom score were recorded before and after treatment in the three groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)After treatment,the number of myofascial trigger points in the lumbar muscles decreased in all groups,and the silver needle group showed a significant reduction compared with the traditional acupuncture group and the conventional group(P<0.05).(2)The pain rating index score,visual analogue scale score,present pain intensity score,Oswestry disability index score,and Roland-Morris disability questionnaire score in the silver needle group were lower than those in the traditional acupuncture group and the conventional group(P<0.05).(3)The ultrasound morphology indexes of multifidus muscles in the silver needle group were superior to those in the traditional acupuncture group and the conventional western medicine group(P<0.05).(4)Traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores in the silver needle group were lower than those in the traditional acupuncture group and the conventional western medicine group(P<0.05).(5)There were significant differences in clinical efficacy among the three groups(P<0.05).To conclude,applying silver needle comprehensive therapy based on the theory of myofascial trigger points can effectively reduce pain,improve clinical efficacy,and enhance lumbar spine dysfunction and multifidus muscle morphology in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Chemotherapy based on cisplatin or its combination therapy is a common cancer treatment method. However， the non-specific side effects of cisplatin， poor pharmacokinetic properties of small molecule drugs， and susceptibility to drug resistance greatly limit the clinical application of cisplatin as first-line anti-tumor drug. With the development of nanocarrier technology， liposomes have become an ideal carrier for delivering cisplatin drugs due to their excellent properties of targeting， reducing toxicity， and enhancing efficacy. This paper reviews the status of cisplatin liposome both domestically and internationally which have entered clinical trials， including L-NDDP，SPI-077®， Lipoplatin®，LiPlaCis，SLIT and ILC， etc. Currently， only Lipoplatin® and ILC are showing good potential in cancer therapy. Although cisplatin liposome has made some progress in reducing systemic toxicity and improving treatment efficiency in clinical research， there is still potential for further improvement in tumor targeting and reducing side effects. In the future， more low-toxicity and efficient cisplatin liposomes can be developed through formulation technologies such as co-delivery liposome， stimuli-responsive liposome and targeting liposome.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of Huayu Tongluo Formula （化瘀通络方， HTF） in patients with mid-stage diabetic kidney disease of blood stasis syndrome and explore its potential mechanisms. MethodsA multi-center， randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. Ninety patients of mid-stage diabetic kidney disease of blood stasis syndrome were divided into a control group of 46 cases and a treatment group of 44 cases. Both groups received conventional western medicine treatment， the treatment group additionally taking HTF， while the control group taking a placebo of the formula. The treatment was administered once daily for 24 weeks. The primary outcomes included 24-hour urine total protein （24 h-UTP）， serum albumin （Alb）， glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c）， and serum creatinine （Scr）.The secondary outcomes included changes in levels of endothelin-1 （ET-1）， nitric oxide （NO）， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores before and after treatment. Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on TCM syndrome scores and overall disease outcomes. Adverse reactions and endpoint events were recorded. ResultsIn the treatment group after treatment， 24 h-UTP， ET-1， and VEGF levels significantly decreased （P＜0.05）， Alb and NO levels significantly increased （P＜0.05）； while the TCM syndrome scores for edema， lumbar pain， numbness of limbs， dark purple lips， dark purple tongue or purpura， and thin， rough pulse all significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. In the control group， no significant changes were observed in any of the indicators after treatment （P＞0.05）.Compared with the control group， the treatment group showed significant reductions in 24 h-UTP， ET-1， and VEGF levels， and increases in Alb and NO levels （P＜0.05）. The TCM syndrome scores for edema， lumbar pain， dark purple tongue or purpura， and thin， rough pulse were all lower in the treatment group than in the control group （P＜0.05）. The total effective rate of TCM syndrome in the treatment group was 59.09% （26/44）， and the overall clinical effective rate was 45.45% （20/44）. In the control group， these rates were 15.22% （7/46） and 8.7% （4/46）， respectively， with the treatment group showing significantly better outcomes （P＜0.05）. A total of 7 adverse events occurred across both groups， with no significant difference （P＞0.05）. No endpoint events occurred during the study. ConclusionOn the basis of conventional treatment of Western medicine， HTF can further reduce urinary protein levels and improve clinical symptoms in patients with mid-stage diabetic kidney disease of blood stasis syndrome. The mechanism may be related to its effects on endothelial function.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease caused by abnormal synchronous discharge of the brain, which is characterized by recurrent and transient neurological abnormalities, mainly manifested as loss of consciousness and limb convulsions, and can occur in people of all ages. At present, anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are still the main means of treatment, but their efficacy is limited by the problem of drug resistance, and long-term use can cause serious side effects, such as cognitive dysfunction and vital organ damage. Although surgical resection of epileptic lesions has achieved certain results in some patients, the high cost and potential risk of neurological damage limit its scope of application. Therefore, the development of safe, accurate and personalized non-invasive treatment strategies has become one of the key directions of epilepsy research. In recent years, photobiomodulation (PBM) has gained significant attention as a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach. PBM uses light of specific wavelengths to penetrate tissues and interact with photosensitive molecules within cells, thereby modulating cellular metabolic processes. Research has shown that PBM can enhance mitochondrial function, promote ATP production, improve meningeal lymphatic drainage, reduce neuroinflammation, and stimulate the growth of neurons and synapses. These biological effects suggest that PBM not only holds the potential to reduce the frequency of seizures but also to improve the metabolic state and network function of neurons, providing a novel therapeutic avenue for epilepsy treatment. Compared to traditional treatment methods, PBM is non-invasive and avoids the risks associated with surgical interventions. Its low risk of significant side effects makes it particularly suitable for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, offering new therapeutic options for those who have not responded to conventional treatments. Furthermore, PBM’s multi-target mechanism enables it to address a variety of complex etiologies of epilepsy, demonstrating its potential in precision medicine. In contrast to therapies targeting a single pathological mechanism, PBM’s multifaceted approach makes it highly adaptable to different types of epilepsy, positioning it as a promising supplementary or alternative treatment. Although animal studies and preliminary clinical trials have shown positive outcomes with PBM, its clinical application remains in the exploratory phase. Future research should aim to elucidate the precise mechanisms of PBM, optimize light parameters, such as wavelength, dose, and frequency, and investigate potential synergistic effects with other therapeutic modalities. These efforts will be crucial for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of PBM and ensuring its safety and consistency in clinical settings. This review summarizes the types of epilepsy, diagnostic biomarkers, the advantages of PBM, and its mechanisms and potential applications in epilepsy treatment. The unique value of PBM lies not only in its multi-target therapeutic effects but also in its adaptability to the diverse etiologies of epilepsy. The combination of PBM with traditional treatments, such as pharmacotherapy and neuroregulatory techniques, holds promise for developing a more comprehensive and multidimensional treatment strategy, ultimately alleviating the treatment burden on patients. PBM has also shown beneficial effects on neural network plasticity in various neurodegenerative diseases. The dynamic remodeling of neural networks plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and treatment of epilepsy, and PBM’s multi-target mechanism may promote brain function recovery by facilitating neural network remodeling. In this context, optimizing optical parameters remains a key area of research. By adjusting parameters such as wavelength, dose, and frequency, researchers aim to further enhance the therapeutic effects of PBM while maintaining its safety and stability. Looking forward, interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in the fields of neuroscience, optical engineering, and clinical medicine, will drive the development of PBM technology and facilitate its transition from laboratory research to clinical application. With the advancement of portable devices, PBM is expected to provide safer and more effective treatments for epilepsy patients and make a significant contribution to personalized medicine, positioning it as a critical component of precision therapeutic strategies.

Objective To analyze the effect of residual cholesterol (RC) on hearing loss in noise-exposed workers. Methods A total of 3 412 workers engaged in noise operation work in an underground railway enterprise were selected as the research subjects using the judgment sampling method. Their occupational health examination data were collected to analyze the relationship between RC and hearing loss. Results The noise intensity of workplace in the underground rail enterprise was 80.0-85.0 (81.4±3.2) dB(A). The detection rate of hearing loss was 20.2% (691/3 412). The rates of abnormal total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were 35.6%, 25.7%, 9.5% and 42.4%, respectively. The median and the 25th and 75th percentiles [M(P₂₅,P₇₅)] of RC level were 0.24 (0.15, 0.37) mmol/L. The levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and RC of workers in hearing loss group were higher than those in normal hearing group [M(P₂₅,P₇₅): 4.91(4.37, 5.58) vs 4.84(4.30, 5.46) mmol/L, 1.29(0.91, 1.93) vs 1.16(0.82, 1.67) mmol/L, 0.26(0.16, 0.41) vs 0.24(0.14, 0.37) mmol/L, all P<0.05]. The detection rate of hearing loss in abnormal triglyceride group was higher than that in normal triglyceride group (24.8% vs 18.7%, P<0.01), and the detection rate of hearing loss in abnormal HDL-C group was higher than that in normal HDL-C group (25.0% vs 19.8%, P<0.05). The higher the serum RC level, the higher the detection rate of hearing loss (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression result showed that individual with older age, longer work time and higher serum RC level had higher risk of hearing abnormality (all P<0.05), and the risk of hearing abnormality was higher in patients with abnormal fasting blood glucose than patients with normal faseing blood glucose (P<0.05) after controlling for confounding factors such as gender, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and elevated blood pressure. However, abnormal triacylglycerol and HDL-C levels were not significantly related to the risk of hearing abnormality (both P>0.05). Conclusion Serum RC levels are an independent risk factor for hearing loss among noise-exposed workers exposed to noise level of 80.0-85.0 dB(A) in the workplace.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of different concentrations of Shaoyaotang-containing serum on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced inflammation of human colorectal adenocarcinoma （Caco-2） cells by inhibiting apoptosis via activating the tumor necrosis factor （TNF） receptor superfamily member 6 （Fas）/Fas ligand （FasL） pathway. MethodsCaco-2 cells were allocated into blank， model （LPS， 10 mg·L^-1）， Shaoyaotang-containing serum （5%， 10%， 15%， 20%）， and Fas inhibitor （KR-33493， 20 mmol·L^-1） groups. Except the blank group， the other groups were stimulated with 10 mg·L^-1 LPS for 24 h for the modeling of inflammation. After successful modeling， the blank， Fas inhibitor， and model groups were treated with blank serum， and the Shaoyaotang-containing serum groups were treated with the serum samples at corresponding concentrations for 24 h. The Fas inhibitor group was subjected to KR-33493 pretreatment for 1 h. Cell proliferation and viability were examined by the cell-counting kit-8 （CCK-8） method. The levels of interleukin （IL）-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The protein and mRNA levels of Fas， FasL， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase （Caspase）-3， Caspase-9， B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax） were determined by Western blot and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， respectively. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group presented a decrease in cell survival rate （P<0.01）. Compared with that in the model group， the cell survival rate showed no significant change in the 5% Shaoyaotang-containing serum group but increased in the 10%， 15%， and 20% Shaoyaotang-containing serum groups （P<0.01）. Since there was no statistical difference between the 5% Shaoyaotang-containing serum group and the model group， 10%， 15%， and 20% Shaoyaotang-containing sera were selected for the follow-up study. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed risen levels of IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α （P<0.01）， an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， up-regulated protein and mRNA levels of Fas， FasL， Caspase-3， Caspase-9， and Bax （P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of Bcl-2 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Fas inhibitor group and the 10%， 15%， and 20% Shaoyaotang-containing serum groups showed declined levels of IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α （P<0.01）， decreased apoptosis rates （P<0.01）， down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of Fas， FasL， Caspase-3， Caspase-9， and Bax （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated protein and mRNA levels of Bcl-2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， the 15% and 20% Shaoyaotang-containing serum groups had lower levels of IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lower apoptosis rates （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lower protein and mRNA levels of Fas， FasL， Caspase-3， Caspase-9， and Bax （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and higher protein and mRNA levels of Bcl-2 （P<0.05， P<0.01） than the 10% Shaoyaotang-containing serum group. ConclusionThe Shaoyaotang-containing serum can reduce the content of inflammatory factors in Caco-2 cells， down-regulate the protein and mRNA levels of Fas， FasL， Caspase-3， Caspase-9， and Bax， and up-regulate the protein and mRNA levels of Bcl-2 under the intervention of LPS by regulating the Fas/FasL pathway and inhibiting the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells in ulcerative colitis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Shaoyaotang （SYD） on the lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced damage of tight junction proteins in the human colorectal adenocarcinoma （Caco-2） cell model of inflammation via the Ras homolog gene family member A （RhoA）/Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase （ROCK） pathway. MethodsCaco-2 cells were grouped as follows： Blank， model （LPS， 10 mg·L^-1）， SYD-containing serum （10%， 15%， and 20%）， and inhibitor （Fasudil， 25 μmol·L^-1）. After 24 hours of intervention， the cell viability in each group was examined by the cell-counting kit 8 （CCK-8） method. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to determine the levels of endothelin-1 （ET-1）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6）. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were employed to determine the mRNA and protein levels， respectively， of RhoA， ROCK2， claudin-5， and zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1） in cells of each group. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group showcased a marked reduction in the cell viability （P<0.01）， elevations in the levels of ET-1， TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.01）， declines in both mRNA and protein levels of ZO-1 and claudin-5 （P<0.01）， and rises in mRNA and protein levels of RhoA and ROCK2 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Shaoyaotang-containing serum （10%， 15%， and 20%） groups had enhanced cell viability （P<0.01）， lowered levels of ET-1， TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.01）， up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of ZO-1 and claudin-5 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of RhoA and ROCK2 （P<0.01）. Moreover， the inhibitor group and the 15% and 20% Shaoyaotang-containing serum groups had lower levels of ET-1， TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， higher mRNA and protein levels of ZO-1 and claudin-5 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and lower mRNA and protein levels of RhoA and ROCK2 （P<0.05， P<0.01） than the 10% Shaoyaotang-containing serum group. ConclusionThe Shaoyaotang-containing serum can lower the levels of LPS-induced increases in levels of inflammatory cytokines and endothelin to ameliorate the damage of tight junction proteins of the Caco-2 cell model of inflammation by regulating the expression of proteins in the RhoA/ROCK pathway.