ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of stone needle thermocompression and massage compared to flurbiprofen gel patch in relieving chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back， and to explore the potential mediating mechanism through muscle elasticity. MethodsA total of 120 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back were randomly assigned to either stone needle group or flurbiprofen group， with 60 patients in each. The stone needle group received stone needle thermocompression and massage for 30 minutes， three times per week； the flurbiprofen group received flurbiprofen gel patch twice daily. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. Pain improvement， as the primary outcome， was assessed using the Global Pain Scale （GPS） at baseline， after 2 weeks of treatment， and again 2 weeks post-treatment. To explore potential mechanisms， a mediator analysis was conducted by measuring changes in superficial and deep muscle elasticity using musculoskeletal ultrasound at baseline and after the 2-week treatment period. ResultsThe stone needle group showed significantly greater pain relief than the flurbiprofen group 2 weeks post-treatment. After adjusting for confounders related to pain duration， the between-group mean difference was -8.8 ［95% CI （-18.2， -0.7）， P＜0.05］. Part of the therapeutic effect was mediated by changes in deep muscle elasticity， with a mediation effect size of -1.5 ［95% CI （-2.0， -0.9）， P = 0.024］， accounting for 17.9% of the total effect. ConclusionStone needle thermocompression and massage can effectively relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back， partly through a mediating effect of improved deep muscle elasticity.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Sishenwan in restoring the intestinal barrier function in the rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency based on intestinal flora and short-chain fatty acids. MethodsAfter the delivery of 10 SPF-grade pregnant rats， 4 male suckling rats were kept in each litter for the experiment. The male suckling rats were randomly allocated into blank， model， low-dose （3.51 g·kg^-1） Sishenwan， high-dose （7.02 g·kg^-1） Sishenwan， and Peifeikang （0.54 g·kg^-1） groups， with 8 rats in each group. The blank group was fed conventionally， and the other groups were subjected to mother-child separation and Sennae Folium gavage （1 g·mL^-1， 10 mL·kg^-1） for the modeling of IBS-D due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. After the modeling was completed， the rats in Sishenwan groups were administrated with the corresponding dose of Sishenwan decoction by gavage， and the Peifeikang group with bifidobacterium triple live powder+normal saline suspension. The blank and model groups were treated with an equal volume of normal saline by gavage. The general conditions and fecal characteristics of rats were observed. After 2 weeks of administration， the rats were anesthetized for sample collection. The pathological changes of the colon tissue in rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of transforming growth factor-beta （TGF-β）， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and interleukin-22 （IL-22）. Immumohistochemical staining （IHC） was performed to detect the positive expression of zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1） and occludin in the colon tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon tissue of rats， and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed for intestinal flora. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to determine the content of short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs） in the cecum contents of rats. ResultsThe colon tissue in the blank group presented a clear structure， neat glands， and no inflammatory cell infiltration. In the model group， the colon tissue showcased a disorganized structure， irregular arrangement of glands， and inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the model group， the low-dose and high-dose Sishenwan groups and the Peifeikang group exhibited an intact colon tissue structure， regular arrangement of glands， and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the blank group， the modeling lowered the levels of TGF-β， IL-10， and IL-22 in the serum （P<0.01）， down-regulated the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon tissue （P<0.01）， and decreased the content of acetic acid and propionic acid and increased the content of butyric acid in cecum contents （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， low-dose and high-dose Sishenwan raised the levels of TGF-β， IL-10， and IL-22 in the serum （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and Peifeikang elevated the levels of TGF-β and IL-10 in the serum （P<0.01）. High-dose Sishenwan and Peifeikang up-regulated the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased the content of acetic acid and propionic acid in cecum contents （P<0.05）， and decreased the content of butyric acid （P<0.05）. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that the intestinal flora structure of the model group changed compared with that of the blank group. Compared with the model group， Sishenwan and Peifeikang increased the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae， Muribaculaceae， Akkermansiaceae， Ligilactobacillus， UBA3282， Akkermansia， and Corynebacterium while reducing the relative abundance of Oscillospiraceae， Desulfovibrionaceae， Lactobacillus， Romboutsia， and Desulfovibrio. They can restore the intestinal flora structure similar to that in the blank group. ConclusionSishenwan can alleviate diarrhea symptoms and colonic mucosal inflammation， increase the expression of tight junction proteins in the colonic mucosa， and strengthen the intestinal barrier in IBS-D rats with the syndrome of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. The mechanism of action may be related to optimizing the structure and balance of intestinal flora and regulating the SCFAs， and the effect of high-dose Sishenwan is obvious.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Sishenwan in restoring the intestinal barrier function in the rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency based on intestinal flora and short-chain fatty acids. MethodsAfter the delivery of 10 SPF-grade pregnant rats， 4 male suckling rats were kept in each litter for the experiment. The male suckling rats were randomly allocated into blank， model， low-dose （3.51 g·kg^-1） Sishenwan， high-dose （7.02 g·kg^-1） Sishenwan， and Peifeikang （0.54 g·kg^-1） groups， with 8 rats in each group. The blank group was fed conventionally， and the other groups were subjected to mother-child separation and Sennae Folium gavage （1 g·mL^-1， 10 mL·kg^-1） for the modeling of IBS-D due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. After the modeling was completed， the rats in Sishenwan groups were administrated with the corresponding dose of Sishenwan decoction by gavage， and the Peifeikang group with bifidobacterium triple live powder+normal saline suspension. The blank and model groups were treated with an equal volume of normal saline by gavage. The general conditions and fecal characteristics of rats were observed. After 2 weeks of administration， the rats were anesthetized for sample collection. The pathological changes of the colon tissue in rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of transforming growth factor-beta （TGF-β）， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and interleukin-22 （IL-22）. Immumohistochemical staining （IHC） was performed to detect the positive expression of zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1） and occludin in the colon tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon tissue of rats， and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed for intestinal flora. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to determine the content of short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs） in the cecum contents of rats. ResultsThe colon tissue in the blank group presented a clear structure， neat glands， and no inflammatory cell infiltration. In the model group， the colon tissue showcased a disorganized structure， irregular arrangement of glands， and inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the model group， the low-dose and high-dose Sishenwan groups and the Peifeikang group exhibited an intact colon tissue structure， regular arrangement of glands， and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the blank group， the modeling lowered the levels of TGF-β， IL-10， and IL-22 in the serum （P<0.01）， down-regulated the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon tissue （P<0.01）， and decreased the content of acetic acid and propionic acid and increased the content of butyric acid in cecum contents （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， low-dose and high-dose Sishenwan raised the levels of TGF-β， IL-10， and IL-22 in the serum （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and Peifeikang elevated the levels of TGF-β and IL-10 in the serum （P<0.01）. High-dose Sishenwan and Peifeikang up-regulated the protein levels of ZO-1 and occludin （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased the content of acetic acid and propionic acid in cecum contents （P<0.05）， and decreased the content of butyric acid （P<0.05）. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that the intestinal flora structure of the model group changed compared with that of the blank group. Compared with the model group， Sishenwan and Peifeikang increased the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae， Muribaculaceae， Akkermansiaceae， Ligilactobacillus， UBA3282， Akkermansia， and Corynebacterium while reducing the relative abundance of Oscillospiraceae， Desulfovibrionaceae， Lactobacillus， Romboutsia， and Desulfovibrio. They can restore the intestinal flora structure similar to that in the blank group. ConclusionSishenwan can alleviate diarrhea symptoms and colonic mucosal inflammation， increase the expression of tight junction proteins in the colonic mucosa， and strengthen the intestinal barrier in IBS-D rats with the syndrome of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. The mechanism of action may be related to optimizing the structure and balance of intestinal flora and regulating the SCFAs， and the effect of high-dose Sishenwan is obvious.

IL-33 and its receptor ST2 play crucial roles in tissue repair and homeostasis. However, their involvement in optic neuropathy due to trauma and glaucoma remains unclear. Here, we report that IL-33 and ST2 were highly expressed in the mouse optic nerve and retina. Deletion of IL-33 or ST2 exacerbated retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss, retinal thinning, and nerve fiber degeneration following optic nerve (ON) injury. This heightened retinal neurodegeneration correlated with increased neurotoxic astrocytes in Il33^-/- mice. In vitro, rIL-33 mitigated the neurotoxic astrocyte phenotype and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, thereby alleviating the RGC death induced by neurotoxic astrocyte-conditioned medium in retinal explants. Exogenous IL-33 treatment improved RGC survival in Il33^-/- and WT mice after ON injury, but not in ST2^-/- mice. Our findings highlight the role of the IL-33/ST2 axis in modulating reactive astrocyte function and providing neuroprotection for RGCs following ON injury.
Animals ; Interleukin-33/genetics* ; Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein/genetics* ; Optic Nerve Injuries/pathology* ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/pathology* ; Astrocytes/pathology* ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neuroprotection/physiology*

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, causing dementia and affecting millions of individuals. One prominent characteristic in the brains of AD patients is glucose hypometabolism. In the context of galactose metabolism, intracellular glucose levels are heightened. Galactose mutarotase (GALM) plays a crucial role in maintaining normal galactose metabolism by catalyzing the conversion of β-D-galactose into α-D-galactose (α-D-G). The latter is then converted into glucose-6-phosphate, improving glucose metabolism levels. However, the involvement of GALM in AD progression is still unclear. In the present study, we found that the expression of GALM was significantly increased in AD patients and model mice. Genetic knockdown of GALM using adeno-associated virus did not change the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and APP-cleaving enzymes including a disintegrin and metalloprotease 10 (ADAM10), β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), and presenilin-1 (PS1). Interestingly, genetic overexpression of GALM reduced APP and Aβ deposition by increasing the maturation of ADAM10, although it did not alter the expression of BACE1 and PS1. Further electrophysiological and behavioral experiments showed that GALM overexpression significantly ameliorated the deficits in hippocampal CA1 long-term potentiation (LTP) and spatial learning and memory in AD model mice. Importantly, direct α-D-G (20 mg/kg, i.p.) also inhibited Aβ deposition by increasing the maturation of ADAM10, thereby improving hippocampal CA1 LTP and spatial learning and memory in AD model mice. Taken together, our results indicate that GALM shifts APP processing towards α-cleavage, preventing Aβ generation by increasing the level of mature ADAM10. These findings indicate that GALM may be a potential therapeutic target for AD, and α-D-G has the potential to be used as a dietary supplement for the prevention and treatment of AD.
Animals ; ADAM10 Protein/metabolism* ; Alzheimer Disease/pathology* ; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Mice ; Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice, Transgenic ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/pathology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/metabolism* ; Female ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Long-Term Potentiation/physiology*

The food effect(FE)on drug absorption is an important part of clinical pharmacological studies of new drugs.The caloric ratios for each component of a high-fat meal are specified in the"Technical Guidelines for Food Bioavailability and Postprandial Bioequivalence Studies"approved by the US Food and Drug Administration(FDA)and the"Technical Guidelines for Food Effect Studies in New Drug Development"approved by the National Medical Products Administration.However,the recipes for high-fat meals vary among clinical research centers,showing their advantages and disadvantages.Thus,we present a modified version of high-fat meal recipes with easy-to-quantify calories,which is a combination of Western and Chinese flavors,easy to prepare,and meets Chinese tastes.The center satisfaction surveys showed that our modified version of the high-fat meal recipe greatly improved subject satisfaction and compliance,thus better safeguarding the quality of the trial.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate how morphine(Mor)effects mitochondrial dynamics change of H9c2 induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R).Methods Myocardial H9c2 cells were divided into blank group(without treatment),model group(H/R treatment),control group(5 μmol·L-1 Mor treatment)and experimental group(H/R+5 μmol·L-1 Mor treatment).The content of reactive oxygen species(ROS),mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),and complex of Ⅰ and Ⅲ activity were detected using ROS,tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester(TMRE),and mitochondrial complex of Ⅰ and Ⅲ activity detection kits,respectively.The morphology of mitochondria and lysosomes was observed by transmission electron microscope electron microscopy(TEM);Western blot was used to detect the expression of GTPase kinetic protein 1(Drp1),cytochrome c oxidase Ⅳ(COX Ⅳ)and transporters of the outer mitochondrial membrane(TOM20).Results The nuclear membrane was smooth and complete;the mitochondrial size was consistent;the crest arrangement was neat;vacuolization was reduced or even disappeared;the mitochondrial matrix electron density was increased;the number of autophagosomes was decreased in the experimental group.The contents of ROS in blank group,model group,control group and experimental group were 1.03±0.04,1.53±0.10,1.06±0.06 and 1.10±0.11;MMP were 1.00±0.15,0.80±0.16,1.06±0.19 and 1.00±0.19;the activities of complex of Ⅰ were 1.00±0.08,2.28±0.82,1.05±0.26 and 1.13±0.37;the activities of complex of Ⅲ were 1.00±0.09,2.13±0.38,0.83±0.22 and 0.96±0.11;the expression of Drp1 protein were 1.00±0.14,1.27±0.07,0.97±0.21 and 0.93±0.17;the expression of fission protein 1(Fis1)protein were 1.00±0.16,1.33±0.18,1.17±0.25 and 0.99±0.05;the expression of COX Ⅳ protein were 1.00±0.25,0.62±0.08,0.79±0.26 and 0.97±0.16;the expression of TOM20 protein were 1.00±0.13,0.67±0.15,0.75±0.13 and 0.89±0.05.The above indexes of model group were significantly different from those of blank group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01,P＜0.001,P＜0.000 1).The above indexes of experimental group were significantly different from those of model group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01,P＜0.001,P＜0.000 1).Conclusion Morphine may inhibit mitophagy and fission,and alleviated mitochondrial oxidative stress damage by decreasing the activity of respiratory chain complex of Ⅰ and Ⅲ,thus maintaining mitochondrial dynamic homeostasis and alleviating H/R-induced myocardial cell damage.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and possible mechanism of Sishenwan in ameliorating visceral sensitivity in the rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. MethodForty male SPF-grade rats were randomly assigned into five groups： blank control， model， low- （3.51 g·kg^-1） and high-dose （7.02 g·kg^-1） Sishenwan， and Peifikang （0.54 g·kg^-1） groups. Except the blank control group， the other groups underwent maternal separation stress and Sennae Folium decoction gavage for the modeling of IBS-D due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency. After corresponding drug interventions， the general conditions of the rats were observed， and the number of defecation pellets within 6 h and the minimum threshold of abdominal withdrawal reflex （AWR） were measured. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， gastrin （GAS）， corticosterone （CORT）， and adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was employed to observe pathological changes in the colon tissue. Toluidine blue staining was used to assess mast cell degranulation in the colon tissue. Western blot was performed to determine the protein levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK）， transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 （TRPV1）， and protease-activated receptor 2 （PAR2） in the colon tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to measure the protein level of TRPV1 in the colon tissue， and immunofluorescence was used to detect the positive expression of substance P （SP） and calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） in the colon tissue. ResultCompared with the blank control group， the model group showed increased number of defecation pellets within 6 h （P<0.01）， decreased minimum threshold of AWR （P<0.01）， elevated serum TNF-α level （P<0.01）， lowered levels of GAS， CORT， and ACTH （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased mast cell degranulation rate （P<0.01）， increased positive expression of TRPV1， SP， and CGRP （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and upregulated protein levels of p38 MAPK， JNK， TRPV1， and PAR2 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the high-dose Sishenwan group showed increased minimum threshold of AWR （P<0.01）， reduced defecation frequency in both the high-dose Sishenwan and Peifikang groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered TNF-α level （P<0.05， P<0.01）， elevated levels of GAS， CORT， and ACTH （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased mast cell degranulation rate （P<0.01）， reduced positive expression of TRPV1， SP， and CGRP （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and downregulated protein levels of p38 MAPK， JNK， TRPV1， and PAR2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionSishenwan can ameliorate visceral sensitivity in the rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome due to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency by regulating the p38 MAPK/JNK/TRPV1 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of modified Houpo Dahuangtang in moderate and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS） patients with phlegm-heat accumulation，and monitor the pulmonary ventilation changes of patients before and after treatment by electrical impedance tomography（EIT）. MethodThe 62 cases of moderate and severe ARDS patients with phlegm-heat accumulation who required mechanical ventilation in the department of intensive care unit （ICU） in Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2021 to June 2022 were selected，and divided into an experimental group（31 cases）and a control group（31 cases）using a random number table. On the basis of regular Western medicine treatment，the experimental group received modified Houpo Dahuangtang and the control group received warm water by a nasogastric tube for seven days. The changes in the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM），the oxygenation index［arterial oxygen partial pressure （PaO₂）/fractional inspired oxygen（FiO₂），P/F］，lactic acid（Lac），acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ（APACHE Ⅱ） score，compliance，plateau pressure，gas distribution parameters monitored by EIT（Z1，Z2，Z3 and Z4），inflammatory factors［interleukin-6 （IL-6），IL-10， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and C-reactive protein （CRP）］ of both groups before and after treatment were recorded. Besides， the mechanical ventilation time， length of stay in ICU， 28-day mortality and incidence of adverse reactions（delirium，abdominal pain and diarrhea）in the two groups were also observed. ResultThere was no significant difference in the baseline indexes of patients in the two groups，and thus the two groups were comparable. After treatment for one week， the total effective rate for TCM syndromes in the experimental group was 90.30%（28/31）， higher than the 67.74%（21/31）in the control group（Z=-2.415，P<0.05）.Compared with the same group before treatment， the plateau pressure and Lac decreased （P<0.01）and the compliance and P/F increased （P<0.01） in experimental group， while the Lac decreased （P<0.05）and the P/F increased （P<0.05）， and the compliance and plateau pressure did not change significantly in the control group. After treatment，the plateau pressure and inflammatory factors in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group（P<0.05）， but the compliance and P/F in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group（P<0.05）， and the gas distribution parameters Z1，Z2，Z3，Z4，Z1+Z2，and Z3+Z4 monitored by EIT in the experimental group were all higher than those in the control group （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in mechanical ventilation time， ICU hospitalization time， 28-day mortality， delirium， abdominal pain， diarrhea and other adverse reactions between the two groups. ConclusionModified Houpo Dahuangtang can significantly improve the P/F，pulmonary ventilation in gravity-dependent regions and pulmonary compliance，reduce the release of inflammatory factors in moderate and severe ARDS patients. Compared with conventional methods，EIT can timely monitor the pulmonary ventilation changes in ARDS patients，which suggests its clinical feasibility.

Objective:To review and analyze clinical data of patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and mucormycosis, and to explore the surgical indication.Methods:Clinical data of 10 patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and mucormycosis were analyzed retrospectively from March 2018 to November 2022 in our hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery.Results:The age of children varied from 2.58 years old to 16.00 years old and 6 children were males while 4 females. Five patients suffer from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Five patients suffer from invasive pulmonary mucormycosis. The operative indication of 7 patients was the risk of massive bleeding in the airway. The surgical indication for two patients is to control infection and continue treating malignant tumors. One patient chose surgical treatment because the infection could not be cured after long-term antifungal treatment but the focus was limited. Two patients died of sudden acute hemoptysis before operation, the prognosis of 8 patients undergoing surgical treatment was good.Conclusion:The lethal rate of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and mucormycosis is very high. Antifungal drug treatment combined with timely surgical treatment can save patients lives.