The essential oil from Curcuma longa L. (CLEO) was extracted by steam distillation. In this study, vasorelaxant activity and mechanism of CLEO was explored. Firstly, the experimental results of isolated rat thoracic aorta ring showed that the CLEO had vasorelaxant activity. By removing the endothelium of aorta ring and pre-incubating inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), it was found that the vasorelaxant activity of CLEO was endothelium-dependent and related to eNOS. By human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) model, it was found that the CLEO could promote the production of nitric oxide (NO) in HUVECs, further indicating that the vasorelaxant activity of CLEO was related to eNOS. The results of Western blot showed that CLEO could up-regulate the phosphorylation levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt) and eNOS. In summary, the CLEO has vasorelaxant activity, and its mechanism is related to activating the endothelial PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway. All animal experiments in this paper were approved by the Committee of Laboratory Animal Welfare Ethics of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (approval No. 2020-04).

N-type voltage-gated calcium (Ca²⁺) channels (N-type VGCC, Ca_V2.2) mediate Ca²⁺ influx in response to action potential at the presynaptic terminal, and play an important role in synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter release and nociceptive signal transduction. It is a new target for the development of drugs for the treatment of neuralgia (chronic pain) and other major diseases. Due to the difficulty of calcium channel expression in vitro and the detection of channel current, there is a great lack of new drug screening models. In this study, we established and optimized the electrophysiological drug screening model using Xenopus laevis oocytes for the recombinant expression of Ca_V2.2 in vitro (this study were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangxi University, approval number: GXU-2023-0249). Firstly, the linear plasmids encoding cDNA of major subunit α1B and auxiliary subunits α2δ1 and β3 of rat Ca_V2.2 were used as templates for in vitro transcription to generate their related mRNA (cRNA), after which three kinds of cRNA were injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes at the mass ratio of 2∶1∶1 for expression. The two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) technique was used to detect the inward current produced by Ca_V2.2. At the same time, the expression conditions of Ca_V2.2 were optimized, and its gating function was characterized from the aspects of channel activation and inactivation. The results showed that 3-5 days after cRNA microinjection, stable Ca_V2.2-mediated barium ion (Ba²⁺) currents were successfully detected. The interference of endogenous potassium channels and Ca²⁺-activated chloride channels can be eliminated by tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) and 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetrakis (BAPTA-AM) treatment. The maximum potential for Ca_V2.2 activation is 0 mV, and the current reverses to be outward when the membrane potential is greater than +50 mV. By fitting the steady-state activation and inactivation curves, the half-maximal activation potential and half-maximal inactivation potential of Ca_V2.2 are identified as -15.9 and -60.2 mV. In this study, a stable Ca_V2.2 expression system was established based on Xenopus laevis oocytes. The in vitro expression system can provide a new way for the screening of Ca_V2.2 active compounds or lead drugs.

Objective To analyze the incidence of venous thromboembolism(VTE)in pulmonary patients and explore the assessment and prevention of the risk of pneumonia accompanied VTE.Methods The patients with pneumonia were divided into control group(simple pneumonia)and treatment group(with VTE)according to the condition of VTE.Demographic data,blood routine,coagulation index,liver and kidney function index and blood gas index were collected.Statistical methods like chi square test,t-test and nonparametric rank sum test were applied to compare the differences between the two groups.Finally,the nomogram was established according to the logistic regression results and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was calculated.Results 106 cases in control group and 29 cases in treatment group.Univariate analysis showed that age,D-dimer,fibrinogen degradation products,white blood cell count,neutrophil count,albumin-globulin ratio were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggests that age[odds ratio(OR)=1.052],D-dimer(OR=2.339),and albumin/globulin(OR=0.042)are independent affecting factors for VTE in pneumonia patients.A nomogram was developed and ROC was calculated,the area under curve(AUC)was 0.754.Conclusion High age,elevated D-dimer and decreased albumin/globulin are independent risk factors for VTE in pneumonia patients.More over,the established prediction model has good accuracy.

Objective To investigate the effect of varying ureteral wall thickness(UWT)at the site of ureteral stones on the clinical efficacy of ureteroscopic lithotripsy(URL).Methods The clinical data of 164 patients with ureteral stones in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.According to different UWT,the patients were divided into the mild thickening group(84 cases,UWT<3.16 mm),the moderate thickening group(31 cases,UWT 3.16 to 3.49 mm),and the severe thickening group(49 cases,UWT>3.49 mm),and the differences of clinical related indicators among the three groups were compared.Results The incidence of postoperative renal colic and leukocyte disorder in the mild thickening group and the moderate thickening group were lower than those in the severe thickening group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The postoperative catheterization time in the mild thickening group and the moderate thickening group were shorter than that in the severe thickening group,and the incidences of secondary lithotripsy,residual stones and stone return to kidney in the mild thickening group and the moderate thickening group were lower than those in the severe thickening group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The length of hospital stay and hospitalization cost in the mild thickening group and the moderate thickening group were shorter/less than those in the severe thickening group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion With the increase of UWT(especially when UWT>3.49 mm),the incidence of postoperative complications and hospitalization cost of URL increase to varying degrees,and the surgical efficacy decreases.In clinical work,UWT measurement holds potential value in predicting the surgical efficacy and complications of URL.

Objective To investigate the effect of Xuebijing injection on the inflammatory and coagulation response of complicated intra-abdominal infection by sepsis.Methods A retrospective study was conducted.A total of 274 patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection by sepsis admitted to Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang from June 2020 to July 2023 were enrolled.According to whether Xuebijing was used or not,the patients were divided into an observation group(141 cases)and a control group(133 cases).The patients in both groups were treated with conventional western medicine,and those in the observation group were additionally given Xuebijing(Xuebijing injection 100 mL in 0.9%NaCl solution 100 mL via intravenous infusion,twice per day for a continuous application of 5 days).The differences of clinical prognosis and the serum levels of inflammatory indicators[interleukin-6(IL-6),procalcitonin(PCT),C-reactive protein(CRP)and endotoxin]and coagulation indexes[D-dimer,fibrinogen(FIB),prothrombin time(PT)and activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT)before treatment and on the 2nd,3rd,5th day respectively after treatment were compared,and the clinical prognosis was observed.Results There were no significant differences in the indexes of inflammation and coagulation function between the two groups before treatment.With the extension of therapy duration,following treatment in two groups,the serum levels of inflammatory indicators and coagulation indexes(D-dimer,FIB)decreased,as did coagulation indexes(PT,APTT),reaching the lowest levels on the 5th day.The inflammatory markers and coagulation indexes of observation group were significantly lower than those of control group[IL-6(ng/L):18.89±8.22 vs.24.59±10.39,PCT(μg/L):0.30±0.16 vs.0.52±0.20,CRP(mg/L):13.13±6.54 vs.28.87±8.66,endotoxin(kEU/L):0.17±0.06 vs.0.22±0.08,D-dimer(mg/L):1.75±0.61 vs.1.96±0.77,FIB(g/L):2.50±0.78 vs.3.10±0.94,PT(s):14.16±1.90 vs.15.05±1.46,APTT(s):34.52±5.40 vs.36.21±4.72,both P<0.05].The intensive care unit(ICU)stay time and total hospitalization time were shortened in the observation group than those in the control group[ICU stay time(days):5.71±2.22 vs.6.86±2.99,hospitalization time(days):15.50±6.39 vs.17.02±5.70,both P<0.05];the mortality was significantly lower in the observation group than that in the control group[21.27%(30/141)vs.32.33%(43/133),P<0.05].Conclusion The treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infection by sepsis with Xuebijing injection while receiving conventional western medicine treatment can effectively decrease inflammatory and coagulation response,have high efficacy of inflammatory and coagulation co-treatment,and have some important clinical values.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

To study the chemical constituents and their biological activities in the rhizomes of Curcuma phaeocaulis, silica gel column chromatography, reverse medium pressure liquid chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography were used for isolation and purification and modern spectroscopic methods were used to determine the structure of the isolated compound. Moreover, the effect of the compound on the proliferation of HUVECs was determined by the MTT assay. A new elemane-type sesquiterpenoid glycoside was isolated from the n-butanol soluble fraction of 95% ethanolic extract of the rhizomes of Curcuma phaeocaulis. Its structure was identified as (1Z)-2-hydroxy-curzerenone 2-O-β-D-glucoside. It showed no inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HUVECs.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of action of Coptis chinensis in the treatment of dental caries using a network pharmacology approach and animal experiments. Methods:The active ingredients of C. chinensis and their targets were screened by the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database and analysis platform, and the targets were searched online through the GeneCards database. The intersecting targets of C. chinensis and dental caries were screened at Venny 2.1, and the intersection targets were analyzed online for protein-protein interaction analysis and gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomics (KEGG) enrichment. Then, Cytoscape was used to create a "component-target-pathway" network diagram. Rats were randomly divided into the model group and the C. chinensis group to establish a rat model of dental caries. Rats in the model group were repeatedly rubbed with a cotton ball soaked in 150 μl of 0.9% NaCl solution for 5 min, and rats in the C. chinensis group were repeatedly rubbed with a cotton ball soaked in C. chinensis (5.8 mg of C. chinensis in 150 μl of 0.9% NaCl solution) for 5 min. The two groups of rats were treated once a week for four consecutive weeks. The number of Streptococcus mutans colonies was counted, and serum serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (AKT1), JUN, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) were detected by enzyme immunoassay. Results:A total of 11 active ingredients in C. chinensis were found, which regulate multiple molecular pathways by intervening in 54 targets, thereby treating dental caries. Quercetin, berberine, flavodoxin, berberine infusion, and tetrahydroberberine were the core components, and AKT1, JUN, IL-6, TNF, and Bcl-2 were the core targets. GO analysis showed that BP mainly included cytokine activity, signaling receptor activator activity, signaling receptor modulator activity, cytokine receptor binding, and receptor ligand activity, etc.; and CC mainly included the response to lipopolysaccharides, the response to bacterial molecules, cellular responses to lipids, inflammatory responses, and negative regulation of cell population proliferation; MF mainly includes membrane rafts, membrane microregions, extracellular matrix, external encapsulated structures, and plasma membrane protein complexes, etc. KEGG analysis showed that advanced glycosylation end product-receptor for advanced glycosylation end products (AGE-RAGE), TNF, IL-17, Toll-like receptor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathways have been associated with C. chinensis treatment. The results of animal experiments showed that serum Bcl-2 protein expression increased and serum AKT1, JUN, IL-6, TNF, and other proteins decreased after the C. chinensis treatment. Conclusions:C. chinensis can be involved in regulating the targets of dental caries through multiple pathways, with good therapeutic effects and a wide range of mechanisms of action, and is expected to be an important component in the development of proprietary Chinese medicines for the treatment of dental caries.

Objective:To analyze the influential factors of hypoalbuminemia in patients with preeclampsia and observe the pregnancy outcomes.Methods:The clinical data of 237 pregnant women with preeclampsia who received treatment in The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Qingyuan People's Hospital) from July 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. These patients were divided into hypoproteinemia (observation group) and no hypoproteinemia (control group) groups according to whether they had hypoproteinemia. The general situation, clinical data, and adverse maternal and infant outcomes were statistically analyzed. Risk factors of hypoalbuminemia were analyzed using a logistic regression model. The predictive efficacy was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:There were no significant differences in general data between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that D-dimer ( OR = 1.25, P = 0.004), 24-hour urinary protein ( OR = 1.29, P < 0.001), and total bile acid ( OR = 1.08, P = 0.010) were the independent risk factors for hypoproteinemia in preeclampsia. The predictive efficacy of these three indicators (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.855, P < 0.001) was greater than that of a single indicator. The incidences of adverse maternal and infant outcomes including placental abruption (9.4%, P = 0.019), liver and kidney dysfunction (34.4%, P < 0.001), pleural and ascitic fluid (28.1%, P = 0.001), fetal intrauterine growth restriction (50.0%, P = 0.001), fundus lesions (6.2%, P = 0.018), HELLP syndrome (9.4%, P = 0.019), mild neonatal asphyxia (15.6%, P = 0.022), severe asphyxia (6.2%, P = 0.049), metabolic acidosis (12.5%, P = 0.001), intrauterine infection (12.5%, P = 0.004), and neonatal hospitalization for more than 20 days (37.5%, P < 0.001) were greater in the observation group compared with the control group. There were no significant differences in postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia, respiratory distress syndrome, fetal loss, and neonatal death between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusion:D-dimer, 24-hour urinary protein, and total bile acid are independent risk factors for hypoproteinemia in preeclampsia. Patients with preeclampsia complicated by hypoproteinemia have a high risk of adverse maternal and infant outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupotomy on the fat infiltration degree of lumbar multifidus muscle (LMM) in patients with lumbar disc herniation after percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED). METHODS: A total of 104 patients with lumbar disc herniation treated with PTED were randomly divided into an observation group (52 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (52 cases, 4 cases dropped off). Patients of both groups received rehabilitation training of two weeks 48 h after PTED treatment. The observation group was treated with acupotomy (L₃-L₅ Jiaji [EX-B 2]) once within 24 h after PTED. In the two groups, the fat infiltration cross sectional area (CSA) of LMM was compared before and 6 months after PTED, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) score were observed before and 1, 6 months after PTED. The correlation between fat infiltration CSA of LMM in each segment and VAS score was analyzed. RESULTS: Six months after PTED, the fat infiltration CSA of LMM in L₄/L₅ and the total L₃-S₁ segments of the observation group was lower than that before PTED (P<0.05), and the fat infiltration CSA of LMM in L₄/L₅ of the observation group was lower than the control group (P<0.01). One month after PTED, the ODI and VAS scores of the two groups were lower than those before PTED (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). Six months after PTED, the ODI and VAS scores of the two groups were lower than those before PTED and 1 month after PTED (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01). There was a positive correlation between the fat infiltration CSA of LMM in the total L₃-S₁ segments and VAS scores in the two groups before PTED (r = 0.64, P<0.01). Six months after PTED, there was no correlation between the fat infiltration CSA of LMM in each segment and VAS scores in the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Acupotomy can improve the fat infiltration degree of LMM, pain symptoms and activities of daily living in patients with lumbar disc herniation after PTED.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Activities of Daily Living ; Paraspinal Muscles ; Treatment Outcome ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Retrospective Studies ; Endoscopy ; Diskectomy ; Acupuncture Therapy