Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Tic Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

This study aims to investigate the effect of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula on the neuroinflammation of rats with insomnia complicated with depression through the regulation of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2(TREM2)/complement protein C1q signaling pathway. Rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a positive drug group, as well as a high, medium, and low-dose groups of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the other groups were injected with p-chlorophenylalanine and exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress to establish the rat model of insomnia complicated with depression. The sucrose preference experiment, open field experiment, and water maze test were performed to evaluate the depression in rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to detect serum 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), dopamine(DA), and norepinephrine(NE) levels. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the damage in nucleus accumbens neurons. Western blot and immunofluorescence were performed to detect TREM2, C1q, postsynaptic density 95(PSD-95), and synaptophysin 1(SYN1) expressions in rat nucleus accumbens, respectively. Golgi-Cox staining was utilized to observe the synaptic spine density of nucleus accumbens neurons. The results show that, compared with the model group, Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can significantly increase the sucrose preference as well as the distance and number of voluntary activities, shorten the immobility time in forced swimming test and the successful incubation period of positioning navigation, and prolong the stay time of space exploration in the target quadrant test. The serum 5-HT, DA, and NE contents in the model group are significantly lower than those in the normal group, with the above contents significantly increased after the intervention of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula. In addition, Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can alleviate pathological damages such as swelling and loose arrangement of tissue cells in the nucleus accumbens, while increasing the Nissl body numbers. Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can improve synaptic damage in the nucleus accumbens and increase the synaptic spine density. Compared to the normal group, the expression of C1q protein was significantly higher in the model group, while the expression of TREM2 protein was significantly lower. Compared to the model group, the intervention with Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula significantly downregulated the expression of C1q protein and significantly upregulated the expression of TREM2. Compared with the model group, the PSD-95 and SYN1 fluorescence intensity is significantly increased in the groups receiving different doses of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula. In summary, Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can reduce the C1q protein expression, relieve the TREM2 inhibition, and promote the synapse-related proteins PSD-95 and SNY1 expression. Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula improves synaptic injury of the nucleus accumbens neurons, thereby treating insomnia complicated with depression.
Animals ; Male ; Rats ; Nucleus Accumbens/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Depression/complications* ; Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/complications* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Receptors, Immunologic/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Synapses/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Tujia medicine Toddalia asiatica alcohol extract(TAAE)for synovial pannus formation in rats with college-induced arthritis(CIA).Methods Sixty male SD rats were randomized into normal control group,CIA model group,TGT group,3 TAAE treatment groups at low,medium and high doses(n=10).Except for those in the normal control group,all the rats were subjected to CIA modeling using a secondary immunization method and treatment with saline,TGT or TAAE by gavage once daily for 35 days.The severity of arthritis was assessed using arthritis index(AI)score,and knee joint synovium pathologies were examined with HE staining.Serum levels of TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1β were detected with ELISA;the protein expressions of PI3K,Akt,p-PI3K,p-Akt,VEGF,endostatin,HIF-1α,MMP1,MMP3,and MMP9 in knee joint synovial tissues were determined using Western blotting,and the mRNA expressions of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,VEGF,HIF-1α,PI3K,and Akt were detected with RT-PCR.Results Treatment of CIA rat models with TAAE and TGT significantly alleviated paw swelling,lowered AI scores,and reduced knee joint pathology,neoangiogenesis,and serum levels of inflammatory factors.TAAE treatment obviously increased endostatin protein expression,downregulated p-PI3K,p-Akt,MMP1,MMP3,MMP9,VEGF,and HIF-1α proteins,and reduced TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,PI3K,Akt,VEGF,and HIF-1α mRNA levels in the synovial tissues,and these changes were comparable between high-dose TAAE group and TGT group.Conclusion TAAE can improve joint symptoms and inhibit synovial pannus formation in CIA rats by regulating the expressions of HIF-1α,VEGF,endostatin,MMP1,MMP3,and MMP9 via the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.

Objective To optimize the wine steamed Radix Rehmanniae processing technology.Methods The single factor experiment method was used to investigate the wine steamed Rehmannia glutinosa.Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS)was used to determine the content of active ingredients such as stachyose tetrahydrate,manninotriose,melibiose,fructose,echinacoside,rhmannioside C,rhmannioside D,verbascoside,verbascoside,melittoside,monomelittoside,D(+)-raffinose pentahydrate,8-epicarnolic acid,catalpol,dihydrocatalpol,ajugol and so on.Through analytic hierarchy process and criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation(AHP-CRITIC),the content of the above chemical components and the color and sweetness values of rehmannia decoction pieces were used as evaluation indexes,and the amount of wine,steaming time and stuffiness time of steamed Rehmannia were investigated by a single-factor test method.The Box-Behnken response surface method was used to carry out the experimental design,and the divine Rehmannia processing process optimized.Results The optimal processing technology of wine steamed Radix Rehmanniae was as followed:20.6 g of alcohol per 100 g of herbs,1.5 h of stuffiness,and 6.5 h of steaming time.Conclusion The process of wine steamed rehmannia determined in this experiment is feasible,which can provide a reference for the research of processed rehmannia and provide certain guiding significance for the processed variety in industrial production.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Tujia medicine Toddalia asiatica alcohol extract(TAAE)for synovial pannus formation in rats with college-induced arthritis(CIA).Methods Sixty male SD rats were randomized into normal control group,CIA model group,TGT group,3 TAAE treatment groups at low,medium and high doses(n=10).Except for those in the normal control group,all the rats were subjected to CIA modeling using a secondary immunization method and treatment with saline,TGT or TAAE by gavage once daily for 35 days.The severity of arthritis was assessed using arthritis index(AI)score,and knee joint synovium pathologies were examined with HE staining.Serum levels of TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1β were detected with ELISA;the protein expressions of PI3K,Akt,p-PI3K,p-Akt,VEGF,endostatin,HIF-1α,MMP1,MMP3,and MMP9 in knee joint synovial tissues were determined using Western blotting,and the mRNA expressions of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,VEGF,HIF-1α,PI3K,and Akt were detected with RT-PCR.Results Treatment of CIA rat models with TAAE and TGT significantly alleviated paw swelling,lowered AI scores,and reduced knee joint pathology,neoangiogenesis,and serum levels of inflammatory factors.TAAE treatment obviously increased endostatin protein expression,downregulated p-PI3K,p-Akt,MMP1,MMP3,MMP9,VEGF,and HIF-1α proteins,and reduced TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,PI3K,Akt,VEGF,and HIF-1α mRNA levels in the synovial tissues,and these changes were comparable between high-dose TAAE group and TGT group.Conclusion TAAE can improve joint symptoms and inhibit synovial pannus formation in CIA rats by regulating the expressions of HIF-1α,VEGF,endostatin,MMP1,MMP3,and MMP9 via the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.

To understand the distribution of ticks in the Wuwei Region,enrich tick species data,and provide a basis for the prevention of tick-borne diseases,tick were collected using flagging and tick-picking methods during the highest activity period from April to September in 2021 and 2022 in the mountainous areas of Wuwei City.The ticks were identified based on morpho-logical and molecular biological characteristics,and characteristic sequences were obtained.A systematic evolutionary tree was constructed using the neighbor-joining method in MEGA 11.0 software.In total,7 342 ticks collected in Wuwei,which be-longed to 5 species from 4 genera with in the Ixodidae family,which included Dermacentor nuttalli,Hyalomma asiaticum,Ixodes canisuga,Haemaphysalis longicornis and Haema-physalis danieli.Ticks of the same species clustered together into the same branch of an evolutionary tree.In the Wuwei Re-gion,five common tick species are found across various habi-tats,with each habitat featuring different distributions of tick species and populations.The Dermacentor nuttalli is the dom-inant tick species in this area.

Objective:This study analyzed the expression of CD24 antigen on bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC) of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and the predictive value of induction therapy.Methods:This clinical observational study utilized 258 MM patients samples treated at the Hematology Department of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital who met the inclusion criteria in the Department of Hematology, Capital Medical University, from August 12th, 2022 to February 1st, 2024. According to the different stages of the disease, patients were divided into three groups: 78 cases of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma(NDMM) (42 males and 36 females, aged 62±11), 56 cases of the relapse refractory group (34 males and 22 females, aged 64±9), and 124 cases of the disease remission group (68 males and 56 females, aged 62±10). Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) was used to detect the expression level of CD24 antigen on BMPC and the relationship between CD24 and MM disease status. The clinical data and test results of 78 NDMM patients at initial diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed, including gender, age, MFC detection of the positive expression rate of antigens (CD19, CD20, CD24, CD27, CD56), the results of efficacy evaluation after induction therapy, ISS staging, R-ISS staging, blood hemoglobin, β2-microglobulin, human serum albumin, serum creatinine, lactate dehydrogenas, correction of calcium, BMPC ratio, and the results of FISH. The patients were divided into a deep remission group [including complete remission (CR) and very good partial remission (VGPR)] with 43 cases and a non-deep remission group (non CR and VGPR) with 17 cases according to the difference of antigen positive expression rate after induction therapy. The differences of antigen expression on BMPC between the two groups were compared. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between the expression of each antigen and the efficacy after induction therapy in patients, and the results showed that CD24 was more correlated with the achievement of deep remission after induction therapy than other antigens. Therefore, taking the positive expression rate of CD24 in NDMM patients at the initial diagnosis and deep remission after induction therapy as the research objects, the predictive value of CD24 for NDMM patients reaching deep remission after induction therapy was analyzed by using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), and the optimal cutoff value was obtained. NDMM was divided into two groups according to the cut-off value, and the differences between the two groups in clinical baseline data and prognostic indicators were compared.Results:The positive rates of plasma cell CD24 expression in the NDMM group, the relapse refractory group and the disease remission group were 2.18 (95% CI 0.08-81.85)%, 3.81 (95% CI 0.10-64.56)%, 8.74 (95% CI 0.79-95.55)% respectively. Compared with the disease remission group, the NDMM and relapse refractory group was lower ( Z=-7.889, -5.282, respectively, P<0.001). Univariate analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the positive expression rate of CD24 at initial diagnosis between the deep remission group and the non-deep remission group ( Z=-3.265, P<0.001), while there was no significant difference in CD19 ( Z=-0.271, P=0.787), CD20 ( Z=-0.205, P=0.837), CD27 ( Z=-0.582, P=0.560), and CD56 ( Z=-0.328, P=0.743) between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that compared with other antigens [CD19 ( OR=1.045, 95% CI 0.975-1.120, P=0.217), CD20 ( OR=1.000, 95% CI 0.971-1.030, P=0.976), CD27 ( OR=0.997, 95% CI 0.977-1.016, P=0.734), CD56 ( OR=1.006, 95% CI 0.990-1.006, P=0.449)], the expression of CD24 ( OR=0.423, 95% CI 0.990-1.006, P=0.449) on BMPC in NDMM patients was most closely related to the achievement of deep remission was achieved after induction therapy. The lower the proportion of CD24 at the initial diagnosis was, the lower the probability of achieving deep remission after induction therapy was. The area under the curve (AUC) of CD24 in predicting deep remission after induction therapy was 0.772 (95% CI 0.655-0.889, P=0.001), with a sensitivity of 60.50%, a specificity of 85.00%, and the optimal critical value was 2.21%. Compared with the group with plasma CD24 positive rate>2.21%, the group with plasma CD24 positive rate<2.21% had a higher proportion of male (39.47%vs 65.00%, χ2=5.092, P=0.024), ISS stagingⅢ (41.67% vs 58.33%, χ2=6.175, P=0.046), β2 microglobulin (3.19 mg/L vs 4.14 mg/L, Z=-2.257, P=0.024), and BMPC [(8.672±1.827)% vs (19.530±3.188)%, t=-2.963, P=0.004] detected by MFC, and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusions:The low positive rate of plasma cell CD24 is closely related to the higher tumor burden and the worse disease status of MM patients. In addition, the positive expression rate of CD24 is at initial diagnosis can predict the efficacy achieved after induction therapy, and the lower positive rate of CD24 is, the worse the efficacy achieved after induction therapy. At the same time, MFC detection of CD24 is convenient and efficient in the evaluation and prediction of MM.

AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of panretinal photocoagulation(PRP)combined with intravitreal conbercept(IVC)for patients with different stages of proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).METHODS: Retrospective study. The medical records for 100 patients(100 eyes)with PDR treated with PRP combined with IVC from January 2018 to June 2020 were reviewed, including 34 eyes with early PDR(group A), 43 with high-risk PDR(group B), and 23 with fibrovascular PDR(group C). The baseline information, best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT), the rate of vitrectomy and retinal detachment of the patients in the three groups at 1, 3, 6mo and the last follow-up after combination treatment were observed.RESULTS: The patients were followed up for 14.60±11.64mo(6-52mo), with a mean age of 54.22 ±9.32 years. We found 15 eyes(15.0%)who underwent vitrectomy after the combination treatment. The vitrectomy rates of the three groups were 2.9% in group A, 13.9% in group B, and 34.7% in group C. We found no instances of retinal detachment after the treatments. Most patients demonstrated improved BCVA and CMT values with the treatments.CONCLUSION: PRP combined with IVC is safe and effective in patients with different PDR stages.

ObjectiveTo construct a neural network-like tissue with the potential of synaptic formation in vitro by seeding human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursor cells （hiPSC-NPCs） on decellularized optic nerve （DON）， so as to provide a promising approach for repair of nerve tissue injury. MethodsThrough directional induction and tissue engineering technology， human induced pluripotent stem cells （hiPSCs） and 3D DON scaffolds were combined to construct neural network-like tissues. Then the hiPSCs were directionally induced into human neural precursor cells （hNPCs） and neurons. Immunofluorescence staining was used to identify cell differentiation efficiency. 3D DON scaffolds were prepared. Morphology and cytocompatibility of scaffolds were identified by scanning electron microscopy and Tunnel staining. Induced hiPSC-NPCs were seeded on DON scaffolds. Immunofluorescence staining， scanning electron microscopy， transmission electron microscopy and patch clamp were used to observe the morphology and functional identification of constructed neural network tissues. Results①The results of immunofluorescence staining suggested that most of hiPSC-NPCs differentiated into neurons in vitro. We had successfully constructed a neural network dominated by neurons. ② The results of scanning electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry suggested that a neural network-like tissue with predominating excitatory neurons in vitro was successfully constructed. ③The results of immunohistochemical staining， transmission electron microscopy and patch clamp indicated that the neural network-like tissue had synaptic transmission function. ConclusionA neural network-like tissue mainly composed of excitatory neurons has been constructed by the combination of natural uniform-channel DON scaffold and hiPSC-NPCs， which has the function of synaptic transmission. This neural network plays a significant role in stem cell derived replacement therapy， and offers a promising prospect for repair of spinal cord injury （SCI） and other neural tissue injuries.

Shegan Mahuang Decoction has been used in clinical practice for thousands of years, and is a classical formula for treating asthma and other respiratory diseases, with the effects of ventilating lung, dispersing cold, and relieving cough and asthma. This paper summarized the history, clinical application and mechanism of Shegan Mahuang Decoction, and predicted its quality markers(Q-markers) based on the "five principles" of Q-markers. The results suggested that irisflorentin, tectoridin, tectorigenin, irigenin, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, asarinin, methyleugenol, shionone, epifriedelanol, tussilagone, 6-gingerol, trigonelline, cavidine, schizandrin, and schizandrin B could be used as Q-markers of Shegan Mahuang Decoction, which provided a basis for the quality control and subsequent research and development of Shegan Mahuang Decoction.
Humans ; Ephedra sinica ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Asthma/drug therapy* ; Lung ; Cough/drug therapy*