The chemical components of Carthami Flos were investigated by using macroporous resin, silica gel column chromatography, reversed-phase octadecylsilane(ODS) column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The planar structures of the compounds were established based on their physicochemical properties and ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis), infrared(IR), high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(HR-ESI-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectroscopic technology. The absolute configurations were determined by comparing the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism(ECD). Six flavonoid C-glycosides were isolated from the 30% ethanol elution fraction of macroporous resin obtained from the 95% ethanol extract of Carthami Flos, and identified as saffloquinoside F(1), 5-hydroxysaffloneoside(2), iso-5-hydroxysaffloneoside(3), isosafflomin C(4), safflomin C(5), and vicenin 2(6). Among these, the compounds 1 to 3 were new chalcone C-glycosides. The compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 could significantly increase the viability of H9c2 cardiomyocytes damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R) at a concentration of 50 μmol·L~(-1), showing their good cardioprotective activity.
Glycosides/pharmacology* ; Flowers/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Carthamus tinctorius/chemistry* ; Chalcones/pharmacology* ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Through a compound induction method, combined with neurobehavioral, macroscopic characterization and objective pathological evaluation indicators, a murine depression model of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome was constructed and confirmed. The model was constructed using a combination of sleep deprivation, light exposure, and alternate-day food deprivation. Evaluation was conducted at three levels: face validity, constructs validity, and predictive validity. The establishment of the liver depression transforming into fire syndrome depression model was further validated through the counterproof of traditional Chinese medicine formulas. In terms of face validity, compared to the control group, mice in the model group exhibited typical depressive symptoms in neurobehavioral assessments; the general observation of the model group mice reveals disheveled and lackluster fur, along with delayed and easily agitated responses. Additionally, there is a substantial increase in water consumption. In the sleep phase detection of mouse, the model group showed a significant increase in the proportion of time spent in the wake phase during sleep, accompanied by a significant decrease in the proportions of time spent in both non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phases. There are significant differences in physiological indicators such as average blood flow velocity, blood flow rate, tongue, urine, and claw color (r values) in the internal carotid artery. Structural validity demonstrated that levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the hippocampus of model mice decreased significantly, while acetylcholine (ACh), tryptophan (Try), and glutamic acid (Glu) levels increased significantly. Treatment with Danzhi Xiaoyao San led to varying degrees of restoration in the aforementioned neurotransmitters. In terms of predictive validity, the antidepressant paroxetine effectively ameliorated depressive behaviors in the model mice, and the classic formula Danzhi Xiaoyao San demonstrated varying degrees of improvement in depression-related indicators. In conclusion, this study has established a novel animal model of liver-stagnation with the fire depression, thereby expanding the repertoire of traditional Chinese medicine depression models. This development contributes to the diversification of melancholic syndrome models in Chinese medicine, offering a broader spectrum of options for scientific exploration, efficacy evaluation, and drug screening in the future prevention and treatment of depression with traditional Chinese medicine. Animal experiments were conducted with the approval and supervision of the Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ethics number: 20230313040).

Objective To investigate the impact of emodin(EM)on vascular endothelial cell injury in rats with diabetes macroangiopathy by regulating hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)signaling pathway.Methods SD rats were divided into blank group and modeling group,the rats in the modeling group were fed with high fat and high sugar combined with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester to build the diabetes macroangiopathy model,and the blank group was fed with ordinary diet.The vascular endothelial cells successfully isolated from the thoracic aorta of rats in blank group and modeling group were named control group and model group,respectively.The vascular endothelial cells in the modeling group were divided into model group,dimethyloxallyl glycine(DMOG)group(10 μmol·L-1DMOG),combined group(80 mg·L-1EM+10 μmol·L-1 DMOG)and experimental-L,-M,-H groups(20,40,80 mg·L-1 EM).The apoptosis of rat vascular endothelial cells was detected by flow cytometry;Western blot was applied to detect the expression of HIF-1αand VEGF proteins in rat vascular endothelial cells.Results The apoptosis rates of vascular endothelial cells in experimental-M,-H groups,DMOG group,combined group,model group and control group were(10.18±0.36)％,(6.28±0.20)％,(24.96±1.18)％,(12.36±0.49)％,(18.76±0.68)％and(4.59±0.26)％;HIF-1α protein levels were 0.96±0.07,0.78±0.06,2.03±0.12,1.05±0.13,1.58±0.12 and 0.69±0.05;VEGF protein levels were 0.59±0.05,0.23±0.02,0.98±0.06,0.63±0.04,0.86±0.07 and 0.11±0.01.The above indexes in the model group were compared with the control,DMOG,experimental-M and experimental-H groups,and the above indexes in the combined group were compared with the experimental-H group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion EM may inhibit HIF-1α/VEGF pathway to improve vascular endothelial cell injury in rats with diabetes macroangiopathy.

Objective To investigate the correlation between blood concentration of tislelizumab and immune-related adverse events(irAEs)in patients with malignant tumors,and to analyze the factors affecting blood concentration.Methods Blood concentration of patients with malignant tumors treated with tislelizumab was detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method,and the occurrence of irAEs during treatment was observed,and the correlation between blood concentration and irAEs was analyzed.At the same time,the diagnosis and treatment data of patients were collected to analyze the influence on blood drug concentration.Results Among the 50 malignant tumor patients treated with tislelizumab included in the analysis,34 cases developed irAEs,with an incidence of 68％,including hypothyroidism,rash,liver function impairment,etc.The mean blood concentration of 16.69 μg·mL-1 in the irAEs group was higher than that in the non-irAEs group of 8.41 μg·mL-1,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The mean blood concentration of 20.98 μg·mL-1 in patients with hypothyroidism was higher than that in the group without hypothyroidism(11.04 μg·mL-1),and the mean blood concentration of 23.47 μg·mL-1 in patients with liver function damage was higher than that in the group without liver function damage(12.06 μg·mL-1),with statistical significance(all P＜0.05),and the threshold concentrations of associated risks were 14.61 and 13.19 μg·mL-1,respectively.At the same time,through the analysis of clinical characteristics of patients,the results showed that the mean blood concentration of 9.67 μg·mL-1 in the combined chemotherapy group was lower than that in the non-combined chemotherapy group(19.03μg·mL-1),and the blood concentration of 12.74 μg·mL- in the non-small cell lung cancer group was lower than that in the other groups(20.31 μg·mL-1),with statistical significance(all P＜0.05).Conclusion High blood concentration of tislelizumab can increase the risk of hypothyroidism and liver function damage in patients.

The number of type 2 diabetes(T2DM)accounts for more than 90％of all Diabetes mellitus(DM).The decrease of islet β cell mass and dysfunction are the core links of T2DM.With the prolongation of the course of disease,the number and function of β cells are gradually attenuated,and the damage mechanism has not been elucidated.At present,it is believed that it is closely related to metabolic stress,abnormal regulation of insulin secretion,changes in islet microenvironment,mitochondrial damage,glycolipid toxicity and dedifferentiation of islet β cells.Therefore,the mechanism of islet β cell damage in T2DM is summarized and elaborated in order to provide some reference for the precise intervention of T2DM.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of recombinant human anti-severe acute respiratory syn-drome coronavirus 2(anti-SARS-CoV-2)monoclonal antibody injection(F61 injection)in the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)combined with renal damage.Methods Patients with COVID-19 and renal damage who visited the PLA General Hospital from January to February 2023 were selected.Subjects were randomly divided into two groups.Control group was treated with conventional anti-COVID-19 therapy,while trial group was treated with conventional anti-COVID-19 therapy combined with F61 injection.A 15-day follow-up was conducted after drug administration.Clinical symptoms,laboratory tests,electrocardiogram,and chest CT of pa-tients were performed to analyze the efficacy and safety of F61 injection.Results Twelve subjects(7 in trial group and 5 in control group)were included in study.Neither group had any clinical progression or death cases.The ave-rage time for negative conversion of nucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 in control group and trial group were 3.2 days and 1.57 days(P=0.046),respectively.The scores of COVID-19 related target symptom in the trial group on the 3rd and 5th day after medication were both lower than those of the control group(both P＜0.05).According to the clinical staging and World Health Organization 10-point graded disease progression scale,both groups of subjects improved but didn't show statistical differences(P＞0.05).For safety,trial group didn't present any infusion-re-lated adverse event.Subjects in both groups demonstrated varying degrees of elevated blood glucose,elevated urine glucose,elevated urobilinogen,positive urine casts,and cardiac arrhythmia,but the differences were not statistica-lly significant(all P＞0.05).Conclusion F61 injection has initially demonstrated safety and clinical benefit in trea-ting patients with COVID-19 combined with renal damage.As the domestically produced drug,it has good clinical accessibility and may provide more options for clinical practice.

Objective To study the effect of drinking carbohydrate drinks before cesarean section on mothers and neonates,and to explore the application value of drinking carbohydrate drinks before cesarean section.Methods The clinical data of 206 singleton women who underwent selective cesarean section in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University from Jun 2020 to Jun 2021 were retrospectively studied.Patients were divided into enhanced recovery after delivery(ERAD)group and control group according to whether drinking carbohydrate drinks before cesarean section.A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the effect of preoperative carb drinks on preoperative fluid supplementation,postoperative rehabilitation and neonatal prognosis.Results Among patients who fasted for less than 12 hours,the ERAD group had a lower fluid supplementation rate and a smaller average fluid supplementation volume compared to the control group(P＜0.05).The ERAD group had a lower rate of prokinetic agent using after surgery(P＜0.05).Among women without a history of abdominal surgery,the ERAD group had less blood loss 24 hours after surgery(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in postoperative fever rate,incidence of nausea and vomiting,time of first flatus,neonatal apgar score,exit observation room neonatal blood,and neonatal neonatal intensive care unit(NICU)admission rate between the two groups.Among newborns with high-risk factors for hypoglycemia,the ERAD group had lower enter observation room neonatal blood compared to the control group,and a higher incidence of hypoglycemia(P＜0.05).Conclusion Oral intake of carbohydrate drinks before cesarean section may be beneficial in reducing fluid supplementation before elective cesarean section,promoting postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery,and reducing postoperative bleeding.However,it may be related to the occurrence of neonatal hypoglycemia.

Objective To study the effects of dual-hemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation(Dual-tDCS)on upper limb motor function in chronic-phase stroke patients to provide theoretical references for neural mechanisms-based treatment of upper limb dysfunction.Methods Totally 24 chronic-phase stroke patients with upper limb motor dysfunction were selected from some hospital and divided into an experimental group(n=13)and a control group(n=11)the random number table.The control group was treated with tDCS pseudo-stimulation combined with conventional rehabilitation,while the experimental group was given with Dual-tDCS combined with conventional rehabilitation.The patient activities were assessed before and after treatment with Fugl-Meyer assessment upper limb scale(FMA-UL)and activities of daily living(ADL)scale.The changes of primary motor cortex(M1 area)and whole brain functional connectivity(FC)were compared before and after treatment.SPSS 24.0 statistical software was used for data analysis.Results After treatment,the two groups both had the FAM-UL and ADL scores increased significantly,and the experimental group had the scores statistically higher than those of the control group,and the differences were all statistically significant(P＜0.05).In the control group,the analysis on M1 area and whole brain FC after treatment indicated the FC decreased from M1 area at the unaffected side to midoccipital gyrus at the affected side and lingual gyrus and healthy angular gyrus at the unaffected side;there were no brain areas with changed FC found(P＜0.01).In the experimental group,the FC was lowered from M1 area at the unaffected side to cerebellum and cerebellar vermis at the unaffected side,while raised to precentral gyrus at the affected side(P＜0.01);the FC ascended from M1 area at the affected side to cerebellum and middle temporal gyrus at the affected side,while declined to precentral gyrus at the unaffected side(P＜0.01).Conclusion The neuromodulatory effect of Dual-tDCS on the brain improves FC in motor and non-motor-related brain areas in chronic-phase stroke patients,and may contribute to rehabilitation of upper limb motor dysfunction in chronic-phase stroke.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(2):67-73]