Efficacy and safety of Runzao Zhiyang capsule for chronic urticaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Chronic urticaria (CU) is a commonly seen skin disorder featured by recurring wheals, with or without angioedema, lasting for at least 6 weeks. Runzao Zhiyang capsule (RZC) has been widely applied to treat patients with CU. This study is aimed at systematically evaluating the efficacy and safety of RZC in treating CU. Materials and Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of RZC on treating CU from Chinese and English databases were searched. Data were collected by two independent researchers. The Cochrane Collaboration tool was adopted for evaluating the risk of bias. The meta-analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.3 software. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessment were conducted by Stata 14.0 software. Results: Totally 27 studies were included in the analysis, involving 2,703 patients. The pooled results showed that compared with second-generation H1-antihistamines (sgAHs) therapy alone, RZC combined with sgAHs is more effective in improving the total effective rate (RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.25 to 1.39, p < 0.00001), the quality of life measured by Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (MD = -2.63, 95% CI: -3.68 to -1.58, p < 0.00001) and the serum IFN-γ level (SMD = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.58 to 4.62, p < 0.0001), and reducing the recurrence rate (RR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.55, p < 0.00001), the serum total IgE level (SMD = -2.44, 95% CI: -3.51 to -1.38, p < 0.00001), the serum IL-4 level (SMD = -2.96, 95% CI: -4.10 to -1.83, p < 0.00001), and the incidence of adverse events including dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, and constipation (RR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.85, p = 0.009; RR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.84, p = 0.01; RR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34 to 0.95, p = 0.03; RR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.85, p = 0.03). Conclusion: The current evidence indicates that RZC may be an efficient therapeutic regimen in patients with CU. Nevertheless, owing to the suboptimal quality of the included studies, more large-scale, well-designed RCTs are required to verify the obtained findings. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/; Identifier: CRD42022313177.

Study on the Differences of Chemical Structures and Pyrolysis Characteristics between the Jurassic and Carboniferous Coking Coals.

Using Jurassic coking coals and Carboniferous coking coals as raw materials, carbonization experiments were carried out on the cokes produced by them in a self-made furnace in a laboratory-scale coking furnace, finding that the coke quality of the Jurassic fat coals and coking coals was obviously inferior to that of the Carboniferous coking coals of the same brand. In this study, the reasons for this phenomenon were studied by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis of experimental coal samples and by combining the differences in chemical structures of experimental coal samples with pyrolysis characteristic parameters. It was found that the key factor affecting the quality of cokes made from the Jurassic fat coals, coking coals, and highly volatile coking coals was that the coals contained too many oxygen-containing functional groups, which were decomposed into reactive oxygen species in the main pyrolysis stage of coal. These reactive oxygen species would consume too much free-moving hydrogen and then trigger a large number of condensation and cross-linking reactions, resulting in poor plastic mass and coke quality.

Effects of Boron Carbide on Coking Behavior and Chemical Structure of High Volatile Coking Coal during Carbonization.

Modified cokes with improved resistance to CO2 reaction were produced from a high volatile coking coal (HVC) and different concentrations of boron carbide (B4C) in a laboratory scale coking furnace. This paper focuses on modification mechanism about the influence of B4C on coking behavior and chemical structure during HVC carbonization. The former was studied by using a thermo-gravimetric analyzer. For the latter, four semi-cokes prepared from carbonization tests for HVC with or without B4C at 450 °C and 750 °C, respectively, were analyzed by using Fourier transform infrared spectrum and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy technologies. It was found that B4C will retard extensive condensation and crosslinking reactions by reducing the amount of active oxygen obtained from thermally produced free radicals and increase secondary cracking reactions, resulting in increasing size of aromatic layer and anisotropic degree in coke structure, which eventually improves the coke quality.