ABSTRACT
Cholelithiasis, commonly known as gallstones, represents a prevalent hepatobiliary disorder. This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic role and mechanism of Danyankang capsulein treating cholelithiasis induced by a high-fat diet in C57BL/6 mice. The therapeutical potential of Danyankang was assessed through biochemical analyses, histopathological examinations, protein detection, and 16S rDNA sequencing. A high-fat diet resulted in cholelithiasis manifestation in mice, with discernable abnormal serum biochemical indices and disrupted biliary cholesterol homeostasis. Danyankang treatment notably ameliorated liver inflammation symptoms and rectified serum and liver biochemical abnormalities. Concurrently, it addressed biliary imbalances. Elevated expressions of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)/pNF-κB, HMGCR, CYP7A1, and CYP8B1 observed at the inception of cholelithiasis, were notably reduced upon Danyankang administration. Furthermore, 16S rDNA analysis revealed a decline in species number and diversity of the intestinal flora in cholelithiasis-treated mice, while the decline was reversed with Danyankang treatment. Danyankang capsules reduced the abundance of Verrucomicrobiota and increased the abundance of Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that Danyankang exerts potent therapeutic efficacy against high-fat diet-induced cholelithiasis. This beneficial outcome is potentially linked to the inhibition of the TLR4/pNF-κB and SHP/CYP7A1/CYP8B1 signaling pathways, as well as the enhancement of intestinal flora species abundance.
Subject(s)
Cholelithiasis , Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Mice , Animals , Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects , Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics , Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism , Steroid 12-alpha-Hydroxylase , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Liver/metabolism , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Cholelithiasis/drug therapy , Cholelithiasis/pathology , DNA, RibosomalABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of eye signs in chronic hepatitis B patients with blood stasis syndrome and the association between blood stasis syndrome and eye signs. METHODS: A total of 126 patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly divided into four groups: non-blood stasis group, and mild, moderate and severe blood stasis groups. The changes of eye signs in the four groups were tested and compared. RESULTS: There were significant differences in scores of blood stasis and eye signs among the four groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The changes of eye signs in chronic hepatitis B patients with blood stasis syndrome were different with those with non-blood stasis syndrome. There were no significant differences in each item of the eye signs among the four groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The eye signs of blood stasis syndrome are applicable, objective and convenient for diagnosing blood stasis syndrome in patients with chronic hepatitis B.