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Objective To investigate the role of variation trend of pre-treatment blood beta human chorionic gonadotropin(β-HCG)in predicting the efficacy of tubal pregnancy(TP)treated by drug therapy.Methods Clinical data of 380 TP patients treated by drug therapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to June 2022 were collected.The patients were divided into 271 cases in the pure Chinese medicine(CM)treatment group(shortened as pure CM group)and 109 cases in the combination of Chinese medicine and western medicine group(shortened as combination group)according to the therapy.The relevant factors that may affect the outcomes of the therapy were analyzed,and logistic regression analysis was used for the control of confounding factors.The influences of pre-treatment β-HCG on the outcomes of TP treated by various therapies were investigated,and the value of variation trend of pre-treatment β-HCG in predicting the efficacy of TP treated by drug therapy was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC curve).Results(1)The results of univariate analysis showed that the initial value of blood β-HCG,the variation trend of β-HCG and the difference value of β-HCG detected for 2 times before treatment were correlated with the treatment outcomes in the pure CM group and the combination group,and the differences were all statistically significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01).(2)The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that in the pure CM group,the blood β-HCG values and the variation trend of β-HCG detected for 2 times before treatment were correlated with the treatment outcomes,and the differences were all statistically significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01);in the combination group,the menopausal time and blood β-HCG value detected at the second time before treatment were correlated with the treatment outcomes,and the differences were all statistically significant(P<0.05).(3)After controlling for the confounding factors,the variation trend of pre-treatment β-HCG in the pure CM group was correlated with the treatment outcomes,and the difference was statistically significant(OR=3.35,95%CI being 1.69-6.65,P = 0.001).However,the variation trend of pre-treatment β-HCG in the combination group did not affect the treatment outcomes,and the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).(4)The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)in the pure CM group was 0.74,the cutoff value was-0.14,the sensitivity was 71.3%and the specificity was 67.8%.The AUC in the combination group was 0.67,the cutoff value was 0.10,the sensitivity was 73.6%and the specificity was 60.7%.Conclusion The variation trend of pre-treatment blood β-HCG can effectively predict the efficacy of Chinese medicine for the treatment of TP,but has no value for predicting the efficacy of the combination of Chinese medicine and western medicine in treating TP.The variation value of pre-treatment blood β-HCG can be used as a valuable reference indicator for the early prediction of the outcomes of TP treated by drug therapy.
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Aim To investigate the molecular mechanisms of alcohol extracts of Euphorbia fischeriana steud. against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through a combination of network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation. Methods The active ingredients and targets of alcohol extracts of Euphorbia fischeriana steud. were determined through TCMSP, Swiss ADME, Swiss Target Prediction database and references. The databases DisGeNET and GeneCards were employed to screen potential HCC-related genes. Venny platform, STRING platform and Cytoscape software were applied to construct active ingredient-target-disease and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network maps. Gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using the DAVID database. To assess the effects of Euphorbia fischeriana steud. alcohol extracts on BEL-7402 cells, the proliferation and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8, EdU and flow cytometry assays, and the related protein levels of JAK2/STAT3 pathway were analyzed by Western blot. Additionally, H22 hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model was used to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of Euphorbia fischeriana steud. alcohol extracts. Results A total of 916 HCC targeted genes, 30 active ingredients containing the related 567 potential targeted genes, and 115 intersection targets of disease and compounds were obtained. KEGG enrichment analysis identified JAK2/STAT3 signaling as a critical pathway. In vitro experiments showed the alcohol extracts of Euphorbia fischeriana steud. could inhibit proliferation, promote apoptosis and suppress JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner in BEL-7402 cells. In addition, the alcohol extracts of Euphorbia fischeriana steud., either alone or in combination with sorafenib, dramatically blocked tumor growth in in vivo tests. Conclusions Euphorbia fischeriana steud. alcohol extracts have anti-cancer effects in HCC, and the molecular mechanisms may be connected to the regulation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
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This study investigated the mechanism of action of Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma(SR-CR) in intervening in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) in rats based on lipidomics. Thirty-six SD rats were divided into a control group, a model group, SR-CR groups of different doses, and a simvastatin group, with six rats in each group. Rats in the control group were fed on a normal diet, while those in the remaining groups were fed on a high-lipid diet. After four weeks of feeding, drug treatment was carried out and rats were sacrificed after 12 weeks. Serum liver function and lipid indexes were detected using kits, and the pathomorphology of liver tissues was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and oil red O staining. Changes in lipid levels in rats were detected using the LC-MS technique. Differential lipid metabolites were screened by multivariate statistical analysis, and lipid metabolic pathways were plotted. The changes in lipid-related protein levels were further verified by Western blot. The results showed that compared with the control group, the model group showed increased levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c)(P<0.01), and decreased levels of γ-glutamyl transferase(γ-GT) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c)(P<0.01), which were significantly recovered by the intervention of SR-CR. HE staining and oil red O staining showed that different doses of SR-CR could reverse the steatosis in the rat liver in a dose-dependent manner. After lipidomics analysis, there were significant differences in lipid metabolism between the model group and the control group, with 54 lipids significantly altered, mainly including glycerolipids, phosphatidylcholine, and sphingolipids. After administration, 44 differential lipids tended to normal levels, which indicated that SR-CR groups of different doses significantly improved the lipid metabolism level in NAFLD rats. Western blot showed that SR-CR significantly decreased TG-synthesis enzyme 1(DGAT1), recombinant lipin 1(LPIN1), fatty acid synthase(FASN), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1(ACC1), and increased the phosphorylation level of ACC1. These changes significantly decreased the synthesis of TG and increased the rate of its decomposition, which enhanced the level of lipid metabolism in the body and finally achieved the lipid-lowering effect. SR-CR can improve NAFLD by inhibiting the synthesis of fatty acids and TG.
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Rats , Animals , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/drug therapy , Scutellaria baicalensis , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use , Pharmaceutical Preparations , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Liver , Triglycerides/metabolism , Cholesterol , Diet, High-Fat , Azo CompoundsABSTRACT
AIM: To observe the clinical features of acute macular neuroretinopathy(AMN)induced by Omicron.METHODS: A retrospective study. A total of 9 patients(18 eyes)diagnosed with AMN from December 2022 to January 2023 in the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were included. Patients underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA), fundus photography, autofluorescence(AF), infrared reflectance(IR), optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)and multicolor, etc. Furthermore, they were followed up for 1~3mo and observed the prognosis.RESULTS: The initial symptom of the Omicron-induced AMN was the sudden onset of central/paracentral scotoma in the eyes with or without impaired vision and metamorphopsia, and the scotoma could persist for at least 3mo. The image features of AMN are as follows. First, the SD-OCT examination showed the rupture of outer retinal layers, scattered hyperreflective lesions, and atrophy of outer retinal layers. In severe cases, hyperreflective lesions were seen in the inner nuclear layer(INL)or with microcystic cavities under the retinal pigment epithelium(RPE). Second, the OCTA examination demonstrated the decreased blood flow density of the deep capillary plexus(DCP)of the macula. Third, the IR examination showed the weak reflection of lesion areas. Fourth, the fundus photography demonstrated the localized brown wedge-shaped lesion.CONCLUSIONS: The Omicron-induced AMN is mostly found in young females, and the characteristic manifestation of fundus is damage to the outer retinal layers. The extent of fundus lesions is related to the systemic inflammatory response and ocular microcirculatory changes after infection. The multimodal fundus image examination and a history of Omicron infection are helpful to diagnose the Omicron-induced AMN.
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Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of AR and its correlation with serum IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in Bazhong City, and to provide theoretical basis for clinical prevention and treatment of AR. Methods Adopt the method of multistage stratified random survey from January 2019 to January 2020 bazhong 3 armour hospital otolaryngology seeing a doctor , with face to face questionnaire survey form the people generally, AR number of statistics, the main clinical symptoms and related symptoms, AR merger disease situation, according to the illness severity was divided into mild and moderately severe group, Five mL of elbow venous blood was extracted from AR patients, and 22 kinds of allergens were determined by using the allergen-specific IgE antibody detection kit (western blot). Serum IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pearson correlation analysis was performed on serum IFN-γ and IL-4 levels and severity of allergic rhinitis. Results Among 1 243 patients who completed the questionnaire, the prevalence of AR was 275 (22.12%). There was significant difference in the prevalence of AR among different age groups (χ2=6.809 , P2=7.914 , P<0.0) and the prevalence of AR in workers was the highest (26.48%). Among 275 AR patients in Bazhong City, 153 cases (55.64%) had seasonal allergic rhinitis and 122 cases (44.36%) had perennial allergic rhinitis. The main clinical symptoms of AR patients were sneezing in 234 cases (85.09%) and nasal obstruction in 197 cases (71.64%). AR combined with bronchial asthma in 59 cases (21.45%), conjunctivitis in 28 cases (10.18%); the peak of AR incidence was mainly in July. Among 22 allergens, dust mite was the most common allergen in 139 cases (50.55%), followed by penicillin in 56 cases (20.36%). The main inducing factors were pollen 112 cases (40.73%) and cold 98 cases (35.64%). According to the severity of the disease, they were divided into mild group (n=178) and moderate to severe group (n=97). The serum IL-4 level in moderate and severe groups was significantly higher than that in mild group (P<0.05). The serum IFN-γ level in moderate and severe groups was significantly lower than that in mild group (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that il-4 level was positively correlated with disease severity (r=0.492, P<0.05). IFN-γ was negatively correlated with the severity of the disease (r=-0.459, P<0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of AR is high in Bazhong city, and the main clinical symptom is sneezing. Among the complications, bronchial asthma is the most common. Colds and weather changes are the main factors causing AR.
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Objective: To compare the impact of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) or tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) on hemodynamics and left ventricular reverse remodeling after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients who underwent TAVR in our hospital from January 2019 to March 2021. Patients were divided into BAV group and TAV group according to aortic contrast-enhanced CT. Each patient was followed up by N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and echocardiography at four time points, namely before TAVR, 24 hours, 1 month and 6 months after TAVR. Echocardiographic data, including mean pressure gradient (MPG), aortic valve area (AVA), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricle mass (LVM) and LV mass index (LVMi) were evaluated. Results: A total of 41 patients were included. The age was (75.0±8.6) years, and male patients accounted for 53.7%. There were 19 BAV patients and 22 TAV patients in this cohort. All patients undergoing TAVR using a self-expandable prosthesis Venus-A valve. MPG was (54.16±21.22) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) before TAVR, (21.11±9.04) mmHg at 24 hours after TAVR, (18.84±7.37) mmHg at 1 month after TAVR, (17.68±6.04) mmHg at 6 months after TAVR in BAV group. LVEF was (50.42±13.30)% before TAVR, (53.84±10.59)% at 24 hours after TAVR, (55.68±8.71)% at 1 month after TAVR and (57.42±7.78)% at 6 months after TAVR in BAV group. MPG and LVEF substantially improved at each time point after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05) in BAV group. MPG in TAV group improved at each time point after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). LVMi was (164.13±49.53), (156.37±39.11), (146.65±38.84) and (134.13±39.83) g/m2 at the 4 time points and the value was significantly reduced at 1 and 6 months post TAVR compared to preoperative level(both P<0.05). LVEF in the TAV group remained unchanged at 24 hours after operation, but it was improved at 1 month and 6 months after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). LVMi in TAV group substantially improved at each time point after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). NT-proBNP in both two groups improved after operation, at 1 month and 6 months after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). MPG in TAV group improved better than in BAV group during the postoperative follow-up (24 hours after TAVR: (11.68±5.09) mmHg vs. (21.11±9.04) mmHg, P<0.001, 1 month after TAVR: (10.82±3.71) mmHg vs. (18.84±7.37) mmHg, P<0.001, 6 months after TAVR: (12.36±4.42) mmHg vs. (17.68±6.04) mmHg, P=0.003). There was no significant difference in NT-proBNP between BAV group and TAV group at each time point after operation (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in paravalvular regurgitation and second prosthesis implantation between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: AS patients with BAV or TAV experience hemodynamic improvement and obvious left ventricular reverse remodeling after TAVR, and the therapeutic effects of TAVR are similar between BAV and TAV AS patients in the short-term post TAVR.
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Humans , Male , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement , Aortic Valve/surgery , Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease/surgery , Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery , Retrospective Studies , Stroke Volume , Heart Valve Diseases , Ventricular Function, Left , Treatment Outcome , Ventricular Remodeling , HemodynamicsABSTRACT
Objective To establish a cell model based on calcium-activated chloride channel (CaCC) that could sensitively detect the second messenger Ca
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Gegen Qinliantang, a classic traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) compound, has been verified in modern research to possess various pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammation,anti-oxidative stress,protecting intestinal mucosal barrier, and regulating intestinal flora and immune response. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease involving the colorectal mucosa, which mainly results from genetic susceptibility, intestinal mucosal barrier damage, abnormal immune response, intestinal flora disturbance, and bile acid metabolism disorders. By reviewing the literature published in recent years, this paper sorted out the relevant pathways and mechanisms involved in the treatment of UC by Gegen Qinliantang to provide ideas for further clinical and basic research. This literature review uncovered that Gegen Qinliantang exerted the therapeutic effects against UC mainly via interleukin-6(IL-6)/Janus tyrosine kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) signaling pathway, Toll like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB) signaling pathway,Notch signaling pathway, and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK) signaling pathway. Gegen Qinliantang regulates the intercellular molecular transmission in multiple pathways to protect the intestinal mucosal barrier, adjust the immune response and anti-oxidative stress, and relieve UC, demonstrating the multi-target, multi-mechanism, and multi-pathway advantages of TCM compounds.
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Objective: The effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan on blood metabolism during growth and development of rats was investigated by taking the overall metabolic profile and biomarkers of metabolomics as indexes. Method: Ultra performance liquid chromatography-high definition mass spectrometry(UPLC-HDMS) was employed to establish a blood metabolomics study method for characterizing the blood metabolic profile of rats at different time before and after administration. The pattern recognition method was used to integrate and analyze the metabolic profiles, and the differential metabolic markers related to drug action were searched. Based on metabolomics pathway analysis(MetPA) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) and other databases, the metabolic pathways related to differential markers were analyzed to study the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan on blood metabolism during growth and development of rats. Result: Liuwei Dihuangwan significantly affect the blood metabolism profiles during growth and development of rats by regulating 30 blood metabolic markers and 12 related target metabolic pathways, and 8 key metabolic markers were delineated. Conclusion: Liuwei Dihuangwan can significantly regulate the blood metabolic network during the growth and development of rats, thereby affecting the growth and development of rats.
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On base of traditional physiological studies, building a comprehensive evaluation system for the efficacy of Liuwei Dihuang Wan (LW) for regulating the growth and development of rats by indicators that the overall metabolic profile and biomarkers of urinary metabonomics. Sixty-seven day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups that are the control group and low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of LW. At the age of 28 days, different doses of LW extracts were continuously administered for 16 days. On the basis of behavior, body weight, organ index and femur length, a UPLC-HDMS technique was used to establish urine metabolomics method to characterize the profile of urine metabolism before and after intervention of LW, analysis and identificate related to drug effects of differential metabolism markers, and study the effect of LW on the growth and development of rats. LW could improve the overall behavioral ability of rats, promote weight gain and the growth of organs and bones, and 36 differential metabolites and 13 target metabolic pathways of urine under the intervention of LW were identified, and 8 metabolic markers were regarded as a key marker that LW effect the growth and development of rats. LW has a significant regulatory effect on the urine metabolic network during the growth and development of rats. This study interpreted the scientific implications of the effect of "Nourishing Kidney Yin" on the growth and development of rats.
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Based on the literature review and modern application of Paeonia lactiflora in heart diseases, this article would predict the target of drug and disease by intergrative pharmacology platform of traditional Chinese medicine (TCMIP, http://www.tcmip.cn), and then explore the molecular mechanism of P. lactiflora in treatment of heart disease, providing theoretical basis and method for further studies on P. lactiflora. According to the ancient books, P. lactiflora with functions of "removing the vascular obstruction, removing the lumps, relieving pain, diuretic, nutrient qi" and other effects, have been used for many times to treat heart disease. Some prescriptions are also favored by the modern physicians nowadays. With the development of science, the chemical components that play a role in heart disease and the interrelation between these components and the body become the research hotspot. In order to further reveal the pharmacological substance base and molecular mechanism of P. lactiflora for the treatment of such diseases, TCM-IP was used to obtain multiple molecular targets and signaling pathways in treatment of heart disease. ATP1A1, a common target of drug and disease, was related to energy, and HDAC2 mainly regulated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy gene and cardiomyocyte expression. Other main drug targets such as GCK, CHUK and PRKAA2 indirectly regulated heart disease through many pathways; multiple disease-associated signaling pathways interfered with various heart diseases including coronary heart disease, myocardial ischemia and myocardial hypertrophy through influencing energy metabolism, enzyme activity and gene expression. In conclusion, P. lactiflora plays a role in protecting heart function by regulating the gene expression of cardiomyocytes directly. Meanwhile, it can indirectly intervene in other pathways of heart function, and thus participate in the treatment of heart disease. In this paper, the molecular mechanism of P. lactiflora for treatment of heart disease was in computer prediction analysis level, and the specific mechanism of action still needs further experimental verification.
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Integrative pharmacology (IP) is a discipline that studies the interaction, integration and principle of action of multiple components with the body, emphasizing the integrations of multi-level and multi-link, such as "whole and part", " and ", " process and activity evaluation". After four years of development and practice, the theory and method of IP has received extensive attention and application.In order to better promote the development of IP, this paper systematically reviews the concepts, research contents, research methods and application fields about IP.