Based on the interaction between supramolecules of traditional Chinese medicine and enterobacteria to explore the material basis of combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma - Coptidis Rhizoma / 药学学报

Based on the interaction between supramolecule of traditional Chinese medicine and enterobacteria, the material basis of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma was explored. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to characterize the morphological differences of Rhubarb single decoction, Coptis single decoction and Rhubarb and Coptis co-decoction. An in vitro antibacterial model (E. coli, E. faecium and B. subtilis) was established to evaluate the damage effect of the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma on enterobacteria. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the changes of chemical components of single decoctions and co-decoctions. The co-decoction of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma was turbid after decocting. The spherical particles of 300-400 nm were observed under SEM, and the co-decoction was more uniform and stable than that of single decoction. The interaction between supramolecules formed after the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma and enterobacteria was significantly different from that of single decoction. In the process of interaction between supramolecules and enterobacteria, the spherical state was maintained, and the medicinal ingredients in Coptidis Rhizoma or Rhei Radix et Rhizoma were blocked, which could effectively alleviate the damage to enterobacteria. This study provided a reference for subsequent studies on the regulation of intestinal flora homeostasis by the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma.

Mechanism of Fufang Congrong Yizhi Capsules in treatment of mild cognitive impairment based on network pharmacology / 中国药理学通报

Aim To predict the mechanism of Fufang Congrong Yizhi Capsules (FCYC) in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by network pharmacology method, and further validate it in combination with cellular experiments. Methods TCMSP, Gene-Cards, OMIM and TTD databases, Chinese Pharmacopoeia and related literature were used to screen the active ingredients of FCYC and the targets of MCI treatment. The TCM-compound-target-disease network and PPI of intersection targets were constructed, and the GO and KEGG analysis were performed by the Ehamb bioinformation platform. GO and KEGG analysis were performed through Yihanbo biological information platform. Cell model of MCI was established by PC-12 injury induced by Aβ

Resveratrol inhibits autophagy and promotes apoptosis in uveal melanoma cells via miR-512-3P/DUSPl axis / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the regulatory role and mechanism of resveratrol in inhibiting autophagy and promoting apoptosis in choroidal melanoma cells. Methods Choroidal melanoma cells (MUM2B) were divided into control and experimental groups, and treated with different concentrations of resveratrol (0, 10, 20,40,60,80 μmol ·L

The Harm of Shame to Self and Its Way out from the Perspective of Bioethics / 中国医学伦理学

Psychological research results confirmed that the negative impact of shame on self often causes psychological diseases, and shame does not always related to ethical value. People with serious sense of shame will lead to negative evaluation and overall negation to themselves, and the sense of shame accompanied by great pain will cause great harm to individuals. To realize the sublimation of shame, the ethical orientation of its self cognitive schema and evaluation method must be changed, from the orientation of "transforming self and reaching perfection" to the position of "caring for self and accepting imperfect self" . To tap the positive value of shame, individuals must avoid hurting themselves and then care for themselves. "The principle of not harming life" and "do not denying people’s ethical subject status" are the bottom line of the ethical value of shame.

Establishment and application of a prospective follow-up research method for acute infectious diseases in Shanghai community residents / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo present the exploration and application of a prospective follow-up research method for acute infectious disease surveillance based on natural community populations， using COVID-19 infection as an example， and to provide a reference for improving the infectious disease surveillance and early warning system. MethodsA multi-stage probability proportional sampling method was employed to sample residents from all communities of 16 administrative districts in Shanghai， with households as the units. A cohort for acute infectious diseases based on natural community populations was established. The baseline survey was conducted for all cohort subjects， and COVID-19 antigen test kits were distributed. From December 21， 2022 to September 30， 2023， prospective follow-up monitoring of COVID-19 antigen and nucleic acid was carried out on the study subjects on a weekly basis. The baseline characteristics and follow-up information of the cohort subjects were described. ResultsThe cohort for acute infectious diseases included a total of 12 881 subjects， comprising 6 098 males （47.3%） and 6 783 females （52.7%）. The baseline survey revealed that 35.2% （4 540/12 881） of the subjects had a history of COVID-19 infection. During the follow-up period from December 21， 2022 to September 30， 2023， the average incidence density in the cohort was 0.61/person-year， with a higher incidence density in females （0.63/person-year） compared to males （0.59/person-year）. Individuals aged 60 and above （0.64/person-year） and those with underlying health conditions （0.67/person-year） had a higher incidence density. Healthcare workers showed a notably higher incidence density （0.84/person-year） than that in other occupational groups. As of September 30， 2023， a total of 340 subjects in the cohort experienced secondary infections， with a median interval of 170 days between the first and second infections. ConclusionThis study applies cohort study method to acute infectious disease surveillance， providing crucial data support for estimating infection rates and forecasting alerts for acute infectious diseases in the community. This method can be promoted and applied as a new approach for acute infectious disease surveillance.

Dachengqi decoction reduces inflammatory response and promotes recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients with mild acute pancreatitis by regulating the intestinal microbiota / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Dachengqi decoction on patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP).Methods:A parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted. Sixty-eight patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) admitted to Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-Integrated Hospital from March 2018 to February 2021 were enrolled. Referring to the condition on admission of the patients and whether they agreed to receive the Dachengqi decoction or not, they were divided into conventional treatment group and Dachengqi decoction group according to the principle of 1∶1 equal randomness. Meanwhile, 20 healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. Both groups of patients were treated with octreotide, fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, antipyretic and analgesic, anti-inflammatory, inhibition of gastric acid and pancreatic juice secretion, maintenance of electrolyte balance and other western conventional medicine. The patients in the Dachengqi decoction group received Dachengqi decoction orally on the basis of routine treatment, 100 mL each time, twice a day, for seven consecutive days. The inflammation parameters [white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6)] before and after treatment and the recovery time of gastrointestinal function (first exhaust time, time to recover bowel sounds, first defecation time) of patients were recorded. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of stool samples was recorded, and normalized data were obtained after quality control and other related processing. The data were subjected to diversity analysis (Alpha diversity and Beta diversity) and linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis (LEfSe analysis) to observe changes in the gut microbiota of MAP patients. Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between inflammatory indexes and microorganisms at the intestinal genus level. Blood, urine, stool samples, renal function, and electrocardiogram (ECG) during treatment of MAP patients were detected to assess the safety of the treatment.Results:Of the 68 patients with AP, 16 were excluded from moderate-severe AP, 4 were not collected or voluntarily abandoned treatment. Finally, 48 patients with MAP were enrolled, 24 in the conventional treatment group and 24 in the Dachengqi decoction group. The inflammation parameters levels at 7 days of treatment in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment. CRP, PCT and IL-6 levels in the Dachengqi decoction group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group [CRP (mg/L): 8.50 (3.50, 13.00) vs. 16.00 (9.25, 29.75), PCT (μg/L): 0.06 (0.03, 0.08) vs. 0.09 (0.05, 0.11), IL-6 (ng/L): 6.36 (3.96, 10.79) vs. 13.24 (6.69, 18.87), all P < 0.05]. The first exhaust time, time to recover bowel sounds and first defecation time in the Dachengqi decoction group were significantly shorter than those in the conventional treatment group [first exhaust time (days): 1.62±0.65 vs. 2.80±0.65, time to recover bowel sounds (days): 1.13±0.58 vs. 2.31±0.76, first defecation time (days): 3.12±0.75 vs. 4.39±0.76, all P < 0.05]. The analysis of intestinal microflora diversity showed that both the diversity and abundance of microbial communities were the highest in the healthy control group and the lowest in the conventional treatment group. In addition, the coincidence degree of microbial communities in healthy controls and MAP patients was small, while the coincidence degree of MAP patients among different treatment methods was relatively large. LEfSe analysis showed that Dachengqi decoction reduced the relative abundance of Escherichia coli-Shigella and Clostridium erysipelae, and increased the relative abundance of three beneficial bacteria, namely Lactobacillus, Rombutzia and Brutella. In the intestines of MAP patients, Lactobacillus mucilaginus and Lactobacillus conjunctus were significantly enriched. Correlation analysis showed that positive correlations between Escherichia coli- Shigella and the four inflammatory indicators including WBC, CRP, PCT, IL-6 were statistically significant ( r value was 0.31, 0.41, 0.57, 0.43, respectively, all P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between other bacteria and inflammatory indicators. During the treatment, there was no obvious abnormality in blood, urine and feces, renal function and ECG of MAP patients. Conclusions:Dachengqi decoction could reduce inflammatory responses and promote recovery of intestinal microecological balance and gastrointestinal function in patients with MAP by regulating the composition of intestinal flora. No significant adverse effects were observed during the treatment period.

The effects of natural polysaccharide supramolecular hydrogel on bacteriostatic activity and biofilm clearance of berberine / 药学学报

Taking berberine (BBR) as an example, to study whether the supramolecular hydrogel formed by berberine and lotus root starch (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn; LRS), a natural polysaccharide, affects the inhibition to Staphylococcus aureus and the ability of biofilm clearance. The chemical structure and rheological properties of BBR@LRS gel were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and rheometer. The in vitro release of supramolecular hydrogel was observed at pH = 1.2 and pH = 7.4. Broth dilution method and biofilm clearence experiment were used to observe the bacteriostasis and biofilm clearance respectively. Cytotoxicity test and in vitro hemolysis test were used to evaluate the biosafety preliminarily. The results showed that the LRS polysaccharide hydrogel could encapsulate BBR, and there was an interaction between them. The BBR@LRS gel had good rheological properties and biosafety, and played a role in solubility enhancement and slow release of BBR, which was stronger than BBR in inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and clearing biofilm. This study provides reference for the effect of natural polysaccharide supramolecular hydrogels on biological functions of active components of traditional Chinese medicine.

Effect of Chorionicity， Gestational Age at Birth and Birth Weight Discordance on Neonatal Outcomes in Twin Pregnancies / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of chorionicity， gestational age at birth and birth weight discordance on neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies. MethodsWe conducted a population-based retrospective study of monochorionic diamniotic （MCDA） twin pregnancies and dichorionic diamniotic （DCDA） twin pregnancies who were admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital， Sun Yat-sen University from January 2015 to December 2020. A total of 1504 live-born twins were included， with 386 cases in MCDA group and 1118 cases in DCDA groups， respectively. The comparison of neonatal outcomes between MCDA and DCDA twins was performed using t-test， Wilcoxon rank sum test， Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effects of chorionicity， gestational age at birth， birth weight discordance and sex on neonatal outcomes. There were 168 live-born twins affected by inter-twin birth weight discordance≥25%， with 96 cases in MCDA group and 72 cases in DCDA groups， respectively. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effects of chorionicity， gestational age at birth， birth weight light or heavy （small twin or large twin） of the twin and sex on neonatal outcomes. ResultsAmong the 1 504 newborns， gestational age at birth was lower in MCDA group compared with DCDA group （P = 0.000）， and the degree of birth weight discordance was higher in MCDA group than that of the DCDA group （P = 0.001）. Birth asphyxia， respiratory distress syndrome （RDS）， bronchopulmonary dysplasia （BPD）， and sepsis were more frequency in MCDA group compared with DCDA group （P = 0.000， P = 0.000， P = 0.000， P = 0.000）. Low gestational age at birth was an independent risk factor for birth asphyxia， RDS， BPD， sepsis， necrotizing enterocolitis （NEC）≥stageⅡ， acute kidney injury （AKI）， retinopathy of prematurity （ROP）， and neonatal death respectively （P = 0.000， P = 0.000， P = 0.000， P = 0.000， P = 0.011， P = 0.000， P = 0.000， P = 0.000）. High degree of birth weight discordance was an independent risk factor for birth asphyxia， RDS， BPD， sepsis and ROP respectively （P = 0.045， P = 0.000， P = 0.000， P = 0.004， P = 0.017 ）. Chorionicity was not an independent risk factor for neonatal morbidity and death （P > 0.05）. Among the 168 twins with birth weight discordance ≥25%， low gestational age at birth was an independent risk factor for birth asphyxia， RDS， BPD， sepsis and ROP， respectively （P = 0.000， P = 0.000， P = 0.000， P = 0.000， P = 0.000）； small twin was an independent risk factor for birth asphyxia and BPD， respectively （ P = 0.013， P = 0.001）； chorionicity was not an independent risk factor for neonatal morbidity （P > 0.05）. ConclusionChorionicity was not an independent risk factor for adverse neonatal outcome in twin births. Low gestational age at birth and high degree of birth weight discordance were independent risk factor for adverse neonatal outcome in twin births. Small twins had increased risk of adverse neonatal outcome in twins with birth weight discordance ≥25%.

Expression and localization of vascular endothelial growth factor-B in diencephalon and brainstem related tissues of the Yak’s brain / 解剖学报

Objective To explore the expression and distribution characteristics of vascular endothelial growth factor-B(VEGF-B) in diencephalon and brainstem of Yak’s brain tissues, and to investigate the associations between its expression and hypoxia adaptation. Methods Five healthy yaks were selected, and the brain tissues were divided and collected according to the gross anatomical structure of the brain, including pituitary, thalamus, hypothalamus, oblongata and pons. The characteristics of expression and location of VEGF-B in different regions of Yak’s brain tissues were detected by Real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical techniques. Results The results showed that the highest expression level of VEGF-B mRNA of yak brain tissue was in the pituitary, and the content was significantly higher than that found in other parts of the brain(P<0. 05). Following the expressions were in the hypothalamus, thalamus and medulla oblongata, while the lowest expression level was in pons. The expression level of VEGF-B protein in Yak’s brain tissue was similar to the mRNA expression level except that the thalamus was higher than that of hypothalamus. The result of immunohistochemistry showed that VEGF-B protein-positive substances were mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of various types of cells. Among them, the positive staining of VEGF-B was mainly concentrated in eosinophils of pituitary. The positive staining of VEGF-B was mainly concentrated in pleomorphic cells of thalamus and hypothalamus. The distribution of VEGF-B protein-positive substances were mainly focused in nerve cell body of medulla oblongata and pons. Conclusion VEGF-B protein is expressed in both diencephalon and brainstem of yak, which may be closely related to its functions of anti-apoptosis, "survival factor" and angiogenesis. However, the specific mechanism of its neuroprotective effect on Yak brain under hypoxic environment needs to be further studied. The difference of expression in different regions may be related to the tissue specificity and function in different regions of the brain.

Impairment of superovulation on the establishment of pregnancy in mice / 解剖学报

Objective To explore whether superovulation impairs the process of pregnancy establishment in mice by changing the intrauterine environment. Methods The implantation and pregnancy of superovulated and normal mice were compared. The superovulated mice were subjected to unilateral tubal ligation on day 0. 5 and blastocysts were transplanted to the other uterine horn on day 2. 5. The number of implantation sites of bilateral uterine horn was compared. The differences between preimplantation uteri of superovulated and normal pseudopregnancy mice were compared by tissue sections and high-throughput sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis was performed on the differentially expressed genes in two groups. Results Compared with the control group, the pregnancy rate of mice in the superovulation group decreased significantly. The number of implantation sites in the superovulation group was higher than the control. There was no significant difference in the pregnancy rate of the uterine horn between the control side and the transplanted side of the superovulated mice. The endometrium was thinned and the number of glands was reduced in superovulated pseudopregnancy mice. The gene expression patterns of preimplantation uterus in superovulation pseudopregnancy and normal pseudopregnancy mice were different. There were 1097 significantly differentially expressed genes, including 752 up-regulated genes and 345 down-regulated genes. Bioinformatics analysis showed that differentially expressed genes are mainly involved in biological processes, such as decidualization, response to progesterone, positive regulation of angiogenesis. They were mainly enriched in FoxO signaling pathway, cell cycle pathway and steroid biosynthesis pathway. Conclusion Superovulation impaired the process of establishing pregnancy and altered the gene expression patterns of biomarker of uterine receptivity in mice.

Effects of treadmill exercise on learning and memory of the vascular dementia rats and its mechanism / 解剖学报

Objective To observe the effects of 4-week low intensity treadmill exercise on the learning and memory, amino acid levels and the protein expression of protein kinase A ( PKA) , cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein( CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the vascular dementia (VD) rats. Methods Thirty-nine SD rats were randomly allocated to 3 groups, sham group (sham, n= 13) , vascular dementia group (VD, n= 13) and vascular dementia treaded with exercise group (VD + EX, n= 13). Chronic cerebral ischemia model in VD group and VD+EX group rats were established by permanent ligation of bilateral, then VD+EX group rats were submitted to 4-week low intensity treadmill exercise. After exercise, spatial learning and memory ability were evaluated by Moms water maze test ( MWM ) , glutamic ( Glu ) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the PFC were measured by high performance liquid chromatography( HPLC) ; the protein expression of PKA, CREB and BDNF in the PFC of rats were detected by Western blotting. Results The result of the MWM showed the average escape latency of rats in the VD group on the 1 -5 days was significantly higer than sham group, the time to first find the original platform was significantly prolonged and the platform crossings decreased significantly ( P 0. 05 ) between the two groups. Conclusion Four-week low-intensity running exercise improves the learning and memory ability of VD rats through enhancing the Glu level and activating PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling in the PFC of rats.

Role of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in pulmonary fibrosis after rheumatoid arthritis in mice / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the role of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - associated postinterstitial pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Methods The mouse model of RA was constructed by subcutaneous administration of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and chicken II collagen (Col-II) to the tail root of mice. The blank group was given the same amount of distilled water, and the control group was given the same amount of glacial acetic acid (solvent). The degree of toe swelling (joint swelling degree and arthritis index) was monitored to evaluate the mouse modeling. The pathological changes of mouse lung tissues were observed by HE and Masson staining. The expression of TGF-β in lung tissues were observed by immunohistochemical staining. The level of hydroxyproline in lung tissues was measured by chemiluminescence method. The expressions of Smad2, Smad3 and phosphorylated p-Smad2 and phosphorylated p-Smad3 in lung tissues were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with blank group and solvent group, the joint swelling and arthritis index of model group significantly increased. Twenty-one days after administration, HE staining showed inflammatory changes in lung interstitium of the model group, Masson staining showed collagen fiber deposition and obvious fibrosis in lung interstitium of the model group, and immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of TGF-β in cytoplasm of lung interstitial cells of the model group increased, which was brown and yellow. Meanwhile, hydroxyproline was significantly raised in lung tissue homogenate of the model group. Further WB analysis showed that compared with blank group and solvent group, the expression of p-Smad2 and pSmad3 in lung tissues of the model group was significantly up-regulated (P < 0. 05, P < 0. 01). Conclusions RA can give rise to pulmonary fibrosis, and the expressions of p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 are up-regulated, which is be pivotal in pulmonary fibrosis and RA-related post-interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

Dichloroacetate and vitamin C synergistically suppress proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma U87 and U251 cells / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effects of dichloroacetate(DCA)combined with vitamin C(VC)on the malignant behavior of glioma U87 and U251 cells, and to explore the potential mechanism. Methods U87 and U251 cells were treated with different concentrations of DCA alone or in combination with 5 mmol·L-1 VC. The proliferation rate of each group was detected by CCK-8 method and the cooperative index was calculated. U87 and U251 cells were treated with DMSO, 15 mmol·L-1 DCA, 5 mmol·L-1 VC and their combination. The changes of clonal formation, reactive oxygen species content, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration and invasion were detected via in vitro experiments, while the proliferation of U251 cells in vivo in each group was detected by subcutaneous tumor-forming model. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels and degradation rates of BCL2A1 and CDC25A in each group of cells after network pharmacological analysis of DCA and VC targets and their value in glioma, and the expression levels of CDK4, CDK6, cytochrome C, caspase-7 and cleaved-caspase-7 were detected. Results The combined index of 15 mmol·L-1 DCA and 5 mmol·L-1 VC was the highest. Compared with the control and single drug groups, the clonal formation, migration and invasion ability of cells in combination group in vitro significantly decreased, the proliferation rate in vivo also decreased, and the content of reactive oxygen species, apoptosis rate and G1 phase arrest rate significantly increased. BCL2A1 and CDC25A proteins were important targets of DCA and VC in glioma. Compared with the control and single-drug groups, the expression levels of BCL2A1, CDC25A, CDK4, and CDK6 in the combination group were significantly reduced, and the expression levels of cytochrome C and cleaved-caspase-7 markedly increased, and the protein degradation rates of BCL2A1 and CDC25A significantly increased in the combination group. Conclusions VC can cooperate with DCA to promote the degradation of BCL2A1 and CDC25A, and inhibit the malignant behavior of glioma cells.

Effect of Gualou Xiebai Decoction on type II cardiorenal syndrome based on endothelial/epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and its mechanism / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the protective effects of different doses Gualou Xiebai Decoction (GXD) on type II cardiorenal syndrome (type II CRS) and explore its preliminary mechanisms. Methods The type II cardiorenal syndrome rat model was replicated by li-gating the left anterior descending coronary artery. After 10 weeks of intragastric administration, the cardiac function of the rats in each group was evaluated by echocardiography; serum were collected for biochemical testing; heart and kidney tissue samples were stained with HE and Masson to observe pathological changes. The hydroxyproline content in the heart and kidney was detected. The expression levels of endothelial/epitheli-al-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT/EMT) related proteins in heart and kidney tissues were detecterd by immunofluorescence double staining

The therapeutic effect of cimifugin on atopic dermatitis in mice and its mechanism / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effects of cimifugin on mouse atopic dermatitis (AD) induced by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and further explore the mechanism of its action. Methods ICR mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, positive group (dexamethasone),low dose group,high dose group and administration group of cimifugin. FITC solution was applied to the shaved abdomen of mice in the sensitization stage, and 0.6 % FITC solution was applied to attack the ears of mice in the stimulation stage. The administration groups were given medicine for seven consecutive days. The effects of cimifugin on body weight, thymus index and spleen index of mice were detected. Ear inflammatory cell infiltration was observed by HE staining. The ear swelling of mice was measured, and Th2 cytokines IL-5,IL-13 and the key promoter of allergy IL-33 were detected by ELISA. The epithelial barrier structural proteins, filaggrin, claudinl,occludin and E-cadherin,were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results Compared with the blank group, the model group showed significant AD symptoms. Compared with the model group, cimifugin transdermal administration group significantly reduced ear inflammatory cell infiltration,ear swelling, IL-5,IL-13 and IL-33, and significantly increased the expression of filaggrin and occludin. Conclusions Transdermal administration of cimifugin could significantly inhibit AD in mice, and its mechanism involves repairing epithelial barrier function, restoring filaggrin and occludin, inhibiting allergy promoting factor IL-33, and finally inhibiting AD inflammation.

Clinical study of modified Shirodkar transvaginal cervical cerclage during pregnancy in the treatment of cervical insufficiency / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of modified Shirodkar transvaginal cervical cerclage (TVCC) in the treatment of cervical insufficiency (CI) and its impact on maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: The clinical data of 218 pregnant women with CI admitted to Fu Xing Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 1, 2015 to August 31, 2021 was retrospectively analyzed. According to different surgical approaches, they were divided into modified Shirodkar TVCC treatment during pregnancy (TVCC group, 108 cases) and non-pregnant women underwent laparoscopic cervical cerclage (LACC) treatment (LACC group, 110 cases). The clinical data and pregnancy outcomes of the two groups were compared. Furthermore, the two groups of pregnant women were stratified according to cervical length (CL) to explore the effects of the two surgical methods on the pregnancy outcomes of CI women with different CL. Results: (1) Related indicators before and during cerclage: there were no complications such as massive hemorrhage, bladder injury and anesthesia accident in the two groups of pregnant women during cerclage. Compared with the LACC group, TVCC group had longer preoperative CL [(2.3±0.6) vs (2.7±0.6) cm], more intraoperative blood loss [(7.5±0.5) vs (14.4±1.4) ml] and longer hospital stay [(6.0±0.1) vs (7.3±0.4) day]. However, the operation time was shorter [(42.9±1.6) vs (25.9±1.4) minute] and the hospitalization cost was less [(9 912±120) vs (5 598±140) yuan], and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (2) Pregnancy outcomes: live birth rates were 95.4% (103/108) in the TVCC group and 96.4% (106/110) in the LACC group, showing no significant difference between the two groups (χ2=2.211, P=0.232). The preterm birth rate (12.0%, 13/108) in the TVCC group was higher than that in the LACC group (7.3%, 8/110), the neonatal birth weight was lower than that in the LACC group [(3 006±96) vs (3 225±42) g], and the proportion of low birth weight infants was higher than that in the LACC group [15.5% (16/103) vs 1.9% (2/106)], and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (3) Stratified analysis of CL: for pregnant women with CL<2.0 cm, the miscarriage rate of the TVCC group was higher than that of the LACC group (2/9 vs 3.0%), and the live birth rate was lower than that of the LACC group (7/9 vs 97.0%), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). For CL 2.0-<2.5 cm, 2.5-<3.0 cm, CL≥3.0 cm, there were no statistically significant differences in preterm birth rate and live birth rate between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Modified Shirodkar TVCC is simple and easy to operate, which significantly reduces the cesarean section rate and medical cost compared with LACC, and there is no significant difference in the live birth rate. When there is inevitable late abortion, laparoscopic cerclage removal does not need to be performed again, which could reduce the second operation and is worthy of clinical application.

Anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中西医结合学报

Numerous randomised controlled trials have suggested the positive effects of acupuncture on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture for COPD have not been clearly summarized yet. Inflammation is central to the development of COPD. In this review, we elucidate the effects and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture from an anti-inflammatory perspective based on animal studies. Cigarette smoke combined with lipopolysaccharide is often used to establish animal models of COPD. Electroacupuncture can be an effective intervention to improve inflammation in COPD, and Feishu (BL13) and Zusanli (ST36) can be used as basic acupoints in COPD animal models. Different acupuncture types can regulate different types of inflammatory cytokines; meanwhile, different acupuncture types and acupoint options have similar effects on modulating the level of inflammatory cytokines. In particular, acupuncture exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the release of inflammatory cells, inflammasomes and inflammatory cytokines. The main underlying mechanism through which acupuncture improves inflammation in COPD is the modulation of relevant signalling pathways: nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) (e.g., myeloid differentiation primary response 88/NF-κB, toll-like receptor-4/NF-κB, silent information regulator transcript-1/NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathways (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase), cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, and dopamine D2 receptor pathway. The current synthesis will be beneficial for further research on the effect of acupuncture on COPD inflammation. Please cite this article as: Jiang LH, Li PJ, Wang YQ, Jiang ML, Han XY, Bao YD, Deng XL, Wu WB, Liu XD. Anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(6): 518-527.

Blinding assessment in clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine: Exploratory principles and protocol / 中西医结合学报

As one of the key components of clinical trials, blinding, if successfully implemented, can help to mitigate the risks of implementation bias and measurement bias, consequently improving the validity and reliability of the trial results. However, successful blinding in clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is hard to achieve, and the evaluation of blinding success through blinding assessment lacks established guidelines. Taking into account the challenges associated with blinding in the TCM field, here we present a framework for assessing blinding. Further, this study proposes a blinding assessment protocol for TCM clinical trials, building upon the framework and the existing methods. An assessment report checklist and an approach for evaluating the assessment results are presented based on the proposed protocol. It is anticipated that these improvements to blinding assessment will generate greater awareness among researchers, facilitate the standardization of blinding, and augment the blinding effectiveness. The use of this blinding assessment may further advance the quality and precision of TCM clinical trials and improve the accuracy of the trial results. The blinding assessment protocol will undergo continued optimization and refinement, drawing upon expert consensus and experience derived from clinical trials. Please cite this article as: Wang XC, Liu XY, Shi KL, Meng QG, Yu YF, Wang SY, Wang J, Qu C, Lei C, Yu XP. Blinding assessment in clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine: Exploratory principles and protocol. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(6): 528-536.

Placebo response of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A meta-analysis / 中西医结合学报

BACKGROUND@#The placebo response of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea is a substantial factor associated with analgesia. However, the magnitude of the placebo response is unclear.@*OBJECTIVE@#This meta-analysis assessed the effects of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and the factors contributing to these effects.@*SEARCH STRATEGY@#PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from inception up to August 20, 2022.@*INCLUSION CRITERIA@#Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using sham acupuncture as a control for female patients of reproductive age with primary dysmenorrhea were included.@*DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS@#Pain intensity, retrospective symptom scale, and health-related quality of life were outcome measures used in these trials. Placebo response was defined as the change in the outcome of interest from baseline to endpoint. We used standardized mean difference (SMD) to estimate the effect size of the placebo response.@*RESULTS@#Thirteen RCTs were included. The pooled placebo response size for pain intensity was the largest (SMD = -0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.31 to -0.68), followed by the retrospective symptom scale (Total frequency rating score: SMD = -0.20; 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.39. Average severity score: SMD = -0.35; 95% CI, -0.90 to -0.20) and physical component of SF-36 (SMD = 0.27; 95% CI, -0.17 to 0.72). Studies using blunt-tip needles, single-center trials, studies with a low risk of bias, studies in which patients had a longer disease course, studies in which clinicians had < 5 years of experience, and trials conducted outside Asia were more likely to have a lower placebo response.@*CONCLUSION@#Strong placebo response and some relative factors were found in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022304215. Please cite this article as: Sun CY, Xiong ZY, Sun CY, Ma PH, Liu XY, Sun CY, Xin ZY, Liu BY, Liu CZ, Yan SY. Placebo response of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A meta-analysis. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 455-463.

Long noncoding RNA LOC646029 functions as a ceRNA to suppress ovarian cancer progression through the miR-627-3p/SPRED1 axis / 医学前沿

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial regulatory role in the development and progression of multiple cancers. However, the potential mechanism by which lncRNAs affect the recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer remains unclear. In the current study, the lncRNA LOC646029 was markedly downregulated in metastatic ovarian tumors compared with primary tumors. Gain- and loss-of-function assays demonstrated that LOC646029 inhibits the proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the downregulation of LOC646029 in metastatic ovarian tumors was strongly correlated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, LOC646029 served as a miR-627-3p sponge to promote the expression of Sprouty-related EVH1 domain-containing protein 1, which is necessary for suppressing tumor metastasis and inhibiting KRAS signaling. Collectively, our results demonstrated that LOC646029 is involved in the progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer, which may be a potential prognostic biomarker.