SymMap database and TMNP algorithm reveal Huanggui Tongqiao granules for Allergic rhinitis through IFN-mediated neuroimmuno-modulation.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a series of reactions to allergen mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) and is one of the most common allergic diseases that affects children. Traditional Chinese Medicine, due to its diverse regulatory functions, may offer new strategies for AR therapy. Huanggui Tongqiao Granules (HTG) is a Chinese formula consisting of twelve herbs and has long been prescribed for patients with AR. The aim of this study is to determine the possible targets and action mechanisms of HTG for the AR treatment. SymMap database and TMNP algorithm were employed to show that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), acting as a molecular link between immunity and neural circuits, is the involved key target. The enrichment of immune and virus-related signaling pathways indicated the neuroimmunomodulatory potential of HTG. Then, AR mouse model was established by ovalbumin (OVA) challenge and was used to verify the therapeutic effects of HTG in vivo. HTG significantly relieved AR symptoms and nasal mucosal inflammation, reduced OVA-specific IgE levels and balanced IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio. Moreover, transcriptional profile based on clinical data presented that blood cell-specific IFN-gamma co-expressed gene module (BIM) was underexpressed in AR patients, further validating the potential of IFN-gamma as target for AR. Collectively, these findings suggest that HTG could be a promising candidate drug for AR.

Constructing tongue coating recognition model using deep transfer learning to assist syndrome diagnosis and its potential in noninvasive ethnopharmacological evaluation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tongue coating has been used as an effective signature of health in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The level of greasy coating closely relates to the strength of dampness or pathogenic qi in TCM theory. Previous empirical studies and our systematic review have shown the relation between greasy coating and various diseases, including gastroenteropathy, coronary heart disease, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the objective and intelligent greasy coating and related diseases recognition methods are still lacking. The construction of the artificial intelligent tongue recognition models may provide important syndrome diagnosis and efficacy evaluation methods, and contribute to the understanding of ethnopharmacological mechanisms based on TCM theory. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to develop an artificial intelligent model for greasy tongue coating recognition and explore its application in COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Herein, we developed greasy tongue coating recognition networks (GreasyCoatNet) using convolutional neural network technique and a relatively large (N = 1486) set of tongue images from standard devices. Tests were performed using both cross-validation procedures and a new dataset (N = 50) captured by common cameras. Besides, the accuracy and time efficiency comparisons between the GreasyCoatNet and doctors were also conducted. Finally, the model was transferred to recognize the greasy coating level of COVID-19. RESULTS: The overall accuracy in 3-level greasy coating classification with cross-validation was 88.8% and accuracy on new dataset was 82.0%, indicating that GreasyCoatNet can obtain robust greasy coating estimates from diverse datasets. In addition, we conducted user study to confirm that our GreasyCoatNet outperforms TCM practitioners, yet only consuming roughly 1% of doctors' examination time. Critically, we demonstrated that GreasyCoatNet, along with transfer learning, can construct more proper classifier of COVID-19, compared to directly training classifier on patient versus control datasets. We, therefore, derived a disease-specific deep learning network by finetuning the generic GreasyCoatNet. CONCLUSIONS: Our framework may provide an important research paradigm for differentiating tongue characteristics, diagnosing TCM syndrome, tracking disease progression, and evaluating intervention efficacy, exhibiting its unique potential in clinical applications.

Artificial intelligence based identification of the functional role of hirudin in diabetic erectile dysfunction treatment.

Diabetic erectile dysfunction (DED) hugely affected the patients' sexual life quality. However, there are no satisfactory therapeutic methods and intervention targets for this subtype of erectile dysfunction (ED). Inspired by the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), we found that hirudin, the main active ingredient in the leech, could ameliorate the ED symptoms of the DED mouse model. To further reveal the underlying mechanism of hirudin, we designed a novel strategy to discover potential targets based on the diagnostic system of TCM, and found that myeloperoxidase (MPO) was a promising target of hirudin. Hirudin directly interacts with MPO and inhibits its activity, thus further decreases the content of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in serum. Our results demonstrated that the hirudin could ameliorate the symptoms of DED, and revealed the underlying mechanism of hirudin in regulating the activity of MPO.

[Clinical observation of "experienced ten acupoints" for functional dyspepsia of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical effect of acupuncture at "experienced ten acupoints" for functional dyspepsia (FD) of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency. METHODS: A total of 96 patients with FD of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 48 cases in each group. In the observation group, "experienced ten acupoint" prescription was applied，acupoints included Shangwan (CV 13), Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Qihai (CV 6), Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6). In the control group, irrelevant acupoint prescription was applied, acupoints included Feiyang (BL 58), Heding (EX-LE 2), Yingu (KI 10), Tianfu (LU 3), Xiabai (LU 4). The needles were retained for 30 min in both groups, 5 times a week for 2 weeks. Before and after treatment, the symptom score was compared in the two groups, and the clinical effect was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the symptom score after treatment was decreased in the observation group (P<0.05), and was lower than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 95.8% (46/48) in the observation group, which was higher than 33.3% (16/48) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at "experienced ten acupoints" can improve symptoms in patients with FD of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency, has the better clinical effect.

Perilla oil and exercise decrease expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and highly sensitive C-reactive protein in patients with hyperlipidemia.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the effects of perilla oil on the regulation of blood lipid levels in patients with hyperlipidemia. METHODS: Blood was taken from patients prior to and 8 weeks following treatment with perilla oil. Different ways to test for indexes which correlate to hyperlipidemia were performed. Some indexes, which correlate with inflammation and injury to endothelial cells, were tested using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: Serum lipid levels [triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C)] changed significantly after 56 days of treatment. Differences were noted as early as 28 days after treatment began (P < 0.05). Treatment with perilla oil showed statistically significant recovery levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) after 28 and 56 days of treatment. Plasma lipids levels were significantly lower after 56 days of treatment (P < 0.05). Perilla oil reduced blood lipid levels in patients, and the regulation of cell signaling factor levels had no adverse effects on patients' liver or kidney function, or blood routine examinations. CONCLUSION: Perilla oil treatment is safe in clinical use, can regulate blood lipid levels and protects the function of endothelial cells.

Aqueous-phase reforming of the low-boiling fraction of rice husk pyrolyzed bio-oil in the presence of platinum catalyst for hydrogen production.

Aqueous-phase reforming (APR) of the low-boiling fraction (LBF) of bio-oil from rice husk pyrolysis was investigated over Pt/Al(2)O(3) for hydrogen production. The influence of reaction temperature (503-563 K), reaction time (1-4h), different load of organics in water (3-12 wt.%) and catalyst amounts (0.25-1g) were studied. The hydrogen content of the gas products reached 65 vol.% at 533 K for 4h with a feedstock of 9.6g LBF and 30 mL water in the presence of 0.5 g of 2 wt.% Pt/Al(2)O(3). APR is a promising method to make use of the organics in LBF of bio-oil to produce hydrogen.

County-scale distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in topsoil of the Yellow River Delta Region.

The Yellow River Delta (YRD) is a typical agricultural and petrochemical industrial area in China. To assess the current status of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of soil residues, soil samples (0-15 cm) (n = 82) were collected in Bincheng District, at the geographic center of the YRD. Concentrations of 16 PAHs (∑PAHs) ranged from 181.1 to 2176.0 µg kg(-1), with an average concentration of 359.8 µg kg(-1), showing significant increase along a rural-urban gradient (p ≤ 0.05). The contribution of naphthalene and phenanthrene to ∑PAHs was 48.6-57.6 %, and the contribution of low molecular weight (two- and three-ring) PAHs was 56.3-66.4 % from urban to rural. The significant correlations between ∑PAHs and soil organic C and total N concentrations were observed (p ≤ 0.05), indicated soil organic C and total N can affect PAH distribution in the study area, especially for low molecular weight PAHs. Principal component and multiple linear regression analysis reveal that soil PAHs have different sources in different area. Various petroleum inputs (volatilization, vehicular and non-vehicle combustion) were the main sources of soil PAHs in the urban and suburban areas, and the main source was biomass burning in the rural. In general, most soil PAH contaminations in the study area were classified as weakly polluted. Even so, soil PAH contamination from petroleum, particularly near petrochemical production sites, deserves further attention, because lighter PAH compounds are more labile and can react with other pollutants to form more toxic derivates.

Jueming Prescription reduces body weight by increasing the mRNA expressions of beta3-adrenergic receptor and uncoupling protein-2 in adipose tissue of diet-induced obese rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antiobesity effect of Jueming Prescription (JMP), a Chinese herbal medicine formula, and its influence on mRNA expressions of beta3 adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) and uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) in adipose tissue of diet-induced obese rats. METHODS: Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n =8) that was on a standard chow diet, and the obese model group (n =42) that was on a diet of high fat chow. Two weeks after the high fat diet, 29 obese rats in the obese model group were further randomly divided into 3 groups: the untreated obese model group (n =9), the metformin group (n =10, metformin 300 mg kg⁻¹ day)⁻¹, and the JMP group (n =10, JMP 4 g kg⁻¹ day⁻¹). After 8-week treatment, body weight, wet weight of visceral fat, and percentage of body fat (PBF) were measured. The levels of fasting blood glucose, serum lipids, and insulin were assessed, and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) was calculated. The adipose tissue section was stained with hematoxylin-Eosin, and the cellular diameter and quantity of adipocytes were evaluated by light microscopy. The mRNA expressions of beta3-AR and UCP-2 from the peri-renal fat tissue were determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Compared with the obese model group, treatment with JMP resulted in significantly lower body weight, wet weight of visceral fat, PBF, and diameter of adipocytes, and significantly higher level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ISI (all P<0.01), JMP increased the mRNA expressions of beta3-AR and UCP-2 from perirenal fat tissue (P <0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: JMP could reduce body weight and adipocyte size; and the effect was associated with the up-regulation of beta3-AR and UCP-2 expressions in the adipose tissue and improvement of insulin sensitivity.

Effect of Equiguard in treating patients with Shen-yang deficiency syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Equiguard in old patients with Shen-yang deficiency syndrome (SYDS). METHODS: Twenty old patients with diagnosis matching the criteria of SYDS selected from out-patients were administered with Equiguard capsule 3 times per day, 0.70 g each time for 3 successive months. The changes in general condition, peripheral blood picture, function of the liver and kidney, and sex hormones before and after treatment were observed. The changes in the American Urinary Surgery Association (AUA) score of prostatism, urosis and residue urine in the urinary bladder were also estimated. RESULTS: After the 3-month treatment, no significant change was found in the patients' general condition, peripheral blood picture, liver and kidney function and sex hormones, while the symptoms of prostatism and urosis were markedly improved (P<0.01), and the volume of residue urine in the urinary bladder was obviously reduced. CONCLUSION: Equiguard shows a significant therapeutic effect in treating old patients with SYDS, which could effectively improve the symptoms of prostatism and urosis in patients and is highly safe.

[Effects of inactivated rabbit serum containing compound realgar and natural indigo tablet on cell line NB4].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of inactivated rabbit serum containing compound realgar and natural indigo tablet (CRNIT) on cell line NB(4). METHODS: The experimental rabbits were taken as the provider of the animal serum, and the serum was inactivated before the experiment. The serum was divided into two groups based on whether the rabbits were given CRNIT. The concentration of arsenic in the rabbit's serum was detected by AFS-230a double path atom fluorescence photometer. The inhibition rates and apoptosis rates were regarded as the observational indexes. RESULTS: The concentration of arsenic in the inactivated rabbit serum containing and not containing the drug were (0.010 0+/-0.001 0) mg/L and (0.110 0+/-0.006 4) mg/L respectively, and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.01). The two groups of serum all had inhibitory effect on the growth of NB(4) cells depending on the drug concentration and effect time. And there were significant differences among the groups. The two groups of serum all induced the apoptosis of NB(4) with positive relations with the concentration and effect time. And there were significant differences among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The rabbit serum containing CRNIT can obviously restrain the growth of NB(4) cells and the inhibitory effect depends on the concentration and effect time. And the rabbit serum containing CRNIT can also induce the apoptosis of NB(4) cell line and the apoptosis rates depend on the concentration and effect time.