ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effects of Lianggesan on serum citrulline and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) levels in patients with mechanical ventilation and acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI). Methods Eighty patients with mechanical ventilation and AGI admitted to Tianjin First Center Hospital from May to December 2017 were divided into a conventional treatment group and a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment group according to different treatment methods, 40 cases in each group; 10 patients with mechanical ventilation but without AGI were selected as a control group. All patients were given invasive mechanical ventilation after admission, and the gastrointestinal tract intervention was carried out according to AGI grading treatment process; Lianggesan (compositions:forsythia suspensa 30 g, scutellaria 10 g, gardenia 10 g, bamboo leaf 10 g, rhubarb 10 g, mint 6 g, mirabilite 6 g, licorice 15 g) was added to the TCM treatment group on the basis of the conventional treatment. The above TCM drug used was a single Chinese medicine granule produced by Jiangyin Tianjiang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Each single Chinese herbal granule was proportionally poured into 200 mL boiling water at 80-100 ℃, 100 mL each time, twice daily nasal feeding for one week. The changes of serum citrulline and IFABP levels were observed before and 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after treatment in the three groups. Results Before treatment, serum citrulline levels in the conventional treatment group and the TCM treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (μmol/L: 19.84±4.74, 20.84±4.65 vs. 28.89±2.18, both P < 0.05), and IFABP levels were significantly higher than those in the control group (ng/L:571.89±42.89, 552.49±44.78 vs. 155.68±22.95, both P < 0.05), there were no significant differences between the conventional treatment group and the TCM treatment group (P > 0.05); with the extension of treatment time, the levels of citrulline in the conventional and TCM treatment groups were decreased first and then increased gradually, reaching the valley value on the first day of treatment [the two groups were (16.12±4.44), (18.49±4.59) μmol/L] respectively, and then increased gradually, reaching the peak value on the 7th day of treatment, the increased range of citrulline in the TCM treatment group was more obvious than that in the conventional treatment group (μmol/L: 26.77±4.18 vs. 22.75±3.07, P < 0.05), and the treatment lasted for 5 days, and 7 days, the level of citrulline in the TCM treatment group was close to that in the control group; the IFABP levels in the conventional treatment group and the TCM treatment group were increased first and then decreased gradually, reaching the peak value on the first day of treatment [the two groups were (654.23±63.24), (630.32±49.11) ng/L] respectively, and then decreased gradually, reaching the trough value on the 7th day of treatment, the degree of decrease in the TCM treatment group was more obvious than that in the conventional treatment group (ng/L: 262.21±30.89 vs. 375.43±44.43, P < 0.05), but the level of IFABP in the TCM treatment group was still significantly higher than that in the control group (ng/L: 262.21±30.89 vs. 158.95±29.34, P < 0.05). Conclusion Lianggesan can elevate the serum citrulline level, reduce the serum IFABP level, and effectively improve the intestinal function of patients with mechanical ventilation and AGI.
ABSTRACT
Mosquitoes act as key vector for transmission of devastating parasites and pathogens which affect millions of people globally. In this research, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles of Cassia fistula fruit pulp as an innovative and operative tool against vector mosquitoes is presented. Silver nanoparticles were characterized by a series of techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscope and confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and X-ray diffraction. Silver nanoparticles were highly effective against the larvae (I-IV instar) and pupae of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens pallens after 24, 48 and 72 h of treatment. Ae. albopictus had LC50 values ranging from 8.3 mg/L (I instar) to 17.3 mg/L (pupae) and LC50 ranging from 1.1 mg/L (I instar) to 19.0 mg/L (pupae) against Cx. pipiens pallens. The systemic effect of AgNPs was further assessed in the fourth instar larvae of Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens pallens by measuring the levels of total proteins and activity of two important marker enzymes: Acetylcholinesterase and α- and ß-carboxylesterase. Overall, the findings of the study suggest that the use of Cassia fistula-fruit pulp extract mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles can be used for controlling vector mosquitoes. This is the first report on the mosquito larvicidal and pupicidal activity of AgNPs synthesized by Cassia fistula fruit pulp and its possible mechanism of action.