New Iridoids and Acyclic Monoterpenoids from the Roots and Rhizomes of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia.

Five new iridoids, valeralides A-E (1-5), two new acyclic monoterpenoids, valeralides F (6) and G (7), together with two known iridoids (8 and 9), were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia. Their structures were elucidated based on 1D and 2D NMR, as well as HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of compounds 1-4 were elucidated based on electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. In addition, all the isolates were evaluated for their inhibition on nitric oxide production, cytotoxicity and anti-influenza A virus activity.

Palmitoylation of PKCδ by ZDHHC5 in hypothalamic microglia presents as a therapeutic target for fatty liver disease.

The hypothalamus plays a fundamental role in controlling lipid metabolism through neuroendocrine signals. However, there are currently no available drug targets in the hypothalamus that can effectively improve human lipid metabolism. In this study, we found that the antimalarial drug artemether (ART) significantly improved lipid metabolism by specifically inhibiting microglial activation in the hypothalamus of high-fat diet-induced mice. Mechanically, ART protects the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) neurons surrounding microglial cells from inflammatory damage and promotes the release of TRH into the peripheral circulation. As a result, TRH stimulates the synthesis of thyroid hormone (TH), leading to a significant improvement in hepatic lipid disorders. Subsequently, we employed a biotin-labeled ART chemical probe to identify the direct cellular target in microglial cells as protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ). Importantly, ART directly targeted PKCδ to inhibit its palmitoylation modification by blocking the binding of zinc finger DHHC-type palmitoyltransferase 5 (ZDHHC5), which resulted in the inhibition of downstream neuroinflammation signaling. In vivo, hypothalamic microglia-specific PKCδ knockdown markedly impaired ART-dependent neuroendocrine regulation and lipid metabolism improvement in mice. Furthermore, single-cell transcriptomics analysis in human brain tissues revealed that the level of PKCδ in microglia positively correlated with individuals who had hyperlipemia, thereby highlighting a clinical translational value. Collectively, these data suggest that the palmitoylation of microglial PKCδ in the hypothalamus plays a role in modulating peripheral lipid metabolism through hypothalamus-liver communication, and provides a promising therapeutic target for fatty liver diseases.

Comparative Study of the Impact of Metformin Versus Insulin on Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Women Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This systematic comparative analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of metformin (MET) versus insulin (INS) in the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), providing valuable insights for future GDM management strategies. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of clinical studies related to MET and INS interventions in GDM through online literature databases, applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of the included studies was rigorously evaluated. Data on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), pregnancy weight gain (PWG), premature delivery rate (PDR), and neonatal outcomes among GDM patients were extracted and analyzed using Review Manager 5.3 software. Results: We identified eleven high-quality studies comprising 8679 participants following careful screening and assessment. Our meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in the incidence of excessive PWG and neonatal hypoglycemia in the MET treatment group (research group) compared to the INS treatment group (control group) (P < .05). Conclusions: Our findings support the effectiveness and safety of MET in achieving optimal blood glucose control in GDM. These results suggest the potential for broader clinical adoption of MET in GDM management.

Iridoids and other constituents from the leaves and stems of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia.

Fifty-nine compounds, including nineteen previously undescribed iridoids (valeriananols A-S) and an undescribed alkaloid (5'-isovaleryl uridine), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia. Their structures were elucidated based on Mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. The absolute configuration of valeriananols A-C, E-N, P, Q and S was determined by experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism. Structurally, valeriananols A and B were two 1,3-seco-iridoids with a 3,6-epoxy moiety, valeriananols K and L were a pair of C-4 epimers, while valeriananol S was a 4'-deoxy iridoid glycoside. In addition, valeriananol P, stenopterin A and patriscabioin C exhibited significant inhibition on nitric oxide production with IC50 values of 10.31, 3.93 and 8.69 µM, respectively. Furthermore, stenopterin A and patriscabioin C showed anti-proliferation activity on the MCF-7 cell line with IC50 values of 17.28 and 13.89 µM, respectively.

Protective effect of Tibetan medicine Qiwei Tiexie pills on liver injury induced by acetaminophen overdose: An integrated strategy of network pharmacology, metabolomics and transcriptomics.

BACKGROUND: Drug-induced liver injury, particularly from acetaminophen (APAP), has emerged as a significant public health concern. Unfortunately, there is currently no effective treatment strategy available. Qiwei Tiexie pills (QWTX), a traditional Tibetan medicine, have demonstrated considerable clinical efficacy in treating various liver diseases. Nevertheless, the protective effect of QWTX against drug-induced liver injury and its underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the therapeutic potential of QWTX, a Tibetan medicine, in an animal model of APAP-induced liver injury. Additionally, we sought to investigate the molecular mechanism through which QWTX exerts its effects. METHODS: We employed LC-MS and network pharmacology to predict the potential targets of QWTX in drug-induced liver injury. Subsequently, we employed HE staining, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and qRT-PCR to analyze the mechanism underlying QWTX treatment in drug-induced liver injury. RESULTS: Network pharmacology analysis revealed that the active components of QWTX are involved in inflammatory and drug metabolism-related pathways. In mouse models, pretreatment with QWTX effectively mitigated the elevated levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and inflammatory factors (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) induced by APAP overdose. Moreover, APAP inhibited 1459 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 874 differential accumulation metabolites (DAMs), while QWTX promoted their expression. Conversely, APAP promoted 874 genes and 119 metabolites, which were inhibited by QWTX. Further analysis demonstrated that QWTX ameliorated the metabolic disorders induced by APAP overdose and potentially exerted a protective effect by inhibiting the expression of critical genes in crucial inflammatory pathways. QWTX also up-regulated antioxidant enzymes, thereby mitigating the oxidative stress resulting from APAP overdose. CONCLUSION: QWTX treatment effectively protects against APAP-induced liver damage in mice. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses further revealed that QWTX ameliorated hepatic metabolic disorders induced by APAP overdose while significantly suppressing the inflammatory response and oxidative stress associated with drug-induced liver injury. This study provides a new insight into the treatment of drug-induced liver injury by the TCM system and provides a basis for the development of new therapies for drug-induced liver injury by QWTX and its active ingredients.

Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on intestinal flora in the rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome based on 16S rDNA technique. / 基于16S rDNAæŠ€æœ¯æŽ¢è®¨é’ˆç¸å¯¹è ¹æ³»åž‹è‚ æ˜“æ¿€ç»¼åˆå¾æ¨¡åž‹å¤§é¼ è‚ é“èŒç¾¤çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on intestinal flora in the rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) based on 16S rDNA technique. METHODS: Ten rats were randomized from 58 SPF-grade male SD rats to be the blank group. The remained 48 rats were prepared to be IBS-D models by the modified method of acetic acid enema combined with binding tail-clip stress. Forty successfully-modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group, an acupuncture group, a moxibustion group and a western medication group, with 10 rats in each one. In the acupuncture group, the needle was inserted at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and remained for 15 min in each rat. In the moxibustion group, the suspending moxibustion was delivered at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 15 min. The rats in the western medication group were given pinaverium bromide suspension (10 mL/kg) by intragastric administration. The above interventions were performed once daily for consecutive 14 days. The body mass and the score of fecal trait were compared before and after modeling, as well as after intervention in each group. Fecal water content, diarrhea index and colon transit time (CTT) were measured after modeling and intervention in the rats of each group separately. After intervention, the colonic morphology of rats in each group was observed, and using 16S rDNA technique, the intestinal flora was detected. RESULTS: After modeling, compared with the blank group, the body mass and CTT were reduced (P<0.01); fecal trait scores, fecal water contents and diarrhea index increased (P<0.01) in the other 4 groups. After intervention, the body mass and CTT of the rats decreased (P<0.01), and fecal trait score, fecal water content and diarrhea index increased (P<0.01) in the model group compared with those in the blank group. In the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group, when compared with the model group, the body mass and CTT were elevated (P<0.01), while fecal trait scores, fecal water contents and diarrhea index declined (P<0.01). Compared with the western medication group, fecal water content decreased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05), while CTT increased in the acupuncture group (P<0.01), the body mass increased and fecal trait score was dropped in the moxibustion group (P<0.05). The colonic mucosa structure was clear and complete, and there was no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration in the blank group. The mild interstitial edema of intestinal mucosa was presented with the infiltration of few inflammatory cells in the model group. There was the infiltration of few inflammatory cells in the mucosa of the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group. Compared with the blank group, the indexes of Richness, Chao1, ACE and Shannon decreased in the model group (P<0.05). Indexes of Richness, Chao1 and ACE increased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05), and the Richness index in the western medication group increased (P<0.05) when compared with those in the model group. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Prevotella increased (P<0.05), and that of Firmicutes and Muribaculaceae decreased (P<0.05) in the model group compared with those in the blank group. When compared with the model group, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Prevotella was reduced (P<0.05), while that of Firmicutes and Muribaculaceae increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group; and that of Actinobacteria and Bifidobacterium increased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the relative abundance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis was elevated (P<0.05), and that of folate biosynthesis, lipoic acid metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinone biosynthesis decreased (P<0.05) in the model group. The relative abundance of LPS biosynthesis was dropped (P<0.05), and that of folate biosynthesis, lipoic acid metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinone biosynthesis increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group compared with those of the model group. CONCLUSIONS: Either acupuncture or moxibustion can relieve the symptoms of IBS-D and protect intestinal mucosa, which may be associated with regulating the structure of intestinal flora and promoting nutrient metabolism and biosynthesis.

Association of serum vitamin D levels on Helicobacter pylori infection: a retrospective study with real-world data.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether serum vitamin D levels are associated with H. pylori infection and whether low serum vitamin D levels are an independent risk factor for H. pylori infection. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a multicenter cohort study from 2017 to 2019. A total of 415 H. pylori+ patients and 257 H. pylori- patients aged between 18 and 75 years with both 13 C-urea breath test and serum vitamin D level results were included from four hospitals. A questionnaire was used to collect information on potential factors influencing H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the H. pylori+ group than in the H. pylori- group (16.7 ± 6.6 ng/ml vs. 19.2 ± 8.0 ng/ml, p < 0.05). Using a cutoff value of 20 ng/ml, the H. pylori infection rate was significantly higher in the vitamin D-deficient group (< 20 ng/ml) than in the vitamin D-nondeficiency group (≥ 20 ng/ml) (66.5% vs. 51.0%, p < 0.001). Ordered logistic regression analysis showed that serum vitamin D levels < 20 ng/ml (OR: 1.652, 95% CI: 1.160-2.351, p = 0.005), higher education levels (OR: 1.774, 95% CI: 1.483-2.119, p < 0.001), family size ≥ 4 (OR: 1.516, 95% CI: 1.081-2.123, p = 0.016), and lower annual income (OR: 1.508, 95% CI: 1.289-1.766, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for H. pylori infection. CONCLUSION: Lower serum vitamin D levels may be associated with an increased risk of H. pylori infection, and lower serum vitamin D levels are an independent risk factor for increasing H. pylori infection rates. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether supplementation with vitamin D can reduce H. pylori infection rates.

Early risk assessment and prediction model for osteoporosis based on traditional Chinese medicine syndromes.

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors of osteoporosis and establish a risk prediction model based on routine clinical information and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes. Methods: Adults aged 30-82 who lived in 12 grass-roots communities or rural towns in Shanghai, Jilin Province, and Jiangsu Province from December 2019 to January 2022 through a multi-stage sampling method were included in this study. The risk factors and risk prediction of osteoporosis in women and men were explored and established by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression model. ROC curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test were used to evaluate the prediction model. Results: A total of 3000 subjects including 2243 females (75 %) and 757 males (25 %) were included in this study. The logistic prediction model of osteoporosis in women was Logit (P) = -2.946 + 0.960 (age ≥50 years old) + 0.633 (BMI ≥24 kg/m2) - 0.545 (daily exposure to sunlight >30 min) + 0.519 (no intake of dairy products) + 0.827 (coronary heart disease) + 0.383 (lumbar disc herniation) + 0.654 (no intake of calcium tablets and vitamin D) - 0.509 (insomnia) + 0.580 (flushed face and congested eyes) + 1.194 (thready and rapid pulse) + 1.309 (sunken and slow pulse). The logistic prediction model of osteoporosis in men was Logit (P) = -1.152-0.644 (daily exposure to sunlight >30 min) + 0.975 (no intake of calcium tablets and vitamin D) - 0.488 (insomnia). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of female and male osteoporosis prediction models was 0.743 and 0.679, respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was >0.5. Conclusions: There are some significant differences in risk factors between female and male patients with osteoporosis. The risk of osteoporosis are found to be associated with TCM syndromes, and osteoporosis risk prediction models based on routine clinical information and TCM syndrome is effective.

ITRAQ-based proteomics analysis of human ectopic endometrial stromal cells treated by Maqian essential oil.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a common and complex syndrome characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Chinese medicine has been recently found to show good efficacy in treating endometriosis. Our previous results revealed that Maqian fruit essential oil (MQEO) could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs), but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aim to explore the molecular mechanism of MQEO's specific effects in EESCs. METHODS: We conducted a quantitative proteomics analysis by iTRAQ on EESCs treated with MQEO or DMSO. Then deep analysis was performed based on differentially expressed proteins, including Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, pathway enrichment analysis and protein interaction analysis. Candidate protein targets were subsequently verified by western blotting. RESULTS: Among 6575 identified proteins, 435 proteins exhibited altered expression levels in MQEO-treated EESCs. Of these proteins, most were distributed in signal transduction as well as immune system and the most significantly altered pathway was complement and coagulation cascades. Moreover, two differentially expressed proteins (Heme oxygenase 1 and Acyl-CoA 6-desaturase) were verified and they can be potential biomarkers for endometriosis treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our proteomic analysis revealed distinct protein expression patterns induced by MQEO treatment in EESCs, highlighting the potential of MQEO for endometriosis treatment and biomarker discovery.

Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Lupus nephritis: Mechanisms and Applications.

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN), caused by Systemic lupus erythematosus, is a chronic autoimmune renal disease and a key risk factor for morbidity and fatality involving 50% damage to the kidney. LN is associated with aberrant functioning of the immune system, characterized by increased systemic inflammation, altered lymphocyte count, perivascular infiltration of inflammatory cells, and declined organ functioning. Current Therapies and Limitations: Conventional therapies to LN include high-dose glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, calcineurin inhibitors, immune boosters, and targeted medicines that improve kidney functioning. However, these drugs triggered severe adverse side effects, and their prolonged usage resulted in drug resistance, accentuating LN complications. TCM in LN Treatment: Hence, safe and functional Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM), with supporting clinical trials and observational studies, received significant recognition worldwide for the Treatment of LN. In the form of herbal extracts and preparations, TCM proved effective in treating immunodeficient disorders, including LN. Additionally, acupuncture as a TCM appeared promising in reducing LN-induced inflammation and joint pain. Mechanisms and Benefits: The therapeutic mechanisms included reduced antibody generation, pro-inflammatory cytokine release, immune complex formation, complement activation, extracellular matrix damage and proteinuria levels that played vital roles in chronic kidney diseases. They generated immunosuppressive effects by modulating apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory signaling pathways, such as JAK/STAT, NF-κB, AP-1 and MAPK and their cross-talk in LN and associated renal injury. These therapies improved blood circulation, alleviated renal pathological changes, restored glomerular capillary functioning, and regenerated renal tissues. However, an essential requisite for these therapies for LN included reduced side effects and improved hepatoprotection and detoxification. Clinical studies suggest that TCM formulations may demonstrate therapeutic benefits in alleviating the symptoms of LN, suggesting prospects of combined applications with Western medicine to enhance treatment efficiencies. Overall, TCM is beneficial for treating LN, and may serve as a potential alternative to conventional medicines.

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine nursing intervention in postoperative patients after gastrectomy.

Gastrectomy is a technically demanding procedure for gastric cancer patients that is associated with different degrees of postoperative complications (POCs). Perioperative traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) nursing intervention presents benefits for improving the survival of patients with gastric cancer. However, the effects of TCM nursing intervention on POCs and the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer following surgery are far from clear. In the present study, the effects of TCM nursing intervention on POCs, postoperative physical capacity, metal status, long-term survival and recurrence were investigated in patients with gastric cancer after gastrectomy. In total, 1,032 patients with gastric cancer were included in the study. The patients underwent a gastrectomy and were randomly divided into two groups: The TCM nursing intervention group (TCM group; n=520) and the routine nursing intervention group (control group; n=512). Postoperative pain score, hospital stay, POCs, postoperative gastrointestinal function, frequency of postoperative symptoms, inflammatory index, quality of life, physical capacity, mental status, survival and recurrence were compared after gastrectomy in the TCM and control groups. The treatment-related adverse events of TCM in patients after gastrectomy were recorded in the TCM nursing intervention group. The outcomes showed that TCM nursing intervention decreased the postoperative pain score and hospital stay, improved gastrointestinal function, and decreased the POCs and the inflammation index compared with the control group. In addition, TCM nursing intervention improved physical capacity, quality of life, depression, anxiety, immune activity, long-term survival and recurrence in patients with gastric cancer after gastrectomy. Furthermore, TCM nursing intervention was only associated with a low number of adverse events. In conclusion, outcomes in this study indicate that perioperative TCM nursing intervention improves POCs, mental status, long-term survival and reduces the recurrence of patients with gastric cancer, suggesting that TCM nursing intervention is efficacious and safe with regard to improving the prognosis in these patients after gastrectomy (Retrospective clinical trial registration number, 2015001CW1; name of the register, The First Hospital of Harbin; date of registration, May 7, 2015).

Effects of online-offline integrated death education on patients with advanced cancer: A before-and-after study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the constructed OOIDE intervention in patients with advanced cancer. METHOD: In this study, patients were invited to participate in a 4-week OOIDE intervention. The assessment of patients' ability to cope with death was conducted using a scale in conjunction with interviews. Additionally, patients' 'readiness to die' was assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with advanced cancer participated in this study. Our intervention significantly enhanced their perspective on life and spirituality, while also reducing their fear of death (P < 0.01). Furthermore, it facilitated their acceptance of death, encouraged a more rational approach to their illness, and fostered an understanding of hospice care, thereby reinforcing their sense of self-worth. Additionally, the intervention improved the relationship between the patient and their families, fostering greater mutual understanding and respect for the patient's perspectives. Comparing the results to the pre-intervention period, there was a significant increase in the number of patients who discussed death with their families and contemplated the place of their passing (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: OOIDE improves participants' ability to confront death, while also assisting patients' families in the physical and psychological preparations for the loss of their relative.

Betaine prevents cognitive dysfunction by suppressing hippocampal microglial activation in chronic social isolated male mice.

Chronic social isolation (SI) stress, which became more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributes to abnormal behavior, including mood changes and cognitive impairment. Known as a functional nutrient, betaine has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in vivo. However, whether betaine can alleviate the abnormal behavior induced by chronic SI in mice remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of betaine in the treatment of behavioral changes and its underlying mechanism. Three-week-old male mice were randomly housed for 8 weeks in either group housing (GH) or SI. The animals were divided into normal saline-treated GH, normal saline-treated SI, and betaine-treated SI groups in the sixth week. The cognitive and depression-like behavior was determined in the eighth week. We found that long-term betaine administration improved cognitive behavior in SI mice but failed to prevent depression-like behavior. Moreover, long-term betaine administration inhibited hippocampal microglia over-activation and polarized microglia toward the M2 phenotype, which effectively inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors in SI mice. Finally, the protective effect of betaine treatment in SI mice might not be due to altered activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Collectively, our findings reveal that betaine can improve SI-induced cognitive impairment, thus providing an alternative natural source for the prevention of memory loss caused by SI or loneliness.

[Therapeutic effect and mechanism of non-polysaccharide fraction of Bletillae Rhizoma in treatment of gastric ulcer based on network pharmacology and animal experiment].

The present study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of non-polysaccharide fraction of Bletillae Rhizoma in the treatment of gastric ulcer by network pharmacology and animal experiments. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was employed to chara-cterize the chemical components of non-polysaccharide fraction of Bletillae Rhizoma, and the common targets of Bletillae Rhizoma and gastric ulcer were screened out by network pharmacology. The "drug-component-target-disease" network was constructed. Protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was established by STRING. Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed based on Matescape database to predict the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Bletillae Rhizoma. Finally, the gastric ulcer model was induced in mice by alcohol to verify the therapeutic effect and mechanism of non-polysaccharide fraction of Bletillae Rhizoma on gastric ulcer. Forty-seven chemical components were identified from non-polysaccharide fraction of Bletillae Rhizoma, among which gymnoside Ⅰ, gymnoside Ⅱ, militarine, bletilloside A, and shancigusin I might be the main active components of non-polysaccharide fraction of Bletillae Rhizoma against gastric ulcer. PPI network analysis revealed core targets such as albumin(ALB), serine/threonine kinase 1(AKT1), tumor necrosis factor(TNF), and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR). The KEGG enrichment analysis showed that non-polysaccharide fraction of Bletillae Rhizoma mainly exerted the therapeutic effect by regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT) signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway, and Ras signaling pathway. The results of animal experiments showed that non-polysaccharide fraction of Bletillae Rhizoma could significantly improve alcohol-induced ulceration in mice to increase ulcer inhibition rate, decrease the levels of TNF-α, interleukin(IL)-1ß, IL-6, vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP), and thromboxane B2(TXB2), elevated the le-vels of IL-10, prostaglandin E2(PGE2), epidermal growth factor(EGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), down-re-gulate the protein levels of PI3K and AKT, and up-regulate the protein levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT. This study indicates that Bletillae Rhizoma may play a role in the treatment of gastric ulcer through multiple components, targets, and pathways and verifies partial prediction results of network pharmacology. The findings of this study provide a scientific and experimental basis for clinical application.

A fast multi-residue analysis of twenty-four classes of pesticide in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and their migration into processed products.

Sesame is widely used as a nutritional supplement or condiment because of its nutritious properties and palatable flavor. However, the extensive use of pesticides in sesame fields has paradoxically decreased the nutritional vantage. The current study used QuEChERS with a low-temperature freezing method to develop a multi-residue analytical approach to detect target analytes (pesticides) in sesame seed, sesame oil, sesame paste, and sesame meal. The migration ability of target pesticides during oil processing was investigated using HPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS: 35% of pesticides decreased, with processing factors (PFs) lower than 0.98, whereas 65% migrated from the seed to the oil during processing. The migration success of methoxyfenozide was the highest, while clothianidin and pymetrozine demonstrated a significantly lower rate of transfer. The results provide insight into the types of pesticides that should be used in farming practices of sesame to decrease the impact on human health.

Effects of body mass index on IVF outcomes in different age groups.

BACKGROUND: Herein, we aimed to analyse the effects of body mass index (BMI) on the treatment outcomes of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in a cohort of women undergoing their first IVF cycle. METHODS: A total of 2311 cycles from 986 women undergoing their first IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle with fresh/frozen embryo transfer between January 2018 and December 2021 at the Center of Reproductive Medicine, Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, were considered in this retrospective cohort study. First, the included patients were classified into four groups based on their BMI: underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, 78 patients), normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 24 kg/m2, 721patients), overweight (24 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2, 147 patients), and obese (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2, 40 patients). The IVF outcomes included the Gn medication days; Gn dosage; number of retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes, fertilized oocytes, cleavages, and available embryos and high-quality embryos; implantation rate; clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate. Next, all the obtained data were segregated into three different subgroups according to the patient age: < 30 years, 30-38 years and > 38 years; the IVF pregnancy outcomes were compared among the groups. RESULTS: Compared with the other three groups, the underweight group had a higher number of fertilized oocytes, cleavage and available embryos and a smaller Gn medication days and required a lower Gn dosage. There was no difference in the number of retrieved oocytes and mature oocytes among the groups. Moreover, compared with the women aged 30-38 years in the overweight group, those in the normal weight group had a significantly higher implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (p = 0.013 OR 1.75, p = 0.033 OR 1.735, p = 0.020 OR 1.252 respectively). The clinical pregnancy rate was also significantly higher in those aged 30-38 years in the normal weight group than in the obese group (p = 0.036 OR 4.236). CONCLUSIONS: Although the BMI can greatly affect the pregnancy outcomes of women aged 30-38 years, it has almost no effects on the outcomes of younger or older women.

Cytokine Storm in Acute Viral Respiratory Injury: Role of Qing-Fei-Pai-Du Decoction in Inhibiting the Infiltration of Neutrophils and Macrophages through TAK1/IKK/NF-[Formula: see text]B Pathway.

COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges to global public health since its outbreak. The Qing-Fei-Pai-Du decoction (QFPDD), a Chinese herbal formula, is widely used in China to treat COVID-19. It exerts an impressive therapeutic effect by inhibiting the progression from mild to critical disease in the clinic. However, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses elicit similar pathological processes. Their severe manifestations, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ failure (MOF), and viral sepsis, are correlated with the cytokine storm. During flu infection, QFPDD reduced the lung indexes and downregulated the expressions of MCP-1, TNF-[Formula: see text], IL-6, and IL-1[Formula: see text] in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lungs, or serum samples. The infiltration of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes in lungs was decreased dramatically, and lung injury was ameliorated in QFPDD-treated flu mice. In addition, QFPDD also inhibited the polarization of M1 macrophages and downregulated the expressions of IL-6, TNF-[Formula: see text], MIP-2, MCP-1, and IP-10, while also upregulating the IL-10 expression. The phosphorylated TAK1, IKK[Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text], and I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text] and the subsequent translocation of phosphorylated p65 into the nuclei were decreased by QFPDD. These findings indicated that QFPDD reduces the intensity of the cytokine storm by inhibiting the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway during severe viral infections, thereby providing theoretical and experimental support for its clinical application in respiratory viral infections.

Combined Application of Tank-mix Adjuvants, Mist Sprayer and Nano-selenium Promoted Pesticide Reduction and Enhanced Strawberry Quality.

In this paper, several technologies suitable for strawberry crops, such as armyworm boards, tank-mix adjuvants, mist sprayers combined with pesticide reduction, and biostimulant nano-selenium, were comprehensively applied and evaluated. The combined use of 60% etoxazole and bifenazate, bucket mixing additives, nano-selenium, and mist sprayers achieved an 86% prevention effect on red spiders. The prevention effect of pesticides according to the recommended dosage was 91%. Similarly, the disease index of strawberry powdery mildew in the green control group (60% carbendazim, bucket mixing additives, nano-selenium, and mist sprayer) decreased from 33.16 to 11.11, with a decrease of 22.05. The disease index of the control group decreased from 29.69 to 8.06, with a decrease of 21.63. Additionally, the combination of pesticide reduction and nano-selenium significantly improved the antioxidant activity and soluble sugar level of strawberry fruit and reduced water loss during storage. Therefore, the integrated application of green control technologies is beneficial for reducing the amount of chemical pesticides and improving their effectiveness, while enhancing the quality of strawberry fruits in disease and pest control.

Establishment and application of characteristic degradation fingerprint for the quality control of Compound Banlangen Granules polysaccharides.

Compound Chinese medicine preparation is a complex multi-component system. The traditional methods such as physicochemical identification and quantification of several main index components cannot provide adequate quality evaluation for Compound Banlangen Granules. The objective of this work was to establish a characteristic degradation fingerprint of Compound Banlangen Granules polysaccharides, and the reference fingerprint was obtained from the model samples prepared using prescription medicinal herbs from different origins. The partial degradation products of Compound Banlangen Granules polysaccharides were profiled by capillary zone electrophoresis, and the quality difference of polysaccharides of these preparations was compared by cluster analysis and principal component analysis. It was found that the contents and the characteristic degradation fingerprints of the polysaccharides from 25 batches of Compound Banlangen Granules of 17 manufacturers were significantly different. The quality of Compound Banlangen Granules polysaccharides was evaluated by the characteristic degradation fingerprint tool with satisfactory results. The present method provides a reference for the quality control strategy development of polysaccharides in other compound Chinese medicine preparations.