Modulating the RFamide-related peptide-3/G protein-coupled receptor 147 signaling pathway with nourishing Yin-removing fire herbal mixture to alleviate precocious puberty in female rats: An experimental study.

Background: Precocious puberty (PP) involves early activation of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) generator. The RFamide-related peptide/G protein-coupled receptor 147 (RFRP3/GPR147) signaling pathway is vital in inhibiting GnRH and delaying puberty onset. The nourishing Yin-removing fire (NYRF) herbal mixture has shown promising results in treating PP. Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of the NYRF herbal mixture on the RFRP3/GPR147 signaling pathway in the hypothalamus and its potential in alleviating PP in female rats. Materials and Methods: In a controlled experiment, 24 female Sprague-Dawley rats (11.20 ± 0.69 gr, postnatal day [PD5]) were divided into normal, model, normal saline, and NYRF groups (n = 6/each). PP was induced in the model, normal saline, and NYRF groups by subcutaneous injection of danazol at PD5. The NYRF herbal mixture or normal saline was administered from PD15. Serum sex hormone levels and hypothalamic samples were collected for mRNA and protein expression at PD30. Results: In the model group, hypothalamic GnRH and kisspeptin levels increased, while RFRP3 and GPR147 levels decreased, luteinizing hormone levels elevated, reproductive organ coefficients increased, and the vagina opened earlier compared to the normal group. Conversely, the NYRF group exhibited lower GnRH and kisspeptin levels but higher RFRP3 levels in the hypothalamus. Serum luteinizing hormone levels were reduced, reproductive organ coefficients were reduced, and the vaginal opening was delayed compared to the model and normal saline groups. Conclusion: The NYRF herbal mixture delayed sexual development in rats with PP by hypothalamic upregulating RFRP3 and downregulating GnRH and kisspeptin.

Effectiveness Differences of Ranibizumab and Aflibercept Action in the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Objective: To compare the difference in the effectiveness of ranibizumab (LU) and aflibercept (AF) in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: Ninety-four patients with DR admitted to Sunshine Union Hospital from August 2020 to February 2022 were selected for the study and were divided into LU group (n = 47) and AF group (n = 47) according to the random number table method. Both groups underwent 25G vitrectomy in our hospital, with LU injected into the vitreous before surgery in the LU group and AF in the AF group. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in the pre-and post-injection atrial water were compared between the two groups, and the operative time, intraoperative bleeding, and the occurrence of medically induced fissures were recorded in both groups. In addition, the expression of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Central Macular Thickness (CMT), and inflammatory factors were compared before and after surgery. Finally, patients were counted for adverse reactions and prognosis of DR recurrence during treatment. Results: After injection, VEGF decreased and PEDF increased in both groups (P < .001). There were no differences in operative time (P = .604), intraoperative bleeding rate (P = .694), the incidence of medically induced fissure (P = .557), BCVA [P = .665 (T0), P > .999 (T1), P = .727 (T2)], and CMT [P = .688 (T0), P = .065 (T1), P = .148 (T2)] between the two groups, while IL-6, IL-8, and MMP-9 were lower in the AF group than in the LU group at 2 months after surgery (P < .001). Finally, there was no difference between both groups in terms of adverse effects and prognosis of DR recurrence rate (P = 1.000, .478). Conclusion: Both vitreous cavity injections of LU and AF can effectively reduce the expression of vascular-related factors in the atrial fluid of DR patients, but AF has a more significant inhibitory effect on the level of inflammatory factors in patients in the short term after treatment.

Low phosphorus promotes NSP1-NSP2 heterodimerization to enhance strigolactone biosynthesis and regulate shoot and root architecture in rice.

Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant development and metabolism, and plants have evolved ingenious mechanisms to overcome phosphate (Pi) starvation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of shoot and root architecture by low phosphorus conditions and the coordinated utilization of Pi and nitrogen remain largely unclear. Here, we show that Nodulation Signaling Pathway 1 (NSP1) and NSP2 regulate rice tiller number by promoting the biosynthesis of strigolactones (SLs), a class of phytohormones with fundamental effects on plant architecture and environmental responses. We found that NSP1 and NSP2 are induced by Oryza sativa PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE2 (OsPHR2) in response to low-Pi stress and form a complex to directly bind the promoters of SL biosynthesis genes, thus markedly increasing SL biosynthesis in rice. Interestingly, the NSP1/2-SL signaling module represses the expression of CROWN ROOTLESS 1 (CRL1), a newly identified early SL-responsive gene in roots, to restrain lateral root density under Pi deficiency. We also demonstrated that GR244DO treatment under normal conditions inhibits the expression of OsNRTs and OsAMTs to suppress nitrogen absorption but enhances the expression of OsPTs to promote Pi absorption, thus facilitating the balance between nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in rice. Importantly, we found that NSP1p:NSP1 and NSP2p:NSP2 transgenic plants show improved agronomic traits and grain yield under low- and medium-phosphorus conditions. Taken together, these results revealed a novel regulatory mechanism of SL biosynthesis and signaling in response to Pi starvation, providing genetic resources for improving plant architecture and nutrient-use efficiency in low-Pi environments.

Erratum to "Effect of Nephropathy Prescription I on the Expression of Angptl3 and Podocyte-Associated Protein in Mice with Adriamycin-Induced Nephropathy".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/9921679.].

Single-molecule real-time sequencing of the full-length transcriptome of purple garlic (Allium sativum L. cv. Leduzipi) and identification of serine O-acetyltransferase family proteins involved in cysteine biosynthesis.

BACKGROUND: Garlic (Allium sativum L.), whose bioactive components are mainly organosulfur compounds (OSCs), is a herbaceous perennial widely consumed as a green vegetable and a condiment. Yet, the metabolic enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of OSCs are not identified in garlic. RESULTS: Here, a full-length transcriptome of purple garlic was generated via PacBio and Illumina sequencing, to characterize the garlic transcriptome and identify key proteins mediating the biosynthesis of OSCs. Overall, 22.56 Gb of clean data were generated, resulting in 454 698 circular consensus sequence (CCS) reads, of which 83.4% (379 206) were identified as being full-length non-chimeric reads - their further transcript clustering facilitated identification of 36 571 high-quality consensus reads. Once corrected, their genome-wide mapping revealed that 6140 reads were novel isoforms of known genes, and 2186 reads were novel isoforms from novel genes. We detected 1677 alternative splicing events, finding 2902 genes possessing either two or more poly(A) sites. Given the importance of serine O-acetyltransferase (SERAT) in cysteine biosynthesis, we investigated the five SERAT homologs in garlic. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a three-tier classification of SERAT proteins, each featuring a serine acetyltransferase domain (N-terminal) and one or two hexapeptide transferase motifs. Template-based modeling showed that garlic SERATs shared a common homo-trimeric structure with homologs from bacteria and other plants. The residues responsible for substrate recognition and catalysis were highly conserved, implying a similar reaction mechanism. In profiling the five SERAT genes' transcript levels, their expression pattern varied significantly among different tissues. CONCLUSION: This study's findings deepen our knowledge of SERAT proteins, and provide timely genetic resources that could advance future exploration into garlic's genetic improvement and breeding. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of Nephropathy Prescription I on the Expression of Angptl3 and Podocyte-Associated Protein in Mice with Adriamycin-Induced Nephropathy.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Nephropathy Prescription I on the expression of angptl3, nephrin, and podocin, in addition to its protective effects on podocytes in mice with adriamycin-induced nephropathy. Methods: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control (C), adriamycin (Model or M), adriamycin + Nephropathy Prescription I (M + Z), adriamycin + prednisone acetate (M + S), and adriamycin + Nephropathy Prescription I + prednisone acetate groups (M + Z + S). All mice except those in the C group in the experimental groups were treated with a single tail vein injection of adriamycin. The urine albumin-creatinine ratio was measured before model establishment and on the 7th day, 14th day, 21st day, and 28th day of doxorubicin injection. All the mice were sacrificed on the 29th day. Blood samples were collected to observe biochemical indicators in the serum. The morphological structure and podocyte ultrastructure in the kidney were observed using light and electron microscopy, respectively. The expression of angptl3, nephrin, and podocin at the mRNA and protein levels was detected by real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. Results: Following modeling with adriamycin, albuminuria was observed in urine samples in the first week, and the urinary protein/creatinine ratio increased maximally in the fourth week in the M group (P < 0.05). In contrast, the urinary protein/creatinine ratio significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the third week in the (M + Z) group compared to that in the M group. Similarly, this ratio decreased in the (M + S) and (M + Z + S) groups compared to that in the M group throughout the experiment. Compared with the C group, serum albumin content and the expression of nephrin and podocin decreased (P < 0.05), whereas blood lipid level and the expression of angptl3 increased (P < 0.05) in the M group. Glomerular foot process fusion was observed in this group using electron microscopy. In all the intervention groups, serum albumin content and the expression of nephrin and podocin increased (P < 0.05), whereas blood lipid level and the expression of angptl3 decreased (P < 0.05), with alleviated glomerular foot process injury observed particularly in the (M + Z + S) group. Conclusion: The Nephropathy Prescription I can alleviate albuminuria, increase serum albumin levels, lower blood lipid levels, and reduce the fusion of foot processes of podocytes in mice with adriamycin-induced nephropathy. The protective effects of the Nephropathy Prescription I may function by reducing Angptl3 expression and increasing nephrin and podocin expression.

Bioassay-Guided Isolation of Broad-Spectrum Fungicidal Active Compound from Artemisia ordosica.

To avoid the widespread resistance of commercial fungicides, new broad-spectrum botanical fungicides need to be developed. In previous bioactive screening assays, extracts of Artemisia ordosica Krasch. (A. ordosica) had highly antifungal activities, but the responsible phytochemicals were unidentified. In this study, active compounds of A. ordosica extracts were identified using a bioassay-guided method, and antifungal assays were performed in vitro and in vivo. The bioactive compounds were dissolved in petroleum ether, and the best antifungal fraction contained four compounds: trans-dehydromatricaria ester (TDDE), 7, 4-demetylnringenin, capillarin, and stearic acid. Among them, TDDE exhibited the highest antifungal activity against six pathogenic fungi and five bacteria. It exhibited significant fungicidal activity against Thanatephorus cucumeris and Botrytis cinerea with EC50 values of 0.464 µg/mL and 1.4 µg/mL, respectively. The living tissue bioassay results showed that the relative protection effects (RPE) of TDDE on tomato leaves, tomato fruit, and strawberry leaves infected with B. cinerea reached 76.78%, 86.2%, and 80.89%, respectively. In pot experiments, the RPE on tomato and strawberry plants infected with B. cinerea reached 84.11% and 96.37%, respectively. Morphological and physiological examination showed that TDDE had significant inhibitory effects on mycelial growth, including increased top offshoot, contorted hyphal tips, and extravasated cytochylema. Meanwhile, bactericidal activities of TDDE were significantly higher than kanamycin and streptomycin in five bacteria, and the plant tissue experiments further demonstrated that it had an 88.31% RPE on walnut leaves infected with Xanthomonas campestris pv. jugiandis, 72.18% RPE on potato infected with Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, and 82.50% RPE on kiwifruit branches infected with Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae. The active compounds isolated from A. ordosica in this study show great potential value for developing broad-spectrum fungicides, and also provide an important way to identify and isolate new bioactive products from medicinal plants.

Fermented ginseng attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses by activating the TLR4/MAPK signaling pathway and remediating gut barrier.

Generally, ginsenosides have the physiological effect of an anti-inflammatory immunity. After fermentation, the types of ginsenosides in ginseng change, and their physiological activity becomes a concern. L. plantarum KP-4 screened from Korean kimchi were used to ferment ginseng, and the changes of ginsenosides were observed. C57BL/6N mice were treated using fermented ginseng (390 mg kg-1 day-1), which was mixed with normal food, and an inflammatory mice model was established by the intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (2.5 mg per kg body weight) four weeks later. The liver index, pathological index, biochemical index, and inflammatory signaling pathway were determined. The results demonstrated that L. plantarum KP-4 fermentation increased the content of minor ginsenosides in ginseng and decreased the content of major ginsenosides. Fermented ginseng significantly reduced LPS-induced increases in ALT, AST, and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß in mice. Supplementation with fermented ginseng significantly ameliorated LPS-induced overexpression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), caspase3, phosphorylation p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), and phosphorylation extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) compared with the control group. Moreover, fermented ginseng significantly increased the expression of claudin 1, the intestinal tight junction protein, caused by LPS. In conclusion, fermented ginseng alleviates LPS-induced inflammation through the TLR4/MAPK signaling pathway and increased intestinal barrier function in mice.

Application of Accelerated Rehabilitation Surgery in Gastrointestinal Surgery.

Adding timely rehabilitation surgery is an optimized perioperative measure that can reduce physical stress, reduce surgical risks, and postoperative complications and promote the recovery of organ function. Therefore, it is of great value to study its application in gastrointestinal surgery (GS). To this end, this article applies retrospective analysis and statistical methods to conduct targeted investigations and studies on GS patients. The results of the survey showed that 26.7% of patients were effective in ARS and 40% were effective in treatment. Compared with traditional treatment methods, its effective treatment rate is 13.4% higher.

PdIrBP mesoporous nanospheres combined with superconductive carbon black for the electrochemical determination and collection of circulating tumor cells.

An integrated electrochemical immunoassay is described for the determination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). For the first time, Ketjen black (KB), which is a superconductive carbon material, was incorporated with Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) and used to modify the surface of gold electrodes. A cocktail of anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EpCAM) and anti-vimentin antibodies was chosen to capture the CTCs. Palladium-iridium-boron-phosphorus alloy-modified mesoporous nanospheres (PdIrBPMNS) served as a catalytic tag to amplify the current signal. Glycine-HCl (Gly-HCl) was used as an antibody eluent to release and collect the captured CTCs from the electrodes for further clinical research without compromising cell viability. The response of the method increased linearly from 10 to 1 × 106 cells mL-1 CTCs, while the detection limit was calculated to be as low as 2 cells mL-1. This method was successfully used to determine CTCs in spiked blood samples and demonstrated good recovery. Graphical abstractKetjen black/AuNPs was incorporated in the electrochemical platform to enhance the electron transfer ability of the electrode surface. PdIrBP mesoporous nanospheres were used to amplify DPV signal in this assay. The introduction of Gly-HCl realized nondestructive recovery of circulating tumor cells.

Neonatal exposure to bisphenol A advances pubertal development in female rats.

Neonatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is hypothesized to advance pubertal development. However, the effects of neonatal BPA exposure on pubertal development has not been described. In this study, female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0.05, 0.5, 5, or 10 mg·kg-1 ·day-1 BPA, or corn oil vehicle alone from postnatal day 1 (PND1) to PND10 via subcutaneous injection. We evaluated day of vaginal opening (DVO), ovarian morphology, serum hormone concentrations, and hypothalamic expression of Gnrh1 and Kiss1 in female rats at PND35. DVO was significantly advanced in rats exposed to 5 and 10 mg·kg-1 ·day-1 BPA. Serum hormone concentrations increased as BPA dose increased. Additionally, hypothalamic Gnrh1 and Kiss1 expression were increased with BPA exposure; rats exposed to 10 mg·kg-1 ·day-1 BPA had significantly upregulated hypothalamic Gnrh1 and Kiss1 expressions in terms of both messenger RNA and protein levels. Our results suggest that exposure to a 10 mg·kg-1 ·day-1 dose of BPA might advance pubertal development significantly. In addition, within the range of 0 to 10 mg·kg-1 ·day-1 , neonatal exposure to BPA may affect pubertal development in a dose-dependent manner.

Anatomy and microscopic characteristics of Picris japonica

ABSTRACT Picris japonica Thunb., Asteraceae, is an herbal medicine used to dispel heat, reduce swelling and alleviate pain in traditional Mongolian medicine. Its dried whole plant is mainly used to treat flu and mammary abscesses. Given the potential applications of such an herb, detailed pharmacognostic research on P. japonica is needed. This study attempted to fill this need by producing permanent and semi-permanent slides of different organs (root, stem, leaf, pollen grain, fruit and powder of the whole plant) using safranine staining, safranine-fast green double staining and common methods. Furthermore, several featured microscopic structures of P. japonica are described herein. The results obtained provide us with valuable information for botanical quality control and species identification and enable us to detect adulterations in commercial samples of Picris or in laboratory samples.

Effect of traditional Chinese medicine Bupleurum in the treatment of influenza A (H1N1).

The treatment of influenza A (H1N1) is mainly antiviral treatment, symptomatic treatment or traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Previous studies showed that the extract of Bupleurum has the functions of anti-inflammatory, antiviral, regulating the immune system and so on, which can be used to treat influenza. In this paper, we analyze the drug effect of bupleurum compound medicine, at the same time, using oseltamivir as control group. The results showed that the Chinese medicine chima qingwen decoction had certain antiviral effects. No adverse reactions occurred during the treatment period, and the overall effective rate was 93.3%. It shows that combination therapy of Chinese and Western medicine is feasible for mild cases of influenza A (H1N1). Therefore, the research and development of Chinese medicine preparations has positive research significance and sufficient market potential.

The Evaluation of Proanthocyanidins/Chitosan/Lecithin Microspheres as Sustained Drug Delivery System.

Proanthocyanidin (PC) has attracted wide attention on cosmetics and pharmaceutical due to its antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiangiogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, PC applications are limited because of its sensitivity to thermal treatment, light, and oxidation and the poor absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, a novel dosage form of PC needs to be designed to improve its stability and bioavailability for drug delivery. The objective of this study is to fabricate proanthocyanidins/chitosan/lecithin (PC/CTS/LEC) microspheres and investigate various characteristics. In the current study, PC/CTS/LEC microspheres were prepared by spray-drying technology. The yield (61.68%), encapsulation efficiency (68.19%), and drug loading capacity (17.05%) were found in the results. The scanning electron microscope demonstrated that the microspheres were spherical in shape with wrinkled surfaces. DSC study displayed that the microspheres stability was greatly improved when comparing with bare PC. The in vitro release study showed that the 76.92% of PC was released from microspheres within 48 h. The moisture contents of microspheres ranged from 8% to 13%. The swelling rate and tapped density of microspheres were elevated with increasing the concentration of chitosan in the formulations. The moisture uptake of microspheres was saturated at 40°C/RH75% within 12 h. Our results indicated that the stability of PC/CTS/LEC microspheres was enhanced, and it is a promising carrier for sustained drug delivery system.

Precise Detection of Wrist Pulse Using Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometry.

Pulse diagnosis is one of the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine. However it suffers from the lack of objective and efficient detection method. We propose a noncontact optical method to detect human wrist pulse, aiming at the precise determination of the temporal and spatial distributions of pulse. The method uses the spatial-carrier digital speckle pattern interferometry (DSPI) to measure the micro/nanoscale skin displacement dynamically. Significant improvements in DSPI measurement have been made to allow the DSPI to detect the comprehensive information of the arterial pulsation at locations of Cun, Guan, and Chi. The experimental results prove that the spatiotemporal distributions of pulse can be obtained by the proposed method. The obtained data can be further used to describe most of the pulse parameters such as rate, rhythm, depth, length, width, and contour.

Effectiveness of ZiYin Xiehuo granules and Zishen Qinggan granules on partial precocious puberty in girls: a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of ZiYin Xiehuo granules (ZYXH) and Zishen Qinggan granules (ZSQG) on partial precocious puberty (PPP). METHODS: This was a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, positive-controlled trial. A total of 143 patients were assigned to either the ZYXH group or the ZSQG group using a random number table. The ZYXH group received ZYXH three times daily for 6 months and the ZSQG group received ZSQG three times daily for 6 months. Mammary nucleus diameter; the results of uterus, ovarian, and maximum follicle measures; and Chinese medicine symptom pattern scores were compared at baseline and after 3 months and 6 months of treatment. RESULTS: After 3 months' treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups in mammary nucleus index changes (left 3.4 ± 3.1 vs 3.5 ± 3.1, P = 0.790; right 3.0 ± 2.9 vs 3.6 ± 3.0, P = 0.719). The uterine volume in the ZYXH group was smaller than that in the ZSQG group (2.1 ± 1.6 vs 2.6 ± 2.2, P = 0.006). There were no significant between-group differences in ovarian volume and maximum follicular diameter on either side (ovarian volume: left 1.2 ± 0.7 vs 1.3 ± 0.6, P = 0.8; right 1.2 ± 0.7 vs 1.4 ± 1.1, P = 0.984; maximum follicular diameter: left 3.9 ± 1.7 vs 3.5 ± 2.2, P = 0.158; right 3.5 ± 1.7 vs 3.9 ± 2.1, P = 0.314). CONCLUSION: ZYXH granules and ZSQG granules both affected the size of the mammary nucleus in girls with PPP, and improved Chinese medicine symptom patterns. ZYXH granules showed slight advantages over ZSQG granules in terms of the decrease in the size of the uterus, ovaries, and ovarian follicles.

Intracerebroventricular injection of RFRP-3 delays puberty onset and stimulates growth hormone secretion in female rats.

BACKGROUND: Puberty onset is a complex, organized biological process with multilevel regulation, and its physiopathological mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. RFRP-3, the mammalian ortholog to gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone, is implicated in inhibiting the synthesis and release of gonadotropin in mammals. However, it is unclear whether RFRP-3 participates in regulating pubertal development. METHODS: This study investigated the functional significance and regulatory mechanism of hypothalamic RFRP-3 neuropeptide in the onset of puberty in young female rats. On postnatal day 22, we implanted cannulas into the lateral ventricles of female rat pups. From postnatal day 28 to postnatal day 36, the intracerebroventricular injection of RFRP-3, or vehicle, was conducted twice a day. To investigate whether puberty onset was affected, we examined the body weight, age of vaginal opening, serum hormone levels, uterus and ovary development, and hypothalamic Kiss-1 mRNA expression. RESULTS: Intracerebroventricular injection of RFRP-3 significantly decreased the serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone and estradiol, delayed uterine maturation, and postponed the time of vaginal opening. This study suggests that RFRP-3 can delay the onset of puberty in young female rats; the expression of Kiss-1 mRNA is potently inhibited in the RFRP-3 group. Moreover, our data show that RFRP-3 elevates serum growth hormone levels. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that intracerebroventricular injection of RFRP-3 significantly delays the onset of puberty in female rats. Additionally, RFRP-3 may be associated with prepubertal rise in the secretion of growth hormone.

Prescriptions from Traditional Chinese Medicine compared with salbutamol and montelukast for the treatment of pediatric asthma: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of a series of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) empirical prescriptions with salbutamol and montelukast (SM) in children with asthma. METHODS: A total of 182 children with asthma were randomized into the TCM group (n = 97) or SM group (n = 85). Patients in the TCM group were treated with a series of TCM prescriptions, whereas those in the SM group received salbutamol and montelukast; both groups received their respective treatment for 12 weeks. Asthma control, changes in scores of TCM symptom patterns, and asthma symptom control (SC) scores after treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A higher percentage of patients in the TCM group had asthma control compared with those in the SM group (91.67% and 76.83%, respectively, P = 0.006). Scores for abnormal feces (P < 0.001), hyperhidrosis (P < 0.001), and tongue appearance (P = 0.001) in the TCM group were significantly better than those in the SM group. However, the total scores of TCM symptom patterns and SC scores did not differ significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with salbutamol and montelukast, the TCM prescriptions tested were better for symptom control in children with asthma.

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Inflammatory Mediators in Pediatric Asthma.

Objective. To observe the effects of empirical prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on inflammatory mediators in pediatric asthma and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism in the treatment of asthma. Methods. A total of 182 children with asthma were randomly placed into either the TCM group (n = 97) or the salbutamol and montelukast (SM) group (n = 85). Patients in the TCM group were treated with a series of empirical prescriptions of TCM, while those in the SM group received salbutamol and montelukast. Both groups received their respective treatment for 12 weeks. There were 35 patients in TCM group and 34 patients in SM group providing venous blood. Real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of interleukin- (IL-) 10, IL-17, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and after treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of IL-10, IL-17, MMP-9, and TGF-ß1 in peripheral blood before and after treatment. Results. The mRNA expression of TGF-ß1 in the SM group was downregulated (P = 0.00) after treatment. No significant differences were found between the TCM group and the SM group after treatment (P > 0.05). In the TCM group, the levels of IL-10, IL-17, and MMP-9 significantly decreased after treatment (P = 0.01, 0.04, and 0.03, resp.). In the SM group, IL-17, MMP-9, and TGF-ß1 levels significantly decreased after treatment (P = 0.00, 0.03, and 0.00, resp.). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the levels of IL-10, IL-17, TGF-ß1, and MMP-9 (P > 0.05). The difference of the level of IL-17 was negatively correlated with the change of C-ACT score in TCM group and SM group. Conclusion. TCM has a regulatory effect on the balance of some inflammatory mediators in pediatric asthma.

[Further Exploration on the Essence of Yin Deficiency Caused Fire Hyperactivity Syndrome in Precocious Puberty Children Patients].

In this paper 200 girls with precocious puberty or advanced puberty were clinically sur- veyed, and the literatures of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating precocious puberty in previ- ous 33 years were retrospectively analyzed. By conjecturing syndromes from symptoms and identifying syndrome types from efficacies of TCM drugs, authors proved that Gan yin deficiency syndrome occupies the same important position as Shen yin deficiency syndrome, or even more important position in syn- drome based treatment of precocious puberty children patients with yin deficiency caused fire hyperactivity syndrome. Therefore, Gan yin deficiency syndrome cannot be neglected in treating precocious puberty pa- tients. Authors further suggested that yin deficiency caused fire hyperactivity syndrome in precocious pu- berty should be exactly described as Gan-Shen yin deficiency caused fire hyperactivity syndrome.