Eighteen iridoids from the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana jatamansi and their protective effects against α-hemolysin.

Thirteen previously undescribed iridoids (1-13), together with five known iridoids (14-18) were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana jatamansi Jones. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by analysis of MS, NMR, optical rotation and their experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. All of the isolated compounds were tested for their protective effects against α-hemolysin-induced cell death in A549 cells. Compounds 14, 16 and 17 showed moderate protective effects, and compounds 15 and 18 showed weak protective effects.

Atomically precise photothermal nanomachines.

Interfacing molecular machines to inorganic nanoparticles can, in principle, lead to hybrid nanomachines with extended functions. Here we demonstrate a ligand engineering approach to develop atomically precise hybrid nanomachines by interfacing gold nanoclusters with tetraphenylethylene molecular rotors. When gold nanoclusters are irradiated with near-infrared light, the rotation of surface-decorated tetraphenylethylene moieties actively dissipates the absorbed energy to sustain the photothermal nanomachine with an intact structure and steady efficiency. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy reveal that the photogenerated hot electrons are rapidly cooled down within picoseconds via electron-phonon coupling in the nanomachine. We find that the nanomachine remains structurally and functionally intact in mammalian cells and in vivo. A single dose of near-infrared irradiation can effectively ablate tumours without recurrence in tumour-bearing mice, which shows promise in the development of nanomachine-based theranostics.

Fish oil omega-3 Fatty Acids Alleviate Postoperative delirium-like Behavior in aged mice by Attenuating Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common and serious neuropsychiatric syndrome among older patients, and lacks effective therapies. Omega-3 fatty acids, possessing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, have shown potent neuroprotective effects in several diseases. The present study investigated whether omega-3 fatty acids could exert a neuroprotective role against POD in aged mice. A mouse model of POD was established to explore the role of omega-3 fatty acids in laparotomy-induced delirium-like behavior by evaluating systemic inflammatory changes, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and behavior at different time points in aged mice. Oral gavage with omega-3 fatty acids (300 mg/kg) for 3 weeks before surgery significantly attenuated anesthesia/surgery-induced POD-like behavior and the accumulation of proinflammatory cytokines from the peripheral blood in aged mice. Moreover, it also remarkably mitigated neuroinflammation and the oxidative stress response (malondialdehyde [MDA] and superoxide dismutase [SOD]) in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of surgical mice. Our findings provided evidence that pretreatment with omega-3 fatty acids may play a vital role in the treatment of POD through mechanisms involving its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which may be a promising prevention strategy for POD in aged patients.

Efficacy and safety comparison of infrared laser moxibustion and traditional moxibustion in knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a Zelen-design randomized controlled non-inferiority clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most common chronic degenerative joint disease and places a substantial burden on the public health resources in China. The purpose of this study is to preliminarily evaluate whether infrared laser moxibustion (ILM) is non-inferior to traditional moxibustion (TM) in the treatment of KOA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the designed Zelen-design randomized controlled non-inferiority clinical trial, a total of 74 patients with KOA will be randomly allocated to one of two interventions: ILM treatment or TM treatment. All participants will receive a 6-week treatment and a follow-up 4 weeks after treatment. The primary outcomes will be the mean change in pain scores on the numeric rating scale (NRS) measured at baseline and the end of last treatment at week 6. The secondary outcomes will be the pain scores on the NRS from weeks 1 to 5 after the start of treatment and the changes from baseline to endpoints (weeks 6 and 10) in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), SF-36, knee circumference, and 6-min walking test. In addition, safety assessment will be performed throughout the trial. CONCLUSION: The results of our study will help determine whether a 6-week treatment with ILM is non-inferior to TM in patients with KOA, therefore providing evidence to verify if ILM can become a safer alternative for TM in clinical applications in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial Registration Platform (ChiCTR2200065264); Pre-results. Registered on 1 November 2022.

Characteristics of Salvia miltiorrhiza methylome and the regulatory mechanism of DNA methylation in tanshinone biosynthesis.

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a model medicinal plant with significant economic and medicinal value. Its roots produce a group of diterpenoid lipophilic bioactive components, termed tanshinones. Biosynthesis and regulation of tanshinones has attracted widespread interest. However, the methylome of S. miltiorrhiza has not been analysed and the regulatory mechanism of DNA methylation in tanshinone production is largely unknown. Here we report single-base resolution DNA methylomes from roots and leaves. Comparative analysis revealed differential methylation patterns for CG, CHG, and CHH contexts and the association between DNA methylation and the expression of genes and small RNAs. Lowly methylated genes always had higher expression levels and 24-nucleotide sRNAs could be key players in the RdDM pathway in S. miltiorrhiza. DNA methylation variation analysis showed that CHH methylation contributed mostly to the difference. Go enrichment analysis showed that diterpenoid biosynthetic process was significantly enriched for genes with downstream overlapping with hypoCHHDMR in July_root when comparing with those in March_root. Tanshinone biosynthesis-related enzyme genes, such as DXS2, CMK, IDI1, HMGR2, DXR, MDS, CYP76AH1, 2OGD25, and CYP71D373, were less CHH methylated in gene promoters or downstream regions in roots collected in July than those collected in March. Consistently, gene expression was up-regulated in S. miltiorrhiza roots collected in July compared with March and the treatment of DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine significantly promoted tanshinone production. It suggests that DNA methylation plays a significant regulatory role in tanshinone biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza through changing the levels of CHH methylation in promoters or downstreams of key enzyme genes.

Manual Therapy for a Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain Rat Model.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a highly prevalent condition worldwide and a major cause of disability. The majority of patients with CLBP are diagnosed with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) due to an unknown pathological cause. Manual therapy (MT) is an integral aspect of traditional Chinese medicine and is recognized as Tuina in China. It involves techniques like bone-setting and muscle relaxation manipulation. Despite its clinical efficacy in treating CNLBP, the underlying mechanisms of MT remain unclear. In animal experiments aimed at investigating these mechanisms, one of the main challenges is achieving normative MT on CNLBP model rats. Improving the stability of finger strength is a key issue in MT. To address this technical limitation, a standardized procedure for MT on CNLBP model rats is presented in this study. This procedure significantly enhances the stability of MT with the hands and alleviates common problems associated with immobilizing rats during MT. The findings of this study are of reference value for future experimental investigations of MT.

Diet high in linoleic acid dysregulates the intestinal endocannabinoid system and increases susceptibility to colitis in Mice.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial disease with increasing incidence in the U.S. suggesting that environmental factors, including diet, are involved. It has been suggested that excessive consumption of linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 omega-6), which must be obtained from the diet, may promote the development of IBD in humans. To demonstrate a causal link between LA and IBD, we show that a high fat diet (HFD) based on soybean oil (SO), which is comprised of ~55% LA, increases susceptibility to colitis in several models, including IBD-susceptible IL10 knockout mice. This effect was not observed with low-LA HFDs derived from genetically modified soybean oil or olive oil. The conventional SO HFD causes classical IBD symptoms including immune dysfunction, increased intestinal epithelial barrier permeability, and disruption of the balance of isoforms from the IBD susceptibility gene Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4α (HNF4α). The SO HFD causes gut dysbiosis, including increased abundance of an endogenous adherent invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC), which can use LA as a carbon source. Metabolomic analysis shows that in the mouse gut, even in the absence of bacteria, the presence of soybean oil increases levels of LA, oxylipins and prostaglandins. Many compounds in the endocannabinoid system, which are protective against IBD, are decreased by SO both in vivo and in vitro. These results indicate that a high LA diet increases susceptibility to colitis via microbial and host-initiated pathways involving alterations in the balance of bioactive metabolites of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as HNF4α isoforms.

Five undescribed abietane-type diterpenes of Callicarpa macrophylla.

A phytochemical investigation of the medicinal plant Callicarpa macrophylla resulted in the characterization of two rare rearrangement abietane-type diterpenoids, macrophypene F-G (1-2), and three abietane diterpenoids, named macrophypene H-J (3-5). Additionally, five known diterpenoids (6-10) were identified. The structures of the newly discovered compounds were fully established through extensive analysis of HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR data. The absolute configurations of the isolated compounds were determined using CD comparison, chemical methods, and X-ray crystal diffraction experiments. Subsequently, all isolated diterpenoids were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on extracellular PCSK9 protein levels by PCSK9 AlphaLISA screening. Jiadfenoic acid B (6, 56.80% inhibition at 20 µM) and holophyllin F (10, 43.18% inhibition at 20 µM) significantly decreased PCSK9 protein levels in medium of HepG2 cells.

Effects of Shenlian formula on microbiota and inflammatory cytokines in adults with type 2 diabetes: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the efficacy of Shenlian formula (SL formula, ), which consist of Huanglian () and Renshen (), in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and explore the effects on gut microbiota and serum inflammatory cytokines. METHODS: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel-group clinical trial, 31 adults with T2DM were randomly allocated to receive the SL formula or placebo for 12 weeks. Body mass index (BMI), blood lipid indices, glycemic biomarkers including glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG), fasting insulin levels (FIL), fasting C-peptide (C-P), homoeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and inflammatory cytokines were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. The contents of gut microbiota were determined by pyrosequencing of the V3-V4 regions of 16S rRNA genes. RESULTS: Sixteen cases were allocated in the treatment group and 15 in the placebo group. Compared with the placebo, SL formula resulted in a higher significant reduction in PBG [(?1.318 ± 0.772)(?0.008 ± 1.404) mmol/L, 0.003], BMI [(?0.611 ± 0.524)(0.957 ± 2.212) kg/m, 0.01], FIL [(?1.627 ± 6.268)(3.976 ± 6.85) µIU/mL, 0.02], HOMA-IR [(?0.530 ± 1.461)(1.511 ± 2.288), 0.006], and C-reactive protein (CRP) [(?1.307 ± 0.684)(0.828 ± 0.557) mg/L, 0.04]. In terms of gut microbiota, compared with the placebo, the SL formula resulted in a significant decrease in species richness and evenness. CONCLUSIONS: The SL formula showed the efficacy to improve postprandial blood glucose, insulin resistance, BMI and CRP levels. In addition, it could reduce the total number, richness and evenness of species, meanwhile increase the abundance of probiotics to modulate the structure of gut microbiota in patients with T2DM. However, further studies are required for exploring the deeper mechanism of TCM on gut microbiota.

[Intervention effect of Tuina pressing and kneading the Huantiao (GB30) acupoint on NF-κB p65 protein at spinal cord dorsal horn in sciatica rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the analgesic effect of Tuina by pressing and kneading the Huantiao (GB30) acupoint on rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) and to explore the analgesic mechanism of Tuina on sciatica rats. METHODS: Thirty-two SPF male SD rats weighing 180 to 220 g were randomly divided into fore groups:blank group (without any treatment), sham group (only exposed without sciatic nerve ligating), model group (sciatic nerve ligating) and Tuina group (manual intervention after lsciatic nerve ligating). The CCI model was prepared by ligating the right sciatic nerve of the rats, on the third day of modeling, the rats in the Tuina group were given pressing and kneading the Huantiao (GB30) point for 14 days, and the changes of paw withdrawal threshold(PWT), paw withdrawal latency(PWL) were measured before and on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th and 17th days after modeling. The changes of sciatic functional index(SFI) were measured before and on the 1st and 17th day after modeling. The morphological changes of the sciatic nerve were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining;and the differences in NF-κB protein expression in the right dorsal horn of the spinal cord of rats were detected. RESULTS: Following modeling, there was no significant difference in PWT, PWL and SFI between the blank group and the sham group (P>0.05), but the PWT, PWL and SFI of the model group and the Tuina group decreased significantly (P<0.01). After manual intervention, the pain threshold of rats in Tuina group increased. On the 8th day of manual intervention (the 10th day after modeling), PWT in Tuina group increased significantly compared with that in model group (P<0.01). On the 5th day of manual intervention (the 7th day after modeling), the PWL of the massage group was significantly higher than that of the model group (P<0.01). The pain threshold of rats in Tuina group continued to rise with the continuous manipulation intervention. After 14 days of manipulative intervention, the sciatic nerve function index of rats in the Tuina group increased significantly(P<0.01). Compared with the blank group and sham group, the myelinated nerve fibers of sciatic nerve in the model group were disordered and the density of axons and myelin sheath was uneven. Compared with the model group, the nerve fibers of rats in the Tuina group were gradually continuous and the axons and myelin sheath were more uniform than those in the model group. Compared with the blank group and sham group, the expression of NF-κB protein in the right spinal dorsal horn of the model group was significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of NF-κB protein in the right spinal dorsal horn of rats in Tuina group decreased significantly(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Pressing and kneading the Huantiao (GB30) point restores nerve fiber alignment;and improves the PWT、PWL and SFI in the CCI model by decreasing NF-κB p65 protein expression in the spinal dorsal horn. There fore, Tuina demmstrates an analgesic effect and improves the gait of rats with sciatica.

Construction and Characterization of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus with a Fluorescent Reporter for Antiviral Drug Screening.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) caused by a novel bunyavirus (SFTSV) is an emerging infectious disease with up to 30% case fatality. Currently, there are no specific antiviral drugs or vaccines for SFTS. Here, we constructed a reporter SFTSV in which the virulent factor nonstructural protein (NSs) was replaced by eGFP for drug screening. First, we developed a reverse genetics system based on the SFTSV HBMC5 strain. Then, the reporter virus SFTSV-delNSs-eGFP was constructed, rescued, and characterized in vitro. SFTSV-delNSs-eGFP showed similar growth kinetics with the wild-type virus in Vero cells. We further detected the antiviral efficacy of favipiravir and chloroquine against wild-type and recombinant SFTSV by the quantification of viral RNA, and compared the results with that of fluorescent assay using high-content screening. The results showed that SFTSV-delNSs-eGFP could be used as a reporter virus for antiviral drug screening in vitro. In addition, we analyzed the pathogenesis of SFTSV-delNSs-eGFP in interferon receptor-deficient (IFNAR-/-) C57BL/6J mice and found that unlike the fatal infection of the wild-type virus, no obvious pathological change or viral replication were observed in SFTSV-delNSs-eGFP-infected mice. Taken together, the green fluorescence and attenuated pathogenicity make SFTSV-delNSs-eGFP a potent tool for the future high-throughput screening of antiviral drugs.

Ginseng mediates its anticancer activity by inhibiting the expression of DNMTs and reactivating methylation-silenced genes in colorectal cancer.

Developing safe and effective therapeutic modalities remains a critical challenge for improving the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). In this regard, targeting epigenetic regulation in cancers has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic approach. Since several natural compounds have recently been shown to be important epigenetic modulators, we hypothesized that Ginseng might exert its anticancer activity by regulating DNA methylation alterations in CRC. In this study, a series of cell culture studies were conducted, followed by their interrogation in patient-derived 3D organoid models to evaluate Ginseng's anticancer activity in CRC. Genome-wide methylation alterations were interrogated by undertaking MethylationEpic BeadChip microarrays. First, 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were determined by cell viability assays, and subsequent Ginseng treatment demonstrated a significant anticancer effect on clonogenicity and cellular migration in CRC cells. Treatment with Ginseng potentiated cellular apoptosis through regulation of apoptosis-related genes in CRC cells. Furthermore, Ginseng treatment downregulated the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and decreased the global DNA methylation levels in CRC cells. The genome-wide methylation profiling identified Ginseng-induced hypomethylation of transcriptionally silenced tumor suppressor genes. Finally, cell culture-based findings were successfully validated in patient-derived 3D organoids. In conclusion, we demonstrate that Ginseng exerts its antitumorigenic potential by regulating cellular apoptosis via the downregulation of DNMTs and reversing the methylation status of transcriptionally silenced genes in CRC.

Five undescribed guanidine alkaloids from Plumbago zeylanica.

Five undescribed guanidine alkaloids, plumbagines HK (1-4) and plumbagoside E (5), as well as five known analogues (6-10) were isolated from the roots of Plumbago zeylanica. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. In addition, 1-10 were accessed their anti-inflammatory activities by measuring nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. However, all compounds especially 1 and 3-5 could not inhibit the secretion of NO but significant increase the secretion of NO. The result reminded us that 1-10 may become potential novel immune potentiators.

Active constituents with α-glucosidase inhibitory activities from Sabia parviflora.

To identify the active constituents with α-glucosidase inhibitory activities in Sabia parviflora, three new compounds, namely, sabiaparviflora A-C (1, 2 and 8), and seven known compounds were isolated from the plant by repeated column chromatography. The structures of the new compounds were identified by extensive application of spectroscopic methods, including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and HR-ESI-MS. All compounds, except for compounds 3-5, 9 and 10 were isolated for the first time from S. parviflora. Their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were evaluated for the first time by the PNPG method. Three compounds (1, 7 and 10) exhibited marked activities, with IC50 values ranging from 104 to 324 µM, and their structure-activity relationship is preliminarily discussed herein.

Active substances and molecular mechanisms of the anti-myocardial ischemia effects of Carthami flos by network pharmacology and in vitro experiments.

Myocardial ischemia is a predominant cardiovascular disorder that can result in a series of life-threatening cardiovascular diseases. Carthami flos (CF), the flower of Carthamus tinctorius L., is a commonly used herbal medicine in Chinese medicine for treating coronary atherosclerotic heart diseases based on its anti-myocardial ischemia (MI) effects. This paper aimed to investigate the active substances and mechanisms of the anti-MI effects of CF by network pharmacology and in vitro experiments. The results indicated that 9 constituents showed high degree of association with multiple targets of MI, including quercetin, kaempferol, ß-sitosterol, luteolin, baicalein, safflomin A, safflomin C, safflower-yellow-B and hydroxysafflor yellow A. In addition, AKT1, EGFR, CASP3, MYC, JUN, ALB, CTNNB1, VEGFA, ESR1, and IL1B were screened as the leading targets with a degree number ≥50. Bioinformatic annotation of GO-MF and KEGG showed that the anti-MI effects of CF are related to apoptosis and response to antioxidative stress pathways. The in vitro results showed that CF reduced LDH and CK levels, alleviated cell cycle arrest, and decreased ROS levels in H2O2-treated H9c2 cells. In addition, CF also promoted the nuclear shift of Nrf2 and the mRNA expressions of Akt, Nrf2 and Bcl-2 but decreased the expression of caspase-3 in H2O2-treated H9c2 cells. Collectively, the anti-MI effects of CF involve inhibiting apoptosis and antioxidative stress in cardiomyoblasts by regulating Akt/Nrf2/Caspase-3/Bcl-2, and the possible active substances of CF are quercetin, kaempferol, ß-sitosterol, luteolin, baicalein, safflomin C, safflower-yellow-B, and hydroxysafflor yellow A. The results of this study will be helpful for further drug development of CF and its active monomers.

[Clinical Practice of Multiple Disciplinary Team Care Model Following the Concept of Palliative Care for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer:Report of One Case].

We provided the palliative care of a multiple disciplinary team care mode to a patient diagnosed with advanced head and neck cancer and her caregivers.People-centered integrated health services were provided according to the specific needs and preferences of individuals.The team-based palliative care relieved the suffering and improved the quality of life of the patient and that of her family who were facing challenges associated with life-threatening illness.

Co-occurrence network in core microorganisms driving the transformation of phosphorous fractionations during phosphorus recovery product used as soil fertilizer.

Phosphorus recovery from water and the subsequent reuse of its products can solve both water eutrophication and phosphorus resource waste issues. However, the potential use of the final recovered products as crop phosphorus fertilizers and the transformation of phosphorus fractions in soils have rarely been analyzed. In this study, the effects of a phosphorus recovery product (w-HC/CSH/P) obtained from our previous phosphorus recovery study on pepper growth were investigated. The association between soil phosphorus fraction transformation and the microbial co-occurrence network was investigated using high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that amendment with w-HC/CSH/P could promote the growth and chlorophyll content of pepper, which exhibited high phosphorus fertilizer efficiency. In addition, applying w-HC/CSH/P in soils could increase the microbial alpha-diversity during pepper cultivation and induce changes in the microbial community, leading to an increase in the relative abundance of Povalibacter, Lysobacter, and GP10 and a decrease in GP17. The proportion of Resin-P and NaHCO3-Po decreased, whereas that of NaOH-Po increased during pepper cultivation. psOTU331 (g_Latescibacteria), psOTU377 (g_Lysobacter), and psOTU461 (g_Pseudoxanthomonas) were the key microorganisms driving the transformation of phosphorus fractionation in the microbial co-occurrence network. Latescibacteria and Lysobacter were closely correlated with the transformation of NaHCO3-Po to NaOH-Po, and Pseudoxanthomonas was significantly correlated with a decrease in Resin-P. These observations highlight the potential of phosphorus recovery products as fertilizer for pepper and provide new insights into the transformation of phosphorus fractions corresponding to the microbiome in soils.

Effect of alkaline washing treatment on leaching behavior of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash.

This study aimed to find an effective, inexpensive, and safe washing treatment for municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) in order to reduce its potential harmful effects in disposal and recycling. The washing solutions, namely tap water (TW), saturated lime water (SLW), and wastewater from concrete batching plant (WW) were used to wash MSWIBA at different liquid-solid (L/S) ratios and for different durations. Leaching behavior of some heavy metals, chloride, and sulfate from MSWIBA was tested and evaluated. From the TCLP leaching test, when the L/S ratio was above 5, WW was the most effective solution in reducing As, Cd, Se, and Sb emissions from MSWIBA. The calcium and iron ions present in the WW were essential for controlling the leaching of As, Cd, and Sb from MSWIBA due to the formation of stable crystalline pharmacosiderite, cadmium hydroxide sulfate, and hydromeite during the washing process. Using WW showed the best effect in removing sulfate from MSWIBA. At a L/S ratio of 10, about 83% of the sulfate could be removed from MSWIBA after 20 min of washing. The L/S ratio was most influential in removing chloride from MSWIBA. The three washing treatments chosen were effective in reducing the chloride level in MSWIBA to below the level of hazardous waste. Nevertheless, there were still substantial amounts of chloride remaining in the treated MSWIBA. Under the Dutch Building Materials Decree, the treated MSWIBA may be used as a building material in parts which allow isolation, control, and monitoring (ICM).

Intervention effect of Tuina pressing and kneading the Huantiao (GB30) acupoint on NF-κB p65 protein at spinal cord dorsal horn in sciatica rats / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the analgesic effect of Tuina by pressing and kneading the Huantiao (GB30) acupoint on rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) and to explore the analgesic mechanism of Tuina on sciatica rats.@*METHODS@#Thirty-two SPF male SD rats weighing 180 to 220 g were randomly divided into fore groups:blank group (without any treatment), sham group (only exposed without sciatic nerve ligating), model group (sciatic nerve ligating) and Tuina group (manual intervention after lsciatic nerve ligating). The CCI model was prepared by ligating the right sciatic nerve of the rats, on the third day of modeling, the rats in the Tuina group were given pressing and kneading the Huantiao (GB30) point for 14 days, and the changes of paw withdrawal threshold(PWT), paw withdrawal latency(PWL) were measured before and on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th and 17th days after modeling. The changes of sciatic functional index(SFI) were measured before and on the 1st and 17th day after modeling. The morphological changes of the sciatic nerve were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining;and the differences in NF-κB protein expression in the right dorsal horn of the spinal cord of rats were detected.@*RESULTS@#Following modeling, there was no significant difference in PWT, PWL and SFI between the blank group and the sham group (P>0.05), but the PWT, PWL and SFI of the model group and the Tuina group decreased significantly (P<0.01). After manual intervention, the pain threshold of rats in Tuina group increased. On the 8th day of manual intervention (the 10th day after modeling), PWT in Tuina group increased significantly compared with that in model group (P<0.01). On the 5th day of manual intervention (the 7th day after modeling), the PWL of the massage group was significantly higher than that of the model group (P<0.01). The pain threshold of rats in Tuina group continued to rise with the continuous manipulation intervention. After 14 days of manipulative intervention, the sciatic nerve function index of rats in the Tuina group increased significantly(P<0.01). Compared with the blank group and sham group, the myelinated nerve fibers of sciatic nerve in the model group were disordered and the density of axons and myelin sheath was uneven. Compared with the model group, the nerve fibers of rats in the Tuina group were gradually continuous and the axons and myelin sheath were more uniform than those in the model group. Compared with the blank group and sham group, the expression of NF-κB protein in the right spinal dorsal horn of the model group was significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of NF-κB protein in the right spinal dorsal horn of rats in Tuina group decreased significantly(P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Pressing and kneading the Huantiao (GB30) point restores nerve fiber alignment;and improves the PWT、PWL and SFI in the CCI model by decreasing NF-κB p65 protein expression in the spinal dorsal horn. There fore, Tuina demmstrates an analgesic effect and improves the gait of rats with sciatica.

Exploration and example interpretation of real-world herbal prescription classification based on similarity matching algorithm / 中国中药杂志

In observational studies, herbal prescriptions are usually studied in the form of "similar prescriptions". At present, the classification of prescriptions is mainly based on clinical experience judgment, but there are some problems in manual judgment, such as lack of unified criteria, labor consumption, and difficulty in verification. In the construction of a database of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), our research group tried to classify real-world herbal prescriptions using a similarity matching algorithm. The main steps include 78 target prescriptions are determined in advance; four levels of importance labeling shall be carried out for the drugs of each target prescription; the combination, format conversion, and standardization of drug names of the prescriptions to be identified in the herbal medicine database; calculate the similarity between the prescriptions to be identified and each target prescription one by one; prescription discrimination is performed based on the preset criteria; remove the name of the prescriptions with "large prescriptions cover the small". Through the similarity matching algorithm, 87.49% of the real prescriptions in the herbal medicine database of this study can be identified, which preliminarily proves that this method can complete the classification of herbal prescriptions. However, this method does not consider the influence of herbal dosage on the results, and there is no recognized standard for the weight of drug importance and criteria, so there are some limitations, which need to be further explored and improved in future research.