Dachengqi Decoction alleviates intestinal inflammation in ovalbumin-induced asthma by reducing group 2 innate lymphoid cells in a microbiota-dependent manner.

Background and aim: Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD) as a classic traditional Chinese medicine has been reported to be effective in treating asthma, but its mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to reveal the mechanisms of DCQD on the intestinal complications of asthma mediated by group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) and intestinal microbiota. Experimental procedure: Ovalbumin (OVA) was used to construct asthmatic murine models. IgE, cytokines (e.g., IL-4, IL-5), fecal water content, colonic length, histopathologic appearance, and gut microbiota were evaluated in asthmatic mice treated with DCQD. Finally, we administered DCQD to antibiotic-treated asthmatic mice to measure the ILC2 in the small intestine and colon. Results and conclusion: DCQD decreased pulmonary IgE, IL-4, and IL-5 levels in asthmatic mice. The fecal water content, the colonic length weight loss, and the epithelial damage of jejunum, ileum, and colon of asthmatic mice were ameliorated by DCQD. Meanwhile, DCQD greatly improved intestinal dysbiosis by enriching Allobaculum, Romboutsia and Turicibacter in the whole intestine, and Lactobacillus gasseri only in the colon. However, DCQD caused less abundant Faecalibaculum and Lactobacillus vaginalis in the small intestine of asthmatic mice. A higher ILC2 proportion in different gut segments of asthmatic mice was reversed by DCQD. Finally, significant correlations appeared between DCQD-mediated specific bacteria and cytokines (e.g., IL-4, IL-5) or ILC2. These findings indicate that DCQD alleviated the concurrent intestinal inflammation in OVA-induced asthma by decreasing the excessive accumulation of intestinal ILC2 in a microbiota-dependent manner across different gut locations.

Qing-Xin-Jie-Yu Granule inhibits ferroptosis and stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques by regulating the GPX4/xCT signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Qing-Xin-Jie-Yu Granule (QXJYG) is an integrated traditional Chinese medicine formula used to treat atherosclerotic (AS) cardiovascular diseases. A randomized controlled trial found that QXJYG reduced cardiovascular events and experiments also verified that QXJYG attenuated AS by remodeling the intestinal flora. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine whether QXJYG would attenuate AS and plaque vulnerability by regulating ferroptosis in high-fat diet-induced atherosclerotic ApoE-/- mice and to investigate the effects of QXJYG on macrophage ferroptosis in RAS-selective lethal 3 (RSL3)-induced J744A.1 cells. METHODS: AS models in ApoE-/- mice and RSL3-induced ferroptosis in J744A.1 cells were established to measure the protective and anti-ferroptotic effects of QXJYG in vivo and in vitro. The glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)/cystine glutamate reverse transporter (xCT) signal pathway was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. RESULTS: QXJYG attenuated AS progression and plaque vulnerability. Characteristic morphological changes of ferroptosis in the QXJYG-treated animals were rare. Total iron was significantly lower in the QXJYG group than in the model group (P < 0.05); QXJYG suppressed the lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels (malondialdehyde), enhanced the antioxidant capacity (superoxide dismutase and glutathione), and reduced inflammatory factors (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α) associated with ferroptosis. Expression of GPX4/xCT in aorta tissues was remarkably increased in the QXJYG group. QXJYG inhibited ferroptosis in J744A.1 macrophages disturbed using RSL3. The Fe2+, LPO, and reactive oxygen species levels were lower in the QXJYG group than in the RSL3 group (P < 0.05). The QXJYG group showed higher expression of the GPX4/xCT signal pathway. CONCLUSION: QXJYG inhibits ferroptosis in vulnerable AS plaques partially via the GPX4/xCT signaling pathway.

Design and evaluation of maternal early warning system to reduce preventable maternal mortality in pregnancy and puerperium for high-risk women in China.

BACKGROUND: The maternal early warning system is an effective tool to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. However, there has been limited research on developing a maternal early warning system especially suitable for Chinese high-risk pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: The purpose is to develop a maternal early warning system to reduce preventable maternal mortality in pregnancy and puerperium in high-risk women in China. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey design. SETTING: The study was conducted in a first-level hospital in China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 306 pregnant women were selected as the objects who were admitted to give birth from April to June 2021 in xxx. METHODS: A convenience sampling method was used to select 42 experts from 20 hospitals in more than 10 cities in east and west China, which represents the developed and undeveloped cities. The maternal early warning indicators of high-risk pregnancy during pregnancy and after birth were determined via literature research, research group discussion, and the Delphi expert consultation. MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: The final maternal early warning system for high-risk women in pregnancy and puerperium included 8 first-level indicators and 30 second-level indicators. The expert authority coefficients of the two rounds of consultation were 0.92 and 0.94, respectively. The Kendall harmony coefficients were 0.252 and 0.386, respectively (P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve predicted by the early warning system for high-risk pregnancy during childbirth was higher than 0.86, and the best cut-off point was 9.97. It was statistically significant (P<0.001). KEY CONCLUSIONS: The constructed maternal early warning system for high-risk pregnancy in pregnancy and puerperium has comprehensive contents and high reliability, which will help midwives to identify high-risk pregnancies during childbirth. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The results of this study can help to detect deterioration of the patient, predict morbidity in high-risk women and enable timely intervene to prevent possible severe illness.

Qing-Xin-Jie-Yu Granule alleviates atherosclerosis by reshaping gut microbiota and metabolic homeostasis of ApoE-/- mice.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis (AS) is a key pathological factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is characterized by high mortality and morbidity worldwide. Metabolic disorders, including pathoglycemia and dyslipidemia that lead to chronic inflammation, represent the prominent pathological characteristics of atherosclerotic CVD, Qing-Xin-Jie-Yu Granule (QXJYG) is a Chinese traditional decoction that has been clinically proven to be effective for patients with CVD. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effects of QXJYG against AS and its potential mechanisms. METHODS: QXJYG was orally administered at doses of 1.664 and 4.992 g·kg-1·d-1 in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced AS model using ApoE-/- mice. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses, ELISA, untargeted and targeted metabolomics analysis, 16S rRNA analysis, and RT-qPCR were performed to identify the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of QXJYG in treating HFD-induced AS. RESULTS: QXJYG retarded HFD-induced weight gain and reduced the increased serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, whereas high-dose QXJYG increased the serum level of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in HFD-fed ApoE-/- mice. Meanwhile, QXJYG reduced the serum levels, as well as aortas mRNA levels of the inflammatory cytokines, IL-1ß and IL-6, which indicates that QXJYG is effective against metaflammation. Mechanistically, QXJYG reshaped the gut microbiota and its associated bile acids (BAs) metabolomic phenotype, partly by increasing the levels of BA synthesis enzymes, hepatic CYP7A1, and CYP27A1, while decreasing ileal FGF15 and ß-Klotho mRNA expression, favoring facilitated de novo BAs synthesis and thereby driving cholesterol catabolic excretion. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that QXJYG is effective against HFD-triggered chronic inflammation, and contributes to the alleviation of AS development, and the antiatherogenic properties of QXJYG may be partly due to the remodeling of the gut microbiota and BA metabolism. Although the results are encouraging, further clinical studies of anti-AS herbal medicines are required to elucidate the full potential of the gut microbiota and BA metabolism.

Xuanbai Chengqi Decoction Ameliorates Pulmonary Inflammation via Reshaping Gut Microbiota and Rectifying Th17/Treg Imbalance in a Murine Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

PURPOSE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a prevalent obstructive airway disease, has become the third most common cause of death globally. Xuanbai Chengqi decoction (XBCQ) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription for the acute exacerbation of COPD. Here, we aimed to reveal the therapeutic effects of XBCQ administration and its molecular mechanisms mediated by Th17/Treg balance and gut microbiota. METHODS: We determined the counts of Th17 and Treg cells in the serum of 15 COPD and 10 healthy subjects. Then, cigarette smoke extract-induced COPD mice were gavaged with low, middle, and high doses of XBCQ, respectively. Weight loss, pulmonary function and inflammation, Th17/Treg ratio, and gut microbiota were measured to evaluate the efficacy of XBCQ on COPD. RESULTS: COPD patients had a higher Th17/Treg ratio in the serum than healthy controls, which was consistent with the results in the lung and colon of COPD mice. The middle dose of XBCQ (M-XBCQ) significantly decreased the weight loss and improved the pulmonary function (FEV0.2/FVC) in COPD mice. Moreover, M-XBCQ alleviated lung inflammation by rectifying the Th17/Treg imbalance, reducing the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and MMP-9, and suppressing inflammatory cells infiltration. Meanwhile, M-XBCQ greatly improved the microbial homeostasis in COPD mice by accumulating probiotic Gordonibacter and Akkermansia but inhibiting the growth of pathogenic Streptococcus, which showed significant correlations with pulmonary injury. CONCLUSION: Oral M-XBCQ could alleviate COPD exacerbations by reshaping the gut microbiota and improving the Th17/Treg balance, which aids in elucidating the mechanism through which XBCQ as a therapy for COPD.

Investigation of the Active Ingredients and Mechanism of Hudi Enteric-Coated Capsules in DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Mice Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification.

BACKGROUND: Hudi enteric-coated capsule (HDC) is a Chinese medicine prescribed to treat ulcerative colitis (UC). However, its anti-inflammatory active ingredients and mechanisms remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the active components of HDC and explore its potential mechanisms against UC by integrating network pharmacology and experimental verification. METHODS: A DSS-induced colitis murine model was established to validate the efficacy of HDC by detecting disease activity index (DAI) and histopathological changes. Network pharmacological analysis was performed to identify the active compounds and core targets of HDC for the treatment of UC. The main compounds in HDC were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The relative expressions of HDC's core targets were also determined in vivo. Finally, molecular docking was applied to model the interaction between HDC and target proteins. RESULTS: In an in vivo experiment, HDC, especially the middle-dose HDC, effectively reduced clinical symptoms of UC, including weight loss, bloody stool, and colon shortening. Besides, the severity of colitis was considerably suppressed by HDC as evidenced by reduced DAI scores. A total of 118 active compounds and 69 candidate targets from HDC closely related to UC progression were identified via network pharmacology. Enrichment analysis revealed that the key targets of HDC correlated with the expressions of PTGS2, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß. Meanwhile, these cytokines were enriched in various biological processes through the IL-17/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The middle-dose HDC contributed more to ameliorating DSS-induced colitis through this signaling pathway than other dosages. Nine components binding to JAK2, STAT3, IL-17 and IL-6 were identified by molecular docking, confirming again the inhibition effects of HDC on the IL-17/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: The HDC treatment, particularly the middle-dose, exerted an anti-UC effect in a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-mechanism manner, especially inhibiting the IL-17/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway to downregulate the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines.

Chinese Herbal Medicines and Active Metabolites: Potential Antioxidant Treatments for Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a complex chronic disease that occurs in the arterial wall. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. The dominance of oxidative stress over antioxidative capacity generates excess reactive oxygen species, leading to dysfunctions of the endothelium and accelerating atherosclerotic plaque progression. Studies showed that Chinese herbal medicines and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) might regulate oxidative stress; they have already been used to treat diseases related to atherosclerosis, including stroke and myocardial infarction. This review will summarize the mechanisms of oxidative stress in atherosclerosis and discuss studies of Chinese herbal medicines and TCM preparations treating atherosclerosis, aiming to increase understanding of TCM and stimulate research for new drugs to treat diseases associated with oxidative stress.

The clinical effect of plum blossom needle acupuncture with qi-invigorating superficies-consolidating therapy on seborrheic alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Seborrheic alopecia (SA) is a common dermatological disease with a long disease course, and treatment for this disease usually exhibits slow effects. Currently, Western medicine treatments have shown some effects; however, they also have certain limitations. In recent years, Chinese medicine has made breakthroughs in treating SA. The efficacy of plum blossom needle acupuncture with qi-invigorating superficies-consolidating therapy for SA was observed, and its clinical effects were investigated in this study. METHODS: A total of 87 patients with SA treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from September 2018 to September 2019 were enrolled as the research subjects. They were divided into a Western medicine group and a Chinese medicine group by the random number table method. The 43 patients in the Western medicine group were treated with conventional Western medicine, and the 44 patients in the Chinese medicine group were treated with a comprehensive traditional Chinese medicine regimen of plum blossom needling with qi-invigorating superficies-consolidating therapy. The treatment effects, changes in estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) levels, and scores for various body signs (hair growth and hair loss) of the two groups before and after treatment were compared. RESULTS: The difference in total effective rate between the Chinese medicine group and the Western medicine group (95.45% vs. 81.40%) was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the T levels of both groups were lower than before treatment, and the E2 levels of both groups were higher than before treatment; the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the hair growth and hair loss scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and those of the Chinese medicine group were lower than those of the Western medicine group; the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Plum blossom needle acupuncture combined with qi-invigorating superficies-consolidating therapy is significantly effective for treating patients with SA. It can effectively adjust the patient's hormone levels, improve hair loss, and promote hair growth. It has the advantages of simplicity, tolerability, and low cost. It cures the cause of the disease and is worth promoting.

Protective Mechanism of Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) against Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Associated with Dyslipidemia in Mice Fed a High-Fat and High-Cholesterol Diet.

This study aimed to investigate the protective mechanism of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with dyslipidemia in mice that were fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFD). Results showed that oral supplementation of common buckwheat significantly improved physiological indexes and biochemical parameters related to dyslipidemia and NAFLD in mice fed with HFD. Furthermore, the HFD-induced reductions in fecal short-chain fatty acids were reversed by common buckwheat intervention, which also increased the fecal bile acid (BA) abundance compared with HFD-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Liver metabolomics based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry demonstrated that common buckwheat supplementation made significant regulatory effects on the pentose phosphate pathway, starch and sucrose metabolism, primary BA biosynthesis, and so forth. The results of high-throughput sequencing revealed that common buckwheat supplementation significantly altered the structure of the intestinal microbiota in mice fed with HFD. The correlations between lipid metabolic parameters and intestinal microbial phylotypes were also revealed by the heatmap and network. Additionally, common buckwheat intervention regulated the mRNA expressions of genes responsible for liver lipid metabolism and BA homeostasis, thus promoting BA synthesis and excretion. These findings confirmed that common buckwheat has the outstanding ability of improving lipid metabolism and could be used as a potential functional food for the prevention of NAFLD and hyperlipidemia.

[Research on correlations of quality and growing environment of Smilax China].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method to examine the contents of diosgenin of Smilax china L. in different fields ,and to evaluate the influence of the growing environment on its quality. METHODS: Kromasie C18 column was used. The mobile phase was CH3OH-H2O (94:6), flow rate: 1.0 ml/min,the detective wavelength was 210 nm. RESULTS: Under the chromatographic condition the diosgenin can be completely separated,in the range of 5 microg-15 microg diosgenin had fine linear responses The mean recovery was 98.47%, and the RSD was 1.01%. CONCLUSIONS: The method was sensitive, simple and accurate. There were some correlations on the quality of Smilax china L. and growing environment.