[Research progress of Shegan Mahuang Decoction and predictive analysis on its Q-markers].

Shegan Mahuang Decoction has been used in clinical practice for thousands of years, and is a classical formula for treating asthma and other respiratory diseases, with the effects of ventilating lung, dispersing cold, and relieving cough and asthma. This paper summarized the history, clinical application and mechanism of Shegan Mahuang Decoction, and predicted its quality markers(Q-markers) based on the "five principles" of Q-markers. The results suggested that irisflorentin, tectoridin, tectorigenin, irigenin, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, asarinin, methyleugenol, shionone, epifriedelanol, tussilagone, 6-gingerol, trigonelline, cavidine, schizandrin, and schizandrin B could be used as Q-markers of Shegan Mahuang Decoction, which provided a basis for the quality control and subsequent research and development of Shegan Mahuang Decoction.

[Improvement effect of Shegan Mahuang Decoction on rats with cold-induced asthma based on TRPV1/NRF-1/mtTFA pathway].

This study investigated the therapeutic effect of Shegan Mahuang Decoction(SGMHD) on cold-induced asthma in rats and explored its underlying mechanism. Seventy-two healthy male SD rats of specific pathogen free(SPF) grade were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a positive control group(dexamethasone, 0.4 mg·kg~(-1)), and low-, medium-, and high-dose SGMHD groups(3.2, 6.4, and 12.8 g·kg~(-1)). The blank group received saline, while the other groups were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin(OVA) solution. Subsequently, the rats were placed in a cold chamber adjustable to 0-2 ℃, and OVA solution was ultrasonically nebulized to induce cold-induced asthma in rats. After three weeks of treatment, the general behaviors of rats were observed. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to evaluate pathological changes in lung tissues, periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) staining assessed mucin changes, and Masson staining was performed to examine collagen deposition. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure the levels of the inflammatory factors interleukin-4(IL-4) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was employed to assess the mRNA expression levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1(TRPV1), nuclear respiratory factor 1(NRF-1), and mitochondrial transcription factor A(mtTFA) in lung tissues. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of TRPV1, NRF-1, and mtTFA in lung tissues. Compared with the blank group, the model group exhibited signs of rapid respiration, increased frequency of defecation with looser stools, and disheveled and dull fur. Pathological results showed significant infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissues, narrowing of bronchial lumens, increased mucin secretion, and enhanced collagen deposition in the model group. Additionally, the levels of IL-4 and VEGF in serum and BALF were significantly elevated, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of TRPV1, NRF-1, and mtTFA in lung tissues were significantly increased. Compared with the model group, SGMHD improved the behaviors of rats, alleviated pathological changes in lung tissues, mucin production, and collagen deposition, significantly decreased the levels of IL-4 and VEGF in serum and BALF, and reduced the mRNA expression levels of TRPV1, NRF-1, and mtTFA in lung tissues, with the medium-dose SGMHD group showing the most significant effect. Moreover, the protein expression levels of TRPV1, NRF-1, and mtTFA in lung tissues were also reduced, with the medium-dose SGMHD group exhibiting the most significant effect. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that SGMHD can alleviate airway inflammation and inhibit airway remodeling in cold-induced asthma rats. These effects may be associated with the modulation of the TRPV1/NRF-1/mtTFA signaling pathway.

[Effect of moxibustion combined with Guifu Yuhe decoction on the conversion score of idiopathic constitution, serum total lgE and blood EOS in the patients with allergic acne].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion combined with Guifu Yuhe decoction on allergic acne and the influence on immunologic function in the patients. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with allergic acne were rando-mized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases).Thirty healthy employees were in the healthy group. In the control group, Guifu Yuhe decoction was prescribed for oral administration, while in the observation group, on the base of the treatment as the control group, moxibustion was exerted at Dazhui (GV14) and Shenque (GV8). The treatment duration was 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, serum IgE, blood EOS, CD4+T cell, CD8+ T cell and CD4+T/CD8+T, as well as the conversion score of idiopathic constitution and the symptom score were compared in the patients of two groups. The clinical therapeutic effect was observed in the two groups. RESULTS: Before treatment, compared with the healthy group, IgE and EOS, CD4+T cell and CD8+T cell all increased (P<0.05), and CD4+T/CD8+T decreased in the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, IgE, EOS and CD4+T cell and CD8+T cell decreased (P<0.05), and CD4+T/CD8+T increased (P<0.05) in the intra-group comparison in the patients. The changes of IgE, EOS, CD4+T cell and CD8+T cell in the observation group were more larger than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the conversion score of body constitution and symptom score all decreased in either group (P<0.05) and the scores in the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P< 0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group (29/30, 96.7%) was higher than that of the control group (22/30, 73.3%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion combined with Guifu Yuhe decoction can significantly improve immune function and body constitution of the patients with allergic acne, which may be related to rectifying idiopathic constitution, improving in lymphocyte subsets dysfunction and inhibiting allergic reaction.