Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Atherosclerosis and Its Regulation by Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Atherosclerosis （AS） is a chronic inflammatory pathological process in which lipid and/or fibrous substances are deposited in the intima of arteries， and it is one of the pathological bases of many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Endoplasmic reticulum stress （ERS） is a protective mechanism of cell adaptation. Moderate ERS can reduce abnormal protein aggregation and increase the degradation of misfolded proteins to repair and stabilize the internal environment， while excessive ERS can cause unfolded protein reaction， activate inflammation， oxidative stress， apoptosis， autophagy， and other downstream pathways， and lead to cell damage， or even apoptosis. A large number of studies have shown that ERS mediates a variety of pathological processes related to AS， affects endothelial cells， smooth muscle cells， macrophages， endothelial progenitor cells， and other cell components closely related to its occurrence and development， influences the progress of AS by regulating cell function， and promotes the formation of AS plaque， the transformation of stable plaque to unstable plaque， and the rupture of unstable plaque. Regulation of ERS may be a key target for the prevention and treatment of AS， and it is a research hotspot at present. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） believes that the origin of AS is the imbalance of Yin and Yang， the disharmony of Zangfu organs， and the abnormal operation of Qi， blood， and body fluid， which leads to the accumulation of phlegm， blood stasis， and other pathological products in the pulse channels， making the blood flow blocked or misfunction and causing the disease， which belongs to the syndrome of deficiency in origin and excess in superficiality. As the pathogenesis of AS is complex， and the symptoms are diverse， TCM has significant advantages in treating AS because of its multiple targets， multiple pathways， stable efficacy， strong individualization， and high safety. This paper systematically elaborated on the role of ERS in the occurrence and development of AS and summarized the mechanism research on the regulation and control of ERS by Chinese herbal monomer， Chinese herbal extract， Chinese herbal compound， and proprietary medicine， so as to provide a theoretical basis for clinical research and drug development in the prevention and treatment of AS.

Mindfulness exercises reduce death anxiety and burnout in intensive care nurses.

Intensive care units (ICUs) nurses experience a high level of death anxiety. Interventions that reduce death anxiety are needed. We conducted a nonrandomized study with 66 ICU nurses. The 34 in the intervention group received an 8-week tailored mindfulness-based intervention and the 32 in the control group received no intervention. Both groups completed pre and post-tests of death anxiety and burnout. At post-test, the levels of death anxiety and job burnout in the intervention group were significantly lower than the control group. Mindfulness-based intervention can reduce the death anxiety level and burnout of ICU nurses.

Quality of moxa from Artemisia argyi and A. stolonifera in different storage years based on simultaneous thermal analysis / 中国中药杂志

The quality of moxa is an important factor affecting moxibustion therapy, and traditionally, 3-year moxa is considered optimal, although scientific data are lacking. This study focused on 1-year and 3-year moxa from Artemisia stolonifera and A. argyi(leaf-to-moxa ratio of 10∶1) as research objects. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Van Soest method, and simultaneous thermal analysis were used to investigate the differences in the combustion heat quality of 1-year and 3-year moxa and their influencing factors. The results showed that the combustion of A. stolonifera moxa exhibited a balanced heat release pattern. The 3-year moxa released a concentrated heat of 9 998.84 mJ·mg~(-1)(accounting for 54% of the total heat release) in the temperature range of 140-302 ℃, with a heat production efficiency of 122 mW·mg~(-1). It further released 7 512.51 mJ·mg~(-1)(accounting for 41% of the total heat release) in the temperature range of 302-519 ℃. The combustion of A. argyi moxa showed a rapid heat release pattern. The 3-year moxa released a heat of 16 695.28 mJ·mg~(-1)(accounting for 70% of the total heat release) in the temperature range of 140-311 ℃, with an instantaneous power output of 218 mW·mg~(-1). It further released 5 996.95 mJ·mg~(-1)(accounting for 25% of the total heat release) in the temperature range of 311-483 ℃. Combustion parameters such as-R_p,-R_v, D_i, C, and D_b indicated that the combustion heat quality of 3-year moxa was superior to that of 1-year moxa. It exhibited greater combustion heat, heat production efficiency, flammability, mild and sustained burning, and higher instantaneous combustion efficiency. This study utilized scientific data to demonstrate that A. stolonifera could be used as excellent moxa, and the quality of 3-year moxa surpassed that of 1-year moxa. The research results provide a scientific basis for the in-depth development of A. stolonifera moxa and the improvement of moxa quality standards.

Role of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in diabetic kidney disease and research progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention / 中国中药杂志

Diabetic kidney disease is an important microvascular complication of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Its pathological characteristics mainly include epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT) in glomerulus, podocyte apoptosis and autophagy, and damage of glomerular filtration barrier. Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway is specifically regulated by a variety of mechanisms, and is a classic pathway involved in physiological activities such as apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. At present, many studies have found that TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease. Traditional Chinese medicine has significant advantages in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease for its multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway characteristics, and some traditional Chinese medicine extracts, traditional Chinese medicines and traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription improve the renal injury of diabetic kidney disease by regulating TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. This study clarified the mechanism of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in diabetic kidney disease by expounding the relationship between the key targets of the pathway and diabetic kidney disease, and summarized the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease by interfering with TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in recent years, to provide reference for drug research and clinical treatment of diabetic kidney disease in the future.

Melanogenesis of quality markers in Vernonia anthelmintica Injection based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined network pharmacology / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to evaluate the biological effect and mechanism of Vernonia anthelmintica Injection(VAI) on melanin accumulation. The in vivo depigmentation model was induced by propylthiouracil(PTU) in zebrafish, and the effect of VAI on melanin accumulation was evaluated based on the in vitro B16F10 cell model. The chemical composition of VAI was identified according to the high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Network pharmaco-logy was applied to predict potential targets and pathways of VAI. A "VAI component-target-pathway" network was established, and the pharmacodynamic molecules were screened out based on the topological characteristics of the network. The binding of active molecules to key targets was verified by molecular docking. The results showed that VAI promoted tyrosinase activity and melanin production in B16F10 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner and could restore the melanin in the body of the zebrafish model. Fifty-six compounds were identified from VAI, including flavonoids(15/56), terpenoids(10/56), phenolic acids(9/56), fatty acids(9/56), steroids(6/56), and others(7/56). Network pharmacological analysis screened four potential quality markers, including apigenin, chrysoeriol, syringaresinol, and butein, involving 61 targets and 65 pathways, and molecular docking verified their binding to TYR, NFE2L2, CASP3, MAPK1, MAPK8, and MAPK14. It was found that the mRNA expression of MITF, TYR, TYRP1, and DCT in B16F10 cells was promoted. By UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and network pharmacology, this study determined the material basis of VAI against vitiligo, screened apigenin, chrysoeriol, syringaresinol, and butein as the quality markers of VAI, and verified the efficacy and internal mechanism of melanogenesis, providing a basis for quality control and further clinical research.

Reflection on the Current Situation of Inheritance, Protection and Development of Folk Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shaanxi Province / 中国医学伦理学

In recent years, the State has intensified efforts to develop folk Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Shaanxi Province is a large province with rich TCM resources. However, the certificate holding rate of folk TCM in Shaanxi is low, the inheritance of medical skills is not optimistic; the core skills of folk TCM are lack of protection; the traditional folk diagnosis and treatment technology is lack of corresponding standards, and the clinical promotion is difficult, which makes the advantages of folk TCM not fully play. It was suggested that strengthen the assessment of Shaanxi Province’s real expertise, take measures to promote the inheritance, enhance the intellectual property protection of folk TCM in the province, intensify the research and formulation of local folk TCM screening and evaluation standards, and vigorously promote the clinical application of folk TCM in the province, so as to promote the inheritance, protection and development of folk TCM in Shaanxi Province.

Precise application of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu in classical formulas / 中国中药杂志

To maintain the precision and stability of the efficacy of classical formulas, this study compared the origins and specifications of Bupleuri Radix and revealed the precise application regularity of Bupleurum chinense(Beichaihu) and Bupleurum scorzonerifolium(Nanchaihu) in classical formulas. The efficacy and indications of formulas with Bupleuri Radix as the sovereign drug in the Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases(Shang Han Za Bing Lun) were investigated. The difference in the efficacy of Bupleuri Radix as well as the differences in the chemical composition, and liver-protecting and lipid-lowering effects of the decoctions of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu were analyzed with LC-MS technology based on the CCl_4-induced liver injury model in mice and sodium oleate-induced HepG2 hyperlipidemia cell model. The results showed that seven classical formulas with Bupleuri Radix as the sovereign drug in the Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases were mainly used in the treatment of digestive, metabolic, immune, circulatory, and other diseases. Bupleuri Radix mainly played the functions of protecting the liver, benefiting the gallbladder, and lowering the lipid, and had different focuses in different formulas. There were 14 differential components in the decoctions of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu, and the chemical structures of 11 components were identified, including 10 saponins and one flavonoid. The results of the liver-protecting efficacy experiment showed that compared with the Nanchaihu decoction, Beichaihu decoction could reduce the serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) activity in liver injury model mice(P<0.01). The results of the lipid-lowering efficacy experiment proved that Beichaihu and Nanchaihu decoctions both showed highly significant differences in lowering the total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceride(TG) content in HepG2 cells(P<0.01), and Nanchaihu decoction was superior to Beichaihu decoction in lowering the lipid. The results of this study preliminarily proved that there were differences in chemical composition, and liver-protecting and lipid-lowering effects of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu decoctions, indicating that it was necessary to determine the precise origin of Bupleuri Radix in the clinical formulation of traditional Chinese medicine. The study provides a scientific basis for both precise clinical medication and purpose-based accurate quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine in clinical application.

Emotion Management for College Students: Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Emotion Management Intervention on Emotional Regulation and Resilience of College Students.

ABSTRACT: The discovery of psychological healing methods that are easy to master and can be developed by the individual as a means of improving students' self-psychological adjustment ability is of great practical value. This study is a randomized control trial intended to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based emotion management interventions and to test their effects on the mood state and resilience of college students. A total of 72 students were recruited and randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. Thirty-six students in the intervention group received a modified mindfulness-based emotion management intervention once per week for 4 weeks, with each intervention having a duration of 80 minutes. Participants were assessed by questionnaires to measure mindfulness level, emotion, and resilience before and after intervention. There were significant interaction effects on mindfulness level (F = 97.76, p < 0.00), mood state (F = 353.52, p < 0.00), and resilience (F = 178.99, p < 0.00) scores. A modified 4-week mindfulness-based emotion management intervention can improve the mindfulness level and resilience of college students and is an innovative and feasible strategy for enhancing mental health in college students.

Surface modification of titanium substrate via combining photothermal therapy and quorum-sensing-inhibition strategy for improving osseointegration and treating biofilm-associated bacterial infection.

Insufficient osseointegration and biofilm-associated bacterial infection are important challenges for clinical application of titanium (Ti)-based implants. Here, we constructed mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with luteolin (LUT, a quorum sensing inhibitor), which were further coated with the shell of calcium phosphate (CaP) to construct MPDA-LUT@CaP nanosystem. Then, MPDA-LUT@CaP NPs were immobilized on the surface of Ti implants. Under acidic environment of bacterial biofilm-infection, the CaP shell of MPDA-LUT@CaP NPs was rapidly degraded and released LUT, Ca2+ and PO4 3- from the surface of Ti implant. LUT could effectively inhibit and disperse biofilm. Furthermore, under near-infrared irradiation (NIR), the thermotherapy induced by the photothermal conversion effect of MPDA destroyed the integrity of the bacterial membrane, and synergistically led to protein leakage and a decrease in ATP levels. Combined with photothermal therapy (PTT) and quorum-sensing-inhibition strategy, the surface-functionalized Ti substrate had an antibacterial rate of over 95.59% against Staphylococcus aureus and the elimination rate of the formed biofilm was as high as 90.3%, so as to achieve low temperature and efficient treatment of bacterial biofilm infection. More importantly, the modified Ti implant accelerated the growth of cell and the healing process of bone tissue due to the released Ca2+ and PO4 3-. In summary, this work combined PTT with quorum-sensing-inhibition strategy provides a new idea for surface functionalization of implant for achieving effective antibacterial and osseointegration capabilities.

Effects of electroacupuncture on mitochondrial fusion and fission during intestinal injury in mice with endotoxemia and role of HO-1 / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on mitochondrial fusion and fission during intestinal injury in mice with endotoxemia and the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1).Methods:Fifty SPF-grade healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were divided into 5 groups ( n=10 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), endotoxemia group (group E), endotoxemia plus EA group (group E+ EA), endotoxemia plus EA plus hemin group (group E+ EA+ H) and endotoxemia plus EA plus Znpp-Ⅸ group (group E+ EA+ Znpp-Ⅸ). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was intraperitoneally injected to develop the model of endotoxemia.Before LPS injection, the HO-1 inducer hemin 100 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in group E+ EA+ H, and the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin Ⅸ 10 μmol/kg was intraperitoneally injected in group E+ EA+ Znpp-Ⅸ.At 4, 3, 2 and 1 days and 30 min prior to development of the model, Zusanli and Hegu acupoints were stimulated with electric stimulator (disperse-dense wave, frequency 2 Hz/15 Hz, at a voltage of 1 mA) for 30 min, retaining the needle until the end of the experiment on the day of development of the model.Mice were sacrificed at 6 h after development of the model, and the small intestinal tissue was obtained from the terminal ileum for examination of the pathological results (with a light microscope) and ultrastructure of mitochondria (with an electron microscope) and for determination of the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ATP and diamine oxidase (DAO) and expression of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), mitofusin 1 (Mfn1) and HO-1 (by Western blot). Results:Compared with group C, the level of ROS was significantly increased, ATP content and DAO activity were decreased, the expression of HO-1 and Drp1 was up-regulated, the expression of Mfn1 was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and pathological damage to small intestine tissues was found in group E. Compared with group E, the level of ROS was significantly decreased, ATP content and DAO activity were increased, the expression of HO-1 and Mfn1 was up-regulated, the expression of Drp1 was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and pathological damage to small intestine tissues was significantly attenuated in group E+ EA.Compared with group E+ EA, the level of ROS was significantly decreased, ATP content and DAO activity were increased, the expression of HO-1 and Mfn1 was up-regulated, the expression of Drp1 was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and pathological damage to small intestine tissues was significantly attenuated in group E+ EA+ H, and the level of ROS was significantly increased, ATP content and DAO activity were decreased, the expression of HO-1 and Mfn1 was down-regulated, the expression of Drp1 was up-regulated ( P<0.05), and pathological damage to small intestine tissues was accenuated in group E+ EA+ Znpp-Ⅸ. Conclusions:EA can promote mitochondrial fusion, inhibit mitochondrial fission, and alleviate intestinal damage in mice with endotoxemia, and the mechanism is related to the up-regulation of HO-1 expression.

Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing for evaluation of dysphagia after stroke / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the application value of fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) in patients with dysphagia after stroke.Methods:A total of 200 patients with dysphagia who received treatment in Wenzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2019 to December 2020 were included in this study. All patients underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFFS) and FEES. Examination results and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between VFFS and FEES.Results:VFFS results revealed that oral food residue occurred in 122 patients, food leakage in 168 patients, food aspiration in 170 patients, epiglottis valley residue in 179 patients, pyriform sinus residue in 184 patients, cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction in 61 patients, and abnormal esophageal peristalsis in 58 patients. FEES results revealed that food leakage occurred in 173 patients, food penetration in 151 patients, food aspiration in 180 patients, food retention in 166 patients, and vocal neoplasm in 21 patients. The incidence of adverse reactions generated in FEES was lower than that in VFFS (5.5% vs. 12.0%, χ2 = 5.29, P < 0.05). Conclusion:FEES has high sensitivity and safety in the detection of dysphagia after stroke, and it has important guiding significance for the treatment of dysphagia.

Molecular identification and quality analysis of Rhei Rhizoma based on chloroplast matK gene and UPLC / 药学学报

Rhei Rhizoma is commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicine with multiple botanical origins. Different botanical sources may have different pharmacological activities. The germplasm resources of commercial Rhei Rhizoma were determined based on the chloroplast gene matK, and the anthraquinone and free anthraquinone content was determined by UPLC to analyze quality of commercial Rhei Rhizoma. Eighty-nine commercial Rhei Rhizoma samples were collected from 40 cities in 27 provinces. DNA was extracted and the matK gene was amplified by PCR. Results indicated that the collected samples were from the same botanical origin, Rheum palmatum, and 8 genotypes were identified, including Rp1, Rp2, Rp3, Rp4, Rp5, Rp6, Rp10 and Rp12. Rp4 and Rp6, cultivated in Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces were the main circulating genotypes, representing 40.45% and 37.08% of the total samples, respectively. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the eight genotypes were mainly divided into two branches, of which the main genotypes Rp4 and Rp6 were in one branch. Genetic distance analysis indicated that the genetic separation of the eight genotypes was between 0.001 and 0.010. UPLC analysis indicated that 93.26% of the samples met the Pharmacopoeia standards. There were significant differences in the content of total anthraquinone and free anthraquinone among the samples, in which the difference in free anthraquinone was 1.01% and the difference in total anthraquinone content was 3.79%, indicating that the quality of commercial Rhei Rhizoma samples varies considerably. There was no significant difference in the content of total anthraquinone and free anthraquinone in commercial Rhei Rhizoma among different collection provinces and genotypes. This study will help guide the circulation of Rhei Rhizoma in the market and provides valuable insights for molecular identification and quality analysis of other traditional Chinese medicines.

Roles of Pyroptosis and Necroptosis in Diabetic Kidney Disease and Its Regulation with Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

The increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes has made diabetic kidney disease （DKD） the main cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Despite current pharmacological interventions for blood glucose control and renin-angiotensin system inhibition， the risk of kidney disease progression and complications remains high. At present， the pathogenesis of DKD has been clarified to be related to chronic inflammatory response， oxidative stress， glucose and lipid metabolism disorders， and hemodynamic abnormalities. According to recent studies， the programmed cell deaths （PCD） of renal intrinsic cells such as pyroptosis and necroptosis play a key role in the occurrence and development of DKD. Pyroptosis and necroptosis， the two newly discovered routes of PCD， can protect the hosts from being invaded by microbial pathogens， but their dysregulation is associated with multiple autoimmunity and autoinflammatory responses. Pyroptosis and necroptosis are closely interlinked and cross-regulated. Different from apoptosis， these two cellular suicide mechanisms cause membrane rupture and release of cell contents through their respective gasdermin D （GSDMD） and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein （MLKL）， with damage-associated molecular patterns （DAMPs） and inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1β （IL-1β） involved to trigger inflammation， and chronic inflammatory responses are key factors leading to the progression of DKD. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has long been employed for the prevention and treatment of DKD and the resulting clinical outcomes are remarkable. TCM has been proved to exert a protective effect against DKD by affecting the expression of nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome， receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 （RIPK3）， and MLKL. This paper reviewed the relationship of pyroptosis and necroptosis with DKD and its intervention with TCM.

Relationship Between Podocyte Autophagy and Diabetic Nephropathy and Regulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Diabetic nephropathy （DN） is one of the serious microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus （DM），and is the main cause of end-stage renal disease（ESRD） worldwide. Although lowering blood glucose and，lowering blood pressure and blocking the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system（RAAS） can reduce blood glucose，blood pressure and urinary protein to a certain extent，it is still difficult to prevent the progression of DN sometimes. The curative effect of traditional Chinese medicine on DN has been confirmed，but its mechanism is has not been fully clarified. Autophagy is a highly conserved lysosomal degradation pathway in mammals that removes protein aggregates and damaged organelles to maintain cell homeostasis. Podocyte，also known as glomerular epithelial cells，is an important component in maintaining the homeostasis of glomerular filtration barrier，and podocyte injury is considered to be a central link in the occurrence and development of DN. As a highly differentiated cell，podocyte maintains a high level of autophagy to maintain its homeostasis under physiological conditions. In DN state，mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR），AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK），silent information regulator 1（SIRT1） and other nutritional signaling pathways as well as intracellular stress response signaling pathways such as oxidative stress，endoplasmic reticulum stress ，and hypoxia stress，etc.，affect podocyte autophagy of podocytes， and ultimately leading to podocyte injury and the progression of DN. In recent years，regulation of podocyte autophagy has become one of the hot spots in DN research，and has also received extensive attention in the field of Chinese medicine. A review and summary of the domestic and international literature in this field reveals that Chinese medicine can affect podocyte autophagy in multiple pathways and targets. Nevertheless， those studiesbut mainly focuses on two nutrient-sensing signaling pathways，mTOR and AMPK，and there lacks more comprehensive and in-depth mechanism studies. In addition，the current research mainly concentrates focuses on the field of Chinese medicine monomers and Chinese medicine compounds，and rarely studies multi-component Chinese medicinelacking research on Chinese medicine component drugs and single drugs，and the research still lacks there is a lack of hierarchy. The regulatory mechanism of Chinese medicine on podocyte autophagy of podocytes in DN state in Chinese medicine still needs to be further studied in depth and systematically.

Mechanism of Modified Shengjiangsan in Treatment of IgA Nephropathy Based on Network Pharmacology， Molecular Docking， and Experimental Verification / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo preliminarily predict the active components， targets， and signaling pathways of modified Shengjiangsan in the treatment of immunoglobulin A nephropathy （IgAN） based on network pharmacology， and to explore its underlying mechanism through molecular docking and experimental verification on animals. MethodThe active ingredients and related targets of modified Shengjiangsan were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform（TCMSP）， UniProt， SwissTargetPrediction， and literature review. IgAN-related targets were obtained from GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man （OMIM）. Cytoscape 3.9.0 was used to construct the regulation network of the related targets of Shengjiangsan and IgAN， and the protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was plotted by STRING. The common genes were analyzed for gene ontology （GO） functional annotation and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） pathway enrichment by Metascape. Key targets and main active ingredients were selected for molecular docking by AutoDockTools 1.5.6. The experimental model of IgAN was induced by bovine serum albumin（BSA， ig） combined with lipopolysaccharide （LPS， iv） and the complex of CCl4 and castor oil （sc） in rats. The model rats were treated with modified Shengjiangsan and benazepril hydrochloride for four weeks. The rats were sacrificed after drug administration. The levels of transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） and interleukin-6 （IL-6） in the serum and kidney tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）， immunohistochemistry， Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and Western blot. ResultA total of 105 active ingredients were obtained according to oral bioavailability（OB）， drug-likeness（DL）， and literature screening. There were 124 common genes and 59 core targets. Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase 1 （NTRK1）， cullin-3 （CUL3）， tumor protein 53 （TP53）， epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）， exportin 1 （XPO1）， and other targets might be closely related to IgAN. As predicted by KEGG enrichment analysis， the treatment of IgAN with modified Shengjiangsan mainly involved the phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway， nuclear transcription factor-kappa B （NF-κB） signaling pathway， and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathway. As revealed by molecular docking， the main active ingredients in modified Shengjiangsan showed stable binding activities with NTRK1， CUL3， TP53， EGFR， and XPO1 in the core targets， indicating that it presumedly regulated inflammatory responses by affecting NTRK1， CUL3， TP53， EGFR， and XPO1 target proteins. The results of experimental verification on animals showed that the expression levels of cytokines TGF-β1 and IL-6 in the serum and kidney tissues of IgAN rats were significantly decreased by modified Shengjiangsan， suggesting that Shengjiangsan might inhibit excessive fibrosis， and inflammatory and immune responses by regulating signaling pathways such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction， PI3K/Akt， and NF-κB. ConclusionModified Shengjiangsan may treat IgAN through multiple targets and pathways. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of excessive fibrosis， and inflammatory and immune responses by affecting the expression of NTRK1， CUL3， TP53， EGFR， and XPO1 and the regulation of the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction， PI3K/Akt， NF-κB， and other signaling pathways.

Study on discovery of efficacy markers for Dachaihu Decoction and its action mechanism / 中国中药杂志

Dachaihu Decoction is a classical Chinese herbal prescription that is effective in harmonizing lesser yang and purging internal accumulated heat. At present, it has been widely used in clinical practice, and the resulting outcomes are satisfactory. However, its quality indicators and action mechanism are still not clear. Therefore, this paper explored the efficacy markers of Dachaihu Decoction and its action mechanism based on literature mining, molecular biology, and network pharmacology, so as to better control its quality and ensure its clinical efficacy. The efficacy markers of Dachaihu Decoction were predicted and analyzed according to the "five principles" for Q-markers of Chinese herbs. Then the anti-inflammatory activity of the efficacy markers of Dachaihu Decoction was evaluated with Griess reagent after the establishment of RAW264.7 cell inflammation model in vitro with lipopolysaccharide(LPS). The potential targets of efficacy markers were predicted by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP), ChEMBL, and SwissTargetPrediction, followed by the construction of the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network of the efficacy markers of Dachaihu Decoction. Topological, GO, and KEGG enrichment analysis was carried out to construct the "key target-signaling pathway-biological process" network, thus elucidating the action mechanism of the efficacy markers of Dachaihu Decoction. Saikosaponin B_2, baicalin, baicalein, wogonoside, neohesperidin, naringin, hesperidin, and paeoniflorin were considered as the potential efficacy markers of Dachaihu Decoction. The anti-inflammatory activity evaluation showed that the potential efficacy markers effectively inhibited the release of NO, exhibiting good anti-inflammatory activities. As demonstrated by network pharmacology, the efficacy markers of Dachaihu Decoction regulated the inflammatory response by acting on MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, the carbohydrate metabolism by HIF-1 and PI3 K-AKT signaling pathways, and the lipid metabolism by AMPK and PI3 K-AKT signaling pathways. This study discovered the efficacy markers of Dachaihu Decoction based on literature mining combined with molecular biological experiments and explored its action mechanism at the molecular level based on network pharmacology, which would provide reference for the quality control of Dachaihu Decoction and scientific basis for its clinical application.

Effect of panlong needling at Jiaji (EX-B 2) on motor dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease of liver and kidney deficiency: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the curative effect of panlong needling at Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with western medication and western medication alone on motor dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) of liver and kidney deficiency.@*METHODS@#A total of 98 patients with PD were randomly divided into an acupuncture and medication group (49 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a western medication group (49 cases,1 case was removed). The patients in the western medication group were given oral of levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets, 125 mg each time, three times a day in the 1st week, and the dose was increased according to the needs of the patients' condition from the 2nd week until 250 mg each time, three times a day, for 16 consecutive weeks. On the basis of the same western medication treatment as the western medication group, panlong needling was applied at Jiaji (EX-B 2) from C2 to L5 in the acupuncture and medication group, once a day, 20 times as a course of treatment, for 4 consecutive courses. The scores of unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS-Ⅲ, UPDRS-Ⅳ), TCM symptoms score, and 39-item Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39) score were evaluated before treatment, after treatment and during follow-up of 1 month after treatment, respectively. The safety of the two groups was compared.@*RESULTS@#After treatment and during follow-up, except the PDQ-39 score of the western medication group, the scores of UPDRS-Ⅲ, UPDRS-Ⅳ, TCM syndrome and PDQ-39 were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the scores of above indexes in the acupuncture and medication group were lower than those of the western medication group (P<0.05). The total incidence of adverse reactions in the acupuncture and medication group was 10.4% (5/48), which was lower than 29.2% (14/48) in the western medication group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Panlong needling at Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with western medication could significantly improve the motor dysfunction and clinical symptoms, improve the quality of life and has high safety, and the efficacy is superior to western medication alone.

Effects of electroacupuncture on Golgi apparatus stress in rats with endotoxin-induced acute lung injury / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on Golgi apparatus stress in the rats with endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI).Methods:Twenty clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 2 months, weighing 160-185 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=5 each) according to a random number table method: control group (C group), endotoxin group (LPS group), EA plus endotoxin group (EA+ LPS group), and sham EA plus endotoxin group (SEA+ LPS group).The model of endotoxin-induced ALI was developed by intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 5 mg/kg in anesthetized animals.Bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints were stimulated with an electric stimulator for 30 min once a day at 1-4 days before and during model preparation in group EA+ LPS.In group SEA+ LPS, acupuncture needles were inserted to the surface of ST36 and PC6 acupoints with no current stimulation, and the other parameters were the same as those previously described in group EA+ LPS.Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta at 6 h after development of the model for measurement of concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The animals were sacrificed and lungs were removed for microscopic examination of the pathological changes of lung tissues (with a light microscope) and morphological changes of Golgi apparatus (with a transmission electron microscope) and for determination of wet to dry lung weight (W/D) ratio, cell apoptosis index (by TUNEL), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (by WST-1 method), content of malondialdehyde (MDA) (by TBA method), and expression of Golgi matrix protein 130 (GM130), Golgin-84 and Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) protein and mRNA in lung tissues (by Western blot or real-time polymerase chain reaction). Results:Compared with group C, the lung injury score, W/D ratio, cell apoptosis index, serum IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations and MDA content were significantly increased, SOD activity was decreased, the expression of GM130 and Golgin-84 protein and mRNA was down-regulated, the expression of GOLPH3 protein and mRNA was up-regulated ( P<0.05), and Golgi apparatus was swollen and vacuolated in the other three groups.Compared with group LPS, lung injury score, W/D ratio, cell apoptosis index, serum IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations and MDA content were significantly decreased, SOD activity was increased, the expression of GM130 and Golgin-84 protein and mRNA was up-regulated, the expression of GOLPH3 protein and mRNA was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and swelling and vacuolization of Golgi apparatus were reduced in group EA+ LPS, and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group SEA+ LPS ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which EA reduces endotoxin-induced ALI may be related to inhibition of Golgi apparatus stress in lung tissues of rats.

Clinical observation of electroacupuncture combined with Qingyi Xianxiong Decoction in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome due to severe acute pancreatitis / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture combined with Qingyi Xianxiong Decoction on the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods:From February 2021 to April 2022, 120 patients with ARDS caused by SAP who were admitted to the department of critical care medicine of Tianjin Nankai Hospital and whose syndrome differentiation belonged to the syndrome of knot chest were selected. They were randomly divided into pure traditional Chinese medicine group and acupuncture medicine group, with 60 cases in each group. The pure traditional Chinese medicine group was received Qingyi Xianxiong Decoction on the basis of conventional western medicine treatment, and the acupuncture medicine group was received electric acupuncture treatment on the basis of the pure traditional Chinese medicine group. The two groups continued to be treated for 7 days. The primary outcome was the ventilator-free days within 28 days after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and the secondary outcome measures were mechanical ventilation time, the length of ICU stay, total lenth of hospital stay, time of intra-abdominal pressure recovery, scores of organ function, oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2), serum inflammatory factors, blood amylase, urine amylase, etc. Results:Compared with the pure traditional Chinese medicine group, the ventilator-free days in the acupuncture medicine group within 28 days after admission to the ICU were significantly longer [day: 22.10±2.29 vs. 20.97±2.31, P < 0.05, odds ratio ( OR) = 1.24, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.053-1.460, P < 0.05]. The time of mechanical ventilation, the length of ICU stay, total length of hospital stay, and recovery time of intra-abdominal pressure were significantly shortened [mechanical ventilation time (days): 5.90±2.29 vs. 7.03±2.31, the length of ICU stay (days): 8.07±1.89 vs. 12.08±2.23, total length of hospital stay (days): 19.55±6.82 vs. 22.28±5.19, recovery time of intra-abdominal pressure (days): 6.05±1.81 vs. 8.45±1.76, all P < 0.05]. The Murray score and bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) score of the two groups after 7 days of treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment, while PaO 2/FiO 2 was significantly higher than those before treatment, and the Murray score of the acupuncture medicine group after 7 days of treatment was significantly lower than that of the pure traditional Chinese medicine group [score: 0.50 (0.33, 0.75) vs. 1.00 (1.00, 1.33), P < 0.05], PaO 2/FiO 2 was significantly higher than that in the pure traditional Chinese medicine group [mmHg (1 mmHg ≈ 0.133 kPa): 390.75±27.73 vs. 330.02±42.34, P < 0.05]. With the prolongation of treatment time, the levels of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amylase and urine amylase in both groups after treatment continued to decrease, and the levels of the inflammatory factors in the acupuncture medicine group after 7 days of treatment were significantly lower than those in the pure traditional Chinese medicine group [TNF-α (ng/L): 38.20±10.00 vs. 45.35±5.09, IL-6 (ng/L): 0.95±0.44 vs. 7.42±1.39, CRP (mg/L): 8.55±2.79 vs. 36.20±13.97, all P < 0.05]. Subgroup analysis showed that biliary system disease was a risk factor for the duration of mechanical ventilation ≥ 7 days in the treatment of ARDS with acupuncture and medicine ( OR = 2.728, 95% CI was 1.293-5.754). Conclusion:Compared with the pure traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture combined can better reduce the clinical symptoms of patients with ARDS caused by SAP, promote the recovery of patients, and reduce systemic inflammatory reaction, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Discovery of quality control ingredients in burdock root by combining anti-tumor effects and UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS.

Burdock root is the root of Arctium lappa L., a plant of the Compositae family, which has the effects of dispersing wind and heat, detoxifying and reducing swelling. In order to better control the quality of burdock root, a screening study of quality control indicators was carried out. The current research combines biological activity evaluation with chemical analysis to screen and identify the biologically active compounds of burdock root as chemical components for the quality control of herbal medicine. The efficacy of 10 batches of ethanol extracts of burdock roots was evaluated by a tumor inhibition experiment in S180 tumor-bearing mice. The five main chemical components of these extracts were simultaneously quantitatively measured by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography combined with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Pearson correlation analysis was used to establish the relationship between these extracts' biological activity and chemical properties. The results showed that chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and cynarin were positively correlated with the effect of inhibiting tumor growth, and further bioassays confirmed this conclusion. In conclusion, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and cynarin can be used as quality control markers for burdock root's antitumor effect.