A bibliometric study on trends in chiropractic research from 1920 to 2023.

OBJECTIVE: An increasing body of evidence suggests a positive role of chiropractic in the treatment of neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. This study aims to explore current research hotspots and trends, providing insights into the broad prospects of this field. METHODS: A bibliometric review was conducted on all chiropractic articles included in the Web of Science Core Collection before December 31, 2023. RESULTS: Over the past century, the volume of research in the field of chiropractic has been fluctuating annually, with four peaks observed in total. The United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom are leading countries. Chu, Eric Chun-Pu is the author with the most publications, while Bronfort, Gert has the highest total citation count. The University of Southern Denmark has produced the most publications, while Queens University - Canada is the most central institution. The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics is the journal with the most publications and citations, while the Journal of the American Medical Association is the most central journal. The two most-cited articles were both authored by Eisenberg DM. Emerging keywords include "chronic pain" and "skills". The theoretical mechanisms and scientific basis of chiropractic, its clinical practice and safety, education and training, integration with other disciplines, and patient experiences and satisfaction are the frontiers and hotspots of research. CONCLUSION: This study integrates bibliometric analysis to summarize the current state of research and global network centers in the field of chiropractic, further highlighting the hotspots and trends in this field. However, Individual and national rankings should be interpreted with caution due to our focus on Web of Science rather than PubMed.

Predictive value of TCM tongue characteristics for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in patients with lung cancer.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical predictors, including traditional Chinese medicine tongue characteristics and other clinical parameters for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression (CIM), and then to develop a clinical prediction model and construct a nomogram. A total of 103 patients with lung cancer were prospectively enrolled in this study. All of them were scheduled to receive first-line chemotherapy regimens. Participants were randomly assigned to either the training group (n = 52) or the test group (n = 51). Tongue characteristics and clinical parameters were collected before the start of chemotherapy, and then the incidence of myelosuppression was assessed after treatment. We used univariate logistic regression analysis to identify the risk predictors for assessing the incidence of CIM. Moreover, we developed a predictive model and a nomogram using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Finally, we evaluated the predictive performance of the model by examining the area under the curve value of the receiver operating characteristic, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. As a result, a total of 3 independent predictors were found to be associated with the CIM in multivariate regression analysis: the fat tongue (OR = 3.67), Karnofsky performance status score (OR = 0.11), and the number of high-toxic drugs in chemotherapy regimens (OR = 4.78). Then a model was constructed using these 3 predictors and it exhibited a robust predictive performance with an area under the curve of 0.82 and the consistent calibration curves. Besides, the decision curve analysis results suggested that applying this predictive model can result in more net clinical benefit for patients. We established a traditional Chinese medicine prediction model based on the tongue characteristics and clinical parameters, which could serve as a useful tool for assessing the risk of CIM.

Inulin alleviates perinatal 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPHP) exposure-induced intestinal toxicity by reshaping the gut microbiota and suppressing the enteric-origin LPS/TLR4/NF-κb pathway in dams and pups.

Organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), such as 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPHP), are ubiquitously used, leading to pervasive environmental contamination and human health risks. While associations between EHDPHP and health issues such as disruption of hormones, neurotoxic effects, and toxicity to reproduction have been recognized, exposure to EHDPHP during perinatal life and its implications for the intestinal health of dams and their pups have largely been unexplored. This study investigated the intestinal toxicity of EHDPHP and the potential for which inulin was effective. Dams were administered either an EHDPHP solution or a corn oil control from gestation day 7 (GD7) to postnatal day 21 (PND21), with inulin provided in their drinking water. Our results indicate that inulin supplementation mitigates damage to the intestinal epithelium caused by EHDPHP, restores mucus-secreting cells, suppresses intestinal hyperpermeability, and abates intestinal inflammation by curtailing lipopolysaccharide leakage through reshaping of the gut microbiota. A reduction in LPS levels concurrently inhibited the inflammation-associated TLR4/NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, inulin administration may ameliorate intestinal toxicity caused by EHDPHP in dams and pups by reshaping the gut microbiota and suppressing the LPS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway. These findings underscore the efficacy of inulin as a therapeutic agent for managing health risks linked to EHDPHP exposure.

Effect and Safety of Herbal Medicine Foot Baths in Patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Multicenter Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of foot baths with Tangbi Waixi Decoction (TW) in treating patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). METHODS: It is a multicenter double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Participants with DPN were recruited between November 18, 2016 and May 30, 2018 from 8 hospitals in China. All patients received basic treatments for glycemic management. Patients received foot baths with TW herbal granules either 66.9 g (intervention group) or 6.69 g (control group) for 30 min once a day for 2 weeks and followed by a 2-week rest, as a therapeutic course. If the Toronto Clinical Scoring System total score (TCSS-TS) ⩾6 points, the patients received a total of 3 therapeutic courses (for 12 weeks) and were followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was change in TCSS-TS score at 12 and 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes included changes in bilateral motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of the median and common peroneal nerve. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: Totally 632 patients were enrolled, and 317 and 315 were randomized to the intervention and control groups, respectively. After the 12-week intervention, patients in both groups showed significant declines in TCSSTS scores, and significant increases in MNCV and SNCV of the median and common peroneal nerves compared with pre-treatment (P<0.05). The reduction of TCSS-TS score at 12 weeks and the increase of SNCV of median nerve at 24 weeks in the control group were greater than those in the intervention group (P<0.05). The number of adverse events did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05), and no serious adverse event was related with treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment of TW foot baths was safe and significantly benefitted patients with DPN. A low dose of TW appeared to be more effective than a high dose. (Registry No. ChiCTR-IOR-16009331).

Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides as a Natural Functional Component for Acetic-Acid-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats.

Dendrobium officinale is an important edible and medicinal plant, with the Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) being its primary active constituent, known for its diverse biological activities. In this study, DOP was extracted and characterized for its structural properties. The potential of DOP to ameliorate gastric ulcers (GUs) was investigated using an acetic-acid-induced GU model in rats. The results demonstrated that DOP exerted a multifaceted protective effect against GU, mitigating the deleterious impact on food intake and body weight in rats. DOP exhibited its protective action by attenuating cellular damage attributed to oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions mediated by enhanced activities of SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX, coupled with a downregulation in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α. Furthermore, DOP effectively inhibited apoptosis in gastric mucosa cells of acetic-acid-induced GU rat models and facilitated the self-repair of damaged tissues. Remarkably, the DOP-200 and DOP-400 groups outperformed omeprazole in reducing the expression of IL-6 and malondialdehyde (MDA) in tissues, as well as IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α in serum. These groups also exhibited an improved expression of SOD in tissues and SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX in serum. A Western blot analysis of gastric mucosa demonstrated that the DOP-200 and DOP-400 groups significantly reduced the expression of NF-κBp65, phosphorylated NF-κBp65, FoxO3a, and Bim. The observed antagonism to GU appeared to be associated with the NF-κB cell pathway. Additionally, qRT-PCR results indicate that DOP reduced the mRNA transcription levels of IL-6, and TNF-α, which shows that the healing of GU is related to the reduction in the inflammatory reaction by DOP. However, the expression of EGF and VEGF decreased, suggesting that the mechanism of DOP inhibiting GU may not be directly related to EGF and VEGF, or there is an uncertain competitive relationship between them, so further research is needed.

Effect of electroacupuncture on inflammatory response and immune cells in mice with chronic inflammatory pain. / ç”µé’ˆå¯¹æ ¢æ€§ç‚Žæ€§ç—›å°é¼ ç‚Žæ€§ååº”å’Œå ç–«ç»†èƒžçš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) on local inflammatory mediators and macrophage polarization, and immune cells in the spleen of mice with chronic inflammatory pain induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in the hind paw, so as to investigate the immunoinflammatory regulatory mechanisms of EA in relieving pain and swelling in mice with chronic inflammatory pain. METHODS: Thirty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control, model, and EA groups, with 10 mice in each group. Chronic inflammatory pain model were established by subcutaneous injection of 20 µL CFA solution in the left hind paw for 7 consecutive days. After modeling, mice in the EA group received EA at bilateral "Zusanli"(ST36) for 20 min (2 Hz/100 Hz, 1 mA) once a day for 18 consecutive days. Mechanical pain threshold, heat pain thresholds, and paw thickness were measured before and after mode-ling, and after interventions. Western blot was used to detect the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in the paw tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of M1-type macrophage marker inducible nitric oride synthase (iNOS) and M2-type marker CD206 in the paw, and flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of F4/80+ CD11b+ macrophages, Ly6G+ CD11b+ neutrophils, and CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in the spleen. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, mechanical pain and heat pain thresholds were significantly reduced(P<0.000 1), while paw thickness, expressions of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and NLRP3 in the paw, and positive expression of M1 macrophage marker iNOS in the paw, the proportions of macrophages and neutrophils in the spleen were significantly increased (P<0.000 1, P<0.001) in the model group. Compared with the model group, mechanical pain threshold and heat pain thresholds, CD206 positive expression in the paw, and Treg cell proportion in spleen were significantly increased (P<0.01), while paw thickness, the expressions of IL-1ß, TNF-α and NLRP3 in the paw, as well as the positive expression of M1 macrophage marker iNOS in the paw, the proportions of macrophages and neutrophils in the spleen were significantly reduced (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05)in mice of the EA group after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: EA may alleviate pain and swelling in mice with chronic inflammatory pain by regulating the numbers of macrophages, neutrophils, and Treg cells, as well as promoting M2 polarization of local macrophages and inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

An ethanolic extract of Arctium lappa L. leaves ameliorates experimental atherosclerosis by modulating lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses through PI3K/Akt and NF-κB singnaling pathways.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Atherosclerosis (AS), a lipid-induced inflammatory condition of the arteries, is a primary contributor to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases including stroke. Arctium lappa L. leaf (ALL), an edible and medicinal herb in China, has been documented and commonly used for treating stroke since the ancient times. However, the elucidations on its anti-AS effects and molecular mechanism remain insufficient. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the AS-ameliorating effects and the underlying mechanism of action of an ethanolic extract of leaves of Arctium lappa L. (ALLE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: ALLE was reflux extracted using with 70% ethanol. An HPLC method was established to monitor the quality of ALLE. High fat diet (HFD) and vitamin D3-induced experimental AS in rats were used to determine the in vivo effects; and oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced RAW264.7 macrophage foam cells were used for in vitro assays. Simvatatin was used as positive control. Biochemical assays were implemented to ascertain the secretions of lipids and pro-inflammatory mediators. Haematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Oil red O stains were employed to assess histopathological alterations and lipid accumulation conditions, respectively. CCK-8 assays were used to measure cytotoxicity. Immunoblotting assay was conducted to measure protein levels. RESULTS: ALLE treatment significantly ameliorated lipid deposition and histological abnormalities of aortas and livers in AS rats; improved the imbalances of serum lipids including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C); notably attenuated serum concentrations of inflammation-associated cytokines/molecules including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, VCAM-1, ICAM-1and MMP-9. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that ALLE suppressed the phosphorylation/activation of PI3K, Akt and NF-κB in AS rat aortas and in cultured foam cells. Additionally, the PI3K agonist 740Y-P notably reversed the in vitro inhibitory effects of ALLE on lipid deposition, productions of TC, TNF-α and IL-6, and protein levels of molecules of PI3K/Akt and NF-κB singnaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: ALLE ameliorates HFD- and vitamin D3-induced experimental AS by modulating lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses, and underlying mechanisms involves inhibition of the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB singnaling pathways. The findings of this study provide scientific justifications for the traditional application of ALL in managing atherosclerotic diseases.

Modified Sijunzi Granules Exhibit Hemostatic Effect by Activating Akt and Erk Signal Pathways via Regulating 5-HT and Its Receptors Levels.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hemostatic effect of modified Sijunzi Granules (MSG) in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) zebrafish model and explore the potential mechanism. METHODS: AB strain wild type zebrafish were treated with simvastatin (6 µmol/L) for 24 h to establish the hemorrhage model (model control group). The zebrafish were treated with MSG at different doses (55.6, 167, and 500 µg/mL), respectively. The hemostatic effect was assessed by examining the intestinal bleeding and hemostatic rate. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) content was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay. The expressions of 5-HT2aR, 5-HT2bR, and SERT genes were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The protein expressions of protein kinase B (Akt), p-Akt, extracellular regulated protein kinases (Erk), and p-Erk were examined using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The intestinal bleeding rate was 37%, 40%, and 80% in the 55.6, 167, and 500 µg/mL dose of MSG, respectively, in which 55.6 and 167 µg/mL MSG dose groups were associated with significantly decreased intestinal bleeding rate when compared with the model control group (70%, P<0.05). Significantly higher hemostatic rates were also observed in the 55.6 (54%) and 167 (52%) µg/mL MSG dose groups (P<0.05). MSG increased the 5-HT content and mRNA expression levels of 5-HT2aR, 5-HT2bR, and SERT (P<0.05). In addition, caspase3/7 activity was inhibited (P<0.05). Significant increase in p-Akt and p-Erk was also detected after treatment with MSG (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MSG could reduce the incidence and severity of intestinal bleeding in zebrafish by activating MAPK/Erk and PI3K/Akt signal pathways through regulating the levels of 5-HT and its receptors, which may provide evidence for the treatment of ITP.

Study on network pharmacology of Ginkgo biloba extract against ischaemic stroke mechanism and establishment of UPLC-MS/MS methods for simultaneous determination of 19 main active components.

INTRODUCTION: Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is an effective substance from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) G. biloba for treating ischaemic stroke (IS). However, its active ingredients and mechanism of action remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to reveal the potential active component group and possible anti-IS mechanism of GBE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The network pharmacology method was used to reveal the possible anti-IS mechanism of these active ingredients in GBE. An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established for the simultaneous detection of the active ingredients of GBE. RESULTS: The active components of GBE anti-IS were screened by literature integration. Network pharmacology results showed that the anti-IS effect of GBE is achieved through key active components such as protocatechuic acid, bilobalide, ginkgolide A, and so on. Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the possible anti-IS mechanism of GBE is regulating the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway and other signal pathways closely related to inflammatory response and apoptosis regulation combined with AKT1, MAPK, TNF, ALB, CASP3, and other protein targets. Nineteen main constituents in seven batches of GBE were successfully analysed using the established UPLC-MS/MS method, and the results showed that the content of protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, ginkgolide A, and so forth was relatively high, which was consistent with network pharmacology results, indicating that these ingredients may be the key active anti-IS ingredients of GBE. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the key active components and the anti-IS mechanism of GBE. It also provided a simple and sensitive method for the quality control of related preparations.

Maternal inulin supplementation ameliorates prenatal methamphetamine exposure-induced hepatotoxicity and restores gut microbiota in mouse offspring.

Prenatal exposure to methamphetamine (METH) is an issue of global concern due to its adverse effects on offspring, particularly its impact on liver health, an area still not fully understood. Inulin, a recognized prebiotic, is thought to potentially ameliorate these developmental disorders and toxic injuries in progeny. To investigate the effects of prenatal METH exposure on the liver and the role of gut microbiota, we established a murine model, the subjects of which were exposed to METH prenatally and subsequently treated with inulin. Our findings indicate that prenatal METH exposure causes liver damage in offspring, as evidenced by a decreased liver index, histopathological changes, diminished glycogen synthesis, hepatic dysfunction, and alterations in mRNA profiles. Furthermore, it impairs the antioxidant system and induces oxidative stress, possibly due to changes in cecal microbiota and dysregulation of bile acid homeostasis. However, maternal inulin supplementation appears to restore the gut microbiota in offspring and mitigate the hepatotoxic effects induced by prenatal METH exposure. Our study provides definitive evidence of METH's transgenerational hepatotoxicity and suggests that maternal inulin supplementation could be an effective preventive strategy.

Croton tiglium L. seeds ameliorate loperamide-induced constipation via regulating gastrointestinal hormones and gut microbiota before and after processing.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Crotonis Fructus (CF), the seeds of Croton tiglium L., have been commonly used in the treatment of constipation for more than two thousand years in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). CF needs to be processed before clinical use and Crotonis Semen Pulveratum (CP) is the processed cream of CF, which could reduce the drastic purgative action and gastrointestinal damages. However, the mechanism of CF and CP in the treatment of constipation is still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was to evaluate the effects of CF and CP on loperamide-induced constipation and the underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical compositions of CF and CP were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Constipated mouse model was established by loperamide (9.6 mg/kg, b.w., i.g.) for two weeks. After successful modeling, the mice were treated with CF or CP (45.5 and 136.5 mg/kg, b.w., i.g.) once a day for seven days. The physiological status, defecation indices, defecation time, and intestinal propulsion rate in mice were measured. Histopathologic examination and serum biochemical parameters were further estimated. 16S rDNA gene sequencing was carried out to characterize the effects of CF and CP on intestinal microbiome structure. Spearman correlation analysis was also performed to explore the association between gut microbiotic abundance and serum indices. RESULTS: The results verified the therapeutic effects of CF and CP on loperamide-induced constipation. CF and CP could significantly ameliorate the reduction of fecal number, fecal weight, fecal water content, and intestinal propulsion rate in mice with constipation, and the first stool defecation time was also obviously reduced. Moreover, CF and CP could regulate the secretion of gastrointestinal hormones and inflammatory factors induced by constipation. Histopathologic examination showed that CP was superior to CF in relieving pathological injury and inflammatory cell infiltration. According to 16S rDNA sequencing, CF and CP treatment could improve gut microbiota disturbance in mice with constipation and the abundance of opportunistic pathogens such as Parabacteroides, Parasutterella and Bacillus remarkably declined, while the levels of beneficial bacterial such as Candidatus_Arthromitus significantly increased. Besides, CP may play a better role in correcting the intestinal flora disorder than CF, which was more obvious in the high-dose group. In addition, phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of diterpenoids and alkaloids in CF and CP. CONCLUSIONS: CF and CP could ameliorate loperamide-induced constipation by regulating gastrointestinal hormones secretion, reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines and improving the disturbance of gut microbiota. Moreover, CP was superior to CF in the enrichment of beneficial bacteria and reduction of harmful bacteria and histopathological damage induced by constipation, which may be related to the changes in the species and content of diterpenoids after processing. The study provides new evidence for the processing mechanism and clinical application of CF and CP.

Nationwide survey of physicians' familiarity and awareness of diabetes guidelines in China: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate physicians' familiarity and awareness of four diabetes guidelines and their practice of the recommendations outlined in these guidelines. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: An online questionnaire survey was conducted among physicians affiliated with the Specialist Committee for Primary Diabetes Care of China Association of Chinese Medicine, using the snowball sampling method to ensure a broader representation of physicians. PARTICIPANTS: 1150 physicians from 192 cities across 30 provinces in China provided complete data. RESULTS: Tertiary care hospital physicians (TCPs) exhibited the highest familiarity with the Guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in China (91.3%), followed by the National Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes in Primary Care (76.8%), the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes (72.2%) and the Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes in Chinese Medicine (63.8%). Primary care practitioners (PCPs) exhibited familiarity with these four guidelines at about 50% or less. Self-reported reference to modern diabetes guidelines by physicians is more frequent than traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diabetes guidelines, with rates at 73.2% and 33.8%, respectively. Approximately 90% of physicians provided instructions on self-monitoring of blood glucose to their patients with diabetes. Less than one-third of physicians referred patients to a specialised nutritionist. In terms of health education management, TCPs reported having a diabetes health management team at the rate of 75.7%, followed by secondary care hospital physicians at 57.0% and PCPs at 27.5%. Furthermore, approximately 40% of physicians did not fully grasp hypoglycaemia characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Familiarity and awareness of the screening guidelines varied among physicians in different hospital settings. Importantly, significant discrepancies were observed between physicians' awareness and their self-reported reference to modern medicine guidelines and TCM guidelines. It is essential to consistently provide education and training on diabetes management for all physicians, particularly PCPs.

Inulin alleviates neuroinflammation and oxidative stress induced by perinatal 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPHP) exposure in female mice and offspring.

Organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), including 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPHP), are prevalent in everyday life due to their broad usage in fields such as healthcare, electronics, industry, and sports. These compounds, added to polymers through physical mixing, can leach into the environment, posing a risk to humans through direct contact or the food chain. Despite known associations with health issues like endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity, the implications of perinatal EHDPHP exposure on both mothers and offspring are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the neuroinflammatory effects of EHDPHP and the potential mitigating role of inulin. Pregnant C57 mice were administered either a corn oil control or an EHDPHP solution (300 µg/kg bw/d) from gestation day 7 (GD7) to postnatal day 21 (PND21). Concurrently, mice were provided either regular drinking water or water supplemented with 1% inulin. We found that EHDPHP significantly increased the serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, and MDA, but decreased SOD levels in both mothers and pups. These effects were reversed by inulin supplementation. RNA-sequencing revealed that EHDPHP induced inflammation and oxidative stress through the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, which was mitigated by inulin. In conclusion, inulin ameliorated EHDPHP-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in both mothers and offspring, highlighting its potential therapeutic role.

Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Explore Mechanism of Tetrahydropalmatine on Acute Myocardial Ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential molecular mechanism of tetrahydropalmatine (THP) on acute myocardial ischemia (AMI). METHODS: First, the target genes of THP and AMI were collected from SymMap Database, Traditional Chinese Medicine Database and Analysis Platform, and Swiss Target Prediction, respectively. Then, the overlapping target genes between THP and AMI were evaluated for Grene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis. The binding affinity between the protein and THP was assessed by molecular docking. Finally, the protective effects of THP on AMI model and oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) model of H9C2 cardiomyocyte were explored and the expression levels of target genes were detected by RT-qPCR in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: MMP9, PPARG, PTGS2, SLC6A4, ESR1, JAK2, GSK3B, NOS2 and AR were recognized as hub genes. The KEGG enrichment analysis results revealed that the potential target genes of THP were involved in the regulation of PPAR and hormone pathways. THP improved the cardiac function, as well as alleviated myocardial cell damage. Furthermore, THP significantly decreased the RNA expression levels of MMP9, PTGS2, SLC6A4, GSK3B and ESR1 (P<0.05, P<0.01) after AMI. In vitro, THP significantly increased H9C2 cardiomyocyte viability (P<0.05, P<0.01) and inhibited the RNA expression levels of PPARG, ESR1 and AR (P<0.05, P<0.01) in OGD model. CONCLUSIONS: THP could improve cardiac function and alleviate myocardial injury in AMI. The underlying mechanism may be inhibition of inflammation, the improvement of energy metabolism and the regulation of hormones.

Dietary oregano essential oil supplementation alters meat quality, oxidative stability, and fatty acid profiles of beef cattle.

This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of oregano essential oil (OEO) supplementation on the meat quality, antioxidant capacity, and nutritional value of the longissimus thoracis muscle in steers. Steers were divided into three groups (n = 9) and fed either a basal diet, or a basal diet supplemented with 130 mg/d OEO, or 230 mg/d OEO for 390 days. The results demonstrated that dietary OEO supplementation increased the total antioxidant capacity and activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, and decreased pH30min, pH24h, cooking loss, and malondialdehyde content. OEO increased the concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid. In contrast, saturated fatty acids decreased, accompanied by increased essential amino acids, flavor amino acids, and total amino acids in the longissimus thoracis muscle. In summary, dietary OEO supplementation promotes the nutritional and meat quality of beef by maintaining its water-holding capacity and meat color, enhancing its antioxidative capacity, and preventing lipid oxidation.

[Qualitative and quantitative study of constituents in Lysionoti Herba based on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap HRMS and HPLC-UV].

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-Exactive Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap HRMS) was employed to systematically analyze the chemical constituents in Lysionoti Herba, and high perfor-mance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet(HPLC-UV) to determine the content of main compounds. A Synergi~(TM) Hydro-RP 100 Å colu-mn(2 mm×100 mm, 2.5 µm) was used for gradient elution with acetonitrile-0.1% aqueous formic acid as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 mL·min~(-1) and a column temperature of 40 ℃. MS and MS/MS were conducted with electrospray ionization(ESI) in both positive and negative modes. The chemical components in Lysionoti Herba were identified by comparison with the retention time and mass spectra of reference compounds and the relevant mass spectral data reported in MS databases and relevant literature. Furthermore, the content of five constituents(neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, forsythoside B, acteoside, and nevadensin) in different Lysiono-ti Herba samples was simultaneously determined by HPLC-UV at the wavelength of 330 nm. A total of 84 compounds were identified in Lysionoti Herba, including 27 flavonoids, 20 phenylethanoid glycosides, 5 amino acids, 18 organic acids, 1 alkaloid, 6 nucleosides, and 7 others. The content of neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, forsythoside B, acteoside, and nevadensin showed good linear relationship(r>0.999) with the peak area within certain concentration ranges, which were 3.22-102.90, 12.84-410.82, 31.63-1 012.01, 25.00-800.11, and 4.08-130.51 µg·mL~(-1), respectively. The instrument precision, method repeatability, and solution stability all met requirement, and the average recovery rate was 97.31%-100.2%, with RSD ranging from 0.95% to 2.4%. The content of the five components varied among different Lysionoti Herba samples collected from different regions of Guizhou, and the average content of forsythoside B was the highest. The established qualitative method can rapidly and efficiently identify the chemical components of Lysionoti Herba, and the developed HPLC-UV method can simultaneously determine the content of five components in a simple, ra-pid, and accurate manner, providing a scientific basis for the quality evaluation of Lysionoti Herba.

Abnormal adenosine metabolism of neutrophils inhibits airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma model induced by Aspergillus fumigatus.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophils consume a large amount of energy when performing their functions. Compared with other white blood cells, neutrophils contain few mitochondria and mainly rely on glycolysis and gluconeogenesis to produce ATP. The inflammatory site is hypoxic and nutrient poor. Our aim is to study the role of abnormal adenosine metabolism of neutrophils in the asthmatic airway inflammation microenvironment. METHOD: In this study, an asthma model was established by intratracheal instillation of Aspergillus fumigatus extract in Ecto-5'-Nucleotidase (CD73) gene-knockout and wild-type mice. Multiple analyses from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were used to determine the levels of cytokines and chemokines. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect subcutaneous fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Finally, adenosine 5'-(α, ß-methylene) diphosphate (APCP), a CD73 inhibitor, was pumped subcutaneously before Aspergillus attack to observe the infiltration of inflammatory cells and subcutaneous fibrosis to clarify its therapeutic effect. RESULT: PAS staining showed that CD73 knockout inhibited pulmonary epithelial cell proliferation and bronchial fibrosis induced by Aspergillus extract. The genetic knockdownof CD73 significantly reduced the production of Th2 cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-13, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5), eosinophil chemokine, neutrophil IL-17, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). In addition, exogenous adenosine supplementation increased airway inflammation. Finally, the CD73 inhibitor APCP was administered to reduce inflammation and subcutaneous fibrosis. CONCLUSION: Elevated adenosine metabolism plays an inflammatory role in asthma, and CD73 could be a potential therapeutic target for asthma.

[Evaluation methods of clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine].

Clinical efficacy is the basis for the development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), and the evaluation of clinical efficacy of TCM has always been the focus of attention. The technical and methodological difficulties in the evaluation process often restrict the generation of high-level evidence. Therefore, methodological research should be deepened and innovative practice should be carried out to study the application of scientific research methods in the evaluation of the advantages of TCM. After more than ten years of development, the clinical efficacy evaluation of TCM, on the basis of the initially classic placebo randomized controlled trials, has successively carried out a series of meaningful attempts and explorations in N-of-1 trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, real world studies, narrative medicine studies, systematic evaluation, and other aspects, laying the foundation for the transformation of TCM from "experience" to "evidence". This paper focused on the clinical efficacy evaluation of TCM, summarized the main connotation and development status of efficacy evaluation indicators, standards, and methods, and put forward corresponding countermeasures and suggestions for the problems of indicator selection, standard formulation, and methodology optimization in the research process. It is clear that scientific and objective evaluation of the efficacy of TCM is an urgent problem to be solved at present.

[Problems and thoughts in clinical safety evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine].

Amid the modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), the safety of TCM has attracted much attention. At the moment, the government, scientific research teams, and pharmaceutical enterprises have made great efforts to explore methods and techniques for clinical safety evaluation of TCM. Although considerable achievements have been made, there are still many problems, such as the non-standard terms of adverse reactions of TCM, unclear evaluation indicators, unreasonable judgment methods, lack of evaluation models, out-of-date evaluation standards, and unsound reporting systems. Therefore, it is urgent to further deepen the research mode and method of clinical safety evaluation of TCM. Based on the current national requirements for the life-cycle management of drugs, this study focused on the problems in the five dimensions of clinical safety evaluation of TCM, including normative terms, evaluation modes, judgment methods, evaluation standards, and reporting systems, and proposed suggestions on the development of a life-cycle clinical safety evaluation method that conformed to the characteristics of TCM, hoping to provide a reference for future research.

[Establishment of a fast discriminant model with electronic nose for Polygonati Rhizoma mildew based on odor variation].

The odor fingerprint of Pollygonati Rhizoma samples with different mildewing degrees was analyzed and the relationship between the odor variation and the mildewing degree was explored. A fast discriminant model was established according to the response intensity of electronic nose. The α-FOX3000 electronic nose was applied to analyze the odor fingerprint of Pollygonati Rhizoma samples with different mildewing degrees and the radar map was used to analyze the main contributors among the volatile organic compounds. The feature data were processed and analyzed by partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA), K-nearest neighbor(KNN), sequential minimal optimization(SMO), random forest(RF) and naive Bayes(NB), respectively. According to the radar map of the electronic nose, the response values of three sensors, namely T70/2, T30/1, and P10/2, increased with the mildewing, indicating that the Pollygonati Rhizoma produced alkanes and aromatic compounds after the mildewing. According to PLS-DA model, Pollygonati Rhizoma samples of three mildewing degrees could be well distinguished in three areas. Afterwards, the variable importance analysis of the sensors was carried out and then five sensors that contributed a lot to the classification were screened out: T70/2, T30/1, PA/2, P10/1 and P40/1. The classification accuracy of all the four models(KNN, SMO, RF, and NB) was above 90%, and KNN was most accurate(accuracy: 97.2%). Different volatile organic compounds were produced after the mildewing of Pollygonati Rhizoma, and they could be detected by electronic nose, which laid a foundation for the establishment of a rapid discrimination model for mildewed Pollygonati Rhizoma. This paper shed lights on further research on change pattern and quick detection of volatile organic compounds in moldy Chinese herbal medicines.