Effects of acupuncture therapy in diabetic neuropathic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in relieving diabetic neuropathic pain and to establish a more reliable and efficient foundation for acupuncture practice in diabetes care. METHODS: The Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, Chongqing Weipu, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were all searched for a randomized controlled trial research of acupuncture for DNP. Two researchers independently performed literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction. After selecting studies and extracting data, we conducted the data analysis using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.0. The quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. RESULTS: An extensive review of 19 studies involving 1276 patients up to April 29, 2023, found that acupuncture was successful in improving pain intensity [MD= -1.09; 95% CI (-1.28, -0.89), P < 0.00001], clinical efficacy indicating pain changes [RR= 1.22; 95% CI (1.15, 1.29), P < 0.00001], and clinical neuropathy [MD= -1.55; 95% CI ( -3.00, -0.09), P = 0.04] in DNP patients. Quality of life was also improved, with few side effects reported. CONCLUSION: According to this meta-analysis, acupuncture therapy significantly improved the clinical efficacy of pain intensity, pain changes, and clinical neuropathy in patients with DNP, improved the quality of life of patients to a certain extent, and had lower side effects. This discovery provides evidence-based and practical recommendations for the treatment of DNP patients.

L-carnitine prevents lenvatinib-induced muscle toxicity without impairment of the anti-angiogenic efficacy.

Lenvatinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that acts on multiple receptors involved in angiogenesis. Lenvatinib is a standard agent for the treatment of several types of advanced cancers; however, it frequently causes muscle-related adverse reactions. Our previous study revealed that lenvatinib treatment reduced carnitine content and the expression of carnitine-related and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins in the skeletal muscle of rats. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of L-carnitine on myotoxic and anti-angiogenic actions of lenvatinib. Co-administration of L-carnitine in rats treated with lenvatinib for 2 weeks completely prevented the decrease in carnitine content and expression levels of carnitine-related and OXPHOS proteins, including carnitine/organic cation transporter 2, in the skeletal muscle. Moreover, L-carnitine counteracted lenvatinib-induced protein synthesis inhibition, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell toxicity in C2C12 myocytes. In contrast, L-carnitine had no influence on either lenvatinib-induced inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 phosphorylation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells or angiogenesis in endothelial tube formation and mouse aortic ring assays. These results suggest that L-carnitine supplementation could prevent lenvatinib-induced muscle toxicity without diminishing its antineoplastic activity, although further clinical studies are needed to validate these findings.

Reservoir flood regulation affects nutrient transport through altering water and sediment conditions.

The effect of reservoir construction on nutrient dynamics is well recognized, at flood event-scale influence of reservoir flood regulation on nutrient transport however has received less attention. Taking the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in the Changjiang River as an example, during the TGR's regulation on a flood in Sep., 2021, this study collected water samples along the mainstream of the reservoir as well as pre/post-dam, with the aim to identify the impact of flood regulation on nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) distribution and transportation. Results show that nitrate nitrogen (NO3N) and particulate phosphorus (PP) were the main fraction of the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) with the proportion of 46.5%-95.6% and 57.4%-81.6%, respectively. N and P responded different to flood regulation: (i) along the stream P concentration significantly decreased due to PP deposited with sediment while N concentration barely changed during flood regulation; (ii) P concentration was significantly higher at post-dam section than at pre-dam section, while N concentration maintained the same. The diffed response to flood regulation caused TN/TP ratio increased from 4 to 8 in the reservoir tail to over 20 near the dam, which probably arise eutrophication in the reservoir head area. This study reveals the influence of flood regulation on nutrient transport in flood event and provides scientific basis for reservoir management.

Huangqin decoction mitigates hepatic inflammation in high-fat diet-challenged rats by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic hepatopathy worldwide, in which ectopic steatosis (5%) and inflammatory infiltration in the liver are the principal clinical characteristics. Huangqin decoction (HQD), a Chinese medicine formula used in the clinic for thousands of years, presents appreciable anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, the role and mechanism of HQD against inflammation in NAFLD are still undefined. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of this study was to evaluate the curative efficacy and unravel the involved mechanism of HQD on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, HPLC was utilized to analyze the main chemical components of HQD. Then, NAFLD model was introduced by subjecting the rats to HFD for 16 weeks, and HQD (400 and 800 mg/kg) or polyene lecithin choline (PLC, 8 mg/kg) was given orally from week 8-16. Pharmacodynamic indicators including body weight, liver weight, liver index, as well as biochemical and histological parameters were assessed. As to mechanism exploration, the expressions of TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway and molecular docking between major phytochemicals of HQD and key targets of TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway were investigated. RESULTS: Seven main monomeric constituents of HQD were revealed by HPLC analysis. Of note, HQD could effectively attenuate the body weight, liver weight, and liver index, rescue disorders in serum transaminases and lipid profile, correct hepatic histological abnormalities, and reduce phagocytes infiltration into the liver and pro-inflammatory cytokines release in NAFLD rats. Mechanism investigation discovered that HQD harbored inhibitory effects on TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway-regulated liver inflammation. Further exploration found that seven phytochemicals in HQD exhibited better binding modes with TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway, in which baicalein, baicalin and liquiritin presented the highest affinity and docking score for protein TLR4, NF-κB, and NLRP3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirmed that HQD ameliorated hepatic inflammation in NAFLD rats by blocking the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway, with multi-components and multi-targets action pattern.

Influence of traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for diabetes mellitus on frailty and self-management level of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To explore the effects of traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for type 2 diabetes mellitus on the level of frailty and self-management in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, so as to provide new ideas for intervention of diabetic frailty and improvement of self-management.Methods:From January 2021 to June 2021, the 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine were treated with the traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for type 2 diabetes mellitus issued by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine using the quasi experimental research method. General information questionnaire, Tilburg Frailty Indicator(TFI), Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA), Chinese-Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale(C-DMSES) and the effect evaluation scale of traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes mellitus) were investigated on 1 to 2 days after admission, at discharge, 3 months after discharge and were analyzed by t test, analysis of variance, SNK test. Results:The TFI scores of patients were (4.90 ± 2.44), (3.89 ± 1.99), (3.43 ± 2.22) points, the SDSCA scores were (41.31 ± 14.30), (57.90 ± 12.73), (52.33 ± 12.71) points, the C-DMSES scores were (128.99 ± 32.18), (154.69 ± 25.43), (141.27 ± 27.86) points, the effect scores of traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for type 2 diabetes mellitus were (13.40 ± 6.02), (6.98 ± 5.04), (5.01 ± 3.96) points at 1-2 days after admission, discharge, and 3 months after discharge, there were statistically significant differences among different time periods ( F values were 11.14-72.50, all P<0.05). The fasting blood glucose and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose of patients were (9.28 ± 3.51), (7.16 ± 1.66), (7.24 ± 1.76) mmol/L and (14.93 ± 4.22), (10.28 ± 4.83), (10.30 ± 2.25) mmol/L at 1-2 days after admission, discharge and 3 months after discharge, and the differences were statistically significant ( F = 21.02, 37.55, both P<0.05). Conclusions:The implementation of traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for type 2 diabetes mellitus can delay the degree of frailty of type 2 diabetes mellitus, improve the level of self-management of patients, help patients control blood glucose, with good traditional Chinese medicine nursing effect, worthy of clinical application.

Study on the Mechanism of miR-146a in Gingival Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) on gingival mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Gingival MSCs were isolated from the gingiva tissues of patients with periodontal disease to reveal the function of miR-146a in regulating osteoblast differentiation. miR-146a inhibits osteoblast differentiation by inhibiting phosphorylated cyclic-AMP response binding (CREB) protein translocation into the nucleus and ultimately attenuating runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) expression. Furthermore, silencing miR-146a promotes the proliferation of gingival MSCs. Of note, targeted inhibition of miR-146a also inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory response and promoted the proliferation of gingival MSCs via CREB/Runx2 axis. MiR-146a is a key negative regulator of gingival MSCs proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, and targeting to reduce the miR-146a expression is essential for bone formation signaling. Therefore, we propose that miR-146a is a useful therapeutic target for the development of bone anabolic strategies.

Lenvatinib causes reduced expression of carnitine/organic cation transporter 2 and carnitine deficiency in the skeletal muscle of rats.

Lenvatinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is widely used to treat several types of advanced cancers but often causes muscular adverse reactions. Although carnitine supplementation may prevent these effects, the mechanism underlying lenvatinib-induced skeletal muscle impairment remains poorly understood. To this end, we aimed to investigate the impact of lenvatinib on carnitine disposition in rats. Once-daily administration of lenvatinib repeated for two weeks did not affect urinary excretion or serum concentration of carnitines throughout the treatment period but ultimately decreased the L-carnitine content in the skeletal muscle. The treatment decreased the expression of carnitine/organic cation transporter (OCTN) 2, a key transporter of carnitine, in skeletal muscle at the protein level but not at the mRNA level. In cultured C2C12 myocytes, lenvatinib inhibited OCTN2 expression in a dose-dependent manner at the protein level. Furthermore, lenvatinib dose-dependently decreased the protein levels of carnitine-related genes, adenosine triphosphate content, mitochondrial membrane potential, and markers of mitochondrial function in vitro. These results reveal the deleterious effects of lenvatinib on OCTN2 expression, carnitine content, and mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle that may be associated with muscle toxicity.

Research progress on Traditional Chinese Medicine improving endometrial receptivity / 国际中医中药杂志

Endometrial receptivity is the key for embryo implantation. Improving the receptivity of the endometrium so that the endometrium and the embryo tend to synchronize is the key research field of reproductive medicine in recent years. Traditional Chinese Medicine could improve endometrial receptivity from the aspects like morphology, ultrasound, hormone and receptor expression, molecular biology level, and gene level. It plays a unique role in enriching the expression of pinocytosis, improving uterine artery blood flow, and increasing sensitivity of female progesterone receptor, adjusting related factors and gene expression.

Screening,diagnosis and treatment of primary carnitine deficiency / 中国实用儿科杂志

Primary carnitine deficiency is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease caused by the mutation of SLC22 A5 gene,which leads to increased carnitine excretion in urine and low level of carnitine in blood,tissues and cells. Due to the heterogeneity and non-specificity of the clinical manifestations of PCD,it is easy to be misdiagnosed or missed and it is potentially fatal without timely treatment. This disease can be detected early through the newborn screening. Maternal carnitine deficiency and the secondary carnitine deficiency caused by other diseases should be excluded. Genetic test can give a clear diagnosis. Avoiding hunger and use of oral L-carnitine supplementation to maintain normal plasma carnitine concentrations are effective treatments.

Iodine nutritional status among the population before and after implementation of a new standard of edible iodized salt in Wuwei City of Gansu Province / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective To explore the iodine nutritional status of all people after the practice of new standard of edible iodized salt, to assess whether the new standard of edible iodized salt can satisfy the iodine nutrition need in different populations, and to provide a scientific basis for supplementation of iodine. Methods Before and after the implementation of new salt iodine concentration, in 2009 and 2015, a contrastive study was performed in 1 243 people(including 402 children aged 8 to 10 years,408 adults aged 18 to 45 years,211 pregnant women and 222 lactating women) who lived in urban and rural areas of Wuwei City. Random urine samples were collected to measure the urinary iodine in all populations and household salt samples were collected. Urinary iodine was detected by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry(WS/T 107-2006).The iodine level in salt was determined by direct titration(GB/T 13025.7-2012).Results Before and after the implementation of new iodine salt standard, the coverage of adequately iodized salt was consistently higher than 94%, the qualified rate of iodized salt was consistently higher than 96%,the median of iodized salt was reduced from 31.0 mg/kg to 26.9 mg/kg;the medians of urinary iodine of children aged 8 to 10 years, adults, pregnant and breastfeeding women were reduced from 290.84, 225.52,200.42 and 180.65 μg/L to 187.37,174.96,159.99 and 152.88 μg/L;the ratios of urinary iodine which was less than 100 μg/L in children aged 8 to 10 years, adults and breastfeeding women were risen from 5.15% (10/194), 12.57% (24/191) and 16.19% (17/105) to 10.58% (22/208), 15.81% (34/215) and 33.33% (39/117); the ratio of urinary iodine which was less than 150 μg/L in pregnant women was risen from 39.78%(37/93)to 43.22%(51/118);the ratios of urinary iodine between 100 and 200 μg/L in children aged 8 to 10 years and adults were risen from 15.46% (30/194) and 30.37% (58/191) to 44.23% (92/208) and 43.26% (93/215); the ratios of urinary iodine greater than 300 μg/L in children aged 8 - 10, adults, pregnant and breastfeeding women were reduced from 47.94%(93/194),34.55%(66/191),29.76%(26/93)and 28.57% (30/105) to 17.31% (36/208), 19.07% (41/215), 16.95% (20/118) and 11.97% (14/117). Conclusion After the implementation of new salt iodine concentration standard,the iodine nutrition level has decreased in all groups and better suited for children aged 8 to 10 years and adults,but the risk of iodine deficiency is increased in pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Panax notoginseng saponins mitigate ovariectomy-induced bone loss and inhibit marrow adiposity in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Previous data have suggested that Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) can prevent estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss by dual action: stimulation of new bone formation and inhibition of bone resorption. Marrow adipogenesis has been identified as a negative indicator of skeletal strength and integrity. This study assessed the effects of early PNS supplementation on bone microarchitecture preservation and marrow fat content in an ovariectomized rat model. METHODS: Forty adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four equal groups for 12 weeks of treatment: (1) sham operation (SHAM) + vehicle; (2) ovariectomy (OVX) + vehicle; (3) OVX + 17ß-estradiol (25 µg/kg); (4) OVX + PNS (300 mg/kg/d, PO). Marrow fat content of the femur was determined, using fat/water magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), at baseline and 6 and 12 weeks after operation. At the end of the experiment, bone turnover, trabecular microarchitecture, and marrow adipocytes were assessed by serum biomarkers, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and histopathology, respectively. The effects of PNS on adipocytic differentiation were reflected by expression levels of the adipogenic genes PPARγ2 and C/EBPα, as determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Ovariectomized rats experienced remarkable increases in marrow fat content across time points, which were accompanied by elevated rate of bone turnover, global volumetric bone density, and trabecular microarchitecture deterioration. These OVX-induced pathological changes are reversible in that most of them could be mostly corrected upon 17ß-estradiol treatment. PNS treatment significantly reduced marrow adipogenesis (adipocyte density, -27.2%; size, -22.7%; adipocyte volume-to-tissue volume ratio, -53.3%; all P < 0.01) and adipocyte marker gene expression, and prevented bone mass loss and microarchitecture deterioration. Moreover, PNS enhanced osteoblast activity but suppressed osteoclast turnover, as evidenced by decreased levels of serum C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen and elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase. CONCLUSIONS: PNS mitigates estrogen deficiency-induced deterioration of trabecular microarchitecture and suppresses marrow adipogenesis.

Exploration of microcosmic Chinese medicine used by western medicine / 中国中西医结合杂志

"Microcosmic syndrome", "treatment based on syndrome differentiation", and "combination of disease identification and syndrome differentiation" generally refer to a mode: following the syndrome if with no disease identified, following the disease if with no syndrome type differentiated. For example, Chinese medical treatment of hypertension, high blood lipids, increased transaminase, and so on candirectly use Chinese recipes, but no longer with syndrome differentiation. Clinical application of Chinese patent medicine can also obtain favorable clinical. Western doctors need not follow syndrome differentiation. The invention of artemisinin was screened from more than 40 000 kinds of compounds and herbs, but with no reference of any traditional Chinese medical theory. A lot of folk remedy and empirical recipes have obtained effective efficacy but unnecessarily with profound Chinese medical theories. Various evidences showed that disease can also be cured without syndrome differentiation. I held that it might be associated with the same mechanism of Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Any disease can be cured or alleviated by Chinese medicine is a result from its modern pharmacological effect, which is achieved by improving etiologies, and pathogeneses. I was inspired by whether we can directly use traditional Chinese medicine with modern pharmacological effects to treat symptomatic disease. So I raised an idea of microcosmic Chinese medicine used by Western medicine, i.e., we find and use Chinese herbs with relatively effective modern pharmacological effect to treat diseases targeting at patients' clinical symptoms and signs, as well as various positive laboratory results (collectively called as microscopic dialectical indicators). More Western doctors would use it to treat disease due to omission of complicated and mysterious syndrome differentiation. This will promote extensive application and expansion of Chi- nese medicine and pharmacy, enlarge the team of integrative medicine, improve Western doctors' interest in Chinese medicine and pharmacy, thus pushing the career of integrative medicine in a brand new development era.

Epidemic distribution of endemic cretinism in Gansu Province / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective To build a case database of endemic cretinism,investigate the distribution of existing cretinism,and provide suggestions for prevention of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods In 2011,an existing endemic cretinism case database was established in Gansu Province by verifying and registering the historical cases before 1985,and searching and diagnosing the cases between 1985-2011 in history cretinism areas and IDD high-risk areas according to endemic cretinism and endemic sub-clinical cretinism diagnosis (WS 104-104) and the IDD monitoring program of the central transfer fund at the same time,and analysis the distribution of existing cretinism.Results In 1985 and 2011,cretinism areas were 53 and 41 in Gansu Province,and the endemic cretinism cases werel9 696 and 4 715,respectively;18 cases of endemic cretinism were born between 1985 to1997,7 new cases were born after 1997;nerve cretinism,myxedematous and mixed types among existing cases were 58.8％ (2 766/4 708),9.8％ (461/4 708) and 31.4％ (1 481/4 708),males and females were 69.3％ (3 261/4 708)and 30.7％ (1 481/4 708),respectively.Cases older than 45 accounted for 73.2％ (3 444/4 708);the 7 new cases were all nerve cretinism and 5 cases distributed in ethnic minority areas.Conclusions There are potential dangers of endemic cretinism in the high-risk areas of iodine deficiency disorders due to multiple factors in Gansu Province;the nervous cretinism is the majority which is caused by insufficient iodine intake in early maternal pregnancy.To prevent new endemic cretinism,it is necessary to strengthen measures of emergency iodine supplementation for pregnant women and nursing mothers in the high-risk areas.

A comparative study on iodine nutrition and thyroid function of different population in urban and rural areas of Wuwei, Gansu province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the iodine nutrition and thyroid function of different population in urban and rural areas of Gansu province and provide evidence for iodine supplementation.Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed in urban and rural children,adults,pregnant women and breastfeeding women in Wuwei from April 2009 to January 2010.Urine and fasting blood samples were collected from the subjects.Urine iodine content was measured with arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophatometry.The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),free thyroid hormone (FT4) and three free triiodothyronine (FT3) were detected by using direct chemiluminescence immunoassy.Non parametric test was used to compare the urinary iodine and TSH group.t test was used to compare FT4,FT3.x2 test was used to compare the rate.Results The medians of urinary iodine level (μg/L) were 358.6,189.0,255.4 and 239.5 in urban children,adults,pregnant women and breastfeeding women and 387.6,258.5,172.8 and 215.3 in rural children,adults,pregnant women and breastfeeding women respectively.The median of urinary iodine of urban adults was significantly lower than that in rural adults (Z=-4.020,P=0.000) and the medians of urinary iodine level of urban pregnant women was higher than that in rural pregnant women (Z=1.424,P=0.035).The mean valuc of FT3 in rural pregnant women and breastfeeding women were higher than that in urban groups (t=-3.933,P=0.000;t=-2.259,P=0.026).The mean value of FT4 in urban adults was higher than that in rural adults (t=3.539,P=0.001).The positive rate of TGAb and TMAb in rural pregnant women and breastfeeding women were 43.6％,56.4％ and 33.3％,35.6％,respectively,which were higher than those in urban groups.Subclinical hypothyroidism in all thyroid function disorders was common in all the groups.No statistical significant difference in all thyroid function disorders were found in different population.Conclusion The iodine nutrition were in good status in both urban population and rural population,the children' s iodine nutrition was surplus.Statistical differences existed in iodine nutrition status or thyroid hormone level between urban and rural adults,pregnant women and breastfeeding women.

Chemical comparison of two dosage forms of Hemp Seed Pills by UHPLC-Q-ToF-MS/MS and multivariate statistical techniques.

Hemp seed soft gel capsule (HSSGC) is a modernised dosage form that is derived from a traditional Chinese patent medicine, Hemp Seed Pills (HSP). Two dosage forms claim the same therapeutic effects; however, their chemical components and chemical equivalency are unclear. In the present study, an ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ToF-MS)-based chemical profiling approach was proposed to rapidly evaluate the chemical differences between HSP and HSSGC as model dosage forms. Samples of the two dosage forms were subjected to UHPLC-ToF-MS analysis. The datasets of retention time (TR) and mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) pairs, ion intensities and sample codes were processed with principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) to holistically compare the difference between these two dosage form samples. A clear classification trend was observed in the score plot, and a loading bi-plot was generated in which the variables are correlated with the group and the samples that were observed. The important chemical components that caused differences among the samples were explored with a Variables Importance Projection (VIP) index. Using the proposed approach, global chemical differences were found between the two dosage forms and among samples of the same dosage form. The most important components that are related to the differences were identified and most of them were attributed to Fructus Aurantii Immaturus. It is suggested that this newly established approach could be used for pre-clinical trial chemical equivalence study or the quality evaluation of the traditional medicinal products with large variations in quality.

Analysis of iodine nutritional status and thyroid function of pregnant and lactating women in urban areas of Wuwei City of Gansu Province / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To find out the iodine nutritional status and thyroid function of pregnant and lactating women in the urban areas of Wuwei City of Gansu Province,and to provide a scientific basis for iodine supplementation.Methods Blood and urine samples of pregnant (52 persons) and lactating women (59 persons) were collected in 2009.Urinary iodine content was measured with arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometric.Serum free three triiodothyronine(FT3),free thyroid hormone(FT4),triiodo thyronine(TT3),serum total thyroxine (TT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were detected with direct chemiluminescence immunoassay.Results The medians urinary iodine of pregnant and lactating women were 274.68,217.88 μg/L.The rates of low urinary iodine (pregnant women below 150 μg/L,lactating women lower than 100 μg/L) were 9.62％ (5/52) and 6.78％ (4/59).Serum TT3,TT4 levels in pregnant women[(2.48 ± 0.59),(132.18 ± 33.36)nmoL/L] were higher than that in the lactating women[(2.16 ± 0.49),(108.79 ± 28.36)nmol/L,t =-3.123,-3.971,all P ＜ 0.05].Thyroid dysfunction incidence rates of pregnant and lactating women were 17.31％ (9/52) and 8.47％ (5/59).Thyroid dysfunction was mostly subclinical hypothyroidism.Conclusions Overall iodine nutrition of pregnant and lactating women is in good condition,some individuals have the trend of hypothyroidism.It is necessary to carry out routine monitoring of urinary iodine and thyroid function.

Evaluation of iodine supplementation on improvement of developmental quotient at the critical period of infant brain development / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of iodine supplementation on improvement of developmental quotient (DQ) at the critical period of infant brain development.Methods Pregnant,lactating women and infants less than 3 years old were supplemented with iodized oil in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture(Linxia Prefecture) Gansu Province in 2006-2010.Before and after the intervention(2006,2007-2010),five townships were randomly selected in the north,the south,the east,the west and the center of eight counties(cities) of Linxia.One village was chosen from each of those townships and 20 infants,20 pregnant women and 20 lactating women were randomly selected in each village(insufficient was made up from the neighboring villages).Urinary iodine(UI) level of the infants,pregnant and lactating women were determined by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry.DQ value of infants was measured before and after supplementation of iodized oil in 2006 and 2010.UI value of pregnant,lactating women and infants was monitored every year after iodine supplementation.Results Before iodine supplementation(2006),the median UI level of pregnant,lactating women and infants was 89.28,84.85,107.3 μg/L,respectively.After iodine supplementation,the medians UI level in 2007,2008,2009 and 2010 were,respectively,pregnant women:136.0,187.8,118.2,175.8 μg/L; lactating women:135.2,159.8,187.5,163.5 μ g/L; infants:139.6,174.7,190.7,168.4 μg/L.Before iodine supplementation,the DQ value of infants was 92.8 ± 16.3,and the average score of gross motor,fine motor,adaptive capacity,language and social behavior was 93.7 ± 20.0,91.4 ± 20.0,92.4 ± 19.0,90.3 ± 20.0,96.4 ± 22.1,respectively.After iodine supplementation,the DQ value of infants was 104.3 ± 13.8,and the average score of gross motor,fine motor,adaptive capacity,language and social behavior was 104.8 ± 21.5,104.1 ± 17.2,104.8 ± 16.1,99.9 ± 19.1,108.0 ± 22.7,respectively,which were higher than that before iodine supplementation (t =-10.43,-10.77,-13.78,-14.28,-9.96,-15.33,all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Iodine deficiency at the critical period of brain development can affect the intellectual development of infants and young children at all functional areas of intelligence.Iodine supplementation at the critical period of brain development can prevent mental retardation caused by iodine deficiency disorders.

Effect of modified sijunzi decoction on the bone metabolism of adriamycin induced nephropathy rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Modified Sijunzi Decoction (MSD) on the bone metabolism of prednisone intervened adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The adriamycin-induced nephropathy rat model was prepared. Totally 50 SD rats were randomly divide into five groups, i.e., the model group, the hormone group, the Chinese medicine (CM) group, the CM + hormone group, and the normal control group. The 24-h urine samples were collected on the 7th, 21st, and 35th day after modeling. The 24-h urine protein was measured by biuret colorimetry. Serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), osteocalcin (BGP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) were determined by ELISA. Expressions of OPG and RANKL in the tibia tissue were detected using real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the normal control group, the 24-h urine protein increased in each group on the 7th, 21st, and 35th day (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the 24-h urinary protein decreased in the hormone group and the CM + hormone group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The decrement was more obvious along with the treatment time went by (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in the reduction of urine protein on the 35th day between the CM group and the model group (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the 21st-day of the same group, the serum levels of TRACP and RANKL increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the serum levels of the TRACP and RANKL increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), OPG and BGP decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the hormone group. Compared with the CM group at the same period, serum OPG level decreased and the RANKL level increased in the hormone group and the CM + hormone group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Besides, the serum level of TRACP increased and BGP decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the hormone group at the same period, OPG and BGP increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), RANKL decreased (P < 0.01) in the CM + hormone group. On the 35th day TRACP decreased (P < 0.01). (3) Compared with the normal group, mRNA expressions of OPG and RANKL on the 21st day increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), mRNA expressions of OPG and RANKL on the 35th day decreased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the CM group at the same period, OPG mRNA expression decreased (P < 0.01) and RANKL mRNA expression increased in the hormone group (P < 0.05). OPG mRNA expression decreased in the CM +hormone group (P < 0.05). (4) Compared with the hormone group on the 21st day, the OPG level decreased and the RANKL protein increased (both P < 0.05). RANKL decreased in the CM + hormone group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group at the same period, OPG decreased and RANKL increased in the hormone group (P < 0.01). Compared with the CM group at the same period, OPG decreased (P < 0.01), RANKL increased (P < 0.01) in the hormone group and the CM + hormone group. Compared with the hormone group at the same period, OPG increased and RANKL decreased in the CM + hormone group (both P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Prednisone could induce osteoporosis through the OPG/RANKL/RANK pathway. MSZ could slow down the formation of prednisone-induced osteoporosis through promoting osteoblast differentiation, and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis.</p>

Traditional Chinese medicine constitution of individuals with food intolerance in Fuzhou areas / 中华健康管理学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate clinical symptoms and influencing factors of food intolerance and to identify susceptibility of food intolerance among adults with various Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitutions.MethodsA total of 411 individuals were recruited by using simple sampling method.ELISA was used to test serum levels of food intolerance specific IgG antibody.TCM constitution,food intake habit,lifestyle,and biochemical data were collected.Results ( 1 ) The prevalence of food intolerace was 60.1％ (247/411).(2) The most commonly seen food intolerance specific IgG were those against egg (44.9％ ),crab ( 37.7％ ),or cod ( 23.1％ ).Intolerance to 1 to 5 kinds of food could be found in single individual.Subhealthy people were more likely to suffer from food intolerance ( P＜0.05 ).( 3 ) Those with food intolerance always presented with various symptoms,mainly respiratory system symptoms.(4) The most common types of TCM constitution of the participants were gentleness constitution,qi-insufficiency constitution,yang-deficiencyconstitution,anddampness-heatconstitution.Thoseofnon-bloodstasis constitution were more likely to suffer from crab intolerance ( P＜0.05 ).Conclusion The prevalence of food intolerance is relatively high in Fuzhou areas.Subhealthy status,obesity women,and pathological constitutions may be risk factors of food intolerance.

Effects of Yishen Jiangzhuo Granule on the bone metabolism of patients with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease and its correlation with the immune indices / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>UNLABELLED</b>OBJECTIVE To explore the changes of bone gla protein (BGP) and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) in patients with stage 3 -4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) before and after treatment, to study their correlation with interleukin-17 (IL-17) and regulatory T cells (Treg), and the effects of Yishen Jiangzhuo Granule (YJG) on the bone metabolism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-three patients with stage 3-4 CKD were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group using random digit table. The following parameters in blood were detected: Treg (CD4+ CD25+ CD127lo) using tri-chrism fluorescent labeling by flow cytometry; levels of TRACP, BGP, and IL-17 by double antibody sandwich ELISA. The hemoglobin (HGB) content was detected using Beckman-Coulter heme/analysis. The urinary contents of creatinine (UCr) were determined using reversed HPLC. The blood contents of calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), and plasma albumin (ALB) were determined using automatic biochemical analyzer. Then the calcium-phosphate (Ca x P) product was calculated on the basis of blood contents of Ca and P. The clearance rate of endogenous creatinine (CCr) was calculated on the basis of blood BUN and SCr contents.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) There was no obvious change in CD4+ CD25+ CD127lo in the two groups before and after treatment (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, there were statistical difference in the levels of CD4+ and TRACP in the two groups, as well as the IL-17 level in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). But compared with the healthy group, statistical difference was shown in each index (except CD4+) (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group after treatment, there was no statistical difference in each index of the treatment group after treatment (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, the levels of Hb, ALB, and CCr increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the SCr level decreased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, the SCr level decreased and the CCr level increased more obviously in the treatment group (P < 0.05). There was no correlation among the levels of IL-17, TRACP, BGP, and Treg between before and after treatment in the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>YJG could improve the kidney function and delay the progression of micro-inflammation of stage 3 -4 CKD patients. It could not improve the level of CD4+ CD25+ CD127lo. It also showed no effects on bone metabolism. The CD4+ T cells were differentiated to Th17 cells in stage 3-4 CKD patients. Their immunity was in a state of anergy but continually activated. The inflammatory factors in patients with stage 3-4 CKD play important roles in inducing the activation of osteoclasts.</p>