Corrigendum: Clinical efficacy protocol of yinhuapinggan granules: A randomized, double-blind, parallel, and controlled clinical trial program for the intervention of community-acquired drug-resistant bacterial pneumonia as a complementary therapy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.852604.].

Clinical Efficacy Protocol of Yinhuapinggan Granules: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, and Controlled Clinical Trial Program for the Intervention of Community-Acquired Drug-Resistant Bacterial Pneumonia as a Complementary Therapy.

Background: Community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) is an important health care concern in the worldwide, and is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditure. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent causative pathogen of CABP. Common treatment for hospitalized patients with CABP is empiric antibiotic therapy using ß-lactams in combination with macrolides, respiratory fluoroquinolones, or tetracyclines. However, overuse of antibiotics has led to an increased incidence of drug-resistant S. pneumoniae, exacerbating the development of community-acquired drug-resistant bacterial pneumonia (CDBP) and providing a challenge for physicians to choose empirical antimicrobial therapy. Methods: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used as a complementary treatment for CDBP. Yinhuapinggan granules (YHPG) is widely used in the adjuvant treatment of CDBP. Experimental studies and small sample clinical trials have shown that YHPG can effectively reduce the symptoms of CDBP. However, there is a lack of high-quality clinical evidence for the role of YHPG as a complementary drug in the treatment of CDBP. Here, we designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to explore the efficacy and safety of YHPG. A total of 240 participants will be randomly assigned to the YHPG or placebo group in a 1:1 ratio. YHPG and placebo will be added to standard treatment for 10 days, followed by 56 days of follow-up. The primary outcome is the cure rate of pneumonia, and the secondary outcomes includes conversion rate of severe pneumonia, lower respiratory tract bacterial clearance, lactic acid (LC) clearance rate, temperature, C-reactive protein (CRP), criticality score (SMART-COP score), acute physiological and chronic health assessment system (APACHEII score) and clinical endpoint events. Adverse events will be monitored throughout the trial. Data will be analyzed according to a pre-defined statistical analysis plan. This research will disclose the efficacy of YHPG in acquired drug-resistant pneumonia. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov, identifier ChiCTR2100047501.

Curcumin Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Injury Through Regulating Mitophagy and Preserving Mitochondrial Function.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin, the complex extracted from the traditional edible herb, has a wide range of pharmacological effects. A great deal of studies has demonstrated that curcumin could protect against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. In the present study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that curcumin reduces brain damage via regulating mitophagy and preserving mitochondrial function. To clarify the potential effect and mechanism of curcumin on cerebral I/R, we utilize MCAO followed by reperfusion rats and OGD/R neurons as cerebral I/R in vivo and in vitro, respectively. METHODS: We determined the cellular ROS levels and mitochondrial function, including mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP levels, state 3 respiration and state 4 respiration. We also detected the levels of mitophagy by immunofluorescent staining and western blotting. RESULTS: Results found that curcumin decreased neurological deficit scores, infarct volume and morphological changes of neurons in rats after brain I/R injury. Curcumin also reduced the levels of ROS while increased MMP, ATP levels and state 3 respiration to prevent the impairment of mitochondrial function from cerebral I/R. Furthermore, curcumin enhanced the co-localization of LC3B and mitochondrial marker VDAC1, the ratio of LC3-II to LC3-I, improving cerebral I/Rinduced mitophagy. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results suggest that curcumin protects against cerebral I/R injury by improving mitophagy and preserving mitochondrial function.

Effects of Guanxinshutong Capsules as Complementary Treatment in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common cardiovascular disease with high mortality and a poor prognosis, which places heavy burdens upon society and families. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used extensively as complementary treatment for CHF. Guanxinshutong (GXST) capsules are used commonly for the treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD). Experimental research and small-sample clinical trials have shown that GXST can attenuate CHF. However, the effects of GXST as complementary medicine in CHF treatment lack high-quality clinical evidence. We have designed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that explores the efficacy and safety of using GXST compared with placebo for patients with CHF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). A total of 480 participants will be assigned randomly to the GXST group or placebo group at a 2:1 ratio. GXST and placebo will be added to standard treatment for 12 weeks, and then followed up for another 40 weeks. The primary outcome is the improvement value of 6-min walk distance, and the secondary outcomes include plasma levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, New York Heart Association classification, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire scores, echocardiographic parameters, and clinical endpoint events. Adverse events will be monitored throughout the trial. Data will be analyzed following a predefined statistical analysis plan. This study will show the effects of the specific use of GXST in CHF patients with reduced LVEF. The Research Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University has approved this study (2019-Y-003-02). Written informed consent of patients will be required. This trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900023877). Our results will be disseminated to the public through peer-reviewed journals, academic conferences, and the Internet.

Full-length transcriptome and microRNA sequencing reveal the specific gene-regulation network of velvet antler in sika deer with extremely different velvet antler weight.

Velvet antler displays the fastest and most robust tissue proliferation in the animal world, it is a model for a complete organ development/regeneration, and alternative medicine, tonic made from velvet antler, was beneficial for human. The weight of velvet antler had high biomedical and economic value, but the related regulation mechanisms controlling velvet antler weight remain unclear. In this study, extremely heavy and light velvet antler groups were selected from a sika deer population of 100 individuals with extreme velvet antler weight. A combination of full-length transcriptome sequencing and microRNA sequencing to the proliferation zone in the tip of velvet antler was applied. A total of 55306 transcripts and 1082 microRNAs were identified. Some highly expressed genes (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, FN1, and ATP6) and microRNAs (miR-21, let-7i, and miR-27b) were highly correlated with the physiological and growth characteristics of velvet antlers. Among the 334 differentially expressed genes, we found that most of the genes were located in the developmental process, especially animal organ development process. It is exciting to see that more blood vessels were found in the growing tip of heavy velvet antler through histological observation, and GO term of blood vessel development was also significant different between two groups. The combination analysis with mRNA and microRNA data in velvet antler showed a specific regulation network involved in the development of bone, mesenchyme, cartilage, and blood vessel, and helped us clearly find out the candidate 14 genes and 6 microRNAs, which could be used for selecting significant DNA markers of velvet antler weight.