Yemazhui () ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury modulation of the toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-B/nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 protein signaling pathway and intestinal flora in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of Yemazhui (Herba Eupatorii Lindleyani, HEL) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and explore its underlying mechanism in vivo. METHODS: The chemical constituents of HEL were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method. Then, HEL was found to suppress LPS-induced ALI in vivo. Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control, LPS, Dexamethasone (Dex), HEL low dose 6 g/kg (HEL-L), HEL medium dose 18 g/kg (HEL-M) and HEL high dose 54 g/kg (HEL-H) groups. The model rats were intratracheally injected with 3 mg/kg LPS to establish an ALI model. Leukocyte counts, lung wet/dry weight ratio, as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were determined followed by the detection with hematoxylin and eosin staining, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Besides, to explore the effect of HEL on ALI-mediated intestinal flora, we performed 16s rRNA sequencing analysis of intestinal contents. RESULTS: HEL attenuated LPS-induced inflammation in lung tissue and intestinal flora disturbance. Mechanism study indicated that HEL suppressed the lung coefficient and wet/dry weight ratio of LPS-induced ALI in rats, inhibited leukocytes exudation and MPO activity, and improved the pathological injury of lung tissue. In addition, HEL reduced the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum, and inhibited nuclear displacement of nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (NF-κBp65). And 18 g/kg HEL also reduced the expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88, NF-κBp65, phosphorylated inhibitor kappa B alpha (phospho-IκBα), nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 protein (NLRP3), IL-1ß, and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in lung tissue, and regulated intestinal flora disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our findings revealed that HEL has a protective effect on LPS-induced ALI in rats, and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting TLR4/ NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and improving intestinal flora disturbance.

Schisandrin A alleviates renal fibrosis by inhibiting PKCß and oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND: Renal fibrosis is a common pathway that drives the advancement of numerous kidney maladies towards end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Suppressing renal fibrosis holds paramount clinical importance in forestalling or retarding the transition of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) to renal failure. Schisandrin A (Sch A) possesses renoprotective effect in acute kidney injury (AKI), but its effects on renal fibrosis and underlying mechanism(s) have not been studied. STUDY DESIGN: Serum biochemical analysis, histological staining, and expression levels of related proteins were used to assess the effect of PKCß knockdown on renal fibrosis progression. Untargeted metabolomics was used to assess the effect of PKCß knockdown on serum metabolites. Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction (UUO) model and TGF-ß induced HK-2 cells and NIH-3T3 cells were used to evaluate the effect of Schisandrin A (Sch A) on renal fibrosis. PKCß overexpressed NIH-3T3 cells were used to verify the possible mechanism of Sch A. RESULTS: PKCß was upregulated in the UUO model. Knockdown of PKCß mitigated the progression of renal fibrosis by ameliorating perturbations in serum metabolites and curbing oxidative stress. Sch A alleviated renal fibrosis by downregulating the expression of PKCß in kidney. Treatment with Sch A significantly attenuated the upregulated proteins levels of FN, COL-I, PKCß, Vimentin and α-SMA in UUO mice. Moreover, Sch A exhibited a beneficial impact on markers associated with oxidative stress, including MDA, SOD, and GSH-Px. Overexpression of PKCß was found to counteract the renoprotective efficacy of Sch A in vitro. CONCLUSION: Sch A alleviates renal fibrosis by inhibiting PKCß and attenuating oxidative stress.

[Effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation at different times assisted general anesthesia on stress response of patients undergoing open posterior lumbar surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) at different times on the stress response during anesthesia and operation in the patients undergoing open posterior lumbar surgery. METHODS: A total of 94 patients undergoing open posterior lumbar surgery were randomly assigned to preoperative TEAS group(32 cases), intraoperative TEAS group(31 cases) and sham-TEAS group(31 cases). The same anesthetic method was used in the patients of 3 groups. Four electrodes were attached to the bilateral Hegu (LI4) and Neiguan (PC6) and connected to the electronic acupuncture instrument when patients entered the operation room. In the preoperative TEAS group, the patients received TEAS (10 to 20 mA) for 30 min before the anesthetic induction. TEAS (15 mA) was provided immediately when the operation starts till the end of ope-ration for the patients of the intraoperative TEAS group. In the sham-TEAS group, the electronic acupuncture instrument was switched on during the whole procedure of operation, but no electric current was output. Separately, at the moment of entering the operation room (T0), before endotracheal intubation (T1), at the time of endotracheal intubation (T2), 10 min after skin resection (T3), at the end of surgery (T4), recovery from anesthesia (T5) and at the time of extubation (T6), the heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded. Using ELISA, the concentrations of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), cortisol (Cor) in serum were assayed at T0, T3, and T4; and blood glucose was tested with blood sugar paper at the same time points. RESULTS: Compared with T0 of the same group, HR was increased at T2 and decreased at T3 of the patients in the sham-TEAS group and the intraoperative TEAS group (P<0.05). Compared with the sham-TEAS group at the same time points, HR was decreased at T2 and increased at T3 of the patients in the preoperative TEAS group (P<0.05), and it was decreased at T6 of patients in the intraoperation TEAS group (P<0.05). HR was reduced at T2 in the preoperative TEAS group when compared with the intraoperative TEAS group. Compared with T0 of the same group, MAP was elevated at T2 and reduced at T3 and T4 in the sham-TEAS group (P<0.05); it decreased at T3, T4 and T5 in the preoperative TEAS group (P<0.05); it rose at T2 and was reduced at T3, T4 and T5 in the intraoperative TEAS group (P<0.05). When compared with the sham-TEAS group at the same time points, MAP decreased at T2 in the preoperative TEAS group (P<0.05), and at T6 in the intraoperative TEAS group (P<0.05). MAP was reduced at T2 and elevated at T6 in the preoperative TEAS group in comparison with the intraoperative TEAS group (P<0.05) at the same time points. Compared with T0 of the same group, the contents of E was increased at T3 in the sham-TEAS group and the intraoperative TEAS group (P<0.05); it was increased in all of the three groups at T4 (P<0.05); the contents of NE, DA, Cor and the blood glucose were increased at T4 in the sham-TEAS group (P<0.05). Compared with the sham-TEAS group at the same time points, the contents of E, DA at T3 and T4 and Cor at T3 in serum of the preoperative TEAS group were decreased (P<0.05); and the contents of E, NE, DA and Cor at T4 in the intraoperative TEAS group were decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TEAS-assisted general anesthesia can better maintain the stability of HR and MAP during anesthesia and operation in patients undergoing open posterior lumbar surgery, and reduce surgical stress response.

The association of vitamin A, zinc and copper levels with clinical symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders in Jilin Province, China.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated vitamin A (VA), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) levels in the population with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Jilin Province, China. Furthermore, we examined their links to core symptoms and neurodevelopment, as well as gastrointestinal (GI) comorbidities and sleep disorders. METHODS: This study included 181 children with autism and 205 typically developing (TD) children. The participants had not taken vitamin/mineral supplements in the prior three months. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure serum VA levels. By using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, Zn and Cu concentrations in plasma were determined. Importantly, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, the Social Responsiveness Scale, and the Autism Behavior Checklist were used to measure core ASD symptoms. However, the Griffith Mental Development Scales-Chinese were used to measure neurodevelopment. GI comorbidities and sleep abnormalities were assessed with the 6 Item-Gastrointestinal Severity Index and Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, respectively. Children with ASD with GI issues were grouped according to severity (low GI severity and high GI severity groups). RESULTS: (i) The difference in VA, Zn, Cu levels and the Zn/Cu ratio between ASD and TD children is small. But children with ASD had lower VA levels and Zn/Cu ratio, higher Cu levels than TD children. Cu levels in children with ASD were associated with the severity of core symptoms. (ii) Children with ASD were much more likely than their TD counterparts to suffer from GI comorbidities or sleep problems. Furthermore, it was observed that high GI severity was associated with lower levels of VA, whereas low GI severity was associated with higher levels of VA. (iii) The children with ASD who had both lower VA and lower Zn/Cu ratio had more severe scores on the Autism Behavior Checklist, but not on other measures. CONCLUSION: Children with ASD had lower VA and Zn/Cu ratio, and higher Cu levels. Cu levels in children with ASD were weakly correlated with one subscale on social or self-help. ASD children with lower VA levels may face more serious GI comorbidities. Children with ASD combined VA-Zn/Cu lower had more severe core symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number: ChiCTR-OPC-17013502. Date of registration: 2017-11-23.

Alkaline "Nanoswords" Coordinate Ferroptosis-like Bacterial Death for Antibiosis and Osseointegration.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death and is associated with cancer therapy. Can it play a role in resistance of postoperative infection of implants, especially with an extracellular supplement of Fe ions in a non-cytotoxic dose? To answer this, "nanoswords" of Fe-doped titanite are fabricated on a Ti implant surface to resist bacterial invasion by a synergistic action of ferroptosis-like bacteria killing, proton disturbance, and physical puncture. The related antibiosis mechanism is explored by atomic force microscopy and genome sequencing. The nanoswords induce an increased local pH value, which not only weakens the proton motive force, reducing adenosine triphosphate synthesis of Staphylococcus aureus, but also decreases the membrane modulus, making the nanoswords distort and even puncture a bacterial membrane easily. Simultaneously, more Fe ions are taken by bacteria due to increased bacterial membrane permeability, resulting in ferroptosis-like death of bacteria, and this is demonstrated by intracellular iron enrichment, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione depletion. Interestingly, a microenvironment constructed by these nanoswords improves osteoblast behavior in vitro and bone regeneration in vivo. Overall, the nanoswords can induce ferroptosis-like bacterial death without cytotoxicity and have great promise in applications with clinical implants for outstanding antibiosis and biointegration performance.

Impact of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on the expression of glucagon-like peptide 1 in vitro and in vivo.

Several studies showed the efficacy of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) in diabetic animals and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the mechanism of LBP in alleviating T2DM based on glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) has not been suitably elucidated. GLP1 is an important peptide that plays a role in blood glucose homeostasis. Inhibition of sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) can result in a net increase in GLP1 release. We found that LBP could reduce SGLT1 expression. Thus, the effects of LBP on the first- and second-phase secretion of GLP1 were systematically assessed in vitro using STC1 cells and in vivo using diabetic KKAy mice. LBP could induce the first-phase secretion of GLP1 by stimulating calcium ion influx in vitro and by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase activity in vivo. Regulation of Gcg gene expression by modulating the Wnt/ß-catenin and cAMP/Epac pathways, as well as inhibition of alpha-glucosidase activity, was responsible for the second-phase secretion of GLP1. LBP could stimulate GLP1 secretion; however, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) activated by LBP might offset the second-phase secretion of GLP1. Thus, we suggest considering the simultaneous use of LBP and a DPP4 inhibitor to stimulate slow, continuous GLP1 secretion. Further studies are warranted for in-depth mechanistic information.

Pediatric Classic Prescription Xiaoruwan Based on Ancient Literature / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Xiaoruwan is one of the classic prescriptions included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic Prescriptions （the Second Batch of Pediatrics） published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM） in 2022 with definite clinical efficacy， but it has not been converted into Chinese patent medicine preparations. The authors collected 173 pieces of data based on ancient literature on Xiaoruwan by the method of bibliometrics and selected 99 pieces of effective data， involving 46 ancient books of TCM. The study analyzed the historical development origin， prescription names， formulation rules， dosage， drug origin， preparation method and usage， indications and functions， and other aspects of Xiaoruwan. The results showed that Xiaoruwan was presumably derived from Ying Hai Miao Jue Lun（《婴孩妙诀论》） written by TANG Minwang， a doctor in the Song Dynasty. In the records of ancient medical books， there are names such as Xiaoshiwan，Yangshi Xiaoruwan， and Kuaige Xiaoshiwan， but they are mainly recorded in the name of Xiaoruwan. The prescription was composed of Cyperi Rhizoma， Amomi Fructus， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium， Massa Medicata Fermentata， Hordei Fructus Germinatus， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. In terms of processing method， Cyperi Rhizoma， Massa Medicata Fermentata， and Hordei Fructus Germinatus are fried， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is processed， and raw materials of Amomi Fructus and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium are used directly. In terms of function， it is effective in warming the middle， improving digestion， stopping vomiting， and digesting milk and food. The main indications include vomiting， diarrhea， night crying， and other diseases caused by milk and food stagnation. The dosage of the most used prescription in the records of ancient books is Cyperi Rhizoma 41.30 g， Amomi Fructus 20.65 g， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium 20.65 g， Massa Medicata Fermentata 20.65 g， Hordei Fructus Germinatus 20.65 g， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma 20.65 g， which are prepared into pills. In the taking method， it is recommended to take it with warm boiled water or ginger soup after meals. The study summarized the historical evolution of Xiaoruwan and identified the key information， with a view to providing a reference for the modern development and research of Xiaoruwan.

Scientific basis of acupuncture on mesenchymal stem cells for treating ischemic stroke / 中国针灸

The scientific basis of acupuncture on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating ischemic stroke (IS) is discussed. MSCs transplantation has great potential for the treatment of tissue damage caused by early stage inflammatory cascade reactions of IS, but its actual transformation is limited by various factors. How to improve the homing efficiency of MSCs is the primary issue to enhance its efficacy. As such, the possible mechanisms of acupuncture and MSCs transplantation in inhibiting inflammatory cascade reactions induced by IS are explored by reviewing literature, and a hypothesis that acupuncture could promote the secretion of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) from ischemic foci to regulate SDF-1α/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) axis, thereby improving the homing efficiency of MSCs transplantation, exerting its neuroprotective function, and improving the bed transformation ability, is proposed.

Jiedu Huoxue Prescription Regulates NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 to Promote Vascular Reendothelialization in Rat Model of Injured Thoracic Aorta / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Jiedu Huoxue prescription in promoting the reendothelialization of injured vessels by regulating the nuclear factor （NF）-κB/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）/cysteine-aspartic acid protease （Caspase）-1-mediated pyroptosis. MethodA rat model of injured thoracic aorta was established by balloon injury， and 36 rats were assigned into shame surgery， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose Jiedu Huoxue prescription， and atorvastatin calcium tablet groups. The injured aortic segment was collected 28 days after surgery. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Evans blue staining were conducted to reveal the changes of vascular structural morphology and the reendothelialization of blood vessels， respectively. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）， interleukin （IL）-1β， and nitric oxide （NO） in the serum. Western blotting was employed to determine the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase （eNOS）， NF-κB p65， phospho-NF-κB p65 （p-NF-κB p65）， NLRP3， and Caspase-1 in the vascular tissue. ResultThe model group showed thickened endovascular membrane， proliferation and disarrangement of smooth muscle cells of the artery wall， obvious inflammatory cell infiltration， and narrowed luminal area. Jiedu Huoxue prescription and atorvastatin calcium tablets mitigated the pathological changes of the thoracic aorta in different degrees. After balloon injury， the endothelial coverage rate of the model group decreased significantly， while Jiedu Huoxue prescription and atorvastatin calcium tablets increased the reendothelialization rate （P<0.05）. Compared with the shame surgery group， the model group showed elevated levels of TNF-α， ICAM-1， and IL-1β （P<0.01） and lowered NO level （P<0.01） in the serum. In addition， the model group presented down-regulated protein level of eNOS （P<0.01） and up-regulated phosphorylation of pyroptosis-associated proteins NLPR3， Caspase-1， and NF-κB p65 in the vascular tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Jiedu Huoxue prescription and atorvastatin calcium tablets lowered TNF-α， ICAM-1， and IL-1β levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） and elevated the NO level in the serum （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， the drugs up-regulated the expression of eNOS （P<0.01） and down-regulated the expression of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and NF-κB p65 （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the vascular tissue. ConclusionJiedu Huoxue prescription can promote the reendothelialization and inhibit the intimal hyperplasia of vessels after balloon injury by regulating the NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway to inhibit pyroptosis and reduce endothelial inflammatory injury.

Analysis of the status and risk factors of in stent restenosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus one year after percutaneous coronary intervention / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To analyze the status of in stent restenosis (ISR) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and diabetes mellitus (DM) one year after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and explore the risk factors.Methods:From December 2019 to December 2020, 158 patients with AMI and DM who were treated by PCI in Qionghai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College were selected. They were followed up for one year after surgery to calculate the incidence of ISR. The patients were divided into ISR group and non ISR group according to whether ISR occurred. The difference of clinical data between the two groups was compared. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for the occurrence of ISR in AMI patients with DM 1 year after PCI.Results:55 patients were followed up for 1 year, and the incidence of ISR was 34.81% (55/158). There were significant difference between ISR group and non ISR group in hypertension history, old myocardial infarction history, smoking, exercise ratio, preoperative low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total bilirubin (TBIL), blood uric acid (UA), plasma fibrinogen (FIB), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c) levels, coronary artery lesion number, stenosis degree, stent length, stent diameter (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension history, smoking, LDL-C, FIB, HbA 1c and stent length were independent risk factors for ISR in AMI patients with DM after PCI, and exercise and appropriate increase of stent diameter were protective factors (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of ISR in AMI patients with DM at 1 year after PCI is relatively high, and its occurrence is related to many factors. In order to reduce the risk of ISR after PCI, we should encourage smoking cessation, exercise, strengthen the monitoring of biochemical indicators, and appropriately increase the diameter of stent during PCI.

Research on the Strategy of Improving the Efficiency of Multi-departmental Operation in the Ethics Review System of Traditional Chinese Medicine after CAP Certification / 中国医学伦理学

Capability Accreditation Program of Ethics Review for Chinese Medicine Research (CAP Accreditation) is the first medical ethics certification project in China. Institutions can further improve their ethics review work level after passing the CAP accreditation. However, the operational efficiency of each department in the ethics review system needs to be further improved when performing relevant functions in accordance with the certification requirements. Based on the experience and summary in the work of the ethical review system, this paper analyzed the main factors that affect the efficiency of the ethical review system and put forward improvement strategies from six aspects: organizational leadership, incentive policies, quality supervision, system construction, talent training, and promotion through evaluation, with a view to providing reference for improving the efficiency of ethical review, and promoting multi-department coordination and system integration.

Shexiang Baoxin Pill attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by activating autophagy via modulating the ceRNA-Map3k8 pathway.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion is complex, involving multiple regulatory genes and environmental factors, and requiring the simultaneous regulation of multiple targets. Meanwhile, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has certain advantages in the comprehensive treatment of multi-site, multi-target conditions and overall regulation of this condition. This study explores the effect of the well-known TCM, the Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP) on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo, 20 mg/kg/day SBP was administered by gavage for 28 days. In vitro, cardiomyocytes were pretreated with 25 µg/ml SBP for 24 h. Evans blue/TTC double-staining was employed to determine the infarct size. Markers of myocardial injury were detected in the serum and cell supernatants. The changes of pyroptosis and autophagy proteins were detected by western blot. Immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and PCR were performed to further illustrate the results. RESULTS: SBP significantly reduced the myocardial infarct size, decreased the myocardial injury markers, inhibited cardiomyocyte pyroptosis and oxidative stress, and promoted autophagy in vivo. In vitro, SBP alleviated cardiomyocyte pyroptosis, inhibited oxidative stress, reduced IL-1ß and IL-18 secretion, and unblocked autophagy flux. Myocardial injury is mitigated by SBP via the rapid degradation of autophagosomes, and SBP promotes the accumulation of autophagosomes by downregulating mmu_circ_0005874, Map3k8 and upregulating mmu-miR-543-3p. CONCLUSION: We found for the first time that SBP can inhibit pyroptosis and oxidative stress, and protect from myocardial I/R injury. In addition, it inhibits pyroptosis and improves H/R injury by promoting autophagosome generation and accelerating autophagic flux. SBP interferes with autophagy through the interaction between mmu_circ_0005874/mmu-miR-543-3p/Map3k8.

Effects of Functional Acupuncture on Upper Limb Spasticity After Ischemic Stroke: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Parallel Clinical Trial.

Background: Upper limb spasticity (ULS) is a common complication after stroke, which seriously affects the quality of life and rehabilitation of patients. There are different treatment methods for post-stroke spasticity (PSS). Our group found that functional acupuncture (FA) can effectively improve forearm spasticity and hand dysfunction after stroke, but the efficacy of ULS needs to be further verified. Therefore, this subject has mainly used clinical randomized controlled trials to evaluate the clinical efficacy of FA in the treatment of ULS after ischemic stroke. Method: This is a parallel design and randomized controlled trial. We selected 108 patients who met the predefined criteria and randomized them into two groups, the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group receives FA and routine rehabilitation treatment. The control group received traditional acupuncture (TA) and routine rehabilitation treatment. All patients received 20 courses of treatment for 4 weeks, and the modified Ashworth score (MAS), clinical neurological deficit score (CSS), Fugl-Meyer upper extremity function assessment (FMA-UE), and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores were evaluated before and after treatment. Discussion: This trial is mainly to study the clinical efficacy of FA in the treatment of ULS after ischemic stroke. It will not only provide a new idea for the clinical treatment of upper limb post-stroke spasticity (ULPSS) but also will provide effective experimental support and a theoretical basis for the clinic. Trial registration: China Clinical Trials Registry No. ChiCTR2100050440. Registered on 27 August 27 2021.

Applications of Red Mud as a Masonry Material: A Review.

Red mud (RM) is a highly alkaline by-product produced by the aluminium industry. The total stockpile of RM in the world is evaluated to be close 4 billion tons, which caused serious soil and water pollution. The use of RM in masonry materials has proven to be a prospective strategy to alleviate the environmental problems caused by RM. During the past decades, various economical treatment methods have been developed for utilization of RM as a masonry material. There are two general categories of products using RM in masonry materials: sintered products and non-sintered products. In this review, the physicochemical properties of RM are introduced, and the different application scenarios for RM in masonry materials are summarized, which is valuable for solving the environmental problems caused by the accumulation of bauxite residue. Moreover, the potential environmental risks of utilizing RM are described. Finally, suggestions for solving the RM problem are proposed.

Bibliometric analysis for research hotspot and frontier of ursolic acid / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To e xplore the research hots pots and development frontiers of ursolic acid in recent 20 years，and to provide reference for researchers in this field. METHODS Research literatures related to ursolic acid in Web of Science from Jan. ， 1，2002 to Dec. 31，2021 were collected ，and visualization analysis was performed on countries or regions ，research institutions ， authors，journals and keywords involved in the literatures using CiteSpace software ，to obtain the spatial and temporal distribution of ursolic acid and research frontiers. The research status and development frontier of ursolic acid were further analyzed by analyzing keywords co-occurrence ，keyword emergence ，keyword clustering ，etc. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS Totally 3 528 valid papers were included in this study ，and the top three countries were China ，India and the United States. Analysis of publishing institutions showed that Chinese Academy of Sciences ，Univisity of Karachi and China Medical University were the top 3 research institutions in the list of publication amount. Analysis of published journals showed that Molecules （127 articles），Journal of Ethnopharmacology（90 articles），Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry （75 articles）had high number of literatures on ursolic acid. The analysis of keyword analysis showed that pharmacological effects ，such as antitumor activity of ursolic acid ， antioxidant activity ，antibacterial activity and anti-inflammatory activity ，are always the focus of the research ；the mechanism ursolic acid induced apoptosis ，oxidative stress and autophagy ，the research on ursolic acid signaling pathway ，drug delivery of ursolic acid nanoparticles were the research direction in the future.

Chinese Medicine Monomers Regulate Atherosclerosis Through NF-κB Pathway： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world today. Atherosclerosis （AS） is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by thickening or functional degeneration of the arterial wall， and in the later stage of the disease， plaque ruptures to induce thrombosis， which in turn causes ischemia in tissues or organs. It is therefore the pathological basis for all types of cardiovascular diseases. Nuclear transcription factor kappa B （NF-κB）， an important nuclear transcription factor in the inflammatory response， is activated to mediate the transcription of inflammatory factors that can trigger or exacerbate the development of AS. Vascular endothelial cells are activated by inflammatory factors. NF-κB mediates related regulatory genes in endothelial cells to secrete adhesion molecules， chemokines， and coagulation factors， promotes selective aggregation of monocytes， up-regulates the expression of adhesion molecules to make adhesion molecules stick to the endothelium and move toward the intima， promotes the degradation of the extracellular matrix， and forms unstable plaques. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has achieved certain results in the prevention and treatment of AS， and many Chinese medicines have been proved to be effective in resisting AS and can act on multiple targets in the human body， affecting the occurrence and development of AS in different links. This paper mainly introduced the NF-κB pathway and its relationship with AS， reviewed research progress on 75 components of different types in Chinese medicine monomers such as flavonoids， terpenoids， and alkaloids in AS resistance based on the NF-κB pathway， and found that Chinese medicine monomers mainly regulate cholesterol balance， inhibit the inflammatory response， reduce cell proliferation， inhibit intercellular adhesion， and suppress foam cell formation by regulating the NF-κB pathway to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of AS.

Material Attribute Research in Quality Control of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pills： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

As intelligent production of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been inevitable， informatization and automation of the production process have become the precondition for realizing intelligent manufacturing of TCM， of which the accumulation of critical material attribute and the critical quality attribute are the basis. The study of material properties is of great significance to achieve the quality control of the final product in the process， but there is a lack of systematic induction and summary of the research on the attribute of TCM pills. Therefore， the authors analyzed and summarized the attributes of raw materials， excipients and intermediates in the pill unit process according to the classification of powder properties， rheological properties and texture properties. What’s more， the impact of material attributes on the quality of the final product was summarized. Besides， this review summarized the attribute characterization techniques involved in the pill process and provided some suggestions for the characterization of product quality attributes. Finally， based on the concept of quality by design （QbD）， the authors proposed that the study of material attribute should be combined with process analytical technology （PAT）， and the focus of drug quality control should be moved forward to guide equipment upgrading， so as to realize intelligent continuous manufacturing of TCM pills.

Effects of Nardostachys jatamansi on gut microbiota of rats with Parkinson's disease / 中国中药杂志

Under the guidance of the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory of "Zangfu-organs of spleen and stomach" and the modern theory of "microbiota-gut-brain axis", this study explored the effects of Nardostachys jatamansi on the gut microbiota of rats with Parkinson's disease(PD). The 40 SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, PD model group, levodopa group, and Nardostachys jatamansi ethanol extract group. The PD model was established by subcutaneous injection of rotenone in the neck and back area. After 14 days of intragastric administration, the PD rats' behaviors were analyzed through open field test, inclined plane test, and pole test. After the behavioral tests, the striatum, colon, and colon contents of rats in each group were collected. Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) and α-synuclein(α-syn) in striatum and that of α-syn in colon. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) in striatum and colon. High-throughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene was conducted to detect the differences in microbial diversity, abundance, differential phyla, and dominant bacteria of rats between groups. The results indicated that Nar. ethanol extract could relieve dyskinesia, reverse the increased levels of α-syn, TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF-κB in striatum, and improve the protein expression of TH in striatum of PD rats. The α diversity analysis indicated a significant decrease in diversity and abundance of gut microbiota in the PD model. The results of linear discriminant analysis effect size(LEfSe) of dominant bacteria indicated that Nardostachys jatamansi ethanol extract increased the relative abundance of Clotridiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Anaerostipes, and reversed the increased relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia-Shigella in PD model group to exhibit the neuroprotective effect. In summary, the results indicated that Nar. ethanol extract exert the therapeutic effect on PD rats. Specifically, the extract may regulate gut microbiota, decrease the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and reduce the protein aggregation of α-syn in the colon and striatum to alleviate intestinal inflammation and neuroinflammation. This study provides a basis for combining the theory of "Zangfu-organs of spleen and stomach" with the theory of "microbiota-gut-brain axis" to treat PD.

Molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying boron-induced alleviation of cadmium toxicity in rice seedlings.

Both cadmium (Cd) contamination and boron (B) deficiency in farmland soils pose a threat to the yield and quality of crops in Southern China. The present study investigated the mechanisms by which B reduces Cd accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings. Boron supplementation partially restored the decline in shoot and root biomass caused by Cd treatment (26% and 33%, respectively), with no significant difference between the B+Cd and control groups. We also found that B significantly reduced shoot and root Cd concentrations (by 64% and 25%, respectively) but increased Cd concentration (by 43%) and proportion (from 38% to 55%) in root cell walls. Transcriptome analysis and biochemical tests suggested that B supplementation enhanced lignin and pectin biosynthesis, pectin demethylation, and sulfur and glutathione metabolism. Moreover, B decreased the expression of some Cd-induced transporter-related genes (i.e., HMA2, Nramp1, and several ABC genes). These results indicate that B relieved Cd toxicity and reduced Cd accumulation in rice seedlings by restraining Cd uptake and translocation from root to shoot by improving Cd tolerance and chelation ability. These novel findings would benefit further investigations into how B influences Cd uptake, translocation, detoxification, and accumulation in crops.

Gut dysbiosis correction contributes to the hepatoprotective effects of Thymus quinquecostatus Celak extract against alcohol through the gut-liver axis.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major health issue globally due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Thymus quinquecostatus Celak is a food additive and an edible herb that is widely used in Asia and possesses hepatoprotective activity, but the underlying mechanisms behind this protective activity are not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Thymus quinquecostatus Celak extract (TQE) against ALD as well as the underlying mechanism based on gut microbiota and the gut-liver axis. TQE supplementation markedly alleviated chronic alcohol-induced liver injury in C57 mice. TQE also ameliorated gut barrier dysfunction induced by alcohol. Consequently, the activation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation-mediated TLR4 pathway and the subsequent inflammatory response and ROS overproduction in the liver were suppressed. Meanwhile, alcohol-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis was also corrected by TQE. To further investigate the contribution of gut dysbiosis correction to the beneficial effects of TQE on ALD, a fecal microbiota transplantation study was conducted. TQE-manipulated gut microbiota transplantation markedly counteracted the alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis in the recipient mice. In parallel with gut dysbiosis correction, liver damage was partly ameliorated in the recipient mice. Gut barrier dysfunction, endotoxemia, TLR4 pathway induction as well as downstream inflammatory response and ROS overproduction were also partly suppressed due to gut dysbiosis correction in alcohol-fed recipient mice. In summary, these results suggest that gut dysbiosis correction contributes to the hepatoprotective effects of TQE against alcohol through the gut-liver axis.