Polypeptides from traditional Chinese medicine: Comprehensive review of perspective towards cancer management.

Cancer has always been a focus of global attention, and the difficulty of treatment and poor prognosis have always plagued humanity. Conventional chemotherapeutics and treatment with synthetic disciplines will cause adverse side effects and drug resistance. Therefore, searching for a safe, valid, and clinically effective drug is necessary. At present, some natural compounds have proved to have the potential to fight cancer. Polypeptides obtained from traditional Chinese medicine are good anti-cancer ingredients. The anticancer activity has been fully demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. However, most of the functional studies on traditional Chinese medicine polypeptides are at the stage of basic experimental research, and fewer of them have been applied to clinical trials. Hence, this review mainly discusses the chemical structure, extraction, separation and purification methods, the anti-cancer mechanism, and structure-activity relationships of traditional Chinese medicine polypeptides. It provides theoretical support for strengthening the rapid separation and purification and the overall efficacy and mechanism of action, as well as the industrialization and clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine polypeptides.

Synergistic mechanism of stir-baked curcumae radix with vinegar in dysmenorrhea rats based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS metabolomics.

Curcumae Radix (i.e. Huangsiyujin: HSYJ), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been widely used in clinical practice for many years to treat depression and primary dysmenorrhea. Modern pharmacological researches have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and dysmenorrhea relief effects. According to the processing theory of TCM, it is believed that stir-baked HSYJ with vinegar may enhance the ability to disperse stagnant hepatoqi and alleviate pain. However, whether the vinegar concoction of HSYJ can enhance the therapeutic effect on the Qi stagnation due to liver depression (LDQS) type of dysmenorrhea and what its mechanism has not been well explained. Based on the processing drugs theory of "stir-baked with vinegar into liver", a metabolomic approach was used to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of stir-baked HSYJ with vinegar to enhance the treatment of dysmenorrhea in rats. By establishing a rat model of dysmenorrhea of the "LDQS" type, observation of hemorheology, uterine pathological sections, COX-2 and OTR protein expression and other indicators; analysis of urinary metabolic changes in rats by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technique, to compare the differential biomarkers and metabolic pathways in the treatment of dysmenorrhea due to "liver stagnation and qi stagnation" before and after stir-baked HSYJ with vinegar. Stir-baked HSYJ with vinegar significantly inhibited the writhing response of rats, improved hemorheology, repaired damaged diseased uterus and inhibited high expression of COX-2 and OTR proteins in uterus; 68 differential metabolites were screened from the urine of rats, compared with the raw HSYJ, the levels of 14 metabolites were significantly changed in stir-baked HSYJ with vinegar, involving the pathways of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. The potentiating effect of stir-baked HSYJ with vinegar may be related to the regulation of multiple amino acid metabolic pathways.

Effects of Selenium Dietary Yeast on Growth Performance, Slaughter Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Selenium Deposition in Broiler Chickens.

Selenium (Se) yeast, a bioavailable form of selenium, exhibits enhanced bioavailability due to its unique organic matrix and superior metabolic availability compared to the inorganic selenium sources. This study aims to evaluate the effects of Se yeast on the growth performance, slaughter performance, antioxidant capacity, and Se deposition in broiler chickens. A total of 264 1-day-old male AA broilers (38.7 ± 0.1 g) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, with six replicates of 11 chickens per replicate. The broilers were fed a basal diet or a diet supplemented with 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg/kg Se yeast. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Although the results showed that Se yeast did not significantly improve the growth performance of broilers, it did significantly decrease the abdominal fat ratio. Additionally, supplementation of Se yeast significantly improved the antioxidant capacity of broilers. The quadratic regression models were used to simulate the relationship between Se content in the feed and Se deposition in broiler tissues. The regression equations were as follows: pectoral muscle, Y = 2.628X - 0.340X2 - 0.592 (R2 = 0.927); leg muscle, Y = 2.317X - 0.272X2 - 0.490 (R2 = 0.937); liver, Y = 3.357X - 0.453X2 - 0.493 (R2 = 0.961); kidney, Y = 4.084X - 0.649X2 + 0.792 (R2 = 0.932). Based on these findings, the Se deposition in broiler tissues can be predicted by the Se content of the additive, which is of great significance for the precise production of Se-enriched functional chicken products.

Research progress on the treatment of epilepsy with traditional Chinese medicine.

BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system is a medical system that has been expanding for thousands of years that was formed by the extensive clinical practice experience of many physicians and the accumulation of personal medication habits in China. In TCM, there is a history of long-term medication for epilepsy, the main treatment for epilepsy is TCM drugs and its prescription, supplemented by TCM modalities such as acupuncture therapy, moxibustion therapy, tuina, emotion adjustment therapy, etc. PURPOSE: With the modernization of TCM, the active ingredients and molecular mechanisms of TCM for epilepsy treatment have been gradually revealed. This review aimed to comprehensively summarize the TCM treatment of epilepsy, focusing on the current TCM drugs and some TCM formulae for the treatment of epilepsy, and to discuss the research progress of TCM for the treatment of epilepsy, and to provide a reference to develop future related studies in this field. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mechanism of action of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) was interpreted from different perspectives by searching online databases and querying various materials identify drugs used in both modern medicine and TCM systems for the treatment of epilepsy. We collected all relevant TCM for epilepsy literature published in the last 30 years up to December 2022 from electronic databases such as PubMed, CNKI and Web of Science, and statistically analyzed the literature for the following keyword information. The search terms comprise the keywords "TCM", "phytochemistry", "pharmacological activity", "epilepsy" and "traditional application" as a combination. Scientific plant names were provided by "The Plant List" (www.theplantlist.org). RESULTS: Epilepsy is a complex and serious disease of the brain and nervous system. At present, the treatment of epilepsy in modern medicine is mainly surgery and chemotherapy, but there are many serious side effects. By summarizing the treatment of epilepsy in TCM, it is found that there are various methods to treat epilepsy in TCM, mainly TCM drugs and its formulae. Many TCM drugs have antiepileptic effects. Now found that the main effective TCM drugs for the treatment of epilepsy are Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, Scorpio, Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis and Ganoderma, etc. And the main compounds that play a role in the treatment of epilepsy are curcumin, gastrodin, ligustrazine, baicalin and rhynchophylline, etc. These TCM drugs have played an important role in the treatment of epilepsy in TCM clinic. However, the chemically active components of these TCM drugs are diverse and their mechanisms of action are complex, which are not fully understood and need to be further explored. CONCLUSIONS: TCM treats epilepsy in a variety of ways, and with the discovery of a variety of potential bioactive substances for treatment of epilepsy. With the new progress in the research of other TCM treatment methods for epilepsy, TCM will have greater potential in the clinical application of epilepsy.

Advances in pulmonary rehabilitation for children with bronchial asthma. / æ”¯æ°”ç®¡å“®å–˜æ‚£å„¿è‚ºåº·å¤ä¸´åºŠç ”ç©¶è¿›å±•.

Bronchial asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. With the development of the whole-life-cycle health concept, the focus of treatment for bronchial asthma in children has gradually shifted from pharmacological control to an integrated management model of functional rehabilitation and pharmacological assistance. As a non-pharmacological integrated approach, pulmonary rehabilitation plays an equally important role in the management of childhood asthma as pharmacological treatments. Breathing techniques such as Buteyko breathing, pursed lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing training, threshold-pressure inspiratory muscle training and yoga breathing can improve lung function indicators such as forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) in children. Comprehensive pre-exercise assessment, development of exercise prescriptions, and implementation and evaluation of exercise effects can improve physical fitness, neuromuscular coordination, and self-confidence of children with asthma. The comprehensive interventions of health education, psychological support and nutritional intervention can improve the compliance and effectiveness of rehabilitation training. This article reviews the research progress on respiratory training, physical exercise, and comprehensive interventions in the pulmonary rehabilitation of asthmatic children, to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for the scientific and rational management of pulmonary rehabilitation of asthmatic children in clinical settings.

[Effect of processing with vinegar on efficacy of Curcuma longa in treatment of dysmenorrhea in rats with syndrome of liver depression and Qi stagnation].

This study compared the effects of Curcuma longa before and after processing with vinegar on the rat model of dysmenorrhea with the syndrome of liver depression and Qi stagnation to reveal the mechanism of vinegar processing in improving the role of C. longa in soothing liver and relieving pain. The rat model of dysmenorrhea with the syndrome of liver depression and Qi stagnation was established according to the Preparation of the Animal Model of Dysmenorrhea(Draft) and the chronic unpredictable stress me-thod. The changes in the body weight, organ indexes, writhing latency, writhing score, and serum levels of six liver function indicators, sex hormones, pain factors, and blood rheological indicators were measured to evaluate the efficacy of C. longa processed with vinegar or not in treating dysmenorrhea in the rats with syndrome of liver depression and qi stagnation. Compared with the model group, the C. longa group(processed with vinegar or not) showed slow weight loss, increase in writhing latency, and decrease in writhing response(P<0.05). The inhibition rates on writhing in raw C. longa, vinegar-processed C. longa, and positive groups were 33.780%, 64.611%, and 62.466%, respectively. The significantly higher inhibition rate of the vinegar processing group indicated that vinegar-processed C. longa demonstrated more significant therapeutic effect. The vinegar-processed C. longa group showed lower levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), direct bilirubin(DBIL), and total bilirubin(TBIL) and higher level of albumin(ALB)(P<0.05), which indicated that vinegar processing enhanced the therapeutic effect of C. longa on liver injury. The serum levels of estradiol(E_2) and oxytocin(OT) were lower in the vinegar-processed C. longa group(P<0.05), indicating that the vinegar-processed C. longa could regulate the sex hormone levels, reduce the activity of uterine smooth muscle and contraction of uterus, and alleviate the symptoms of dysmenorrhea in rats. Moreover, the vinegar-processed C. longa group showed lower interleukin-6(IL-6) and arginine vasopressin(AVP) levels and higher beta-endorphin(ß-EP) level(P<0.05), which indicated that vinegar-processed C. longa regulated the levels of pain factors to exert the pain-relieving effect. Drug intervention decreased the whole blood viscosity low-cut, medium-cut and high-cut values, plasma viscosity, whole blood reduction viscosity low-cut and high-cut values, erythrocyte cumulative pressure, and equation K value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate(P<0.05), and the vinegar-processed C. longa group outperformed other groups. This result indicated that vinegar processing enhanced the function of C. longa in improving the local blood rheology. C. longa processed with vinegar can enter the liver to relieve the da-mage to the heart, liver, kidney, and uterus, repair the liver function, and recover the sex hormone levels and immune function by regulating the levels of sex hormones and pain factors and improving the blood rheology. It activates the pain-relieving mechanism to relieve the pain, protect the liver, and fight inflammation, which is consistent with the theory that vinegar processing facilitates C. longa entering the liver to sooth liver and relieve pain.

Construction and validation of prognostic scoring models to risk stratify patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related diffuse large B cell lymphoma (AR-DLBCL) is a rare disease with a high risk of mortality. There is no specific prognostic model for patients with AR-DLBCL. A total of 100 patients diagnosed with AR-DLBCL were enrolled in our study. Clinical features and prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement, opportunistic infection (OI) at lymphoma diagnosis, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were selected to construct the OS model; CNS involvement, OI at lymphoma diagnosis, elevated LDH, and over four chemotherapy cycles were selected to construct the PFS model. The area under the curve and C-index of GZMU OS and PFS models were 0.786/0.712; 0.829/0.733, respectively. The models we constructed showed better risk stratification than International Prognostic Index (IPI), age-adjusted IPI, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network-IPI. Furthermore, in combined cohort, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the models were good fits (OS: p = 0.8244; PFS: p = 0.9968) and the decision curve analysis demonstrated a significantly better net benefit. The prognostic efficacy of the proposed models was validated independently and outperformed the currently available prognostic tools. These novel prognostic models will help to tackle a clinically relevant unmet need.

Integrated evaluation of the requirements and excretions of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn for broilers via a uniform design method.

This study aimed to determine the ideal balance profile of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn for broilers of 1-21 days of age via a uniform experimental design. In Experiment 1, 900 1-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly allotted to 15 dietary treatments with six replicates of 10 birds. A total of 14 experimental diets were formulated with the supplementation of 8~16, 123~160, 40~80, and 60~120 mg/kg of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn, respectively, in the basal diet, according to the uniform design method. The excretion of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the manure and the broiler performance were determined to build the ideal balance profile of these elements. Experiment 2 was conducted based on the ideal balance profile built in Experiment 1, to test its practicability using 720 broilers with two treatments. The dietary concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the control group were 15.19, 203.08, 76.78, and 86.13 mg/kg, respectively. In Experiment 1, the concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the diets were 16.96, 166.66, 46.01, and 60.26 mg/kg, respectively, when the average daily gain reached the optimum value. When the dietary concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn were 8.54, 130.66, 38.19, and 64.07 mg/kg, respectively, the total excretion of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn got the minimum value. There are corresponding ideal balance profiles for minimum excretion of a certain element. In Experiment 2, the dietary levels of Fe, Zn, and Mn were decreased by 17.93%, 40.08%, and 30.04%, respectively, which had no significant effect on average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed gain for 1~21 day-old broilers but markedly decreased the excretion of Cu and Mn and total excretion. It was concluded that there is a dilemma between growth performance and mineral excretion. Although dietary levels of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn supporting optimal growth are higher than those for minimizing mineral excretion, supplementing too many trace elements in the diets of broilers is unnecessary.

[Material basis and mechanism of Curcuma longa tuberous roots with and without vinegar processing in treating primary dysmenorrhea].

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to analyze the chemical components in Curcuma longa tuberous roots(HSYJ), C. longa tuberous roots processed with vinegar(CHSYJ), and rat serum after the administration. The active components of HSYJ and CHSYJ absorbed in serum were identified based on the secondary spectrum of database and literature. The targets of primary dysmenorrhea was screened out from database. The protein-protein interaction network analysis, gene ontology(GO) functional annotation, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed for the common targets shared by the drug active components in serum and primary dysmenorrhea, and the component-target-pathway network was constructed. AutoDock was used to conduct molecular docking between the core components and targets. A total of 44 chemical components were identified from HSYJ and CHSYJ, including 18 absorbed in serum. On the basis of network pharmacology, we identified 8 core components(including procurcumenol, isobutyl p-hydroxybenzoate, ferulic acid, and zedoarondiol) and 10 core targets \[including interleukin-6(IL-6), estrogen receptor 1(ESR1), and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2)\]. The core targets were mainly distributed in the heart, liver, uterus, and smooth muscle. The molecular docking results showed that the core components were well bound to the core targets, indicating that HSYJ and CHSYJ may exert therapeutic effect on primary dysmenorrhea via estrogen, ovarian steroidogenesis, tumor necrosis factor(TNF), hypoxia-inducible factor-1(HIF-1), IL-17 and other signaling pathways. This study clarifies the HSYJ and CHSYJ components absorbed in serum, as well as the corresponding mechanism, providing a reference for further elucidating the therapeutic material basis and clinical application of HSYJ and CHSYJ.

Polysaccharides from Chinese materia medica: Perspective towards cancer management.

Cancer has always been a focus of global attention, and the difficulty of treatment and poor prognosis have always plagued humanity. Conventional chemotherapeutics and treatment with synthetic disciplines will cause adverse side effects and drug resistance. Therefore, searching for a safe, valid, and clinically effective drug is necessary. At present, some natural compounds have proved to have the potential to fight cancer. Polysaccharides obtained from Chinese materia medica are good anti-cancer ingredients. Polysaccharides are macromolecular compounds of equal or distinct monosaccharides with an α- or ß-glycosidic bonds. The anti-cancer activity has been fully demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. However, Chinese materia medica polysaccharides are only used as adjuvant therapy for cancer-related diseases. Hence, this review mainly discusses the chemical composition, biological activity, absorption in vivo, and clinical application of Chinese materia medica polysaccharides. Also, we discussed the anti-cancer mechanism. We also discussed the current research's limitations on treating cancer with Chinese materia medica polysaccharides and insights into future research.

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, a traditional Chinese Medicine: Comprehensive review of botany, traditional uses, chemical composition, pharmacology, and toxicity.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (LLF) is one of the usual Chinese herbs that has long been used with high therapeutic and condition value. LLF is used for the treatment of dizziness and tinnitus, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, premature greying of the hair, the darkness of the eyes, internal heat and thirst, bone steam and hot flashes and other symptoms. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review reviews botany, traditional uses, processing, phytochemistry, quality control, pharmacology, toxicity and pharmacokinetics to better understand its therapeutic potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature on LLF was obtained from Google Scholar and Baidu Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WAN FANG DATA and libraries. Some local books, official websites, PhD or MS's dissertations were also included. Phytochemical constituents' structures were drawn by ChemDraw software. RESULTS: So far, Multiple chemical components were isolated and identified from LLF, mainly including terpenoids and flavonoids. Modern studies have shown that LLF extracts and compounds have a wide range of pharmacological effects, including antitumor, liver protection, blood glucose, lipid-lowering, immune regulation, and other aspects. CONCLUSIONS: LLF occupies an important position in the traditional medical system. It is cost-effective and is a significant plant with therapeutic applications in modern medicine. However, further in-depth studies are needed to determine the medical use of this plant and its chemical composition, pharmacological activity, quality control, toxicity and pharmacokinetics.

Effect of Wuzi Yanzong prescription on oligoasthenozoospermia rats based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS metabolomics.

CONTEXT: Wuzi Yanzong Prescription (WYP) has long been used to treat male infertility, with convincing clinical evidence. However, its mechanism of action is not clear. OBJECTIVE: WYP chemical components were quantified by HPLC, and the effect on oligoasthenozoospermia rats was explored based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS metabonomics technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The solution was extracted by alcohol and water; the content of eight components in the extracting solution was determined by HPLC. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (CG), model (MG) and administration (PG) groups. Oligoasthenozoospermia was induced for 30 days in all, but the CG with daily oral doses of 20 mg/kg Tripterysium glycosides (TG). PG was given daily oral doses of WYP solution (1.08 g/kg), CG and MG received the same volume of distilled water, all administered for 30 days. After the last administration, the serum samples were collected and detected by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. RESULTS: An HPLC method for simultaneous determination of chlorogenic acid (0.081%), ellagic acid (0.021%), hyperoside (0.032%), verbascoside (0.011%), isoquercitrin (0.041%), astragalin (0.026%), kaempferol (0.009%) and schisandrin (0.014%) was established. Moreover, the 74 potential biomarkers and eight metabolic pathways related to oligoasthenozoospermia were identified by multivariate analysis and metabolite profiling. WYP can regulate 36 markers, mainly involving amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and nucleotide metabolism. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This is a simple and accurate method for quality control of WYP. It further enriches the potential mechanism of WYP in the treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia. It can provide a theoretical basis for the rational application of WYP.

Safety and efficacy of Yupingfeng granules in children with recurrent respiratory tract infection: A randomized clinical trial.

Importance: Recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRTI) is common in children. Inappropriate RRTI treatment will lead to asthma and other diseases, thereby seriously affecting the growth and physical health of children. Immune function modulation can prevent and alleviate childhood RRTI. Yupingfeng (YPF), a patented traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has immunomodulatory effects and is widely used in China to treat children with RRTI. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of YPF monotherapy in treating children with RRTI. Methods: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-simulation, noninferiority clinical trial was conducted from January 2015 to August 2017, with an 8-week treatment period and 52-week follow-up after the drug withdrawal. Children aged 2-6 years with RRTI meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in 13 hospitals in China and divided randomly into three groups (2:2:1 ratio) to receive YPF, pidotimod, or placebo. The primary outcome was the proportion of RRTI returning to normal standard level during the follow-up. The secondary outcomes were reduction in the number of RRTI recurrences, effect on clinical symptoms (in accord with TCM practice), effect per symptom, and safety. The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (www.chictr.org.cn) under the unique identifier ChiCTR-IPR-15006847. Results: Three hundred and fifty-one children were enrolled and randomly assigned to 3 groups; 124, 125, and 61 children in the YPF, pidotimod, and placebo groups, respectively, had completed the trial. During the follow-up, the proportion of RRTI returning to normal standard level was 73.13%, 67.15%, and 38.81% with YPF, pidotimod, and placebo, respectively (P < 0.0001). The proportion of cases who returned to normal standard level in the YPF group was 34.32% higher than that in the placebo group. The safety profile did not significantly differ among the groups. Interpretation: YPF granules were noninferior to the active control drug pidotimod oral solution for the treatment of RRTI in children, and were superior to placebo, with a high safety profile.

Clinical Effects of Simultaneous Implant Placement in Hydraulic Maxillary Sinus Lift Without Bone Grafting.

Context: Tooth absence is a pervasive oral condition and mostly occurs as maxillary tooth absence. The only way to treat tooth absence in adults is prosthesis implantation, and implant therapy usually requires repair of the maxillary sinus to its original state using a maxillary sinus lift (MSL). MSL has usually included bone augmentation with bone grafting simultaneously with the placement of the dental implant. Objective: The study intended to examine the clinical effects of placement of dental implants using the hydraulic maxillary sinus lift (MSL), without bone grafting, to offer new guidance, to make suggestions for future clinical treatment of tooth absence, and also to lay a reliable foundation for subsequent research on MSL without bone grafting. Design: The research team designed a randomized controlled trial. Setting: The study occurred at Suzhou Kowloon Hospital at the Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine in Suzhou, China. Participants: Participants were 68 patients at the hospital with tooth defects between February 2019 and December 2019. Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group or the control group. Both groups received dental-implant placement in the hydraulic MSL, but the intervention group's surgery didn't include bone grafting, while the control group's included simultaneous bone grafting. Outcome Measures: Participants' surgical experience were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ), and inflammatory factors were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Participants' periodontal conditions after surgery were assessed, using tests for bone mineral density (BMD), periodontal probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PLI), and bleeding index (BI) as well as measurements of the implant retention rate, new bone acquisition around implants, and vertical bone loss. Participants' surgical costs were also evaluated. At a one-year follow-up, a masticatory function score and the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) were used for an evaluation of participants' prognoses. Results: The intervention group had a significantly lower incidence of postoperative adverse reactions, lower intraoperative blood loss, and shorter operation time than did the control group (all P < .05). After surgery at week1, the intervention group showed significantly lower levels of inflammatory factors than the control group did (all P < .05). Postoperatively at month 6, the intervention group had a significantly higher implant retention rate than did the control group (P < .05). Conclusions: Simultaneous implant placement in a hydraulic MSL without bone grafting can deliver favorable therapeutic effects, with a high safety profile, which can effectively optimize the surgical process, improve patients' postoperative feelings, and reduce surgical expenses, making it easy to popularize clinically.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine Qirui Weishu capsule in treating chronic non-atrophic gastritis: A multicentre, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: QiruiWeishu capsule is an herbal preparation from a herbal formula prescribed by an experienced doctor at Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. It has been used clinically for more than 30 years. Abdominal pain, distension, and nausea are common symptoms of chronic non-atrophic gastritis with erosion dampness and heat stasis syndrome, and this herbal medicine has been used to treat them. AIM OF THE STUDY: To verify the clinical efficacy and safety of QiruiWeishu capsule in the treatment of chronic non-atrophic gastritis with damp-heat stasis syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a multicenter randomized double-blind clinical trial with positive herbal drug SanjiuWeitai capsule as control and superiority test of main efficacy. A total of 477 subjects with chronic non-atrophic gastritis with erosion diagnosed by gastroscopy and pathological biopsy were randomly divided into QiruiWeishu capsule and SanjiuWeitai groups respectively in a ratio of 3:1. During the trial, subjects were required to complete medication for 28 days. The primary outcome was the disappearance rate of epigastric pain from baseline to 4weeks. At baseline, treatment at 1, 2, and 4 weeks, and follow-up at 8 and 16 weeks, the epigastric pain and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores were evaluated; gastroscopy, histopathology, and the helicobacter pylori test were evaluated at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. The safety assessment included blood routine, liver and kidney function, coagulation of laboratory tests, and electrocardiogram (ECG). RESULTS: Both groups of subjects had a high level of medication adherence (defined as treatment completion for over 80%) (346/357, 96.9% in Qirui Weishu group vs 118/120, 98.3% in Sanjiu Weitai group; p > 0.05). The QiruiWeishu capsule was significantly better than SanjiuWeitai capsule in disappearance rate of epigastric pain (64.2%, 229/357vs 46.7%, 56/120; p < 0.001)，especially subgroupsubjects with moderate epigastric pain (65.0%, 89/137 vs 30.4%, 14/46; p < 0.001), grade1 erythema (67.7%, 149/220 vs 51.9%, 42/81; p = 0.011) and grade 2 erythema (57.6%, 70/121 vs37.1%, 13/35; p = 0.050) of gastroscopy, grade 2 erosion (66.7%, 118/177 vs43.9%, 25/57; p = 0.002) of gastroscopy and Helicobacter pylori negative (65.4%, 155/237 vs 42.7%, 35/82; p < 0.001) at baseline. For the scores of TCM symptoms in QiruiWeishu group were significantly lower than those in SanjiuWeitai group after 28 days of treatment (p = 0.002). The number and incidence of adverse events related to the trial drug were 14/355 (3.9%) in QiruiWeishu group, 6/118 (5.1%) in SanjiuWeitai group (p > 0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in the two groups. According to laboratory tests and ECG, there was no discernible effect on heart, liver, kidney, or blood coagulation function. CONCLUSION: Qirui Weishu capsule appears to be more effective in terms of symptoms than the SanjiuWeitai capsule, and its use is both safe and effective for the treatment of chronic non-atrophic gastritis. A further randomized, double-blind, placebo-control trial is warranted to verify its benefit.

Curcumae Radix: a review of its botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology.

OBJECTIVES: Curcumae Radix, the medicinal part is radix, commonly called as Yujin (Chinese:), is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine for its high medicinal value and health benefits. Curcumae Radix has been used to treat conditions such as syndrome of heat disease and unconsciousness, epilepsy and internal stagnation of phlegm, qi stagnation and blood stasis, dysmenorrhoea, jaundice, cholelithiasis caused by dampness heat of liver and gallbladder. This review aims to summarize the botany, traditional usages, processing, phytochemistry, quality control, pharmacology and toxicology of Curcumae Radix to better understand its therapeutic potential. KEY FINDINGS: So far, a variety of chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from Curcumae Radix, mainly including volatile oil and diphenylheptanes. Modern research shows that the extracts and compounds from Curcumae Radix possess wide-ranging pharmacological effects, including anti-tumour, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, anti-thrombosis, as well as effects on the nervous system and others. SUMMARY: Curcumae Radix holds an important position in traditional system of medicine. It is cost-effective and an important plant with curative application in contemporary medicine. However, further in-depth studies are also needed to determine the medical uses of this plant and its chemical constituents, pharmacological activity, quality control and toxicology.

Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus on the growth performance, immune response, and intestinal barrier function of broiler chickens challenged with Escherichia coli O157.

We studied the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, and immune response of broilers challenged with Escherichia coli O157 (E. Coli). A total of 360 1-day-old Cobb male broilers were tested in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with 3 dietary L. acidophilus levels (0, 5 × 108 CFU/kg, and 10 × 108 CFU/kg of diet) and 2 disease challenge treatments (control or E. coli challenged). Results showed that E. coli challenge decreased the ADG, ADFI, and BW of broilers from 15 to 21 d (P < 0.05), increased the jejunum intestinal wall thickness, and significantly increased the mortality rate. E. coli challenge significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the serum IgA and IgM contents and peripheral blood CD3+ T cell counts (P < 0.05), increased the serum CRP, DAO, and LPS levels at 21 d; upregulated the mRNA expression of iNOS, IL-8, IL-1ß in the jejunum and iNOS in the spleen, and downregulated the occludin and ZO-1 mRNA expression in the ileum at 21 d compared with uninfected birds (P < 0.05). Dietary L. acidophilus supplementation consistently showed higher BW, ADG, ADFI, and jejunum and ileum V:C ratio at 14 d and 21 d in the presence and absence of E. coli challenge (P < 0.05). L. acidophilus supplementation reduced the mortality rate caused by E. coli challenge (P < 0.05), decreased the serum CRP, DAO, and LPS levels at 14 d and 21 d; upregulated the mRNA expression of occludin and ZO-1 in the jejunum and ileum, and downregulated the mRNA expression of iNOS, IL-8, and IL-1ß in the jejunum in E. coli challenged birds at 21 d (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with L. acidophilus can improve the growth performance, intestinal health, and survival of broilers challenged with E. coli.

Magnetic seizure therapy for treatment-resistant depression.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is a potential alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Reports to date on use of MST for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) are limited. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of MST in comparison with sham-MST, antidepressant, and other forms of electric or magnetic treatment for adults with TRD. SEARCH METHODS: In March 2020, we searched a wide range of international electronic sources for published, unpublished, and ongoing studies. We handsearched the reference lists of all included studies and relevant systematic reviews and conference proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), the Annual Scientific Convention and Meeting, and the Annual Meeting of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) to identify additional studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised clinical trials (RCTs) focused on MST for adults with TRD. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors extracted data independently. For binary outcomes, we calculated risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). For continuous data, we estimated mean differences (MDs) between groups and 95% CIs. We employed a random-effects model for analyses. We assessed risk of bias for included studies and created a 'Summary of findings' table using the GRADE approach. Our main outcomes of interest were symptom severity, cognitive function, suicide, quality of life, social functioning, dropout for any reason, serious adverse events, and adverse events that led to discontinuation of treatment. MAIN RESULTS: We included three studies (65 participants) comparing MST with ECT. Two studies reported depressive symptoms with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD). However, in one study, the data were skewed and there was an imbalance in baseline characteristics. Analysis of these two studies showed no clear differences in depressive symptoms between treatment groups (MD 0.71, 95% CI -2.23 to 3.65; 2 studies, 40 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Two studies investigated multiple domains of cognitive function. However most of the outcomes were not measured by validated neuropsychological tests, and many of the data suffered from unbalanced baseline and skewed distribution. Analysis of immediate memory performance measured by the Wechsler Memory Scale showed no clear differences between treatment groups (MD 0.40, 95% CI -4.16 to 4.96; 1 study, 20 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Analysis of delayed memory performance measured by the Wechsler Memory Scale also showed no clear differences between treatment groups (MD 2.57, 95% CI -2.39 to 7.53; 1 study, 20 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Only one study reported quality of life, but the data were skewed and baseline data were unbalanced across groups. Analysis of quality of life showed no clear differences between treatment groups (MD 14.86, 95% CI -42.26 to 71.98; 1 study, 20 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Only one study reported dropout and adverse events that led to discontinuation of treatment. Analysis of reported data showed no clear differences between treatment groups for this outcome (RR 1.38, 95% CI 0.28 to 6.91; 1 study, 25 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Adverse events occurred in only two participants who received ECT (worsening of preexisting coronary heart disease and a cognitive adverse effect). None of the included studies reported outcomes on suicide and social functioning. No RCTs comparing MST with other treatments were identified. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Evidence regarding effects of MST on patients with TRD is currently insufficient. Our analyses of available data did not reveal clearly different effects between MST and ECT. We are uncertain about these findings because of risk of bias and imprecision of estimates. Large, long, well-designed, and well-reported trials are needed to further examine the effects of MST.

[Study on effect of different processing methods on chemical components of Chuanxiong Rhizoma].

To determine the content of extracts in different processed products of Chuanxiong Rhizoma and the content of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, senkyunolide Ⅰ, coniferyl ferulate, senkyunolide A and ligustilide, in order to study the effect of different proces-sing methods on the alcohol-soluble extract and the content of six ingredients of Chuanxiong Rhizoma. The extract was determined according to the alcohol-soluble extract determination method set forth in item 2201 of the 2020 Chinese Pharmacopoeia Ⅳ; the content was determined by using Agilent TC-C_(18) column(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 µm) for gradient elution, with acetonitrile(A)-0.5% acetic acid solution(B) as the mobile phase; the column temperature was at 30 ℃; the flow rate was 1.0 mL·min~(-1), the detection wavelength was 285 nm; and the injection volume was 10 µL. Compared with Chuanxiong Rhizoma, the extracts of processed products all increased significantly; by the degree of increase, the order was stir-frying Chuanxiong Rhizoma with honey>stir-frying Chuanxiong Rhizoma with rice wine>stir-frying Chuanxiong Rhizoma with Angelicae Dahuricae Radix decoction>stir-frying Chuanxiong Rhizoma with tea decoction; the HPLC method was convenient and reliable, with a high linear relationship of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, senkyunolide Ⅰ, coniferyl ferulate, senkyunolide A and ligustilide, and a high precision, repeatability, stability and the sample recovery rate in Chuanxiong Rhizoma and its processed products. There were 15 chromatographic peaks before and after processing, eight of them were identified. Compared with the pre-processing, two chromatographic peaks were added after the stir-frying with honey and rice wine; and four chromatographic peaks were added after the processing with Angelicae Dahuricae Radix decoction; the contents of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, senkyunolide Ⅰ, coniferyl ferulate, senkyunolide A, and ligustilide in stir-frying Chuanxiong Rhizoma with rice wine were all reduced. Except for the content of ferulic acid that increased, the content of the other five components decreased in stir-frying Chuanxiong Rhizoma with honey, stir-frying Chuanxiong Rhizoma with tea decoction, and stir-frying Chuanxiong Rhizoma with Angelicae Dahuricae Radix decoction. Rice wine, honey, decoction of tea and Angelicae Dahuricae Radix could all promote the dissolution of chemical components in Chuanxiong Rhizoma, and increase the content of extract; the changes in the contents of six components of different processed products could provide a certain basis for studying chemical composition and efficacy of different processed products of Chuanxiong Rhizoma.

Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology.

Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (ZRR, the fresh rhizoma of Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is also a traditional spice, widely used around the world. The present paper reviews advances in research relating to the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens. In addition, this review also discusses some significant issues and the potential direction of future research on Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens. More than 100 chemical compounds have been isolated from Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, including gingerols, essential oils, diarylheptanoids, and other compounds. Modern studies have confirmed that Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens has pharmacological effects on the nervous system and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, as well as antiemetic, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. However, the modern studies of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens are still not complete and more bioactive components and potential pharmacological effects need to be explored in the future. There is no unified standard to evaluate the quality and clinical efficacy of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens. Therefore, we should establish reasonable, accurate, and reliable quality control standards to make better use of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens.