Tongmai Zhuke decoction restrains the inflammatory reaction of macrophages for carotid artery atherosclerosis by up-regulating lincRNA-Cox2.

To explore the mechanism of Tongmai Zhuke decoction for promoting blood circulation by taking carotid artery atherosclerosis (CAA) as an example, two sets of in-depth transcriptomic data as well as two sets of single-cell RNA sequencing data related to the macrophages in CAA were included. STAR and DCC software were used to process in-depth transcriptomic data in order to measure the expression level of LncRNAs as well as mRNA according to FPKM analysis. Single-cell RNA sequencing data from Illumina NovaSeq 6000 were further analyzed by CellRanger channel, CellRanger count, Seurat R package, DoubletFinder package, CCA algorithm, LogNormalize, principal-component analysis, t-SNE and ToppGene online tools. Based On unsupervised clustering, a total of four diverse cell populations with distinct transcriptional features were found in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The macrophages were further annotated as the "effector cell" in the pathologic process of CAA, based on the expression of CD68+/CD440-. A total of 84 up-regulated genes and 58 down-regulated linc-RNAs were identified in samples with carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Thereinto, lincRNA-Cox2 is the most down-regulated LincRNA. For the macrophages in carotid atherosclerotic plaques, expression level of Il6, Ccl3, Ccl4 Il10 and Tnfa were significantly up-regulated, while Timp1 significantly down-regulated comparing with healthy carotid sample. The expression level of lincRNA-Cox2 was significantly increased in macrophages after treated by Tongmai Zhuke decoction, while Cxcl10, Ccl3, Ccl4, Cxcl2, Ccl5, and Ccl19 were significantly decreased. Collectively, Tongmai Zhuke decoction could restrain the inflammatory reaction of macrophages for carotid artery atherosclerosis by up-regulating lincRNA-Cox2.

Expressions of serum adiponectin and visfatin in patients with hypertension in cerebrovascular accidents and analysis of risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expressions of serum adiponectin and visfatin in patients with hypertension and cerebrovascular accidents and to analyze the risk factors. METHODS: Data of 161 patients with hypertension treated in The Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2019 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 72 patients with cerebrovascular accidents assigned to an occurrence group. The remaining 89 patients without cerebrovascular accidents were assigned to a non-occurrence group. The two groups were compared in terms of the coagulation function (activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and fibrinogen), liver function (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), albumin and total bilirubin (TB)), blood lipid indexes (cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)), serum adiponectin, and visfatin levels. Pearson's correlation coefficient was performed to analyze the correlation of serum adiponectin and visfatin with blood lipid indexes. Logistics regression was performed to analyze the risk factors of stroke in patients with hypertension. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in terms of sex, age, education level, smoking, drinking, and diabetes histories (P>0.05). There were more patients ≥65 years old with body mass index ≥20 kg/m2 and with hyperlipidemia in the occurrence group than those in the non-occurrence group (P<0.05). The two groups were not notably different in activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, fibrinogen, AST, GPT, albumin, TB, total cholesterol, and HDL (P>0.05). The occurrence group showed significantly higher triglyceride, LDL and adiponectin levels, and a notably lower visfatin level than the non-occurrence group (P<0.05). Adiponectin showed a positive correlation with triglyceride and a negative association with LDL (P<0.05). Visfatin showed only a negative correlation with triglyceride (P<0.05), but no correlation with LDL (P>0.05). A multivariate logistics regression analysis reported that hyperlipidemia, triglyceride, LDL, adiponectin, and visfatin were independent risk factors for stroke in patients with hypertension (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum adiponectin and visfatin were differentially expressed in patients with both hypertension and stroke. Our regression analysis revealed that serum adiponectin and visfatin were independent risk factors for stroke in patients with hypertension.

Efficacy and safety of chemotherapy combined with different doses of IL-2 maintenance therapies for acute myeloid leukemia: A protocol for a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common malignant tumor of the hematopoietic system, which seriously threatens the lives of patients. Most AML patients have acute onset, severe condition, and poor prognosis. The present study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of chemotherapy combined with different doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2) maintenance treatments in AML by Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS: From its inception until October 2021, we will search PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Embase, and other databases to comprehensively collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of chemotherapy combined with different doses of IL-2 maintenance therapies for AML. Two independent researchers will complete the literature screening and data extraction according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and then independently conduct a bias risk assessment of all the evidence. Bayesian NMA was used to evaluate all the evidence comprehensively. Use STATA16.0 and WinBUGS1.4.3 software to process and analyze all data, and classify the quality of evidence in NMA according to grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation . RESULTS: The study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy combined with different doses of IL-2 maintenance therapies for AML. CONCLUSION: The study will provide a basis for the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy combined with different doses of IL-2 maintenance therapies for AML. We hope that this study can provide meaningful support for clinicians and patients. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202140106. ETHICAL APPROVAL: Since the study is based on published or registered RCTs, ethical approval and patient informed consent are abandoned.

Complementary and alternative therapies for tension-type headache: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common form of primary headache with high prevalence, which affects the quantity of life seriously. The pharmacological treatment of TTH is not the most effective. Meanwhile, complementary therapies and alternative therapies play an essential role in the treatment of TTH, and there is an absence of comparison between various interventions. Therefore, we propose the network meta-analysis protocol to compare the efficacy and safety of various complementary therapies and alternative therapies for TTH. METHODS: From the beginning to February 2021, we will search the database to collect randomized controlled trials of complementary and alternative therapies for TTH. Two researchers will be responsible for screening retrieve documents, extracting data. The risk of bias will be assessed based on the Cochrane bias risk tool. We will use STATA16.0 and WinBUGS1.4.3 for paired meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis. The quality of evidence will be assessed using the grading of recommendations assessment development and evaluation. RESULTS: This study will compare and rank the efficacy and safety of various complementary and alternative treatments for TTH. CONCLUSIONS: This study will provide more extensive evidence for the complementary and alternative therapies of TTH. We expect to assist clinicians and patients in choosing the optimum treatment. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202130088.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative therapies for primary trigeminal neuralgia: A protocol for a Bayesian network meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: Primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) is a type of peripheral neuralgia that seriously affects people's lives. In recent years, complementary therapies and alternative therapies have played a significant role in treating PTN. However, there is a lack of comparison among all the complementary and alternative therapies at present. Thus, the aim of this study is to discuss the efficacy and safety of diverse complementary and alternative therapies by Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS: We will retrieve the Chinese and English databases to gather related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of complementary and alternative therapies for treating PTN. The deadline is November 2020. Two independent researchers will be in charge of screening qualified literature, extracting data, and independently evaluating bias risks involved in the research. Pairwise meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis will be performed to assess all evidence. Then, we will use STATA16.0 as well as WinBUGS1.4.3 software for data analysis. Besides, the quality of NMA evidence will be classified by grading of recommendations assessment development and evaluation (GRADE). RESULTS: This study will compare and rank the efficacy and safety of different complementary and alternative therapies in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia. CONCLUSION: Complementary and alternative therapies play an essential role in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia. We expect our study will furnish meaningful evidence support for clinicians and patients. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2020120026. ETHICAL APPROVAL: Since the study is based on published or registered RCTs, ethical approval and patient informed consent are abandoned.

Complementary and alternative therapies for precancerous lesions of gastric cancer: A protocol for a Bayesian network meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors, which seriously affect peoples quality of life and threaten people's health. Precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC) are a critical stage in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer. Early effective intervention is an important means to prevent and control gastric cancer. In this study, we will evaluate the efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative therapies in the treatment of PLGC by Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS: We will search PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI and other databases to gather randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of PLGC with complementary and alternative therapies. Two reviewers will screen the literature and extract the data according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and then assess the quality and bias risk according to Cochrane's Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. Bayesian network meta-analysis will be conducted by Stata16.0 and WinBUGS1.4.3. RESULTS: This study will compare and rank the efficacy and safety of different complementary and alternative therapies for PLGC. CONCLUSION: This study can provide reliable evidence for the efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative therapies in treatment of PLGC. We expect to provide scientific and rigorous evidence support for clinicians and patients, and then assist them to choose the optimum treatment. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2020120077.