Effectiveness and potential mechanism of Jiawei-Xiaoyao-San for hyperthyroidism: a systematic review.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and potential mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine Jiawei-Xiaoyao-San (JWXYS) as an adjunct or mono- therapy for antithyroid drugs (ATDs) in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Methods: Eight databases and three trial registries were searched from inception until May 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included and meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.0. The Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) tool 1.0 and GRADE tool was used for quality appraisal. The findings from case reports using mono-JWXYS and pharmacological studies were summarized in tables. Results: Thirteen RCTs with 979 participants were included. The majority of the included studies were assessed as high risk of bias in one ROB domain. Compared with ATDs, JWXYS plus ATDs resulted in lower free triiodothyronine (FT3) (MD = -1.31 pmol/L, 95% CI [-1.85, -0.76]; low-certainty), lower free thyroxine (MD = -3.24 pmol/L, 95% CI [-5.06, -1.42]; low-certainty), higher thyroid stimulating hormone (MD = 0.42 mIU/L, 95% CI [0.26, 0.59]; low-certainty), higher effectiveness rate of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome (RR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.08, 1.52]; low-certainty), lower goiter score (MD = -0.66, 95% CI [-1.04, -0.29]; very low-certainty), lower thyrotrophin receptor antibody (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI [-0.73, -0.16]; low-certainty) and fewer adverse events (AEs) (RR = 0.34, 95% CI [0.18, 0.67]; moderate-certainty). Compared with regular dosage of ATDs, JWXYS plus half-dose ATDs resulted in fewer AEs (RR = 0.24, 95% CI [0.10, 0.59]; low-certainty). Compared with ATDs in 1 trial, JWXYS resulted in higher FT3, lower goiter score and fewer AEs. Three case reports showed that the reasons patients sought TCM-only treatment include severe AEs and multiple relapses. Three pharmacological studies demonstrated that JWXYS restored Th17/Treg balance, lowered deiodinases activity, regulated thyroid cell proliferation and apoptosis, and alleviated liver oxidative stress in mouse or rat models. Conclusion: JWXYS may enhance the effectiveness of ATDs for hyperthyroidism, particularly in relieving symptoms and reducing AEs. Mono-JWXYS is not recommended except in patients intolerant to ATDs. The findings should be interpreted with caution due to overall high risk of bias. Further pharmacological studies with more reliable models are needed. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023394923.

Mechanism of Chinese botanical drug Dizhi pill for myopia: An integrated study based on bioinformatics and network analysis.

To identify the active constituents, core targets, immunomodulatory functions and potential mechanisms of Dizhi pill (DZP) in the treatment of myopia. The active constituents and drug targets of DZP were searched in the TCMSP, Herb databases and correlational studies. The targets of myopia were searched in the TTD, Genecards, OMIM and Drugbank databases. Gene expression profile data of GSE136701 were downloaded from the GEO database and subjected to WGCNA and DEG analysis to screen for significant modules and targets of myopia. Intersectional targets of myopia and DZP and core targets of myopia were analyzed through the String database. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the interested targets were conducted. Cibersort algorithm was used for immune infiltration analysis to investigate the immunomodulatory functions of DZP on myopia. Autodock was used to dock the important targets and active constituents. Eight targets (STAT3, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, MAPK1, MAPK3, HSP90AA1, MIP, and LGSN) and 5 active constituents (Quercetin, Beta-sitosterol, Diincarvilone A, Ferulic acid methyl ester, and Naringenin) were identified from DZP. In pathways identified by the GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, "ATP metabolic process" and "AGE-RAGE diabetes complication signaling" pathways were closely related to the mechanisms of DZP in the treatment of myopia. Molecular docking showed that both the intersectional targets and core targets of myopia could bind stably and spontaneously with the active constituents of DZP. This study suggested that the mechanisms of DZP in the treatment of myopia were related to active constituents: Quercetin, Beta-sitosterol, Diincarvilone A, Ferulic acid methyl ester and Naringenin, intersectional targets: STAT3, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, MAPK1, MAPK3, and HSP90AA1, core targets of myopia: MIP and LGSN, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, positive regulation of ATP metabolic process pathway and immunomodulatory functions.

Effectiveness and safety of Linggui Zhugan decoction for the treatment of premature contraction in patients with coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Linggui Zhugan decoction (LZD) as an adjunct treatment of premature contraction in patients with coronary heart disease. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov Cochrane Library, Chinese Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, Sino Med, and VIP database were searched from inception until July 2022. Two reviewers independently selected randomized controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of LZD combined with conventional antiarrhythmic drugs in treating premature contraction in patients with coronary heart disease compared to conventional antiarrhythmic drugs only. The clinical effectiveness was considered as the primary outcome, and the times of premature junctional beats in 24 h after treatment along with adverse reactions were considered secondary outcomes. The Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool was used for the risk of bias assessment. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4.1. and RStudio software. Results: A total of 14 studies including 1,236 participants were included. The primary outcome indicated that, compared with antiarrhythmic drugs alone (especially ß receptor blockers), the combination of LZD and conventional antiarrhythmic drugs resulted in higher clinical effectiveness (RR = 1.29, 95% CI: [1.22,1.36]) and lower number of premature junctional beats in 24 h (MD = -71.14, 95% CI: [-76.23, -66.06]) at end-of-intervention. The differences in adverse reactions (RR = 0.42, 95%CI: [0.15, 1.14], p = 0.09) were not significant. The risk of bias was marginally high among the studies. Funnel plot and Harbord's test (t = 1.63, p = 0.1346) indicated no existence of publication bias. Conclusion: The current evidence shows that LZD can increase the effectiveness of conventional antiarrhythmic drugs for treating premature contraction in patients with coronary heart disease. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of the high overall risk of bias. Future studies with appropriate randomization and double-blind methods are warranted to confirm these findings. Systematic review registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=296628], identifier [CRD42022296628].

Effects of High-Glucose Environment on Periodontal Ligament Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis via NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

The purpose of this study was to discuss the function of the high-glucose environment on the periodontal ligament cell (PDLC) proliferation and apoptosis and the action mechanism of the NF-κB signaling pathway in this process. For this purpose, the human PDLCs were cultured in vitro using 5.5 mM (control group)/24.0 mM glucose (HG group) of glucose and 10 µM of QNZ+24.0 mM of glucose (HG+QNZ), respectively, and the cell proliferation level was checked through CCK-8 assay. TUNEL assay was used to perform cell apoptosis. ELISA was utilized to explore the secretion levels of the proinflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 proteins. The p65 and p50 proteins level were tested via the Western blotting (WB) assay. Results showed that in comparison with the control group, 24.0 mM of glucose could significantly decrease the proliferation ability of the PDLCs (p<0.01), cause cell apoptosis (p<0.05) and promote the secretion of IL-6 and IL-1ß (p<0.05). The expressions of p65 and p50 proteins were up-regulated obviously in the high-glucose environment (p<0.05). QNZ could exert a specific inhibitory effect on the NF-κB activity to significantly down-regulate the expressions of p65 and p50 proteins (p<0.05) and reverse the effects of the high-glucose environment on the cell apoptosis and proliferation (p<0.05). In conclusion, hyper-glucose may affect PDLC proliferation and apoptosis by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway activity.

LncRNA FGD5-AS1 can be predicted as therapeutic target in oral cancer.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been extensively studied to participate in the carcinogenesis of various tumors. LncRNA FGD5-AS1 has been studied as an oncogene in several cancers; however, the role it plays in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) still remains unclear. METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to assess relevant RNAs expression. CCK-8 and colony formation were combined to investigate cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was implemented to test the apoptosis of cell. Wound healing assay and transwell assays were conducted to investigate cell migration and invasion. Western blot assay was conducted to measure relevant protein expression. RESULTS: FGD5-AS1 expression was aberrantly up-regulated in OSCC tissue and cells. FDG5-AS1 up-regulation induced USP21 overexpression advances OSCC development. Knockdown of FGD5-AS1 inhibited cell growth, migration, and invasion, yet promoted apoptosis. CONCLUSION: FGD5-AS1 regulates OSCC via competitively binding to miR-520b against USP21. It could become a potential diagnostic biomarker for OSCC.