SBC (Sanhuang Xiexin Tang combined with Baihu Tang plus Cangzhu) alleviates NAFLD by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and ameliorating inflammation in obese patients and mice / 中国天然药物

In the context of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by dysregulated lipid metabolism in hepatocytes, the quest for safe and effective therapeutics targeting lipid metabolism has gained paramount importance. Sanhuang Xiexin Tang (SXT) and Baihu Tang (BHT) have emerged as prominent candidates for treating metabolic disorders. SXT combined with BHT plus Cangzhu (SBC) has been used clinically for Weihuochisheng obese patients. This retrospective analysis focused on assessing the anti-obesity effects of SBC in Weihuochisheng obese patients. We observed significant reductions in body weight and hepatic lipid content among obese patients following SBC treatment. To gain further insights, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of SBC in HFD-fed mice. The results demonstrated that SBC treatment mitigated body weight gain and hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice. Pharmacological network analysis suggested that SBC may affect lipid metabolism, mitochondria, inflammation, and apoptosis-a hypothesis supported by the hepatic transcriptomic analysis in HFD-fed mice treated with SBC. Notably, SBC treatment was associated with enhanced hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis and the inhibition of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/NF-κB pathways. In conclusion, SBC treatment alleviates NAFLD in both obese patients and mouse models by improving lipid metabolism, potentially through enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis. These effects, in turn, ameliorate inflammation in hepatocytes.

A newly defined risk signature, consisting of three m6A RNA methylation regulators, predicts the prognosis of ovarian cancer.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, involved in cancer initiation and progression, is dynamically regulated by the m6A RNA methylation regulators. However, the expression of m6A RNA methylation regulators in ovarian cancer and their correlation with prognosis remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated that the 18 central m6A RNA methylation regulators were expressed differently between ovarian cancer (OC) and normal tissues. By applying consensus clustering, all ovarian cancer patient cases can be divided into three subgroups (cluster1/2/3) based on overall expression levels of all 18 m6A RNA methylation regulators. We systematically analyzed the prognostic value of transcription levels of 18 m6A RNA methylation regulators in ovarian cancer and found that insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1), vir like m6A methyltransferase associated (VIRMA), and zinc finger CCCH-type containing 13 (ZC3H13) yield the highest scores for predicting the prognosis of ovarian cancer. Accordingly, we derived a risk signature consisting of transcription levels of these three selected m6A RNA methylation regulators as an independent prognostic marker for OC and validated our findings with data derived from a different ovarian cancer cohort. Moreover, by the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), we demonstrated that the three selected regulators were all correlated with pathways in cancer and WNT signaling pathways. In conclusion, m6A RNA methylation regulators are vital participants in ovarian cancer pathology; and IGF2BP1, VIRMA, and ZC3H13 mRNA levels are valuable factors for prognosis prediction and treatment strategy development.

Electroacupuncture Treatment of 26 Patients with Extensive Anxiety Disorder / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Purpose To investigate the curative effect of electroacupuncture on anxiety neurosis. Method Twenty-six female patients with extensive anxiety neurosis were selected according to CCMD-2-R diagnostic criteria. Evaluations based on STAI were made before and after electroacupuncture treatment for 4 times. Points Baihui ( GV 20), Shangxing ( GV 23), Neiguan ( PC 6),Shenmen ( HT 7 ), Zusanli ( ST 36), Sanyinjiao ( SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3 ) were selected for electroacupuncture treatment. One course of treatment consisted of 10 days and a total of 3 courses were carried out. Results The effective rate was 80.8% at the completion of treatment. The scores of state-anxiety index (S-Al) and typical-anxiety index (T-Al) were significantly decreased as compared with before the treatment ( P < 0.01 ), especially in the patients with recovery or improvement (P <0.01 and P < 0. 05 ). Conclusion Electroacupuncture treatment has a good effect on extensive anxiety disorder and can avoid the dependence of the patients on anxio lytics.