Zhisou powder suppresses airway inflammation in LPS and CS-induced post-infectious cough model mice via TRPA1/TRPV1 channels.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Zhisou Powder (ZSP), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has been widely used in the clinic for the treatment of post-infectious cough (PIC). However, the exact mechanism is not clear. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effect of ZSP on PIC in mice. The possible mechanisms of action were screened based on network pharmacology, and the potential mechanisms were explored through molecular docking and in vivo experimental validation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (80µg/50 µL) was used to induce PIC in mice, followed by daily exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) for 30 min for 30 d to establish PIC model. The effects of ZSP on PIC mice were observed by detecting the number of coughs and cough latency, peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) inflammatory cell counts, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and histological analysis. The core targets and key pathways of ZSP on PIC were analyzed using network pharmacology, and TRPA1 and TRPV1 were validated using RT-qPCR and western blotting assays. RESULTS: ZSP effectively reduced the number of coughs and prolonged the cough latency in PIC mice. Airway inflammation was alleviated by reducing the expression levels of the inflammatory mediators TNF-α and IL-1ß. ZSP modulated the expression of Substance P, Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and nerve growth factor (NGF) in BALF. Based on the results of network pharmacology, the mechanism of action of ZSP may exert anti-neurogenic airway-derived inflammation by regulating the expression of TRPA1 and TRPV1 through the natural active ingredients α-spinastero, shionone and didehydrotuberostemonine. CONCLUSION: ZSP exerts anti-airway inflammatory effects through inhibition of TRPA1/TRPV1 channels regulating neuropeptides to alleviate cough hypersensitivity and has a favorable therapeutic effect on PIC model mice. It provides theoretical evidence for the clinical application of ZSP.

Comparative efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicines of acute ischemic stroke: A network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is characterized by high morbidity, disability, mortality, recurrence, and economic burden. Clinical trials have demonstrated that the clinical efficacy of combining oral Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) with chemical drugs (CDs) is better than that of CDs alone. In this study, we performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) of RCTs to assess the efficacy of different CPMs in combination with CDs in the treatment of AIS. METHODS: Search 6 databases from the beginning to January 10, 2023. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. The NMA was then performed using the STATA 13.0 program. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probability values were applied to rank the studied treatments, and cluster analysis was used to compare the effects of CPMs between 2 different outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 94 eligible RCTs, involving 9581 participants, were included in this analysis. Nine CPMs, including Nao-mai-li granule (NML), Nao-mai-tai granule (NMT), Qi-long granule (QL), Long-sheng-zhi capsule (LSZ), Nao-xin-tong capsule (NXT), Nao-xue-shu oral liquid (NXS), Tong-xin-luo capsule (TXL), Xiao-shuan-chang-rong capsule (XSCR), and Xue-shuan-xin-mai-ning capsule (XSXMN) were included. Regarding the clinical effective rate, all types of CPMs + CDs treatments were significantly better than CDs treatments alone, with significant differences among the 9 selected CPMs. Compared with CDs, results showed that NXS + CDs performed best in improving clinical effective rate [OR = 4.73; 95% CI: 1.26-17.78; (SUCRA: 76.1%)]. TXL + CDs showed the most effective effect in alleviating National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) [MD = -3.84; 95% CI: -5.23, -2.45; (SUCRA: 81.6%)]; NXT + CDs were most effective in improving Barthel index [MD = 13.05; 95% CI: 3.98-22.12; (SUCRA: 63.5%)]. Combined with other outcome indicators and the results of cluster analysis, NXS + CDs may assist in the potential optimal treatment regimen for AIS. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, CPMs were found to be beneficial as adjuvant therapy in patients with AIS. Taking into account the clinical effective rate and other outcomes, NXS + CDs may be the most effective option to improve the condition of AIS patients.

A two-dimensional analytical model for heavy metal contaminants transport in permeable reactive barrier.

Permeable reactive barrier (PRB) remediation technology has been widely used in the remediation of groundwater contamination. In numerical simulations, neglecting the non-uniform distribution of heavy metal contamination along the depth may lead to deviations between simulation results and reality. The distribution of heavy metals in the soil layer around a non-ferrous mining area in Hezhou, Guangxi, southern China was investigated, and it was found that the standard Gaussian function could well describe the non-uniform distribution of heavy metals in the soil layer. A two-dimensional analytical model solved by the finite element method was used to simulate the migration process of heavy metal contamination in the aquifer and PRB. The results show that the uniform distribution of contaminants along the depth ignores the dilution effect, which may underestimate the service life of the PRB and lead to an overly conservative design of the PRB. The breakthrough time of the PRB decreases with the increase of the maximum initial concentration (Cin,max) and the high concentration range (σ), and increases almost linearly with the barrier thickness (Lw). An optimal design method for PRB location and thickness is proposed, which can provide a reference for the engineering application of PRB.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in treating glomerulosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The combination of Traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine (TCM+WM) has been widely used in the treatment of glomerulosclerosis, but the results are still controversial. This study will assess the clinical efficacy of TCM+WM for glomerulosclerosis and provide evidence-based medical data via meta-analysis. METHOD: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, and multiple Chinese databases (Wan Fang, CNKI, and VIP) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) that compared the effects of WM and TCM+WM. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for the meta-analysis of selected studies, and appropriate tests were performed to determine the quality, heterogeneity and sensitivity of these studies. RESULTS: Sixteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria and were selected for the analysis. Compared with the placebo or WM-treated glomerulosclerosis patients, TCM+WM intervention significantly improved renal function indices including 24-hour urine protein quantity (24 h U-Pro), serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine clearance (Ccr). In addition, the serum albumin (ALB), triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol (CHOL) levels were also significantly improved (P < .05) in patients receiving the combination therapy. Finally, the combination of TCM+WM reduced the indices of glomerulosclerosis more effectively compared with WM alone. CONCLUSION: The combination of TCM+WM can significantly improve the renal function and prognosis of patients with glomerulosclerosis.

Pore Structure Characterization of Tailing Bed and Dewatering Mechanism at nm-µm Scales Under Shearing.

The preparation of high-density tailings is a prerequisite for cemented paste backfill technology, and the flocculated fine tailings of sealed water leads to challenges in the slurry thickening of tailings. Shearing conditions can compact the micro floc structure to improve the underflow concentration. The nm-µm scales of pore characteristics and connectivity are essential for the dewatering process. The computed tomography (CT) results show that the underflow concentration increases from 62.3 wt% to 68.6 wt% after undergoing rake shearing at 2 rpm, and the porosity decreases from 42.7% to 35.54%. The shearing conditions reduces the spheres and sticks by 43.14% and 43.3%, respectively, from the pore network model (PNM). The seepage flow states were affected by the changes in the pore structure. The maximum surface velocity and the maximum internal pressure decrease after undergoing shearing. Shearing conditions can break the micro floc structures, and the fine particles can fill in the micron-scale pores by gravity and shearing conditions, resulting in the forced drainage of water into the pores. Shearing conditions can break the thickening floc network structures; natural fine particles can fill the micron-scale pores by gravity and shearing conditions. The upward seepage of sealed water along the µm-scale pore channel causes a higher bed concentration. However, the sealed water in the nm-scale pores cannot flow upward due to water cohesion and particle adhesion resistance.

[Effects of guipi pill on bone marrow cell cycle of mice exposed to benzene].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Guipi Pill (GPP) on bone marrow cell cycle of mice exposed to benzene and to explore its possible mechanisms for regulating hematopoiesis. METHODS: Seventy-two Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Western medicine treatment group, the large, middle, and small dose GPP groups, 12 in each group. The mice were exposed to manually simulated high concentrations of benzene fqr eight h every day, fourteen successive days, to replicate benzene intoxication model. Mice in the large, middle, and small dose GPP groups were administered with 8, 4, 2 mg/kg GPP per day respectively by gastrogavage. Mice in the Western medicine treatment group were administered with leucogen (at the daily dose of 1.5 mg/kg) and batyl alcohol (at the daily dose of 5 mg/kg) by gastrogavage. Mice in the model group and the normal control group were administered with normal saline by gastrogavage, once daily, for 3 successive weeks. The nucleated bone marrow cell count and the cell cycle of bone marrow cells were detected using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the nucleated bone marrow cell count obviously decreased in the model group (P <0.05). Compared with the model group, the nucleated bone marrow cell count obviously increased in the large and small dose GPP groups, and the Western medicine treatment group (P <0.01). Compared with the normal control group, the S phase cell ratio and proliferation index (PI) increased, and the G0/G1 phase cell ratio decreased in the model group, showing statistical difference (P <0.05). The G0/G1 phase cell ratio decreased, while the G2/M phase cell ratio and PI increased in the large dose GPP group. The S phase cell ratio decreased in the middle dose GPP group, showing statistical difference when compared with the model group (P <0.01, P <0.05). Compared with the Western medicine treatment group, the G2/M phase cell ratio and PI increased, and the G0/G1 phase cell ratio decreased in the large dose GPP group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: GPP could promote the recovery of hematopoietic functions of benzene exposed mice by ending off G1 or G2-phase arrest, accelerating G0/G1-S phase and S-G2/M phase transition, promoting the proliferation of bone marrow hematopoietic cells, and improving the peripheral hemogram.

[Levels of plasma interleukin-18 and interferon-gamma in patients with coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: The levels of plasma IL-18 and IFN-gamma in 45 patients with CHD and 30 normal volunteers were determined by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation between the levels of these two cytokines and the relationship between their levels and the state of CHD were analyzed. RESULTS: The plasma levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma in patients with CHD were increased significantly when compared to those in normal controls [IL-18: (373.6+/-176.7) ng/L vs. (226.3+/-88.9) ng/L, P<0.01; IFN-gamma: (1.769+/-0.087) ng/L vs. (0.087+/-0.038) ng/L, P<0.01]. The two cytokines were positively correlated significantly (r=0.788, P<0.01)]. The plasma levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma were significantly different in different states of CHD, and they increased with the aggravation of CHD respectively (all P<0.01). Moreover, the plasma levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma in patients complicated with heart failure (HF) were higher than those not complicated with HF, respectively (all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that IL-18 and IFN-gamma may participate in the pathogenesis and progression of CHD. The plasma levels of two cytokines may be used as parameters of estimation the morbid state of CHD.