Comparative efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicines of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy:A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Iron deficiency anemia(IDA)is a prevalent nutritional disorder during pregnancy.Clinical studies indicate that incorporating Chinese patent medicines(CPMs)with oral iron(OI)in treating IDA in pregnancy can reduce adverse effects and improve clinical outcomes.Nonetheless,the comparative efficacy of different CPMs remains unclear.AIM To assess the safety and effectiveness of different CPMs for treating IDA during pregnancy using network meta-analysis.METHODS We conducted a search for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that combined CPM and OI for IDA treatment in pregnancy,spanning from 2013 to the present.Data analysis was performed using Rev Man 5.3 and Stata 14.0 on literature that satisfied the quality criteria.RESULTS The analysis included 45 RCTs,encompassing 4422 pregnant patients with IDA.Six CPMs were examined,including Shengxuebao Mixture,Shengxuening Tablets(SXN),Yiqi Weixue CPMs(YQWX),Jianpi Shengxue CPMs(JPSX),Yiqi Buxue Tablets,and Compound Hongyi Buxue Oral Liquid(FFHY).Findings indicated that FFHY+OI significantly improved the clinical effective rate.SXN+OI was most effective in boosting red blood cells counts and hemoglobin levels.YQWX+OI showed superior results in improving serum ferritin,and SXN+OI was most effective in increasing serum iron levels.JPSX+OI was optimal in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes,while YQBX+OI effectively minimized adverse events.A cluster analysis suggested that SXN+OI could be the potentially optimal therapeutic regimen for IDA in pregnancy.CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that the combination of OI with CPMs offers better outcomes than OI alone.Based on clinical efficacy and other measured outcomes,SXN+OI emerges as the most effective treatment modality for improving the health of pregnant patients with IDA.

Meta analysis of the efficacy of western medicine combined with Qiliqiangxin capsule versus western medicine alone in the treatment of chronic heart failure

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of conventional Western medicine combined with Qiliqiangxin capsule and western medicine alone in the treatment of chronic heart failure, and to prove that Qiliqiangxin capsule combined treatment has more advantages, providing reference for clinical decision-making in the treatment of chronic heart failure. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of conventional Western medicine treatment and Western medicine combined with Qiliqiangxin capsule in the treatment of chronic heart failure were searched in databases such as PubMed, Embase, Webofscience, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and CBM. The bias risk assessment was conducted using the RCT tool recommended by Cochrane, and then the meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.4 and Stata17 software. Compare the efficacy evaluation of cardiac function, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), cardiac stroke output (SV), 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and N-terminal proBNP in the conventional western medicine combined with Qiliqiangxin capsule group (hereinafter referred to as the treatment group) and the conventional western medicine group (hereinafter referred to as the control group). Results: A total of 20 RCTs meeting the criteria were included, including 2953 patients, including 1508 in the treatment group and 1445 in the control group. The results of meta-analysis showed that the treatment group had significantly better cardiac function evaluation, LVEF, LVEDD, SV, 6MWT, and NT-proBNP improvement than the control group. Its central functional efficacy evaluation (OR=2.09,95% CI: 1.71-2.55, P<0.001), LVEF (WMD=7.05,95% CI: 5.30-8.79, P<0.00001), LVEDD (WMD=6.73, 95% CI: 3.18-10.29, P=0.0002), SV (WMD=6.73, 95% CI: 3.18-10.29, P=0.0002), 6MWT (SMD=0.70,95% CI: 0.54-0.87, P<0.00001), NT-proBNP (SMD=-1.95,95% CI: -2.5 2 to 1.38 (P<0.0001), with statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Conventional western medicine combined with Qiliqiangxin capsule can significantly improve the clinical efficacy of heart failure, improve LVEF, LVEDD, SV, and NT-proBNP index, and improve exercise tolerance. It is worth using for reference in the treatment.

Therapeutic Evaluation of Recurrent Aphthous Ulcer with Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine

Objective: To observe the curative effects of Yiqing granule and Zhibai Dihuang pill combined with Oralpolin gel on recurrent aphthous ulcer. Methods: 150 patients with mild recurrent aphthous ulcer were classified as excessive internal heat type and deficiency internal heat type by traditional Chinese medicine theory. Then, they were randomly divided into the positive control group (thalidomide group), the trial group (Yiqing granule group/Zhibai Dihuang pill group), and the negative control group (topical medication group). All the patients in every group used Oralpolin gel. Additionally, the patients in the positive control group took thalidomide tablets orally and those in the trial group orally took proprietary Chinese medicine (Yiqing granule/Zhibai Dihuang pill). The treatment lasted for 4 weeks. The curative effects were all evaluated according to the “RAU Efficacy Evaluation Trial Standard” which was formulated by the Professional Committee of Mucosal Diseases of Chinese Stomatological Association. Results: Of all the 150 patients involved in this medical experiment, 146 cases finished it, including 66 ones in the trial group, 36 ones in the positive control group, and 44 ones in the negative control group. The total drop-out rate was 2.7%. For the excessive internal heat type, the effective rates in the thalidomide group, the Yiqing granule group and the local medication group were 91.7%, 52.6% and 52.9% respectively in order. For the deficiency internal heat type, the effective rates in the thalidomide group, the Zhibai Dihuang pill group and the local medication group were 87.5%, 71.4% and 40% respectively in order. The clinical efficacy of the Zhibai Dihuang pill group was better than that of the local medication group and similar to that of the thalidomide group (P Conclusion: Zhibai Dihuang pill is significantly effective in the treatment for mild recurrent aphthous ulcer of deficiency internal heat type without severe adverse reactions.

Runx2 regulates peripheral nerve regeneration to promote Schwann cell migration and re-myelination

Runx2 is a major regulator of osteoblast differentiation and function;however,the role of Runx2 in peripheral nerve repair is unclea r.Here,we analyzed Runx2expression following injury and found that it was specifically up-regulated in Schwann cells.Furthermore,using Schwann cell-specific Runx2 knocko ut mice,we studied peripheral nerve development and regeneration and found that multiple steps in the regeneration process following sciatic nerve injury were Runx2-dependent.Changes observed in Runx2 knoc kout mice include increased prolife ration of Schwann cells,impaired Schwann cell migration and axonal regrowth,reduced re-myelination of axo ns,and a block in macrophage clearance in the late stage of regeneration.Taken together,our findings indicate that Runx2 is a key regulator of Schwann cell plasticity,and therefore peripheral nerve repair.Thus,our study shows that Runx2 plays a major role in Schwann cell migration,re-myelination,and peripheral nerve functional recovery following injury.

Antidepressant effects of Peiyuan Jieyu formula in a mouse model of chronic stress in conjunction with lipopolysaccharide-induced depression

Objective:To explore the mechanism of the Peiyuan Jieyu formula in treating depression by assessing its impact on a lipopolysaccharide-induced(LPS-induced)depression mouse model.Methods:We created a mouse model of depression by exposing mice that had previously received chronic stress to intraperitoneal LPS injections.The mice were divided into the following groups:control,model,fluoxetine,Tiansi Yin,Sini powder,and low-,medium-,and high-dose Peiyuan Jieyu formula groups.Forced swim and tail suspension tests were used to assess the efficacy of the depression(despair)model,and weight gain rates were also measured.Furthermore,serum levels of various depression and inflammation-associated molecules,including tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-a),interferon-γ(IFN-γ),tryptophan,5-hydroxytryptamine,kynurenine(KYN),and kynurenic acid(KA)were assessed.Furthermore,the expression levels of ionic calcium-binding adaptor molecule-1(IBA-1)and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase(IDO)mRNA in hippocampal microglia were measured.Results:The model group displayed greater despair-associated immobility,which was shortened in response to various doses of Peiyuan Jieyu formula.Furthermore,formula administration significantly reduced serum TNF-a levels and hippocampal IDO mRNA expression.The high formula dose also reduced IFN-γand IBA-1 levels,the latter was also decreased in response to the medium formula dose.However,the low formula dose reduced serum KYN level and KYN/tryptophan(TRP)and KYN/KA ratios.Conclusion:The Peiyuan Jieyu formula holds immense potential in treating depression in a mouse model,potentially inhibiting inflammation and improving TRP-KYN metabolic disorders.

Treating acute low back pain with acupuncture:A randomized controlled study protocol to compare the effectiveness between distal and local acupoints

Objective:To compare the efficacy of using“distal acupoints only”vs.“local acupoints mainly combined with distal acupoints”in cases of acute low back pain(ALBP).Methods: A total of 102 eligible patients aged 18–65 years with ALBP lasting less than 6 weeks will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the distal acupoints only group(DPOG)and the local acupoints mainly combined with the distal acupoints group(LPMG).During a 4-week treatment period,patients in the DPOG will receive acupuncture at distal acupoints only(Houxi[SI 3]and Yaotongxue[EX-UE 7])twice a week,while those in the LPMG group will receive acupuncture at local acupoints(mainly Shenshu[BL 23]and Dachangshu[BL 25])combined with distal points(Weizhong[BL 40]).The patients in both groups will be evaluated at every session of treatment,and the follow-up will be performed for 3 months.The primary outcome measure will be the change in ALBP intensity,assessed using visual analogue scale scores before and after treatment.The secondary outcome measure will be the evaluation of functional disability using the Oswestry Disability Index.Discussion: This study compares the DPOG and LPMG to explore the feasibility of the DPOG in the treatment of ALBP.

Protective effects of oleic acid and polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil on cardiovascular diseases

The Mediterranean diet has long been recognized as one of the most effective ways to prevent and improve cardiovascular disease.Extra virgin olive oil(EVOO)is the typical sources of fat in the Mediterranean diet which have been shown to have noteworthy nutritional value and positive impact on human health.It is worth noting that EVOO owes its superior nutritional value to its bioactive composition.The main component of EVOO is monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFAs)in the form of oleic acid.Oleic acid accounts for up to 70%-80%of EVOO.Secondly,EVOO contains approximately more than 30 phenolic compounds,of which HT is essential for the protection against cardiovascular diseases.In this review,we focused on the potential mechanisms of oleic acid and polyphenols combat cardiovascular diseases risk in terms of oxidative stress,inflammation,blood pressure,endothelial function and cholesterol.This review might provide a reference for the studies on cardiovascular protective effects of EVOO.

Chinese Medicine Prolongs Overall Survival of Chinese Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: Treatment Pattern and Survival Analysis of a 20-Year Real-World Study

Objective To describe the treatment patterns and survival status of advanced gastric cancer(AGC)in China in the past two decades,and objectively evaluate the impact of standardized Chinese medicine(CM)treatment on the survival of AGC patients.Methods This multicenter registry designed and propensity score analysis study described the diagnosis characteristics,treatment-pattern development and survival status of AGC from 10 hospitals in China between January 1,2000 and July 31,2021.Overall survival(OS)was evaluated between non-CM cohort(standard medical treatment)and CM cohort(integrated standard CM treatment≥3 months).Propensity score matching(PSM)and inverse probability of treatment weighting(IPTW)were performed to adjust any difference in average outcomes for bias.Results A total of 2,001 patients histologically confirmed locally advanced and/or metastasis stomach and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma were enrolled.Among them,1,607 received systemic chemotherapy,215(10.74%)accepted molecular targeted therapy,44(2.2%)received checkpoint inhibitor therapy,and 769(38.43%)received CM.Two-drug regimen was the main choice for first-line treatment,with fluoropyrimidine plus platinum as the most common regimen(530 cases,60.09%).While 45.71%(16 cases)of patients with HER2 amplification received trastuzumab in first-line.The application of apatinib increased(33.33%)in third-line.The application of checkpoint inhibitors has increased since 2020.COX analysis showed that Lauren mixed type(P=0.017),cycles of first-line treatment>6(P=0.000),CM(P=0.000),palliative gastrectomy(P=0.000),trastuzumab(P=0.011),and apatinib(P=0.008)were independent prognostic factors for the OS of AGC.After PSM and IPTW,the median OS of CM cohort and non-CM cohort was 18.17 and 12.45 months,respectively(P<0.001).Conclusions In real-world practice for AGC in China,therapy choices consisted with guidelines.Two-drug regimen was the main first-line choice.Standardized CM treatment was an independent prognostic factor and could prolong the OS of Chinese patients with AGC.(Registration No.NCT02781285)

Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease from the Perspective of Liver Controlling Dispersion

The liver is in charge of distributing and regulating the movement of qi throughout the whole body,coordinating the transportation and transformation of the internal organs in the middle part of the body,promoting the biochemical circulation of qi,blood,and body fluids,and regulating emotions.Liver dysfunction can disrupt the transportation and transformation of qi,blood,and body fluids,causing phlegm turbidity,blood stasis,and other unwanted symptoms.Poor regulation of emotion further aggravates the accumulation of pathological substances,resulting in the obstruction of heart vessels,and ultimately coronary heart disease(CHD).Through regulating lipid metabolism,inflammatory reaction,vasoactive substances,platelet function,neuroendocrine,and other factors,liver controlling dispersing qi plays a comprehensive role in the prognosis of atherosclerosis,the primary cause of CHD.Therefore,it is recommended to treat CHD from the perspective of liver-controlling dispersion.

Analysis of the Mechanism of Intervention of Fangxiangxiaozhi Prescription on Dyslipidemia Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Objective: To explore the mechanism of intervention of Fangxiangxiaozhi prescription on dyslipidemia by using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods: The traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), Pubchem, Uniprot, and other databases were adopted to screen the active ingredients and the corresponding targets of Fangxiangxiaozhi prescription. Dyslipidemia-related targets were identified using the databases of Disgenet and GeneCards. Then, the intersection target of drugs and diseases was demonstrated via a Venn diagram. Cytoscape3.7.2 was used to construct a “drugs-active ingredients-intersection targets” network map and the key active ingredients with the top 7-degree values were determined. The protein interaction network and topology analysis of the intersection target genes were carried out by combining STRING11.0 and Cytoscape3.7.2. Moreover, the gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the intersection target genes were carried out using the Metascape database. Lastly, the key active ingredients and targets were molecular docked by AutoDockTools, Pymol, and other software. Results: There were 51 active components and 509 target genes of which 74 intersect with dyslipidemia. The key targets included tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), AKT1, PPAR gamma (PPARG), VEGFA, and PPARα. GO enrichment analysis obtained 1040 biological processes, 33 cell components, and 84 molecular functions;KEGG enrichment analysis obtained 148 pathways. The molecular docking results showed that the key targets and compounds exhibited good binding force. Conclusion: The active ingredients of Fangxiangxiaozhi prescription regulated several pathways through multiple targets to intervene in dyslipidemia. This study can serve as a foundation for further research.

Development and validation of tongue imaging-based radiomics tool for the diagnosis of insomnia degree:a two-center study

Background:Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is commonly used for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia,with tongue diagnosis being particularly important.The aim of our study was to develop and validate a novel tongue imaging-based radiomics(TIR)method for accurately diagnosing insomnia severity.Methods:This two-center analysis prospectively enrolled 399 patients who underwent tongue imaging between July and October 2021 and divided them into primary and validation cohorts by study center.Here,we referred to the Insomnia Severity Index(ISI)standard and the degree of insomnia was evaluated as absent,subthreshold,moderate,or severe.For developed the TIR diagnostic tool,a U-Net algorithm was used to segment tongue images.Subsequently,seven imaging features were selected from the extracted high-throughout radiomics features using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm.Then,the final radiomics model was developed in the primary cohort and tested in the independent validation cohort.Finally,we assessed and compared the diagnostic performance differences between TCM tongue diagnosis and our TIR diagnostic tool with the ISI gold standard.The confusion matrix was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic performance.Results:Seven tongue imaging features were selected to build the TIR tool,with showing good correlations with the insomnia degree.The TIR method had an accuracy of 0.798,a macro-average sensitivity of 0.78,a macro-average specificity of 0.906,a weighted-average sensitivity of 0.798,and a weighted specificity of 0.916,showing a significantly better performance compared to the average performance of three experienced TCM physicians(mean accuracy of 0.458,P<0.01).Conclusions:The preliminary study demonstrates the potential application of TIR in the diagnosis of insomnia degree and measurement of sleep health.The integration of quantitative imaging analysis and machine learning algorithms holds promise for advancing both of TCM and precision sleep medicine.

The relationship between the distribution of HBcAg in liver cells and the pathological manifestations of the liver in 429 HBeAg-positive chronic HBV-infected individuals

Background:The natural history of chronic HBV infection is typically characterized by four stages:the immune tolerance period,the immune clearance period,the immune control period,and the immune escape period.These stages are associated with the distribution of HBcAg in liver cells;however,this relationship remains a topic of broad debate within the field of liver disease.To objectively and quantitatively measure the intracellular distribution of HBcAg,this paper aims to design a method referred to as the“layered evaluation method”and to examine its validation.Methods:The distribution of HBcAg in liver cells is assessed using Image Pro Plus image processing software,along with calculations of cytoplasmic and nuclear positive staining rates.Results:The findings indicate that the highest proportion of patients exhibited a positive cytoplasmic expression rate ranging from 0-2.5%.More than 40% of the total sample was categorized within the 0-2.5% positive nuclear expression range.The HBcAg cytoplasmic positive staining rates were classified into five levels:a cytoplasmic HBcAg positive staining rate of less than 0.05% is designated as level 0,indicating negative expression;a staining rate between 0.05% and 5% is classified as level 1;a rate from 5% to less than 10% is classified as level 2;a rate from 10% to less than 20% is classified as level 3;and a nuclear positivity rate exceeding 20% is classified as level 4.Conclusion:The inflammatory activity grade in these patients was positively correlated with the cytoplasmic distribution of HBcAg.Furthermore,the nuclear distribution rate of HBcAg was significantly higher in the G3 group compared to the other groups.

Antacid effects of Chinese herbal prescriptions assessed by a modified artificial stomach model

AIM:To assess the antacid effects of the tonic Chinese herbal prescriptions,Si-Jun-Zi-Tang(SJZT) and Shen-Ling-Bai-Zhu-San(SLBZS).METHODS:Decoctions of the tonic Chinese herbal prescriptions,SJZT and SLBZS,were prepared according to Chinese original documents.The pH of the prescription decoctions and their neutralizing effects on artif icial gastric acids were determined and compared with water and the active controls,sodium bicarbonate and colloidal aluminum phosphate.A modified model of Vatier's artificial stomach was used to determine the duration of consistent neutralization effect on artificial gastric acids.The neutralization capacity in vitro was determined with the titration method of Fordtran's model.RESULTS:The results showed that both SJZT and SLBZS have antacid effects in vitro.Compared with the water group,SJZT and SLBZS were found to possess signif icant gastric acid neutralizing effects.The duration for consistent neutralization of SLBZS was signif icantly longer than that of water.Also,SLBZS and SJZT exhibited signif icant antacid capacities compared to water.CONCLUSION:SJZT and SLBZS were consistently active in the artificial stomach model and are suggested to have antacid effects similar to the active control drugs.

Eosinophilic fasciitis difficult to differentiate from scleroderma:A case report

BACKGROUND Eosinophilic fasciitis(EF)is a rare connective tissue disease that can cause swelling and sclerosis of the extremities,and special attention is needed to differentiate EF from systemic sclerosis.Misdiagnosis or omission markedly delays treatment of EF,and severe skin sclerosis in advanced stages can cause joint contracture and tendon retraction,worsening the patient's prognosis and quality of life.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of EF in a young woman diagnosed by tissue biopsy,confirming the difficulty of differential diagnosis with scleroderma.CONCLUSION Focusing on skin manifestations,completing tissue biopsy and radiography can help diagnose EF effectively.Clinicians should enhance their understanding of the differences between EF and scleroderma,and early diagnosis and standardized treatment can improve the prognosis of patients with EF.

Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution among patients with allergic rhinitis and its correlation with anxiety and depression

OBJECTIVE:To preliminary investigate the distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)constitution among patients with allergic rhinitis(AR)and reveal the related factors with anxiety and depression.METHODS:Between July 2020 and June 2021,specialist doctor recruited AR patients in Beijing and Shanghai.A total of 630 patients admitted to participate in the survey,and 516(81.9%)(male 54.3%,female 45.7%)participants completed the questionnaires.Three scales including Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire(CCMQ),Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire(GAD-7)and The Patient Health Queationaire-9(PHQ-9)were applied.Theχ^(2)and the Fisher’s exact test were used to evaluate the classification data,multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the related factors of anxiety and depression.RESULTS:According to 516 AR patients,the most commonly first-constitution was Yang-deficiency(22.1%)and frequent of all constitutions was inherited-special(21.6%).One third of AR patients(33.5%)suffered from anxiety,nearly half of AR patients(46.5%)were found to be depressive.Inherited-special(27.7%)was the most common constitution in patients with anxiety whereas Yang-deficiency(26.7%)was most common constitution in patients with depression.Sex,duration of symptoms,balanced,Qi-deficiency,phlegm-dampness,Qi-stagnation,and inherited-special constitutions were related with anxiety;Sex,income,duration of symptoms,balanced,Qi-deficiency,Yang-deficiency,phlegm-dampness,Qi-stagnation,and inherited-special constitutions were related with depression.CONCLUSIONS:According to our study,the commonly constitution types of AR were Yang-deficiency and inherited-special.We found that the prevalence value of anxiety and depression were high.People with Qi-deficiency,phlegm-dampness,Qi-stagnation,and inherited-special constitutions were more likely to have mental problems than the others.Controlling these influential factors might be beneficial for clinical health management of AR patients,and the government should apply appropriate mental health treatment services to offer psychiatric support.

Clinical Study on the Combination of Dingjing Pills and Risperidone in the Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia Accompanied by Risky Behaviors

[Objectives]To observe the clinical efficacy of Dingjing Pills on patients with schizophrenia accompanied by risky behaviors.[Methods]Two hundred patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and risky behaviors were divided into two groups based on the random and double-blinded principle:the treatment group(100 cases)treated with Dingjing Pills combined with risperidone,and the control group(100 cases)treated with risperidone alone.The observation course was 6 weeks.The clinical efficacy was compared using brief psychiatric rating scale(BPRS),modified overt aggression scale(revised edition)(MAOS),treatment emergent symptom scale(TESS),and blood routine,liver function,kidney function,and electrocardiogram examinations were conducted.[Results]After treatment,Dingjing Pills significantly reduced the scores of brief psychiatric rating scale,modified overt aggression scale and treatment emergent symptom scale in patients with schizophrenia and dangerous behaviors,and had no significant toxic or side effects.The total effective rate in the treatment group was 88.8%,while the total effective rate in the control group was 77.1%.There was a significant difference in therapeutic efficacy between the two groups(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Dingjing Pills has an intervention and therapeutic effect on high-risk behaviors of schizophrenia,with minimal side effects and easy acceptance by patients.

Acupuncture for olfactory dysfunction in infected COVID-19 patients:Study protocol for a randomized,sham-controlled clinical trial

Background:Olfactory dysfunction(OD)is a common symptom of Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19).It is defined as the reduced or distorted ability to smell during sniffing(orthonasal olfaction)and represents one of the early symptoms in the clinical course of COVID-19 infection.A large online questionnaire-based survey has shown that some post-COVID-19 patients had no improvement 1 month after discharge from the hospital.Objective:To explore the efficacy of acupuncture for OD in COVID-19 infected patients and to determine whether acupuncture could have benefits over sham acupuncture for OD in post-COVID-19 patients.Methods:This is a single-blind,randomized controlled,cross-over trial.We plan to recruit 40 post-COVID-19 patients with smell loss or smell distortions lasting for more than 1 month.Qualified patients will be randomly allocated to the intervention group(real acupuncture)or the control group(sham acupuncture)at a 1:1 ratio.Each patient will receive 8 sessions of treatment over 4 weeks(Cycle 1)and a 2-week follow-up.After the follow-up,the control group will be subjected to real acupuncture for another 4 weeks(Cycle 2),and the real acupuncture group will undergo the 4-week sham acupuncture.The primary outcomes will be the score changes on the questionnaire of olfactory functioning and olfaction-related quality of life at week 6,8,12,and 14 from the baseline.The secondary outcomes will be the changes in the olfactory test score at week 6 and 12 from the baseline measured by using the Traditional Chinese version of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test(UPSIT-TC).Discussion:The results of this trial will help to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture for OD in post-COVID-19 patients.This may provide a new treatment option for patients.

Roles of conventional and complementary therapies in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the fifth most common type of cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world.HCC has a reported recurrence rate of 70%-80%after 5 years of follow-up.Controlling tumor recurrence is the most critical factor associated with HCC mortality.Conventional salvage therapies for recurrent HCC include re-hepatectomy or liver transplantation,transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,Y-90,target therapy,and immunotherapy;however,these conventional treatment modalities have yet to achieve consistently favorable outcomes.Meanwhile,previous studies have demonstrated that conventional therapies in combination with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),acupuncture,moxibustion or dietary supplements could notably benefit patients with HCC recurrence by strengthening and augmenting the overall management strategy.However,systemic reviews related to the interactions between complementary therapies and conventional therapy in recurrent HCC are limited.In this review,we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of complementary therapies for recurrent HCC,which include augmenting the local control to improve the congestion status of primary tumors and reducing multicentric tumor occurrence via inducing autophagy,apoptosis or cell cycle arrest.TCM and its derivatives may play important roles in helping to control HCC recurrence by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition,migration,invasion,and metastasis,inhibiting cancer stem cells,and ameliorating drug resistance.

LipoCol Forte capsules reduce the risk of liver cancer:A propensity score-matched,nationwide,population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND Liver cancer is among the top five most common cancers globally. Lipid-lowering drugs such as statins can lower the risk of liver cancer, but may also cause liver damage. LipoCol Forte capsules(LFC), a red yeast rice product, have demonstrated significant antihypercholesterolemic effects and a good safety profile in clinical studies.AIM To evaluate whether LFC lowers the risk of liver cancer in adults in this propensity score-matched, nationwide, population-based cohort study.METHODS We used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, which includes electronic medical records for up to 99.99% of Taiwan’s population. LFC users and LFC non-users were matched 1:1 by propensity scores between January 2010 and December 2017. All had followup data for at least 1 year. Statistical analyses compared demographic distributions including sex, age, comorbidities, and prescribed medications. Cox regression analyses estimated adjusted hazard ratios(aHRs) after adjusting for potential confounders.RESULTS We enrolled 33231 LFC users and 33231 non-LFC users(controls). No significant differences between the study cohorts were identified regarding comorbidities and medications [standardized mean difference(SMD) < 0.05]. At follow-up, the overall incidence of liver cancer was significantly lower in the LFC cohort compared with controls [aHR 0.91;95% confidence interval(CI): 0.86-0.95;P < 0.001]. The risk of liver cancer was significantly reduced in both females(aHR 0.87;95%CI: 0.8-0.94;P < 0.001) and males(aHR 0.93;95%CI: 0.87-0.98;P < 0.01) in the LFC cohort compared with their counterparts in the non-LFC cohort. The antitumor protective effects applied to patients with comorbidities(including hypertension, ischemic stroke, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hepatitis B infection and hepatitis C infection). Those using LFC for more than 84 drug days had a 0.64-fold lower risk of liver cancer compared with controls(P < 0.001). Compared with controls, the risk of developing liver cancer in the LFC cohort progressively decreased over time;the lowest incidence of liver cancer occurred in LFC users followed-up for more than 6 years(27.44 vs 31.49 per 1,000 person-years;aHR 0.75;95%CI: 0.68-0.82;P < 0.001).CONCLUSION This retrospective cohort study indicates that LFC has a significantly protective effect on lowering the risk of liver cancer, in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner.

Exploring the mechanism of action of Wuzhuyu Decoction for vascular headache based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Background:The aim of this study is to explore the mechanism by which Wuzhuyu Decoction treats vascular headache.Methods:We utilized the TCMSP database to identify active ingredients and targets of the Chinese herbal medicine,and the Gendcars,OMIM,PharmGKB,TTD,and DrugBank databases were used to screen for disease targets.We constructed the PPI network of targets by utilizing the String database,and GO and KEGG analyses were performed.The"drug-ingredient-target-disease"network diagram was constructed using Cytoscape 3.8.0 software.We analyzed the topological parameters to identify the primary active ingredients and targets of Wuzhuyu Decoction,and subsequently confirmed the findings via molecular docking.Results:A total of 86 active ingredients were obtained,including Quercetin,Kaempferol,Beta-sitosterol,Stigmasterol,and Nuciferin.Fourteen core targets were identified,including JUN,TP53,AKT1,RELA,MAPK1,MAPK14,MYC,MAPK8,CCND1,ESR1,CTNNB1,FOS,NR3C1,and RB1.GO enrichment analysis involved biological processes such as response to drug,response to lipopolysaccharide,and response to molecule of bacterial origin.The cellular components were membrane raft and membrane microdomain,and the molecular functions were catecholamine binding and nuclear receptor activity.The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated the potential regulation of 171 pathways by Wuzhuyu Decoction.including the Lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathway,the Fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis signaling pathway,and the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.Molecular docking showed that Nuciferin had good binding activity with AKT1(-9.9 kJ/mol),as did Quercetin with AKT1(-9.8 kJ/mol),Stigmasterol with MAPK1(-9.7 kJ/mol),and Kaempferol with AKT1(-9.5 kJ/mol).Conclusion:Wuzhuyu Decoction may exert its therapeutic effect on vascular headache by inhibiting neurogenic inflammation,providing analgesia,and modulating the immune system.