Mechanism of action of Wuzi Yanzong pill in the treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia in rats determined via serum metabolomics

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of action of Wuzi Yanzong pill(WYP)in rats with oligoasthenozoospermia(OAZ)via metabolomics and to provide a possible basis for improving this WYP-based treatment.Methods:A rat model of OAZ was established by treating male SpragueeDawley rats with glucosides from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.F.Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into six groups:control,L-carnitine(positive control),model,and low-,medium-,and high-dose WYP groups.Rats in the experimental groups were treated with WYP for 4 weeks.At the end of the treatment period,sperm cell quality(density,motility,and viability)was assessed using a semen analysis system,mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)was assessed using flow cytometry,and testicular injury was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining to validate the therapeutic effect of WYP in OAZ.Further,serum metabolomics-based analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify differential metabolic pathways and possible mechanisms of action of WYP in OAZ treatment.Results:A rat model of OAZ was considered successfully-established after comparing the quality of spermatozoa in the model group to that in the control group.WYP-M and WYP-H treatments significantly improved sperm cell density,motility,and viability compared with those in the model group(all P<.05).Compared with the model group,both WYP-M and WYP-H treatments increased MMP values(P=.006 and P=.021 respectively),while there was no significant difference in the L-carnitine group.L-carnitine and WYP administration reversed damage to the testes to varying degrees compared with that in the model group.Further,44 differential metabolites and four metabolic pathways,especially autophagy pathway,related to OAZ were identified via metabolomics.Conclusions:WYP improves sperm cell quality and MMP in OAZ primarily via autophagy regulation.These findings can be employed to improve the efficacy of WYP in humans.

Can Tibetan medicine Honghua Ruyi pills relieve endometriosisassociated dysmenorrhea?Protocol for a randomized placebocontrolled trial

Objective:To provide high-quality clinical evidence of the efficacy of Tibetan medicine Honghua Ruyi(HHRY)pills for endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea.Methods:This study constitutes a multicenter,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial encompassing a three-menstrual cycle intervention followed by a three-menstrual cycle follow-up period.A total of 164 eligible females with endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into HHRY pills and placebo groups in a 1:1 ratio.The primary outcome included dysmenorrhea symptoms assessed using Visual Analog Scale(VAS)scores and quality of life,whereas the secondary outcome measures included the maximum VAS for non-menstrual pelvic pain,duration of pain episodes(in days),frequency and quantity of the consumption of ibuprofen sustained-release capsules(or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs),and days off work/study for staff/student due to dysmenorrhea,ovarian cyst,and/or pelvic nodule size.The safety was monitored throughout the treatment period.All the analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle.For continuous outcomes,simple or multiple linear regressions were used to estimate the differences between the HHRY pills and placebo groups,with categorical data expressed as the number and percentage of occurrences.Differences were compared using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.The predefined analysis was adjusted for concomitant treatment,a variable considered to be associated with outcomes but unaffected by treatment allocation.Estimates of treatment effects were reported with 95%confidence intervals.Two-tailed P values≤.05 were considered statistically significant.Conclusion:Positive results from this trial,upon completion would provide robust evidence for the efficacy and safety of HHRY pills in treating dysmenorrhea in patients with endometriosis.

The Effect of Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Dropping Pill Combined with Butylphthalide Capsule on Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients after Acute Ischemic Stroke and Its Impact on Serum Cytokines

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Ginkgo biloba extract dropping pills combined with butylphthalide capsules on cognitive dysfunction in patients after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and its impact on serum cytokines CRP, IL-6, and Hcy. Methods: This study selected 76 patients with cognitive dysfunction after ischemic stroke who were hospitalized at Zhuji People’s Hospital from January 2023 to January 2024. The patients were divided into two groups. The control group was treated with butylphthalide capsules, while the combination group received Ginkgo biloba extract dropping pills in addition to the treatment given to the control group. The neurological function, cognitive function, activities of daily living, and levels of serum cytokines CRP, IL-6, and Hcy were compared between the two groups after 1 month and 3 months of treatment. Results: The NIHSS scores, MMSE scores, ADL scores, and levels of CRP, IL-6, and Hcy in both groups showed statistically significant differences compared to before treatment (P Conclusion: The combination of Ginkgo biloba extract dropping pills and butylphthalide capsules has a better therapeutic effect on cognitive dysfunction in patients after ischemic stroke. It can improve the neurological function and cognitive function of patients, enhance their ability to perform daily activities, and reduce inflammatory responses.

Exploring the molecular mechanism of Suoquan pill in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease based on network pharmacology,molecular docking,in vitro experiment

Background:Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is a microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus and is the main cause of end-stage renal failure.Suoquan pills(SQP)has a variety of pharmacological activities and multiple therapeutic effects,and it is used clinically as a basic formula for the treatment of DKD.Methods:Public databases were used to identify SQP compounds and the potential targets of SQP and DKD.A drug-component-therapeutic target network was constructed.Protein-protein interaction network analysis,Gene Ontology functional analysis,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were used to analyse the potential molecular mechanisms of SQP based on common targets of drugs and diseases.Molecular docking simulations were conducted to confirm the binding abity of the core compounds to key targets.The efficacy and predicted molecular mechanisms of SQP were validated using cell counting kit-8 assay,flow cytometry,and western blotting with HK-2 cells as a model.Results:Network pharmacology analysis showed that 26 compounds and 207 potential targets of SQP were involved in the treatment of DKD;boldine,denudatin B,pinocembrin,kaempferoid,and quercetin were considered core compounds,and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)and proto-oncogene,non-receptor tyrosine kinase(SRC)were considered key targets.Gene Ontology enrichment analysis indicated that protein phosphorylation and negative regulation of apoptotic processes are important biological processes in the treatment of DKD by SQP.Molecular docking confirmed the excellent binding abilities of boldine,denudatin B,kaempferide,and quercetin to EGFR and SRC.The results of in vitro experiments showed that treatment with an ethanolic extract of SQP significantly protected HK-2 cells from high glucose-induced cell damage.In addition,the SQP ethanol extract inhibited the phosphorylation of EGFR and SRC,suppressed the apoptosis rate,and regulated apoptosis-related proteins in HK-2 cells under high glucose stress.Conclusion:This study systematically and intuitively illustrated the possible pharmacological mechanisms of SQP against DKD through multiple components,targets,and signalling pathways,especially the inhibition of EGFR and SRC phosphorylation and apoptosis.

Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics to explore the mechanisms of Shenzao dripping pill against chronic myocardial ischemia

Background:Shenzao dripping pill(SZDP)is empirically prescribed for treating cardiac diseases.Nevertheless,there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the underlying mechanisms contributing to its therapeutic effects.The objective of this study is to investigate the underlying mechanism of SZDP against chronic myocardial ischemia(CMI)in a rat model.Methods:In this study,we utilized electrocardiographic and echocardiographic detection along with pathological tissue analysis to evaluate the efficacy of SZDP.The integration of network pharmacology and metabolomics was conducted to investigate the mechanisms.Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to validate the binding energy between the compounds of SZDP and the associated targets.Results:The results showed that SZDP was able to improve T wave voltage,reverse CMI abnormalities in ejection fraction and fractional shortening,and restore histopathological heart damage.Metabolomics results indicated that disturbances of metabolic profile in CMI rats were partly corrected after SZDP administration,mainly affecting purine metabolism.13-Docosenamide may be the potential metabolic biomarker of the therapeutic application of SZDP for CMI.Integrating network pharmacology and metabolomics,thiopurine S-methyltransferase(TPMT),xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase(XDH),bifunctional purine biosynthesis protein ATIC(ATIC),and cytochrome p4501A1(CYP1A1)were identified as possible targets of SZDP to exert therapeutic effects by enhancing the metabolic levels of L-Tryptophan,Deoxyribose 1-phosphate and Phosphoribosyl formamidocarboxamide.Conclusion:SZDP has a therapeutic effect on CMI by regulating metabolite levels,acting on the targets of TMPT,XDH,ATIC,and CYP1A1,and reducing cardiomyocyte injury and myocardial fibrosis.

Clinical efficacy of Baijin pills in the treatment of generalized tonicclonic seizure epilepsy with cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND The generalized tonic-clonic seizure(GTCS)is the most usual variety of epileptic seizure.It is mainly characterized by strong body muscle rigidity,loss of consciousness,a disorder of plant neurofunction,and significant damage to cognitive function.The effect of antiepileptic drugs on cognition should also be considered.At present,there is no effective treatment for patients with epilepsy,but traditional Chinese medicine has shown a significant effect on chronic disease with fewer harmful side effects and should,therefore,be considered for the therapy means of epilepsy with cognitive dysfunction.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy of Baijin pills for treating GTCS patients with cognitive impairment.METHODS This prospective study enrolled patients diagnosed with GTCS between January 2020 and December 2023 and separate them into two groups(experimental and control)using random number table method.The control group was treated with sodium valproate,and the experimental group was Baijin pills and sodium valproate for three months.The frequency and duration of each seizure,the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale(MoCA),and the Quality of Life Rating Scale(QOLIE-31)were recorded before and after treatment.RESULTS There were 85 patients included(42 in the control group and 43 in the experimental group).After treatment,the seizure frequency in the experimental group was significantly reduced(P<0.05),and seizure duration was shortened(P<0.01).The total MoCA score in the experimental group significantly increased compared to before treatment(P<0.01),and the sub-item scores,except naming and abstract generalization ability,significantly increased(P<0.05),whereas the total MoCA score in the control group significantly decreased after treatment(P<0.05).The QOLIE-31 score of the experimental group increased significantly after treatment compared to before treatment(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Baijin pills have a good clinical effect on epilepsy with cognitive dysfunction.

Effect of dietary with Zhibai dihuang pills and gonadotropinreleasing-hormone-analogue on girls with precocious and rapidly progressive puberty

BACKGROUND At present,the clinical mechanisms underlying precocious puberty remain unclear,making effective intervention for children experiencing this condition and rapidly progressive puberty essential.AIM To explore the effects of Zhibai dihuang pills and gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue(GnRHa)on growth and ovarian function in girls with precocious puberty.METHODS The clinical data of 84 adolescent girls with precocious puberty and rapidly progressive puberty from February 2017 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Girls were divided into a control group and an observation group,with 42 cases in each group.The control group received diet intervention combined with GnRHa treatment,while the observation group received diet intervention combined with Zhibai dihuang pills+GnRHa treatment.Outcomes such as clinical efficacy,growth indicators,ovarian function,and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The observation group showed superior clinical efficacy compared to the control group(P<0.05).Prior to the intervention,no significant differences were found in growth or ovarian function between the groups(P>0.05).Post-intervention,the observation group exhibited significantly lower rates in growth,height,and bone age,along with reduced levels of progesterone,testosterone,estradiol,prolactin,luteinizing hormone,and follicle-stimulating hormone compared to the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions was similar across both groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Combining Zhibai dihuang pills with GnRHa and dietary intervention effectively improves growth,enhances ovarian function,and minimizes adverse reactions in adolescent girls with precocious and rapidly progressive puberty.

Application of Guizhi Fuling Pill in Gynecology

This paper reviews the research progress of Guizhi Fuling Pill in the clinical application of gynecology,such as the treatment of uterine leiomyoma,ovarian cyst,infertility and dysmenorrhea,in order to provide further research ideas for clinical researchers.

Nb和Sn含量对锆合金氧化Pilling-Bedworth比影响的第一性原理研究

锆合金的耐蚀性能是影响其作为反应堆燃料包壳材料服役寿命的关键,Pilling-Bedworth(PB)比是反映锆合金腐蚀氧化过程的重要参数。采用第一性原理计算研究了Nb和Sn含量对锆合金氧化PB比的影响。首先分别计算了纯Zr、含Nb和Sn锆合金氧化成t-ZrO2与m-ZrO2的PB比;接着,研究了含Nb和Sn锆合金不同相结构含量对PB比的影响。结果表明:Nb的添加使锆合金的PB比减小,而Sn的添加使锆合金的PB比增大。最后,计算了商用Zr-Sn系Zr-4、Zr-Nb系M5、Zr-Sn-Nb系ZIRLO锆合金的PB比,发现M5合金的PB比低于Zr-4和ZIRLO合金。

Liqi Huoxue dripping pill protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway in rats

Background:Liqi Huoxue dripping pill(LQHXDP),a traditional Chinese drug for coronary heart disease,has a protective effect on the heart of rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI)in previous studies;however,its mechanism of action remains unclear.The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective mechanism of LQHXDP on MIRI in rats and its relationship with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.Methods:In this study,Sprague-Dawley rats were pre-infused with LQHXDP(175 mg/kg/d)for 10 days.PI3K inhibitor LY294002(0.3 mg/kg)was intravenously injected 15 minutes before ischemia.The rat model of MIRI was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery.Subsequently,cardiac hemodynamics,serum myocardial injury markers,inflammatory factors,myocardial infarct size,antioxidant indexes,myocardial histopathology,and phosphorylation levels of key proteins of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were assessed in rats.Results:LQHXDP was found to improve cardiac hemodynamic indexes,reduce serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme activity and cardiac troponin and heart-type fatty acid binding protein levels,lower serum interleukin-1 beta,interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factorαlevels,reduce the myocardial infarct size and enhance the antioxidant capacity of myocardial tissue in MIRI rats.Pathological analysis revealed that LQHXDP attenuated the extent of myocardial injury and protected mitochondria from damage in MIRI rats.Immunoblot analysis revealed that LQHXDP increased the expression levels of p-Akt and p-GSK-3βin MIRI rat cardiomyocytes.PI3K inhibitor LY294002 could impair these effects of LQHXDP.Conclusion:LQHXDP attenuated myocardial injury,attenuated oxidative stress injury and reduced inflammatory response in MIRI rats,and its protective effects were mediated by activating of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3βsignaling pathway.

Studying the Effect of Polyester Fiber Blend Ratio and Pilling Cycle on Blended Knit Fabrics

Pilling is a severe concern for blended fabrics. The aesthetic look and smoothness are the buyers’ prime requirements. The main focus of the study was to see the pilling behavior from various percentages of polyester fiber blend ratio as well as the different pilling cycles on blended fabrics. The cotton, polyester, and elastane prepared the study fabrics. These fabrics are (90% Cotton/5% Polyester/5% Elastane, 90% Cotton/6% Polyester/4% Elastane, 90% Cotton/7% Polyester/3% Elastane, 90% Cotton/8% Polyester/2% Elastane, and 90% Cotton/9% Polyester/1% Elastane, 85% Cotton/10% Polyester/5% Elastane, 85% Cotton/11% Polyester/4% Elastane, 85% Cotton/12% Polyester/3% Elastane, 85% Cotton/13% Polyester/2% Elastane, and 85% Cotton/ 14% Polyester/1% Elastane, 80% Cotton/15% Polyester/5% Elastane, 80% Cotton/16% Polyester/4% Elastane, 80% Cotton/17% Polyester/3% Elastane, 80% Cotton/18% Polyester/2% Elastane, and 80% Cotton/19% Polyester/1% Elastane). The selected polyester blend ratios were 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18% and 19% respectively. The study used the Martindale pilling tester with 2000, 5000, and 7000 cycles, respectively. The evaluation followed the ISO 12945-2:2000. The study findings are that the polyester fiber blend ratio did not influence the pilling grade on blended fabrics for pilling cycles 2000, and the pilling grade remained constant at 4 - 5. The pilling grade started to deteriorate in pilling cycle 5000 for the fabrics 85%C/10%P/5%E, 85%C/11%P/4%E, 85%C/12%P/3%E, 85%C/ 13%P/2%E, 85%C/14%P/1%E showed the pilling grade 4, and the fabrics made from 80%C/15%P/5%E, 80%C/16%P/4%E, 80%C/17%P/3%E, 80%C/ 18%P/2%E, 80%C/19%P/1%E showed the pilling grade 4, 3, 3, 3, and 3 respectively. For the pilling cycles 7000, the pilling grade further deteriorated for the fabrics 80%C/15%P/5%E, 80%C/16%P/4%E, 80%C/17%P/3%E, 80%C/ 18%P/2%E, 80%C/19%P/1%E showed the pilling grade 3, 3, 2, 2, and 2 respectively. The study finds the dominance of polyester fiber throughout the experiment. The author hopes this study’s outcome will help new researchers, advanced researchers, and the textile industry’s sustainable development research and development team.

Metabolomics and network pharmacology reveal the mechanism of the Jiawei Yangshen pill in treatment of cyclophosphamide-induced dyszoospermia in mice

Background:The Jiawei Yangshen pill enhances sperm abundance.However,the pharmacological mechanism of action of the Jiawei Yangshen pill remains unclear.This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of the Jiawei Yangshen pill in the treatment of dyszoospermia and study the underlying mechanism.Methods:A dyszoospermia model was established by injecting mice with cyclophosphamide(50 mg/kg)consecutively for 7 days.Physiological and pathological indicators of the testis and hormone levels were examined after 4 weeks of treatment.Untargeted metabolomics using high-performance liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry was performed on testis specimens.Network pharmacology analysis was used to construct an“ingredient-target-disease”interactive network,followed by metabolic pathway enrichment analysis.Western blotting was performed to examine the levels of the related proteins.Results:The Jiawei Yangshen pill significantly increased the testis index,epididymal index,sperm count,and testosterone level,while concurrently decreasing sperm mortality and luteinizing hormone levels.The spermatogenic cells in the Jiawei Yangshen pill-treated mice were well arranged with an increased number.Significantly different metabolites were identified.Western blotting showed that the expression levels of p-anti-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/anti-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and p-protein kinase B/protein kinase B were significantly increased after the Jiawei Yangshen pill treatment,whereas the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1 and nuclear factor kappa B(p65)were remarkably decreased.Conclusion:The Jiawei Yangshen pill significantly improved testicular microcirculatory injury and overall metabolic levels in mice with dyszoospermia.

Coating Process of Paeonol Sustained Release Pills

[Objectives] To study the coating process of paeonol sustained release pills by extrusion-spheronization method taking ethyl cellulose as the coating material. [Methods] Paeonol pills were made by Auari AW-95 Full Automatic Pill Making Machine. Coating of paeonol sustained release pills was prepared by Auari Mini Pill Polishing Machine. The prescription and process factors of paeonol sustained release pills coating were investigated by single factor experiment and orthogonal experiment. The release of paeonol sustained release pills was determined according to the cumulative release curve of paeonol. [Results] The prepared paeonol sustained release pills released slowly within 24 h, and the release rate reached 80% in 12 h. [Conclusions] The prepared paeonol sustained release pills basically meet the 24 h sustained release standard, and can be further developed and applied.

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.

Chemical components and mechanism of Jiuwei Huaban pill in treating psoriasis

Objective:To systematically study the key active ingredients of Jiuwei Huaban pill in the treatment of psoriasis and explore its mechanism of action.Methods:The chemical components of Jiuwei Huaban pill were systematically identified by UPLC-QTOF/MSE,and network pharmacology method was used to study the main pharmacodynamic substances of Jiuwei Huaban pill and discuss the mechanism of action.Molecular docking technology was used to verify the binding activity of key components and target proteins.Results:A total of 75 components of Jiuwei Huaban pill were identified,35 of which were key components for psoriasis treatment,including luteolin,baicalin,baicalin,paeoniflorin and geniposide.Enrichment analysis of 30 core target pathways showed that Jiuwei Huaban pill played its role in the treatment of psoriasis from the IL-17 signaling pathway,TNF signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,Th17 signaling pathway,and MAPK signaling pathway.The key active components in Jiuwei Huaban pill and targets with the highest DGREE value in the"component target disease"network have strong binding activity.Conclusion:The active ingredients and mechanism of action of Jiuwei Huaban pill in the treatment of psoriasis were preliminarily clarified,which provids reference for quality control.

Molecular targets and mechanisms of Jiawei Jiaotai Pill on diabetic cardiomyopathy based on network pharmacology

BACKGROUND Jiawei Jiaotai Pill is commonly used in clinical practice to reduce apoptosis,increase insulin secretion,and improve blood glucose tolerance.However,its mechanism of action in the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy(DCM)remains unclear,hindering research efforts aimed at developing drugs specifically for the treatment of DCM.AIM To explore the pharmacodynamic basis and molecular mechanism of Jiawei Jiaotai Pill in DCM treatment.METHODS We explored various databases and software,including the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database,Uniport,PubChem,GenCards,String,and Cytoscape,to identify the active components and targets of Jiawei Jiaotai Pill,and the disease targets in DCM.Protein-protein interaction network,gene ontology,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were used to determine the mechanism of action of Jiawei Jiaotai Pill in treating DCM.Molecular docking of key active components and core targets was verified using AutoDock software.RESULTS Total 42 active ingredients and 142 potential targets of Jiawei Jiaotai Pill were identified.There were 100 common targets between the DCM and Jiawei Jiaotai Pills.Through this screening process,TNF,IL6,TP53,EGFR,INS,and other important targets were identified.These targets are mainly involved in the positive regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)MAPK cascade,response to xenobiotic stimuli,response to hypoxia,positive regulation of gene expression,positive regulation of cell proliferation,negative regulation of the apoptotic process,and other biological processes.It was mainly enriched in the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications,DCM,PI3K-Akt,interleukin-17,and MAPK signaling pathways.Molecular docking results showed that Jiawei Jiaotai Pill's active ingredients had good docking activity with DCM's core target.CONCLUSION The active components of Jiawei Jiaotai Pill may play a role in the treatment of DCM by reducing oxidative stress,cardiomyocyte apoptosis and fibrosis,and maintaining metabolic homeostasis.

Network pharmacology analysis combined with experimental verification of the molecular mechanism of Xihuang pill in treating liver cancer

Background:Xihuang pill is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine,which has been widely used in the treatment of kinds of cancer.However,there is still a lack of systematic understanding of the molecular mechanism of Xihuang pill in the treatment of liver cancer.In this work,we aim to explore the molecular mechanism of Xihuang pill in treating liver cancer.Methods:The functional components in Xihuang pill were collected from Traditional Chinese Medicine Database and Analysis Platform.The target genes of these components were also collected using Traditional Chinese Medicine Database and Analysis Platform.The target genes of liver cancer were predicted using GeneCards database.The intersecting genes were then analyzed with Venn diagrams.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Database for Annotation,Visualization,and Integrated Discovery were used to analyze the pathway.Then,cell counting kit-8 was used to measure the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of Xihuang pills.The living dead cell staining method was used to observe the survival of cells.HepG2 cell apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry with fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide double staining method,and then the mitochondrial damage was also detected by flow cytometry.The expression of target genes was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results:A total of 130 compounds and 198 genes were identified as potential active ingredients and putative liver cancer‑related targets.We obtained 1,899 disease targets and 297 transcriptome targets from the database.Six drug-disease intersecting genes,CCNB1,BIRC5,TOP2A,ESR1,IGF2 and IGFBP3 were obtained.They are enrichment in apoptosis,PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,MAPK signaling pathway,pathways in cancer and p53 signaling pathway.Besides,it was found that the apoptosis rate of the HepG2 cells in Xihuang pill treated group was significantly higher than that of the control group.And the apoptosis rate gradually increased in a dose dependent manner of Xihuang pill treatment.Xihuang pill also induced the mitochondrial membrane potential damage.Compared with the control group,the expression level of CCNB1 and BIRC5 was induced,while the expression level of IGF2 was reduced after Xihuang pill treatment.Conclusion:Xihuang pill may act on six proteins(CCNB1,BIRC5,TOP2A,ESR1,IGF2 and IGFBP3)and cover multiple pathways to form a therapeutic network to treat liver cancer.

Antidepressant Effect of Mongolian Pharmaceutical Betel Shisanwei Ingredient Pills and Its Improvement Effect on Depressive Syndromes

[Objectives]To analyze the effect of Mongolian pharmaceutical Betel Shisanwei Ingredient Pills in the clinical treatment of patients with depression.[Methods]From June 2020 to May 2021,64 patients with depression who received treatment in Inner Mongolia Minzu University were selected to participate in this study.These patients were randomly numbered from 1 to 64,and then divided into two groups according to the principle of odd or even number.Patients with odd number were regarded as the reference group,and treated by western medicine fluoxetine;patients with even number were regarded as the study group,and treated by Mongolian pharmaceutical Betel Shisanwei Ingredient Pills.The therapeutic effects of the two groups of patients were compared.[Results]Before treatment,there was no significant difference in the scores of patients'depressive syndromes between the two groups(P>0.05).After treatment,there were two significant changes in comprehensive score of depressive symptoms in both groups.Compared with before treatment,the data of the same group after treatment decreased significantly.Comparison between the two groups showed that the score of patients'depressive syndromes in the study group(13.28±5.49)was significantly lower than that in the reference group(18.46±6.51),and the overall response rate of treatment in the study group(96.88%,31/32)was obviously higher than that in the reference group(75.00%,24/32),showing statistically significant differences(P<0.05).[Conclusions]In the treatment of depression,Mongolian medicine therapy can significantly improve the depressive syndromes in patients,with more prominent curative effects,and is worthy of promotion and application.

Packed with pills-obstructing duodenal web in the setting of intestinal malrotation:A case report

BACKGROUND The incidence of intestinal malrotation in adults has been reported to only be about 0.2%.Duodenal web as a cause of intestinal obstruction is rare,with an incidence of about 1:20000-1:40000.Furthermore,when described,these conditions are usually seen in early life and very infrequently in adulthood.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a middle-aged woman with intestinal malrotation who presented with a three-month history of right-sided abdominal pain,early satiety,and a 22-pound weight loss.Patient underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy,which demonstrated numerous retained pills in a deformed first portion of the duodenum,concerning for a partial gastric outlet obstruction.An upper gastrointestinal series showed marked distention of the proximal duodenum with retained debris and the presence of a windsock sign,increasing the suspicion of a duodenal web.The patient subsequently underwent surgical intervention where a duodenal web with two lumens was noted and resected,opening the duodenum.There were over 150 pill capsules that were removed.The patient is doing well after this intervention.CONCLUSION Both intestinal malrotation and duodenal webs are infrequently encountered in the adult population.These pathologies can also present with nonspecific abdominal symptoms such as chronic abdominal pain and nausea.Hence,providers might not consider these pathologies in the differential for patients who present with vague symptoms which can lead to delay in management and increased mortality and morbidity.

A Review of Studies about Mongolian Patent Medicine Huhegaridi-9 (Qinggan Jiuwei Pills)

It has been applied for many diseases such as plague fever, cold cough, sore throat and so on. In order to better study Huhegaridi-9, this paper started from the production process of Mongolian Patent Medicine Huhegaridi-9. It analyzed and discussed the clinical application, chemical components and pharmacological research of Huhegaridi-9. It is expected to provide a reference for relevant researchers and workers.