Treg/Th17 Cell Balance in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure at Different Disease Stages.

Background: T-helper 17 (Th17) and CD4CD25 T-regulatory (Treg) cells play important roles in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF). This study is aimed at investigating shifts in Treg/Th17 balance in the peripheral blood of HBV-ACLF patients at different disease stages.

Methods: Sixty HBV-ACLF patients, admitted to the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, China, including early-stage ( = 20), middle-stage ( = 20), and late-stage patients ( = 20), were enrolled in the study.

Evaluating nitric oxide produced by rat inflamed microglial cell Lline, CHME-5, under the effect of IMOD.

Nitric oxide (NO), as a free radical, is produced by inflamed microglia cells and is one of the destructive factors of the immune system and a factor in myelin degradation. Therefore, inhibition of microglia activity is a chief strategy in reducing neurotoxic damage to the central nervous system. In this study, an herbal Immunomodulatory Drug (IMOD) was used to evaluate the effects of this drug in controlling the amount of nitric oxide.

Systems Biology and Chemoinformatics-Based Strategies to Explore the Biological Mechanism of Fugui Wenyang Decoction in Treating Vascular Dementia Rats.

Objective: To explore the biological mechanism of Fugui Wenyang Decoction (FGWYD) in treating vascular dementia (VD) rats based on systems pharmacology, proteomics, and a multidirectional pharmacology integration strategy.

Methods: Chemoinformatics was utilized to construct and analyze the FGWYD-VD protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Then, the total protein in the brain tissue of the infarcted side of the rat was extracted for protein identification, pattern identification, and protein quantitative analysis.

Bai-He-Gu-Jin-Tang formula suppresses lung cancer via AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin and induces autophagy via the AMPK/mTORC1/ULK1 signaling pathway.

Bai-He-Gu-Jin-Tang (BHGJT) is a classic Chinese formula used to treat lung cancer, while the underlying molecular mechanism remains obscure. The aim of the study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of BHGJT on lung cancer and demonstrate the potential for synergistic treatment combining BHGJT with conventional therapy. Cell viability assay, colony formation assay and EdU assay were used to determine the effects of BHGJT, and a subcutaneous xenograft model was used to evaluate the effect.

Construction of a Novel Lung Adenocarcinoma Immune-Related lncRNA Pair Signature.

Background: A growing number of studies have demonstrated that immune-related long noncoding ribonucleic acids (irlncRNAs) are potential prognostic factors for lung adenocarcinoma. Two-gene combination patterns could improve the sensitivity of prognostic models, providing us a novel signature construction concept that we applied to lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Gene expression and clinical data were downloaded from the Lung Adenocarcinoma project of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

Visualizing the intellectual structure and recent research trends of diabetic retinopathy.

Aim: To analyze the intellectual structure and recent research trends in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and unearth potential knowledge.

Methods: English DR publication included in this study was exported from the Web of Science Core Collection, and Chinese DR publication was exported from China National Knowledge Infrastructure from the establishment time of the database to 2019. CiteSpace and Microsoft Excel were used to visually analyze DR research, including analysis of the number of publications, highly cited publication analysis, spatial distribution analysis, and keyword co-occurrence analysis.

Auricular Point Acupressure Combined with Compound Lidocaine Cream to Manage Arteriovenous Fistula Puncture Pain: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) puncture pain is an inevitable problem for maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and may seriously endanger the physical and mental health of patients with MHD. Studies have shown that drug or nondrug measures can reduce AVF puncture pain, but much improvement is needed. When combined with compound lidocaine cream (CLC) in the treatment of AVF puncture pain, auricular point acupressure (APA)-a therapeutic method in which specific points on the auricle of the outer ear are stimulated to treat various disorders of the body-and the therapeutic value and synergistic effects of auriculotherapy merit further investigation.

The use of bipolar coagulation forceps prevented salivary fistula in patients with parotidectomy: a retrospective study.

Background: Salivary fistula is a relatively common complication in patients who have undergone a parotidectomy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of bipolar coagulation forceps use on salivary fistulas.

Methods: From March 2015 to June 2020, 177 patients who underwent a parotidectomy in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were recruited.

Dual-Energy Computed Tomography for the Diagnosis of Mediastinal Lymph Node Metastasis in Lung Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: This study explored the feasibility of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) for the diagnosis of mediastinal lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with lung cancer.

Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients with lung cancer, who underwent DECT, were included in this retrospective study. The attenuation value (Hounsfield unit) in virtual monochromatic images and the iodine concentration in the iodine map were measured at mediastinal LNs.

Production of an Animal Model of Semi-Yin and Semi-Yang Syndrome with Diabetic Ulcers and Study of Its Pathological and Metabolic Features.

Background: To create an animal model for diabetic ulcers with semi-Yin and semi-Yang (SYSY) syndrome and to study the pathological and metabolic features of SYSY syndrome.

Methods: Firstly, based on the clinical characteristics of the SYSY syndrome of diabetic ulcer, an animal model of diabetic ulcers with SYSY syndrome being full-thickness skin defects was created by injecting streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally, infecting with , and gastrically administering senna. Secondly, the content and distribution patterns of collagen fibers, the expression of neutrophils and macrophage markers, angiogenesis, and the expression of IL-1 and IL-10 in the rats with Yang syndrome, Yin syndrome, and SYSY syndrome of diabetic ulcers at different time points were detected.

Tong Xie Yao Fang: A Classic Chinese Medicine Prescription with Potential for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis.

The prescription of Tong Xie Yao Fang (TXYF) was derived from the Yuan dynasty "Dan Brook Heart Law," which was a representative formula for treating liver-spleen disharmony, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The prescription is composed of four herbs for soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen. TXYF is reportedly capable of eliminating discomfort in ulcerative colitis (UC).

Impact of Moriamin Forte on Testicular and Epididymal Damage in Rats with Oligoasthenospermia.

To investigate the effect and mechanism of action of Moriamin Forte (MF) on oligoasthenospermia (OA) in rats exposed to multiglycosides of (GTW), forty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. Rats in the control group were treated with 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

Nanoscale Formulations: Incorporating Curcumin into Combination Strategies for the Treatment of Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer remains the most common cancer worldwide. Although significant advances in screening have been made and early diagnosis strategies and therapeutic regimens have been developed, the overall survival rate remains bleak. Curcumin is extracted from the rhizomes of turmeric and exhibits a wide range of biological activities.

Emerging roles of exosomal miRNAs in diabetes mellitus.

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles 40-160 nm in diameter that are secreted by almost all cell types. Exosomes can carry diverse cargo including RNA, DNA, lipids, proteins, and metabolites. Exosomes transfer substances and information between cells by circulating in body fluids and are thus involved in diverse physiological and pathological processes in the human body.

Different Effects of Endothelial Extracellular Vesicles and LPS-Induced Endothelial Extracellular Vesicles on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: Role of Curcumin and Its Derivatives.

During the progression of atherosclerosis (AS), the vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells are reciprocally regulated by extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs have different effects on pathological and physiological processes due to the different cargoes contained in EVs. To study the effects of endothelial cells-derived EVs on normal and inflammatory conditions.

DNAH11 compound heterozygous variants cause heterotaxy and congenital heart disease.

Heterotaxy (HTX), a condition characterized by internal organs not being arranged as expected relative to each other and to the left-right axis, is often accompanied with congenital heart disease (CHD). The purpose was to detect the pathogenic variants in a Chinese family with HTX and CHD. A non-consanguineous Han Chinese family with HTX and CHD, and 200 unrelated healthy subjects were enlisted.

Zhuifeng Tougu capsules improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in rats by regulating the toll-like receptor 2/4-nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of Zhuifeng tougu capsules (, ZFTG) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in rats and study its mechanism, focusing on the toll-like receptor 2/4-nuclear factor kappa-B (TLR2/4-NF-κB) signaling pathway.

Methods: Type Ⅱ collagen and an artificial climate box were used to construct the rat model of collagen-induced arthritis with wind-cold-dampness arthralgia syndrome. The rats were divided randomly into a control group, wind-cold-dampness syndrome model group, and high-, medium-, and low-dose ZFTG groups.

Fast kilovoltage (KV)-switching dual-energy CT virtual noncalcium technique using different reconstruction kernels for identifying acute and chronic vertebral compression fractures.

Unlabelled: The vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) represent an incidental finding on thoracic and abdominal dual-energy CT examinations (which use STND reconstruction kernel), which are associated with increased mortality. While the BONE reconstruction kernel shows a superior diagnostic accuracy to find fractures. This study showed STND and BONE reconstruction kernel both had excellent diagnostic performance to detect abnormal edema in acute VCFs.

Exploring the Mechanism of Zhibai Dihuang Decoction in the Treatment of Ureaplasma Urealyticum-Induced Orchitis Based on Integrated Pharmacology.

Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection is the most common cause of male infertility. Zhibai Dihuang Decoction (ZBDHD) can improve the rate of forwarding motility sperm, sperm deformity rate, seminal plasma zinc and refined berry sugar levels. The potential targets of ZBDHD are obtained from The Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM).

[Consensus on collaborative ethical review of multi-center clinical trials of new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine (version 1.0)].

At present, the issues regarding multi-center clinical trials of new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) remain: the lack of agreement on the content and scope of the ethical review among the ethics committee members of the center and the participating units results in repeated review, which leads to a time-consuming ethical review process. Moreover, the review capabilities of the ethics committees of various research centers are uneven, which is not necessarily beneficial to the protection of subjects' rights and safety. In view of the existing problems, to improve the efficiency of ethical review of multi-center clinical trials of new drugs of TCM and avoid repeated reviews, the TCM Clinical Evaluation Professional Committee of Chinese Pharmaceutical Association organized experts to formulate the "Consensus on collaborative ethical review of multi-center clinical trials of new drugs of TCM(version 1.

The Role of Non-coding RNAs in Diabetic Nephropathy-Related Oxidative Stress.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the main complications of diabetes and the main cause of diabetic end-stage renal disease, which is often fatal. DN is usually characterized by progressive renal interstitial fibrosis, which is closely related to the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix and oxidative stress. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNA molecules expressed in eukaryotic cells that are not translated into proteins.

Curcumin promotes cholesterol efflux by regulating ABCA1 expression through miR-125a-5p/SIRT6 axis in THP-1 macrophage to prevent atherosclerosis.

Objective: To seek out the effect of curcumin on cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophages and clarify its specific mechanism.

Methods: THP-1 macrophages were cultured with curcumin at different concentrations, followed by detection of the toxicity of curcumin to cells utilizing CCK-8 assay. Following culturing with serum-free ox-LDL, THP-1 macrophages were transfected with mi-miR-125a-5p, or in-miR-125a-5p, or pcDNA3.