To investigate the protective effect of Dahuang Xuanming Powder Granules (大黄玄明粉) on intestinal barrier injury induced by pancreatitis through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB).

By injection of 0.2 mL of a 5% (w/v, 50 mg/mL) sodium taurocholate solution to induce a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). The experiment was divided into sham operation group, SAP-induced intestinal barrier injury group (model group) and Dahuang Xuanming Powder Granules group. Intestinal barrier injury was assessed by scanning electron microscopy, hematoxylin and eosin staining and pathological scoring. The levels of pancreatitis biomarkers (amylase and lipase), oxidative stress markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidases (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA)] and inflammatory markers [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10] in serum or intestinal tissue were measured. The expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-related proteins were detected by Western blotting. 16 S rRNA sequencing was used to measure the composition of gut microbiota in feces.

The activity of serum amylase and lipase in the model group was higher than that in the control group. The activity of serum amylase and lipase in Dahuang Xuanming Powder Granules group was lower than that in the model group. Compared with that in the control group, the number of intestinal villi in the model group decreased. The activity of serum amylase and lipase in the model group was higher than that in the control group. The activity of serum amylase and lipase in Dahuang Xuanming Powder Granules group was lower than that in the model group. Compared with that of the control group, the number of intestinal villi in the model group decreased and was damaged, while the treatment of Dahuang Xuanming Powder Granules prevented the reduction of the number of intestinal villi. In addition, Dahuang Xuanming Powder Granules increased the activity of the levels of serum SOD, CAT and GSPx, and decreased the serum MDA levels. Compared with the model group, Dahuang Xuanming Powder Granules reduced the protein levels of Toll like receptor 4 (TRL4), p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-NF-κB. Compared with the model group, Dahuang Xuanming Powder Granules reduced the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, but significantly increased serum IL-10 levels. In addition, Dahuang Xuanming Powder Granules increased the proportion of Lactobacillus and Prevotella in the model group, and reduced the proportion of Helicobacter pylori and Escherichia-Shigella.

By inactivating oxidants and inflammatory signals and improving intestinal microbiota, Dahuang Xuanming Powder Granules ultimately improve SAP-induced intestinal barrier injury in the rats.

To investigate the effect of total flavonoids of Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex), a traditional Chinese medicine monomer, on the regulation of inflammatory response in the rats with otitis media through the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (STAT3)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway.

Forty SPF grade SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a low-dose group of total flavonoids of Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex) and a high-dose group of total flavonoids of Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex), each with 10 rats. Normal group and model group were given the equal doses of 0.9% sodium chloride solution by gavage. The low and high-dose groups of total flavonoids of Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex) were given the corresponding doses (10, 30 mg/kg) once a day. The rats in each group were orally administered continuously for 14 days. The histopathological changes of hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stained tissues in each group were observed. The pathological scores of the tympanic membrane, auditory function, thickness of the middle ear mucosa and the protein expression levels of inflammatory factors and TGF-β1, STAT3 and NF-κB among different groups were compared.

In the model group, low-dose group and high-dose group, the pathological scores of the tympanic membrane, Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) response threshold, middle ear mucosal thickness, serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and TGF-β1, as well as the grayscale values of STAT3 and NF-κB proteins were higher than those in the normal group (P<0.05). The pathological scores of the tympanic membrane, ABR response threshold, middle ear mucosal thickness, serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TGF-β1, as well as the grayscale values of STAT3 and NF-κB proteins in the low-dose and high-dose groups were lower than those of the model group (P<0.05). The pathological score of the tympanic membrane, Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) response threshold, thickness of the middle ear mucosa, serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TGF-β1, as well as the gray values of STAT3 and NF-κB proteins in the high-dose group lower than those in the low-dose group (P<0.05).

The total flavonoids of Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex), a traditional Chinese medicine monomer, can alleviate the inflammatory response in the rats with otitis media, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of TGF-β1/STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathway expression.

To observe the role of Cyt-c/Apaf-1/Caspase-9/3 apoptosis signaling pathway in lupus nephritis (LN) and explore the mechanism of Sanqi Injection (三七注射液) in the treatment of LN.

Fifteen female MRL-faslpr mice were randomly divided into model group, Apaf-1 inhibitor group and Sanqi Injection group, with 5 mice in each group. Five C57BL/6 mice of the same age were set as the normal control group. The expressions apoptosome and related proteins in renal tissue were detected by immunofluorescence and western blot.

In the model group, the renal structure of the mice was severely damaged, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells was significant. In the Apaf-1 inhibitor group and the Sanqi Injection group, the renal injury was mitigated and the infiltration of inflammatory cells was reduced. Immunofluorescence analysis of kidney tissue apoptosome revealed that the expression levels of Cyt-c, Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 in the model group were higher than those in the normal group (P<0.01). The expression levels of Cyt-c, Apaf-1 and Cleaved-Caspase-9 in the Apaf-1 inhibitor group and Sanqi Injection group were lower than those in the model group (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of Cyt-c, Apaf-1, Cleaved-Caspase-9 and the expression levels of the apoptotic proteins Cleaved-Caspase-3 and Bax in the model group were higher than those in the normal group (P<0.01), while the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was lower than that in the normal group (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of Cyt-c, Apaf-1, Cleaved-Caspase-9, and the expression levels of apoptotic proteins Cleaved-Caspase-3 and Bax in the Apaf-1 inhibitor group and Sanqi Injection group were lower than those in the model group (P<0.01), while the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was higher than that in the model group (P<0.01).

Once the Cyt-c/Apaf-1/Caspase-9/3 apoptotic signaling pathway is activated, it promotes cell apoptosis and exacerbates the disease severity of LN. Sanqi Injection may alleviate LN by inhibiting the Cyt-c/Apaf-1/Caspase-9/3 apoptotic signaling pathway and reducing apoptosis of renal tissue cells.

To investigate the effect of Modified Erchen Decoction (二陈汤加减) assisting mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy in rectal cancer and its effect on immune function.

Eighty rectal cancer patients admitted to Hangzhou First People's Hospital from June 2021 to March 2024 were divided into two groups, namely control group and treatment group, 40 cases in each. The control group received mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy. The treatment group received Modified Erchen Decoction combined with mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy. The therapeutic effects, TCM symptom scores, serum tumor marker levels, immune function indicators, angiogenic factors and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

The total treatment response rate in the treatment group was 85.00% (34/40), higher than that [52.50% (25/40)] in the control group (P<0.05). The TCM symptom scores of the treatment group were lower than those of the control group after 12 treatment courses (P<0.05). The treatment group received 12 courses of treatment, and the levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199), CD8⁺ and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were lower than those in the control group, while the levels of CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of nausea, vomiting and bone marrow suppression in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in liver or kidney damage and hair loss between the two groups (P>0.05).

Modified Erchen Decoction assisting mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy in the treatment of rectal cancer patients has a good effect, which can alleviate traditional Chinese medicine symptoms, down-regulate serum tumor marker levels, reduce the impact on immune function and regulate vascular growth factor levels, reducing the occurrence of adverse reactions.

To explore the clinical efficacy of Modified Sini Decoction (四逆汤加减) in the treatment of Yang deficiency and cold coagulation type of lumbar spinal stenosis.

Ninety-seven patients with lumbar spinal stenosis of Yang deficiency and cold coagulation type in the hospital were selected from April 2021 to April 2024, and were randomly divided into traditional Chinese medicine group (49 cases) and control group (48 cases). The control group was treated with western medicine, while the traditional Chinese medicine group was given Modified Sini Decoction on the basis of the control group. During treatment, 8 patients in the traditional Chinese medicine group and 6 patients in the control group fell off. The efficacy was evaluated, and the traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) lumbar function scale, Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI), oxidative stress indicators, inflammatory factors and adverse reactions were statistically analyzed before and after treatment.

The total effective rate in the traditional Chinese medicine group was 95.12% and that in the control group was 80.95%, and the total effective rate in traditional Chinese medicine group was higher (P<0.05). After treatment, the traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores and ODI scores in both groups was decreased while the JOA score was increased (P<0.05), and serum superoxide dismutase level was risen while the levels of serum advanced oxidation protein products and malondialdehyde were reduced (P<0.05), and the levels of serum interleukin-1α, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were declined (P<0.05), and the improvements in traditional Chinese medicine group were greater (P<0.05). There were no obvious differences in the incidence rates of adverse reactions between control group and traditional Chinese medicine group (P>0.05).

Modified Sini Decoction has significant efficacy in treating sedentariness-induced lumbar spinal stenosis (Yang deficiency and cold coagulation type). It has obvious advantages in improving lumbar function and relieving oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and has good safety.