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To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Shumian capsule in improving the symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of convalescent patients of COVID-19.Totally 200 patients were collected and randomly divided into experiment group (n = 100) and control group (n = 100). The control group was treated with Shumian capsule simulator, and the experiment group was treated with Shumian capsule. The improvement of TCM symptom score, the total effective rate and symptom disappearance rate of TCM symptoms in the two groups before and after treatment were observed, and the clinical effect was evaluated.One week after treatment, the scores of anxiety symptoms in the experiment group were significantly different from those in the control group (P0.05), but there was no significant difference in the scores of insomnia and depression between the experiment group and the control group (P0.05). There was no significant difference in the total effective rate and disappearance rate of TCM symptoms of insomnia, anxiety and depression between the experiment group and the control group (P0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment, the scores of insomnia, anxiety, depression and the total effective rate of TCM symptoms in the experiment group were significantly different from those in the control group (P0.05). There was no significant difference in the disappearance rate of insomnia, anxiety and depression between the experiment group and the control group (P0.05). There were no significant differences in heart rate, respiration, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure between the experiment group and the control group (P0.05).Shumian capsule can significantly improve the symptoms of insomnia, anxiety and depression in COVID-19's convalescent patients with sleep and mood disorders.

The aim of the present study was to compare the different effects of berberine (Ber) and Coptischinensis extract (CCE) on a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the islet Rin‑5f cell line was used to examine the differences between Ber and CCE and the underlying mechanisms. CCE was extracted and purified prior to analysis. Male Sprague‑Dawley rats were provided with a high‑fat diet to induce insulin resistance prior to injecting with streptozotocinto establish the T2DM model, the T2DM rats were treated with Ber and CCE, and blood samples and pancreatic tissues were obtained and compared to examine T2DM metabolic syndromes among the groups of rats, which included healthy rats, model rats, and model rats treated with Ber and CCE at different doses between 0 and 8 weeks. The protective effects of Ber and CCE on the Rin‑5f islet cell line were also evaluated. The effects on Rin‑5f cell proliferation and cell cycle, glucose‑stimulated insulin release test (GSIS), the anti‑apoptotic effects caused by fat induction, and protein expression levels of poly ADP‑ribose polymerase (PARP‑1) were evaluated. The results showed that the content of the prepared CCE was 96.07% for five alkaloids. When it was used for treatment of the T2DM rats, compared with Ber, metformin and rosiglitazone, the fasting blood glucose, glucosylated serum protein (GSP) and glucose infusion rate indicesin the fasting rats were ameliorated, compared with those in the T2MD rats, with no significant differences between treatment with Ber or CCE and metformin or rosiglitazone. The indices of mean optical density and fasting β‑cell function index (FBCI) were different following treatment with Ber and CCE, compared with those in the model rats, which may have stimulated the pancreatic secretion of insulin. When Ber and CCE were used to examine the protective effects on Rin‑5F cells, it was found that the Rin‑5f cell GSIS, cell cycle, lipotoxic islet cell proliferation and protein expression of PARP‑1 were altered and improved, which may have protected pancreatic islet β‑cells by improving islet β‑cell proliferation and the protein expression of PARP‑1. CCE and Ber exerted similar effects when used for the treatment of T2MD rats, and may have stimulated the pancreatic secretion of insulin through the protective effect on islet β‑cells via improving islet β‑cell proliferation and the protein expression of PARP‑1.

It is difficult to accurately evaluate the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which leads to the uncertainty and complexity of dose-effect analysis. In this study we established the “Focus” mode of biomarkers to characterize the dose-effect relationship of Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD), a TCM formula for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (2-DM). A rat model of 2-DM was established through high fat diet feeding combined with low-dose STZ injection. Rats with 2-DM were administered high, middle or low doses (6.785, 4.071, 1.357 mg·kg−1·d−1, respectively) of GQD extract for 60 d. Metformin (300 mg·kg−1·d−1) was taken as the positive control. Blood samples were collected to assess serum biochemical indexes and metabolic profiling. After “Focus” analysis, the biochemical index triglycerides (TG) and insulin sensitivity (ISI) were identified as focused integrated biomarkers (FIBs), while arachidonic acid and docosatetraenoic acid were the metabolic FIBs. Dose-effect relationship curves of GQD were built based on these types of FIBs. Furthermore, the two dose-effect relationship curves showed similar trends with the middle dosage displaying the greatest efficacy, suggesting that insulin function and arachidonic acid metabolism played important roles in 2-DM and the responses to GQD. The metabolic FIB docosatetraenoic should be further explored for understanding its involvement in the process of 2-DM occurrence and the treatment. This “Focus” mode provides a novel strategy to evaluate the dose-effect relationship of a TCM. The system and concepts established here may also be applicable for assessing the dose-effect relationships of Western medicines.

Present study aims to investigate the role of AGEs, TGF-β1, BDNF and their receptors on diabetes-induced colon remodeling. Diabetes was induced by a single tail vein injection 40 mg/kg of STZ. The parameters of morphometric and biomechanical properties of colonic segments were obtained from diabetic and normal rats. The expressions of AGE, RAGE, TGF- β1, TGF- β1 receptor, BDNF and TrkB were immunohistochemically detected in different layers of the colon. The expressions of AGE, RAGE, TGF-β1 and TGF- β1 receptor were increased whereas BDNF and TrkB were decreased in the diabetic colon (P

Previous study demonstrated that Chang Run Tong (CRT) could partly restore the colon remodeling in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats. Here we investigated the mechanisms of such effects of CRT. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of 40 mg/kg of STZ. CRT was poured into the stomach by gastric lavage once daily for 60 days. The remodeling parameters were obtained from diabetic (DM), CRT treated diabetic (T1, 50 g/kg; T2, 25 g/kg), and normal (Con) rats. Expressions of advanced glycation end product (AGE), AGE receptor, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and TGF-β1 receptor in the colon wall were immunochemically detected and quantitatively analyzed. The association between the expressions of those proteins and the remodeling parameters was analyzed. The expressions of those proteins were significantly higher in different colon layers in the DM group (P<0.05,P<0.01) and highly correlated to the remodeling parameters. Furthermore, the expressions of those proteins were significantly decreased in the T1 group (P<0.05,P<0.01) but not in the T2 group (P>0.05). The corrective effect on the expressions of those proteins is likely to be one molecular pathway for the improvement of CRT on the diabetes-induced colon remodeling.

Coptidis rhizoma (Coptis) and its alkaloids exert various pharmacological functions in cells and tissues; however, the oral absorption of these alkaloids requires further elucidation. The present study aimed to examine the mechanism underlying the poor absorption of alkaloids, including berberine (BER), coptisine (COP), palmatine (PAL) and jatrorrhizine (JAT). An ultra‑performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method was validated for the determination of BER, COP, PAL and JAT in the above experimental medium. In addition, the apparent oil‑water partition coefficient (Po/w); apparent permeability coefficient (Papp), determined using a parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) plate; membrane retention coefficient (R %); and effect of P‑glycoprotein (P‑gp) inhibitor on the Papp of the four alkaloids were investigated. The intestinal absorption rate constant (Ka) and absorption percentage (A %) of the four alkaloids were also determined. The results of the present study demonstrated that the Po/w of the four alkaloids in 0.1 mol·l‑1 HCl medium was significantly higher (P

Background. Biomechanical properties in terms of residual strains in diabetic small intestine have not been studied. Furthermore, no data have been reported on effect of gliclazide on gastrointestinal complications of diabetes. Aims. To determine remodelling of zero-stress state of small intestine in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and effect of gliclazide treatment. Materials. Morphological properties and residual strains were studied in duodenum, jejunum and ileum obtained from diabetic rats, gliclazide-treated diabetic rats and normal rats (n=8 each group). Methods. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of 65 mglkg streptozotocin. Gliclazide (10 mg kg−1 day−1) was injected directly into stomach lumen by intragastric gavage twice daily. Experimental period was 35 days. To approach no-load state; intestinal segments were surgically excised and cut transversely into short ring-shaped segments. Each ring was cut radially to obtain geometry of zero-stress state. Circumferential length, the wall thickness and opening angle were measured from digital images of each specimen and residual strains were computed. Results. Blood glucose level of diabetic group (∼20 mmol/1) was consistently higher than that in normal group (∼4 mmol/l) after induction of diabetes (p

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) results from the complex association of insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell failure. Recent studies have shown that patients diagnosed with T2DM present with a significant decrease in β-cell function, which can be further compromised during the progression of the disease. Several mechanisms have been shown to play a role in this process such as glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity, which contribute to accelerating insulin secretion. In this regard, Chinese medicine has a certain advantage. This experiment was performed to observe the effect of a Chinese medicine named Kaiyuqingre formula (KYQRF) on β-cell function and its mechanisms of action therein.High glucose was used to set up a model of β-cell function failure. At the same time, medicated serum of KYQRF with different doses were administered to the cells. Rosiglitazone was taken as a control to observe the changes in insulin secretion, ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (K(ATP) channel) and uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) in each group.KYQRF had some effects on the insulin secretion. In a low glucose environment, no effective change in insulin secretion was observed (P0.05). However, insulin levels increased significantly when INS-1 cells were exposed to a high glucose environment (P0.05). KYQRF could also enhance cell viability (P0.05) in an effect similar to rosiglitazone. Although KYQRF had no effect on inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir6.2) (P0.05), it could decrease the overexpression of both UCP-2 and sulfonylurea receptor 1 (P0.05).KYQRF can protect islet function by decreasing UCP-2 and sulfonylurea receptor 1.

AIM: To investigate the effect of a Chinese medicine, Kaiyu Qingwei Jianji (KYQWJJ) used for diabetic treatment, on the morphometry and residual strain distribution of the small intestine in streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic rats. Correlation analysis was also performed between the opening angle and residual strain with the blood glucose level.METHODS: Forty-two male Wistar rats weighing 220-240 g were included in this study. Thirty-two STZ-induced diabetic rats were subdivided into four groups (n = 8 in each group), i.e. diabetic control group (DM); high dose of KYQWJJ (T1, 36 g/kg per day); low dose of KYQWJJ (T2, 17 g/kg per day) and Gliclazide (T3, 50 mg/kg per day). Another ten rats were used as non-diabetic control (CON). The medicines were poured directly into stomach lumen by gastric lavage twice daily. The rats of CON and DM groups were only poured the physiological saline. Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were measured. Experimental period was 35 d. At the end of experiment, three 5-cm long segments were harvested from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Three rings of 1-2 mm in length for no-load and zero-stress state tests were cut from the middle of different segments. The morphometric data, such as the circumferential length, the wall thickness and the opening angle were measured from the digitized images of intestinal segments in the no-load state and zero-stress state. The residual strain was computed from the morphometry data. Furthermore, the linear regression analysis was performed between blood glucose level with morphometric and biomechanical data in the different intestinal segments.RESULTS: The blood glucose level of DM group was consistent 4-fold to 5-fold higher than those in CON group during the experiment (16.89+/-1.11 vs 3.44+/-0.15 mmol/L, P < 0.001). The blood glucose level in the T1 (16.89+/-1.11 vs 11.08+/-2.67 mmol/L, P < 0.01) and T3 groups (16.89+/-1.11 vs 13.54+/-1.73 mmol/L, P < 0.05), but not in T2 group (P > 0.05) was significantly lower than those in DM group. The plasma insulin levels of DM, T1, T2 and T3 groups were significantly lower than those in CON group (10.98+/-1.02, 12.52+/-1.42,13.54+/-1.56,10.96+/-0.96 vs 17.84+/-2.34 pmol/L respectively, P < 0.05), but no significantly difference among the groups with exception of CON group. The wet weight/cm and total wall thickness of duodenum, jejunum and ileum in DM group were significantly higher than those in CON group (wet weight (g/cm): duodenum 0.209+/-0.012 vs 0.166+/-0.010, jejunum 0.149+/-0.008 vs 0.121+/-0.004, ileum 0.134+/-0.013 vs 0.112+/-0.007; Wall thickness (mm): duodenum 0.849+/-0.027 vs 0.710+/-0.026, jejunum 0.7259+/-0.034 vs 0.627+/-0.025, ileum 0.532+/-0.023 vs 0.470+/-0.010, all P < 0.05), T1 and T3 treatment could partly restore change of wall thickness, but T2 could not. The opening angle and absolute value of inner and outer residual stain were significantly smaller in duodenal segment (188+/-11 degrees, -0.31+/-0.02 and 0.35+/-0.03 vs 259+/-15 degrees, -0.40+/-0.02 and 0.43+/-0.05) and larger in jejunal (215+/-20 degrees, -0.30+/-0.03 and 0.36+/-0.06 vs 172+/-19 degrees, -0.25+/-0.02 and 0.27+/-0.02) and ileal segments (183+/-20 degrees, -0.28+/-0.01 and 0.34+/-0.05 vs 153+/-14 degrees, -0.23+/-0.03 and 0.29+/-0.04) in DM group than in CON group (P < 0.01). T1 and T3 treatment could partly restore this biomechanical alteration, but strong effect was found in T1 treatment (duodenum 243+/-14 degrees, -0.36+/-0.02 and 0.42+/-0.06, jejunum 180+/-15 degrees, -0.26+/-0.03 and 0.30+/-0.06 and ileum 163+/-17 degrees, -0.23+/-0.03 and 0.30+/-0.05, compared with DM, P < 0.05). The linear association was found between the glucose level with most morphometric and biomechanical data.CONCLUSION: KYQWJJ (high dose) treatment could partly restore the changes of blood glucose level and the remodeling of morphometry and residual strain of small intestine in diabetic rats. The linear regression analysis demonstrated that the effect of KYQWJJ on intestinal opening angle and residual strain is partially through its effect on the blood glucose level.

AIM: To evaluate the hepatic function in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and possible causes of hepatic disorder in these patients. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-two patients with SARS were employed in a retrospective study that investigated hepatic dysfunction. Liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were analyzed in these patients. Patients with different hospital treatments were further investigated. RESULTS: Of the 182 patients, 128 (70.3%) had abnormal ALT activity, 57 (31.3%) had abnormal AST activity and 87 (47.8%) had abnormal LDH activity. The peak of elevated hepatic enzyme activities occurred between the sixth day and the tenth day after the first day of reported fever. Of the 182 patients, 160 (87.9%) had been treated with antibiotics, 137 (75.2%) with Ribavirin, and 115 (63.2%) with methylpredisolone. There was no statistically significant correlation between the duration of Ribavirin treatement and hepatic dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Abnormal liver functions were common in patients with SARS and could be associated with virus replication in the liver.