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Peimine, a bioactive substance isolated from Chinese medicine Fritillaria, can potentially suppress pulmonary fibrosis (PF); however, its therapeutic mechanism remains unclear. Recent evidence suggests the participation of M2-type macrophages in the pathogenesis of PF. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of peimine on a bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF rat model and the underlying mechanism of this effect. After BLM administration, peimine was administered to rats from day 29 to day 42, with pirfenidone (PFD) as a positive control. H&E and Masson’s trichrome stain were used to analyze histological changes. Q-PCR and western blotting were used to measure mRNA levels and protein levels, respectively. High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology detected the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) regulated by peimine. Our results revealed that peimine treatment significantly ameliorated BLM-induced PF by suppressing histological changes and collagen deposition. In addition, peimine decreased the number of M2 macrophages and the expression of profibrotic factors. RNA-seq results showed that DEGs regulated by peimine in IL-4-induced macrophages were mainly associated with immune system processes, the PI3K/Akt pathway, and the MAPKs pathway. Then, immunofluorescence assay and western blot results demonstrated that peimine treatment suppressed the expression of p-p38 MAPK and p-Akt (s473) and also inhibited the nuclear translocation of p-STAT6. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that peimine has a protective effect on PF through the suppression of M2 polarization of macrophages by inhibiting the STAT6, p38 MAPK, and Akt signals.

CdS quantum dots/ Boron and Nitrogen co-doped TiO2 photocatalyst emulsions were synthesized by a complexation-controlled hydrolysis method at room temperature. Boron compounds and Nitrogen compounds were added to TiO2 precursor solution, and CdS quantum dots were attached to TiO2 particles surfaces by using chemical reaction. The hybird composite photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, UV-Vis. Their photocatalytic properties were evaluated through the degradation of acid red 3R dye. The results indicate that when TiO2 emulsion add to Boron ions, Nitrogen ions, and CdS quantum dots, the photocatalytic performance of the emulsion is the best.

PbS quantum dots/ Boron and Nitrogen co-doped TiO2 photocatalyst emulsions were synthesized by a complexation-controlled hydrolysis method at room temperature. Boron compounds and Nitrogen compounds were added to TiO2 precursor solution, and PbS quantum dots were attached to TiO2 particles surfaces by using chemical reaction. The hybird composite photocatalysts were characterized by nanoparticle size analyzer. Their photocatalytic properties were evaluated through the degradation of acid red 3R dye. The results indicate that when TiO2 emulsion added to Boron ions, Nitrogen ions, and PbS quantum dots, the reflux time is 15 min, the photocatalytic performance of the emulsion is the best.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment based on syndrome differentiation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).MethodsA total of 240 CAP patients were randomly divided into the following two groups: the control group was treated by anti-infection plus conventional medicine treatment; and the trial group was treated by TCM plus the above-mentioned treatment given to the controls. The course of treatment was 14 days, and the patients were followed up for 7 days.ResultsOf the 240 patients, 235 accomplished the whole process of treatment. The five patients who withdrew from the study were brought into an intent-to-treat analysis. The therapeutic effects of the trial group were superior to those of the control group (P0.05), white blood cell count (P>0.05), bacterial clearance rate (P>0.05), and adverse reactions between the two integrated groups.ConclusionTreatment based on TCM syndrome differentiation for CAP has the advantages of resulting in less time to achieve a stable clinical condition, improvement of clinical symptoms and quality of life, and is comparatively safe.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Bu-Fei Yi-Shen granule combined with acupoint sticking therapy has been used in the patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as major traditional interventions for the treatment of the disease. Aim of the study The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, the Bu-Fei Yi-Shen granule combined with acupoint sticking therapy in patients with stable COPD. Methods A 4-center, double-blinded, double-dummy and randomized controlled method was conducted. 244 patients who were divided into the trial group (n = 122, treated with Bu-Fei Yi-Shen granule combined with Shu-Fei Tie acupoint sticking therapy and oral placebo sustained-release theophylline) and the control group (n = 122, treated with oral sustained-release theophylline and placebo Bu-Fei Yi-Shen granule combined with placebo Shu-Fei Tie acupoint sticking therapy). The frequency and duration of acute exacerbation, lung function, clinical symptoms, six-minute walking distance, dyspnea grade and quality of life were observed during the 4-month treatment period, and for a further 6 months follow-up. Results Two hundred and twenty one patients fully completed the study, intent-to-treat (ITT) population was 234 and per-protocol (PP) population was 221. After treatment for 4 months and follow-up for 6 months, there were differences between the experimental and control group in frequency of acute exacerbation (ITT: P = 0.007, P = 0.013; PP: P = 0.045, P = 0.046); duration of acute exacerbation (ITT: P = 0.030, P = 0.005; PP: P = 0.048, P = 0.006); scores of symptoms (ITT: P = 0.000, P = 0.000; PP: P = 0.000, P = 0.000); six-minute walking distance (ITT: P = 0.002, P = 0.001; PP: P = 0.002, P = 0.001); dyspnea grade (ITT: P = 0.014, P = 0.009; PP: P = 0.018, P = 0.012); physiological aspects (ITT: P = 0.003, P = 0.000; PP: P = 0.001, P = 0.000); psychological aspects (ITT: P = 0.007, P = 0.001; PP: P = 0.001, P = 0.000) and environment aspects (ITT: P = 0.003, P = 0.000; PP: P = 0.001, P = 0.000) of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. There were no differences between the experimental and control group in FVC, FEV1 and FEV1% and adverse events. Conclusions Bu-Fei Yi-Shen granule combined with acupoint sticking therapy showed beneficial effects for patients with stable COPD in the measured parameters over the 4-month treatment period and 6 months follow-up, with no relevant between-group differences in adverse events.

Computed tomography (CT) has been approved for diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The diagnostic accuracy, however, has never been examined in a systematic review. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the accuracy of CT in diagnosing COPD.Articles reporting diagnostic accuracy of CT for COPD were searched from seven electronic databases and hand searching. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed methodological quality. Sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-, respectively), and diagnostic odds ratios (DOR) were pooled using a bivariate model. The diagnostic performance of overall test also was assessed using the visual power of the ROC plot to present the bivariate model. Potential between-study heterogeneity was explored using subgroup analyses.Data were extracted from 8 studies that met the inclusion criteria. All summary measures were grossly heterogeneous and therefore would not be appropriately summarized. These studies were further stratified by type of imaging technique and test index. The summary estimates of CT for COPD were as follows: SEN, 0.83(95% CI, 0.73-0.89); SPE, 0.87(95% CI, 0.70-0.95); LR+, 6.2(95% CI, 2.5-15.5); LR-, 0.20(95% CI, 0.12-0.34); and DOR, 31(95% CI, 8-116). The five summary estimates of CT on the lung density were 0.80 (95% CI, 0.74-0.84), 0.77(95% CI, 0.58-0.89), 3.5(95% CI, 1.8-6.9), 0.26(95% CI, 0.20-0.34) and 13(95% CI, 6-32), respectively.The current meta-analyses suggest that quantitative measures of CT may be useful to diagnose COPD. Developed CT technology may improve the accuracy of diagnosis. Further studies assessed diagnostic performance of CT are needed.

Objective. This study was intended to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ligustrazine injection for chronic pulmonary heart disease (CPHD). Method. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of clinical therapeutic studies on CPHD when using ligustrazine injection were included. Searches were applied to the following electronic databases: the PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CBM, and AMED. No language restriction was used. All trials included were analyzed according to the criteria of the Cochrane Handbook. Review Manager 5.0 software was used for data analysis. Result. 34 RCTs with low methodological quality were included. Compared to conventional medicine treatment alone, ligustrazine injection plus conventional medicine treatment showed improvement in New York Heart Association classification of clinical status (Odds ratio 0.22; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.28) and depression of pulmonary artery hypertension (weighted mean difference −4.77; 95% CI −5.85 to −3.68). Three studies had reported adverse events. No serious adverse effects were reported. Conclusion. While there is some evidence that suggests potential effectiveness of ligustrazine injection for CPHD, the results were limited by the methodological flaws of the studies. High quality studies are needed to provide clear evidence for the future use of ligustrazine injection.