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Due to the difference between the system of weights and measures， and the dosage of clinical prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine in various historical periods， the dosage and conversion standard of prescriptions in past dynasties are different. Therefore， when discounting the dosage of famous classical formulas， the principles of inheriting the essence， making the past serve the present， linking the past and the present， and forming a consensus should be followed， firstly， the dosage of the prescription was converted according to the weights and measures system of the past dynasties. If the converted dosage significantly exceeds the provisions of the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia， then on the premise of ensuring that the proportion of the original prescription drug dosage remains unchanged， the conversion shall be based on expert consensus and drug safety evaluation. For drugs measured in non-standard units， a conversion range is provided based on comprehensive literature analysis and physical measurements. For the conversion of service volume， the original text was used as the basis for the conversion with reference to the measurement standards of different eras. If the original dosage is not clear， the converted dosage will be determined based on the historical evolution of the formula， referring to relevant ancient books， and combining modern applications. Eventually， the converting standard for famous classical formulas was determined as follows：during the Han and Tang dynasties， one Liang（两） was equivalent to 13.8 g and one Sheng（升） was equivalent to 200 mL， in the Tang dynasty， one Fen（分） was equivalent to 3.45 g， during the Song， Jin and Yuan dynasties， one Qian（钱） was equivalent to 4.13 g and one Zhan（盏） was equivalent to 300 mL， during the Ming and Qing dynasties， one Qian（钱） was equivalent to 3.73 g， and one Bei（杯） and one Zhong（盅） were equivalent to 200 mL. For drugs recorded in non-standard units of measurement， it is necessary to conduct actual measurements to determine their conversion standards based on comprehensive analysis to determine their origin. If necessary， different records of the dosage of drugs with the same or similar efficacy and indications in medical books of similar ages can be used to assist in determining the conversion standards. The analysis of the principle of dosage conversion for Chinese medicine is helpful for the clinical application and development of famous classical formulas.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the interventional effects of Shugan Jianpi Yangxin prescription on the expression of orexin-A （OXA）， orexin-1 receptor （OX1R）， and orexin-2 receptor （OX2R） in the mouse model of insomnia. MethodThe mouse model of insomnia was established by intraperitoneal injection of DL-4-chlorophenylalanine （PCPA）. Fifty BALB/c mice were randomized into a blank group， a model group， an eszopiclone （0.13 mg·kg-1） group， and low- and high-dose （8.4 and 33.6 g·kg-1， respectively） Shugan Jianpi Yangxin prescription groups and treated with the corresponding drugs for 14 consecutive days. The weight changes of mice were monitored， and Morris water maze and pentobarbital-induced sleep tests were conducted. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was employed to examine the expression of OXA in the hypothalamus. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of OXA and 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） in the hypothalamus， serum， and spleen. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine the mRNA levels of OXA， OX1R， and OX2R in the hypothalamus. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group had decreased body weight （P<0.01）， increased escape latency （P<0.01）， increased sleep latency （P<0.01）， shortened sleep duration （P<0.01）， elevated OXA level and lowered 5-HT level in the hypothalamus， serum， and spleen （P<0.05）， and up-regulated mRNA levels of OXA， OX1R， and OX2R in the hypothalamus （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the low- and high-dose groups of Shugan Jianpi Yangxin prescription showed increased body weight （P<0.05， P<0.01）， shortened escape latency （P<0.05）， shortened sleep latency and prolonged sleep duration （P<0.01）， and lowered OXA level and elevated 5-HT level in the hypothalamus， serum， and spleen （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， the two doses of Shugan Jianpi Yangxin prescription down-regulated the mRNA levels of OXA， OX1R， and OX2R in the hypothalamus （P<0.01）. ConclusionShugan Jianpi Yangxin prescription exerts sedative and hypnotic effects in mice by increasing the content of 5-HT in the brain and inhibiting the expression of OXA and its receptors in the hypothalamus.
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To explore the mechanism of spleen- were obtained for the treatment of acute-on-chronic livstrengthening and moisture-nourishing liver prescription er failure, and 244 intersecting target genes and 7 core (JPLSYGF) in the treatment of acute-on-chronic liver target genes were screened. Molecular docking showed failure using network pharmacology and the molecular that the core target genes AKT1, SRC, VEGFA, docking. Methods Relying on TCMSP and Gene- STAT3 , EGFR, MAPK3 , HRAS had good affinity with Cards and other databases, the relevant targets of JPL- quercetin, the main active component in the JPLSYGF in the treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure SYGF, and had strong binding activity. In addition, in were obtained. String and Cytoscape were used to con- vivo tests verified that the JPLSYGF could reduce the struct PPI networks of targets, core targets were expression of HRAS, EGFR, STAT3 , SRC, and VEGscreened out, and DAVID was used for GO function FA, to delay the progression of acute-on-chronic liver annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. failure. Conclusions JPLSYGF may act on core tar- The main active ingredients of the traditional Chinese gets such as HRAS, EGFR, STAT3, SRC, VEGFA medicine compound formula for JPLSYGF were select- and so on, to achieve the effect of treating acute-oned with a bioavailability OB value of =Э 30% and a chronic liver failure. drug-like DL
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The policy of long-term prescription for chronic diseases in China is gradually being improved and implemented， and external long-term prescription dispensing is being encouraged. The long-term prescription policy runs through the links of drug supply， equipment， use and policy， involving government departments such as medical security and health， as well as stakeholders such as patients， medical institutions and designated detail pharmacies. There are still some problems in the external dispensing of long-term prescriptions， such as the disunity of drug catalogue and the need for coordination among regulatory parties in the policy link； the need to improve the participation enthusiasm and service ability in the equipment link； the increased difficulty of prescription management， the need to improve the circulation platform in the use link. The promotion of external long-term prescription policy requires health insurance， medical service， and the medicine industry co-development， multi-party participation， and policy coordination. Among them， the “dual channel” policy， the policy of centralized medicine procurement， and the pharmacy included in outpatient overall management policy have all played a positive role in promoting the implementation of external long-term prescription dispensing for chronic diseases. It is necessary to improve supporting policies and implement regulatory responsibilities in the policy link， promote drug classification and service capabilities in the equipment link， improve the electronic prescription circulation platform， and strengthen prescription management in use link， so as to promote the implementation of external long-term prescription dispensing.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Xuanfei Zhisou prescription on the interleukin-17 （IL-17） signaling pathway in model rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）. MethodA total of 60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank group （10 rats） and a model group （50 rats）， and COPD model rats were established by tracheal infusion of lipopolysaccharide combined with passive fumigation. After modeling， the rats were divided into the model group， dexamethasone group， and high， medium， and low-dose Xuanfei Zhisou prescription groups （3.6， 1.8， 0.9 g·kg-1·d-1） according to the random number table. Rats in the blank group and model group were given normal saline of 10 mL·kg-1·d-1 by gavage administration， and the intervention groups of Xuanfei Zhisou prescription were given corresponding drugs. Rats in the dexamethasone group were given dexamethasone of 2.57×10-4 g·kg-1·d-1 for 28 days. The level of pulmonary function indexes in rats was measured by a pulmonary function detector. The contents of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-8 （IL-8）， IL-17， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The positive expressions of IL-17A， IL-17RA， nuclear factor-κB activator 1 （Act1）， tumor necrosis factor-associated factor 6 （TRAF6）， p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p-p38 MAPK）， nuclear factor-κB p65 （NF-κB p65）， and phosphorylation were detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. The protein expression levels of IL-17A， IL-17RA， Act1， and TRAF6 in the lung tissue were detected by Western blot. The mRNA expressions of IL-17A， IL-17RA， Act1， and TRAF6 in the lung tissue were detected by Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the blank group， the serum contents of IL-6， IL-8， IL-17， IL-1β， and TNF-α in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.05）， and the flow rate and volume indexes of pulmonary function in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， while the time indexes and other indexes were significantly increased （P<0.05）. The mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-17A， IL-17RA， Act1， and TRAF6 in pulmonary tissue and the positive expressions of downstream NF-κB p65， p-NF-κB p65， and p-p38 MAPK were increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the levels of IL-6， IL-8， IL-17， IL-1β， and TNF-α in the serum of all treatment groups were decreased to varying degrees （P<0.05）， and the indexes of pulmonary function were improved to different degrees （P<0.05）. The mRNA and protein levels of IL-17A， IL-17RA， Act1， and TRAF6 and the positive expression of downstream NF-κB p65， p-NF-κB p65， and p-p38 MAPK in high and medium-dose Xuanfei Zhisou prescription groups were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. ConclusionXuanfei Zhisou prescription can effectively resist inflammation of COPD rats. The mechanism may be related to down-regulating the protein expression of IL-17A， IL-17RA， Act1， and TRAF6， inhibiting downstream NF-κB and p38 MAPK signaling pathways， and reducing the release of IL-6， IL-8， TNF-α， IL-17， and IL-1β， thus reducing the airway inflammation response.
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Background and Objectives@#The etiology of pneumonia in the pediatric population varies by age group. Among patients one month to 59 months old, viral pathogens are the most common cause of lower respiratory infections. The study aims to determine the frequency distribution of antibiotic prescription among patients one month to 59 months old and to determine the adherence of primary care facilities to local guidelines with recommended antibiotics. @*Methods@#A descriptive retrospective study using electronic medical records was conducted at two primary care sites. Patients aged 1 month to 59 months old seeking consult via telemedicine or face-to-face diagnosed with community acquired pneumonia from April 2019-March 2020 in the rural facility and May 2019-April 2020 in the remote facility were included in the study. The primary outcome was to determine the patterns of antibiotic use in pneumonia in remote and rural areas and adherence to the recommended antibiotics by the 2016 Philippine Academy of Pediatric Pulmonologists pediatric community-acquired pneumonia clinical practice guidelines (CPG). @*Results@#There were 30 pediatric patients diagnosed with pneumonia in the rural facility and 213 in the remote facility. Of these patients with pneumonia, 96.7% and 94.8% were prescribed antibiotics in the rural and remote sites, respectively. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic in the rural facility was co-amoxiclav (26.7%), while amoxicillin (51.6%) was the most common in the remote facility. Adherence to the CPG in the rural site was lower at 23.3% (n=8/30) compared to the remote site which was 55.9% (n=119/213). @*Conclusion@#Primary care physicians prescribed antibiotics in over 90% of the time upon the diagnosis of pneumonia in children aged one month to 59 months old, despite viral pneumonia being the more common in primary care setting. Adherence to recommended antibiotics was higher in the remote setting than in the rural setting. Use of EMR to monitor quality of care can improve patient outcomes and safety, pointing out the importance of improving the quality of documentation in the study sites.
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Pediatrics , Pneumonia , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
Huangqitang comes from the Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang of the Song dynasty. It consists of four medicinal materials: Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus, Citrμs reticμlata， Cannabis sativa， and Apis cerana. It is a classic prescription for treating constipation in the elderly. This study systematically collated the literature records about Huangqitang in ancient Chinese medicine books and combined it with the current status of modern clinical applications to conduct in-depth analysis and research on the origin，composition， dosage, processing, preparation and administration, drug base, main symptoms， and other key information of the formula, so as to provide a strong reference for the development and clinical application of the classic Huangqitang compound preparation. Through systematic combing and textual research on the previous literature of Huangqitang， it can be seen that the formula of Huangqitang was first recorded in the Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang， and the medical books of the past dynasties mostly adopted this formula. In terms of drug base， the dried roots of the leguminous plant Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus are used， and for tangerine， the dried outer peel of the Rutaceae plant Citrus reticμlata and its cultivated varieties are used. The Moraceae plant Cannabis sativa with the peel removed is selected, and the Apis cerana is selected from the honey brewed by Apis cerana， an insect of the Apidae family. In terms of dosage， although the dosage of some drugs changed during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the dosage records basically followed the original prescriptions from the Song dynasty. In terms of processing, preparation, and usage， although the drug processing， preparation， and usage of Huangqitang in the medical books of the past dynasties have changed slightly， they are basically the same as the original prescription of the Song dynasty. In terms of main symptoms, Huangqitang is designed to treat constipation in the elderly. From the Song dynasty to the Qing dynasty， it was mostly used to treat constipation， secret congestion, asthenia， etc. in the elderly. In modern times， it is clinically used to treat constipation due to Qi deficiency， functional constipation， irritable bowel syndrome， and other diseases in the elderly. No adverse reactions have been found yet. In the subsequent research and development， it is necessary to carry out mass spectrometry analysis of Huangqitang， in-depth exploration of its prescription efficacy and mechanism of action， and other multi-omics scientific research. At the same time， it is important to establish quality control standards to provide a reliable scientific basis for the research and development, clinical treatment， and drug supervision of Huangqitang compound preparations.
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ObjectiveBased on network pharmacology and transcriptomics， the mechanism of Zishen Qinggan prescription （ZSQGF） in improving glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes （T2DM） model rats was explored. MethodBased on network pharmacology analysis of the differential genes between ZSQGF and T2DM， gene ontology（GO）analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） analysis were conducted， and molecular docking analysis was used to verify the binding between components and targets. A T2DM rat model was established by high-fat feeding and injection of streptozotocin （STZ）. The rats were randomly divided into the control group， model group， metformin （Met， 72 mg·kg-1） group， and ZSQGF high-， medium-， and low-dose groups （ZSQGF-H， ZSQGF-M， and ZSQGF-L， with 4.8， 2.4， and 1.2 g·kg-1 raw drug in the solution）. The living status of rats was monitored and the levels of total cholesterol （TC）， total triglycerides （TG）， high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） in rat serum were detected. The liver tissues were subjected to Hematoxylin eosin（HE） staining and oil red O staining. The differential genes were analyzed through transcriptomics， GO and KEGG analysis， and the protein-protein interaction（PPI） network was obtained to screen key targets. With network pharmacology and transcriptomics analysis results， the protein pathways were identified. The expression levels of nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， matrix metalloproteinase（MMP）-1 and MMP-9 proteins in liver tissues were detected by Western blot. The mRNA expression of B-cell lymphoma-2（Bcl-2） modifying factor（BMF）， nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate （NADPH） oxidase 4 （NOX4）， and fatty acid synthase（FASN） was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）. The expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 in the liver was detected by immunofluorescence staining. ResultTranscriptomics and network pharmacology analysis suggested that ZSQGF may protect the liver through the glucose and lipid metabolism pathway and the inflammation pathway. Experiments showed that after 8 weeks of administration， the body weight， blood sugar， serum indicators， and pathological staining results of rats were improved. Western blot results indicated a decrease in the relative expression levels of NF-κB， MMP-1 and MMP-9 proteins in the liver. Real-time PCR results showed a decrease in the transcriptional expression of BMF， NOX4， and FASN in the ZSQGF-H group， while immunofluorescence staining results present decreased expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 in the ZSQGF groups. ConclusionZSQGF can improve the glucose and lipid metabolism by inhibiting the expression of FASN， reducing lipid synthesis， and regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of early intervention with Yishen Huazhuo prescription （YHP） on the learning and memory of accelerated aging model mice， as well as its underlying mechanism. MethodForty-eight 3-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly assigned into four groups， including the model group， low-dose YHP group， high-dose YHP group， and donepezil group. Additionally， 24 SAMR1 mice of the same age were divided into a control group and a YHP treatment control group， each consisting of 12 mice. The YHP groups received YHP at doses of 6.24 g·kg-1 and 12.48 g·kg-1， while the donepezil group was treated with donepezil at a dose of 0.65 mg·kg-1. The model group and control groups were given physiological saline. The mice were gavaged once daily for a duration of four weeks. Spatial learning and memory abilities of mice were assessed using the Morris water maze test. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to evaluate neuronal density as well as expression levels of M1 microglial （MG） polarization marker inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and M2 MG polarization marker arginase-1 （Arg-1） in the hippocampus region. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure serum levels of pro-inflammatory factor interleukin 1β （IL-1β） and anti-inflammatory factor transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）. Furthermore， Western blot analysis was conducted to determine expressions of amyloid β peptide1-42 （Aβ1-42） along with triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 （TREM2）/nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB） signaling pathway-related proteins TREM2， phospho （p）-NF-κB p65， and phospho-inhibitory kappa B kinase β （IKKβ） in the hippocampus. ResultCompared with the control group， the model group exhibited a significantly prolonged escape latency （P<0.01）， a significant reduction in neuron-specific nuclear protein （NeuN） expression in the hippocampus， a significant increase in iNOS expression in MG， and a significant decrease in Arg-1 expression. The serum IL-1β content was significantly increased， while the TGF-β1 content was significantly decreased. Additionally， there was a significant decrease in TREM2 expression in the hippocampus and significant increases in p-NF-κB p65， p-IKKβ， and Aβ1-42 expressions （P<0.05， P<0.01）. However， no significant changes were observed in escape latency， times of crossing the platform， and hippocampal NeuN expression in the YHP treatment control group. Conversely， iNOS expression in MG as well as the hippocampal p-NF-κB p65， p-IKKβ， and Aβ1-42 expressions were significantly decreased. Furthermore， TREM2 expression was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In comparison to the model group， the low-dose YHP group showed a significantly shortened escape latency and an increased number of crossing the platform （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In the high-dose YHP group， the escape latency was significantly shortened （P<0.05）. In the low-dose YHP group， high-dose YHP group， the expression of NeuN in the hippocampus was significantly increased， the expression of iNOS in MG was significantly decreased， and the expression of Arg-l was significantly increased. The serum IL-1β content was significantly decreased， while the TGF-β1 content was significantly increased. Furthermore， the expression of TREM2 in the hippocampus was significantly increased， and the expressions of p-NF-κB p65， p-IKKβ， and Aβ1-42 were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionEarly YHP intervention may promote the transformation of hippocampal MG from M1 to M2 by regulating the TREM2/NF-κB signaling pathway， reduce the release of neuroinflammatory factors， protect hippocampal neurons， and reduce the deposition of Aβ1-42， and finally delay the occurrence of learning and memory decline in SAMP8 mice.
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ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Qingre Huayu Jianpi prescription （QHJ） on colitis-associated colorectal cancer （CAC） in mice， and its related mechanism. MethodC57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups including the normal， model， QHJ low-dose （QHJ-L， 10 g·kg-1）， and QHJ high-dose （QHJ-H， 40 g·kg-1） groups. Azoxymethane （AOM） and dextran sodium sulfate （DSS） were combined to chemically build a CAC mouse model for 14 weeks. Each drug group was given intragastrically from the 5th week to the 14th week， once per day. An equal volume of water was fed to the normal and model groups. The mouse survival rate， colon length， weight， and pathological alterations were assessed. The protein expressions of Wnt-3a protein signaling （Wnt3a）， β-catenin， Non-phosphor-β-catenin （Non-p-β-catenin）， and cholesterol-binding glycoproteins 133 （CD133） were detected by Western blot. The localization and expression of the cluster of differentiation （CD） 80 and CD11 antigen-like family member B （CD11b） were detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. The colon organoids derived from CAC mice were isolated and cultured to detect the expression of Wnt signaling pathway-related proteins. ResultThe survival rate of the CAC mice was improved by QHJ treatment and the number of colon tumors was inhibited significantly. Compared with those in the normal group， the expression levels of Wnt3a， β-catenin， Non-p-β-catenin， and CD133 in colon tissues in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， the levels of Wnt3a and β-catenin in the QHJ-L group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and the protein levels of Wnt3a， β-catenin， Non-p-β-catenin， and CD133 in the QHJ-H group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Meanwhile， the expression level of CD11b in the model group was significantly increased compared with that in the normal group while the CD80 level was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， CD11b in QHJ-L and QHJ-H groups was significantly decreased， and CD80 was significantly increased（P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expressions of Non-p-β-catenin and CD133 in colonic organoids of CAC model mice were significantly increased， while QHJ treatment could inhibit the expressions of Non-p-β-catenin and CD133 in colonic organoids （P<0.01）. ConclusionQHJ could inhibit the inflammation-cancer development in CAC mice， the mechanism of which might be related to regulating the microenvironment and inhibiting the over-activation of Wnt signaling.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Shugan Quyu Jiedu prescription （SGQYJDF） on inducing ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells based on the tumor protein 53 （p53）/solute carrier family 7 member 11 （SLC7A11）/glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） pathway. MethodMHCC97H cells were divided into the blank serum group （10% blank serum medium）， SGQYJDF-containing serum low concentration group （5% SGQYJDF-containing serum and 5% blank serum medium）， SGQYJDF-containing serum medium concentration group （7.5% SGQYJDF-containing serum and 2.5% blank serum medium）， SGQYJDF-containing serum high concentration group （10% SGQYJDF-containing serum medium） and sorafenib group （sorafenib concentration of 10 μmol·L-1 in 10% blank serum medium）. After 24 hours of intervention， the cell survival rate was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay. The cell proliferation ability was detected by 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine （EdU） staining. The intracellular ferrous ion （Fe2+） level was detected by ferrous ion fluorescent probe （FerroOrange） staining. The intracellular malondialdehyde （MDA） and glutathione （GSH） levels were detected by colorimetric assays. The ultrastructure of mitochondria was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of ferroptosis-related proteins p53， SLC7A11 and GPX4 were detected by Western blot. ResultIn terms of cell viability， compared with the blank serum group， the SGQYJDF group showed a dose-dependent decrease in the survival rate of MHCC97H cells. Effect of the medium and high concentrations of SGQYJDF on the survival rate of MHCC97H cells were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Additionally， the results of the EdU assay showed that both the medium and high concentrations of SGQYJDF were able to inhibit the proliferation ability of MHCC97H cells （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Regarding the biochemical indicators of ferroptosis， compared to the blank serum group， the medium and high concentrations of SGQYJDF were able to dose-dependently increase the intracellular Fe2+ level （P<0.01）. The low， medium， and high concentrations of SGQYJDF were able to dose-dependently decrease the level of GSH in MHCC97H cells （P<0.01） and increase the level of MDA in the cells （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In terms of pathway-related protein expression， compared to the blank serum group， the medium and high concentrations of SGQYJDF could significantly increase the expression of p53 （P<0.01）. The low， medium， and high concentrations of SGQYJDF could significantly decrease the expression of GPX4 （P<0.01）. The high concentration of SGQYJDF could decrease the expression of SLC7A11 （P<0.01）. In terms of the cell morphology of ferroptosis， compared with the blank serum group， transmission electron microscopy revealed that the low concentration of SGQYJDF caused mitochondrial deformation， while the medium and high concentrations of SGQYJDF resulted in reduced mitochondrial volume， increased double-layer membrane density， and decreased mitochondrial cristae. These features were similar to those of sorafenib-induced ferroptosis. Furthermore， compared with the sorafenib group， the high concentration of SGQYJDF showed no statistically significant differences in cell survival rate， proliferation ability， Fe2+ level， MDA level， and GSH level. ConclusionThe results suggest that SGQYJDF may induce ferroptosis and inhibit proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97H cells by upregulating the expression of p53， suppressing the expressions of GPX4 and SLC7A11， downregulating the level of GSH， and leading to the accumulation of intracellular Fe2+ and MDA.
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ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect of Shugan Huazheng prescription on hepatic fibrosis model rats induced by carbon tetrachloride （CCl4） and explore whether it plays its role through hypoxia-induced factor-1α/vascular endothelial growth factor/transforming growth factor-β1 （HIF-1α/VEGF/TGF-β1） pathway. MethodA total of 54 male SPF SD rats were randomly divided into six groups： blank group， model group， colchicine group （0.2 mg·kg-1）， and high-， medium-， and low-dose groups （29.52， 14.76， and 7.38 g·kg-1） of Shugan Huazheng prescription， with nine rats in each group. The molding was conducted three times a week for eight weeks. Administration began the day after the first injection， and the drug intervention was once a day for eight weeks. On the day after the last administration， the rats were deprived of food and water， and they were killed the next day， during which the physiological status of each group of rats was dynamically monitored. The pathological changes in the liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the content of hydroxyproline （HYP） and angiotensin Ⅱ （AngⅡ） in liver tissue were detected by enzyme-related immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR （Real-time PCR） was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α， VEGF， and TGF-β1 in liver tissue， and immunohistochemical method （IHC） and Western blot were used to detect the protein expression levels of HIF-1α， VEGF， and TGF-β1 in liver tissue. ResultCompared with the blank group， the overall condition of rats in the model group decreased significantly. The proliferation of connective tissue and the increase in adipose cells between hepatocytes were obvious. The content of HYP and Ang was increased. The mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α， VEGF， and TGF-β1 were increased to varying degrees （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the proliferation of connective tissue and inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver tissue of colchicine and Shugan Huazheng prescription groups were reduced. The content of HYP and Ang was decreased. The mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α， VEGF， and TGF-β1 were decreased， and the colchicine group and high-dose group of Shugan Huazheng prescription were the most significant （P<0.05）. ConclusionShugan Huazheng prescription has an obvious therapeutic effect on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis model rats. Its therapeutic mechanism may be related to the regulation of the HIF-1α/VEGF/TGF-β1 signaling pathway and the improvement of hepatic hypoxia， vascular remodeling， and the syndrome of Qi deficiency and blood stasis in hepatic fibrosis.
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ObjectiveTo explore the effect and mechanism of Qizhu prescription on liver lipid anabolism and oxidative stress in mice with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH） based on adenylate activated protein kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway. MethodA total of 60 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal group （n = 10） and a modeling group （n = 50）. The modeling group was fed by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 16 weeks to establish the NASH mice model and was randomly divided into model group， low-， medium， and high-dose groups of Qizhu prescription， and Yishanfu group， with 10 mice in each group. Qizhu prescription was administered intragastrically once a day at a dose of 4.75， 9.50， and 19.00 g·kg-1 in each group and 228 mg·kg-1 in Yishanfu group. The normal group and model group were given equal volumes of pure water for eight weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， and glucose （GLU） levels were detected. The pathological changes of liver tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and oil red O staining. Serum levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， free fatty acids （FFA）， reduced glutathione （GSH）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， catalase （CAT）， and superoxide dismutase （SOD） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA expression levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase （ACC）， carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A（CPT1A）， and mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 （UCP2） were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. Protein expression levels of AMPK， p-AMPK， ACC， CPT1A， and UCP2 in liver tissue were detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group， the liver steatosis of the model group was obvious， with multiple inflammatory clusters and large amounts of intracellular lipid deposition. The activity of serum AST， ALT， as well as levels of IL-6， IL-1β， TNF-α， FFA， and MDA were significantly increased， the activity of CAT and SOD was significantly decreased， and the mRNA and protein expressions of ACC were significantly increased. The mRNA and protein expressions of CPT1 and UCP2 were significantly decreased， and the protein expression of p-AMPK was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the degree of liver steatosis in the Qizhu prescription and Yishanfu groups was reduced， the activity of AST and ALT， as well as the levels of IL-6， IL-1β， TNF-α， FFA， and MDA was significantly decreased， and the activity of CAT and SOD was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expressions of ACC in liver tissue of mice in medium- and high-dose groups of Qizhu prescription were significantly decreased， while the mRNA and protein expressions of CPT1A and UCP2， as well as p-AMPK protein were significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionQizhu prescription can improve liver lipid metabolism， reduce oxidative stress， and promote liver cell repair in NASH mice by activating the AMPK signaling pathway.
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Background@#Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases encountered in the primary care setting. Adherence to recommendations from clinical practice guidelines on asthma can be utilized as an indicator of quality of care when evaluating the implementation of the universal health care in the Philippines.@*Objectives@#To determine the clinical profile of pediatric patients with bronchial asthma; and to evaluate the prescription patterns for asthma treatment in a primary care setting.@*Methods@#This was a retrospective cohort study that involved review of the electronic medical records in a rural site of the Philippine Primary Care Studies (PPCS). All patients less than 19 years old who were diagnosed with asthma from April 2019 to March 2021 were included. Quality indicators for asthma care were based on adherence to recommendations from the 2019 Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Guidelines.@*Results@#This study included 240 asthmatic children with mean age of 6 years (SD ± 4.9) and a slight male preponderance (55.4%). Majority (138 children or 57.5%) were less than 6 years old. Out of the 240 children, 224 (93.3%) were prescribed inhaled short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) and 66 (27.5%) were prescribed oral SABA. Only 14 children (5.8%) were prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), with 13 children (5.4%) given ICS with longacting beta-agonists (LABA) preparations, and one child (0.4%) given ICS alone. Quality indicators used in this study revealed underutilization of ICS treatment across all age groups, and an overuse of SABA-only treatment in children 6 years old and above. Moreover, 71.3% of the total patients were prescribed antibiotics despite the current GINA recommendation of prescribing antibiotics only for patients with strong evidence of lung infection, such as fever or radiographic evidence of pneumonia.@*Conclusion@#There were 240 children diagnosed with asthma over a 2-year period in a rural community, with a mean age of 6 years old and a slight male predominance. This quality-of-care study noted suboptimal adherence of rural health physicians to the treatment recommendations of the GINA guidelines, with overuse of SABA and underuse of ICS for asthma control.
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AsthmaABSTRACT
Yigongsan is derived from Xiaoer Yaozheng Zhijue written by QIAN Yi in the Northern Song dynasty， which is the No. 3 formula in the Catalogue of Ancient Famous Classical Formulas（The Second Batch of Pediatrics） released by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM） in September 2022， and it can be developed as a class 3.1 new TCM drug. By referring to ancient medical books and modern literature， this study conducted herbal textual research on Yigongsan from five aspects， including historical evolution， origin and processing， dosage conversion， usage and preparation methods， and functional application， then formed the key information table of this formula， in order to provide reference for the development of reference samples and preparations of Yigongsan. Based on the results of the study， it is recommended that Panax ginseng should be removed the basal part of stem（rhizoma）， Poria cocos should be removed the peel， Citrus reticulata should be cut into shreds and Glycyrrhiza uralensis should be used. According to 4.13 g/Qian（钱）， 1 g/slice for ginger， 3 g for each jujube and 300 mL/Zhan（盏）， the doses of Ginseng Radix， Poria， Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium， Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， Jujubae Fructus were 1.652， 1.652， 1.652， 1.652， 1.652， 5， 6 g， and the total amount was 19.26 g. The decocting method was to crush the medicinal materials into fine powder with 50-80 mesh， add 300 mL of water and decoct to 210 mL for each dose， then remove the dregs and take it warmly. This formula was recorded in ancient books as the main treatment for the cold-deficiency of spleen and stomach， and Qi stagnation in children with vomiting and diarrhea and lack of appetite. It has been flexibly applied by later generations of physicians， and is often used to treat anorexia， inflammation of the digestive tract， diarrhea and other diseases in children.
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ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Baihe Yuzi prescription （BYP） on the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator （CFTR）， aquaporin （AQP）， zinc/iron-regulated transporter-like protein （ZIP） and local oxidative stress in epididymis of oligoasthenozoospermia （OAS） rats， and to explore the mechanism of its intervention in OAS. MethodAfter 35 rats were acclimatized for 1 week， 7 rats were randomly selected as the normal group， and the remaining 28 rats were given tripterygium glycosides （TG） 30 mg·kg-1. After 4 weeks of modeling， they were randomly divided into 4 groups： model group， BYP low-dose group （LBYP）， BYP high-dose group （HBYP） and levocarnitine group， with 7 rats in each group. The rats in the normal group and model group were given normal saline at the same dosage. The levocarnitine group rats were given L-carnitine oral liquid （100 mg·kg-1） by gavage. The LBYP group rats were given BYP 6.3 g·kg-1， and the HBYP group rats were given BYP 12.6 g·kg-1 by gavage once a day for consecutive 4 weeks. After the end of the intervention， sperm count and motility of all rats were detected， the histopathological structure of epididymis was observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the expressions of CFTR， AQP9， AQP3， ZIP8， ZIP12 and other proteins were detected by Western blot. The contents of α-glycosidase （α-GC）， sialic acid （SA）， carnitine， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） and malondialdehyde （MDA） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Total zinc content was measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Free zinc ion content was detected by zinc ion probes. ResultCompared with those in the normal group， the sperm count and motility of rats were decreased and the epididymal structure was disordered in the model group. The contents of α-GC and carnitine were decreased in epididymis （P<0.05）. MDA levels were increased， while SOD， GSH-Px and zinc levels were decreased （P<0.05）. The expressions of CFTR and ZIP12 in the head and cauda of the epididymis were down-regulated， and AQP3 expression was up-regulated. The expression of ZIP8 in the cauda epididymis was up-regulated （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， BYP can significantly improve the sperm count and motility， the epididymal structure of OAS rats and the levels of α-GC and carnitine （P<0.05）. The expressions of CFTR and ZIP12 in the head and cauda of the epididymis were up-regulated， while the expressions of ZIP8 in the cauda epididymis and AQP3 in the head of the epididymis were decreased （P<0.05）. The SOD and GSH-Px levels and total zinc content in epididymis were increased， and the MDA levels were decreased （P<0.05）. ConclusionBYP may improve the sperm quality and repair epididymal tissue structure and function of OAS rats， by regulating the expressions of CFTR， AQP3， and ZIP12 ion channels and local antioxidant mechanism.
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Depression is a complex emotional and mental disorder. The traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） methods for treating depression mainly include soothing the liver and relieving depression. Our research team proposes that depression is caused by Yang Qi deficiency and obstructed Qi movement， which are closely related to neurological and psychological changes induced by early traumatic experiences. Therefore， we suggest that the treatment should focus on warming Yang， replenishing Qi， and promoting Qi movement and have formulated Wenyang Jieyu prescription based on Erxiantang for warming yang and Xiaoyaosan for relieving depression. The experiment with the mouse model of early trauma induced by maternal separation showed that Wenyang Jieyu prescription significantly improved the mouse activity and environmental exploration， reduced the immobility time in forced swimming and tail suspension tests， alleviated the behaviors such as aversion to darkness and fear of open space， enhanced social interaction and social cognitive abilities， altered decision-making biases， reduced depression-like behaviors， and improved the decision-making patterns. Additionally， the prescription lowered the serum level of cortisol， inhibited the cortisol surge in the dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing hormone （Dex/CRH） test， up-regulated the expression of mineralocorticoid receptor （MR） and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 （11β-HSD2） in the hippocampus， down-regulated the expression of glucocorticoid receptor （GR） and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 （CRHR1）， inhibited the methylation of GR exon 1 and the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 （DNMT1）， and restored the negative feedback of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis. Furthermore， Wenyang Jieyu prescription up-regulated the protein level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， elevated the levels of postsynaptic density protein 95 （PSD95） and synaptophysin （Syn）， decreased the cell apoptosis index and B-cell lymphoma （Bcl-2）-associated X （Bax）/Bcl-2 ratio， suppressed the expression of Caspase-3， and enhanced the neuroplasticity and anti-apoptotic capacity in the hippocampus. Considering the research results， related articles， and clinical experience， we conclude that depression should be treated with liver-soothing and depression-relieving herbs， which can be supplemented with spleen-invigorating and Qi-regulating herbs to alleviate depressive symptoms. The Yang-warming and kidney-tonifying herbs can be used to eliminate the root cause and prevent relapse. Additionally， the wind-dispersing herbs can be supplemented to regulate the Qi movement throughout the body， thereby enhancing the efficacy of depression-relieving treatment.
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ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Wenyang Jieyu prescription in regulating hippocampal neuron apoptosis and improving synaptic plasticity in the mouse model of depression induced by maternal separation combined with restraint stress. MethodThe mice on postnatal day 0 （PD0） were randomly assigned into a control group （n=10） and a modeling group （n=50）. Maternal separation combined with restraint stress was adopted to establish the mouse model of depression， and the modeled mice were randomized into model， Wenyang prescription， Jieyu prescription， Wenyang Jieyu prescription， and fluoxetine groups （n=10） on the weaning day （PD21）. From PD21 to PD111， the mice were fed with the diets mixed with corresponding medicines. The sucrose preference test， open field test， O-maze test， and novel object recognition test were then conducted to evaluate the depression， memory， and learning abilities of mice. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was employed to measure the atomic absorbance （AA） of postsynaptic density protein 95 （PSD95） in the hippocampus. Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling （TUNEL） was employed to detect the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， phosphorylated tyrosine kinase receptor B/tyrosine kinase receptor B （p-TrkB/TrkB）， phosphorylated protein kinase B/protein kinase B （p-Akt/Akt）， phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin/mammalian target of rapamycin （p-mTOR/mTOR）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X （Bax）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3 （Caspase-3）， synaptophysin （Syn）， and PSD95. ResultCompared with the control group， the modeling decreased the sucrose preference rate， time spent in central zone within 5 min， total movement distance， time spent in the open arm， and cognition index （P<0.01）. Furthermore， it decreased the expression of PSD95， increased the neuron apoptosis in the hippocampus （P<0.01）， down-regulated the protein levels of BDNF， p-TrkB/TrkB， p-Akt/Akt， p-mTOR/mTOR， Bcl-2， PSD95， and Syn （P<0.01）， and up-regulated the protein levels of Bax and Caspase-3 （P<0.05） in the hippocampus. Compared with the model group， Wenyang Jieyu prescription and fluoxetine increased the sucrose preference rate， time spent in central zone within 5 min， total movement distance， time spent in the open arm， and cognition index （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， the drugs increased the expression of PSD95， reduced the neuron apoptosis （P<0.01）， up-regulated the protein levels of BDNF， p-TrkB/TrkB， p-Akt/Akt， p-mTOR/mTOR， Bcl-2， PSD95， and Syn （P<0.01）， and down-regulated the protein levels of Bax and Caspase-3 （P<0.01）. ConclusionWenyang Jieyu prescription outperformed Wenyang prescription and Jieyu prescription in the treatment of the depressive behavior induced by maternal separation combined with restraint stress in mice. It exerted the therapeutic effect by reducing the hippocampal neuron apoptosis and improving the synaptic plasticity via the BDNF/Akt/mTOR pathway.
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ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Wenyang Jieyu prescription （WJP） on neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity in the mouse model of depression induced by maternal separation combined with restraint stress. MethodThe mice on postnatal day 0 （PD0） were randomized into a control group and a modeling group. Maternal separation combined with restraint stress was employed to establish the mouse model of depression. After the removal of female mice， the modeled mice were randomized into model， Wenyang prescription （5.85 g·kg-1）， Jieyu prescription （12.03 g·kg-1）， WJP （16.71 g·kg-1）， and fluoxetine （2.6 mg·kg-1） groups on the weaning day （PD21）， with 15 mice in each group. The mice were administrated with corresponding drugs mixed with the diet from PD21 to PD111. The sucrose preference test， open field test， O-maze test， and novel object recognition test were then carried out to evaluate the depression state， memory， and learning ability of the mice. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was employed to observe the ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 （Iba-1） in hippocampal microglia. High performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） was employed to measure the content of noradrenaline （NE） and epinephrine （E） in the hippocampus. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to determine the content of interleukin （IL）-18 and IL-1β in the hippocampus. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， cysteine aspartate-specific protease-1 （Caspase-1）， IL-1β， synaptophysin （Syn）， and postsynaptic density 95 （PSD95）. ResultCompared with control group， the model group showed decreased sucrose preference rate， time spent in central zone within 5 min， total movement distance， time spent in the open arm， and cognition index （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The microglia in the model group presented amoeba-like appearance， the Iba1 increased. Moreover， the model group showed decreased content of NE and E （P<0.01）， elevated levels of IL-1β and IL-18 （P<0.01）， down-regulated protein levels of PSD95 and Syn （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated protein levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with model group， WJP and fluoxetine increased the sucrose preference rate， time spent in central zone within 5 min， total movement distance， time spent in the open arm， and cognition index （P<0.05， P<0.01）. They recovered the microglia and the Iba1 decreased. Moreover， the drugs increased the content of NE and E （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 （P<0.01）， up-regulated the protein levels of PSD95 and Syn （P<0.01）， down-regulated the protein levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionWJP can treat the depressive behavior induced by maternal separation combined with restraint stress in mice， with the performance outperforming Wenyang prescription and Jieyu prescription. It may alleviate the neuroinflammation induced by microglia and improve the synaptic plasticity by regulating the NLRP3 pathway and increasing neurotransmitters in the hippocampus.
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ObjectiveTo explore the application effect of Jianpi Huoxue prescription combined with acupuncture in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） of gastric blood stasis type. MethodA total of 86 patients with CAG admitted to Wuhan First Hospital from November 2021 to March 2023 were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine， while the observation group was treated with Jianpi Huoxue prescription combined with acupuncture. The clinical efficacy， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score， pathological score， negative conversion rate of Helicobacter pylori （Hp）， inflammatory indicators ［neutrophils/lymphocytes （NLR） and interleukin （IL）-1β］， changes in levels of gastric protease （PG） Ⅰ， PG Ⅰ/PG Ⅱ， and gastrin-17 （G-17）， and drug safety during treatment were observed after treatment in both groups. ResultAfter treatment， the total effective rate of the observation group ［95.35% （41/43）］ was significantly better than that of the control group ［79.07% （34/43）］， and the difference was statistically significant （χ2=5.108， P<0.05）. After treatment， the scores of the primary and secondary TCM syndromes in the observation group and the control group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. After treatment， the scores of primary and secondary TCM syndromes in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment， the pathological scores of gastric mucosa atrophy， activity， chronic inflammation， intestinal metaplasia， and dysplasia were significantly lower in the observation group and control group （P<0.05）. After treatment， the pathological scores of gastric mucosa atrophy， activity， chronic inflammation， intestinal metaplasia， and dysplasia in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment， the Hp conversion rate in the observation group was significantly increased compared with the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment， the levels of inflammatory indicators NLR and IL-1β in the observation group and control group were significantly lower （P<0.05）， and the levels of inflammatory indicators NLR and IL-1β in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment， the levels of PGI and PGⅠ/PGⅡ in the observation group and control group were significantly higher （P<0.05）， and the levels of PGI and PGⅠ/PGⅡ in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment， the G-17 level of the observation group and the control group was different at different time points （P<0.05）， and the G-17 level of the observation group was higher at different time points than that of the control group （P<0.05）. The G-17 level of the observation group had an increasing trend compared with the control group （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in the risk of adverse reactions between the two groups. ConclusionThe combination of Jianpi Huoxue prescription and acupuncture can effectively alleviate symptoms， increase Hp negative conversion rate， inhibit inflammation， and regulate PG and G-17 levels in CAG patients， thus controlling or even reversing gastric mucosal atrophy and reducing the probability of its progression to gastric cancer.