SBC (Sanhuang Xiexin Tang combined with Baihu Tang plus Cangzhu) alleviates NAFLD by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and ameliorating inflammation in obese patients and mice / 中国天然药物

In the context of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by dysregulated lipid metabolism in hepatocytes, the quest for safe and effective therapeutics targeting lipid metabolism has gained paramount importance. Sanhuang Xiexin Tang (SXT) and Baihu Tang (BHT) have emerged as prominent candidates for treating metabolic disorders. SXT combined with BHT plus Cangzhu (SBC) has been used clinically for Weihuochisheng obese patients. This retrospective analysis focused on assessing the anti-obesity effects of SBC in Weihuochisheng obese patients. We observed significant reductions in body weight and hepatic lipid content among obese patients following SBC treatment. To gain further insights, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of SBC in HFD-fed mice. The results demonstrated that SBC treatment mitigated body weight gain and hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice. Pharmacological network analysis suggested that SBC may affect lipid metabolism, mitochondria, inflammation, and apoptosis-a hypothesis supported by the hepatic transcriptomic analysis in HFD-fed mice treated with SBC. Notably, SBC treatment was associated with enhanced hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis and the inhibition of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/NF-κB pathways. In conclusion, SBC treatment alleviates NAFLD in both obese patients and mouse models by improving lipid metabolism, potentially through enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis. These effects, in turn, ameliorate inflammation in hepatocytes.

The qualitative study of disease cognition, treatment compliance and community services evaluation of community patients with schizophrenia, family members and disease control personnels / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To investigate the evaluation of disease perception, treatment compliance and community follow-up services of community schizophrenia patients, family members and personnel in Shantou City, and to provide a reference basis for improving the quality of management treatment.Methods:With the method of stratified sampling qualitative research, a community sample of 17 198 patients with schizophrenia in seven districts or county in Shantou City were sampled from February to August 2019, with 2 towns being drawn from each district or county, and 10 patients, 10 family members and 3 personnel were selected in each town. The evaluation of disease perception, treatment compliance and community follow-up services were investigated and analyzed. Respondents were eventually included in 137 patients, 138 family members and 41 personnel.The interviewees were conducted with semi-structured interviews, the data were collected according to traditional methods, and the descriptive statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 12.0.Results:(1)34.3% of patients and 32.6% of the family members were not fully aware of the disease.22.6% of the patients and 23.2% of the family members had a sense of ill shame. (2)26.3% of patients did not comply with treatment, 29.9% of patients had not insight, 53.3% of patients and 24.6% of family members on the side effects of drugs and addiction understood improperly, and, 35.0% of patients and 13.0% of the family had a misunderstanding of illness and using drugs. (3)29.2% of patients and 31.2% of their families were tired of taking long-term medication, 24.8% of patients and 21.0% of their families felt socially isolated, and, 17.5% felt unsupported and 18.8% of their families admitted that they did not care enough about patients. (4)31.4% of patients did not actively receive follow-up services, 37.2% of patients and 20.3% of family members did not cooperate with follow-up doctors, and, 21.2% of patients and 10.1% of family members were not satisfied with follow-up services. (5)The personnel of psychiatric care could basically grasp the conditions of patients in the jurisdiction and carried out follow-up services on a regular basis (90.2%), master emergency disposal methods (92.7%), and have carried out training (97.6%). However, the psychiatric practice of the personnel were lower than (58.5%) and most lying part-time (78.0%), the average length of service was 5.7±1.4 years. The personnel satisfaction with the community follow-up service was higher (95.1%), but most of them thought that the psychiatric care was more difficult (36.6%), and were dissatisfied with the multi-functional staff to undertake a number of public services (31.7%).Conclusion:The management treatment project of mental disorders services in Shantou City show initial results.The patients were satisfied with the community follow-up service, but the patients and their families still have low level of cognition, poor compliance, obvious negative emotions, and have concerns about drug treatment.It is necessary to strengthen the professionalization of personnel, to carry out early mental health education and rational emotional behavior training for patients and their families.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on the walking function of patients with early Parkinson's disease: A randomized and controlled trial / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the walking function of patients with early Parkinson's disease.Methods Thirty patients with early Parkinson's disease were randomly divided into an intervention group (n =15) and a control group (n =15).In addition to routine treatment,both groups were apparently provided with tDCS,though the current intensity for the intervention group was 2mA and that of the control group was zero.Both groups were treated for 20min every day for 5 days in succession.Before and after the treatment,all of the patients were evaluated using the timed up and go test (TUGT) and their gaits were analyzed to determine step velocity,cadence and width.Results Before and after the treatment there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of average TUGT time,though the average TUGT time had decreased significantly compared with before the treatment.Before the treatment there were no significant differences between the two groups in average step velocity,cadence or width.After the treatment,significant improvements were observed only in the intervention group.The average step width of the intervention group was then significantly bigger than that of the control group.Conclusion Transcranial direct current stimulation can improve the walking function and stability of early Parkinson's patients.

Effect of Tung’s Acupuncture on Walk and Balance Function in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the effect of Tung’s acupuncture on walk and balance function in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Method Ninety-two eligible PD patients were randomized into a control group and a treatment group, 46 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by Levodopa, while the treatment group was additionally intervened by Tung’s acupuncture. The two groups were both treated for 20 d. Before and after the treatment, the walk and balance function were evaluated by the indices of NeuroCom Balance Master, including Walk Across (WLK), Step/Quick Turn (SNT), and Timed Up & Go Test (TUGT), and the results were compared between the two groups. Result The walk speed, step length, swing in turning, time-consumption in turning, and TUGT were improved after the intervention in both groups (P<0.05), and the improvements in the treatment group were more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Tung’s acupuncture plus oral administration of Levodopa can markedly improve the walk and balance function in patients with PD.