ABSTRACT
Accurately assessing and tracking the progression of liver-specific injury remains a major challenge in the field of biomarker research. Here, we took a retrospective validation approach built on the mutuality between serum and tissue biomarkers to characterize the liver-specific damage of bile duct cells caused by a-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT). We found that carboxylesterase 1 (CES1), as an intrahepatic marker, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-IV), as an extrahepatic marker, can reflect the different pathophysiolo-gies of liver injury. Levels of CES1 and DPP-IV can be used to identify liver damage itself and the inflam-matory state, respectively. While the levels of the conventional serological biomarkers alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were all con-comitantly elevated in serum and tissues after ANIT-induced injury, the levels of bile acids decreased in bile, increased in serum, and ascended in intrahepatic tissue. Although the level of c-glutamyl transpeptidase (c-GT) changed in an opposite direction, the duration was much shorter than that of CES1 and was quickly restored to normal levels. Therefore, among the abovementioned biomarkers, only CES1 made it possible to specifically determine whether the liver cells were destroyed or damaged with-out interference from inflammation. CES1 also enabled accurate assessment of the anti-cholestasis effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA;single component) and Qing Fei Pai Du Decoction (QFPDD;multi-component). We found that both QFPDD and UDCA attenuated ANIT-induced liver damage. UDCA was more potent in promoting bile excretion but showed relatively weaker anti-injury and anti-inflammatory effects than QFPDD, whereas QFPDD was more effective in blocking liver inflammation and repairing liver damage. Our data highlights the potential of the combined use of CES1 (as an intra-hepatic marker of liver damage) and DPP-IV (as an extrahepatic marker of inflammation) for the accurate evaluation and tracking of liver-specific injury-an application that allows for the differentiation of liver damage and inflammatory liver injury.(c) 2021 THE AUTHORS. Published by Elsevier LTD on behalf of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Higher Education Press Limited Company. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
ABSTRACT
Sanrentang,originally contained in the Regulations on Febrile Diseases written by WU Ju-tong in the Qing dynasty,was composed of eight traditional Chinese herbs to treat damp-warm diseases. It is a treatment method of gradually clearing away damp heat of tri-jiao,with characteristics of separating dispersion and mobilizing discharge. "Separating dispersion" means dispersion in separated ways,with different ways to eliminate dampness to export the dampness,heat,evil and turbid out of the body. "Mobilizing discharge" means discharge to stretch and unblock the Qi,to get rid of dampness and evil. It can be seen,Sanrentang,as a desiccating formula,taking "separating dispersion and mobilizing discharge" as the cubic basis,has a significant effect on both internal and external dampness associated with pathogenic heat syndrome,and its clinical application is quite extensive. After consulting the data of the past 10 years,the authors gave a brief overview on the syndrome theory,clinical application and pharmacological effects of Sanrentang, and elaborated the therapeutic effect and pharmacological effect of Sanrentang in the clinical application of upper,middle and lower Tri-jiao respectively,providing theoretical reference for effective development and utilization of Sanrentang. Coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19)swept the world in early 2020 and it is a great challenge for the medical community to seek for effective prevention and treatment methods. For COVID-19,although the cause of the disease belongs to the Qi of "pestilence",many doctors have different opinions on the pathogenic characteristics. However,they all agree with the clinical characteristics of "dampness". COVID-19,which has the attribute of "dampness evil",is so sticky that it can't be cured at once. In addition to the main symptoms such as fever and cough,it is also characterized by the middle-jiao dampness symptoms such as poor appetite,fullness of abdomen,loose stool and diarrhea. It is worthy to further explore the application prospect of Sanrentang in COVID-19 prevention and treatment.Copyright © 2021, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Institute of Chinese Materia Medica. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Sanrentang,originally contained in the Regulations on Febrile Diseases written by WU Ju-tong in the Qing dynasty,was composed of eight traditional Chinese herbs to treat damp-warm diseases. It is a treatment method of gradually clearing away damp heat of tri-jiao,with characteristics of separating dispersion and mobilizing discharge. "Separating dispersion" means dispersion in separated ways,with different ways to eliminate dampness to export the dampness,heat,evil and turbid out of the body. "Mobilizing discharge" means discharge to stretch and unblock the Qi,to get rid of dampness and evil. It can be seen,Sanrentang,as a desiccating formula,taking "separating dispersion and mobilizing discharge" as the cubic basis,has a significant effect on both internal and external dampness associated with pathogenic heat syndrome,and its clinical application is quite extensive. After consulting the data of the past 10 years,the authors gave a brief overview on the syndrome theory,clinical application and pharmacological effects of Sanrentang, and elaborated the therapeutic effect and pharmacological effect of Sanrentang in the clinical application of upper,middle and lower Tri-jiao respectively,providing theoretical reference for effective development and utilization of Sanrentang. Coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19)swept the world in early 2020 and it is a great challenge for the medical community to seek for effective prevention and treatment methods. For COVID-19,although the cause of the disease belongs to the Qi of "pestilence",many doctors have different opinions on the pathogenic characteristics. However,they all agree with the clinical characteristics of "dampness". COVID-19,which has the attribute of "dampness evil",is so sticky that it can't be cured at once. In addition to the main symptoms such as fever and cough,it is also characterized by the middle-jiao dampness symptoms such as poor appetite,fullness of abdomen,loose stool and diarrhea. It is worthy to further explore the application prospect of Sanrentang in COVID-19 prevention and treatment.Copyright © 2021, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Institute of Chinese Materia Medica. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The achievement of China's carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction target is of great significance in the face of global climate change. Accurate identification of key factors that affect CO2 emissions can provide theoretical support to policymakers when designing related policies. Compared to the traditional method, the generalized Divisia index method (GDIM) can capture the influence of multiple scale factors on carbon emissions, providing new tools for studying the decomposition of carbon emissions. The article proposed a GDIM-based decomposition method to analyze the drivers that influence CO2 emissions in China from 2000 to 2017. The results indicate that investment activity is the primary element in promoting China's carbon emissions, followed by energy use and economic activities. On the contrary, investment carbon intensity is the vital inhibitory factor, followed by GDP carbon intensity. Specifically, the positive driving force of investment and energy use is gradually weakening, while the contribution of economic activities is continuously strengthening. The effectiveness of carbon emission reduction in the Northeast, East, and Southwest is actively promoting China's carbon emission reduction, while the effectiveness of CO2 emission reduction in the Northwest is not performing well. The findings provide support and reference for carbon emission control in China. (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The TCM protocol in the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Trial Version 7) has been updated from previous versions. The protocol was formulated under the direct leadership of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, based on the experience of a panel of experts, supported by evidence from fever clinics and from the outcomes of emergency (EM) observation rooms and inpatients throughout China (especially in Wuhan, Hubei Province) in combination with the latest scientific research results and data. The present interpretation of the TCM protocol is based on an overall understanding of the revised content, and aims to guide and standardize its clinical application to provide a reference for clinicians.