Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine for intracranial hemorrhage by promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Neuroprotective effect of Naochuxue prescription on intracerebral hemorrhage: inhibition of autophagy downregulating high mobility group box-1

OBJECTIVE

To determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of Naochuxue prescription (,NCXP) in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with collagenase to generate ICH models, which were then randomly divided into six groups, including control, sham, model, and three intervention groups. The intervention groups received different doses of NCXP (0.13, 0.26, and 0.52 g/kg) daily for 10 d. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze the chemical characteristics of NCXP. The neurobehavioral outcomes of the rats were evaluated using neurological deficit scores (Zea Longa 5) and the corner turn test. Pathomorphological changes in perihematomal tissues after ICH were observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the inflammation expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (LC3), and sequestosome 1 (p62) were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting in perihematomal tissues.

RESULTS

HPLC showed that the NCXP had good stability. Rats with ICH had severe neurological function deficits compared to the control group. IHC results showed that NCXP significantly downregulated the expression of the inflammatory proteins IL-6 and TLR4. ICH rats treated with NCXP showed less neurological injury than the model group, accompanied by a significantly decreased expression of HMGB1, Beclin1, and LC3 and an increased expression of p62.

CONCLUSIONS

The neuroprotective effect of NCXP alleviated inflammation and autophagy possibly by downregulating HMGB1 expression. However, further research on the signaling pathways is required to verify this hypothesis.

Research progress on the application of Chinese herbal medicine in anal fistula surgery

Anal fistula is a rapidly developing anorectal disease that can lead to anal dysfunction if left untreated. Minimally invasive surgery is an important treatment option for anal fistula, as it can reduce the risk of anal sphincter injury and protect anal function. However, postoperative complications such as infection, pain, bleeding, edema, and fat liquefaction can occur, resulting in slow wound healing thus negatively impacting the patient's quality of life. Recent studies have shown that Chinese herbal therapy has distinct pharmacological effects and is more effective in treating postoperative complications in anal fistula patients compared to conventional drug therapy. It not only promotes wound healing but also reduces the occurrence of complications. Chinese herbs can also modulate relevant signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt, HIF-1, and TGF-β/Smad to enhance the wound healing process. Various methods of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) have been used to treat post-anal fistula operation wounds, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sitz baths, external application of TCM, internal administration of TCM, anal absorption, and acupuncture, all of which have shown promising therapeutic effects in clinical practice. This article aims to review the theory and clinical application of CHM in anal fistula surgery in recent years and provide valuable references for its treatment.

Treatment of Intracerebral Hemorrhage with Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomer Wogonin by Modifying NLRP3 with METTL14 to Inhibit Neuronal Cell Pyroptosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the alleviating effect of wogonin on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and its mechanism. The hemin-treated PC-12 cells were constructed to mimic ICH in vitro. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) analysis was used for cell viability measurement and flow cytometry was for pyroptosis detection. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay and western blot were used to detect the protein levels of pyroptosis-related proteins. The modification level of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) combined with m6A dot blot assays. Molecular docking experiments analyzed the binding of wogonin and METTL14 protein. The correlation between METTL14 and NLRP3 was confirmed by bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase reporter gene detection. ICH was induced in mice injected with collagenase into the basal ganglia, and the neurobehavioral damage was evaluated. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride monohydrate (TTC) staining and neurological scores were used to assess brain damage in mice. The results demonstrated that wogonin alleviated neuronal cell pyroptosis, and was molecularly docked with METTL14. Overexpression of METTL14 partly reversed the protecting effects of wogonin on brain in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, NLRP3 was methylated by METTL14. Taken together, wogonin inhibits neuronal pyroptosis and thus treats IHC by inhibiting METTL14 and its methylated NLRP3.

The role of JAK/STAT signaling pathway in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine: A narrative review

Cerebral ischemia is a cerebrovascular disease with symptoms caused by insufficient blood or oxygen supply to the brain. When blood supplied is restored after cerebral ischemia, secondary brain injury may occur, which is called cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). In this process, the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway plays an important role. It mediates neuroinflammation and participates in the regulation of physiological activities, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. After CIRI, M1 microglia is activated and recruited by the damaged tissue. The inflammatory factors are produced by M1 microglia through the JAK/STAT pathway, eventually leading to cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and the expression of lipocalin-2 and caspase-3 could increase. In the pathway, phosphorylated JAK2 and phosphorylated STAT3 function of 2 ways. They not only promote the proliferation of neurons, but also affect the differentiation direction of neural stem cells by further acting on the Notch signaling pathway. Recently, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a key player in CIRI, through JAK2, STAT3, STAT1 and their phosphorylation. Therefore, the review focuses on the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and its relationship with CIRI as well as the influence of the TCM on this pathway. It is aimed at providing the basis for future clinical research on the molecular mechanism of TCM in the treatment of CIRI.

Effects of traditional Chinese exercise on physiological indicators and quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of traditional Chinese exercise (TCE)-based intervention in the improvement of physiological indicators and quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) is controversial.

METHOD

Five databases were systematically searched for relevant articles published from inception to February 2023. Controlled trials examining TCE intervention in patients with CHD. The treatment effects were estimated using a random-effect meta-analysis model with standardized mean differences (Hedges g). The categorical and continuous variables were used to conduct moderator analyses. Two investigators independently screened abstracts and full-text articles and graded the certainty of evidence based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (identifier CRD42023401934).

RESULT

Ten studies involving a total of 718 participants were included in the final analysis. In the physiological indicators outcomes, the meta-analytic findings revealed large and significant improvements in systolic blood pressure (g = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51-1.05, P = .00, I2 = 98%), diastolic blood pressure (g = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.61-1.20, P = .00, I2 = 98%) and body mass index (g = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.75-1.34, P = .00, I2 = 99%), small and significant improvements in heart rate (g = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.01-0.54, P = .04, I2 = 98%) and ventilatory equivalents/carbon dioxide (g = -1.10, 95% CI = -1.47 to -0.74, P = .00, I2 = 96%).In the quality of life outcomes, the findings revealed small and significant improvements in physical functioning (g = -3.01, 95% CI = -3.45 to -2.57, P = .00, I2 = 96%), bodily pain (g = -2.16, 95% CI = -2.57 to -1.74, P = .00, I2 = 98%), vitality (g = -3.67, 95% CI = -4.16 to -3.16, P = .00, I2 = 97%) and mental health (g = -1.23, 95% CI = -1.771 to -0.692, P = .00, I2 = 99%). The moderator shows that the effects of TCE on physiological indicators and quality of life were moderated by PEDro score, type of exercise, exercise frequency, exercise duration, and number of sessions.

CONCLUSION

TCE intervention is a beneficial nonpharmacological approach to improving physiological indicators in patients with CHD, especially in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index. However, there was no significant effect on quality of life. Our findings require broader clinical trials and higher-quality study designs to strengthen the evidence.