Curcumae Rhizoma, known as Ezhu (Chinese: 莪术), and Curcumae Radix, known as Yujin (Chinese: 郁金), are different plant parts coming from three same species according to China Pharmacopoeia. Actually, they are used in different ways in TCM clinical treatment. Curcumae Rhizoma is mainly used as antitumor drug, while Curcumae Radix has been used as antidepressant and cholagogue. Curcumae Rhizoma and Curcumae Radix are confused in variety and source, even in clinical trials by some nonprofessional workers. So it is important for us to make them clear. This review is aimed at summarizing the ethnopharmacology, phytochemical, and pharmacological differences between Curcumae Radix and Curcumae Rhizoma by SciFinder, CNKI, and so on, to use them exactly and clearly. Further studies on Curcumae Rhizoma and Curcumae Radix can lead to the development of new drugs and therapeutics for various diseases on the basis of the TCM theory.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the effects of sepsis on brain integrity, memory, and executive function. METHODS: Twenty sepsis patients who were not diagnosed with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) but had abnormal electroencephalograms (EEGs) were included. The control group included twenty healthy persons. A neuropsychological test of memory and executive function and a brain magnetic resonance imaging scan were performed. The volumes of cortex and subcortex were measured using the FreeSurfer software. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was used to determine the disease severity. RESULTS: In the sepsis group, the levels of immediate free recall, immediate cued recall, and delayed cued recall in the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II) were significantly lower; the explicit memory (recollection process) in the process dissociation procedure test was lower; and the volumes of the left and right hippocampi were significantly lower compared with the control group. The volume of the presubiculum in the hippocampus of sepsis patients showed statistically signifi cant decrease. In the sepsis group, the volumes of the left and right hippocampi were negatively correlated with the APACHE II score and positively with immediate free recall, immediate cued recall, and delayed cued recall in the CVLT-II; moreover, the hippocampal volume was significantly correlated with recollection but not with familiarity. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with abnormal EEGs during hospitalization but with no SAE still have reduced hippocampal volume and memory defi cits. This fi nding indicates that sepsis leads to damage to specifi c parts of the hippocampus.

Objective. This study was to evaluate the efficacy of antimicrobial step-down therapy versus conventional antimicrobial therapy in the treatment of patients with sepsis. Methods. Between September 2020 and September 2021, 65 patients with sepsis treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital were recruited and assigned at a ratio of 1 : 1 to receive either conventional antimicrobial therapy (sulbactam plus cefoperazone) (control group) or antimicrobial step-down therapy (imipenem/cilastatin) (observation group). The results of drug sensitivity tests and clinical effects were evaluated comprehensively after 3-5 d of treatment, downgraded, and upgraded, or maintenance treatment was administered for 10 d. Outcome measures included clinical and laboratory indices and treatment efficacy. Results. Antimicrobial step-down therapy resulted in a significantly higher efficacy and lower levels of white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) versus conventional antimicrobial therapy ( P < 0.05 ). The patients given antimicrobial step-down therapy showed a significantly shorter duration of antimicrobial drug administration, temperature recovery, time of respiratory support, and ICU stays versus conventional antimicrobial therapy ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. Antimicrobial step-down therapy contributes to the mitigation of inflammatory responses in patients with sepsis and shortens the duration of antimicrobial drug use and ICU stay versus conventional antimicrobial therapy. The reliability of the conclusions can be further increased if multicenter and large sample clinical observations can be conducted, which is the direction of endeavor for future clinical studies.

Background: Polymyxins is a class of cyclic polypeptide antibiotics with strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. However, bacteria become resistant to Polymyxins. Thus, Polymyxin B (PMB) in combination with other antimicrobials may be a better choice in clinic. This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic bacteriostatic effect of PMB combined with Propofol medium and long chain fat emulsion injection against Escherichia coli in vitro. Methods:The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration of Polymyxin B combined with Propofol medium and long chain fat emulsion injection and two drugs used alone against Escherichia coli were detected with the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion (K-B) method, and the diameter of the inhibition zone was calculated to evaluate bacteriostatic effects.Results: Different concentrations of PMB all had obvious bacteriostatic effects on Escherichia coli, while different concentrations of Propofol medium and long chain fat emulsion injection had no bacteriostatic effects on Escherichia coli. The bacteriostatic effect of the combination of PMB with Propofol medium and long chain fat emulsion injection against Escherichia coli was synergistic, and no effects of uncorrelated and antagonism were observed in this combination.Conclusions: PMB combined with Propofol medium and long chain fat emulsion injection can improve the bacteriostatic effect for Escherichia coli in vitro.

Background: At present, the most commonly used diagnostic method of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is based on clinical manifestations and electrophysiology, but the electrophysiology is not cheap, invasive, and lacks the presentation of peripheral nerve conditions, which is exactly the advantage of ultrasound (US).The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of US in the diagnosis of CTS by calculating the cross-sectional area (CSA) at the carpal tunnel and proximally at the level of the pronator quadratus muscle., and to find an appropriate index that can be used to achieve the diagnosis in a more costeffective manner.Methods: Forty-three wrists from 35 symptomatic CTS patients and 23 wrists from 18 asymptomatic volunteers were evaluated. Diagnosis in the CTS group was based on the American Academy of Neurology clinical diagnostic criteria. The ultrasonic probe was placed at the carpal tunnel and the distal 1/3 of the pronator muscle respectively, and the carpal tunnel cross-sectional area (CSAC) and the proximal crosssectional area (CSAP) was calculated, with a further calculation of their difference (ΔCSA) and ratio (R-CSA).Results: There was a significant difference between the 2 groups regarding mean ± standard deviation (SD) of CSAC, CSAP, ΔCSA, and R-CSA (P<0.01). The cutoff value of 12.14 mm 2 for CSAC had a sensitivity and specificity of 90.7% and 100%, respectively; the cutoff value of 1.235 mm 2 for R-CSA had a sensitivity and specificity of 97.67% and 95.65%, respectively; and the cutoff value of 2.035 mm 2 for ΔCSA had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 100%, respectively. Therefore, US was found to be an effective method for the diagnosis of CTS. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis of all patients showed area under the curve (AUC) was 0.9778 for CSAC, 0.9949 for R-CSA and 1.000 for ΔCSA.Conclusions: US can provide reference values for the diagnosis of CTS. CSAC, ΔCSA, and R-CSA can be used for CTS diagnosis and evaluation. The ROC curve analysis showed that among the 3 values, ΔCSA was the most useful in the diagnosis of patients with CTS. ΔCSA is considered a valid diagnostic value for CTS, as its threshold of 2.04 mm 2 showed the highest sensitivity and specificity.