[Social network analysis of traditional Chinese medicine on treatment of constipation].

The methods of literature metrology and data mining were used to study the research topics and social network analysis of traditional Chinese medicine for constipation. The major Chinese databases were searched to include the research studies of traditional Chinese medicine for constipation. BICOMS analysis software was used to extract and collect the main information and produce co-occurrence Matrix; gCLUTO software was used for cluster analysis. Data analysis was conducted by using SPSS 19.0 software. The results showed that the number of studies on traditional Chinese medicine for constipation was constantly increased, with two literature volume peaks respectively in 2003 and 2006. Related studies have been published in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have published, but the studies in developed areas were more than those in developing areas. There was little cooperation between research institutions and the authors, especially the cooperation between different areas. At present, the research field of Chinese medicine for constipation is divided into five research topics. In terms of specific traditional Chinese medicine, angelica sinensis is in the core position. The results showed regional imbalance in the number of studies on Chinese medicine treatment for constipation, as well as little cooperation between researchers and research institutions. The research topics mainly focused on the evaluation of clinical efficacy, but the research on optimizing the prescriptions was still not enough, so the future researchers shall pay more attention to the studies of constipation prescriptions with Angelica sinensis as the core herb.

Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Reduces the Effects of Glucosteroid in Asthma via Activating the p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway.

AIMS: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for steroid-resistant (SR) asthma. However, the underlying mechanism is not well defined. This study aimed to investigate how chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), the main pathophysiology of OSA, influenced the effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) on asthma. MAIN METHODS: The effects of dexamethasone (Dex) were determined using the ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged mouse model of asthma and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß treated airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), with or without CIH. The p38 MAPK signaling pathway activity was then detected in the mouse (n = 6) and ASMCs models (n = 6), which were both treated with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB239063. KEY FINDINGS: Under CIH, mouse pulmonary resistance value, inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and inflammation scores increased in OVA-challenged combined with CIH exposure mice compared with OVA-challenged mice (p < 0.05). These indicators were similarly raised in the OVA + CIH + Dex group compared with the OVA + Dex group (P < 0.05). CIH exposure enhanced the activation of the p38 MAPK pathway, oxidative stress injury, and the expression of NF-κB both in lung tissue and ASMCs, which were reversed by treatment with Dex and SB239063. In the in vitro study, treatment with Dex and SB239063 decreased ASMCs proliferation induced by TGF-ß combined with CIH and suppressed activation of the p38 MAPK pathway, oxidative stress injury, and NF-κB nuclear transcription (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: These results indicated that CIH decreased GC sensitivity by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

[Therapeutic effects of Dunhuang Liaofengxushouruo decoction on chronic heart failure in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects and mechanism of Dunhuang Liaofengxushouruo decoction (LXD) (Traditional Chinese Medicine) on chronic heart failure(CHF) in rats. METHODS: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group(n=8):model group, captopril group and LXD(Traditional Chinese Medicine) high, medium and low dose group. Except the normal group, the rats were intravenous injected with adriamycin 2.5 mg/kg in one day for 6 weeks, the captopril rats were intragastric administrated by captopril 25 mg/kg, LXD high, medium and low dose groups were intragastric administrated by LXD of 80, 40, 20 g/kg for 6 consecutive weeks. The rats breathing, coat color, activity, body weight(BW) and time of exhaustive swimming were measured; Heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), maximal rate of left ventricular pressure (+dp/dtmax or -dp/dtmax)of each rat were examined by Power Lab. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured; The rats were sacrificed and hearts removed for separation of left and right ventricle, the antioxidant activity and ventricular mass index were measured, left ventricular myocardium was administrated by 4% paraformaldehyde, HE staining, morphological changes were observed under microscope. RESULTS: Body weight of each group decreased, and time of exhaustive swimming decreased after modeling (P<0.01). At 28 days after administration, BW in high and middle dose of LXD groups were increased and the swimming time of rats in LXD high dose group was increased (P<0.05).At 42 days, BW in all of LXD groups were increased and the exhaustive swimming time of high and middle dose of LXD were prolonged (P<0.05), MAP was decreased and LVSP, +dp/dtmax or -dp/dtmax were increased in LXD high and middle groups. The LVEDP was decreased in high dose of LXD group(P<0.05,P<0.01). The levels of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in middle and low dose of LXD groups were decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01), and the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum in LXD high and middle dose groups were lower. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum were increased in all of LXD groups, and the LVMI and RVMI were decreased in high and middle dose of LXD groups(P<0.05,P<0.01). The pathological results showed that myocardial fiber arrangement and myocardial interstitial edema phenomenon were obviously improved in high dose of LXD group and CMD decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic effect of LXD on CHF by doxorubicin-induced in rats is confirmed, the mechanisms are associated with improved hemodynamics and myocardial tissue.