RESUMEN
Perimenopausal syndrome (PMS) has a high incidence rate and affects the physical and mental health of middle-aged and elderly women. The blockage of PMS is significant in improving the health of perimenopausal women. Currently, for PMS prevention and treatment, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become an ideal choice because of its safety and effectiveness. This study aimed to explore the anti-PMS effects of Ziyin Bushen Decoction (DKTP) and the underlying mechanism. Thirty female Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 6): control group, low-dose DKTP group, medium-dose DKTP group, high-dose DKTP group, and nilestriol group. The estradiol (E2) level in rat peripheral blood was analyzed using an E2 Radioimmunoassay Kit, and uterine morphologic changes were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Learning and memory ability of rats was assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition (NOR) task. E2 synthesis, metabolism, and transport associated estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), GnRHR, CYP17, CYP11A1, CYP19, 17ßHSD, STS, and SHGB were assessed to explore the E2-promoting mechanism of DKTP during PMS treatment. The loss of learning and memory, the decreased estrous and uterine coefficient, and the presence of histopathological changes suggests a successful establishment of rat PMS model. Following DKTP or nilestriol treatment, the above results were reversed. E2 level in serum, uterine, and ovarian tissues was upregulated upon different concentrations of DKTP treatment, indicating that DKTP promotes the E2 level in a dose-dependent manner. DKTP also increased the expression of ERα, CYP17, CYP11A1, CYP19, 17ßHSD, STS, and SHGB while decreased the GnRHR expression in uterine and ovarian tissues, revealing that these key molecules involved in estrogen synthesis, metabolism, and transport in PMS rats. We confirmed the anti-PMS effect of DKTP through enhancing E2 production. Exploring a novel drug based on improving E2 synthesis, metabolism, and transport may represent a novel strategy for PMS prevention and treatment.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antiviral efficacy of Bushen Granule (BSG) combined with Marine Injection (MI) in treating patients with chronic hepatitis B of Gan-shen deficiency with Damp-Heat (GSD) syndrome type. METHODS: A total of 90 patients, who were HBV DNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg positive and of GS-DD type, were enrolled, and they were randomly assigned into 2 groups. The 49 patients in the treated group were treated with the combined therapy of BSG and MI and the 41 were administered with lamivudine, the therapeutic course for both groups was 1 year. The negative conversion rate of HBeAg and HBV DNA and the changes in HBV DNA titre, liver function, symptoms and physical signs were observed in the two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: In the treated group, the negative conversion rate of HBV DNA was 42.6% (20/ 47), insignificantly different to that in the control group (61.0%, 25/41, P > 0.05); the negative conversion rate of HBeAg and HBeAg/anti-HBe sero-conversion rate was 42.6% and 36.2%, respectively, significantly higher than those in the control group (22.0% and 17.0%, P < 0.05); the ALT normalizing rate was 74.4%, higher than that in the control group (51.4%, P < 0.05); the improvement of liver function (ALB and GLB) and clinical symptoms, especially the dizziness, soreness of waist, hypochondrial distending pain, and yellowish urine, were significantly superior to those in the control group(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05); and the partial response rate was 29.8%, insignificant different to that in the control group (14.6%, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment of BSG and MI has an ideal short-term effect in treating patients with chronic hepatitis B of Gan-shen deficiency with Damp-Heat syndrome type, it can inhibit HBV replication and improve patients' liver function and physical signs.