Chinese herbal medicine Jia Wei Jing Xie Yin (JWJXY) ameliorates psoriasis via suppressing the Th17 cell response.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease. At present, it is very difficult to treat; however, clinical trials have shown that the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment of psoriasis has certain advantages. The Chinese herbal medicine Jia Wei Jing Xie Yin (JWJXY) has its origins in Jing Xie Yin, a medicine created by the TCM doctor Wu Jun. Previous studies have shown that JWJXY has good clinical efficacy for patients with blood-heat type psoriasis, but its mechanism is unknown. Methods: This paper aimed to further study the therapeutic effect and mechanism of JWJXY on an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced, psoriasis-like mouse model (0.4 mL, i.g., 6 days). The histopathological skin changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, the infiltration of cluster of differentiation 11B (CD11b) and cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cells was observed by immunohistochemistry, lymphocyte subsets were detected by flow cytometry, T helper (Th)17 cell expression was perceived by flow cytometry, and Th17 cell-related gene expression was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: JWJXY significantly reduced the skin thickness of the IMQ-induced model mouse. Compared with that in the vehicle group, the skin tissue of the mice in the JWJXY group showed significantly reduced infiltration of CD11b+ and CD4+ T cells. Flow cytometry results showed that JWJXY decreased the proportion of B220 and Th17 cells in the spleen tissue of the mice. There was no significant effect on the proportion of Th1 or regulatory T cells (Treg) cells. Compared with that in the vehicle group, the skin tissue of the mice in the JWJXY group showed significantly decreased expression of interleukin-17A (IL-17A), IL-17F, retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt), IL-1ß, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) messenger RNA (mRNA). Conclusions: The study confirmed the therapeutic effect of JWJXY on psoriasis. Its mechanism of action might be to inhibit the Th17 cell response but not the Th1 and Treg response.

Jia-Wei-Si-Miao-Yong-An decoction modulates intestinal flora and metabolites in acute coronary syndrome model.

Aims: We assessed the efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine formulation Jia-Wei-Si-Miao-Yong-An decoction (HJ11) in the treatment of acute coronary syndrome and evaluated its impact on the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites. Methods: An acute coronary syndrome model was established in rats, which were randomly assigned to the model, HJ11 treatment, and atorvastatin treatment groups. Rats were then administered saline solution (model and sham operation control groups) or drugs by oral gavage for 28 d. Echocardiography was performed and serum creatine kinase-MB and cardiac troponin I levels were monitored to examine the cardiac function. Inflammation was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining of heart tissue, and serum interleukin-2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein measurements. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Metabolomics was used to determine fecal metabolites and elucidate the modes of action of HJ11 in acute coronary syndrome treatment. Results: HJ11 improved cardiac function and attenuated inflammation in rats with acute coronary syndrome. Relative to the untreated model group, the HJ11-treated group presented normalized Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and reduced abundances of the bacterial genera norank_f__Ruminococcaceae, Desulfovibrio, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Adlercreutzia, Staphylococcus, Bacteroides, Prevotella, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, unclassified_o__Bacteroidales, and Ruminococcus_gauvreauii_group. We found 23 differentially expressed intestinal metabolites, and the enriched metabolic pathways were mainly related to amino acid metabolism. We also discovered that asymmetric dimethylarginine levels were strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. Correlation analyses revealed strong associations among intestinal microflora, their metabolites, proinflammatory factors, and cardiac function. Hence, the therapeutic effects of HJ11 on acute coronary syndrome are related to specific alterations in gut microbiota and their metabolites. Conclusion: This work demonstrated that HJ11 effectively treats acute coronary syndrome. HJ11 seems to increase the abundance of beneficial bacterial taxa (Bacteroides and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group), mitigate the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, alter bacterial metabolites, lower asymmetric dimethylarginine levels, and effectively treat acute coronary syndrome.

Erratum to: Protein Phosphatase 2A as a Drug Target in the Treatment of Cancer and Alzheimer's Disease.

The article "Protein Phosphatase 2A as a Drug Target in the Treatment of Cancer and Alzheimer's Disease", written by Hui WEI, Hui-liang ZHANG, Jia-zhao XIE, Dong-li MENG, Xiao-chuan WANG, Dan KE, Ji ZENG, Rong LIU, was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal on 13 March 2020 without open access. With the author(s)' decision to opt for Open Choice the copyright of the article changed to © The Author(s) 2020 and the article is forthwith distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.The original article has been corrected.Corresponding authors: Dan KE, E-mail: kedan@hust.edu.cn; Ji ZENG, E-mail: whzjmicro@163.com.

Serum stearic acid/palmitic acid ratio as a potential predictor of diabetes remission after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in obesity.

Endogenous fatty acid metabolism that results in elongation and desaturation lipid products is thought to play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, we evaluated the potential of estimated elongase and desaturase activities for use as predictive markers for T2DM remission after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The results of a targeted metabolomics approach from 2 independent studies were used to calculate 24 serum FA concentration ratios (product/precursor). Gene expression data from an open public data set was also analyzed. In a longitudinal study of 38 obese diabetic patients with RYGB, we found higher baseline stearic acid/palmitic acid (S/P) ratio. This ratio reflects an elovl6-encoded elongase enzyme activity that has been found to be associated with greater possibility for diabetes remission after RYGB [odds ratio, 2.16 (95% CI 1.10-4.26)], after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, diabetes duration, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, and fasting C-peptide. Our results were validated by examination of postsurgical elovl6 gene expression in morbidly obese patients. The association of S/P with the metabolic status of obese individuals was further validated in a cross-sectional cohort of 381 participants. In summary, higher baseline S/P was associated with greater probability of diabetes remission after RYGB and may serve as a diagnostic marker in preoperative patient assessment. - Zhao, L., Ni, Y., Yu, H., Zhang, P., Zhao, A., Bao, Y., Liu, J., Chen, T., Xie, G., Panee, J., Chen, W., Rajani, C., Wei, R., Su, M., Jia, W., Jia, W. Serum stearic acid/palmitic acid ratio as a potential predictor of diabetes remission after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in obesity.

[Clinical observation on prevention of "jia wei si jun zi tang" from damage of hepatic reserving function after intervention of liver cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To observe prevention of "Jia Wei Si Jun Zi Tang" (JWSJZT) from damage of hepatic reserving function after intervention of liver cancer. METHODS: 65 patients with advance stage of liver cancer were randomly into two groups, the control group (regular protective therapy) and the treatment group (regular protective therapy + JWSJZT). There were 33 and 32 cases in the control group and treatment group,respectively. ICGR15 was detected before the first and the second intervention treatment and one month after the second intervention treatment, respectively. ICGR15 change was observed before and after the intervention treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: ICGR15 was 11.13% +/- 7.28% in the treatment group and 11.81% +/- 7.43% in the control group (P > 0.05) before the first intervention; 18.36% +/- 9.82% in the control group and 12.18% +/- 5.22% in the treatment group, before the second invention treatment (P < 0.05); 19.12% +/- 9.96% in the control group and 12.83% +/- 5.28% in the treatment group one month after the second intervention treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The western medicine + JWSJZT group is superior in curative effect to western medicine group.

Effect of "jia wei fo shou san" on erythrocyte membrane calcium, zinc concentration in pregnant rats with asymmetrical intrauterine growth retardation induced by passive smoking.

Using experimental model of pregnant rats with asymmetrical intrauterine fetal growth retardation induced by passive smoking, the effects of natural herb "Jia Wei Fo Shou San" on erythrocyte membrane calcium, zinc concentration were observed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that the mean fetal birth weight, zinc concentration of erythrocyte membrane were found to be decreased in the model group as compared with the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.01). On the other hand, the element of calcium onto erythrocyte membrane were higher in model group than that in control group (P < 0.05). These changes were significantly mild in the treated group and were similar to those of the control group (P > 0.05). Furthermore, our findings indicated that the zinc concentration of erythrocyte membrane seems to be positively correlated with the birth weight (P < 0.01). Calcium composition of red cell membrane showed a significant negative relation to the birth weight (P > 0.05). Our results provided an experimental evidence that normal concentrations of calcium and zinc onto erythrocyte play an important part in fetal growth. One of the mechanisms of "Jia Wei Fo Shou San" in improving fetal growth may have something to do with modulation of erythrocyte calcium, zinc element, thereby protecting bio-functions of erythrocyte and promoting blood circulation.