Quality evaluation of clinical trial literatures on the COVID-19 treatment with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) / 药学实践杂志

Objective To evaluate the quality of the clinical trial literatures published on the treatment of COVID-19 with TCM, find out the shortcomings and put forward corresponding suggestions, in order to promote TCM against COVID-19. Methods "COVID-19", "New Coronavirus Pneumonia", "TCM", "Chinese Medicine", "Clinical Trial", "Lianhua Qingwen", "Huoxiang Zhengqi", "Jinhua Qinggan", and other keywords were used to search relevant literatures in CNKI and PubMed database. Among the all the screened relevant literatures on the treatment of COVID-19 with TCM, the literature quality was assessed according to evaluation criteria of clinical trial literatures. Results A total of 463 papers related to the treatment of COVID-19 with TCM were obtained. 440 papers on theoretical research on the network pharmacology mechanism of Chinese medicine treatment of COVID-19 were excluded. Among the 23 articles included in the quality analysis, there are 3 randomized controlled studies, 1 multi-center prospective randomized controlled trial, 2 disease case report trials, and 5 uncontrolled single arm studies, 5 controlled trials and 7 retrospective studies. In the period of more than half a year, although many clinical trial documents of TCM for the treatment of COVID-19 have been published, the clinical trial design reflected in most TCM clinical trials were not standardized. There are problems in "randomness and rationality", such as no control group, no randomization design, only case studies, no blinding method in controlling bias, and insufficient objectivity in the evaluation criteria of efficacy. All of these need to be improved. Conclusion The treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia with TCM still requires more and standardized clinical trial verifications and publications to generate strong evidence-based results, such as adding control groups, increasing sample size, and using blinding methods to increase the credibility of clinical trials.

Research progress of phosphodiesterase inhibitors in inflammatory bowel disease treatment / 浙江大学学报·医学版

Inflammatory bowel disease is a recurrent chronic intestinal inflammatory disease with unknown etiology and no effective treatment. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) regulates a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes by mediating the hydrolysis of intracellular second messengers cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate. In recent years, a series of researches suggest that PDE inhibitors such as several PDE4 inhibitors, PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil), PDE3 inhibitors (cilostazol), PDE9 inhibitor (PF-04447943) and PDE3/PDE4 double inhibitor (pumafentrine) have ameliorating effect on experimental colitis in animals. In clinical trials, PDE4 inhibitor apremilast showed more therapeutic advantage than tetomilast. This article reviews the recent research progress of PDE inhibitors in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Effect of Electroacupuncture at Different Points on Auditory Brainstem Response in Sodium Salicylate-treated Rats / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at different points on auditory brainstem response (ABR) in a rat model of sodium salicylate-induced tinnitus.Method Forty-one male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to saline control (saline), sodium salicylate model (SA), electroacupuncture at Tinggong+ Yifeng (EA), electroacupuncture at Waiguan+ Zhongzhu (AA) and electroacupuncture at Zusanli+ Sanyinjiao (LA) groups. The saline group consisted of five rats and each of the other groups, nine rats. The model was made by intraperitoneal injection of sodium salicylate 275 mg/kg. The saline control group was injected with a corresponding volume of saline. Various acupoint electroacupuncture groups were given electroacupuncture at bilateral Tinggong+ Yifeng, Waiguan+ Zhongzhu and Zusanli+ Sanyinjiao, respectively, at 30 min after model making. Electroacupuncture lasted 30 min. The ABRs were recorded before model making and once every one hour for five consecutive hours after model making. The stimulus sounds were short clicks and tone bursts of frequencies of 4, 8, 16 and 32 kHz. The ABR threshold was used as an assessment index.Results Under the condition of clicks, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at one to five hours after model making between the SA, EA, AA or LA group and the saline group (P<0.05), at two to five hours after model making between the EA or AA group and the SA group (P<0.05) and at one hour after model making between the LA and SA groups (P<0.05). Under the conditions of 4, 8 and 16 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at one to five hours after model making between the SA, EA, AA or LA group and the saline group (P<0.05). Under the condition of 32 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at one to five hours after model making between the SA, AA or LA group and the saline group (P<0.05). Under the condition of 4 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at two to five hours after model making between the EA and SA groups (P<0.05) and at four to five hours after model making between the AA and SA groups (P<0.05). Under the condition of 8 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at two to five hours after model making between the EA or AA group and the SA group (P<0.05). Under the condition of 16 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at two, four and five hours after model making between the EA and SA groups (P<0.05). Under the condition of 32 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at one to five hours after model making between the EA and SA groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at both periauricular and forelimb points can improve the ABR threshold in sodium salicylate-treated rats. The effect of electroacupuncture at periauricular points is superior to that at forelimb points.

Research progress in biological basis of cold and heat essence of Chinese medicine / 中西医结合学报

Cold-heat problem is one core of traditional Chinese medicine theory. This paper summarizes the experimental research related to the biological basis of cold-heat essence in cold-heat syndrome, cold-heat body constitution and cold-heat property of Chinese herbs. In view of the classical physiological and biochemical indices, gene expression, protein expression and metabolic differences, differences in cold-heat syndrome or cold-heat constitution are mainly based on neurotransmitter, thyroid function, sex hormone, cyclic nucleotide system, and energy metabolism relating to the corresponding gene and protein expression. Furthermore, this paper analyses the change of correlation indices that accompany with a dynamic development process of "constitution-syndrome-herbal intervention", implying that the research of biological basis of cold-heat essence has turned from single index to multiple indices, and from dispersion research to system research.

Biological research evaluating the Chinese medical theory of the association of the kidney with the ears / 中西医结合学报

ABSTRACT: "Association of the kidney with the ears" is central to the traditional Chinese medical (TCM) theory of the viscera and their manifestations. Previous studies have shown that thyroxin, aldosterone, calcium and iron might be the material basis of the correlation between the kidney and the ears. Due to restriction in research techniques and methods, there has been no further progress in this research field, whose modern biological mechanisms and scientific connotations have not been explained clearly. In recent years, the progress of biological techniques and research on kidney essence provided promising opportunities for research of the association between the kidney and the ears. This article summarized the study progress of "association of the kidney with the ears" theory and posed some meaningful study thoughts. Presbycusis is a kind of degenerative disease caused by aging, which is one aspect of aging of the human body. Because aging is considered as physiological "kidney deficiency", presbycusis can be regarded as a model of "kidney deficiency" deafness. In conclusion, investigating the correlation between "kidney deficiency" and presbycusis using biotechnology systems combined with "essence of kidney", should provide a sound basis for study of the theory of the relationship between the kidney and the ears. This will provide new and valuable information for the modern biological research about the theory of visceral associations in TCM.

Effects of sinensetin on proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer AGS cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects and mechanisms of sinensetin on proliferation and apoptosis of human AGS gastric cancer cells.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>MTT assay was used to detect the growth inhibition rates of human AGS gastric cancer cells treated with sinsesectin in different concentrations and times. The cell cycle distribution was measured by flow cytometry. The apoptosis was examined by Annexin-FITC/PI staining and DNA fragment analysis. The apoptosis morphology was observed by inverted fluorescence microscope after Hoechst 33342 staining. The protein expressions of p21 and p53 were detected by western blot.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>MTT assay showed that sinensetin inhibited the growth of AGS gastric cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Sinensetin blocked AGS cells in G2/ M and increased the apoptosis rates of AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner. DNA ladder was observed in cells treated with 60 micromol x L(-1) sinensetin for 48 h. The typical apoptotic morphological changes including cell nucleus shrinkage, chromatin condensation and apoptotic bodies were observed when treated with different dose of sinensetin. Western blot showed that sinensetin increased expressions of p53 and p21 in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sinensetin could inhibit human AGS gastric cancer cells proliferation and induce cell cycle block in G2/M phase and apoptosis. The up regulation of p53 and p21 protein might be one of the mechanisms.</p>

Effects of erlong zuoci pills and its effective disassembled prescriptions on gentamycin induced hair cell apoptosis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of erlong zuoci (ELZC) pills and its disassembled prescriptions (Shudi-huang-Zexie group and Zexie group) on the enzymatic activity and protein expression changes of the key apoptosis molecules in the gentamycin injured hair cells.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The model of gentamycin induced ototoxicity in mice cochlear primary cultures was copied. Cochlear organotypic cultures of postnatal day 3-5 (P3-P5) mice were treated with gentamycin alone or in combination with ELZC pills, Shudihuang-Zexie group or Zexie group respectively. The enzymatic activity of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 was determined by means of fluorescence staining in situ. The protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the hair cell area was examined by immunofluorescence in normal and treated specimens.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Average optical density analysis indicated that, compared to the normal group, 0.03 mmol x L(-1) gentamycin could significantly activate Caspase-9 and Caspase-3, downregulate the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression. Compared to the gentamycin model group, ELZC pills significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of Caspase-9 and upregulated the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression, showing inhibition trend toward the enzymatic activity of Caspase-3. Both Shudihuang-Zexie group and Zexie group could effectively inhibit the enzymatic activity of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3, upregulate the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ELZC pills, Shudihuang-Zexie group and Zexie group can effectively protect hair cells from gentamycin by correcting the abnormal changes of the mitochondrion-dependent signal transduction pathway.</p>

Effects of Erxian Decoction and its separate prescriptions on the levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in anterior pituitary cells from female rats / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Erxian Decoction (EXD), a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine and its separate prescriptions such as Wenshen Yijing Recipe (WSYJR, a recipe for warming kidney and replenishing essence), Ziyin Xiehuo Recipe (ZYXHR, a recipe for nourishing yin and dispersing fire) and Tiaoli Chongren Recipe (TLCRR, a recipe for regulating thoroughfare and conception vessels) and some extracts from EXD on the levels of LH and FSH in the primary cultured anterior pituitary cells from female rats. METHODS: EXD, its separate prescriptions and traditional Chinese herbal extracts from EXD were added directly to the incubators. The levels of LH and FSH were tested by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The levels of LH and FSH in the supernatant of anterior pituitary cells treated by EXD or its separate prescriptions including ZYXHR and TLCRR were increased significantly as compared with those in the blank control. There was a tendency for stimulating the secretions of LH and FSH in the WSYJR-treated group too. Dimethyl sulfoxide as the solvent of icariin and curculigoside could interfere with the results. CONCLUSION: EXD and its separate prescriptions such as ZYXHR and TLCRR can increase the levels of LH and FSH significantly.

Study on decomposed recipes of traditional Chinese medicine / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To introduce and analyze the present status of research on decomposed recipes of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). METHODS: The relevant literature on the study of the decomposed recipes of TCM in the past five years was collected and analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Studies on the decomposed recipes of TCM have been made from the whole body level to the organ, cell and molecular research level. The pharmacological research in vitro is the main way and quantitative changes of the chemical ingredients have been measured before and after composition. It is very important to combine the modern science and technology in exploring the composing mechanisms of TCM remedies.

Recognition on toxicity of traditional Chinese drugs / 中西医结合学报

Our ancestor found that some of the Chinese herbal drugs were toxic during their clinical practice. They graded the toxicity of Chinese herbal drugs into three degrees and thought that the term "toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs" could be used in a broad and a narrow sense. In modern times, toxic components of the Chinese herbal drugs and their toxic mechanisms, especially the toxicity on the kidney, were further revealed. The factors that affect the toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs include the species, preparation, dose and environment. To prevent the toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs, we must strengthen the management of the Chinese herbal drugs. On the other hand, doctors' recognition of the toxicity of Chinese herbal drugs should be enhanced. At the same time, patients should be told to decoct and take Chinese herbal drugs correctly.