Qizhi Jiangtang capsule activates podocyte autophagy in diabetic kidney disease by inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathways.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic action and mechanism of the Qizhi Jiangtang capsule (, QZJT) on diabetic kidney disease (DKD) treatment. METHODS: This experiment used db/db mice and podocytes (MPC5) to develop DKD model. Evaluation of the effect of the QZJT on db/db mice by testing urine and blood biochemical parameters (24-h urinary albumin, serum creatinine, blood urine nitrogen), pathological kidney injury, and podocyte integrity. Moreover, autophagosomes in podocytes of DKD mice and cultured podocytes were detected using electron microscopy. Additionally, Western blotting was applied to detect the expression of podocyte marker protein (podocin), autophagy-associated proteins, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling pathway changes and . RESULTS: QZJT significantly reduced urine protein, blood nitrogen urea, and serum creatinine and showed histological restoration of renal tissues. QZJT also significantly improved the down-regulation of podocin and foot fusion and effacement in db/db mice. QZJT increased autophagic vesicles in mice and cultured podocytes. QZJT also upregulated microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) / (LC3-I) and Beclin-1 and downregulated phosphorylated-PI3K (p-PI3K), p-AKT, and p-mTOR in db/db mice and MPC5 cells. However, autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine partially alleviated the above effects in MPC5 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that the QZJT can enhance podocyte autophagy and ameliorate podocyte injury in DKD by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Design and implementation of Xinshenghua granule traceability system based on data authenticity / 中国中药杂志

The quality of traditional Chinese medicine affects the clinical efficacy and the market research at home or abroad, which is closely related to the standardization of production. At present, Chinese market still exist in drug quality and nonstandard production phenomenon. In addition to the existing GMP production standards, it is still necessary to ensure the authenticity and reliability of traditional Chinese medicine by means of retrospect. Based on the Xinshenghua granule, starting from the authenticity of the whole process of production, this study designs and constructs the traditional Chinese medicine traceability system which is equipped with the Internet platform by using two-dimensional code as a trace tool. By making authentic record of the production process and quality transfer, it is convenient for consumers to know the drug information. The production traceability system provides guarantee for the standardization of traditional Chinese medicine development, in order to obtain the production source，the testing quality, whereabouts and responsibility.

Research on quality standard of Cinnamomi Ramulus standard decoction / 中草药

Objective: To prepare Cinnamomi Ramulus standard decoction and to study the quality standard of Cinnamomi Ramulus. Methods: Fifteen batches of Cinnamomi Ramulus standard decoctions were prepared according to the standardization method. With cinnamon acid as the detection index, the transfer rate and extraction rate were calculated and the HPLC fingerprint analysis method was established. Results: According to the measurement of 15 batches of standard decoctions, the transfer rate ranged from 56.93% to 94.06% and extractum rate was at the range of 3.30%-9.40%. Besides, the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine TCM (2012A) was used to analyze and compare the fingerprint, nine commom peaks were determined and four were calibrated including protocatechuic acid (peak 1), coumarin (peak 4), cinnamic acid (peak 6), and cinnamaldehyde (peak 7). Moreover, the similarity was over 0.95. Conclusion: This study established an HPLC fingerprint analysis method of Cinnamomi Ramulus standard decoction. The method displays good precision, stability, and repeatability in fingerprint analysis. Therefore, this study has some identified significance and can provide a reference for the quality control of Cinnamomi Ramulus dispensing granules.

Study on the Identification of Ferulic Medicinal Plants Based on DNA Barcode ITS2 Sequence / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To establish a rapid,accurate and standardized DNA barcode identification method for the ferulic me-dicinal plants. METHODS:Genomic DNA was extracted from Ferula sinkiangensis K. M. Shen and Ferula fukanensis K. M. Shen,ITS2 sequences were amplified and sequenced,analytical similarity search method was conducted,13 species 26 samples gene ITS2 sequences of ferulic medicinal plants in GenBank database were downloaded and comparatively analyzed;interspecies and intraspecies genetic distances were calculated,and phylogenetic tree was developed for cluster analysis. RESULTS:According to calculation,species genetic distances of the 15 species ranged 0.009-0.230,average genetic distance was 0.018;results of clus-ter analysis showed DNA barcode ITS2 sequences can cluster the 32 kinds of ferulic medicinal plants into different classes. CON-CLUSIONS:The established DNA barcode ITS2 sequences identification method can accurately and rapidly identify the genuine and false samples of ferulic species.

"3+1" bladder function restoration combined with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia with acontractile detrusor / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinical effect of "3+1" bladder function restoration combined with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with acontractile detrusor (ACD).@*METHODS@#We treated 35 BPH patients with ACD by HoLEP followed by "3+1" bladder function restoration, that is, a 3-phase bladder function training plus simultaneous 1-drug medication after surgery. We recorded and analyzed the detrusor pressure, post-void residual urine volume (PVR), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) scores, quality of life (QoL), voluntary micturition, satisfaction with the bladder function, hydronephrosis, ureterectasia, renal function, and urinary tract infection of the patients before and after treatment.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the base line, at 6 months treatment, the patients showed significantly increased detrusor pressure (［35.1±2.7］vs ［50.2±2.3］ cmH2O, P<0.05) and Qmax (［4.2±2.7］vs ［21.1±4.1］ ml/s, P<0.05) but decreases in PVR (［173.0±31.6］ vs ［30.5±12.9］ml, IPSS score (27.3±3.2 vs 5.1±1.4, P<0.05) and QoL (4.1±0.8 vs 0.8±0.1, P<0.05), elevated rates of voluntary urination (0% ［0/35］ vs 100% ［35/35］, P<0.05), regularurination (0% ［0/35］ vs 85.71% ［30/35］, P<0.05), grade Ⅰ satisfaction with bladder function (0% ［0/35］ vs 85.71% ［30/35］, P<0.05), reduced rate of overflowing urinary incontinence (28.57% ［10/35］ vs 5.71% ［2/35］, P<0.05), and increased percentages of normal renal function (34.29% ［12/35］ vs 85.71% ［30/35］, P<0.05) and non-infection of the urinary system (17.14% ［6/35］ vs 94.29% ［33/35］, P<0.05). After treatment, urination was markedly improved in 94.29% (33/35) of the patients.@*CONCLUSIONS@#"3+1" bladder function restoration combined with HoLEP produced a desirable effect on BPH with ACD, though its long-term effect remains to be further investigated.

Research on Glycyrrhizeae Radix standard decoction / 中国中药杂志

Fifteen batches of Glycyrrhizeae Radix standard decoction were prepared for determination of the content of the glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin, then the transfer rate and the extract rate were calculated and a method was established to analyze the fingerprint by HPLC. According to the measurement of 15 batches of samples,the transfer rate of the glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin were 59.4%-87.4% and 49.8%-78.9% with extract rate of 29.9%-38.9%. Moreover,10 common chromatographic peaks were determined based on their fingerprint by using similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)(2012A) .The similarity results of 15 batches of samples were analyzed and compared,and the results showed that the similarity was all higher than 0.9. Fifteen batches of samples,prepared by a standard method,have stable quality and the high similarity.The method displayed good precision,stability and repeatability in fingerprint analysis. Therefore,this study can provide a reference for the quality control of Glycyrrhizae Radix dispensing granules.

Correlation between different Chinese medicine syndromes and changes in microcirculation in septic shock patients / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between different Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes and variations in microcirculation in septic shock patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>seventy Septic shock patients were divided into four groups: heat damaging qi-yin group (HDQY, 23 cases); yin exhaustion and yang collapse group (YEYC, 26 cases); excessive heat in Fu organ group (EHFO, 10 cases); and heat damaging nutrient-blood group (HDNB, 11 cases). Sublingual microcirculation parameters were observed by sidestream dark-field (SDF) imaging and scored by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and parameters of microcirculation perfusion variations and prognoses were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those with qi-yin heat damage, perfused vessel density (PVD) in other groups decreased dramatically (P<0.05), and APACHE II scores increased significantly (P<0.05). In addition, the recovery time was prolonged substantially (P<0.05), and the mixed venous oxygen saturation (SVO2) decreased (P<0.05). Blood lactic acid increased significantly (P<0.05), and the mixed SVO decreased (P<0.05), in the YEYC group. Compared with the thermal injury camp blood group, sublingual microcirculation parameter variations showed no obvious difference in the YEYC and EHFO groups (P>0.05). There were significant positive correlations between CM syndromes and APACHE II scoring in different groups (r=0.512, P<0.05). There were negative correlations between PVD and APACHE II scoring (r=-0.378, P=0.043), the proportion of perfused vessels (PPV) and APACHE II scoring (r=-0.472, P=0.008), as well as between the microvascular flow index (MFI) and APACHE II scoring (r=-0.424, P=0.023) in different patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sublingual microcirculation may serve as a clinical diagnostic parameter of the patient condition, as well as being a prognostic indicator.</p>

Effect of Qishen Huoxue Granule for auxiliary treatment of critical cases of acute kidney injury / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the efficacy of Qishen Huoxue Granules (QHG) for auxiliary treatment of critical patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-two AKI patients came from critical care medical department of Beijing Friendship Hospital were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (25 patients) was treated with QHG (consisted of Radix Astragali, Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, Radix Paeoniae rubra, Flos Carthami, and Radix Angelicae sinensis, etc., 10 g/bag, administered via gastric perfusion, 3 times per day, 10 g in each time) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT); Group B (27 cases) was treated only by CRRT, all for 14 days. Besides, mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs were applied in case of necessary. The time of renal function recovery, days in ICU, 28-day mortality, changes of serum Cystatin C concentration as well as the time of mechanical ventilation (T-V) and vasoactive drugs application (T-D) in patients, who received corresponding treatment were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The renal function recovery time in Group A was markedly earlier than that in Group B (P < 0.05), with concentration of serum Cystatin C began to decrease from day 10. T-V and T-D in Group A were markedly shorter than those in Group B, respectively (P < 0.05). No significantly statistical difference between the two groups for days in ICU and 28-day mortality was found (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QHG shows favorable prospect in treating critical AKI patients, it can significantly accelerate the renal function recovery time, shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs application.</p>