A developmental switch between electrical and neuropeptide communication in the ventromedial hypothalamus.

Dissecting neural connectivity patterns within local brain regions is an essential step to understanding the function of the brain.1 Neural microcircuits in brain regions, such as the neocortex and the hippocampus, have been extensively studied.2 By contrast, the microcircuit in the hypothalamus remains largely uncharacterized. The hypothalamus is crucial for animals' survival and reproduction.3 Knowledge of how different hypothalamic nuclei coordinate with each other and outside brain regions for hypothalamus-related functions has been significantly advanced.4-9 Although there are limited studies on the neural microcircuit in the lateral hypothalamus (LHA)10,11 and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN),12,13 the patterns of neural microcircuits in most of the given hypothalamic nuclei remain largely unknown. This study applied combinatory approaches to address the local neural circuit pattern in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and other hypothalamic nuclei. We discovered a unique neural circuit design in the VMH. Neurons in the VMH were electrically coupled at the early postnatal stage like ones in the neocortex.14 However, unlike neocortical neurons,14,15 they developed very few chemical synapses after the disappearance of electrical synapses. Instead, VMH neurons communicated with neuropeptides. The similar scarceness of synaptic connectivity found in other hypothalamic nuclei further indicated that the lack of synaptic connections is a unique feature for local neural circuits in most adult hypothalamic nuclei. Thus, our findings provide a solid synaptic basis at the cellular level to understand hypothalamic functions better.

Correlation of Autophagy with Tumor Immune Escape and Intervention with Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Autophagy and tumor immune escape are important biological mechanisms in the process of tumor cell proliferation and metastasis， involving multiple signaling pathways. The interaction of autophagy and tumor immune escape seriously affects the treatment and prognosis of tumor diseases. However， the correlation between autophagy and tumor immune escape is still not fully elucidated. Recent studies have shown that autophagy can affect the activity of immune cells by regulating the presentation of antigens in tumor cells， the release of cytokines， and the degradation of immune checkpoint proteins， thereby positively or negatively regulating tumor cell immune escape. The activation of autophagy in tumor cells can inhibit the activation of the innate immune sensing pathway of stimulator of interferon genes （STING）-type Ⅰ interferon （IFN-Ⅰ） to inhibit its immunogenicity and cytotoxic T lymphocytes （CTLs）， which promotes tumor immune escape. While autophagy suppression can reduce the infiltration of M2 macrophages， promote the binding of natural killer group 2， member D （NKG2D） to its ligand， and inhibit the recognition of immune checkpoint proteins， thereby exerting an immune-killing effect and inhibiting tumor immune escape. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has unique advantages in anti-tumor research， especially in the unilateral regulation of autophagy or improvement of tumor immunity， but the research based on the regulation of autophagy and tumor immunity by TCM is insufficient. A few studies have shown that Chinese medicine monomers and compounds can exert an anti-tumor effect by regulating cell autophagy and interfering with tumor immune escape， but there is still a lack of systematic elaboration. The present study reviewed correlation between autophagy and tumor immune escape and regulation of autophagy by Chinese medicine to interfere with tumor immune escape to provide new ideas for research on mechanism of TCM against tumor diseases and development of innovative TCM drugs against tumors.

A Novel Strategy for Decoding and Validating the Combination Principles of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction From Multi-Scale Perspective.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas treat complex diseases through combined botanical drugs which follow specific compatibility rules to reduce toxicity and increase efficiency. "Jun, Chen, Zuo and Shi" is one of most used compatibility rules in the combination of botanical drugs. However, due to the deficiency of traditional research methods, the quantified theoretical basis of herbal compatibility including principles of "Jun, Chen, Zuo and Shi" are still unclear. Network pharmacology is a new strategy based on system biology and multi-disciplines, which can systematically and comprehensively observe the intervention of drugs on disease networks, and is especially suitable for the research of TCM in the treatment of complex diseases. In this study, we systematically decoded the "Jun, Chen, Zuo and Shi" rules of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HJD) in the treatment of diseases for the first time. This interpretation method considered three levels of data. The data in the first level mainly depicts the characteristics of each component in single botanical drug of HJD, include the physical and chemical properties of component, ADME properties and functional enrichment analysis of component targets. The second level data is the characterization of component-target-protein (C-T-P) network in the whole protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, mainly include the characterization of degree and key communities in C-T-P network. The third level data is the characterization of intervention propagation properties of HJD in the treatment of different complex diseases, mainly include target coverage of pathogenic genes and propagation coefficient of intervention effect between target proteins and pathogenic genes. Finally, our method was validated by metabolic data, which could be used to detect the components absorbed into blood. This research shows the scientific basis of "Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi" from a multi-dimensional perspective, and provides a good methodological reference for the subsequent interpretation of key components and speculation mechanism of the formula.

Research on antitumor active components and mechanisms of natural products / 药学学报

Tumor, especially malignant tumor has become one of the major diseases, a serious threat to the health of people around the world. Modern clinical practice shows that the natural active products extracted from traditional Chinese medicine, marine medicine and other natural drugs, such as terpenes, alkaloids, polysaccharides, volatile oils and peptides, can effectively inhibit the growth of tumor cells. In this paper, the active components of natural antitumor products in recent years were summarized and their related mechanism was elucidated, so as to provide theoretical basis for the further development of natural antitumor drugs.

Effect of Modified Guifu Dihuang Wan on Quality of Life of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease After PCI and Evaluation on Medication Safety / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To explore effect of modified Guifu Dihuang Wan (Wenshen Huoxue Fang) on life quality in patients with coronary hear disease (CHD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and evaluate the safety of its clinical use. Method: The 147 postoperative patients with PCI in Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital cardiology outpatient and the inpatient departments between June 2017 to May 2018 were selected and randomly divided into the treatment group and control group by random even and odd number. The patients in control group took the basic treatment (western medicine), and the patients in the treatment group additionally received modified Guifu Dihuang Wan based on the treatment in control group, with a course of 4 weeks in both groups. Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) total score, 6 minutes walk test (6 mWT), Seattle Angina Scale (SAQ) score, and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome score were recorded and compared between two groups before and after treatment; their cardiac function was evaluated and adverse reactions were observed to assess the drug safety and quality of life after PCI. Result: The MLHFQ scores in treatment group after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment and those in control groups after treatment (PPPPPConclusion: On the basis of conventional western medicine therapy, the modified Guifu Dihuang Wan can effectively improve the physical strength, mood, TCM symptoms, relieve angina pectoris, and enhance cardiac function with no adverse reactions in PCI postoperative patients. It can achieve the purpose of improving quality of life in postoperative patients, worthy of promotion.

Effects of light intensity on growth, quality and antioxidant activities of Sedum sarmentosum / 中国中药杂志

The present study was conducted to explore the effect of light intensity on growth, bioactivity compounds accumulation and anti-oxidative activity of Sedum sarmentosum. The growth, yield, contents of total flavonoids, total phenolic, quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, and antioxidant activities were assessed in S. sarmentosum under five light intensities, namely 100% full sunlight (G1), 77% full sunlight (G2), 60% full sunlight (G3), 38% full sunlight (G4), and 16% full sunlight (G5). The results showed that light intensity significantly affected the growth and the chemical compounds accumulation. With the decrease of light intensity, the maximum branch length and the average internode distance increased. G2 treatment greatly promoted the numbers of leaf layers and branches, and G3 treatment remarkably improved the yield. The highest total flavonoids and phenolic contents were obtained in G3 treatment. Meanwhile, the highest quercetin and isorhamnetin contents were obtained in G1 treatment. The difference of kaempferol content was not significant. In addition, based on DPPH, FTC and FRAP methods, the antioxidant activities of the aqueous extracts under G1 treatment were superior to the others. The results indicated that more than 60% full sunlight was the optimum light intensity condition to achieve high yield and quality of S. sarmentosum.

Effects of Huoxue Huayu Decoction combined with musculus pterygoideus lateralis closure on patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome due to wind-cold stasis / 中成药

AIM To investigate the clinical effects of Huoxue Huayu Decoction (Angelicae sinensis Radix,Saposhnikoviae Radix,Schizonepetae Herba,etc.) combined with musculus pterygoideus lateralis closure in managing patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome (TMJ) due to wind-cold stasis.METHODS From January 2015 to December 2015,68 cases of patients with TMJ due to wind-cold stasis identified and recruited by the department of stomatology of Hebei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were randomly assigned to treatment group and control group,each with 34 cases and given the musculus pterygoideus lateralis closure.But the treatment group was administered with an extra two-week adjuvant therapy of Huoxue Huayu Decoction,and generally one week such medication was taken as a therapeutic course.RESULTS After the intervention,the treatment group presented an overall better performance than the control group in terms of the open limit,NRS score,and the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05);and the values of CMI,PI,DI (P ＜0.05),in contrast to the not significantly varied values between the groups before the intervention (P ＞ 0.05).The treatment group also displayed its advantage if evaluated by TCM criteria,extent of the mandibular movementabnormalities,facial pain,temporomandibular joint sound or noise,irritability,sleeping difficulty,dark purple lips,tongue scores and wind-cold stasis scores (P ＜ 0.05).And generally a remarkably higher total effective rate was observed in the treatment group,and its difference to the control group was statistically significant (P ＜0.05).CONCLUSION Huoxue Huayu Decoction combined with conventional western medicinal approach in the management of TMJ due to wind-cold stasis can achieve a better therapeutic efficacy.

Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure Patients with Qi-Yang Deficiency and Blood Stasis Resistance Syndrome by Xnmallong Injection: a Multi-center Randomized Control Study / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xinmailong Injection (XI) in treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with qi-yang deficiency and blood stasis resistance syndrome (QY-DBSRS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 238 CHF patients with QYDBSRS were assigned to the treatment group (118 cases) and the control group (120 cases) by randomized, double-blind, placebo parallel controlled method. Patients in the treatment group received routine therapy and XI (100 mg/2 mL, by dripping at 5 mg/kg, twice per day for 5 consecutive days), while those in the control group received routine therapy and XI mimetic agent (100 mg/2 mL, by dripping at 5 mg/kg, twice per day for 5 consecutive days). The heart function classification of New York Heart Association (NYHA), 6-min walking distance, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), scores for Chinese medical symptoms were observed before and after treatment, and safety assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 235 patients actually entered full analysis set (FAS), including 120 cases in the control group and 115 cases in the treatment group. The total effective rate of heart function, 6-min walking distance and increased post-pre-treatment distance in the experimental group were superior to those of the control group with statistical difference (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, increased value of post-pre-treatment LVEF, the total effective rate of Chinese medical syndrome efficacy, scores for Chinese medical symptoms and decreased post-pre-treatment value of Chinese medical syndrome scores were obviously improved (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>XI could improve the heart function of CHF patients, improve Chinese medical symptoms, elevate exercise tolerance, and improve LVEF. It had no obvious toxic and side effects.</p>

Optimization of extraction process of compound Clematidis Radix spray by support vector machine / 中国中药杂志

L9 (3(4)) orthogonal experiment was used to design the extraction technology of compound Clematidis Radix spray. Weight coefficients of active ingredients and dry extract rate were solved by information entropy. Support vector machine (SVM) was established and the model parameters were optimized through the genetic algorithm. Grid search algorithm was used for optimization of extraction technology of Clematidis Radix spray. The optimal extraction technology was to extract Clematidis Radix spray in water with 6 times the weight of herbal medicine for 3 times, with 2 h once. Bias of value between real and predicted by SVM was 1.23%. SVM was compared with traditional intuitive analysis of orthogonal design. It indicates that the new method used to optimize the extraction parameters of compound Clematidis Radix spray is more accurate and reliable.

Research of DNA barcode of Teseudinis Carapax et Planstrum and its adulterants based on COI gene sequence / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To use COI gene on the Mauremys reevesii and its adulterants by molecular identification. Search a rapid, accurate method of identification of Teseudinis Carapax et Planstrum and its adulterants.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>We collected 8 species of the authentic and adulterants of teseudinis carapax et planstrum in a nationwide then, extracted DNA, got the COI sequences. Use ContigExpress, Dnaman, Edit Sequence and Mega 5 to analyze the variable site and construct the N-J tree.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compare with the authentic Teseudinis Carapax et Planstrum, the adulterant exist lots of variable site. The N-J tree Indicates that the same genus belong together and each species belong to relatively independent branch.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Based on the COI gene, the technology of DNA bar code can be a excellent identification of Teseudinis Carapax et Planstrum and its adulterants.</p>

Effect of angiotensin II type I receptor blocker losartan on bone deterioration in orchiectomized male hypertensive and normotensive rats / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Epidemiological study showed that the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD) in older people, especially male subjects, which suggested that angiotensin II may have a detrimental effect on bone. Therefore, blocking its effect may have a beneficial effect on bone health.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six-month-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used. Animals of each model were randomly assigned to the following four groups: Group 1, SHAM operated+vehicle; Group 2, orchidectomy (ORX)+vehicle; Group 3, ORX+low-dose losartan (10 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)); and Group 4, ORX+high-dose losartan (25 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)). Blood pressure was recorded weekly. SHAM and ORX operations were performed, followed by daily losartan and vehicle treatment from day 4 after operation for 16 weeks. Serum and 24-hour urine samples were collected for measurement of bone turnover markers before euthanasia and then the left femur was collected for measurements of BMD and microarchitecture before mechanical test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Urine deoxypyridinoline/urine creatinine (DPD/Cr) ratio was significantly higher in SHR than in WKY. BMD and microarchitecture parameters also showed bone deterioration in SHR. After ORX, serum osteocalcin concentration decreased and urine DPD/Cr ratio increased significantly accompanied by a significant decrease in cortical and trabecular BMD and cortical bone thickness in both WKY and SHR. High-dose losartan significantly increased DPD in urine in both SHR and WKY. Apart from marginal favorable changes in bone architecture in WKY treated with high-dose losartan, losartan did not show significant effect on BMD, bone area, bone microarchitecture, and mechanical properties in both SHR and WKY.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Angiotensin II type I receptor blocker losartan was not able to demonstrate significant effect on ORX-induced bone deterioration in both hypertensive and normotensive rats.</p>

Separation and determination of four ganoderic acids from dried fermentation mycelia powder of Ganoderma lucidum by capillary zone electrophoresis.

Ganoderic acids (GAs) were bioactive secondary metabolites produced by a traditional mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. We describe a simple and efficient method for the separation and quantitative determination of four GAs, namely Ganoderic acid T (GA-T), Ganoderic acid Mk (GA-Mk), Ganoderic acid Me (GA-Me) and Ganoderic acid S (GA-S) from dried triterpene-enriched extracts of G. lucidum mycelia powder by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Under the optimum conditions, the four GAs reached the baseline separation in 9 min with Glycyrrhetinic acid (GTA) as internal standard. The four GAs and internal standard (GTA) were detected at a wavelength 245 nm. All calibration curves showed good linearity (r(2)>0.9958) within test ranges. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were less than 0.6 and 1.8 microg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) values of precision and recoveries were less than 5% and recoveries ranged from 91.4% to 103.6%. This was the first report on simultaneous determination of the four GAs and the results provided a firm basis for the trace analysis of GAs in dried fermentation mycelia powder of G. lucidum with high accuracy.

Multicentral randomized controlled study on acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) for treatment of infantile malnutrition / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) on infantile malnutrition.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multicentral, randomized, controlled and single blind test was adopted. 222 infants of malnutrition were divided into an acupuncture group (n=110) and a medicine group (n=112). The acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Sifeng (EX-UE 10), once each week, for 4 times; and the medicine group were treated with oral administration of Yiqi Jianpi Oral Liquid, twice each day, one ample each time, for 4 weeks. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by improvement of symptoms and signs in the syndrome cumulative score scale, and changes of serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), pre-albumin (PA), hemoglobin and red-cell count.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two hundred and twenty-two cases were enrolled in the 4 centers and 212 cases completed the test. The acupuncture group in improvement of appetite, body weight, subcutaneous fat thickness of the abdomen, etc. were superior to the medicine group (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference between the two groups in improvement of the body height. There was no significant increase of serum IGF-I level in the two groups, and the acupuncture group in increase of PA was superior to the medicine group (P < 0.05). After treatment, hemoglobin and red-cell count increased significantly in the treatment group (P < 0.01), and hemoglobin increased significantly in the medicine group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) has obvious therapeutic effect on infantile malnutrition.</p>

Ca2+-permeable channels in the plasma membrane of Arabidopsis pollen are regulated by actin microfilaments.

Cytosolic free Ca2+ and actin microfilaments play crucial roles in regulation of pollen germination and tube growth. The focus of this study is to test the hypothesis that Ca2+ channels, as well as channel-mediated Ca2+ influxes across the plasma membrane (PM) of pollen and pollen tubes, are regulated by actin microfilaments and that cytoplasmic Ca2+ in pollen and pollen tubes is consequently regulated. In vitro Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) pollen germination and tube growth were significantly inhibited by Ca2+ channel blockers La3+ or Gd3+ and F-actin depolymerization regents. The inhibitory effect of cytochalasin D (CD) or cytochalasin B (CB) on pollen germination and tube growth was enhanced by increasing external Ca2+. Ca2+ fluorescence imaging showed that addition of actin depolymerization reagents significantly increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels in pollen protoplasts and pollen tubes, and that cytoplasmic Ca2+ increase induced by CD or CB was abolished by addition of Ca2+ channel blockers. By using patch-clamp techniques, we identified the hyperpolarization-activated inward Ca2+ currents across the PM of Arabidopsis pollen protoplasts. The activity of Ca2+-permeable channels was stimulated by CB or CD, but not by phalloidin. However, preincubation of the pollen protoplasts with phalloidin abolished the effects of CD or CB on the channel activity. The presented results demonstrate that the Ca2+-permeable channels exist in Arabidopsis pollen and pollen tube PMs, and that dynamic actin microfilaments regulate Ca2+ channel activity and may consequently regulate cytoplasmic Ca2+.

Construction of fast propagation system of Houttuynia cordata new line / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct the fast propagation system of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. new line by selecting the proper type and concentration of plant growth regulators and proper explants.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The different explants of Houttuynia cordata new line were cultured on MS media with different concentration of different plant grow regulators.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Stem node over-ground and shoot tip were optimum explants for fast propagation. The stem which node grew on MS medium with KT at 0.5 mg x L(-1) could induce more leaves and grow higher. The shoot tip cultured on MS medium with 1.0 mg x L(-1) 6-BA could induce better callus. Adventitious shoots were better achieved from over-ground nodal explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 6-BA at 1.0 mg x L(-1) and NAA at 0.2 mg x L(-1), or 6-BA at 0.5 mg x L(-1) and NAA at 0.2 mg x L(-1). MS medium with IAA at 0.2 mg x L(-1) was the best one on inducing roots.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The propagat coefficient can be highly improved by inducing adventitious shoots through stem node over-ground, and thus plentiful seeds for production can be provided.</p>

Study on the superfine comminution of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

This paper has introduced the terms, concept and characteristics of superfine comminution of traditional Chinese medicine. The progress in the study on the superfine comminution of the single drug and compound prescription was analyzed, and work principles of equipment in common use for superfine comminution were outlined. The future application of superfine comminution technique in traditional Chinese medicine was forecast and the problems that should be solved during the future research work were also pointed out in the paper.