Using network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore the underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism of Wuyao-Danshen to treat endometriosis.

Background: This study sought to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Wuyao (radix linderae)-Danshen (salviae miltiorrhiza) in endometriosis (EMS) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods: The active constituents of Wuyao-Danshen were collected and identified using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database, and used to predict and identify the protein targets. The EMS targets and anti-inflammatory targets were obtained from Genecards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and Drugbank. The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database was used to analyze the protein interactions (PPIs) and core targets, and a target PPI network was constructed by importing the software of Cytoscape. The Metascape database was used to conduct enrichment analyses of the Gene Ontology (GO) functions and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways for the key anti-inflammatory targets of EMS. Finally, Autodock Vina software was used to verify the results of the active ingredients and key anti-inflammatory targets. Results: There were 8 active components in Wuyao, 65 in Danshen, and 591 corresponding protein targets in Danshen, and 375 in Wuyao, including luteolin, quercetin, vancomyl alcohol, and salvianol. One thousand and six hundred eighty-nine disease targets, 1,216 anti-inflammatory targets, and 144 key anti-inflammatory targets were identified, including the (signal transduction and transcriptional activator 3) STAT3, phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase regulates subunit 1 (PIK3R1) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) protein kinase B. Three hundred and fifty-three biological processes (BPs), 21 cellular components, and 25 molecular functions (MFs) were enriched with GO functions, and 108 KEGG pathways were enriched and analyzed, including the MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Molecular docking confirmed that luteolin, coumarin, and quercetin could bind to the key target proteins (i.e., STAT3, PIK3R1, and MAPK1). Conclusions: Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking, Wuyao-Danshen was found to act on EMS through anti-inflammatory targets and related signaling pathways. Our findings provide a basis for further research.

Rapid detection of Chinese-specific peony seed oil by using confocal Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Peony seed oil (PSO) is a new woody nut oil which is unique to China. Its unsaturated fatty acids are over 90% and are rich in α - linolenic acid. Although the PSO industry is in its infancy, it is bound to become a top vegetable oil food material because of its own advantages. The potential high commercial profit of its adulteration with cheap vegetable oil will be an important factor hindering the healthy development of PSO industry. It is of great significance to study the adulteration of PSO for preventing large-scale adulteration. In this study, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of PSO was realised based on Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometrics analysis, and the fatty acid composition of PSO was analysed according to Raman characteristic peaks. The technology can be applied to routine analysis and quality control of PSO.

A modified 6-form Tai Chi for patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: 24-form Tai Chi is a traditional exercise popular among old people in China, but it has some complex movements beyond of capabilities of patients with COPD. This study was to modify and simplify 24-form Tai Chi and evaluate effects of the modified Tai Chi on lung function, exercise capacity, dyspnea symptom and health status in patients with COPD. METHODS: A two-step procedure was applied: an initial qualitative research module consisting of focus group discussion, expert consultation and patient interviews was conducted to simplified and modified 24-form Tai Chi for patients with COPD. Then, a randomized controlled trial consisting of 60 patients with II to IV COPD was conducted to evaluate effects of the modified Tai Chi on lung function (FEV1%), exercise capacity (Six minutes walking distance,6MWD), dyspnea symptom (Modified Medical Research Council Scale, mMRC) and health status (COPD Assessment Test, CAT). All measures were obtained at baseline, 3-month follow-up and 9-month follow-up. RESULTS: A new simpler 6-form Tai Chi that combining characteristics of COPD, the experts' wisdom and patients' needs was developed. Patients with COPD can grasp it in about 3 h and participants showed 86.0% adherence to the Tai Chi training and no negative accidents occurred. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) showed that there were significant differences in FEV1%, 6MWD and CAT scores between modified Tai Chi (MTC) group and the control group over time (model group × time interaction χ2 = 13.68, P < 0.001; χ2 = 192.39, P < 0.001;χ2 = 6.05, P = 0.014, respectively), however, no statistical significance in mMRC scores was found between the 2 groups over time (model group × time interaction χ2 = 3.54, P = 0.06). The baseline of FEV1%,6MWD, mMRC scores and CAT scores are significant covariates for lung function, exercise capacity, dyspnea symptom and health status, respectively (χ2 = 149.43, P < 0.001; χ2 = 5.78, P = 0.016; χ2 = 66.71, P < 0.001; χ2 = 81.83, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This modified 6-form Tai Chi routine is easy to grasp, easy to adhere to, safe to practice and effective to improve lung function, exercise capacity, health status and to prevent dyspnea symptom from getting worse for patients with COPD and it can be recommended as a suitable exercise therapy for them.

Lactation-related microRNA expression profiles of porcine breast milk exosomes.

Breast milk is the primary source of nutrition for newborns, and is rich in immunological components. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are present in various body fluids and are selectively packaged inside the exosomes, a type of membrane vesicles, secreted by most cell types. These exosomal miRNAs could be actively delivered into recipient cells, and could regulate target gene expression and recipient cell function. Here, we analyzed the lactation-related miRNA expression profiles in porcine milk exosomes across the entire lactation period (newborn to 28 days after birth) by a deep sequencing. We found that immune-related miRNAs are present and enriched in breast milk exosomes (p<10(-16), χ(2) test) and are generally resistant to relatively harsh conditions. Notably, these exosomal miRNAs are present in higher numbers in the colostrums than in mature milk. It was higher in the serum of colostrum-only fed piglets compared with the mature milk-only fed piglets. These immune-related miRNA-loaded exosomes in breast milk may be transferred into the infant body via the digestive tract. These observations are a prelude to in-depth investigations of the essential roles of breast milk in the development of the infant's immune system.

[A comparative study of effects of electroacupuncture with different stimulation parameters on medicine-induced abortion].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) with different stimulation parameters on medicine-induced abortion. METHODS: One hundred and nine cases of early pregnancy who asked medicine-induced abortion were allocated to an EA group A (n = 37), an EA group B (n = 38) and a medication group (n = 34). Within 30-60 min after oral administration of Misoprostol, in the EA group A, EA was given at bilateral Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) with cluster waves of 100 Hz and in the EA group B, EA was given at Hegu (LI 4) for 20 min and then at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for 5 min with continuous waves of 50 Hz. EA was not given to the medication group. The complete abortion rate, duration of eliminating embryonic sac, colporrhagia lasting time and abdominal pain condition were recorded. RESULTS: The complete abortion rate was 91.9% in the EA group A and 86.8% in the EA group B, which were higher than 82.4% in the medication group, with no significant differences between the 3 groups (P>0.05); the duration of eliminating embryonic sac and the colporrhagia lasting time in the two EA groups were significantly shorter than those in the medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01); alleviation of abdominal pain in the EA group B was better than the medication group (P<0.01) and the EA group A (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Different stimulation parameters of EA have different effects on abortion.

[Effect of electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on short-term adverse effects of drug-induced abortion].

OBJECTIVE: To search for a therapeutic method for alleviating the short-term adverse effect of drug-induced abortion. METHODS: Ninety cases of early pregnancy were divided into 3 groups randomly. Control group were treated with medicine, electroacupuncture group I with electroacupuncture at both Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) simultaneously within 30-60 min after the medicine was given, and electroacupuncture group II with electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) successively within 30-60 min after the medicine was administrated. RESULTS: After treatment, the short-term adverse effect in the electroacupuncture groups was more significantly alleviated as compared with the control group (P < 0.05), and alleviative degree of abdominal pain in the electroacupuncture group II was better than that in the electroacupuncture group I . CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) can alleviate short-term adverse effects of drug-induced abortion, and first electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) followed by Sanyinjiao (SP 6) can more significantly alleviate abdominal pain.