Simultaneous identification and quantification of the common compounds of Viscum coloratum and its corresponding host plants by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.

Viscum coloratum is a perennial evergreen, semi-parasitic plant. It is generally used for treating cardiovascular diseases, cancer, hepatitis and hemorrhage. In this study, reliable methods were developed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the common constituents in Viscum coloratum and its corresponding host. In the rapid qualitative analysis, a method of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry was established for identification of the same compounds. Based on the retention times, accurate mass measurement and previous literatures, 23 components were clearly identified by comparison with reference substances. In the quantitative analysis, a method for Viscum coloratum and its corresponding host was developed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. 13 common compounds of viscum coloratum and host plants from 19 batches were analyzed with a good linearity (r2≥0.9991), intra-day precision (RSD≤3.24%), inter-day precision (RSD≤3.31%), repeatability (RSD≤2.43%), stability (RSD≤2.63%), and recovery (98.2-102.4%). The overall limits of quantification were less than 5.0ng/mL. The results indicated that these effective and comprehensive methods can be applicable to simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of these common compounds presented in Viscum coloratum and corresponding host plants.

Effect of Wenhua Juanbi Recipe () on expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand, osteoprotegerin, and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 14 in rats with collagen-induced arthritis / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the effect of Wenhua Juanbi Recipe (, WJR) on expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 14 (TNFRSF14, also known as LIGHT) in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CIA rats were generated by subcutaneous injection of bovine collagen type-II at the tail base. Sixty CIA rats were randomly assigned (10 animals/group) to: model, methotrexate (MTX)-treated (0.78 mg/kg body weight), and WJR-treated (22.9 g/kg) groups. Healthy normal rats (n=10) were used as the normal control. Treatments or saline were administered once daily by oral gavage. Rats were sacrifificed at day 28 post-treatment and knee synovium and peripheral blood serum were collected. Toe swelling degree and expression of RANKL, OPG, and LIGHT were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal group, toe swelling degree was signifificantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). After treatment, toe swelling degree decreased signifificantly in the WJR and MTX groups compared with the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, expression of RANKL and LIGHT were signifificantly increased and OPG signifificantly decreased in peripheral blood and synovium of the model group (P<0.01). Conversely, RANKL and LIGHT expression were signifificantly reduced and OPG increased in the WJR and MTX groups compared with the model group (P<0.01). No statistically significant difference existed between WJR and MTX groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>WJR likely acts by reducing RANKL expression and increasing OPG expression, thus inhibiting RANKL/RANK interaction and reducing LIGHT expression, thereby inhibiting osteoclast formation/activation to block bone erosion.</p>

Structured lipid emulsion as nutritional therapy for the elderly patients with severe sepsis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The nutritional support is one of the important therapeutic strategies for the elderly patients with severe sepsis, but there is controversial in choosing a parenteral nutrition formulation. This study was designed to compare the therapeutic effects of structured lipid emulsion, physically mixed medium, and long-chain fat emulsion in the treatment of severe sepsis in elderly patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total number of 64 elder patients with severe sepsis were enrolled in the study. After a week of enteral nutritional support, the patients were randomly divided into research (structured lipid emulsion as parenteral alimentation) and control groups (physically mixed medium and long-chain fat emulsion as parenteral alimentation). The alterations of plasma albumin, lipid metabolism, and blood glucose level were recorded after parenteral alimentation and were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plasma levels of albumin, prealbumin, cholesterol, and triglyceride were decreased in all the patients after one week of enteral nutritional support treatment (t = 7.78, P = 0.000; t = 10.21, P = 0.000; t = 7.99, P = 0.000; and t = 10.99, P = 0.000). Further parenteral alimentation with different lipid emulsions had significant effects on the serum prealbumin and albumin (t = 3.316, P = 0.002; t = 3.200, P = 0.002), whilst had no effects on the blood glucose and triglyceride level (t = 7.78, P = 0.000; t = 4.228, P = 0.000). In addition, the two groups had a significantly different Apache II score, ventilator time, and hospital stay time (t = -2.213, P = 0.031; t = 2.317, P = 0.024; t = 2.514, P = 0.015).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The structured lipid emulsion was safe as parenteral nutrition for elderly patients with severe sepsis. It was demonstrated to be superior to the physically mixed medium and long-chain fat emulsion with respect to the protein synthesis and prognosis.</p>

Effect of Wenhua Juanbi recipe on proliferation and apoptosis of synoviocytes in rats with collagen-inducing arthritis / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Wenhua Juanbi Recipe (WJR) on proliferation and apoptosis of synoviocytes in rats with collagen-inducing arthritis (CIA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A CIA model was induced by intradermal injection of bovine collagen type II emulsion at the base of rat tails. Thirty modeled healthy Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups (10 per group): the model group, the methotrexate (MTX)-treated group (0.78 mg/kg) and the WJR-treated group (22.9 g/kg). A group of 10 healthy rats was used as normal control. Treatments or normal saline for the control group were administered by oral gavage once daily. Rats were sacrificed after 30-day treatment and subjected to the following examinations: arthritis index (AI) was estimated, inflammatory cell infiltration and proliferation in synovial membrane were evaluated by microscopy, the synoviocyte apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assay, and the cell apoptosis index was calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AI was lowered significantly in the WJR group compared to the model group (P<0.01). The pathological findings observed in the model group were reversed in the WJR group, including increase in inflammatory cell infiltration and synoviocyte proliferation in synovial membrane and reduction in cell apoptosis index (all P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Synoviocyte proliferation and apoptosis reduction were present in CIA rats. WJR was effective in treating the rat model of CIA. The therapeutic effect might be exerted through inducing apoptosis and suppressing proliferation of synoviocytes.</p>