ABSTRACT
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a common, lethal interstitial lung disease characterized by airway remodeling, inflammation, alveolar destruction, and fibrosis. The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1/4E binding protein 1 (mTORC1/4E-BP1) axis is closely related to the expression of collagen by fibroblasts, and its role in pulmonary fibrosis remains to be further elucidated. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown promising efficacy in improving the lung function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in patients with IPF. The theory of "same treatment for different diseases" provides a TCM theoretical basis for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis with Bupleuri Radix, while the research in western medicine has preliminarily shown that both the formulation and single herb as well as the active ingredients of Bupleuri Radix have good therapeutic effects on pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, this review will elaborate on the role of the mTORC1/4E-BP1 axis in the pathomechanism of IPF, as well as the research results of the active components of Bupleuri Radix on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin protein(PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway, so as to provide a reference for the treatment and drug development of IPF.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical efficacy of interactive group sandplay versus individual sandplay in the treatment of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).@*METHODS@#A total of 80 ASD children, aged 4-6 years, were enrolled and randomly divided into experimental and control groups, with 40 children in each group. The children in the experimental group joined group sandplay with normal children at a ratio of 1: 3, and those in the control group were treated with individual sandplay. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) were used to evaluate the treatment outcome after three months of intervention.@*RESULTS@#There were 33 children in the experimental group and 28 in the control group. After three months of intervention, the experimental group had significant reductions in the scores of irritability, social withdrawal, and stereotypic behavior and the total score of the ABC scale (P<0.05), and the control group had significant reductions in the scores of behavior and inappropriate speech and the total score of the ABC scale (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly greater improvements in the score of social withdrawal and the total score of the ABC scale after three months of intervention (P<0.05). After three months of intervention, the experimental group had significant reductions in the scores of sociability, sensory and cognitive awareness, and physical/health behavior and the total score of the ATEC scale (P<0.05), and the control group had significant reductions in the scores of speech, sociability, and physical/health behavior and the total score of the ATEC scale (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly greater improvements in the scores of speech, sociability, and sensory and cognitive awareness and the total score of the ATEC scale after intervention (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the experimental group also had significantly greater improvements in eye contact and sand stereotyped arrangement (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Both interactive group sandplay and individual sandplay are effective in the treatment of ASD in preschool children. Interactive group sandplay is better than individual sandplay in the treatment of ASD, with significant improvements in sociability, emotion and stereotypic behavior.
Subject(s)
Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Autism Spectrum Disorder , Therapeutics , Emotions , Play Therapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical effect of integrated sandplay therapy in preschool children with Asperger syndrome (AS).@*METHODS@#A total of 44 preschool children with AS were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 22 children in each group. The children in the control group were given routine training, and those in the experimental group were given integrated sandplay therapy in addition to the routine training. The treatment response was assess by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), emotional recognition tools and changes in sandplay theme characteristics after 6 months of treatment.@*RESULTS@#Before intervention, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the total score of SRS, the score of each factor of SRS, and correct rates of facial expression recognition of the upright position, inverted position, upper face and lower face (P>0.05). After 6 months of intervention, both groups had significant reductions in the total score of SRS and the score of each factor of SRS (P<0.01); the control group had significant increases in the correct rates of facial expression recognition of all positions except the upright position (P<0.05), while the experimental group had significant increases in the correct rates of facial expression recognition of all positions (P<0.05). Compared with the control group after intervention, the experimental group had significantly lower total score of SRS and scores of all factors of SRS except social perception (P<0.01) and significantly higher correct rates of facial expression recognition of all positions (P<0.01). The experimental group had a significant change in the number of sandplay theme characteristics after intervention (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Integrated sandplay therapy can improve social responsiveness and emotion recognition ability in preschool children with AS.
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Humans , Asperger Syndrome , Emotions , Facial Expression , Play TherapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical effect of psychological and behavioral intervention combined with biofeedback in the treatment of preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).@*METHODS@#Sixty children each with inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or combined type ADHD were enrolled. According to the intervention measure, they were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, psychological and behavioral intervention, biofeedback treatment and comprehensive treatment (psychological and behavioral intervention + biofeedback). Attention concentration time and impulse/hyperactivity and hyperactivity index scores of the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ) were evaluated after 4 months of treatment.@*RESULTS@#The attention concentration time increased in all types children with ADHD after psychological and behavioral intervention, biofeedback treatment or comprehensive treatment (P<0.05). In children with inattentive ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive ADHD or combined-type ADHD, biofeedback or comprehensive treatment reduced the impulse/hyperactivity index score (P<0.05). In children with inattentive or combined-type ADHD, psychological and behavioral intervention or comprehensive treatment reduced the hyperactivity index score (P<0.05). In children with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, biofeedback treatment, psychological and behavioral intervention or comprehensive treatment reduced the hyperactivity index score (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#In children with ADHD, psychological and behavioral intervention combined with biofeedback treatment can improve the attention concentration and impulsive/hyperactive and hyperactive symptoms. The treatment strategies are slightly different for children with different types of ADHD.
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Humans , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity , Biofeedback, Psychology , Parents , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
According to folk usage of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., the present study was designed to determine the feasibility of the stems and leaves of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. as a new medicinal resource. Fourteen alkaloids in mother roots, fibrous roots, stems, and leaves of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. were measured by HPLC-MS/MS. And multivariate analysis methods, such as clustering analysis and principal component analysis, were applied to analyze the difference among various parts. In addition, the acute toxicity, analgesia, and anti-inflammatory tests were carried out. The results suggested that the contents of alkaloids in mother roots and fibrous roots were approximate, but those of leaves and stems were different from mother roots and fibrous roots. The results of the acute toxicity testing demonstrated the toxicity of fibrous root was strongest, and mother roots were slightly less toxic than fibrous roots. The stems and leaves were far less toxic than mother and fibrous roots. In addition, the analgesia and inflammatory tests showed the effects of the various tissues had no difference each other. These results provided a basis for developing new complementary and alternative treatments for rheumatoid arthritis patients. Simultaneously, the approach may also turn wastes into treasure and promote the development of circular economy.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Humans , Male , Mice , Aconitum , Chemistry , Alkaloids , Chemistry , Toxicity , Anti-Inflammatory Agents , Chemistry , Toxicity , Arthritis, Rheumatoid , Drug Therapy , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Chemistry , Toxicity , Plant Leaves , Chemistry , Plant Roots , Chemistry , Plant Stems , Chemistry , Tandem Mass SpectrometryABSTRACT
According to folk usage of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., the present study was designed to determine the feasibility of the stems and leaves of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. as a new medicinal resource. Fourteen alkaloids in mother roots, fibrous roots, stems, and leaves of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. were measured by HPLC-MS/MS. And multivariate analysis methods, such as clustering analysis and principal component analysis, were applied to analyze the difference among various parts. In addition, the acute toxicity, analgesia, and anti-inflammatory tests were carried out. The results suggested that the contents of alkaloids in mother roots and fibrous roots were approximate, but those of leaves and stems were different from mother roots and fibrous roots. The results of the acute toxicity testing demonstrated the toxicity of fibrous root was strongest, and mother roots were slightly less toxic than fibrous roots. The stems and leaves were far less toxic than mother and fibrous roots. In addition, the analgesia and inflammatory tests showed the effects of the various tissues had no difference each other. These results provided a basis for developing new complementary and alternative treatments for rheumatoid arthritis patients. Simultaneously, the approach may also turn wastes into treasure and promote the development of circular economy.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Humans , Male , Mice , Aconitum , Chemistry , Alkaloids , Chemistry , Toxicity , Anti-Inflammatory Agents , Chemistry , Toxicity , Arthritis, Rheumatoid , Drug Therapy , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Chemistry , Toxicity , Plant Leaves , Chemistry , Plant Roots , Chemistry , Plant Stems , Chemistry , Tandem Mass SpectrometryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the pharmacologic mechanism of cinnabar (CA) and realgar (RG) in Angong Niuhuang powder (ANP) by way of studying the characteristics of their effects on organism under physiologic and pathologic states.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SD rats were randomly divided into six groups, 8-10 rats in each group. Group A: untreated normal rats; Group B: normal rats administered by ANP (drug I) 278 mg/kg; Group C: normal rats administered by ANP subtracted CA and RG (drug II) 222.7 mg/kg; Group D: brain edema model rats established by unilateral common carotid artery injection of Bacillus pertussis 250 million/kg; Group E: model rats administered by ANP 278 mg/kg 1 hr before modeling; Group F: model rats administered by drug II 222.7 mg 1 hr before modeling. Blood sample and brain tissue in Group D were obtained 4 hrs after modeling and those in other groups obtained 5 hrs after drug administration. The total activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum and brain tissue was determined by colorimetry and that of serum LDH isoenzymes (LDH(1-5)) were determined by gel electrophoresis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As compared with Group A, LDH, LDH1 and LDH2 activities increased in Group D (P < 0.01), and increased also in Group B and C (P < 0.05), while LDH4 and LDH5 decreased obviously in Group B and C. But except that of LDH5, no significant difference of LDH(1-4) in brain tissue and serum was shown in comparison of Group B and C. As compared with Group D, LDH was lower (P < 0.01) and LDH5 was higher (P < 0.01) in Group E and F without significant difference, LDH2, LDH3 were lower in Group E (P < 0.01) but unchanged in Group F, LDH1 and LDH4 were not changed in Group E but significantly lowered in Group F (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Administration of ANP in normal physiologic condition would cause damage on myocardium and kidney to certain extent, administration of ANP and drug II in pathologic (infectious brain edema) would suppress the hyper-activated LDH, with no significant difference between the effects of drug II and ANP. However, CA and RA in ANP are proven to have influence on the serum LDH isoenzymes, indicating that the two ingredients may have some potential pharmacological effects.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Arsenicals , Pharmacology , Brain Edema , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Chemistry , Encephalitis , Isoenzymes , Metabolism , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase , Metabolism , Mercury Compounds , Pharmacology , Powders , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Sulfides , PharmacologyABSTRACT
The aim of this article was to examine the protective effect of Chinese traditional medicine angelica on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs, ECV304) from injury induced by hyperlipidemic serum (HLS) and to study the underlying mechanism. Spectrophotometer and immunocytochemical methods were used to detect the content of nitric oxide (NO) in suspension and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the cell surface, respectively. After incubated with 50 microl/ml HLS for 24 hours, expression of ICAM-1 and bFGF in ECs was significantly increased, while expression of TGFbeta1 and the release of NO from ECs were significantly decreased. All these effect of HLS on ECs can be reversed by angelica significantly. The above effect of angelica may be related to its anti-atherosclerotic action. Our findings provided experimental basement for the clinical application of angelica to prevent the development of atherosclerosis.