Governor vessel moxibustion combined with wenyang yiqi qiwei decoction for erectile dysfunction with spleen-kidney deficiency and its effect on testosterone and vascular endothelial function / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the therapeutic effect of governor vessel moxibustion combined with wenyang yiqi qiwei decoction on erectile dysfunction (ED) with spleen-kidney deficiency and to explore the possible mechanism.@*METHODS@#A total of 130 ED patients with spleen-kidney deficiency were randomized into an observation group (65 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (65 cases, 3 cases dropped off). The control group was given wenyang yiqi qiwei decoction orally, one dose daily. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, governor vessel moxibustion was applied from Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoshu (GV 2) in the observation group, 110 min a time, once a day. The treatment of 4 weeks was required in both groups. Before and after treatment, 5-question international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) score, erection quality scale (EQS) score, erectile hardness assessment (EHS) score, TCM syndrome score, serum testosterone (T) level and vascular endothelial function indexes (prostaglandin I2 [PGI2], endothelin-1 [ET-1] and nitric oxide [NO] levels) were observed respectively, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated in both groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the scores of IIEF-5, EQS, EHS and serum levels of T, PGI2, NO were increased compared before treatment (P<0.01), the TCM syndrome scores and serum ET-1 levels were decreased compared before treatment (P<0.01) in the two groups; the scores of IIEF-5, EQS, EHS and serum levels of T, PGI2, NO in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05), the TCM syndrome score and serum ET-1 level were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The total effective rate was 88.9% (56/63) in the observation group, which was superior to 74.2% (46/62) in the control group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Governor vessel moxibustion combined with wenyang yiqi qiwei decoction can improve the erectile function and increase the erection hardness and quality in ED patients with spleen-kidney deficiency, its mechanism may relate to improving serum T level and vascular endothelial function.

Ionomic and metabolic responses of wheat seedlings to PEG-6000-simulated drought stress under two phosphorus levels.

BACKGROUND: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major food crop worldwide. Low soil phosphorus content and drought are the main constraints on wheat production in Xinjiang, China. METHODS: In this study, the ionic and metabolic responses of one wheat variety ("Xindong20") to drought stress simulated by using polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000) were investigated under low phosphorus (LP) and conventional phosphorus (CP) conditions by analysing wheat mineral elements and metabolites. Besides, due to xanthohumol was the metabolite with the most significant difference in expression detected in "Xindong 20", two wheat variety "Xindong20 and Xindong 23" were selected to conduct the germination test simultaneously, to further verify the function of xanthohumol in wheat growth. Xanthohumol was mixed with PEG solution (20%) to prepare PEG solutions with different concentrations (0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1%) of xanthohumol. Then wheat grains were soaked in the solutions for 20 hours, followed by a germination test. After 7 days, the indicators including shoot length, max root length, and root number were determined to identify whether the metabolite was beneficial to improve the drought tolerance of wheat. RESULTS: The results showed that the root density and volume of wheat in LP treatment were higher than those in CP treatment. The roots underwent programmed cell death both in LP and CP treatments under PEG-6000-simulated drought stress, however, the DNA degradation in root cells in LP treatment was lower than that in CP treatment after rehydration for 3 d. Before drought stress, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in shoot and the peroxidase (POD) activity in root in LP treatment were significantly higher than those in CP treatment, while the soluble sugar content and chlorophyll content in LP treatment were significantly lower than those in CP treatment. During drought stress, the POD activity maintained at a high level and the soluble sugar content gradually increased in LP treatment. After rehydration, the MDA content still maintained at a high level in LP treatment, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased, and the contents of soluble sugar and chlorophyll were significantly higher than those in CP treatment. The analysis of mineral elements and metabolites showed that the wheat in CP treatment was more sensitive to drought stress than that in LP treatment. Besides, the effect of drought stress was greater on shoot than on root in CP treatment, while it was opposite in LP treatment. The effect of drought stress on sugar metabolism gradually increased. Germination assays showed that 0.1% exogenous xanthohumol addition could significantly increase the shoot length of the two wheat varieties under drought stress. CONCLUSION: Appropriate low phosphorus supply could increase antioxidant enzyme activity in wheat, and enhance sugar metabolism to regulate osmotic balance, as well as the accumulation of various organic acids to maintain the intracellular ion homeostasis. Therefore, compared to the conventional phosphorus supply level, appropriate low phosphorus supply can significantly improve the drought tolerance of wheat. Additionally, addition of 0.1% exogenous xanthohumol, an important differential expressed metabolite in drought-stressed wheat, could effectively promote wheat shoot growth under drought stress.

Therapeutic Potential of Triptolide in Treating Bone-Related Disorders.

Triptolide, a diterpene triepoxide, is a pharmacologically active compound isolated from a Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF). Triptolide has attracted considerable attention in recent times due to its multiple biological and pharmaceutical activities, with an emphasis on therapeutic importance in the treatment of diverse disorders. With essential medicinal implications, TwHF's extracts have been used as anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antioxidative, and immunosuppressive agents for centuries, with continuous and relevant modifications to date to enhance its utility in several diseases and pathophysiology. Here, in this review, we accentuate the studies, highlighting the effects of triptolide on treating bone-related disorders, both inflammatory and cancerous, particularly osteosarcoma, and their manifestations. Based on this review, future avenues could be estimated for potential research strategies, molecular mechanisms, and outcomes that might contribute toward reinforcing new dimensions in the clinical application of triptolide in treating bone-related disorders.

[Mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in ameliorating liver injury induced by DDP by regulating apoptosis factors Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on improving liver injury by observing the changes of cysteine protease (Caspase) associated with hepatocyte apoptosis based on cisplatin (DDP) induced liver injury model mice. METHODS: Forty KM mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, acupuncture group and moxibustion group, with 10 mice in each group. The liver injury model was replicated by intraperitoneal injection of DDP. In the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group, acupuncture and moxibustion were performed at"Dazhui"(GV14), and bilateral "Ganshu"(BL18), "Shenshu"(BL23), and "Zusanli"(ST36), respectively, once per day for 5 d. General condition of mice in each group were observed;The activities of AST, ALT and GLDH in mice serum were detected by biochemical method. ELISA and Western blot assay were used to detect Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 contents and protein expression in the liver tissues of each group of mice, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the general condition of the mice in the model group was poorer, and the Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 contents and protein expressions in liver tissues and the activities of AST, ALT and GLDH in serum were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the general condition of the mice in the acupuncture and moxibustion groups improved, and the Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 contents and protein expressions in liver tissues and activities of AST, ALT and GLDH in serum were decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and moxibustion can reduce liver injury due to DDP chemotherapy by modulating the expression of apoptotic factors Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 in liver tissues of DDP model mice and improving liver function, which may be one of the mechanisms of the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion to ameliorates liver injury after DDP chemotherapy.

Varieties and standards of Corydalis medicinal plants / 中国中药杂志

Through literature research and standard retrieval, Corydalis-derived medicinal materials, the origins, and related standards were summarized. Finally, 27 medicinal materials were screened out, involving 71 species(varieties). Among them, only 11 are recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020), National Standard for Chinese Patent Drugs·Tibetan Medicine, Tibetan Medicine Standards, and other local standards, including Corydalis Bungeanae Herba and Corydalis Herba. The names and original plants of the medicinal materials are different in different standards, and the phenomena of "same medicinal material with different names" and "same name for different medicinal materials" are prominent. Most standards only include the traits, microscopic identification, and physico-chemical property identification, with unsound quality criteria. Thus, efforts should be made to strengthen the sorting of Corydalis medicinal plants, herbal textual research, and investigation of the resources and utilization. Moreover, via modern techniques, the chemical components and medicinal material basis of different original plants should be explored and sound quality standards should be established to improve the safety and quality of Corydalis-derived medicinal materials. Summarizing Corydalis medicinal plants, Corydalis-derived medicinal materials, and related standards, this study is expected to provide a reference for the standard formulation, quality evaluation, expansion of drug sources, and rational development and utilization of Corydalis resources.

Analysis and reflection on the filing management of traditional Chinese medicine preparations in medical institu- tions / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To compare and study the supporting policies for the filing man agement system of traditional Chinese medicine preparation prepared by traditional technology （hereinafter referred to as “TCM preparation ”）in medical institutions issued by the state and various provinces ，and their development ，so as to provide reference for the improvement of the follow-up supervision and management of the filing works. METHODS According to Announcement on the Filing Management of TCM Preparations Prepared by Medical Institutions Using Traditional Processes issued by former National Food and Drug Administration （hereinafter referred to as the Announcement）as well as notices and specific implementation rules issued by provincial bureaus ，the filing work data of 10 provinces in recent 3 years were selected for comparison ，sorting，statistics，classification and induction. The policy characteristics and progress of filing work were studied. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS According to the local actual situation，some provinces had refined or expanded the contents of several parts of the Announcement，such as the scope of TCM preparations，the situation not allowed to record ，the filing process and working time requirements ，the disclosure ，change and cancellation of filing information ，and the implementation of supervision and management. The statistical results of filing data in 10 provinces showed that compared with 2019，the number of TCM preparation declared for filing and medical institutions declared for filing had increased with growth rate of 91.0％ and 48.8％ respectively in 2020. There is still room for improvement in the supporting policies for the filing of TCM preparations ，which can be optimized by referring to the features of some provinces ’ implementation policies ，refining the construction of norms and standards ，and strengthening the construction of regulatory system platform. It is necessary to optimize policy and strengthen the capacity building of reporting institutions in advance ；carry out daily supervision and control risk based on risk during the filing management ；emphasize follow-up supervision ，strengthen the construction of ADR monitoring system in medical institutions ，and carry out life cycle supervision and management constructively afterwards，in order to promote the further development of TCM preparations in medical institutions.

Herbal Textual Research on Local Varieties of Codonopsis Radix / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Codonopsis Radix， one of the bulk commodities， has been commonly used for tonification in clinical practice. Apart from the medicinal purpose， it can also be utilized as food. Among the multiple local varieties， the ones called "Luduiduoji" in Tibetan medicine cannot be neglected， which have frequently been adopted for diminishing inflammation and swelling， invigorating spleen and stomach， and tonifying Qi， etc. Considering its complex origins and frequent substitution by or confusion with other medicinal materials， this paper reviewed the Si Bu Yi Dian， Jingzhu Bencao， ministerial and local standards， modern literature on Tibetan medicine， and the results of field investigation in major Tibetan medicine hospitals and medicinal material markets of Sichuan， Qinghai and Tibet to figure out the name， original plants， medicinal parts， effects， and local varieties of Codonopsis Radix in Tibetan medicine. The results showed that the names of local varieties were diverse， many of which were transliterated into Tibetan， with "Luduiduoji" being most well-known. It was derived from 14 species in genus Codonopsis and one in Adenophora of family Campanulaceae， with Codonopsis foetens subsp. nervosa， C. thalictrifolia var. mollis， C. canescens， C. alpina， and C. pilosula being the main species. According to literature records， the roots， aerial parts， and whole plants could all be employed as medicine， but there were certain differences in their clinical applications. At present， in order to protect the medicinal resources， Tibetan medical workers mostly collect the aerial parts， which are applicable to patients with yellow water， rheumatism， Gamba disease， and leprosy. This literature review of local varieties for Codonopsis Radix and textual research on their original plants are of great significance for elevating the standard， accelerating the pharmacodynamic research， expanding the sources and promoting the rational use of Codonopsis Radix.

Clinical Efficacy of Modified Zengyetang Against Slow Transit Constipation Due to Qi-Yin Deficiency and Its Effect on Gastrointestinal Function / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of modified Zengyetang in treating slow transit constipation （STC） due to Qi-Yin deficiency and its effect on gastrointestinal function. Method:One hundred and thirty eligible patients were randomly divided into a control group （<italic>n</italic>=65， 6 cases dropped out or were lost to follow-up and 59 completed the trial） and a treatment group （<italic>n</italic>=65， 3 cases dropped out or were lost to follow-up and 62 completed the trial）. Patients in the control group received oral mosapride citrate dispersible tablets， 5 mg per time， three times per day， while those in the treatment group were treated with modified Zengye Tang， one bag per day， for four successive weeks. The main symptom constipation， the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms （PAC-SYM）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， colonic transit， as well as motilin （MTL）， vasoactive intestinal peptide （VIP）， and substance P （SP） levels before and after treatment were recorded， together with the frequency of spontaneous complete bowel movements （SCBMs） per week and STC recurrence during treatment. Result:The clinical efficacy （95.16%） of the treatment group was higher than that （81.36%） of the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=5.631 4， <italic>P</italic><0.05）， whereas the recurrence rate （30.65%） of the treatment group was significantly lower than that （57.63%） of the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=8.941 1， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. After treatment， the main symptom constipation， three sub-scale and total PAC-SYM， and TCM syndrome scores in the treatment group were obviously decreased as compared with those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The proportions of residual markers at 24， 48， and 72 h in the treatment group declined in contrast to those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The frequency of SCBMs per week in the 2^nd， 3^rd， and 4^th weeks of the treatment group was higher than that in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the treatment group exhibited significantly elevated MTL and SP but lowered VIP （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:Modified Zengyetang relieves the clinical symptoms， regulates gastrointestinal hormone secretion， increases the frequency of SCBMs， enhances colonic transit， and decreases the recurrence of patients with STC due to Qi-Yin deficiency.

Overview of Research on Variety，Processing and Quality Evaluation of Plantaginis Semen / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Plantaginis Semen is a traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） commonly used in China， which is one of the authentic medicinal materials in Jiangxi. It has great development prospects. However， the current research on Plantaginis Semen is not in-depth enough， mainly involving chemical components and pharmacological activities. There are few researches on processing and variety of Plantaginis Semen. In order to further develop and utilize the resources of Plantaginis Semen， we summarized 4 varieties that have been studied more at present， the processing contents of Plantaginis Semen in ancient and modern literature were consulted and sorted out， and its processing historical evolution were summarized. The influences of different processing technologies and methods on the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of Plantaginis Semen were analyzed， the possible processing mechanism was discussed. Meanwhile， and the quality evaluation methods of Plantaginis Semen varieties included in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia were summarized. The author mainly analyzed the researches status of Plantaginis Semen and its decoction pieces in the three aspects of variety， processing and quality evaluation， and summarized its current major problems such as insufficient use and development of varieties， unclear processing mechanisms， and undetermined quality evaluation standards. And combined with the national standardization project of TCM to carry out the prospect and analysis for it， in order to solve the problems in the actual production and use of Plantaginis Semen， and provide reference for its further development， production of the high-quality decoction pieces， analysis of the processing mechanism， and establishment of the quality control system.

Effect of Fluid Sheer Stress on Atherosclerosis and Progress of Research on Treatment of Sheer Stress Injury with Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Cells in the arterial wall are constantly subjected to the shear stress generated by the blood flow. Shear stress plays a pivotal role in the formation of atherosclerosis. The endothelial cells located between the blood and the vessel wall have a unique response to the shear stress of the blood flow， which can convert mechanical stimulation into intracellular signals， thereby affecting the pathological process of atherosclerosis. Endothelial function is not only regulated by hormones， growth factors and other biochemical substances， but also affected by mechanical forces such as blood flow shear stress. Physiologically， shear stress can play an anti-atherosclerotic role in maintaining the homeostasis of endothelial cells. Pathological shear stress will lead to endothelial dysfunction and promote the progression of atherosclerosis. Under the mediation of different shear stress， the endothelial function can be regulated through epigenetic pathways or mechanically sensitive cation channels. Therefore， it is necessary to understand how various signal transduction pathways are affected by pathological shear stress， so as to cause endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） has been increasingly recognized for its curative effect in treating atherosclerosis， with the advantages of few side effects， multiple targets and multiple mechanisms. In recent years， the understanding of the anti-atherosclerosis mechanism of TCM mediated by shear stress has gradually deepened. This review will take endothelial function as the breakthrough point， systematically sort out the influence of shear stress on the pathological process of atherosclerosis and the related molecular mechanisms. Meanwhile， it is the first time to summarize the latest research progress of Chinese medicine against shear stress damage by sorting out the existing literature. This article mainly clarify the relationship between shear stress， endothelial function， atherosclerosis and TCM， in order to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment and pathological mechanism of atherosclerosis.

Preliminary Investigation of Resources and Medicinal Use of Codonopsis canescens / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To study the resources and medicinal use of Tibetan medicine Codonopsis canescens，analyze its suitable habitat，and protect its wild resources，in order to provide an important reference basis for further rational development and utilization. Method:Combined investigation methods of literature textual research，visiting investigation and on-the-spot investigation were adopted. Result:In this paper，we investigated the resources and medicinal use of C. canescens in 27 cities and counties of Sichuan，Qinghai and Tibet. Compared with historical records of C. canescens，the results showed that there was no obvious change in the distribution range，and the distribution was uneven in different places. Ganzi Prefecture， Sichuan， boasts rich resources； in particular， Luhuo county has as high as 90-120 plants/100 m2， it is estimated that the reserves per unit area of root C. canescens in this area were 3 445.32 g·m-2，which totaled 1 279.18 ton（1 ton=1 000 kg）. In history，the root is the main medicinal part. However， in recent years，in order to protect resources，the aboveground part is frequently used. The clinical efficacy of Tibetan medicine is mainly to tonify Qi and activate blood circulation. It can be combined with other drugs to treat rheumatism，sores，furuncle，carbuncle and other diseases. However，the plants of Codonopsis are mixed with C. canescens in each Tibetan area，and the mixed varieties are determined according to the growing varieties of the same genus in this area. Conclusion:The reserves of wild resources of C. canescens are decreasing with the increase of clinical use and market demand of Tibetan medicine. There is serious mixture of Codonopsis plants in Tibetan areas. It is suggested paying attention to resource protection，carrying out artificial planting，establishing the standard for the medicinal use of Tibetan medicine，and promote rational and sustainable utilization of resources.

Non-targeted metabolomics study and biomarker screening of prehypertensive liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome based on UPLC-Q-Exactive MS technology / 中国中药杂志

In this study, patients with prehypertensive liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome(LFHS) were selected as the research objects. The plasma samples of healthy volunteers and patients with prehypertensive LFHS were analyzed by non-targeted metabolomics based on UPLC-Q-Exactive MS. The differential biomarkers and metabolic pathways were screened out by multivariate statistics and metabolic pathway analysis, which revealed the characteristics of metabolic patterns of the syndrome. Thirty-three potential biomarkers such as androsterone and lysophosphatidylcholine and 16 related metabolic pathways such as steroid hormone metabolism and lipid metabolism were identified, and a partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) model of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndromes was preliminarily constructed: Y =-0.070X_(13)-0.006X_8+ 0.040X_5-0.152X_1+0.131X_(10)+0.036X_(11)+0.043X_(23)+0.076X_(16)+0.132X_(20)+0.081X_(19)-0.101X_(31)+0.082X_(15)-0.038X_9+0.079X_(24). The predictive value of the model was 88.1%, and the explanatory power was 88.4%. In this study, the characteristic metabolic pattern of the prehypertensive LFHS was distinguished and revealed by metabolomics. The constructed PLS-DA model is expected to provide an objective basis for the identification of TCM syndromes in prehypertension, and inspiration for exploring the biological basis of TCM syndromes at small-molecular and overall levels.

Melatonin Alleviates Neuroinflammation and Metabolic Disorder in DSS-Induced Depression Rats.

There is a bidirectional relationship between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and depression/anxiety. Emerging evidences indicate that the liver may be involved in microbiota-gut-brain axis. This experiment focused on the role of melatonin in regulating the gut microbiota and explores its mechanism on dextran sulphate sodium- (DSS-) induced neuroinflammation and liver injury. Long-term DSS-treatment increased lipopolysaccharide (LPS), proinflammation cytokines IL-1ß and TNF-α, and gut leak in rats, breaking blood-brain barrier and overactivated astrocytes and microglia. Ultimately, the rats showed depression-like behavior, including reduction of sucrose preference and central time in open field test and elevation of immobility time in a forced swimming test. Oral administration with melatonin alleviated neuroinflammation and depression-like behaviors. However, melatonin supplementation did not decrease the level of LPS but increase short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production to protect DSS-induced neuroinflammation. Additionally, western blotting analysis suggested that signaling pathways farnesoid X receptor-fibroblast growth factor 15 (FXR-FGF 15) in gut and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) in the liver overactivated in DSS-treated rats, indicating liver metabolic disorder. Supplementation with melatonin markedly inhibited the activation of these two signaling pathways and its downstream p38. As for the gut microbiota, we found that immune response- and SCFA production-related microbiota, like Lactobacillus and Clostridium significantly increased, while bile salt hydrolase activity-related microbiota, like Streptococcus and Enterococcus, significantly decreased after melatonin supplementation. These altered microbiota were consistent with the alleviation of neuroinflammation and metabolic disorder. Taken together, our findings suggest melatonin contributes to reshape gut microbiota and improves inflammatory processes in the hippocampus (HPC) and metabolic disorders in the liver of DSS rats.

A high-sucrose diet aggravates Alzheimer's disease pathology, attenuates hypothalamic leptin signaling, and impairs food-anticipatory activity in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice.

High-fat and high-sugar diets contribute to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the impact of high-fat diets on AD pathogenesis has been established, the effect of high-sucrose diets (HSDs) on AD pathogenesis remains unclear. This study sought to determine the impact of HSDs on AD-related pathologies. Male APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) transgenic and wild-type mice were provided with HSD and their cognitive and hypothalamus-related noncognitive parameters, including feeding behaviors and glycemic regulation, were compared. HSD-fed APP/PS1 mice showed increased neuroinflammation, as well as increased cortical and serum levels of amyloid-ß. HSD-fed APP/PS1 mice showed aggravated obesity, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and leptin resistance, but there was no induction of hyperphagia or hyperleptinemia. Leptin-induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in the dorsomedial and ventromedial hypothalamus was reduced in HSD-fed APP/PS1 mice, which might be associated with attenuated food-anticipatory activity, glycemic dysregulation, and AD-related noncognitive symptoms. Our study demonstrates that HSD aggravates metabolic stresses, increases AD-related pathologies, and attenuates hypothalamic leptin signaling in APP/PS1 mice.

Clinical effect of manipulation therapy for the treatment of degenerative lumbar instability based on myofascial chain theory / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore clinical effects of manipulation therapy in treating degenerative lumbar instability based on myofascial chain theory.@*METHODS@#Fifty-seven patients with degenerative lumbar spine instability were analyzed retrospectively from January 2018 to December 2019, and treated with massage manipulation therapy. Among them, 29 patients were treated with massage manipulation therapy based on the myofascial chain theory (myofascial chain group), including 14 males and 15 females, aged from 40 to 69 years old with an average of (51.76±5.07) years old, the courses of disease was (3.4±1.6) years. Twenty-eight patients were treated with massage manipulation therapy based on TCM meridian theory (TCM meridian group), including 12 males and 16 females, aged from 42 to 70 years old with an average of(52.48±4.31) years old, the courses of disease was (3.3±1.7) years. Before treatment, after treatment, 1 and 3 months after treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain degree of lumbar, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess improvement of lumbar function, and changes of lumbar muscle tension were used to evaluate clinical effect.@*RESULTS@#VAS score, JOA score, modified ODI score and lumbar muscle tension after treatment were significantly improved than those of before treatment between two groups (@*CONCLUSION@#Manipulation therapyon in treating degenerative lumbar instability based on myofascial chain theory could effectively relieve low back pain symptom and improve lumbar function. It is worthy of promoting.

Identification of Bupleurum Seeds by ITS2 Genetic Barcoding and Seed Morphology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To accurately identify Bupleurum seeds by traditional morphological identification method combined with DNA barcoding technique. Method:A total of 41 seed samples on the market were collected and 75 ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences of 15 varieties were downloaded from the GenBank database as experimental materials. The seeds were measured and observed by stereomicroscope and vernier caliper, and their 1 000-grain weights were calculated. Genomic DNA was extracted from the seeds and used as a template, and ITS2 sequences were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bidirectional sequencing. Species identification was conducted based on BLAST method, neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree method, Kimura two-parameter model (K2P) genetic distance method, and secondary structure of ITS2 sequence. Result:There were slight differences in the length, width, cross-section, and 1 000-grain weight among Bupleurum seeds from different origins. The ITS2 sequences of B. chinense seeds had 2 intraspecific variable sites and 3 haplotypes, the maximum intraspecific genetic distance (0.009) was far smaller than the minimum interspecific genetic distance (0.032). B. chinense and B. scorzonerifolium in the NJ phylogenetic tree were clustered into independent branches with good monophyletic property. The secondary structure of ITS2 sequences could make up for the shortcomings of NJ tree in identifying variants. The collected 41 seeds included 30 B. chinense seeds, 3 B. scorzonerifolium seeds, 5 B. falcatum seeds, 2 B. marginatum var. stenophyllum seeds, and 1 B. smithii var. parvifolium seeds. Conclusion:The B. chinense seeds on the market have problems of diverse sources and chaotic origins. Based on the combination of ITS2 gentic barcoding and seed morphological identification, the Bupleurum seeds can be accurately identified, which provides scientific bases for establishing the quality standard of Bupleurum seeds, standardizing the cultivation of B. chinense, and solving the quality problems of B. chinense from the source, and provides a reference for the accurate identification of other medicinal plant seeds or seed medicinal materials.

Clinical Efficacy of Modified Zhibo Dihuangwan in Treatment of Purpura Nephritis with Deficiency of Liver and Kidney Yin in Children / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of modified Zhibo Dihuangwan on henoch-schonlein purpura nephritis with deficiency of liver and kidney yin in children (HSPN) and its effect on immune inflammatory response and hypercoagulable state. Method:Totally 120 patients were randomly divided into observation group (60 cases) and control group (60 cases) by random number table. Patients in two group was orally given prednisolone acetate tablets, 1.5-2 mg·kg-1·d-1, 2 times. Four weeks later, the drug was taken orally every other day, and the dosage decreased gradually after 4 weeks. Besides, patients in control group was intravenously dripped with cyclophosphamide, 8-12 mg·kg-1·d-1, for 2 days, and stopped for 2 weeks before another treatment course. The treatment lasted for 6 months. In the control group,Dabuyin Wan was taken orally,3 g/time,3 times/d.Patients in observation group was also added with modified Zhibo Dihuang Wan, 1 doe/day. The treatment lasted for 6 months. Urine routine was tested once a month, and disappearance time and rate of hematuria and albuminuria were recorded. The 24 h urine protein quantification, levels of microalbuminuria (mAlb) and urinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) were assessed before and after treatment. Furthermore, deficiency of liver and kidney Yin was scored, and levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+), fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer (D-D), fibrin degradation products (FDP), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected. Result:The clinical efficacy in observation group was superior to that in control group (Z=2.078，P<0.05). Disappearance times of hematuria and albuminuria of children in observation group were shorter than those in control group (P<0.01). The disappearance rate of proteinuria in observation group was 90.48%（38/42）, which was higher than 69.77%（30/43） in control group (χ2=5.694，P<0.05). The 24 h urinary protein quantity, mAlb and levels of β2-MG, FIB, D-D and FDP in observation group were lower than those in control group (P<0.01). The levels of CD3+, CD4+, IL-2 and IFN-γ and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in observation group were higher than those in control group (P<0.05), while the CD8+, IL-4 and IL-10 were lower than those in control group (P<0.05). The efficacy in observation group was better than that in control group (Z=2.106，P<0.05). Conclusion:In addition to conventional western medicine therapy, modified Zhibo Dihuang Wan have an effect on HSPN with deficiency of liver and kidney Yin in children by promoting the disappearance of albuminuria and hematuria, shortening the course of disease, improving T lymphocyte subpopulation, reducing inflammatory reaction and correcting hypercoagulable state of blood, with better clinical efficacy and syndrome effect of traditional Chinese medicine.

Systems Pharmacology and Microbiome Dissection of Shen Ling Bai Zhu San Reveal Multiscale Treatment Strategy for IBD.

Generally, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be caused by psychology, genes, environment, and gut microbiota. Therefore, IBD therapy should be improved to utilize multiple strategies. Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (SLBZS) adheres to the aim of combating complex diseases from an integrative and holistic perspective, which is effective for IBD therapy. Herein, a systems pharmacology and microbiota approach was developed for these molecular mechanisms exemplified by SLBZS. First, by systematic absorption-distribution-metabolism-excretion (ADME) analysis, potential active compounds and their corresponding direct targets were retrieved. Then, the network relationships among the active compounds, targets, and disease were built to deduce the pharmacological actions of the drug. Finally, an "IBD pathway" consisting of several regulatory modules was proposed to dissect the therapeutic effects of SLBZS. In addition, the effects of SLBZS on gut microbiota were evaluated through analysis of the V3-V4 region and multivariate statistical methods. SLBZS significantly shifted the gut microbiota structure in a rat model. Taken together, we found that SLBZS has multidimensionality in the regulation of IBD-related physiological processes, which provides new sights into herbal medicine for the treatment of IBD.

Changes in phosphorus fractions associated with soil chemical properties under long-term organic and inorganic fertilization in paddy soils of southern China.

The identification of phosphorus (P) fractions is essential for understanding the transformation and availability of P in paddy soils. To investigate the soil P fractions associated with soil properties under long-term fertilization, we selected three fertilization treatments, including no fertilization (CK), chemical fertilizers (NPK) and chemical fertilizers combined with manure (NPKM), from three long-term experiments located in Nanchang (NC), Jinxian (JX) and Ningxiang (NX). The results showed that chemical fertilizers combined with manure (NPKM) significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the soil total phosphorus, Olsen P and soil organic matter (SOM) by 2, 3 and 1 times, respectively, compared with the NPK treatment, and by 4, 17 and 2 times, respectively, compared with the CK treatment. NPKM significantly increased the grain yield compared with CK and NPK at all sites. The apparent P balance with NPK was higher in NC and NX but lower in JX compared with NPKM. Hedley fractionation revealed the predominance of most of the organic and inorganic phosphorus (Po and Pi) fractions with long-term fertilization, especially with the NPKM treatment, at all sites. The nonlabile P pool decreased by 14% and 18% whereas the moderately labile P pool proportions increased by 3 and 6 times with the NPK and NPKM treatments, respectively, compared to the CK treatment. The labile P pool showed a significant positive relationship with the SOM, total P and Olsen P contents. The moderately labile P was positively correlated with the total P and Olsen P. A significant positive correlation was observed between soil pH and the nonlabile P pool. Redundancy analysis revealed that the moderately labile P fraction (HCl dil. Pi fraction) was remarkably increased by the NPKM treatment and significantly correlated with the soil pH and total P concentration. The labile P fraction (NaHCO3-Pi) showed a strong relationship with the Olsen P and total P. However, the residual P fraction was negatively correlated with the HCl. dil. Pi fraction. We concluded that NPKM application improved P availability by many folds compared to NPK, which could lead to environmental pollution; therefore, the rate of combined application of manure and chemical fertilizer should be reduced compared to chemical fertilizer inputs to minimize the wastage of resources and environmental P losses.

Analysis of HPLC Fingerprint and Multi-component Chemical Pattern Recognition of Plantaginis Semen from Different Producing Areas in Jiangxi Province / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To establish a HPLC fingerprint detection method of Plantaginis Semen, and analyze the samples from different producing areas in Jiangxi province by combining with chemical pattern recognition method, and the contents of five ingredients in Plantaginis Semen were determined. Method:A total of 34 batches of Plantaginis Semen medicinal materials were detected by HPLC. The similarity evaluation was carried out by the 2012 edition of similarity evaluation system of chromatographic fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine. The chromatographic peak information was used as the data source, and three chemical pattern recognition methods were used to comprehensively analyze the quality of this medicinal herb. Quantitative analysis was performed on the 5 active components, including geniposidic acid, plantamajoside, acteoside, galuteolin and isoacteoside. Result:The similarities between Plantaginis Semen samples from different producing areas in Jiangxi province were >0.86. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) could distinguish samples from different producing areas, and be used to determine the chemical components, which had strong correlation with the quality of Plantaginis Semen. The contents of 5 active components in samples from different producing areas were different to some degree, especially in the content of plantamajoside. Conclusion:The established HPLC fingerprint of Plantaginis Semen has strong characteristics, combined with chemical pattern recognition method, it can effectively evaluate the quality of Plantaginis Semen and distinguish its producing areas.