[LC-MS fingerprint and multi-indicator components analysis of classical formula Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction].

This study developed an optimal pre-processing technique for the reference substance of the classic formula Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction(GXBD) and established a comprehensive quality control method for GXBD reference substance to provide a reference for its overall quality evaluation. The authors prepared 15 batches of GXBD samples and innovatively used the extracted ion chromatogram under the base peak chromatogram mode to establish a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) fingerprint, identify characteristic peaks, and perform quantitative analysis of indicator components. The yield of the 15 batches of GXBD samples ranged from 50.28% to 76.20%. In the positive ion mode, 12 common characteristic peaks were detected in the LC-MS fingerprint, and the structures of five common peaks were identified by comparison with reference standards. The similarity between the fingerprint profiles of different batches of samples and the reference fingerprint profile ranged from 0.920 to 0.984. Finally, liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(LC-QQQ/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode was used to determine the content of eight indicator components in GXBD, including loliolide, chrysoeriol, rutin, cucurbitacin D, macrostemonoside Ⅰ, 25S-timosaponin B Ⅱ, 25R-timosaponin B Ⅱ, and peptide proline-tryptophan-valine-proline-glycine(PWVPG). The method established in this study can reduce matrix interference in the compound, and it has good accuracy, stability, and practical value. It effectively reflects the quality attributes of GXBD samples and can be used for the comprehensive quality control of GXBD.

Spatio-temporal variation and environmental drivers of chlorophyll a concentration and diatom community in four small urban lakes of Kunming, China.

Chlorophyll a (Chla) and diatom community structure are two indicators of lake water quality. In this study, we investigated the environmental parameters, chlorophyll a, and diatom community of four small urban lakes in Kunming (Beitan, Beihu, Nanhu and Longtan lakes in the campus of Yunnan Normal University) between March 2017 and December 2019. The results showed that the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and Chla in the four lakes showed significant seasonal fluctuation. The Chla concentration in Nanhu Lake, which had the highest nutrient level among the four lakes, was significantly higher than that in the other three lakes and largely affected by TN. In comparison, water temperature significantly contributed to the increases in Chla concentration in the other three lakes. Water temperature and TN were significantly correlated with Chla across the four lakes. Diatom assemblages in Beitan, Nanhu, and Longtan lakes were dominated by planktonic diatoms, and benthic diatoms were dominant in the shallowest lake Beihu, suggesting that water depth significantly affected the proportion of planktonic diatoms and dominant taxa. Water depth, TN, TP, transparency, and water temperature affected the spatio-temporal changes of diatom community structure, with water temperature as the major factor in causing the seasonal variation in diatom community, and TN and TP as the major drivers for community variation among lakes within the same season.

Hydrogel with ROS scavenging effect encapsulates BR@Zn-BTB nanoparticles for accelerating diabetic mice wound healing via multimodal therapy.

The strategies for eliminating excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) or suppressing inflammatory responses on the wound bed have proven effective for diabetic wound healing. In this work, a zinc-based nanoscale metal-organic framework (NMOF) functions as a carrier to deliver natural product berberine (BR) to form BR@Zn-BTB nanoparticles, which was, in turn, further encapsulated by hydrogel with ROS scavenging ability to yield a composite system of BR@Zn-BTB/Gel (denoted as BZ-Gel). The results show that BZ-Gel exhibited the controlled release of Zn2+ and BR in simulated physiological media to efficiently eliminated ROS and inhibited inflammation and resulted in a promising antibacterial effect. In vivo experiments further proved that BZ-Gel significantly inhibited the inflammatory response and enhanced collagen deposition, as well as to re-epithelialize the skin wound to ultimately promote wound healing in diabetic mice. Our results indicate that the ROS-responsive hydrogel coupled with BR@Zn-BTB synergistically promotes diabetic wound healing.

Effect of trigger point acupuncture on pain and functional activity in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Trigger point (TrP) acupuncture is commonly used to treat chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP). Evidence for the efficacy of most TrP acupuncture modalities is weak or lacking. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of TrP acupuncture on pain, disability, gait and muscle activation in patients with CNLBP. METHODS: From May 2019 to February 2020, a randomised, single-blind clinical trial was carried out involving 33 participants with CNLBP, divided into one of two intervention groups or a control group (n = 11 per group). The intervention groups received TrP acupuncture or traditional acupuncture treatment three times a week for 4 weeks, and the control group remained on a waiting list and received no treatment. Pain, disability, gait and muscle activation were assessed at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks of follow-up. RESULTS: At baseline, the three groups showed no significant differences in age, gender, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) or disease course (p ⩾ 0.05). At 4 weeks, pain was relieved (measured by visual analogue scores, p = 0.036) and disability was improved (reflected by lower Oswestry disability index scores, p = 0.029) in TrP acupuncture versus waiting list groups. Moreover, lumbar extension range of motion was increased in TrP acupuncture versus both traditional acupuncture and waiting list groups (p = 0.029 and p = 0.027, respectively). At 8 weeks, there were no significant differences in any parameter between the three groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: TrP acupuncture had a significant short-term effect on pain relief and disability in patients with CNLBP, but there was no evidence of a long-term influence (at 8 weeks following the intervention). Further high-quality randomised controlled trials are needed for verification in the future.Trial registration number: ChiCTR1900022838 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry).

[Effect of electroacupuncture on degradation of myosin heavy chain of gastrocnemius muscle in diabetes rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture（EA）on the expression of muscle-specific ring finger protein 1（MuRF1/Trim63），F-box only protein 32（Fbxo32），myosin heavy chain-IIa（Myh2），myosin heavy chain-IIb（Myh4）and myosin heavy chain-I（Myh7）in diabetes rats. METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were equally randomized into control, model and EA groups. The diabetes model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 0.1% Streptozocin (STZ) solution (50 mg/kg). After that, EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36), "Yinlingquan" (SP9) and "Shenshu" (BL23) for 10 min, once a day, 6 times a week for 2 weeks. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting serum insulin (FINS) contents were assayed by using ELISA, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. The body weight, and wet weight of bilateral gastrocnemius muscles were measured. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the gastrocnemius muscle was measured after H.E. stai-ning. The expression of MuRF1, Fbxo32, Myh2, Myh4 and Myh7 mRNAs in the gastrocnemius tissue was tested using quantitative real time-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the FBG and HOMA-IR were significantly higher (P<0.05), and the FINS, body weight were significantly lower (P<0.05) after intravenous injection of STZ for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 weeks respectively. Following EA treatment and compared with the model group, the FBG and HOMA-IR were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05), and the FINS and body weight were considerably increased (P<0.05). Following modeling and compared with the control group, the wet weight of gastrocnemius muscle, CSA, and expression levels of Myh2, Myh4 and Myh7 mRNAs were obviously decreased, and the expression of MuRF1 and Fbxo32 mRNA was obviously increased in the model group (P<0.05). After EA treatment, the gastrocnemius muscle wet weight, CSA, expression levels of Myh2, Myh4 and Myh7 mRNA were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05), and the expression levels of MuRF1 and Fbxo32 mRNA were markedly down-regulated in comparison with those of the model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA treatment can delay the atrophy of gastrocnemius muscle (skeletal muscle) in diabetes rats possibly by improving the degradation of myosin heavy chain via regulating the expression of muscular MuRF1, Fbxo32, Myh2, Myh4 and Myh7 mRNAs.

Total saponins from dioscorea septemloba thunb reduce serum uric acid levels in rats with hyperuricemia through OATP1A1 up-regulation.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of total saponins of Dioscorea (TSD), an extract of the Chinese herbal Bi Xie, on hyperuricemia and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The rat hyperuricemia model was established by administration of adenine. Thirty-two rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups: model group, low/high-dose TSD-treated groups, and allopurinol-treated group. Meanwhile, 8 rats were used as normal controls. Serum uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), and organic anion transporting polypeptide 1A1 (OATP1A1) levels were measured. Comparison between the model group and treatment (allopurinol and TSD) groups showed the serum UA levels were significantly decreased in treatment groups. TSD had similar effects to allopurinol. It was found that the OATP1A1 protein expression levels in treatment groups were higher than in model group and normal controls. And different from the allopurinol-treated groups, TSD-treated group had elevated OATP1A1 expression levels in the stomach, liver, small intestine and large intestine tissues. It was suggested that TSD may facilitate the excretion of UA and lower UA levels by up-regulating OATP1A1 expression.

[Effect of different intensities of electroacupuncture stimulation on expression of SOCS-3 and PPAR-gamma mRNA in adipose tissues of obesity rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS-3) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma genes in the epididymis adipose tissue of obesity rats so as to explore its mechanism underlying weight reduction. METHODS: SD rats were randomized into normal control, obesity model, EA-5 mA and EA-1 mA groups (10 rats/group). EA stimulation (6 Hz/20 Hz, 5 mA or 1 mA) was delivered to the bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) for 15 min, once everyday for two weeks. The expression of SOCS-3 mRNA and PPAR-gamma mRNA in the epididymis adipose tissue was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the body weight and expression of SOCS-3 and PPAR-gamma mRNA in the model group were up-regulated obviously (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the body weight and expression of SOCS-3 and PPAR-gamma mRNA were significantly decreased in the EA group, with the effects of EA-5 mA being better than those of EA-1 mA. CONCLUSION: EA stimulation of ST 36-SP 6 can reduce body weight in rats with simple obesity, and the effect of higher intensity of EA is apparently better. Accordingly, EA intervention induces down-regulation of SOCS-3 and PPAR-gamma mRNA expression in the epididymis adipose tissue.

Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of Qingqiao capsule in treating patients with secretory otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Qingqiao Capsule (QQC) in treating patients with secretory otitis media (SOM). METHODS: A total of 90 patients were randomly assigned into the treated group (n = 45) and the control group (n = 45). Patients in the treated group were administrated with QQC, 5 capsules each time, 3 times a day for totally 10-14 days, and those in the control group were given per os cefaclor capsules 0.5 g each time for adult, 3 times a day, or 20 mg/(kg.d) for children, for 10-14 days. The therapeutic efficacy of treatment on the patients was observed and compared after treatment and followed up for 3-6 months. RESULTS: (1) The clinical efficacy in the treated group was superior to that in the control group with significant statistical difference (P < 0.01); (2) Comparison of the efficacies in patients of three different TCM syndrome types (the external pathogenic wind invasion caused auditory orifice stuffiness type, the Gan-Dan damp-heat steaming up auditory orifice type and the Pi-deficiency dysfunction induced dirty dampness blocking ear type) showed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05); (3) The vanishing rate and time needed of the main symptoms and signs in the treated group were superior to those in the control group on ear muffle, tinnitus, hearing impairment, hydrotypanum, pure tone threshold and abnormal tongue figure, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), only those of earache, otopiesis and abnormal pulse figure were insignificantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: QQC is an effective Chinese composite medicine on patients with SOM, and shows no obvious adverse reaction.