Efficacy and safety of Qingda granule versus valsartan capsule in Chinese grade 1 hypertensive patients with low-moderate risk: A randomized, double-blind, double dummy, non-inferiority, multi-center trial.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of Qingda granule (QDG) in managing blood pressure (BP) among grade 1 hypertensive patients with low-moderate risk remain uncertain. METHODS: In the randomized, double-blind, double dummy, non-inferiority and multicenter trial, 552 patients with grade 1 hypertension at low-moderate risk were assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to receive either QDG or valsartan for 4 weeks, followed up by a subsequent 4 weeks. RESULTS: Post-treatment, clinic systolic/diastolic BPs (SBP/DBP) were reduced by a mean change of 9.18/4.04 mm Hg in the QDG group and 9.85/5.05 mm Hg in the valsartan group (SBP P = 0.47, DBP P = 0.16). Similarly, 24-hour, daytime and nighttime BPs were proportional in both groups (P > 0.05) after 4 weeks treatment. After discontinuing medications for 4 weeks, the mean reduction of clinic SBP/DBP were 0.29/0.57 mm Hg in the QDG group compared to -1.59/-0.48 mm Hg in the valsartan group (SBP P = 0.04, DBP P = 0.04). Simultaneously, the 24-hour SBP/DBP were reduced by 0.9/0.31 mm Hg in the QDG group and -1.66/-1.08 mm Hg in the valsartan group (SBP P = 0.006, DBP P = 0.02). And similar results were observed regarding the outcomes of daytime and nighttime BPs. There was no difference in occurrence of adverse events between two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: QDG proves to be efficacious for grade 1 hypertension at a low-to-medium risk, even after discontinuation of the medication for 4 weeks. These findings provide a promising option for managing grade 1 hypertension and suggest the potential for maintaining stable BP through intermittent administration of QDG. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2000033890.

Composition of Sphagnum palustre L. extracts using different extraction methods.

Sphagnum palustre L. is a Chinese herbal medicine with a long history, however, few studies have been performed on its chemical composition and active effects. In this study, we investigated the composition and antibacterial and antioxidant capacities of extracts obtained from Sphagnum palustre L. phytosomes extracted with conventional solvents (water, methanol, and ethanol) and two different hydrogen bond donors (citric acid and 1,2-propanediol) modified with choline chloride-type deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The results show that Sphagnum palustre extracts contained 253 compounds, including citric acid, ethyl maltol, and thymol. The highest total phenolic content (TPC) was obtained with a DES extraction method combining 1,2-propanediol and choline chloride (39.02 ± 7.08 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dried weight (DW). This shows the composition of Sphagnum palustre as a natural product and the application of DESs in the extraction of active ingredients, demonstrating the potential of peat moss extracts in cosmetics and health products.

Biosensor-based active ingredient recognition system for screening TNF-α inhibitors from lotus leaves.

Erhuangquzhi granules (EQG) have been clinically proven to be effective in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) treatment. However, the active components and molecular mechanisms remain unknown. This study aimed to screen active components targeting tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in EQG for the treatment of NASH by a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor-based active ingredient recognition system (SPR-AIRS). The amine-coupling method was used to immobilize recombinant TNF-α protein on an SPR chip, the specificity of the TNF-α-immobilized chip was validated, and nine medicinal herbs in EQG were prescreened. Nuciferine (NF), lirinidine (ID), and O-nornuciferine (NNF) from lotus leaves were found and identified as TNF-α ligands by UPLC‒MS/MS, and the affinity constants of NF, ID, and NNF to TNF-α were determined by SPR experiments (Kd = 61.19, 31.02, and 20.71 µM, respectively). NF, ID, and NNF inhibited TNF-α-induced apoptosis in L929 cells, the levels of secreted IL-6 and IL-1ß were reduced, and the phosphorylation of IKKß and IκB was inhibited in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In conclusion, a class of new active small-molecule TNF-α inhibitors was discovered, which also provides a valuable reference for the material basis and mechanism of EQG action in NASH treatment.

The Dynamic Change in Fatty Acids during the Postharvest Process of Oolong Tea Production.

As important factors to oolong tea quality, the accumulation and dynamic change in aroma substances attracts great attention. The volatile composition of oolong tea is closely related to the precursor contents. Fatty acids (FAs) and their derivatives are basic components of oolong tea fragrance during the postharvest process. However, information about the precursors of FAs during the postharvest process of oolong tea production is rare. To investigate the transformation of fatty acids during the process of oolong tea production, gas chromatograph−flame ionization detection (GC-FID) was conducted to analyze the composition of FAs. The results show that the content of total polyunsaturated FAs initially increased and then decreased. Specifically, the contents of α-linolenic acid, linoleic acid and other representative substances decreased after the turn-over process of oolong tea production. The results of partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) showed that five types of FAs were obviously impacted by the processing methods of oolong tea (VIP > 1.0). LOX (Lipoxygenase, EC 1.13.11.12) is considered one of the key rate-limiting enzymes of long-chain unsaturated FAs in the LOX-HPL (hydroperoxide lyase) pathway, and the mechanical wounding occurring during the postharvest process of oolong tea production greatly elevated the activity of LOX.

Repellent, larvicidal and adulticidal activities of essential oil from Dai medicinal plant Zingiber cassumunar against Aedes albopictus.

Zingiber cassumunar is an important plant used in traditional medicine and as a natural mosquito repellent. However, the compounds responsible for the repellent activity of the plant are still unknown. The aim of the study is to identify the components of Z. cassumunar essential oil that show repellent activity against Aedes albopictus. We also evaluated the larvicidal and adulticidal activities of Z. cassumunar essential oil against Ae. albopictus. In-cage mosquito repellent experiments showed that Z. cassumunar essential oil possessed moderate repellent activity with a minimum effective dose (MED) of 0.16 ± 0.01 mg/cm2, compared to reference standard N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET, 0.03 ± 0.01 mg/cm2). Bioassay-guided fractionation identified the major active compound of Z. cassumunar essential oil as (-)-terpinen-4-ol (1) (MED: 0.19 ± 0 mg/cm2). We also found that Z. cassumunar essential oil showed moderate larvicidal activity against first instar larvae of Ae. albopictus with a LC50 (50% lethal concentration) of 44.9 µg/L after 24 h. Fumigation bioassays showed that Z. cassumunar essential oil exhibits moderate adulticidal activity against Ae. albopictus with a LC50 of 5.44%, while (-)-terpinen-4-ol showed significant adulticidal activity with a LC50 of 2.10% after 24 h. This study verifies that the Z. cassumunar essential oil has mosquito repellent activity, and that (-)-terpinen-4-ol is mainly responsible for this activity. Furthermore, this study provides scientific support for the folk usage of Z. cassumunar essential oil as mosquito repellent and indicates that Z. cassumunar essential oil and (-)-terpinen-4-ol can be used as plant-derived repellents and insecticides for mosquito control.

Clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture in treating patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a commonly occurring condition in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients after radiotherapy. There has been an increasing number of studies focused on assessing the use of acupuncture to manage dysphagia. Moreover, the quality of the research has gradually increased. The present research will be conducted to systematically evaluate the efficiency and safety of using acupuncture to treat cases of dysphagia after radiation therapy in NPC patients. METHODS: Literature search will include all potential randomized controlled trials using MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese BioMedical Literature, and WanFang database from their inception to May, 2021 without language or publication status restrictions, to evaluate the efficiency and safety of using acupuncture to treat dysphagia cases following radiation therapy in NPC patients. A couple of independent authors will select related literature, extract data from studies, and estimate this risk in the bias of the selected study articles. In the instance of contrasting opinions, the outcome is mediated through discussion with a different independent author. The data synthesis and statistical analysis will be completed with the RevMan software (version 5.3). RESULTS: This study will evaluate the efficiency and safety of using acupuncture to treat dysphagia cases after radiation therapy in NPC patients. CONCLUSION: This study will determine the suitability of acupuncture as an effective and safe intervention for dysphagia in NPC patients after radiotherapy. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The present study does not need ethical approval. REGISTRATION NUMBER: May 19, 2021.osf.io/f2cvt. (https://osf.io/f2cvt/).

Research on inheritance of Professor WANG Jie's Experience in Treatment of Frequent Ventricular Premature Complexes Based on Inheritance Support System of Traditional Chinese Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:With the aid of the Inheritance Support System of Traditional Chinese Medicine V2.5 （TCMISS V2.5），to study the experience and prescription rules of professor WANG Jie in the treatment of frequent ventricular premature complexes，and inherit his clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment. Method:Professor WANG Jie's medical records and prescriptions for frequent ventricular premature complexes from 2016 to 2020 were collected and sorted out. Improved mutual information method，association rules，complex system entropy clustering，and unsupervised entropy hierarchical clustering were used to analyze the nature and flavor，channel tropism，concerted application rules，pair and combination of herbs for statistics， association rules analysis and discovery of new prescriptions. Result:A total of 122 prescriptions of professor WANG Jie on the treatment of frequent ventricular premature complexes were collected. 110 herbs，mostly with pungent and sweet flavors，were mainly on spleen channel and also on heart，kidney，liver，lung，and stomach channels. Cinnamomi Ramulus，Paeoniae Alba Radix<italic>，</italic>Os Draconis<italic>，</italic>Ostreae Concha<italic>， </italic>Glycyrrhizae Radix<italic>，</italic>and Jujubae Fructus<italic> </italic>had the highest frequency in use. The high-frequency herbal pair was Cinnamomi Ramulus-Paeoniae Alba Radix（116 times， accounting for 95.08%），the commonly used corner drugs were Cinnamomi Ramulus<italic>-</italic>Os Draconis<italic>-</italic>Ostreae Concha<italic> </italic>（108 times，88.52%），Cinnamomi Ramulus<italic>-</italic>Paeoniae Alba Radix<italic>-</italic>Ostreae Concha （106 times， 86.89%），Cinnamomi Ramulus<italic>-</italic>Paeoniae Alba Radix<italic>-</italic>Os Draconis （106 times，86.89%）. Commonly used herbal pair was<italic> </italic>Aucklandiae Radix-Amomi Villosi Fructus. The core prescription herbs included Cinnamomi Ramulus<italic>-</italic>Paeoniae Alba Radix<italic>-</italic>Os Draconis<italic>-</italic>Ostreae Concha<italic>-</italic>Glycyrrhizae Radix<italic>-</italic>Jujubae Fructus<italic>-</italic>Zingiberis Recens Rhizoma<italic>-</italic>Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix<italic>-</italic>Codonopsis Radix<italic>-</italic>Astragali Seu Hedysari Radix<italic>-</italic>Cistanches Herba-Poria<italic>-</italic>Ziziphi Spinosae Semen. Conclusion:Professor WANG Jie's prescription for the treatment of frequent ventricular premature complexes is Guizhi Jia Longgu Mulitang，and the main herbs are Cinnamomi Ramulus，Paeoniae Alba Radix，Os Draconis，Ostreae Concha，Glycyrrhizae Radix，and Jujubae Fructus. The final prescription could be adjusted according to the diseases and symptoms of patients.

Risk factors for nosocomial infection in older adult inpatients in some psychiatric hospitals in Ningbo of Zhejiang Province / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for nosocomial infection in older adult inpatients in some psychiatric hospitals in Ningbo of Zhejiang Province.Methods:The clinical data of 832 inpatients who received treatment in Ningbo Kangning Hospital and the Third Branch of Healthcare Group of Xiangshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into one infection group ( n = 45) and one non-infection group ( n = 787). The risk factors for nosocomial infection were analyzed. Results:Univariate analysis results showed that there were significant differences in age, disease type, primary pulmonary infection, time of antibiotics use, length of hospital stay, suffering from mental diseases, and use of urinary catheters ( χ2 = 10.721, 18.127, 12.183, 67.127, 56.326, 65.114, 27.153, all P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥ 75 years, disease type, primary pulmonary infection, time of antibiotics use, length of hospital stay, suffering from mental diseases, and use of urinary catheter were independent risk factors for nosocomial infection in older adult inpatients ( OR = 3.360, 3.777, 5.238, 3.364, 3.939, 4.428, all P < 0.001). Conclusion:Age ≥ 75 years, disease type, primary pulmonary infection, time of antibiotics use, length of hospital stay, suffering from mental diseases, and use of urinary catheters are independent risk factors for nosocomial infection in older adult inpatients in some psychiatric hospitals in Ningbo of Zhejiang Province.

Advance on pharmacokinetics study of traditional Chinese medicine injections in recent ten years / 中国中药杂志

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) injections boast a definite efficacy and have been widely used in clinic. However, the problems in medication safety have been attracted increasing attention. Pharmacokinetics is of significance to guiding TCM injection administration regimen design and improving safety and effectiveness in clinical use. In recent years, with the improvement of ideas, technology and methods of TCM studies, the pharmacokinetic studies of TCM injections have been broadly performed, with a notable progress. This paper reviewed the advance in pharmacokinetics studies of TCM injections in recent ten years, which mainly focused on pre-clinical concentration-time course, distribution, metabolism and excretion in vivo based on analysis techniques, pharmacokinetic interactions of constitutes, impact of pathological state, pharmacokinetic interactions between TCM injection and chemical drugs, and clinical pharmacokinetics studies of TCM injections, in the expectation of providing reference for studies on quality control, product development and rational clinical use of TCM injections.

Research advance in multi-component pharmacokinetics of Chinese herbal extracts in recent five years / 中国中药杂志

The multi-component pharmacokinetic study of Chinese herbal extracts elaborates the in vivo processes,including absorption,distribution,metabolism,and excretion,of multiple bioactive components,which is of significance in revealing pharmacodynamic material basis of Chinese herbal medicine. In recent years,with the innovation in ideas,and development of techniques and methods on traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) research,the pharmacokinetic studies of Chinese herbal extracts were extensively performed,and notable progress has been made. This paper reviewed the advancement of multi-component pharmacokinetics of Chinese herbal extracts in recent five years from analysis technology of biological sample,the pharmacokinetic characteristics of Chinese herbal medicine with complex system,and the impacts of processing and pathological state on pharmacokinetics of Chinese herbal extracts,aiming to provide a reference for quality control,product development and rational medication of Chinese herbal extracts.

Panax Notoginseng Saponins Inhibits Ventricular Remodeling after Myocardial Infarction in Rats Through Regulating ATF3/MAP2K3/p38 MAPK and NF κ B Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) exhibits heart protective effect in myocardial infarction (MI) rats and to identify the potential signaling pathways involved. METHODS: MI rats induced by ligating the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery were assigned to sham coronary artery ligation or coronary artery ligation. Totally 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (distilled water, n=9), MI group (distilled water, n=9), PNS group (PNS, 40 mg/kg daily, n=9) and fosinopril group (FIP, 1.2 mg/kg daily, n=9) according to a random number table. The left ventricular morphology and function were conducted by echocardiography. Histological alterations were evaluated by the stainings of HE and Masson. The serum levels of C reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and the ratio of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of MMP-9 (TIMP-1) were determined by ELISA. The levels of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 (MAP2K3), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), phosphorylation of p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß1), collagen I, nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NFκB p65), phosphorylation of NFκB p65 (p-NFκB p65), and phosphorylation of inhibitory kappa Bα (p-Iκ Bα) in hearts were measured by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. RESULTS: PNS improved cardiac function and fibrosis in MI rats (P<0.05). The serum levels of CRP, TNF-α, GDF-15 and the ratio of MMP9/TIMP1 were reversed by PNS in MI rats. The expressions of TGF-ß1, collagen I, MAP2K3, p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, NFκB p65, p-NFκB p65, and p-IκBα were down-regulated, while ATF3 increased with the treatment of PNS (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PNS may improve cardiac function and fibrosis in MI rats via regulating ATF3/MAP2K3/p38 MAPK and NFκB signaling pathways. These results suggest the potential of PNS in preventing the development of ventricular remodeling in MI rats.

Efficacy and safety of Kanglaite injection combined with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 RCTs.

BACKGROUND: As a Chinese medicine injections, Kanglaite injection (KLT) is a complementary or alternative therapy for first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. However, the effect that certain factors, including the dose of KLT, chemotherapy cycles, evaluation criteria, or supportive treatment, have on the efficacy of the objective response rate (ORR), median survival time (MST), and adverse reactions is still unknown. METHODS: Eight databases were systematically searched from the inception dates to December 1, 2019, using the keywords Kanglaite, chemotherapy, and non small cell lung carcinoma to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15.1. RESULTS: There were 32 randomized controlled trials, involving 2,577 participants, that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Compared with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy alone, KLT combined with chemotherapy could increase the ORR [risk ratio (RR), 1.41 (95% CI: 1.28 to 1.56); absolute risk difference (ARD), 0.13 (95% CI: 0.1 to 0.17)], decrease the risk ratio of adverse reactions [nausea and vomiting: RR, 0.58 (95% CI: 0.42 to 0.81); ARD, -0.17 (95% CI: -0.26 to -0.08); leukopenia: RR, 0.61 (95% CI: 0.44 to 0.86); ARD, -0.16 (95% CI: -0.24 to -0.08)], prolong MST, and increase disease control rate and Karnofsky performance status. According to the subgroup analyses, KLT combined with cisplatin or paraplatin plus paclitaxel (TP) failed to demonstrate a significant association with the ORR. And when lacking the use of supportive treatment, this combination would not decrease the RR of both adverse reactions compared with chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSIONS: KLT plus first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, except when chemotherapy regimens were TP, increased efficacy and quality of life in patients with advanced NSCLC. We are unsure whether this combination offers a low risk of adverse reactions. Additional high-quality RCTs are warranted to assess the effects of the combined therapy further.

[Meta-analysis of Xiaoer Xiaoji Zhike Oral Liqud combined with azithromycin in treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children].

Systematic evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of Xiaoer Xiaoji Zhike Oral Liqud combined with azithromycin in the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children. Clinical literatures were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, VIP, CNKI, SinoMed, WanFang from inception to September 2019. Two reviewers independently screened out the literatures, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Then, Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 software. A total of 17 RCT were included, involving 1 712 patients. In this study, there were two subgroups by the application approach of azithromycin: oral azithromycin subgroup and intravenous azithromycin subgroup. According to Meta-analysis results, in terms of the alleviation of clinical symptoms and signs, such as shortening of antifebrile time, cough disappeared time, rales disappearance time, and lung X-ray infiltrating shadow disappearance time, Xiaoer Xiaoji Zhike Oral Liquid combined with oral azithromycin or intravenous azithromycin were better than single-dose azithromycin; in the aspect of the improvement of the overall effective rate, the two combination subgroups were better than the single-use azithromycin; In terms of the decline of IgM, the combination subgroups were also more efficient than the single-use azithromycin, with statistically significant differences. In terms of the incidence of adverse reactions, there was no significant difference between the two combination subgroups and the single-use azithromycin in children, and no serious adverse reactions were found. In inclusion, Xiaoer Xiaoji Zhike Oral Liquid combined with azithromycin can improve the clinical efficacy in treating pediatric mycoplasma pneumonia, with a high safety. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.

Meta-analysis of Xiaoer Xiaoji Zhike Oral Liqud combined with azithromycin in treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children / 中国中药杂志

Systematic evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of Xiaoer Xiaoji Zhike Oral Liqud combined with azithromycin in the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children. Clinical literatures were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, VIP, CNKI, SinoMed, WanFang from inception to September 2019. Two reviewers independently screened out the literatures, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Then, Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 software. A total of 17 RCT were included, involving 1 712 patients. In this study, there were two subgroups by the application approach of azithromycin: oral azithromycin subgroup and intravenous azithromycin subgroup. According to Meta-analysis results, in terms of the alleviation of clinical symptoms and signs, such as shortening of antifebrile time, cough disappeared time, rales disappearance time, and lung X-ray infiltrating shadow disappearance time, Xiaoer Xiaoji Zhike Oral Liquid combined with oral azithromycin or intravenous azithromycin were better than single-dose azithromycin; in the aspect of the improvement of the overall effective rate, the two combination subgroups were better than the single-use azithromycin; In terms of the decline of IgM, the combination subgroups were also more efficient than the single-use azithromycin, with statistically significant differences. In terms of the incidence of adverse reactions, there was no significant difference between the two combination subgroups and the single-use azithromycin in children, and no serious adverse reactions were found. In inclusion, Xiaoer Xiaoji Zhike Oral Liquid combined with azithromycin can improve the clinical efficacy in treating pediatric mycoplasma pneumonia, with a high safety. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.

Research progress on material composition, pre-clinical pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic studies of Shengmai Injection / 中草药

Shengmai Injection (SMI), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula injection composed of Panax ginseng, Ophiopogon japonicas and Schisandra chinensis, which is widely used in clinic for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases as well as protecting against pulmonary disease and add-on therapy to cancer chemotherapy. In recent years, the pre-clinical basic research of SMI was widely performed. The studies, including chemical composition, in vivo process, and action mechanism and so on of SMI, helped to provide scientific foundation for revealing the material basis of formula. In this paper, the studies on material composition, pre-clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of this formula were summarized, so as to provide reference for the quality control, second development and rational clinical application of SMI.

[Theoretical discussion and clinical application of treating the same syndrome with different methods in "treatise on febrile and miscellaneous diseases"].

The theory of " treating same syndrome with different methods" has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine( TCM). It originated from Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases,and had objective formation factors. The " syndrome" in TCM was a comprehensive manifestation of etiology,characteristics,disease location and trend of disease. Considering the rich connotation of " syndrome",the diverse treatment methods,and the complex ingredients in prescriptions,different specific methods or prescriptions have been often applied to treat the same syndrome. Therefore,based on the theory of " treating same syndrome with different methods",the concept of " prescriptions corresponding to syndromes" was extended,suggesting one syndrome treated with several different prescriptions. Moreover,the concept of " prescription corresponding to syndrome" doesn't refer to a random match between the " syndrome" and the " prescription". Instead,it would refine and objectify the " same syndrome" and seek subtle differences in symptoms,signs and chemical indicators of different diseases and individuals. It further embodied the new diagnosis and treatment model of " pathogenesis combined with pathology,drug properties combined with pharmacology". As a result,the nature of " treating same syndrome with different methods" lies in different microscopic pathological changes or trends,which traditionally expressed as the same syndrome with different symptoms,the same syndrome with different trends,and the same syndrome with different diseases and the same syndrome with different physiques. Therefore,by enriching the connotation of " syndrome",and further defining its objective pathology and development trend,the correspondence between " syndrome" and " prescription" became more precise. By carefully identifying the different characterizations,trends and prognosis in same syndrome,medical practitioners could give individual and dynamic prescriptions,so as to improve the clinical efficacy.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 attenuates disease severity and induces synoviocyte apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis by inactivating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

An aggressive proliferation of synoviocytes is the hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Emerging evidence shows that inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] may be a therapeutic approach for controlling inflammatory diseases. In this study, we demonstrated the protective effects of three different 1,25(OH)2D3 concentration on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) rats through the NF-κB signaling pathway and their pro-apoptotic roles in cultured adjuvant-induced arthritis synoviocytes (AIASs). AA rats were prepared by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant and independently given daily intraperitoneal injection of 1,25(OH)2D3 at concentrations of 50, 100, and 300 ng/day/kg. Subsequently, AIASs were isolated from the inflamed joints of AA rats to test the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on AIASs in vitro. Intraperitoneal injection of 1,25-(OH)2D3 was found to induce a concentration- and time-dependent improvement in relieving the symptoms of AA. We found an increased paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) in the affected paw of AA rats as the concentration of 1,25-(OH)2D3 increased. 1,25-(OH)2D3 treatment reduced levels of inflammatory factors in synovial tissues of AA rats. In the case of cultured AIASs, 1,25-(OH)2D3 was shown to inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, 1,25-(OH)2D3 inhibited the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study provides evidence emphasizing that 1,25(OH)2D3 has the potential to attenuate disease severity in RA potentially due to its contributory role in synoviocyte proliferation and apoptosis. The protective role of 1,25(OH)2D3 against RA depends on the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Comparative transcriptome study of hairy and hairless tea plant (Camellia sinensis) shoots.

Trichome (also referred to as 'háo' in tea) is a key feature in both tea products and tea plant (Camellia sinensis) selection breeding. Although trichomes are used as a model for studying cell differentiation and have been well studied in many plant species, the regulation of trichome formation at the molecular level is poorly understood in tea plants. In the present study, the hairy and hairless tea plant cultivars Fudingdabaicha (FDDB) and Rongchunzao (RCZ), respectively, were used to study this mechanism. We characterised tea plant trichomes as unicellular and unbranched structures. High-throughput Illumina sequencing yielded approximately 277.0 million high-quality clean reads from the FDDB and RCZ cultivars. After de novo assembly, 161,444 unigenes were generated, with an average length of 937 bp. Among these unigenes, 81,425 were annotated using public databases, and 55,201 coding sequences and 4004 transcription factors (TFs) were identified. In total, 21,599 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between RCZ and FDDB, of which 10,785 DEGs were up-regulated and 10,814 DEGs were down-regulated. Genes involved in the DNA replication pathway were significantly enriched. Furthermore, between FDDB and RCZ, DEGs related to TFs, phytohormone signals, and cellulose synthesis were identified, suggesting that certain genes involved in these pathways are crucial for trichome initiation in tea plants. Together, the results of this study provide novel data to improve our understanding of the potential molecular mechanisms of trichome formation and lay a foundation for additional trichome studies in tea plants.

The synthesis and anti-metastatic effects of optical isomers of ionone alkaloid 9-(N,N-dimethyl)-4,7-megastigmedien-3-one.

Ionone alkaloid 9-(N,N-dimethyl)-4,7-megastigmedien-3-one (compound 1) is a new anti-metastatic natural product. However, it was previously reported as optical isomers mixture. Herein, the optical isomers (6a-6d) of compound 1 were synthesized. The absolute configurations of 6a-6d were determined by ECD experiments and calculated spectra with time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The anti-metastatic effects of the optical isomers were examined by transwell assay. These results revealed that compound 6a had potential anti-metastatic activity with an IC50 value of 0.512 ±â€¯0.093 µM.

New limonoids isolated from the bark of Melia toosendan / 中国天然药物

Two new limonoids, 12-ethoxynimbolinins G and H (compounds 1 and 2), and one known compound, toosendanin (Chuanliansu) (compound 3), were isolated from the bark of Melia toosendan. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and X-ray techniques. The absolute configuration of toosendanin (3) was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against five tumor cell lines.