Text Mining of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes Mellitus to Understand the Mechanisms of Chinese Medicine in Different Diseases with Same Treatment / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the commonalities between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and diabetes mellitus (DM) to understand the mechanisms of Chinese medicine (CM) in different diseases with the same treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A text mining approach was adopted to analyze the commonalities between RA and DM according to CM and biological elements. The major commonalities were subsequently verified in RA and DM rat models, in which herbal formula for the treatment of both RA and DM identified via text mining was used as the intervention.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Similarities were identified between RA and DM regarding the CM approach used for diagnosis and treatment, as well as the networks of biological activities affected by each disease, including the involvement of adhesion molecules, oxidative stress, cytokines, T-lymphocytes, apoptosis, and inflammation. The Ramulus Cinnamomi-Radix Paeoniae Alba-Rhizoma Anemarrhenae is an herbal combination used to treat RA and DM. This formula demonstrated similar effects on oxidative stress and inflammation in rats with collagen-induced arthritis, which supports the text mining results regarding the commonalities between RA and DM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Commonalities between the biological activities involved in RA and DM were identified through text mining, and both RA and DM might be responsive to the same intervention at a specific stage.</p>

Effect of Combination Therapy of Tetramethylpyrazine with Methotrexate on Inflammatory Reac- tions and Hemorheology in Collagen-induced Arthritis Rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of combination therapy of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) with methotrexate (MTX) on collagen induced arthritis (CIA) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 55 male SD rats were stratified by body weight. Nine of them were randomly recruited as the normal control group. The rest 46 were immunized with type II bovine collagen (C II) for establishing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model. Forty successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to swollen toe degree, i.e., the CIA group, the TMP group, the MTX group, and the TMP plus MTX group, 10 in each group. Rats in the MTX group were administered with MTX (1. 2 mg/kg) , once per week for 4 continuous weeks. Those in the TMP group were administered with 40 mg/kg TMP, once per day for 10 continuous days, and then discontinued for 7 successive days, and continued for another 10 successive days. Rats in the TMP plus MTX group were administered with a mixture of equal dose MTX and TMP, and when MTX was discontinue, TMP was administered according to the way in the TMP group. Equal volume of saline solution was given to rats in the normal control group and the CIA group. Clinical parameters including ankle width (mediolateral diameter) and hindpaw swelling were measured at day 0, 4, 11, 18, and 26 after treatment. Rats were sacrificed 28 days after treatment, their knee joints and ankle joints were collected for pathological analyses. Serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17A were detected by ELISA. Changes of fibrinogen (FIB) and platelet aggregation rate (PAg) were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control group, the ankle width and hindpaw swelling increased significantly (P < 0.01), contents of FIB and PAg increased obviously (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 increased remarkably (P <0. 01) in the CIA group. Obvious cell proliferation, inflammatory cell infiltration, hyperemia and edema of synovial tissues could be seen. Pannus formed and immerged in cartilages, resulting in necrosis. Compared with the model group, changes of ankle width and hindpaw swelling were all alleviated in each medicated group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Of them, the effect was superior in the MTX group to that of the TMP group and the MTX plus TMP group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Contents of FIB, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 decreased significantly in the MTX group (P < 0.05). Contents of FIB, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 decreased significantly in the TMP group and the MTX plus TMP group (P < 0.05). Besides, serum levels of FIB and IL-6 were obviously lower in the MTX plus TMP group than in the TMP group and the MTX group (P < 0.01). Levels of PAg and IL-17A were more significantly lowered in the TMP group than in the MTX plus TMP group and the MTX group. Pathological changes could be alleviated in each medicated group, with the optimal effect obtained in the MTX plus TMP group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination of TMP with MTX could significantly ameliorate inflammatory reactions and FIB contents of CIA rats.</p>

Effect of qubi recipe on changes of oxygen free radical metabolism and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in collagen-induced arthritis rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Qubi Recipe (QR) on the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha in rats with type II collagen-I induced arthritis (CIA), and to explore its therapeutic roles and mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 72 male SD rats of SPF grade were recruited. Twelve were randomly selected as the blank control group. The CIA model was established in the rest 60 rats by subcutaneously injecting type II collagen of bovine emulsion from the tail root and induction of incomplete Freund's adjuvant. On day 15 after primary immunization rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the CIA model group, the Tripterygium Glycosides (TG) group (at the daily dose of 9.68 mg/kg body weight), the high dose QR group (at the daily dose of 6.66 g/kg body weight), and the low dose QR group (at the daily dose of 3.33 g/kg body weight), 15 in each group. Corresponding medication was given to rats in all groups by gastrogavage once daily for 4 successive weeks. An equal volume of pure water was given to rats in the blank control group and the CIA model group by gastrogavage, once daily for 4 successive weeks. The swelling degree of the joints was measured. Rats were sacrificed after 4-week treatment. Plasma levels of SOD, MDA, and GSH-Px were measured with colorimetric method. The expression of HIF-1alpha was detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the CIA model group, the swelling degree of the joints was significantly alleviated in the TG group and the high dose QR group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and it was obviously milder in the high dose QR group than in the TG group (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the CIA model group, the activities of GSH-Px could be obviously elevated and activities of MDA lowered in the TG group, the high dose QR group, and the low dose QR group (P < 0.05). Plasma activities of SOD could be obviously elevated in the high dose QR group and the TG group (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with the CIA model group, the expression of HIF-1alpha obviously decreased in the TG group and the high dose QR group (P < 0.05), and it showed a decreasing tendency in the low dose QR group with no statistical difference (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>QR could markedly alleviate the swelling degree of ankle joints in CIA model rats. Its therapeutic efficacy was superior to that of TG. Its mechanism might be achieved through down-regulating expression of HIF-1alpha in the joint, and regulating activities of SOD, MDA and GSH-Px in the plasma.</p>

Effects of naloxone on the contents of cAMP in hypothalamus and AVP in ventral septal area in fever rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the effects and mechanism of naloxone on the febrile response in IL-1beta-induced fever rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The fever model was established by intracerebroventricular injection of IL-1beta in rats. The effect of naloxone on the body temperature of feverrats was observed. The contents of cAMP in hypothalamus and AVP in VSA were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Naloxone alleviated IL-1beta-induced fever and the contents of cAMP in hypothalamus and AVP in VSA were correspondingly decreased (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Naloxone could inhibit IL-1beta-induced fever in rats, and the mechanism might be due to inhibiting synthesis of cAMP in hypothalamus and promoting release of AVP in VSA.</p>

Advances in the study of affinity selection-ultrafiltration/HPLC-MS / 药学学报

Affinity selection-ultrafiltration/HPLC-MS is the combination of the ultrafiltration and HPLC-MS, mainly used for screening small active molecular substances from combinatorial libraries and natural product extracts, which can bind to solution-phase targets. Besides, it can be used in metabolic screening and characterization of ligand-receptor binding. It is a complement to the traditional methods of screening and identifying drugs. This review describes its principle and application in drug study.

Effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on intestinal mucosal immune system in H22 liver cancer bearing mice / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the mucosal immune mechanism of anti-tumor action of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The concentration of H22 cells in suspension were adjusted to 1 x 10(9)/ L, and 0.2 mL of the cell suspension was injected subcutaneously in the right oxter of Kunming mice. Then the H22 bearing mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the GLP group, the Cytoxan (CTX) group, the CTX + GLP group and the untreated model group, 8 mice in each group. Besides, a blank control group was set up. Starting from the 2nd day of modeling, GLP, at the dose of 1.02 g/kg was given to GLP group and GLP + CTX group by gastrogavage once a day for 12 successive days; CTX at the dose of 100 mg/kg was administered via peritoneal injection to the CTX group and the GLP + CTX group on the 1st day and the 6th day of the experimental course; but to the model group and the blank group, only equal volume of distilled water was given. All mice were sacrificed on the 14th day, the ileum at 1 cm upper to cecum was taken, through 4% paraform fixation and paraffin section, it was used for immunohistochemical detecting expressions of immunoglobulin A (IgA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in ileum. Besides, the lymphocyte subsets in the intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL), lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL), and Peyer's patch lymphocytes (PPL) were analyzed by immune fluorescence technique and flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the blank control group, the phenotype of lymphocytes and the expression of cytokines in ileum in the model group changed significantly; and the phenotype was variant in different regions. Compared with the model group, both indexes were adjusted in the GLP, CTX and GLP + CTX group to different degrees.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The adjustment of GLP on intestinal mucosal immune is probably another path for its anti-tumor action.</p>

Effect of matrine and oxymatrine on proliferation and expression of Stat3 and Stat5 in SMMC-7721 cell line / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of matrine and oxymatrine on proliferation and the expression of Stat3, Stat5 mRNA in SMMC-7721 cell line.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Treated with matrine and oxymatrine, the inhibitory effect on SMMC-7721 cell proliferation was detected by MTT, double fluorescence labeling was applied to measure the apotosis ratios of SMMC-7721cells, the expression of Stat3 and Stat5 mRNA in SMMC-7721 cell line were assessed with RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Matrine and oxymatrine could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells and it was time and dose dependent, the expression of Stat3 and Stat5 mRNA in SMMC-7721 cell with matrine and oxymatrine were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the same dose of matrine and oxymatrine, matrine showed stronger effect on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and Stat3 and Stat5 mRNA (P<0.05 or P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Matrine and oxymatrine inhibited the proliferation and induced the of SMMC-7721 cells significantly, the mechanism of which might be related to the down-regulation of stat3 and stat5 mRNA and inhibition of the signaling transduction pathway.</p>

Effect of combination glycyrrhiizin and triptolide on TNF-alpha and IL-10 in serum of collagen induced arthritis rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of combination therapy with glycyrrhizin (GL) and triptolide (TP) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: the model group, the TP group, the GL group, and combination 1, 2, 3 groups. The models were induced by collagen type II. The arthritis index (AI) and the edema rate were detected as curative effect, and the level of antibodies to collagen, TNF-alpha and IL-10 were measured by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The combination therapy with GL and TP significantly reduced the paw edema and arthritis index of CIA rats (P <0. 01 ), and the combination therapy can increase the level of IL-10, while decrease the level of TNF-alpha, and the level of antibodies to collagen decreased too (P <0.05, P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combine 26.78 mg x kg(-1) GL with 13.40 microg x kg(-1) TP can significantly inhibited the CIA, and the effect equal to the dosage of 17. 86 microg x kg(-1) TP. It supports the possible of GL in combination with TP to reduce the dose and side effects related to TP.</p>

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of cyanidin from cherries on rat adjuvant-induced arthritis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of cyanidin from cherries on adjuvant induced arthritis (AA) in SD rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Arthritis was induced by the complete Freud's adjuvant in male Sprague Dauley rats and assessed based on paw swelling. Rats were randomly divided into normal group (NM), adjuvant arthritis group (AA) and three cyanidin-treated groups in high dosage (HA), middle dosage (MA), and low dosage (LA). The morphological changes in the hind limbs were conducted under a light microscope. We detected glutathione (GSH) in whole blood and malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) activity in serum by special kits to assess the antioxidant effects of cyanidin on AA. Moreover, the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in paw tissues were determined by radioimmunoassay and TNF-alpha levels in serum were determined using ELISA kits specific for rat.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The cyanidin could protect against the paws swelling in AA rats. From the day 14 after AA induction, the swellings of the cyanidin treated groups at high dosage and low dosage were significantly reduced compared with the model group (P < 0.05, 0.01). Histological examination of sections through the hind limbs revealed alleviation of inflammatory reaction in the joint after the treatment. The cyanidin at high and low dosage could increase the GSH, SOD activity and T-AOC levels in whole blood or serums and decrease MDA in AA rats (P < 0.01). The cyanidin could decrease the PGE2 levels in paw tissues and the TNF-alpha levels in serum at high and low dosages (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cyanidin could protect against the paws swelling in AA rats, and alleviate the inflammatory reaction in the joint, and the mechanism might be via the increase activity of GSH, SOD and T-AOC that improve the total antioxidative capacity and scavenge the free radicals, perhaps as a result of that the levels of the PGE2 in paw tissues and TNF-alpha contents in serum were decreased. The results suggest that the cyanidin from cherries could be one of the potential candidates for the alleviation of arthritis.</p>

Effects of baicalin on contents of PGE2 and cAMP in hypothalamus of fever rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM AND METHODS</b>Both PGE2 and cAMP are important neural mediator of fever. In order to discuss if PGE2 and cAMP are involved in the antipyretic mechanism of baicalin, fever models of rats were made by i.v. injection of endotoxin (ET). The antipyretic action and effects of baicalin on contents of PGE2 and cAMP in hypothalamus were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Baicalin possessed obvious antipyretic effect on fever rats and reversed the effect of ET on contents of PGE2 and cAMP in hypothalamus. Correlation analysis showed that contents of PGE2 and cAMP in hypothalamus were positively correlated with the change of body temperature of rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Baicalin may exert its antipyretic effect on fever rats by inhibiting increase of contents of PGE2 and cAMP in hypothalamus.</p>