Jinyinqingre Oral Liquid alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a prevalent and severe clinical condition characterized by inflammatory damage to the lung endothelial and epithelial barriers, resulting in high incidence and mortality rates. Currently, there is a lack of safe and effective drugs for the treatment of ALI. In a previous clinical study, we observed that Jinyinqingre oral liquid (JYQR), a Traditional Chinese Medicine formulation prepared by the Taihe Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine, exhibited notable efficacy in treating inflammation-related hepatitis and cholecystitis in clinical settings. However, the potential role of JYQR in ALI/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and its anti-inflammatory mechanism remains unexplored. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of JYQR in ALI using a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and an in vitro RAW264.7 cell model. JYQR yielded substantial improvements in LPS-induced histological alterations in lung tissues. Additionally, JYQR administration led to a noteworthy reduction in total protein levels within the BALF, a decrease in MPAP, and attenuation of pleural thickness. These findings collectively highlight the remarkable efficacy of JYQR in mitigating the deleterious effects of LPS-induced ALI. Mechanistic investigations revealed that JYQR pretreatment significantly inhibited NF-κB activation and downregulated the expressions of the downstream proteins, namely NLRP3 and GSDMD, as well as proinflammatory cytokine levels in mice and RAW2647 cells. Consequently, JYQR alleviated LPS-induced ALI by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway. JYQR exerts a protective effect against LPS-induced ALI in mice, and its mechanism of action involves the downregulation of the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD inflammatory pathway.

High Dose Intravenous Vitamin C as Adjunctive Therapy for COVID-19 Patients with Cancer: Two Cases.

BACKGROUND: Related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic leading to COVID-19 illness, patients with cancer comorbidity are known to have a higher risk of developing severe viral-related events, including death. To date, there are few treatments with proven efficacy for COVID-19. Vitamin C administered intravenously (IVC) has been extensively investigated in cancer treatment with a known safety profile and has been proposed to play a role in managing COVID-19. IVC was used to treat COVID-19 patients in hospitals in China, USA, and Europe with reported benefits. We report here unexpected beneficial results from the use of IVC in two severely ill oncology patients with documented COVID-19 lung disease. CASE REPORT: two oncology patients were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Prior to receiving IVC, lung infiltrates and systemic inflammation in both patients were progressing despite multiple anti-viral, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory treatments with intensive supportive care. Both patients subsequently received 12 g of IVC delivered intravenously over 30 min, given 2 times daily for 7 days. Serial SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid tests showed that the viral load was negative only after the 7-day IVC treatment. In both patients after receiving IVC infusions, imaging by chest CT or X-ray showed improving lung infiltrates. There were reductions in systematic inflammation by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) testing. No adverse events were observed related to IVC treatment. CONCLUSION: the use of high-dose IVC demonstrated unexpected clinical benefits in treating COVID-19 in two cancer patients presenting with complicated severe comorbidities where an unfavorable prognosis was anticipated.

Effect of Petroleum Ether Extract of Rhizoma Amorphophalli on Biological Characteristics of K562 Cells and Its Mechanism / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the role of petroleum ether extract of Rhizoma Amorphophalli (SLG) in inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis and differentiation of leukemia K562 cells.@*METHODS@#K562 cells were processed by SLG and PD98059 which was the ERK signaling pathway blocker. Then cell vitality was tested by MTT. Cell apoptosis rate and positive percentage of antigen expression related with differentiation were detected by flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of ERK1/2 and pERK1/2 were detected by Western blot.@*RESULTS@#The proliferation activity of K562 was reduced by 50, 100, 200 mg/L SLG in a concentration dependent manner (r=0.9997). The apoptosis rate and positive expression rate of CD11b, CD14 and CD42b which were related with differentiation were raised by SLG, as well as the expression of pERK1/2, while PD98059 could reverse the promoting effect of SLG on apoptosis and differentiation partially.@*CONCLUSION@#SLG can inhibit the proliferation and promote apoptosis and differentiation of K562 cells through ERK signaling pathway.

Effect of electroacupuncture on postpartum uterine contraction pain and uterine involution: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on postpartum uterine contraction pain and uterine involution.@*METHODS@#A total of 80 patients with postpartum uterine contraction pain were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with electroacupuncture at Dahe (KI 12), Zhongzhu (KI 15), Hegu (LI 4), Xuehai (SP 10), etc. for 30 min, once a day, 3 days were as one course, and 2 courses with 1-day interval were required. The control group was treated with oral @*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the VAS scores of 24, 48, 72 h into treatment and after treatment were decreased in both groups (@*CONCLUSION@#Electroacupuncture can effectively relieve postpartum uterine contraction pain, accelerate the discharge of residual uterine hemorrhage in the uterine cavity, and promote uterine involution.

The Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distributions of Nine Steroidal Saponins from Paris polyphylla in Rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Paris polyphylla (P. polyphylla) is a herb widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various diseases. This study used ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to study the pharmacokinetics and tissue distributions of nine steroidal saponins from P. polyphylla. METHODS: P. polyphylla extract was administered to rats intravenously (i.v.) and orally (p.o.). The concentrations of the nine main bioactive components of the extract were determined in plasma and tissue samples using UPLC-MS/MS. The nine saponin compounds were also incubated in an anaerobic environment with intestinal flora suspension solution to investigate hydrolysis by intestinal flora. RESULTS: After oral administration of the P. polyphylla extract, polyphyllin VII was found to have the highest maximum concentration (Cmax, 17.0 ± 2.24 µg/L) of all nine components, followed by the Cmax values of dioscin (16.17 ± 0.64 µg/L) and polyphyllin H (11.75 ± 1.28 µg/L), while the Cmax values of polyphyllin I, polyphyllin II, progenin III, polyphyllin IV, gracillin, and polyphyllin were less than 10 µg/L. The bioavailabilities of all nine components were less than 1%. All the compounds were hydrolyzed by intestinal flora and were predominantly distributed in the liver and lungs. CONCLUSIONS: The nine compounds presented different pharmacokinetic parameter values, and multiple administrations did not accumulate in the body. The bioavailabilities of the compounds were low, partly because of hydrolysis by intestinal flora. The nine compounds were mainly distributed in the liver and lungs, which may be target organs.

Study on the effectiveness of an information system on the prevention and control of venous thromboembolism in elderly inpatients / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of an information system on the prevention and control of venous thromboembolism(VTE)in elderly inpatients.Methods:Through retrospectively reviewing medical records of Beijing Shijitan Hospital and files of all patients admitted to the geriatric department of our hospital before and after an information management system was instituted, data of those diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities, intermuscular venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary thromboembolism(PE)at discharge were collected.General information, prognosis of disease, risk factors for VTE, the detection rate and assessment rate of VTE and other factors were analyzed.Methods:A total of 146 patients were enrolled, and they were mainly elderly patients from the respiratory, cardiology and integrative medicine wards.Diabetes mellitus, cancer and chronic heart failure were the top-three high-risk diseases, and most patients were at high risk or very high risk.The rate of elderly patients assessed as at high risk for VTE on admission was higher after the institution of the information system than that before the institution(93.22% vs.24.66%, P<0.05). The rate of VTE patients receiving standard diagnosis and anticoagulant treatment procedures had an upward trend since the information system became available, compared with before(8.47% vs.5.48%, P>0.05). There was a downward trend in the incidence of PE and all-cause mortality with the use of the information system(3.39% vs.9.59%, 5.08% vs.9.59%, P>0.05). Conclusions:The use of information systems can effectively increase the risk assessment rate for VTE and reduce the incidence of related adverse events in hospitalized elderly patients.

Clinical observation on the therapeutic effect of warm acupuncture on endometrial cavity fluid from in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect of warm acupuncture on endometrial cavity fluid (ECF) from in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), and to explore the mechanism of warm acupuncture on ECF.@*METHODS@#Twenty-nine patients who were prepared for IVF-ET from 2016 to 2019 and whose transplantation was cancelled due to ECF found by vaginal B-ultrasound examination were divided into an observation group (14 cases) and a control group (15 cases) according to random number table method. The warm acupuncture was applied at Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Guilai (ST 29), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) after the end of menstruation in the observation group, the treatment lasted for 60 min, once a day, 5 times as a course, with 2 days interval between the courses and 3 consecutive courses of treatment were given, until the embryo transfer was performed in the IVF assisted pregnancy cycle. After the end of menstruation, fresh leonurus japonicus capsule was given in the control group, 3 times a day, 0.8 g each time, 7 days as a course, and 3 courses of continuous treatment were received, until the embryo transfer was performed in the IVF assisted pregnancy cycle. The changes of ECF before and after treatment, the time required to prepare for embryo transfer during IVF assisted pregnancy cycle, and the clinical outcome of embryo transfer were observed in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#The decrease of ECF in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group (<0.05). The time required for the embryo transfer in the IVF assisted pregnancy cycle in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group (<0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate in the observation group was 42.9% (6/14), which was significantly higher than 26.7% (4/15) in the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Warm acupuncture may improve the clinical pregnancy rate by raising the local temperature of the lower abdomen, accelerating the blood circulation around the uterus and appendages, promoting the absorption of ECF, improving the uterine environment and endometrial receptivity.

Effects of naringin on proliferation, differentiation and maturation of rat calvarial osteoblasts in vitro / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of naringin on the proliferation, differention and maturaion of rat calvarial osteoblasts (ROB).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Segregated neonatal SD rat skull, enzyme digestion to obtain ROB. The culture medium was replaced every three days. Serial subcultivation proceeded when cells covered with 80% culture dish. Naringin supplemented into the culture at 1 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-6), 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) respectively. MTT method was adopted in proliferation analysis and the activity of ALP was examined after induced 9 days. Search the best concentration and supplemented into the medium, then the osteogenic differentiation markers including the secretion amount of osteocalcin, osteopontin and bone morphogenetic protein-2 were compared between the naringin-supplemented group and the control. Total RNA was isolated and the mRNA level of bFGF, IGF-1, Runx-2, Osterix, ERa and ERbeta was investigated by Real time RT-PCR. Total protein also was isolated and the expression ERa, ERbeta and collagen I was examined by Western blot. After the addition of ICI 182.780, an inhibitor of the estrogen signal pathway, these index also was examined and the changes were compared.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The ROB proliferation was motivated by naringin dose-dependently. And it evidently leads to osteogenic process and maturation. 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) is the best concentration. Naringin improved the secretion of osteocalcin, osteopontin, bone morphogenetic protein-2 and collagen I significantly. Besides, it can also enhanced the mRNA level of bFGF, IGF-1, Runx-2, Osterix, ERalpha and ERbeta. While all these effects can be restrained by ICI 182.780.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The naringin with final concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) enhances the osteogenic differentiation and maturation of ROB significantly, while the promoting effects vanished after the addition of ICI 182.780. These results suggesting that naringin is one of the phytoestrogens and have the activity of bone formation may via estrogen signal pathway, it can be developed into a new drug for osteoporosis therapy.</p>

Holotransferrin enhances selective anticancer activity of artemisinin against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Artemisinin, also termed qinghaosu, is extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine artemesia annua L. (the blue-green herb) in the early 1970s, which has been confirmed for effectively treating malaria. Additionally, emerging data prove that artemisinin exhibits anti-cancer effects against many types of cancers such as leukemia, melanoma, etc. Artemisinin becomes cytotoxic in the presence of ferrous iron. Since iron influx is high in cancer cells, artemisinin and its analogs selectively kill cancer cells with increased intracellular iron concentrations. This study is aimed to investigate the selective inhibitory effects of artemisinin on SMMC-7721 cells in vitro and determine the effect of holotransferrin, which increases the concentration of ferrous iron in cancer cells, combined with artemisinin on the anticancer activity. MTT assay was used for assessing the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells treated with artemisinin. The induction of apoptosis and inhibition of colony formation in SMMC-7721 cells treated with artemisinin were determined by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and colony formation assay, respectively. The results showed that artemisinin at various concentrations significantly inhibited growth, colony formation and cell viability of SMMC-7721 cells (P<0.05), likely due to induction of apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells. Of interest, it was found that incubation of artemisinin combined with holotransferrin sensitized the growth inhibitory effect of artemisinin on SMMC-7721 cells (P<0.01). Our data suggest that treatment with artemisinin leads to inhibition of viability and proliferation, and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells. Furthermore, we observed that holotransferrin significantly enhanced the anti-cancer activity of artemisinin. This study may provide a potential therapeutic choice for liver cancer.

Effects of qingre xiaoji recipe on the migration, chemotaxis, and tube formation capability of human lung adenocarcinoma cell induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Qingre Xiaoji Recipe (QXR) on the migration, chemotaxis, and tube formation capability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by human lung adenocarcinoma cells (SPC-A-1).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The QXR groups at different final concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 mg/mL) and a control group were set up. Then the chemotaxis and tube formation capabilities were observed using Erasion trace test, Transwell chamber assay, and Matrigel matrix tube formation assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>QXR at three concentrations (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/mL) had inhibition on the migration of HUVECs cultured by SPC-A-1 cell supernatant (P<0.05). Besides, the migration rate decreased along with increased concentrations. The number of chemotactic HUVECs was significantly less than that of the positive control group (P <0.01), and the inhibition rate of chemokine increased along with increased concentrations. Furthermore, the number of chemotactic HUVECs was negatively correlated to the drug concentration (r = -0.830, P <0.01). The area of HUVEC cell tubule formation was significantly lower than that of the positive control group (P <0.01). The inhibition rate of HUVEC cell tubule formation increased along with increased drug concentration. Besides, the area of HUVEC cell tubular formation was negatively correlated with the drug concentration (r = -0.937, P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mechanism of QXR for fighting against tumor angiogenesis might be correlated with its inhibition on the migration, chemotaxis, and tube formation of tumor vascular endothelial cells.</p>

Holotransferrin enhances selective anticancer activity of artemisinin against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Artemisinin, also termed qinghaosu, is extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine artemesia annua L. (the blue-green herb) in the early 1970s, which has been confirmed for effectively treating malaria. Additionally, emerging data prove that artemisinin exhibits anti-cancer effects against many types of cancers such as leukemia, melanoma, etc. Artemisinin becomes cytotoxic in the presence of ferrous iron. Since iron influx is high in cancer cells, artemisinin and its analogs selectively kill cancer cells with increased intracellular iron concentrations. This study is aimed to investigate the selective inhibitory effects of artemisinin on SMMC-7721 cells in vitro and determine the effect of holotransferrin, which increases the concentration of ferrous iron in cancer cells, combined with artemisinin on the anticancer activity. MTT assay was used for assessing the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells treated with artemisinin. The induction of apoptosis and inhibition of colony formation in SMMC-7721 cells treated with artemisinin were determined by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and colony formation assay, respectively. The results showed that artemisinin at various concentrations significantly inhibited growth, colony formation and cell viability of SMMC-7721 cells (P<0.05), likely due to induction of apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells. Of interest, it was found that incubation of artemisinin combined with holotransferrin sensitized the growth inhibitory effect of artemisinin on SMMC-7721 cells (P<0.01). Our data suggest that treatment with artemisinin leads to inhibition of viability and proliferation, and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells. Furthermore, we observed that holotransferrin significantly enhanced the anti-cancer activity of artemisinin. This study may provide a potential therapeutic choice for liver cancer.

Analysis of feature and development of traditional processing branches / 中国中药杂志

Processing of Chinese materia medica is one of the important part of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Drugs in small pieces or slices are special for China and the whole world. Processing technic of Chinses materia medica existed for thousands of years and presented the essence of TCM. The purpose of analyzing the feature and development of traditional processing culture branches was to make a better understanding of traditional processing technic, and further the development of special processing culture branches.

Effects of tuina manipulation on the three-dimensional space of cervical vertebral segments of cervical spondylosis patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the mechanisms of tuina manipulation for treating the dislocation of bone in cervical spondylosis (CS) patients by observing the effects of tuina manipulation on the three-dimensional (3D) angles.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August to December 2009 20 CS patients were assigned to Group 1 (10 cases, treated with relaxing manipulation) and Group 2 (10 cases, treated with relaxing manipulation and joint regulation). Besides, 10 healthy subjects were recruited as the normal group (treated with relaxing manipulation). Before and after manipulation intervention, all of them were scanned from the base of the skull to the first thoracic vertebra using Philips 64 spiral CT under equal conditions, thus obtaining the volume data. The 0.625 mm thickness was reconstructed using ITK reconstruction software provided by the digital medical laboratory, Software College of Shanghai Jiaotong University. The reconstruction of each cervical skeleton was finished referring to CT data. Changes of the 3D angles were compared among the three groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The regulation of the 3D C2 vertebra: Results of Group 2 were significantly larger than those of the normal group at X-, Y-, and Z-axis (P < 0.05). Results of Group 2 were significantly larger than those of Group 1 at X- and Z-axis (P < 0.05). But results of Group 1 were significantly larger than those of the normal group at Z-axis (P < 0.05). The regulation of the 3D C3 vertebra: Results of Group 2 were significantly larger than those of the normal group at X- and Y-axis (P < 0.05). Results of Group 2 were significantly larger than those of Group 1 at X-axis (P < 0.05). But results of Group 1 were significantly larger than those of the normal group at X-axis (P < 0.05). The regulation of the 3D C4 vertebra: Results of Group 2 were significantly larger than those of the normal group at X- and Y-axis (P < 0.05). Results of Group 2 were significantly larger than those of Group 1 at X- and Z-axis (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference among the three groups in the 3D spaces of C1, C5, C6, and C7. The larger 3D space was shown in Group 2 than in Group 1 and the normal group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The relaxing manipulation combined with joint regulation significantly improved the 3D angles of C2, C3, and C4 in CS patients. The mechanism of tuina manipulation for treating the dislocation of bone in CS patients might lie in adjusting the 3D space of the cervical spine, and improving its functions.</p>