Effectiveness and safety of different academic schools of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of obesity: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a global epidemic. Since 1975, the global obesity rate has almost tripled. Although many systematic reviews and clinical trials have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can effectively treat obesity, the effectiveness and safety of different academic schools of TCM in treating obesity have not been systematically evaluated. METHODS: The retrieval language of this study was Chinese and English. From the date of creation of the following data to June 2023, the data of Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Science Network, China Biomedical Literature Database, Central Controlled Trial Registration Center, and China Science Journal Database were retrieved, respectively. This study included clinical randomized controlled trials related to the treatment of obesity by different academic schools of TCM. The main outcome measures were body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist hip ratio, body fat content, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and blood lipid level. In addition, we manually searched other resources, including reference lists of identified publications, conference articles, and gray literature. RESULTS: This study will provide a more diverse choice of treatment options. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this study is to summarize and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different academic schools of TCM in improving and treating obese patients from clinical trials, so as to provide more options for obesity treatment.

Obesity-Related Glomerulopathy: From Mechanism to Therapeutic Target.

Obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) is a secondary glomerular disease caused by obesity, with clinical manifestations such as proteinuria and glomerulomegaly. Currently, the high incidence of obesity brings a change in the spectrum of kidney diseases across the globe, including China. ORG has become another important secondary nephropathy leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and its incidence has increased significantly. This trend is bound to bring about a serious socioeconomic burden. Therefore, it is urgent to study its pathogenesis and intervention measures. Currently, the occurrence and development mechanisms in ORG are complicated by many factors, which are still unclear. In the past 20 years, with the continuous intensive research on mechanisms such as hypoxia in the metabolic process, immune inflammation, and pyroptosis, there have been new advances in the mechanism of ORG, especially the important role of inflammation in podocyte injury and its impact on the progress of ORG. Here, we briefly review the possible pathogenic role of the inflammasome in the podocyte damage in ORG and summarize the possible therapeutical strategies targeting inflammasome.

Eucommia, Cuscuta, and Drynaria Extracts Ameliorate Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis by Inhibiting Osteoclastogenesis Through PI3K/Akt Pathway.

Osteoporosis is one of the most common diseases in the world which resulted in heavy socioeconomic burden and a public health threat. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is the most common secondary reason of osteoporosis. Therapeutic strategies using traditional Chinese medicine are under investigation for osteoporosis, with efforts to improve efficacy and clarify the mechanism. The combination of Eucommia, Cuscuta, and Drynaria is widely used in traditional Chinese decoction for osteoporosis treatment, but the experimental efficacy and mechanism are still unclear. Administration of E.C.D. extracts (Eucommia, Cuscuta, and Drynaria) in experimental GIO rats resulted in decreased urinal calcium, phosphorus loss, and decreased expression of RANKL, CTX in serum, increased serum calcium, phosphorus, and OPG level. E.C.D. extracts also improved bone density, structural integrity, and biomechanical function in experimental GIO rats. These finding were associated with E.C.D. extracts' treatment efficacy to GIO in vivo. The balance between osteoclast and osteoblast activity is essential for bone remodeling and bone related disease. The E.C.D. extracts inhibited Raw 264.7 cell differentiation to osteoclast in vitro. On the other hand, it promoted OPG expression of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) which can suppress the osteoclast genesis. E.C.D. extracts also increased the Wnt1 and Runx2 expression which are related to osteoblast formation. It also regulated the paracrine effect of MSC to inhibit osteoclast differentiation. The analysis of HPLC and comprehensive pharmacology identified the constituents of E.C.D. extracts and the potential osteoporosis-related targets mediated by E.C.D. extracts. The KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that PI3K/Akt pathway may be involved in the regulation osteoclast genesis by E.C.D. extracts and the result of Western blot of vitro assays proved it. Collectively, these data demonstrate E.C.D. extracts can inhibit osteoclast differentiation to foster experimental osteoporosis both in vivo and in vitro and it may exert the function of inhibiting osteoclast differentiation through PI3K/Akt pathway.

Ethyl Acetate Extract of Nepenthes ventricosa x maxima Exerts Preferential Killing to Oral Cancer Cells.

Nepenthes plants are a folk medicine in many Southeast Asia countries for curing diseases but its anticancer effect is rarely investigated. The objectives of this study were to investigate the antioral cancer ability of ethyl acetate extract of Nepenthes ventricosa x maxima (EANV). The preferential killing ability of EANV was determined by MTS-based cell viability assays. The bioactive effects were further screened by flow cytometry for apoptosis, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. At 24 h treatment, EANV dose dependently decreased six types of oral cancer cells, but the normal oral cells (HGF-1) kept a 90% viability. EANV also showed chronic antiproliferative effects and inhibited 3D sphere formation ability of oral cancer cells. Ca9-22 and CAL 27 oral cancer cells with high response to EANV increased subG1 populations and enhanced Annexin V- and pancaspase-detected apoptosis in these cells. EANV also induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial superoxide and the dysfunction of mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, the oxidative DNA damage level such as 8-oxo-2'deoxyguanosine was increased in EANV-treated oral cancer cells. Taken together, EANV has a preferential killing effect against oral cancer cells associated with oxidative stress, apoptosis, and DNA damage, suggesting EANV as a potential antioral cancer agent.

A comparison of mutagenic PhIP and beneficial 8-C-(E-phenylethenyl)quercetin and 6-C-(E-phenylethenyl)quercetin formation under microwave and conventional heating.

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is the most abundant mutagen/carcinogen produced in high temperature treated protein food. Quercetin has been shown to inhibit PhIP formation by trapping phenylacetaldehyde to form two human beneficial adducts 6-C-(E-phenylethenyl)quercetin (6-CEPQ) and 8-C-(E-phenylethenyl)quercetin (8-CEPQ). Here we studied the formation of PhIP as well as the phenylacetaldehyde-trapping ability of quercetin in microwave heating and conventional heating systems. LC-MS was applied for the comparison of PhIP formed in chemical models using microwave heating and conductive heating. Results showed that PhIP was produced time dependently under both heating conditions. Microwave heating produced a smaller amount of PhIP compared with conductive heating. Moreover, quercetin showed a more potent inhibitory effect on PhIP formation in microwave heating systems than in conductive heating models. The amount of 6-CEPQ and 8-CEPQ produced in chemical models and onion/beef soup using microwave heating was about 5 and 1.5 times more than using conductive heating, respectively. Our results demonstrate that microwave heating was a much safer and healthier thermal processing technology than conventional heating in terms of formation of less mutagenic PhIP and production of more human beneficial compounds 6-CEPQ and 8-CEPQ.

[Effect of Sanhuangyinchi decoction on liver damage and caspase-3 in rats with acute hepatic failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effect of Sanhuangyinchi decoction (SHYCD) on liver damage and the pro-apoptotic factor caspase-3 in rats with acute hepatic failure. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, Angongniuhuang group (AGNH) and SHYCD group. Acute hepatic failure was induced in the rats by intraperitoneal injections of D-GaLN and LPS, and the death rate, ALT, TBIL, PT and caspase-3 activity was observed or tested. RESULTS: At 36 h after the injections, the death rate of the rats was 74.29% (26/35) in the model group, 31.43% (11/35) in AGNH group and 28.57%(10/35) in SHYCD group. The death rate, ALT, TBIL, PT and caspase-3 activity in AGNH and SHYCD groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.01). SHYCD showed stronger effect than AGNH in depressing TBIL and the activity of caspase-3 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: SHYCD can improve the liver function and inhibit the activity of caspase-3 in rats, which can be the possible mechanism for its therapeutic effect against acute hepatic failure.

Protective effects of medical ozone combined with traditional Chinese medicine against chemically-induced hepatic injury in dogs.

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of medical ozone (O(3)) combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Yigan Fuzheng Paidu Capsules (YC) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatic injury in dogs. METHODS: Thirty healthy dogs were divided randomly into five groups (n = 6 in each group), namely control, oleanolic acid tablet (OAT), O(3), YC and O(3) + YC, given either no particular pre-treatment, oral OAT, medical ozone rectal insulfflation every other day, oral YC, or oral YC plus medical ozone rectal insulfflation every other day, respectively, for 30 consecutive days. After pre-treatment, acute hepatic injury was induced in all dogs with a single-dose intraperitoneal injection of CCl(4). General condition and survival time were recorded. The biochemical and hematological indexes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT), serum total bilirubin (TBIL), prothrombin time (PT), blood ammonia (AMMO), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured after CCl(4) injection. Hepatic pathological changes were also observed. RESULTS: Compared to the other four groups, the changes of group O(3) + YC dogs' general conditions (motoricity, mental state, eating, urination and defecation) could be better controlled. In group O(3) + YC the survival rates were higher (P < 0.05 vs group control). AST/ALT values were kept within a normal level in group O(3) + YC. Hepatic histopathology showed that hepatic injury in group O(3) + YC was less serious than those in the other four groups. CONCLUSION: Medical ozone combined with TCM YC could exert a protective effect on acute liver injury induced by CCl(4).

[Protective effect of Yigan Fuzheng Paidu capsules combined with ozone on CCl4-induced acute hepatic injury in dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of Yigan Fuzheng Paidu Capsules (YC) combined with medical ozone against hepatic injury in dogs induced by hepatotoxic drug. METHODS: Twenty-four dogs were randomized equally into 4 groups (n=6), namely the model group, oleanolic acid tablet (OAT) group, YC group and YC+O(3) group, given either no particular treatment, oral OAT at 10 mg/day, oral YC at 0.2 g/day, or YC at 0.2 g/day plus 150 ml medical ozone transrectal insufflation every other day, respectively, for totally 30 consecutive days. Acute hepatic injury was induced after the treatment in the dogs with a sing-dose intraperitoneal injection of 0.9 ml/kg CCl(4) and peanut oil mixture (1:1, W/W). The general condition, survival time, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT), serum total bilirubin (TBIL), prothrombin time (PT), blood ammonia (AMMO), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were recorded or measured. The hepatic pathological changes were observed upon death or on day 15 following CCl(4) injection. RESULTS: Compared with the other 3 treatment protocols, YC plus O(3) showed favorable effects on the activity, mental state, diet, urination and defecation of the dogs, which had significantly higher survival rate and higher levels of ALT, TBIL, PT, and AMMO than the model and OAT groups (P<0.05). AST/ALT remained normal in YC+O(3) group, which had also milder hepatic injury than the other 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: YC combined with medical ozone may decrease transaminase and blood ammonia levels, relieve jaundice, prolong the survival time of dogs with CCl(4)-induced hepatic injury.

[An epidemiological study on domestic violence in Hunan, China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) in Hunan. METHODS: Using a multi-stage sampling strategy, 9451 households involving 32 720 persons in urban, rural and industrial areas in Hunan, China were studied. Multiform clue investigation and face-to-face interviews were combined to investigate the prevalence of DV. RESULTS: A lifetime prevalence of DV was reported by 1533 households (16.2%). A total of 1098 households (11.6%) reported at least one incident of DV in the previous year. Both lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DV varied significantly by geographic setting (P < 0.01). The lifetime prevalence abuse rates were: spousal 10.2%, child abuse 7.8%, and elder 1.5%. With regard to household structure, the lifetime prevalence of DV was highest among those remarried families (21.0%), followed by married couples with one child and extended families with several generations living together (20.1% and 20.0%, respectively). The highest rate of spousal abuse was found among remarried families (14.7%), while child and elder abuse was most prevalent among extended families (12.4% and 4.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that although the prevalence of DV in Hunan was modest compared to Western countries, it remained a serious public health problem affecting over 1 in 10 households. Furthermore, the prevalence of various types of DV varied by geographic setting and family structure, suggesting that diverse geographic setting and family constellations carried different risk and protective features.