Mfsd2a-mediated lysolipid transport is important for renal recovery after acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a global public health concern with high mortality and morbidity. In ischemic-reperfusion injury (IRI), a main cause of AKI, the brush border membrane of S3 proximal tubules (PT) is lost to the tubular lumen. How injured tubules reconstitute lost membrane lipids during renal recovery is not known. Here, we identified Mfsd2a, a sodium-dependent lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) transporter, to be expressed specifically in the basolateral membrane of S3 PT. Using an in vivo activity probe for Mfsd2a, transport activity was found to be specific to the S3 PT. Mice with haploinsufficiency of Mfsd2a exhibited delayed recovery of renal function after acute IRI, with depressed urine osmolality and elevated levels of histological markers of damage, fibrosis, and inflammation, findings corroborated by transcriptomic analysis. Lipidomics revealed a deficiency in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) containing phospholipids in Mfsd2a haploinsufficiency. Treatment of Mfsd2a haploinsufficient mice with LPC-DHA improved renal function and reduced markers of injury, fibrosis, and inflammation. Additionally, LPC-DHA treatment restored S3 brush border membrane architecture and normalized DHA-containing phospholipid content. These findings indicate that Mfsd2a-mediated transport of LPC-DHA is limiting for renal recovery after AKI and suggest that LPC-DHA could be a promising dietary supplement for improving recovery following AKI.

A gradient-based discriminant analysis method for process quality control of carbonized TCM via Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy: A case study on carbonized Typhae Pollen.

Carbonized traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a kind of distinctive traditional drug which has been widely used in various bleeding syndromes for over two thousand years, and most of them are still in clinical use. Although they share similar processing method: stir-frying, there are no specific quality standards and few quality control researches carried out on carbonized TCM up until now. Carbonized Typhae Pollen (CTP) is a typical carbonized TCM with efficacy of eliminating blood stasis and stanching bleeding. In this study, a novel process quality control model coupled with near infrared spectroscopy was established, called Gradient-based Discriminant Analysis method (GDA). Compared with conventional modeling methods (Convolutional Neural Network, Linear Discriminant Analysis, Standard Normal Variate-LDA), GDA model applied in fiber optic probe acquisition mode exhibited highest test accuracy (0.961), satisfactory correct identification (internal validation, 100%; external validation, 97.1%) and excellent model stability. This method provided a perfect guideline for process quality control of Carbonized TCM as well as ensured their clinical efficacy.

Quality Evaluation of Standard Decoction of Zingiberis Rhizoma / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To establish the quality control methods for the standard decoction of Zingiberis Rhizoma. Method: DNA barcode primitives were identified for the medicinal materials from different origins; according to the standard of Chinese herbal medicine decoction preparation principle,the identified Zingiberis Rhizoma was prepared into standard decoction for analysis. Meanwhile, the extraction method and analysis method were validated from methodologies, and the transfer rate of 6-gingerol as well as the extraction rate of standard decoction of Zingiberis Rhizoma were calculated. In addition,the quality standard of standard decoction of Zingiberis Rhizoma was also established based. The structures of main chromatographic peaks were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) to clarify the main chemical constituents in the standard decoction of Zingiberis Rhizoma. Result: All the samples were identified as Zingiberis Rhizoma. Under the conditions established in this paper,the standard curve of 6-gingerol was Y=661.56X+2.493 3(r=0.999 3),and the RSD was 0.5%in precision test, indicating that the instrument precision was good. The repeatability test showed that the RSD was 0.3%, indicating that the method had good repeatability. The stability test showed that the RSD was 0.4%, indicating that the test solution had good stability within 24 h. The recovery rate was 97.2%and the RSD was 0.6%,indicating that the method was accurate and reliable. 6-gingerol's transfer rate ranged from 31.8%to 57.4%and the extraction rate was within the range of 9.6%-23.1%. The fingerprint similarity of 12 batches of Zingiberis Rhizoma standard decoction was>90%. Conclusion: The established quality control method for Zingiberis Rhizoma was stable and feasible; meanwhile, the standard preparation method for Zingiberis Rhizoma and its quality evaluation system were also established in this study.

CircRNA as a new field in human disease research / 中国中药杂志

For the characteristics of high stability， high conservation between species， and tissue specificity， circular RNA(circRNA) has been expected to become a new molecular biomarker for the clinical diagnosis， treatment and prognosis， and the potential target for targeted therapy. Study on the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome includes not only the macro indexes collected by using four traditional methods of diagnosis， but also contains some micro information that can not be achieved by using the four traditional diagnosis methods. The questions such as how to deal with the relationship between the holistic concept of TCM and micro research， and how to solve the contradiction between the fuzziness of syndrome description and the accuracy of microscopic research， need to be considered before the micro research in TCM syndrome. circRNA as a new field of understanding human disease， may provide some ideas for the TCM syndrome research due to its characteristics. Overall， it is necessary to pay attention to explore the molecular level with same syndrome in different diseases and reveal the connotation and essence of syndromes by understanding of circRNA.

Effect of acupuncture at Zusanli on T Iymphocyte subsets in mesenteric lymph nodes of spleen deficiency syndrome rats / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Intestinal and lymphoid tissues constitute an important part of intestinal immunity, which plays an important regulatory role in spleen deficiency and hydronephrosis. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture on T lymphocyte subsets in lymph nodes of rats with spleen deficiency, and to investigate the correlation of spleen deficiency with intestinal immunity and the mechanism of acupuncture for spleen deficiency syndrome. METHODS: Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: model, acupuncture and blank control groups. The rat model of spleen deficiency was established by fatigue-induced spleen injury plus abnormal diet for 31 days. Afterwards, the rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture at Zusanli(ST 36).Urine D-xylose excretion rate was detected during modeling and treatment.Then, the mesenteric lymph nodes were removed, and the changes in T lymphocyte subsets in the mesentericlymph nodes were observed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Urine D-xylose excretion rate under spleen deficiency in the modeling and acupuncture groups was significantly lower than that in the blank control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); after acupuncture, the urine D-xylose excretion rate was significantly increased compared with the modeling group (P < 0.01), but still lower than that in the blank control group (P < 0.05). The count of CD4+T lymphocytes, count of CD8+T lymphocytes and ratio of CD4+/CD8+T lymphocytes were ranked as follows: blank control group >acupuncture group>modeling group(P<0.01 or P<0.05).These results suggest that acupuncture at Zusanli can improve the urine D-xylose excretion rate, regulate the balance of T lymphocyte subsets in mesenteric lymph node of rats with spleen deficiency, thus improving the intestinal immune function, spleen deficiency systems, disorder of intestinal digestive function, intestinal digestion and absorption, as well as anorexia, loose stool, diarrhea and other symptoms of the digestive system.

Analysis of Chinese patent medicine prescriptions for Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome / 中国中药杂志

To analyze the medication characteristics and compatibility rules in treatment of Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. Chinese patent medicine prescriptions for Qi stagnation and blood stasis were collected from the 2015 edition of Pharmacopoeia of the people's Republic of China(herein after referred to as Chinese Pharmacopoeia) and Drug Standards of the People's Republic of China Ministry of Public Health-Chinese Patent Drug(herein after referred to as Chinese Patent Drug). Traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system(TCMISS V2.5) was used to analyze the rules of prescription composition. Seventy-nine prescriptions included 105 symptoms, and dysmenorrhea, palpitations, chest tightness, stomach pain were common symptoms of Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. Among 221 herbs, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Angelicae Sinenses Radix ranked top 3 in usage frequency for the treatment of Qi stagnation and blood stasis. The herbal combinations included Angelicae Sinenses Radix-Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Carthami Flos, Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Carthami Flos, and Carthami Flos-Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Paeoniae Radix Rubra-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Angelicae Sinenses Radix-Cyperi Rhizoma-Corydalis Rhizoma was the core herbal combination. In addition, a new prescription(Foenoculi Fructus-Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma-Caryophylli Flos-Angelicae Sinenses Radix-Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Leonuri Herba) for Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was formed. Overall, the main symptom for the Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome could be pain, but because of different pathogenic factors, it could be reflected by different symptoms. Accordingly, invigorating the circulation of Qi and blood is the basic treatment for the Qi stagnation and blood stasis. Meanwhile, the treatment based on differentiation of symptoms and signs for different reasons should be considered. The prescriptions mainly included the herbs that could invigorate the circulation of Qi and blood, and were accompanied by the herbs that could warm spleen and stomach for dispelling cold.

Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and interleukin-1β in articular cartilage during the development of knee osteoarthritis caused by immobilization in rabbits / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of warming-needle acupuncture on the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the articular cartilage in knee osteoarthritis induced by immobilization in rabbits.MethodsA total of 30 adult male Japanese white rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups by random number table method: a normal group, a model group and a treatment group, with 10 rabbits in each group. Knee osteoarthritis was induced by 6 weeks of immobilization. The rabbits in the treatment group received warming-needle acupuncture after modeling at points of “Neixiyan” (EX-LE4), “Dubi” (ST35), “Zusanli” (ST36) and “Yanglingquan” (GB34) for 4 weeks. The level of MMP-1 and IL-1β in the articular cartilage of the knee were determined with radioimmunological assay.ResultsThere were significant difference in the levels of MMP-1(0.16 ± 0.02 ng/mg, 0.37 ± 0.02 ng/mg, and 0.28 ± 0.03 ng/mg;F=258.251) and IL-1β (0.21 ± 0.01 pg/mg, 0.34 ± 0.02pg/mg, and 0.31 ± 0.04 pg/mg;F=127.112) among the normal group, model group and treatment group. The levels of MMP-1 and IL-1β both in the model group and treatment group were significant higher than those in the normal group (allP<0.01), while the levels of MMP-1 and IL-1β in the treatment group were significant lower than those in the model group (allP<0.01).ConclusionWarming-needle acupuncture can effectively reduced the levels of MMP-1 and IL-1β in the articular cartilage in knee osteoarthritis induced by immobilization in rabbits.

Prospective randomized controlled study on advanced primary hepatic cancer treated by ganfule prescription / 中国中药杂志

Primary hepatic cancer is one of common malignant tumors. When being diagnosed, most patients were in middle and advanced stage and missed opportunities for surgical treatment. Therefore, chemotherapy and Chinese medicines become the main therapies for advanced primary hepatic cancer. This study was designed to observe the efficacy of Ganfule prescription combined with chemotherapy in treating advanced primary hepatic cancer. In the study, 58 cases of advanced primary hepatic cancer were randomly divided into the treatment group (30 cases) and the control group (28 cases). The treatment group was administered with Ganfule prescription combining with chemotherapy, while the control group was given chemotherapy alone. The tumors progress, quality of life, serum AFP level were evaluated in every three treatment cycles; and the survival rate was followed up for one year. According to the results of this study, after the treatment, there was no statistical significance in the comparison between the two groups in terms of response rate (RR) and disease control rate (DCR) (30.0% vs 25.0%, P = 0.670; 66.7% vs 60.7%, P = 0.637). The improvement rate of KPS score in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (43.33% vs 21.43%, P < 0.05). The reduction of serum AFP level in the treatment group was more significant than that of the control group (P < 0.05). During the one-year follow-up visit, the survival rate of the treatment group was 26.67%, and the control group was 25.00%, which indicated no statistical significance. This study drew the following conclusion that the oral administration of Ganfule prescription could improve the quality of life of patients of primary hepatic cancer, decrease the serum AFP level and maintain the disease control rate and the one-year survival rate.

Study on inhibitory effects of Taxus chinensis var. mairei aqueous extract on the proliferation of tumor cells / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the inhibitory effects of Taxus chinensis var. mairei Aqueous Extract (TAE) on SGC-7901 and MCF-7 cells, and to explore its mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The inhibitory effects of TAT and Paclitaxel on the proliferation of SGC-7901 and MCF-7 cells were tested by MTT method. Their effects on the morphology of SGC-7901 and MCF-7 cells were observed by microscope. Its effects on the cell apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The TAE had inhibitory effects on the proliferation of tumor cells, and its mechanisms were correlated to inducing the apoptosis of tumor cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TAE had inhibitory effects on the proliferation of tumor cells.</p>

Analysis on acupuncture literature in Science Citation Index (SCI) periodicals in 2007 / 中国针灸

To grasp the international developing tendency of acupuncture research and provide some references for promoting acupuncture and moxibustion internationalization process, the articles about acupuncture in Science Citation Index (SCI) periodicals in 2007 were retrieved by adopting the retrieval tactics on line in combination with database searching. Results indicate that 257 articles about acupuncture had been retrived from the SCI Web databases. These articles were published in 125 journals respectively, most of which were Euramerican journals. Among these journals, the impact factor of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 25. 547, is the highest one. It is shown that the impact factors of the SCI periodicals, in which acupuncture articles embodied are increased, the quality of these articles are improved obviously and the types of the articles are various in 2007, but there is obvious difference in the results of these studies due to the difference of experimental methods, the subjects of these experiments and acupuncture manipulations. Therefore, standardization of many problems arising from the researches on acupuncture is extremely imminent.

Investigation of hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning on anoxic resistance and anti-weariness at high altitude / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To explore the influence of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) preconditioning on anoxic resistance and anti-weariness at high altitude.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>(1) SOD, MDA, NO, NOS, BLA and BUN of 20 youths living at 3 700 m altitude for half year were tested, then they were divided into group A (n=10, received HBO pretreatment twice) and group B (n=10, received HBO pretreatment 5 times) randomly. They were asked to pedal the EMG-bicycle-ergometer at the second and eighth day, and then the same items were tested. (2) 29 youth who would go to Astronomical Spot (5200 m) were randomly divided into group HBO (n=11, received HBO pretreatment once per day for 2 days at Yecheng (1400 m)) and comparison group (n=10). When they reached I Astronomical Spot, thematic biochemical index were investigated. (3) When 20 youth reached Thirty Milepost Barracks (3700 m) at the second day in their way to Immortal Gulf (5380 m) from Yecheng were randomly divided into group HBO (n=10, received HBO pretreatment once per day for 3 days) and comparison group (n=10). When they reached Immortal Gulf, the thematic biochemical index were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) SOD, NO, NOS were increased and BLA, BUN, MDA were decrease in group A compared with that in group B until the eighth day, there was significant difference (P < 0.01). (2) SOD, NO, NOS were increased and BLA, BUN, MDA were decrease in group HBO compared with that in comparison that in group, there was significant difference between groups (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBO could enhance the activity of anti-oxidase and the cleared ability of lactic acid, and the effect of anti-weariness could last for 8 days.</p>

Clinical observation on auxiliary treatment with suanzaoren decoction for chronic severe hepatitis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the curative effect and safety of auxiliary treatment with Suanzaoren Decoction (SZRD) on patients with chronic severe hepatitis (CSH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients, with the diagnosis in accordance with the diagnostic criterion of CSH, were assigned to the treated group and the control group, 30 in each group. Patients in the control group were treated with comprehensive therapy including symptomatic supportive treatment, anti-infective therapy and artificial liver plasmapheresis etc., while those in the treated group were orally taken SZRD additionally. Patients' condition of sleeping and changes of total bilirubin (TBIL), prothrombin activity (PTA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were observed before and after treatment, and the adverse reactions were observed as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sleeping status were significantly improved in the treated group after treatment, and the serum levels of TBIL, TNF-alpha and IL-1 were significantly decreased. The improvement rate was 66.7% (20/30) and significantly higher than that (40.0%, 12/30) in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SZRD can significantly improve the sleeping status of CSH patients, alleviate the hepato-cellular injury by inflammatory cytokines and without obvious adverse reaction.</p>

Effect of Suanzaoren decoction on acute hepatic failure in mice / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Suanzao nacute hepatic failure in mice.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Acute liver failure was induced in male Kunming strain mice by enterocoelia injecting the animals with D-Gal-N and LPS. The mice in treatment groups were given corresponding drug 2 h before administration of D-Ga1-N and LPS, and the mice in control group were given the same dose of distilled water. The 24 h survival rate, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were compared. Serum the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 and the levels of SOD, MDA, GR, GSH, NO and NOS in the liver were determined.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Treatment with suanzaoren decoction could increase the survival rate and improve the liver histological feather. Suanzaoren decoction inhibited the serum the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-alpha and IL-1, and reduced the levels of MDA, NO and NOS and increased the levels of GR and SOD in the liver.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment with Suanzaoren decoction can suppress the D-Gal-N/LPS-induced acute hepatic failure. It may be the mechanism that Suanzaoren decocotion regulate the production of inflammatory cytokines and free radicals.</p>

Metabolites and the pharmacokinetics of kobophenol A from Caragana sinica in rats.

This research aims to study the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of phytoestrogen kobophenol A (1), the main active compound of Caragana sinica (Buc'hoz) Rehd. (Fabaceae), in rats. Metabolites of 1 in rats' feces were isolated and purified by multi-chromatograph techniques; three new metabolites of 1, named koboquinone A (M1), koboquinone B (M2) and koboquinone C (M3), were isolated, purified from rats' feces after they being orally administered with 1. Structure identification of the metabolites was fulfilled by spectroscopic analysis. M1 and M2 are structurally different to those natural occurring stilbene tetramers, which also have para-quinone structure. M1 also showed the activity of stimulating the proliferation of cultured osteoblasts. The pharmacokinetics of 1 in rats could be described by a two-compartmental model (P<0.05). The half-life was 0.68 h for i.v. administration and 5.78 h for oral administration. The oral bioavailability of 1 was calculated to be 2.0%; rats tissue distribution experiments show that 1 was prominently concentrated in livers. Both of the low oral bioavailability and the rapid reduction of 1 in blood indicated a suitable formulation is needed while it is developed as a new drug.

Integrative therapy for postoperative intractable enterococcus faecium infections / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the treatment of patients with infection of enterococcus faecium after surgery who failed to respond to antibiotics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five patients after surgery were proved to have Enterococcus faecium infection by bacterial culture. They were treated by sensitive antibiotics but failed. Comprehensive treatment prescribed included immunoenhancements, enteral nutrition, and traditional Chinese medicines.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four patients were discharged from the hospital after recovery, and was cared else where after 1 month treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Comprehensive treatment is a better way to treat patients with refractory enterococcus faecium infection after surgery.</p>