Body constitutions of traditional Chinese medicine caused a significant effect on irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), all types of body constitutions, except for the Gentleness (ie, the control group in our study), have disease susceptibility and affect the disease development process. This study attempted to investigate the relationship between TCM body constitutions and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on Taiwan Biobank (TWB) and collected clinical data from 13 941 subjects aged 30 to 70. The results of the study showed that subjects with Yang-deficiency (N = 3161 subjects, odds ratio [OR] = 2.654, 95% CI = 1.740-3.910), Ying-deficiency (N = 3331 subjects, OR = 1.096, 95% CI = 0.627-1.782) or Stasis (N = 2335 subjects, OR = 1.680, 95% CI = 0.654-3.520) were more likely to have IBS. RESULTS: If the subjects with two or more TCM body constitutions: Yang-deficiency + Ying-deficiency (OR = 3.948, 95% CI = 2.742-5.560), Yang-deficiency + Stasis (OR = 2.312, 95% CI = 1.170-4.112), Ying-deficiency + Stasis (OR = 1.851, 95% CI = 0.828-3.567), or Yang-deficiency + Ying-deficiency + Stasis (OR = 3.826, 95% CI = 2.954-4.932) were also prone to IBS. CONCLUSION: These results confirmed the high correlation between TCM body constitutions and IBS. Because the current treatment for IBS is not entirely satisfactory, integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine might provide patients with an alternative treatment option to alleviate IBS.

Ginkgo biloba extract inhibits oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced matrix metalloproteinase activation by the modulation of the lectin-like oxLDL receptor 1-regulated signaling pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: The overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) has been found in atherosclerotic lesions. Previous reports have identified that oxLDL, via the upregulation of lectin-like ox-LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1), modulates the expression of MMPs in endothelial cells. Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE), from Ginkgo biloba leaves, has often been considered as a therapeutic compound for cardiovascular and neurologic diseases. However, further investigation is needed to ascertain the probable molecular mechanisms underlying the antiatherogenic effects of GbE. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GbE on oxLDL-activated MMPs of human endothelial cells and to test the involvement of LOX-1 and protein kinase C (PKC)-α, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were stimulated with oxLDL, with or without GbE treatment. LOX-1 signaling and MMPs expression were tested by Western blotting or activity assay. Further, protein expression levels of PKC-α, ERK, nuclear factor-κB, and PPAR-γ were investigated by Western blotting. RESULTS: GbE inhibited the oxLDL-caused upregulation of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-3. Pretreating with GbE reduced oxLDL-activated LOX-1 expression. Furthermore, pharmacologic inhibitors of free radicals, Ca(++), PKC, and GbE, inhibited the oxLDL-induced ERK and nuclear factor-κB activation. Lastly, GbE ameliorated the oxLDL-inhibited PPAR-γ function. CONCLUSIONS: Data obtained in this study indicate that GbE actives its protective effects by regulating the LOX-1-mediated PKC-α/ERK/PPAR-γ/MMP pathway, resulting in the suppression of reactive oxygen species formation and, ultimately, the reduction of MMPs expression in endothelial cells treated with oxLDL.