Applicability of Zipf's Law in Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescriptions.

Objective Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions have been used to cure diseases in China for thousands of years, in which many TCM herbs have no definite common quantity. Some key TCM herbs are commonly used and thus deserve in-depth investigations based on a more acceptable classification method. This study analyzes whether TCM prescriptions follow Zipf's law and attempts to obtain the thresholds of key TCM herbs based on the application of Zipf's law. Methods A total of 84,418 TCM prescriptions were collected and standardized. We tested whether Zipf's law and Zipf's distribution fit the Chinese herb distributions. A linear fitting experiment was performed to verify the relationship between the frequency distribution and frequency of TCM herbs. Results The distribution of TCM herbs in TCM prescriptions conformed to Zipf's law. Accordingly, the thresholds were obtained for the key TCM herbs. Conclusion The distribution of TCM herbs in TCM prescriptions follows Zipf's law.

[Effect of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in intestinal protection by Sishen Pills against ulcerative colitis in mice].

The present study aimed to explore the effect of nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) signaling pathway in intestinal protection by Sishen Pills against ulcerative colitis(UC). After the UC model was induced by 3% dextran sodium sulfate(DSS), experimental animals were randomly divided into control group, model group, salazosulfapyridine(SASP) group, and low-and high-dose Sishen Pills groups. Drug intervention(ig) was performed for seven consecutive days during modeling. On the 7 th day, the mice were euthanized. The body weight and colon length were recorded, and the histopathological changes of the colon were observed by HE staining. Serum interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC), malondialdehyde(MDA), and reactive oxygen species(ROS) were detected by ELISA. The protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NADPH quinine oxidoreductase-1(NQO-1) was determined by Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited reduced body weight, colon length, and T-AOC, increased IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, and ROS, and diminished protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO-1 in the colon tissues. Compared with the model group, the SASP group and high-dose Sishen Pills group showed elevated body weight, colon length, and T-AOC, lowered IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, and ROS levels, and increased protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO-1 in the colon tissues. As assessed by HE staining, Sishen Pills could improve the pathological changes of the colon. The findings suggested that Sishen Pills could protect the colon against UC induced by 3% DSS. The specific mechanism of action may be related to the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects by the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Inability to capture with increasing current strength: Is this near-field or far-field?

We present a case of wide-complex tachycardia in which the clinical electrophysiological diagnosis was considered to be bundle branch re-entry ventricular tachycardia. A series of ventricular entrainment attempts were performed from the left and right ventricular septum to confirm the diagnosis. Entrainment pacing with a general current output (10 mA) was performed from the right ventricular septum with manifest fusion and a post-pacing interval similar to tachycardia cycle length. Thereafter, another entrainment attempt with a greater current output (20 mA) was performed from the same site. Paradoxically, concealed fusion was demonstrated by selective RB capture only, though there was no clear "RB" potential seen. In this case, we attempt to explain and illustrate the mechanism of paradoxical near-field inability to capture with increasing current strength.

Electrocardiographic conduction and repolarization markers associated with sudden cardiac death: moving along the electrocardiography waveform.

The QT interval along with its heart rate corrected form (QTc) are well-established ECG markers that have been found to be associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmogenesis. However, extensive preclinical and clinical investigations over the years have allowed for novel clinical ECG markers to be generated as predictors of arrhythmogenesis and sudden cardiac death. Repolarization markers include the older QTc, QT dispersion and newer Tpeak - Tend intervals, (Tpeak - Tend) / QT ratios, T-wave alternans (TWA), microvolt TWA and T-wave area dispersion. Meanwhile, conduction markers dissecting the QRS complex, such as QRS dispersion (QRSD) and fragmented QRS, were also found to correlate conduction velocity and unidirectional block with re-entrant substrates in various cardiac conditions. Both repolarization and conduction parameters can be combined into the excitation wavelength (λ). A surrogate marker for λ is the index of Cardiac Electrophysiological Balance (iCEB: QT / QRSd). Other markers based on conduction-repolarization are [QRSD x (Tpeak-Tend) / QRSd] and [QRSD x (Tpeak-Tend) / (QRSd x QT)]. Advancement in technology permitted sophisticated electrophysiological analyses such as principal component analysis and periodic repolarization dynamics to further improve risk stratification. This was closely followed by other novel indices including ventricular ectopic QRS interval, the f99 index and EntropyXQT, which integrates mathematical and physical calculations for determining the risk markers. Though proven to be effective in limited patient cohorts, more clinical studies across different cardiac pathologies are required to confirm their validity. As such, this review seeks to encapsulate the development of old and new ECG markers along with their associated utility and shortcomings in clinical practice.

[Investigation methodology and application on scientific and technological personnel of traditional Chinese medical resources based on data from Chinese scientific research paper].

The aim of this study is to identify the present status of the scientific and technological personnel in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) resource science. Based on the data from Chinese scientific research paper, an investigation regarding the number of the personnel, the distribution, their output of paper, their scientific research teams, high-yield authors and high-cited authors was conducted. The study covers seven subfields of traditional Chinese medicine identification, quality standard, Chinese medicine cultivation, harvest processing of TCM, market development and resource protection and resource management, as well as 82 widely used Chinese medicine species, such as Ginseng and Radix Astragali. One hundred and fifteen domain authority experts were selected based on the data of high-yield authors and high-cited authors. The database system platform "Skilled Scientific and Technological Personnel in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource Science-Chinese papers" was established. This platform successfully provided the retrieval result of the personnel, output of paper, and their core research team by input the study field, year, and Chinese medicine species. The investigation provides basic data of scientific and technological personnel in the field of traditional Chinese medicine resource science for administrative agencies and also evidence for the selection of scientific and technological personnel and construction of scientific research teams.

[Effect of xuebijing oral effervescent tablet on endotoxin induced fever and disseminated intravascular coagulation rabbit model].

In order to discover the mechanism of Xuebijing oral effervescent tablet (XBJOET) to treat infectious diseases, the effect of XBJOET on endotoxin induced rabbit fever and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was investigated. Auricle microcirculation in rabbit was detected by laser speckle blood perfusion imager system; coagulation function was measured by coagulation analyzer, fibrinolytic system was quantified by Elisa assay and micro thrombosis in tissues was observed with HE staining under light microscope. The results demonstrated that the body temperature of rabbit decreased significantly at 1-3 h after administration with 4.8, 2.4 and 1.2 g x kg(-1) XBJOET to endotoxin induced DIC rabbit model, the auricle microcirculation blood flow in model group (54.45 +/- 14.53) PU was lower than that in control group (77.18 +/- 12.32) PU. The auricle microcirculation blood flow increased markedly and there was significant difference between model group and 1.2 g x kg(-1) XBJOET group. There was significant difference between model group and control group in the content of PAI1 and FIB. The PAI1 levels in model and control groups were (30.48 +/- 2.46) ng x mL(-1) and (20.93 +/- 3.25) ng x mL(-1), respectively. The FIB levels in model and control group were (3.34 +/- 1.09) g x L(-1) and (4.84 +/- 1.10) g x L(-1), respectively. The content of PAI1 in rabbit plasma decreased notably, there were significant differences between model group and 4.8, 2.4 g x kg(-1) XBJOET groups. On the contrary the content of FIB increased. XBJOET possessed pharmacological activities of curing infectious fever and DIC, the mechanism of which is related to amelioration of microcirculation disturbance, inhibition of fibrinolytic system activation and coagulation and micro thrombosis elimination.

[Effects of jin chai antiviral capsule on IFITM3 expression in mice].

This study is to investigate the treatment of Jin Chai antiviral capsule for influenza virus FM1/47 (H1N1) infection. The model of pneumonia was established by dropping influenza virus into the nose of normal mice, real-time PCR and Western blot technique were used to detect the virus load and the interferoninducible transmembrane protein3 (IFITM3) in lung of mice at the 1st day, 3rd day, 5th day and 7th day after affected. The results showed that Jin Chai antiviral capsule in large, middle, small dose groups can decrease virus load significantly at each time point, after being affected (P<0.05, P<0.01), Jin Chai antiviral capsule can increase the interferoninducible transmembrane protein3 in lung of mice, large dose groups are significantly higher in expression of IFITM3 compared with model group at each time point (P<0.05, P<0.01). Middle dose groups are significantly higher in expression of IFITM3 compared with model group at the 3th day and the 5th day (P<0.05), small dose groups are significantly higher in expression of IFITM3 compared with model group at the 3th day (P<0.05). It can be concluded that Jin Chai antiviral capsule exerts antiviral effects against influenzavirus by raised expression of IFITM3.

[Effects of yin qiaojiedu soft capsule on influenza virus load and M1 expression in mice].

This study is to investigate the treatment of YinQiaojiedu soft capsule for influenza virus A/PR8/34 (H1N1) infection. The model of pneumonia was established by dropping influenza virus into the nose of normal mice, and the lung index and death rate were observed. Real time RT-PCR and Western blotting technique were used to detect the virus load and the relative expression of M1 protein in lungs of mice on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day after infection. The results showed that YinQiaojiedu soft capsule in 1 g x kg(-1) and 0.5 g x kg(-1) dose groups can decrease the lung index significantly on the 3rd, 5th and 7th day after being infected (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the number of death in the two groups of animals decreased significantly. YinQiaojiedu soft capsule in 1 g x kg(-1) dose group can decreased virus load at each time point, and lower it in 0.5 g x kg(-1) dose group at the 3rd, 5th and 7th day (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). YinQiaojiedu soft capsule can decrease the relative expression of M1 protein in lungs of mice, 1 g x kg(-1) and 0.5 g x kg(-1) dose groups are significantly lower in expression of M1 protein compared with model group at the 3rd and 7th day (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It can be concluded that YinQiaojiedu soft capsule exerts antiviral effects against influenza virus by downregulating expression of virus load and M1 protein.

[Pharmacodynamic experiment of the antivirus effect of Houttuynia cordata injection on influenza virus in mice].

It is to investigate the effect of two kinds of Houttuynia Cordata Injection on preventing and treating H1N1 influenza virus infection in mice. Pneumonia model was set up by intranasal infection of the normal and immunocompromised mice with influenza virus FM1 and PR8. The two injections were administered before and after the administration of virus, separately, and the lung index was observed. The results showed that the two preparations have obvious therapeutic effect on normal mice infected with influenza virus FM1 and PR8. And to FM1, the new injection's effect is better at small dosage. The results also showed that the two preparations have obvious prophylactic effect on immunodepressed mice infected with influenza virus FM1 and PR8. And to PR8, the old injection's effect is better at small dosage. Houttuynia Cordata Injection can improve the mice pneumonia caused by influenza virus H1N1 and decrease the lung index markedly. It has a remarkable preventive and therapeutic effect on H1N1 influenza virus in mice.

[Experimental study on the anti-liver fibrosis effect of guzhang tablet in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the anti-liver-fibrosis effect of Guzhang Tablet (GZT) and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: Fifty female rats, weighing 200-220 g were randomly divided into the blank control group, the model group, the small dosage GZT group, the large dosage GZT group and the Biejiajian Pill (BJJP) group, 10 rats in each group. The changes of related serum enzymes, liver-fibrosis marker, oxygen free radical and liver tissue pathology were observed after 8 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the model group, the serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutamyltranspetidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (AKP) were improved in the GZT groups, better effect was got in the large dosage GZT group. (2) Compared with the blank control group, GZT showed no effect on serum total protein (TP) but with raising albumin (ALB) effect. (3) Compared with blank control group, the levels of hyaluronidase (HA), laminin (LN), collagen type IV (IV-C) and procollagen type III (PC III) in both GZT groups were lower, especially in the large dosage GZT group. (4) Small and large dosage of GZT showed effect in reducing malonyldialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione-peroxidose(GSH-Px) and nitric oxide (NO) content, but the effect on increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) similar to that of BJJP with no significant different. (5) GZT, both small and large dosage, had obvious anti-liver fibrosis action, which was superior to that of BJJP. CONCLUSION: In the genetic and developing processes of liver fibrosis in rats, GZT could protect the liver cells, inhibit the synthesis and reduce the content of collagens, the mechanism might be related with its action in antagonizing peroxidation injury, indicating that GZT could effectively prevent liver fibrosis formation.