Chemical Comparison and Identification of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors of Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma and Dioscoreae Spongiosae Rhizoma by Chemometric Analysis and Spectrum-Effect Relationship.

Dioscoreae hypoglaucae Rhizoma (DH) and Dioscoreae spongiosae Rhizoma (DS) are two similar Chinese herbal medicines derived from the Dioscorea family. DH and DS have been used as medicines in China and other Asian countries for a long time, but study on their phytochemicals and bioactive composition is limited. This present study aimed to compare the chemical compositions of DH and DS, and explore the anti-xanthine oxidase components based on chemometric analysis and spectrum-effect relationship. Firstly, an HPLC method was used to establish the chemical fingerprints of DH and DS samples, and nine common peaks were selected. Then, hierarchical clustering analysis, principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were employed to compare and discriminate DH and DS samples based on the fingerprints data, and four steroidal saponins compounds (protodioscin, protogracillin, dioscin, gracillin) could be chemical markers responsible for the differences between DH and DS. Meanwhile, the anti-xanthine oxidase activities of these two herbal medicines were evaluated by xanthine oxidase inhibitory assay in vitro. Pearson correlation analysis and partial least squares regression analysis were subsequently used to investigate the spectrum-effect relationship between chemical fingerprints and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities. The results showed that four steroidal saponins, including protodioscin, protogracillin, methyl protodioscin and pseudoprogracillin could be potential anti-xanthine oxidase compounds in DH and DS. Furthermore, the xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of the four selected inhibitors were validated by anti-xanthine oxidase inhibitory assessment and molecular docking experiments. The present work provided evidence for understanding of the chemical differences and the discovery of the anti-xanthine oxidase constituent of DH and DS, which could be useful for quality evaluation and bioactive components screening of these two herbal medicines.

Babao Dan Alleviates 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Intestinal Damage via Wnt/ß-Catenin Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective function of Babao Dan (BBD) on 5-flurouracil (5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis (IM) and uncover the underlying mechanism. METHODS: A total of 18 male mice were randomly divided into 3 groups by a random number table, including control, 5-FU and 5-FU combined BBD groups, 6 mice in each group. A single intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU (150 mg/kg) was performed in 5-FU and 5-FU combined BBD groups on day 0. Mice in 5-FU combined BBD group were gavaged with BBD (250 mg/kg) daily from day 1 to 6. Mice in the control group were gavaged with saline solution for 6 days. The body weight and diarrhea index of mice were recorded daily. On the 7th day, the blood from the heart of mice was collected to analyze the proportional changes of immunological cells, and the mice were subsequently euthanized by mild anesthesia with 2% pentobarbital sodium. Colorectal lengths and villus heights were measured. Intestinal-cellular apoptosis and proliferation were evaluated by Tunel assay and immunohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, respectively. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to investigate the expressions of components in Wnt/ß-catenin pathway (Wnt3, LRP5, ß-catenin, c-Myc, LRG5 and CD44). RESULTS: BBD obviously alleviated 5-FU-induced body weight loss and diarrhea, and reversed the decrease in the number of white blood cells, including monocyte, granulocyte and lymphocyte, and platelet (P<0.01). The shortening of colon caused by 5-FU was also reversed by BBD (P<0.01). Moreover, BBD inhibited apoptosis and promoted proliferation in jejunum tissues so as to reduce the intestinal mucosal damage and improve the integrity of villus and crypts. Mechanically, the expression levels of Wnt/ß -catenin mediators such as Wnt3, LRP5, ß-catenin were upregulated by BBD, activating the transcription of c-Myc, LRG5 and CD44 (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: BBD attenuates the adverse effects induced by 5-FU via Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, suggesting it may act as a potential agent against chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis.

The Preparation, Antioxidant Activity Evaluation, and Iron-Deficient Anemic Improvement of Oat (Avena sativa L.) Peptides-Ferrous Chelate.

Iron-chelating peptides have been widely considered as one of the best iron supplements to alleviate the iron deficiency. In this study, a novel oat peptides-ferrous (OP-Fe2+) chelate was prepared from antioxidant oat peptides obtained in the laboratory of the authors. The optimal preparation condition was obtained through the single-factor and response surface methodology, and the chelating rate could reach up to 62.6%. After chelation, the OP-Fe2+ chelate exhibited a significantly higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity than oat peptides. It was discovered that the hemoglobin concentration and the number of red blood cell levels in OP-Fe2+-treated iron-deficient anemic (IDA) rats were significantly higher than untreated IDA rats. The OP-Fe2+ chelate could also improve the hypertrophy of the spleen, serum iron (SI), total iron and binding capacity, and serum ferritin levels in the IDA rats. In addition, the OP-Fe2+ treatment significantly increased the antioxidant activities of super oxidase and glutathione in the liver homogenate of the IDA rats. Therefore, the OP-Fe2+ chelate is an effective type of iron supplement for IDA rats, which could be a promising source with anti-anemia and antioxidant activity.

Rhodiola crenulata extract decreases fatty acid oxidation and autophagy to ameliorate pulmonary arterial hypertension by targeting inhibiton of acylcarnitine in rats / 中国天然药物

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating pulmonary circulation disease lacking high-efficiency therapeutics. The present study aims to decipher the therapeutic mechanism of Rhodiola crenulata, a well-known traditional chinese medicine with cardiopulmonary protection capacity, on PAH by exploiting functional lipidomics. The rat model with PAH was successfully established for first, following Rhodiola crenulata water extract (RCE) treatment, then analysis of chemical constituents of RCE was performed, additional morphologic, hemodynamic, echocardiographic measurements were examined, further targeted lipidomics assay was performed to identify differential lipidomes, at last accordingly mechanism assay was done by combining qRT-PCR, Western blot and ELISA. Differential lipidomes were identified and characterized to differentiate the rats with PAH from healthy controls, mostly assigned to acylcarnitines, phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelin associated with the PAH development. Excitingly, RCE administration reversed high level of decadienyl-L-carnitine by the modulation of metabolic enzyme CPT1A in mRNA and protein level in serum and lung in the rats with PAH. Furthermore, RCE was observed to reduce autophagy, confirmed by significantly inhibited PPARγ, LC3B, ATG7 and upregulated p62, and inactivated LKB1-AMPK signal pathway. Notably, we accurately identified the constituents in RCE, and delineated the therapeutic mechansim that RCE ameliorated PAH through inhibition of fatty acid oxidation and autophagy. Altogether, RCE might be a potential therapeutic medicine with multi-targets characteristics to prevent the progression of PAH. This novel findings pave a critical foundation for the use of RCE in the treatment of PAH.

[Quantitative analysis of fermented aerial part of Bupleurum chinense and prediction of their antimicrobial activity].

The aim of this study was to predict the anti-microbial components in the aerial part of Bupleurum chinense fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum through analyzing the correlation between contents of bioactive components and their inhibitory action for pathogenic bacteria. In this study, the UPLC-MS-MS detection method was established for eight flavonoids(kaempferol-3-O-ß-D-rutinoside, isoquercitrin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, rutin, iridin, quercetin-3-O-ß-L-arabinoside, kaempferol) and DL-3-phenyllactic acid, and the dynamic change of their contents at fermentation course were monitored. Meanwhile, the experiment employed five common no-naquatic pathogenic bacteria(Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus subtilis), and four common aquatic pathogenic bacteria(Aeruginosa hydrophila, Delayed Edwards, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Vibrio harveyi) to validate in vitro anti-microbial activity of the fermented aerial part of B. chinense at different fermentation time points. Finally, the Pearson correlation analysis was applied to predict the anti-microbial components of the fermented aerial part of B. chinense.The established UPLC-MS-MS method showed a good linearity and the widest linear range was from 0.19 µg·mL~(-1) to 50 µg·mL~(-1). The limit of quantitation and the limit of detection were 0.19-1.56 µg·mL~(-1) and 0.1-0.78 µg·mL~(-1) respectively. During the fermentation within 48 h, the contents of three flavonoids(rutin, quercetin-3-O-ß-L-arabinoside, isoquercitrin) and DL-3-phenyllactic acid from the fermented aerial part of B. chinense increased sharply. In the process of fermentation, the anti-microbial effect of the fermented aerial part of B. chinense on aquatic pathogens was significantly stronger than that on non-aquatic pathogens. Furthermore, Pearson correlation analysis predicted that isoquercitrin, rutin, quercetin-3-O-ß-L-arabinoside and DL-3-phenyllactic acid showed significant correlation with the four aquatic pathogens. This study revealed that the fermented aerial part of B. chinense had a high sensitivity to aquatic pathogens, which may be caused by the increased contents of isoquercitrin, rutin, quercetin-3-O-ß-L-arabinoside and DL-3-phenyllactic acid. In conclusion, this study provides a theoretical basis and new idea for the further development of the large amount of wasteful aerial part of Bupleurum chinense.

's flying acupuncture for acute cerebral infarction hemiplegia: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy difference between's flying acupuncture combined with conventional treatment and conventional treatment alone on acute cerebral infarction hemiplegia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 120 patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each one. The control group was treated with conventional treatment, including anti-platelet aggregation, lipid-lowering, formula of traditional Chinese medicine which could promote circulation and remove stasis, neurotrophic medication and symptomatic treatment; mannitol was used for cerebral infarction with large area or increased intracranial pressure. Based on the conventional treatment applied in the control group, the observation group was treated with flying acupuncture at the affected Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10), Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4), Huantiao (GB 30), Biguan (ST 31), Futu (ST 32), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. The treatment was given once a day, six days per week, for totally 2 weeks. The simplified Fugl-Meyer score, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and ADL-Bathel index (BI) score were evaluated before and after treatment in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the treatment, the simplified Fugl-Meyer and BI were significantly increased in both groups (all<0.05), which was significantly higher in the observation group (both<0.05); after the treatment, the NIHSS was significantly lowered in both groups (both<0.05), which was significantly lower in the observation group (<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b> 's flying acupuncture combined with conventional treatment were effective for acute cerebral infarction hemiplegia, which have better efficacy than conventional treatment on improving motor function, neurological deficit and daily living ability, and the pain is mild.</p>

Study on Pulse Recordings of College Students with Different Emotional States / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This paper was aimed to investigate the changes of pulses under different emotional states.Based on the emotional pulse theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM),with college students as the research object,through films to stimulate different emotional expressions (i.e.,calm,sad and happy) of college students,the pulse recordings of college students were acquired in this study.The time domain parameters of pulses of college students under three types of emotional states were extracted.The difference among three groups of time-domain parameters was calculated by nonparametric test.Based on the time-domain parameters,the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier was used to classify three types of emotional states.The results showed that there were significant differences in three groups of time domain parameters (h3/h1,t and As/(As+Ad)).And the average recognition rate of three types of emotion states was 74.25％ based on the time-domain parameters of the pulse recordings.It was concluded that the pulse parameters can provide objective reference for emotional changes.It can be used to identify emotional states.

Discussion on International Standard of English Translation for TCM Pulse Condition Name Terms / 中国中医药信息杂志

By comparing WHO International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific Region with International Standard Chinese-English Basic Nomenclature of Chinese Medicine from the aspects of word-formation methods, translation methods and specific noun terminology translation methods, this article analyzed the advantages and disadvantages in the translation of pulse condition name terms (floating pulse, deep pulse, rapid pulse, slow pulse, feeble pulse, replete pulse kinds of pluse condition, and intermittent pulse, large pulse, soft pulse) in the two International Standards, with a purpose to provide references for the work of the international standardization of TCM terms.

Peony-Glycyrrhiza Decoction for Antipsychotic-Related Hyperprolactinemia in Women With Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: An herbal preparation called peony-glycyrrhiza decoction (PGD) may have the potential in reducing antipsychotic-related hyperprolactinemia (hyperPRL). This double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study aimed to reevaluate the efficacy of PGD against antipsychotic-related hyperPRL. METHODS: Ninety-nine schizophrenic women who were under antipsychotic therapy and had symptomatic hyperPRL were randomly assigned to additional treatment with placebo (n = 50) or PGD (n = 49, 45 g/d) for 16 weeks. The severity of hyperPRL, psychosis, and abnormal involuntary movements was assessed at baseline and weeks 8 and 16 using standard instruments including the Prolactin Related Adverse Event Questionnaire. Blood levels of prolactin (PRL) and related pituitary and sex hormones were measured at the same time points. RESULTS: Peony-glycyrrhiza decoction treatment produced a significantly greater reduction of the Prolactin Related Adverse Event Questionnaire score at weeks 8 and 16 and a greater improvement on abnormal involuntary movements at end point compared with placebo, without altering the severity of psychosis. The group treated with PGD showed significantly higher proportion of having overall improvement on hyperPRL symptoms (χ = 4.010, P = 0.045) and menstrual resumption (χ = 4.549, P = 0.033) at week 8 than placebo. Serum PRL levels were similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Peony-glycyrrhiza decoction is effective in reducing antipsychotic-related hyperPRL and abnormal involuntary movement symptoms, but no reduction in blood PRL concentrations was observed. The underlying mechanisms of PGD's effects need further investigation (trial registration of NCT01852331 at www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Classifying syndromes in Chinese medicine using multi-label learning algorithm with relevant features for each label / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop an effective Chinese Medicine (CM) diagnostic model of coronary heart disease (CHD) and to confifirm the scientifific validity of CM theoretical basis from an algorithmic viewpoint.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four types of objective diagnostic data were collected from 835 CHD patients by using a self-developed CM inquiry scale for the diagnosis of heart problems, a tongue diagnosis instrument, a ZBOX-I pulse digital collection instrument, and the sound of an attending acquisition system. These diagnostic data was analyzed and a CM diagnostic model was established using a multi-label learning algorithm (REAL).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>REAL was employed to establish a Xin (Heart) qi defificiency, Xin yang defificiency, Xin yin defificiency, blood stasis, and phlegm fifive-card CM diagnostic model, which had recognition rates of 80.32%, 89.77%, 84.93%, 85.37%, and 69.90%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The multi-label learning method established using four diagnostic models based on mutual information feature selection yielded good recognition results. The characteristic model parameters were selected by maximizing the mutual information for each card type. The four diagnostic methods used to obtain information in CM, i.e., observation, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and pulse diagnosis, can be characterized by these parameters, which is consistent with CM theory.</p>

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ameliorates anxiety-like behavior and impaired sensorimotor gating in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been employed for decades as a non-pharmacologic treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although a link has been suggested between PTSD and impaired sensorimotor gating (SG), studies assessing the effects of rTMS against PTSD or PTSD with impaired SG are scarce. AIM: To assess the benefit of rTMS in a rat model of PTSD. METHODS: Using a modified single prolonged stress (SPS&S) rat model of PTSD, behavioral parameters were acquired using open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and prepulse inhibition trial (PPI), with or without 7 days of high frequency (10Hz) rTMS treatment of SPS&S rats. RESULTS: Anxiety-like behavior, impaired SG and increased plasma level of cortisol were observed in SPS&S animals after stress for a prolonged time. Interestingly, rTMS administered immediately after stress prevented those impairment. CONCLUSION: Stress-induced anxiety-like behavior, increased plasma level of cortisol and impaired PPI occur after stress and high-frequency rTMS has the potential to ameliorate this behavior, suggesting that high frequency rTMS should be further evaluated for its use as a method for preventing PTSD.

Analysis of the diagnostic consistency of Chinese medicine specialists in cardiovascular disease cases and syndrome identification based on the relevant feature for each label learning method / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the diagnostic consistency of Chinese medicine (CM) specialists in patients with cardiovascular disease and to study syndrome classification and identification based on the multi-label learning method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using self-developed CM clinical scales to collect cases, inquiry information, complexity, tongue manifestation and pulse manifestation were assessed. The number of cases collected was 2,218. Firstly, each case was differentiated by two CM specialists according to the same diagnostic criteria. The consistency of the diagnosis based on Cohen's Kappa coefficient was analyzed. Secondly, take the same diagnosis syndromes of two specialists as the results of the cases. According to injury information in the CM scale "yes" or "no" was assigned "1" or "0", and according to the syndrome type in each case "yes" or "no" was assigned "1" or "0". CM information data on cardiovascular disease cases were established. We studied CM syndrome classification and identification based on the relevant feature for each label (REAL) learning method, and the diagnostic rate of the syndrome was studied using the REAL method when the number of features selected was 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 70, and 100, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The syndromes with good diagnostic consistency were Heart (Xin)-qi deficiency, Heart-yang deficiency, Heart-yin deficiency, phlegm, stagnation of blood and stagnation of qi. Syndromes with poor diagnostic consistency were heart-blood deficiency and blood deficiency of Heart and Liver (Gan). The highest diagnostic rates using the REAL method were Heart-yang deficiency followed by Heart-qi deficiency. A different number of features, such as 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, and 100, respectively, were selected and the diagnostic accuracy based on five features showed the highest diagnostic accuracy. The top five features which had a strong correlation with the syndromes were in accordance with the CM theory.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CM syndrome differentiation is strongly subjective and it is difficult to obtain good diagnostic consistency. The REAL method fully considers the relationship between syndrome types and injury symptoms, and is suitable for the establishment of models for CM syndrome classification and identification. This method can probably provide the prerequisite for objectivity and standardization of CM differentiation.</p>

"The exploration and practice of ""the holistic thinking on the treatment of severe medicine in the training of the national college students' clinical skills competition" / 中华医学教育探索杂志

The holding of the national college students' clinical skills competition reflects the importance of medical education for clinical practice training . Although through intensive itemized skills drills, the competitors can complete each individual operation with satisfaction, due to the lack of clinical experience, in the integrated circuit training, they will easily stray into question stemtrap. The concrete analysis of the national college students' clinical skills contest competition reflects the medical students' insufficient recognition of clinical skills, lack of the overall concept of the intensive medical treatment, not flexible and insufficient mastery of the connotation of the clinical skills, which seriously restricts the improvement of clinical education. Therefore this article raises special sugges-tions, referring to training focusing on “Airway and Circulation”, developing the critical care thinking based on the relationship of multi-organ and improving the first-aid capability of the team work, so as to provide reference for the improvement of training effect.

Protective effects of Radix Pseudostellariae extract against retinal laser injury.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the protective effects of a saponin extract from Radix Pseudostellariae (RP) on retinal laser injury based on a retinal photocoagulation model. METHODS: Fifty-eight rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (saponin extract orally), Group B (physiological saline), and Group C (control). The animals were sacrificed 1 day, 7 days, 14 days, and 30 days after photocoagulation and lesions were evaluated with fundus photography, light microscopy, and electron microscopy. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured, and expression levels of c-fos and Bax genes were also determined. RESULTS: The lesion sizes in Group A were smaller than in Group B. The levels of SOD in Group B were significantly lower than in groups A and C (P<0.001) at all time points. The MDA levels were significantly lower than in groups B and C (P<0.001) at the 1 month point, while the apoptosis rate of Group A was significantly lower than that of Group B at all time points. The expression levels of the c-fos gene in Group B were significantly higher than that in groups A and C, and expression levels of the Bax gene in Group A were significantly lower than that in groups B and C. CONCLUSION: The saponin extract of RP can inhibit oxidative stress, downregulate the levels of c-fos and Bax gene expression, and inhibit apoptosis in the retina after photocoagulation.

[Effect of electroacupuncture intervention at different time-points of post-modeling on hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitter levels in mice with vascular dementia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electrocupuncture (EA) intervention at different time-points of post-modeling on behavior and hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitter noradrenalin (NE), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytrypamine (5-HT) contents in vascular dementia (VD) mice, so as to study its mechanism underlying improvement of VD. METHODS: A total of 60 Kunming mice were randomized into sham-operation control (n = 20), VD model (n = 20), EA-day (D)-1 (EA treatment was given from the 1st day on after modeling, n = 10), EA-D-3 (EA was given from the 3rd day on after modeling, n = 10) groups. VD model was established by occlusion of the bilateral cervical common arteries and reperfusion. EA (2 Hz/80 Hz) was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20), "Dazhui" (GV 14),"Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Geshu"(BL 17) for 10 min, once daily for 15 days. Hippocampal NE, DA and 5-HT contents were assayed by fluorospectrophotometry. The mouse's learning-memory ability was assessed by step-down tests. RESULTS: In comparison with the sham-operation control group, the learning-memory ability (marked increase of reaction time and error times, decrease of step-down latency) was apparently lowered in the model group (P < 0.01). The hippocampal NE, DA and 5-HT contents were significantly lower in the model group than in the sham-operation group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the mice's learning-memory ability (marked decrease of reaction time and error times, increase of step-down latency) was significantly increased in EA intervention groups (P < 0.01), and hippocampal NE, DA and 5-HT levels were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the effect of EA-D-3 group was obviously better than that of the EA-D-1 group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: EA can improve the VD mice's learning-memory ability, which is closely related to its effects in up-regulating hippocampal NE, DA and 5-HT contents, and the effect of later EA intervention after modeling is better.

Objective Collection and Analysis on Voice Signals of 231 Patients with Three Common Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Types / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This study was aimed to assist the clinic diagnosis and analysis with the application of modern ausculta-tion diagnosis technology. Meanwhile, this study provided certain objective evidences for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) auscultation diagnosis in syndrome differentiation according to Zang-Fu. The Voice Sampling System of TCM was used in the collection of voice signals of patients with liver-depression and spleen-deficiency, deficiency of both heart and spleen, disharmony between heart and kidney (231 cases). Meanwhile, voice signals of healthy peo-ple (100 cases) were used as the control group. Based on wavelet packet decomposition and reconstruction technique, four kinds of featured parameters, including energy proportion, generalized energy proportion, energy gradient and generalized energy gradient, were extracted. The results showed that there were significant differences in multiple fre-quencies on energy proportion, generalized energy proportion, energy gradient and generalized energy gradient be-tween the liver-depression and spleen-deficiency, deficiency of both heart and spleen, disharmony between heart and kidney, and healthy people (P< 0.05). There were significant differences in multiple frequencies of four features a-mong samples from each type (P < 0.05). The generalized energy proportion of the deficiency of both heart and spleen type was higher than patients from other types and healthy people. The generalized energy gradient of healthy people was lower than the other three types. Differences were mainly posterior to the middle frequency segment. The recognition rate of three types and healthy people was ideal after feature screening. It was concluded that modern auscultation diagnosis technology can be used in the analysis of TCM phonetic feature parameters among common TCM syndrome types. The research results provided references for the objective study of TCM auscultation diagnosis. It provided theoretical evidences for the objective detection of TCM auscultation diagnosis and intelligent computer.

Clinical Evaluation on Patients with Bronchial Asthma in Remission Based on Four Diagnostic Information / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This study was aimed to observe bronchial asthma patients in remission after treatment of traditional Chi-nese medicine(TCM) with four diagnostic information, syndrome differentiation and changes oflung function indicators, in order to explore the efficacy evaluation with TCM characteristics. TCM tongue manifestation instrument, TCM in-quiry scale, pulse-taking instrument, acoustic diagnostic information collection system, and spirometer were used in thecollection of 33 bronchial asthma cases in remission before and after treatment (1~5 months) basedon four diagnos-tic information and lung function indexes. Single-factor analysis of variance and other methods were used in the analysis of four diagnostic parameters and lung function indexes before and after treatment. The results showed that after TCM treatment, there were significant changes on indexes such as facial complexion, tongue sub-region color, color of tongue coating and other parameters. There was significant difference in the acoustic parameters before and after treatment. After TCM treatment, the frequency of lung system symptom such as nasal obstruction was decreased. There was no significant difference on changes of pulse-taking indexes among asthma patients before and after treat-ment. After treatment, the FEV1.0% of asthma patients was increased,whichindicated that asthma ventilatory function had been improved to some extent. It was concluded that TCM objective test provide an effective basis for the diag-nosis of bronchial asthma on aspects such as TCM syndrome, disease change observation and clinical evaluation.

Advance in studies on gut microbiota in de-glycosylation of traditional Chinese medicine glycosides / 中国中药杂志

Glycosides are important active components in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Their pharmacological activity, pharmacokinetic characteristics and in vivo existence become hotspots of current studies. The metabolic pathways of these glycosides are de-glycosylation mainly mediated by gut microbiota. After glycosides were metabolized into aglycones, they could be absorbed more easily and show better pharmacological effects. In this article, we reviewed the main glycosidase in gut microbiota which helps metabolize TCM glycosides, relevant bacterial strains which generate glycosidase, as well as the de-glycosylated metabolic pathways of the representative glycosides, on the basis of gut microbiota's important roles in in vivo metabolism and efficacy of TCM glycosides. We also preliminarily solved problems in studies on de-glycosylation of TCM glycosides.

Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with dalitong granule for gastroesophageal reflux disease and its mechanism / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture combined with Dalitong granule for gastroesophageal reflux disease and to explore the therapeutic mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five hundred cases diagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux disease were randomly divided into a combination group, an electroacupuncture group, a Dalitong granule group, and a western medication group, 125 cases in each group. The electroacupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12), Neiguan (PC 6), Tai-chong (LR 3) and Gongsun (SP 4), once daily for 6 weeks; the Dalitong granule group was treated with oral administration of Dalitong granule 6 g, three times daily; the combination group was treated with above two methods; the western medication group was treated with oral administration of Mosapride 5 mg, three times daily, Omeprazole 20 mg, twice daily and Amitriptyline 25 mg, twice daily. The total refluxing times, times of long-term reflux, percentage of upright time, percentage of supine time, percentage of total time of the 24-hour intraesophageal pH < 4 or bilirubin absorbance value (Abs) > or = 0.14, symptom score, endoscopic score, life quality score and adverse reaction were observed before treatment, at the end of treatment and 48 weeks after treatment in four groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those before treatment, esophageal acid reflux, bile reflux, endoscopic score and symptom score were decreased significantly at the end of treatment in four groups (all P < 0.01), while score of life quality was increased significantly (all P < 0.01). The improvements of above indices in the combination group were superior to other groups (all P < 0.05). Compared with the end of treatment, changes of above indices were not obvious in both of combination group and electroacupuncture group 48 weeks after treatment (all P > 0.05), but these indices all recurred significantly in other two groups (all P < 0.5). The short and long-term total effective rates in the combination group were superior to other groups (P < 0.5, P < 0.1). No serious adverse reaction occurred in four groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture and Dalitong granule can both inhibit esophageal acid reflux and bile reflux, decrease endoscopic score, alleviate the symptom of gastroesophageal reflux and improve life quality, but the effect of combination is much better with safety and long-term efficacy, which is correlated with their acid inhibition, gastrointestinal motility and antidepressant effects.</p>

Study of traditional Chinese medicine pulse signals in patients with coronary heart disease based on recurrence quantification analysis / 中西医结合学报

By using recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) to analyze traditional Chinese medicine pulse signals of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), this study aims to find nonlinear dynamic parameters of pulses to distinguish patients with CHD from normal subjects.