Establishing an integrated, four-dimensional quality assessment system for traditional Chinese medicine: A case study of Shuanghuanglian oral liquid.

The quality of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the premise to ensure its safety and effectiveness in clinical application. In this study, a complete quality control system for four-dimensional fingerprinting of TCM was innovatively constructed based on multiple detection techniques, and the quality of Shuanghuanglian oral liquid (SHL) was evaluated. Electrochemical fingerprinting (ECFP) as an emerging method without pretreatment provides rich and quantifiable information for SHL samples. The first quantitative ECFP of SHL was developed by the B-Z oscillation system. Eight characteristic parameters were analyzed and a good linear relationship was found between the oscillation lifetime and sample volume, by which the calculated values of the added sample volume (VL) showed different fluctuations between samples. What is more, high-performance liquid chromatography five-wavelength fusion fingerprint (HPLC-FWFP), GC fingerprint (GC-FP), and UV quantum fingerprint (UV-QFP) was established. Meanwhile, the purity of the peaks of the HPLC-FWFP was verified by the dual-wavelength absorption coefficient ratio spectrum (DWAR). Equal weighted ratio quantitative fingerprinting method (EWRQFM) was successfully proposed to extract all potential features for the overall quality assessment of the samples. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation strategy was proposed, namely the variation coefficient weighting algorithm (VCWA). The results of qualitative and quantitative evaluation of HPLC-FWFP, GC-FP, electrochemical quantum fingerprints (EC-QFP), and UV-QFP were integrated by this method. The established evaluation system is also a suitable strategy to control the quality of other TCM preparations.

Opportunities and challenges for ribosome-inactivating proteins in traditional Chinese medicine plants.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are a class of cytotoxic rRNA N-glycosylase, which widely exist in higher plants in different taxonomy, including many traditional Chinese medicinal materials and vegetables and fruits. In this paper, the traditional Chinese medicinal plants containing RIPs protein were sorted out, and their pharmacological effects and clinical applications were analyzed. Since many RIPs in traditional Chinese medicine plants exhibit antiviral and antitumor activities and show great clinical application potential, people's interest in these proteins is on the rise. This paper summarizes the possible mechanism of RIPs's anti-virus and anti-tumor effects, and discusses its potential problems and risks, laying a foundation for subsequent research on how to exert its anti-virus and anti-tumor effects.

The association between dietary mineral intake and the risk of preeclampsia in Chinese pregnant women: a matched case-control study.

Previous studies on the relationship between dietary minerals and preeclampsia (PE) have given inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to further clarify the relationship between dietary minerals intake and PE in Chinese pregnant women. In this study, 440 pairs of hospital-based preeclamptic and healthy women were matched 1:1. Dietary intake was obtained through a 78-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Restricted cubic splines were plotted to evaluate the dose-response relationship between dietary minerals intake and PE. This study found significant inverse associations for dietary intake of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese and zinc and the risk of PE in both univariate and multivariate models (all P- trend < 0.05). After adjusting for possible confounders, compared with the lowest quartile, the odds ratio of the highest quartile was 0.74 (95% CI 0.56-0.98) for calcium, 0.63 (95% CI 0.42-0.93) for magnesium, 0.45 (95% CI 0.31-0.65) for phosphorus, 0.44 (95% CI 0.30-0.65) for iron, 0.72 (95% CI 0.53-0.97) for copper, 0.66 (95% CI 0.48-0.91) for manganese and 0.38 (95% CI 0.25-0.57) for zinc. In addition, a reverse J-shaped relationship between dietary minerals intake and PE risk was observed (P-overall association < 0.05). In Chinese pregnant women, a higher intake of dietary minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc was associated with a lower odds of PE.

Thorough evaluation of the Chinese medicine preparations and intermediates using high performance liquid chromatography fingerprints and ultraviolet quantum fingerprints along with antioxidant activity: Shuanghuanglian oral solution as an example.

The growing global popularity of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has generated a growing interest in the quality control of TCM products. Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid (SHL) is a commonly used TCM formula for treating respiratory tract infections. In this study, we present a thorough evaluation method for the quality of SHL and its intermediates. We assessed the quality through multi-wavelength fusion high-performance liquid chromatogram (HPLC) fingerprints of 40 batches of SHL samples and 15 batches of intermediates. Meanwhile, we introduced a new method called multi-markers assay by monolinear method (MAML) to quantify ten components in SHL, and revealed quality transmitting of ten components from intermediates to formulations. This information allowed us to establish a quality control system for intermediates, ensuring their quality consistency. Furthermore, we proposed UV quantum fingerprinting as an orthogonal complement to the quality evaluation by HPLC fingerprint. The relationship between fingerprinting and antioxidant capacity was also established. Overall, this study presented a novel and integrated approach for the quality evaluation of TCM products, providing valuable information for ensuring the safety and efficacy of TCM products for consumers.

Mupirocin enhances the biofilm formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis in an atlE-dependent manner.

The pathogenicity of Staphylococcus epidermidis is largely attributed to its exceptional ability to form biofilms. Here, we report that mupirocin, an antimicrobial agent widely used for staphylococcal decolonization and anti-infection, strongly stimulates the biofilm formation of S. epidermidis. Although the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) production was unaffected, mupirocin significantly facilitated extracellular DNA (eDNA) release by accelerating autolysis, thereby positively triggering cell surface attachment and intercellular agglomeration during biofilm development. Mechanistically, mupirocin regulated the expression of genes encoding for the autolysin AtlE as well as the programmed cell death system CidA-LrgAB. Critically, through gene knockout, we found out that deletion of atlE, but not cidA or lrgA, abolished the enhancement of biofilm formation and eDNA release in response to mupirocin treatment, indicating that atlE is required for this effect. In Triton X-100 induced autolysis assay, mupirocin treated atlE mutant displayed a slower autolysis rate compared with the wild-type strain and complementary strain. Therefore, we concluded that subinhibitory concentrations of mupirocin enhance the biofilm formation of S. epidermidis in an atlE dependent manner. This induction effect could conceivably be responsible for some of the more unfavourable outcomes of infectious diseases.

Metabolic responses of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) to the insecticide thiamethoxam.

BACKGROUND: Thiamethoxam (TMX) is insecticidal, but also can trigger physiological and metabolic reactions of plant cycles. The objective of this work was to evaluate the physiological and metabolic effect of TMX on tea plants and its potential benefits. RESULTS: In this study, dose of TMX (0.09, 0.135 and 0.18 kg a.i./ha) were tested. Except for peroxidase (POD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), chlorophyll, carotenoid, catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly affected compared with the controls. The CAT activity was increased by 3.38, 1.71, 2.91 times, respectively, under three doses of TMX treatment. The metabolic response between TMX treatment and control groups on the third day was compared using a widely targeted metabolomics. A total of 97 different metabolites were identified, including benzenoids, flavonoids, lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, organic nitrogen compounds, organic oxygen compounds, organoheterocyclic compounds, phenylpropanoids and polyketides, and others. Those metabolites were mapped on the perturbed metabolic pathways. The results demonstrated that the most perturbation occurred in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis. The beneficial secondary metabolites luteolin and kaempferol were upregulated 1.46 and 1.31 times respectively, which protect plants from biotic and abiotic stresses. Molecular docking models suggest interactions between TMX and flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase. CONCLUSION: Thiamethoxam spray positively promoted the physiological and metabolic response of tea plants. And this work also provided the useful information of TMX metabolism in tea plants as well as rational application of insecticides. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Non-thermal plasma-treated melatonin inhibits the biological activity of HCC cells by increasing intracellular ROS levels and reducing RRM2 expression.

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is thought to have a cytotoxic effect on tumor cells. Although its application in cancer therapy has shown considerable promise, the current understanding of its mechanism of action and cellular responses remains incomplete. Furthermore, the use of melatonin (MEL) as an adjuvant anticancer drug remains unexplored. In this study, we found that NTP assists MEL in promoting apoptosis, delaying cell cycle progression, and inhibiting cell invasion and migration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. This mechanism may be associated with the regulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2 expression. Our findings confirm the pharmacological role of MEL and the adjuvant value of NTP, emphasizing their potential in combination therapy for HCC. Our study may have important implications for the development of new approaches for HCC treatment.

Evaluating the quality consistency of antiviral oral liquid by high-performance liquid chromatography five-wavelength matched average fusion fingerprint combined with electrochemical fingerprint and ultraviolet spectral quantum fingerprint.

The antiviral oral liquid (AOL) was an antiviral drug currently in clinical trials against coronavirus disease 2019. This study aimed to improve its quality consistency evaluation method using fingerprint techniques from several aspects. First, the five-wavelength matched average fusion fingerprint (FMAFFP) for HPLC, electrochemical fingerprint (ECFP), and ultraviolet spectral quantum fingerprint (UVFP) was established for 22 samples, respectively. Their quality was then assessed using the average linear quantitative fingerprint method, and 22 samples were classified into eight quality grades. OPLS and PCA were then used further to explore the characteristic parameters of these three fingerprints. Five compounds were quantified simultaneously for the first time, and then the relationship between the average linear quantitative similarity (PL) and the sum of the five quantitative components (P5c) was investigated. A linear correlation (r ≥ 0.9735) between PL and P5c suggested that PL may be used to predict chemical content. Finally, to investigate the antioxidant potential of the AOL, correlation analyses were performed for FMAFFP peaks-PEC and UVFP peaks-PEC, respectively, where the PEC value was defined as the quantitative similarity of ECFP. The Pearson correlation coefficient and gray correlation analysis were consistent, allowing us to initially explore the antioxidant capacity of the unidentified components of the samples. This study researched AOL using multidimensional fingerprints to provide a comprehensive and reliable method for quality consistency control of herbal compound preparations.

Effects of concentration-dependent graphene on maize seedling development and soil nutrients.

The long-term use of chemical fertilizers to maintain agricultural production has had various harmful effects on farmland and has greatly impacted agriculture's sustainable expansion. Graphene, a unique and effective nanomaterial, is used in plant-soil applications to improve plant nutrient uptake, reduce chemical fertilizer pollution by relieving inadequate soil nutrient conditions and enhance soil absorption of nutrient components. We investigated the effects of graphene amendment on nutrient content, maize growth, and soil physicochemical parameters. In each treatment, 5 graphene concentration gradients (0, 25, 50, 100, and 150 g kg-1) were applied in 2 different types (single-layer and few-layers, SL and FL). Soil aggregates, soil accessible nutrients, soil enzyme activity, plant nutrients, plant height, stem diameter, dry weight, and fresh weight were all measured throughout the maize growth to the V3 stage. Compared to the control (0 g kg-1), we found that graphene increased the percentage of large agglomerates (0.25-10 mm) in the soil and significantly increased the geometric mean diameter (GMD) and mean weight diameter (MWD) values of > 0.25 mm water-stable agglomerates as the increase of concentration. Soil available nutrient content (AN, AP, and AK) increased, peaking at 150 g kg-1. Graphene boosted nutrient absorption by maize plants, and aboveground total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) contents rose with the increasing application, which raised aboveground fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and stalk thickness. The findings above confirmed our prediction that adding graphene to the soil may improve maize plant biomass by enhancing soil fertility and improving the soil environment. Given the higher manufacturing cost of single-layer graphene and the greater effect of few-layer graphene on soil and maize plants at the same concentration, single-layer graphene and few-layer graphene at a concentration of 50 g kg-1 were the optimal application rates.

Metabolomics of the anti-inflammatory effect of Pueraria lobata and Pueraria lobata var. Thomsonii in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi and Pueraria lobata var. Thomsonii (Benth.) Maesen are essential medicinal and edible homologous plants widely cultivated in Asian countries. Therefore, P. lobata and P. thomsonii are widely used in the food, health products and pharmaceutical industries and have significant domestic and international market potential and research value. P. lobata and P. thomsonii have pharmacological effects in the clinic, such as antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. These plants are commonly used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and other related diseases. However, the potential mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effects of P. lobata and P. thomsonii have not been elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to confirm the anti-inflammatory effects of P. lobata and P. thomsonii on inflammatory model diseases and to investigate the mechanism of their anti-inflammatory effects from the perspective of plasma metabolomics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, P. lobata and P. thomsonii were identified by high‒performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Second, we established the following three inflammation models: an acute inflammation model of auricular swelling in mice induced by xylene, an acute inflammation model of foot swelling in rats induced by carrageenan gum, and a chronic inflammation model of cotton ball granuloma in rats. Then we examined the weight and swelling rate of auricular swelling in mice; the residence time, contact area, and mean contact pressure in rats on the gait meter; and the weight of granulomas in rats and the content of IL-1ß and TNF-α in plasma to investigate the anti-inflammatory pharmacodynamics of P. lobata and P. thomsonii. Third, we used LC‒MS‒based plasma metabolomics techniques to obtain potential biomarkers of P. lobata and P. thomsonii related to inflammation. Then, the potential biomarkers were enriched by MetaboAnalyst and KEGG metabolomics analysis tools to obtain metabolic pathways related to inflammation. Finally, we tested the indicators of COX-2, 5-LOX, GSH, GSSG and γ⁃GCL in rat plasma from the granuloma model by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to verify the inflammation-related metabolic pathway. RESULTS: The experimental results showed that P. lobata and P. thomsonii could reduce the swollen weight and swelling rate of the auricle in mice, and could increase the residence time, contact area and mean contact pressure in rats on the gait meter. Moreover, P. lobata and P. thomsonii could inhibit the growth of granulomas and reduce the content of IL-1ß and TNF-α in plasma in rats. The above results preliminarily verified that P. lobata and P. thomsonii have different anti-inflammatory effects. We identified eighteen plasma biomarkers associated with P. lobata and sixteen plasma biomarkers related to P. thomsonii in regulating inflammation by a plasma metabolomics analysis. The following two major metabolic pathways were further screened and enriched: arachidonic acid metabolism and glutathione metabolism. Then we noted that P. lobata and P. thomsonii could reduce the COX-2, 5-LOX and GSSG levels and increase the GSH, GSH/GSSG and γ⁃GCL levels based on the ELISA results, which demonstrated that P. lobata and P. thomsonii affect the anti-inflammatory mechanism through arachidonic acid metabolism and glutathione metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study further elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of P. lobata and P. thomsonii, providing a scientific basis for developing new drugs for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases and laying a foundation for the development of herbal resources, such as P. lobata and P. thomsonii.

Qing-Xin-Jie-Yu Granule inhibits ferroptosis and stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques by regulating the GPX4/xCT signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Qing-Xin-Jie-Yu Granule (QXJYG) is an integrated traditional Chinese medicine formula used to treat atherosclerotic (AS) cardiovascular diseases. A randomized controlled trial found that QXJYG reduced cardiovascular events and experiments also verified that QXJYG attenuated AS by remodeling the intestinal flora. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine whether QXJYG would attenuate AS and plaque vulnerability by regulating ferroptosis in high-fat diet-induced atherosclerotic ApoE-/- mice and to investigate the effects of QXJYG on macrophage ferroptosis in RAS-selective lethal 3 (RSL3)-induced J744A.1 cells. METHODS: AS models in ApoE-/- mice and RSL3-induced ferroptosis in J744A.1 cells were established to measure the protective and anti-ferroptotic effects of QXJYG in vivo and in vitro. The glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)/cystine glutamate reverse transporter (xCT) signal pathway was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. RESULTS: QXJYG attenuated AS progression and plaque vulnerability. Characteristic morphological changes of ferroptosis in the QXJYG-treated animals were rare. Total iron was significantly lower in the QXJYG group than in the model group (P < 0.05); QXJYG suppressed the lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels (malondialdehyde), enhanced the antioxidant capacity (superoxide dismutase and glutathione), and reduced inflammatory factors (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α) associated with ferroptosis. Expression of GPX4/xCT in aorta tissues was remarkably increased in the QXJYG group. QXJYG inhibited ferroptosis in J744A.1 macrophages disturbed using RSL3. The Fe2+, LPO, and reactive oxygen species levels were lower in the QXJYG group than in the RSL3 group (P < 0.05). The QXJYG group showed higher expression of the GPX4/xCT signal pathway. CONCLUSION: QXJYG inhibits ferroptosis in vulnerable AS plaques partially via the GPX4/xCT signaling pathway.

Danhong injection alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting autophagy through miRNA-132-3p/ATG12 signal axis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Danhong injection (DHI) is a renowned traditional Chinese medicine often used clinically to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Studies have shown that DHI can significantly alter microRNA (miRNA) expression in the brain tissue. Therefore, exploring specific miRNAs' regulatory mechanisms during treatment with DHI is essential. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate DHI's regulatory mechanism on cerebral autophagy in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into the sham, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, and DHI-treatment groups. The extent of brain damage was evaluated using triphenyl tetrazolium chloride and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Hippocampal cell autophagy was observed using transmission electron microscopy. Autophagy-related proteins were analyzed using western blotting. Differentially expressed miRNAs were screened using high-throughput and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The relationship between miR-132-3p and ATG12 was confirmed using a dual-luciferase assay. The miR-132-3p mimics and inhibitors were transfected into PC12 cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro and MCAO model rats in vivo. RESULTS: DHI significantly altered the miRNA expression profile in rat brain tissues. The pathological changes in the brain tissues were improved, and the autophagic hippocampal cell vehicles were significantly reduced after DHI treatment. miRNA-132-3p, one of the miRNAs with a significantly different expression, was screened. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes signal pathway analysis showed that its target genes were closely related to autophagy. Western blotting revealed that the p-PI3K, p-AKT, and mTOR expression increased significantly; AMPK, ULK1, ATG12, ATG16L1, and LC3II/I were downregulated in the DHI group. Dual-luciferase reporter gene experiments showed that miRNA-132-3p could target the ATG12 3'-UTR region directly. In vitro, miRNA-132-3p had a protective effect on OGD/R-induced oxidative stress injury in PC12 cells, improving cell viability, and affecting the expression of autophagy pathway-related proteins. In vivo transfection experiments showed that miR-132-3p could regulate ATG12 expression in CIRI rats' lateral brain tissue, affecting the autophagy signaling pathway. miR-132-3p overexpression reduces CIRI-induced autophagy and protects neurons. CONCLUSION: This study showed that DHI inhibits neuronal autophagy after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. This may have resulted from miR-132-3p targeting ATG12 and regulating the autophagy signaling pathway protein expression.

A LAMP-Based Toolbox Developed for Detecting the Major Pathogens Affecting the Production and Quality of the Chinese Medicinal Crop Aconitum carmichaelii.

Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that has been utilized for approximately 2,000 years. However, as cultivation has increased, there have been more reports of A. carmichaelii infections caused by four major pathogenic fungal species, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Mucor circinelloides, and Sclerotium rolfsii, resulting in increased disease incidences and limited production and quality. To detect these infections, we developed a LAMP-based toolbox in this study. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, translation elongation factor-1α (EF-1α), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA, and alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADH1) gene, respectively, were used to design species-specific LAMP primer sets for F. oxysporum, F. solani, S. rolfsii, and M. circinelloides. The results showed that the LAMP-based toolbox was effective at detecting pathogens in soil and plant materials. We also used this toolbox to investigate pathogen infection in the main planting regions of A. carmichaelii. Before harvesting, F. oxysporum, M. circinelloides, and S. rolfsii were commonly found in the planting fields and in infected A. carmichaelii plants. Therefore, the toolbox we developed will be useful for tracking these infections, as well as for disease control in A. carmichaelii.

Supercritical fluid extract of Angelica sinensis promotes the anti-colorectal cancer effect of oxaliplatin.

Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimens are recommended for patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, oxaliplatin (OXA) can cause toxic side effects at the recommended dosage. Therefore, it is necessary to find new drug candidates that can synergize with OXA and thereby lower the OXA dose while still maintaining its efficacy. Angelica sinensis is a common drug in traditional Chinese medicine and has demonstrated a significant anti-CRC effect in modern pharmacological studies. The active ingredients in Angelica sinensis can be effectively extracted by a supercritical fluid extract. In this study, the supercritical fluid extract of Angelica sinensis (A-SFE) was obtained by a stable extraction process and was chemically characterized by GC/MS. The anti-cancer effect of A-SFE when applied individually was explored in vitro through MTT, scratch, and Transwell assay. The effect of A-SFE on CRC cells under the influence of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) was explored by a co-culture model. The results showed that A-SFE could inhibit the viability, metastasis, and invasion of HCT116 cells, especially under the influence of TAMs. When 20-100 µg/ml of A-SFE and 8-64 µg/ml of OXA were used in combination in HCT116 cells, synergistic or additive effects were shown in different concentration combinations. The CT26 syngeneic mouse model was used to explore the anti-CRC effect of OXA combined with A-SFE in vivo. The tumor volume, expression levels of Ki67, MMP9, and CD206 in the OXA + A-SFE group were less than those in the OXA group. In conclusion, A-SFE has the potential to become an adjuvant drug for OXA in the treatment of CRC, which provides new strategies for anti-colorectal cancer research.

Progress on the efficacy and mechanism of action of panax ginseng monomer saponins treat toxicity.

As a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (PG) has preventive and therapeutic effects on various diseases. Ginsenosides are main active ingredients of PG and have good pharmacological effects. Due to the diversity of chemical structures and physicochemical properties of ginsenosides, Currently, related studies on PG monomer saponins are mainly focused on the cardiovascular system, nervous system, antidiabetic, and antitumor. There are few types of research on the toxin treatment, predominantly exogenous toxicity. PG and its monomer ginsenosides are undoubtedly a practical option for treating exogenous toxicity for drug-induced or metal-induced side effects such as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, metal toxicity and other exogenous toxicity caused by drugs or metals. The mechanism focuses on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic, as well as modulation of signaling pathways. It summarized the therapeutic effects of ginseng monomer saponins on exogenous toxicity and demonstrated that ginsenosides could be used as potential drugs to treat exogenous toxicity and reduce drug toxicities.

Meta-Analysis of Different Acupuncture Points in the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis with Supervised Moxibustion.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of different acupuncture points in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with supervised moxibustion. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 61 AS patients (diagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis of kidney-yang deficiency type by Chinese medicine) admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to February 2021, randomly divided into 30 cases in the experimental group (Du moxibustion + basic western medicine treatment) and 31 cases in the control group (basic western medicine treatment alone). The changes in quantitative scores of the main symptoms and major signs (thoracic mobility, occipital-wall distance, finger-ground distance, and laboratory index (ESR)) were analyzed before and after treatment. Results: Of the 30 cases in the experimental group, 2 were clinically cured, 3 were apparently effective, 21 were effective, and 4 were ineffective, with an overall effective rate of 86.7%; of the 31 cases in the control group, 1 was clinically cured, 1 was apparently effective, 1 was effective. 24 were effective, and 5 were ineffective, with an overall effective rate of 83.9%. Comparing the efficacy by t-test, P < 0.05, indicating that the effect of Du moxibustion + Western medicine treatment was better. Conclusion: The treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with kidney-yang deficiency by moxibustion + western medicine can improve the efficacy, alleviate the inflammatory response and improve the patient's symptoms and signs, and immune indexes.

[Biblio-metrology analysis on clinical application of Chengshan (BL57) in ancient Chinese medical literature].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and sum up clinical application regularities of Chengshan (BL57) acupoint in ancient Chinese literature. METHODS: The book Zhonghua Yidian (Collection of Chinese Medical Classic Works, 5th edition) containing 1 156 ancient medical books was used as the retrieved literature source. The key retrieval words used were BL57 acupoint related indications, prescriptions, treatment methods and taboos, followed by sorting out relevant articles and establishing a database. RESULTS: A total of 196 articles meeting our inclusion standards of the present study, involving 61 ancient books which contain 174 related terms covering 56 diseases or syndromes of internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, ophthalmology and otorhinola-ryngology, etc.. Among them, the most frequently attending disease treated by single BL57 or acupoints combination was limb meridian disorders, and the most frequently used auxiliary acupoint was Kunlun (BL60). The most frequently used auxiliary meridian was the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang. In addition, a total of 71 terms involved the acupuncture and moxibustion techniques of BL57, covering 7 treatment methods. In terms of the treatment methods, the dose of moxibustion was five cones in each session, and the depth of acupuncture needle insertion was about seven fen. CONCLUSION: BL57 is widely used in various clinical departments, especially for limb meridian diseases.

Qualitative and quantitative mass spectrometry comparison of characteristic galactosyl lactose isomers from goat milk at different lactation stages.

Galactooligosaccharides are composed mainly of galactosyl lactose, which is important for infant growth and as a functional food additive. Although galactosyl lactose is abundant in goat milk, its complex structure has hindered the separation and analysis of its isomers. In this study, 5 isomers of goat milk galactosyl lactose were separated by HPLC: ß6'-galactosyl lactose (ß6'-GL), α6'-galactosyl lactose (α6'-GL), ß4'-galactosyl lactose (ß4'-GL), α3'-galactosyl lactose (α3'-GL), and ß3'-galactosyl lactose (ß3'-GL). This composition differs from that of commercial galactooligosaccharide products, which comprise mainly ß-configuration oligosaccharides. The isomers were then qualitatively and quantitatively compared at different lactation stages using online HPLC-mass spectrometry. Relative quantitative analysis showed that the total content of the 5 galactosyl lactose isomers was highest in transitional goat milk. Specifically, ß3'-GL was the main isomer in colostrum and α3'-GL was the main isomer in transitional and mature milk. ß6'-Galactosyl lactose and ß4'-GL tended to increase and then decrease during lactation. Moreover, α3'-GL content was 2 times higher than in colostrum and 10 times higher in transitional milk than in mature milk; in contrast, for ß3'-GL, the values were 5 and 2 times higher, respectively. Absolute quantitative analysis revealed that ß3'-GL was the most abundant isomers in colostrum (32.3 mg/L), and α3'-GL was the most abundant in transitional milk (88.1 mg/L) and mature milk (36.3 mg/L). These findings provide an important quantitative basis for understanding the relationship between structure and function of galactosyl lactose in goat milk, as well as its exploitation as a functional food.

A search of only four key databases would identify most randomized controlled trials of acupuncture: A meta-epidemiological study.

Little research has been conducted to assess which specific databases should be searched when performing a systematic review (SR) on acupuncture. The current study aimed to identify key databases and the optimal database combination to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for inclusion in SRs. A systematic search for SRs in the field of acupuncture was conducted in order to identify target databases and RCTs were extracted from the SRs that had searched all target databases. The proportions of SRs that had achieved 100%, 95%, or 90% recall of RCTs and the total recall of RCTs in various combinations of target databases were calculated. Sensitivity analysis was performed on those SRs that included 10 or more RCTs. CNKI, WanFang, VIP, PubMed, CENTRAL and Embase were regarded as target databases. A total of 4349 acupuncture RCTs were extracted from 286 SRs. Searching all six target databases retrieved 99.3% of all RCTs while 99.1% were recalled by searching the combination of CNKI, WanFang, PubMed and CENTRAL. There were no significant differences on total recall of RCTs (p = 0.549) or in the proportion of SRs with 90% recall of RCTs (97.2% vs. 97.6%; p = 0.794) between searching the above four and the full six target databases. Most results were similar in the sensitivity analysis. The combined retrieval power of CNKI, WanFang, PubMed and CENTRAL was considered an efficient choice to retrieve acupuncture RCTs included in SRs.

[Preparation of microemulsion gel loading enriched ingredients of Epimedii Folium and its pharmacodynamics evaluation].

On the basis of previous studies, this study prepared and evaluated microemulsion gel loading enriched ingredients of Epimedii Folium and investigated its protective effect against peripheral nervous system damage caused by chemotherapeutics. The preparation method and the type and dosage of the matrix were investigated from rheology, preparation difficulty, and drug loading. Then the optimal prescription was determined and the microemulsion gel loading enriched ingredients of Epimedii Folium was prepared. The in vitro release and transdermal behaviors of the gel were investigated in the Franz diffusion cell with epimedin A1,A,B,C, and icariin as evaluation indicators. The oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy(OIPN) model was established in Wistar rats. The protective effect of the microemulsion gel loading enriched ingredients of Epimedii Folium against peripheral nervous system damage caused by chemotherapeutics was evaluated by behavioral measurement after drug administration and histopathological examination of dorsal root ganglia and sciatic nerve. The preparation process of the microemulsion gel loading enriched ingredients of Epimedii Folium was stable, and the release of the five components was consistent with the Hixson-Crowell cube root law. Behavioral indicators intuitively showed that the drug could effectively relieve mechanical allodynia caused by oxaliplatin. The histopathological examination showed that the drug can improve neuron damage in the dorsal root ganglia, axon degeneration, and demyelination caused by oxaliplatin. Therefore, the preparation process of the microemulsion gel loading enriched ingredients of Epimedii Folium is feasible, which can achieve stable drug release. It has a certain therapeutic effect on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN).