Effect of Modified Anshentang on Serum Inflammatory Factors, Immune Function, Bone Metabolism on Treatment of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis in Early and Middle Stages / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:This study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy of modified Anshentang on the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in early and middle stages with kidney deficiency and cold-governing syndrome and its effect on serum inflammatory factors， immune function， and bone metabolism indexes of patients. Method:In this study， 120 patients were randomly divided into control group and observation group， 60 cases in each group. On the basis of ethotrexate treatment， patients in control group took Bushen Shuji granule orally， while patients in observation group took modified Anshentang orally for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment， patients in two groups were observed for clinical symptoms ［ bath ankylosing spondylitis patient global score （BAS-G）， bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index （BASDAI）， spondyloarthritis research consortium of Canada （SPARCC）， traditional Chinese medicine symptoms （TCM symptoms）<italic> </italic>］， serum inflammatory factors ［ tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α </italic>（TNF-<italic>α</italic>）， macrophage migration inhibitory factor （MIF）， interleukin-23 （IL-23）］， immune function ［ immunoglobulin A（IgA）， immunoglobulin G（IgG）， immunoglobulin M（IgM）］， bone metabolic indicators ［osteocalcin （BGP）， bone morphogenetic protein-2 （BMP-2）， bonespecific alkaline phosphatase （BALP）］. The clinical efficacy， adverse reactions and recurrence rates of 12 months in two groups were observed. Result:During the study， 4 cases dropped out from control group and 2 cases from observation group. The total effective rate of 96.55% （56/58） in observation group was higher than 80.36% （45/56） in control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=4.827，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The recurrence rate of 5.17% （3/58） in observation group was lower than 19.64% （11/56） in control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=5.187， <italic>P</italic><0.05）. Compare with control group after treatment， BAS-G，BASDAI， SPARCC， TCM symptoms， TNF-<italic>α</italic>， MIF and IL-23 in observation group were significantly decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， while BGP， BMP-2， BALP， IgA， IgG and IgM were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The incidence of adverse reactions was 12.07%（7/58） in observation group， which was lower than 32.14%（18/56） in control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=4.826，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Conclusion:Modified Anshentang is effective in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in early and middle stages with kidney deficiency and cold-governing syndrome， and the incidence of adverse reactions is low.

Effect of Modified Shenfuwan on Lumbar Disc Herniation Due to Kidney Deficiency and Cold Coagulation / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe short-term and long-term effect of modified Shenfuwan on lumbar disc herniation due to kidney deficiency and cold coagulation. Method:100 cases were randomly divided into the control group and observation group，50 cases each. The control group were taken meloxicam tablets，7.5 mg each time，once a day and the observation group were given modified Shenfuwan，300 mL each time，twice a day. The treatment course was 3 months. The short form McGill pain questionnaire（SF-MPQ），oswestry disability index（ODI），and lumbar intervertebral disc herniation due to kidney deficiency and cold coagulation by traditional Chinese medicine （TCM ） syndrome were observed before and after treatment. Whole blood viscosity （high，medium，low），serum inflammatory factors ［tumor necrosis factor-alpha（TNF-<italic>α</italic>），interleukin-1<italic>β</italic>（IL-1<italic>β</italic>），interleukin-6（IL-6），pain mediators［endothelin-1（ET-1），prostaglandin E₂（PGE₂），cyclooxygenase-2（COX-2）］ were detected. The clinical efficacyand，recurrence rate followed up for 12 and 24 months was was observed. The type and time of adverse reactions were recorded during the study. Result:After treatment，the total effective rate in the observation group was 98.0%（49/50） higher than that 82.0%（41/50） in the control group（<italic>P</italic><0.05）. After 12 months of follow-up，the recurrence rate in the observation group was 23.9%（11/46） lower than that 52.5%（21/40） in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²＝5.193，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. After 24 months of follow-up，the recurrence rate in the observation group was 43.9%（18/41） lower than that that 80.6%（29/36） in the control group（<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment，SF-MPQ，ODI，TCM symptoms，whole blood viscosity，TNF-<italic>α</italic>，IL-1<italic>β</italic>，IL-6，ET-1，PGE₂ and COX-2 were significantly reduced in the observation group（<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 2.0%（1/50） lower than that 52.0%（26/50） in the control group（<italic>χ</italic>²＝6.264，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Conclusion:Modified Shenfuwan can significantly improve the short-term and long-term clinical efficacy of patients with lumbar disc herniation due to kidney deficiency and cold coagulation syndrome，and the incidence of adverse reactions is low.

Ginsenoside Rb1 Ameliorates Age-Related Myocardial Dysfunction by Regulating the NF-[Formula: see text]B Signaling Pathway.

Age-related myocardial dysfunction is a very large healthcare burden. Here, we aimed to investigate whether ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) improves age-related myocardial dysfunction and to identify the relevant molecular mechanism. Young mice and aged mice were injected with Rb1 or vehicle for 3 months. Then, their cardiac function was inspected by transthoracic echocardiography. Serum and myocardium tissue were collected from all mice for histological or molecular expression analyses, including aging-related proteins, markers relevant to fibrosis and inflammation, and markers indicating the activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-[Formula: see text]B) pathway. Compared with the control condition, Rb1 treatment significantly increased the ejection fraction percentage and significantly decreased the internal diameter and volume of the left ventricle at the end-systolic and end-diastolic phases in aged mice. Rb1 treatment reduced collagen deposition and collagen I, collagen III, and transforming growth factor-[Formula: see text]1 protein expression levels in aged hearts. Rb1 also decreased the aging-induced myocardial inflammatory response, as measured by serum or myocardial interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text] levels. Furthermore, Rb1 treatment in aged mice increased cytoplasmic NF-[Formula: see text]B but decreased nuclear NF-[Formula: see text]B, which indicated the suppression of the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway by regulating the translocation of NF-[Formula: see text]B. Rb1 could alleviate aging-related myocardial dysfunction by suppressing fibrosis and inflammation, which is potentially associated with regulation of the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway.

Treatment of Persistent Somatoform Pain Disorder by Floating Needle Therapy and Duloxetine / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate clinical effect and safety of floating needle therapy and duloxetine in treating patients with persistent somatoform pain disorder (PSPD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 108 PSPD patients were randomly assigned to the floating needle treatment group, the duloxetine treatment group, and the placebo treatment group, 36 in each group. Patients in the floating needle treatment group received floating needle therapy and placebo. Those in the duloxetine treatment group received duloxetine and simulated floating needle therapy. Those in the placebo treatment group received the placebo and simulated floating needle therapy. All treatment lasted for six weeks. Efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated using Simple McGill pain scale (SF-MPQ) and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) before treatment and immediately after treatment, as well as at the end of 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th week of treatment, respectively. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD, 17 items), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were assessed before treatment and at the end of 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th week of treatment, respectively. Patients in the floating needle treatment group and the duloxetine treatment group with the total reducing score rate of SF-MPQ in Pain Rating index (PRI) ≥ 50% after 6 weeks' treatment were involved in the follow-up study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the same group before treatment, SF-MPQ score, HAMD score and HAMA total scores all decreased in all the three groups at the end of 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th week of treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Besides , each item of SF-MPQ significantly decreased immediately after treatment in the floating needle treatment group (P < 0.01). Compared with the placebo treatment group, SF-MPQ, HAMD, and HAMA total score in the floating needle treatment group significantly decreased after 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). SF-MPQ score, HAMD score and HAMA total score in the duloxetine treatment group also significantly decreased after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) There were 3 patients (8.3%) who had adverse reactions in the floating needle treatment group, 17 (50.0%) in the duloxetine treatment group, and 7 (21.2%) in the placebo treatment group. Compared with the placebo treatment group, the incidence of adverse reaction increased in the duloxetine treatment group (χ² = 6.04, P < 0.05). Besides, it was higher in the duloxetine treatment group than in the floating needle treatment group (χ² = 14.9, P < 0.05). (3) There were 19 patients in the floating needle treatment group and 17 patients in the duloxetine treatment group involved in the follow-up study. Compared with 6 weeks after treatment, no significant difference was observed at 3 and 6 months after treatment in the score of SF-MPQ, HAMD, and HAMA in the floating needle treatment group and the duloxetine treatment group. No significant difference was observed between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were 5 patients (29.4%) who had adverse reactions in the duloxetine treatment group, and no adverse reactions were observed in the floating needle treatment group. The adverse reaction rate was significantly different between the two groups (χ² = 4.26, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Floating needle therapy and duloxetine were effective in treatment of patients with PSPD. However, floating needle therapy could relieve pain more rapidly than duloxetine, with obviously less adverse reactions.</p>

Recent advances in natural product induced DNA damage response in cancer cells / 中国中药杂志

The DNA structures could be altered or even damaged by exogeous or endogenous factors during cell proliferation. Failure of effective and timely repair will lead to cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. By taking the advantage of the quick proliferation of cancer cells, DNA damage induction, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis promotion have become important strategies for ant-cancer chemotherapy. Previous reports showed that an array of natural compounds inhibit cancer cell proliferation by inducing DNA damage, which have therapeutic potentials for anti-cancer drug research and development.

[Differential textural research on fabricator of the facsimile handwritten copy of Northern Song edition of Shang han lun].

The 'facsimile handwritten copy of Northern Song edition of Shang han lun' was collected from Japan and named by Yang Shou-jing (1829 - 1915). It was identified as a apocryph. Some scholars even thought if was fabricated by Yang, and announced the messages including the process of fabrication by Yang, being printed by Ke Heng-shi, and being bought by Zhang Jun-heng. This study not only focused on these subjects, but also discussed if Yang had the motive of fabrication or there were other cases fabricated by Yang. Finally we revealed some different results. Firstly, there was no evidence could proof the copy was fabricated by Yang. The most possible fabricator was Japanese in the Eto period (1603 - 1867). Secondly, the edition printed by Ke was not derived from the facsimile handwritten copy. Lastly, the copy was transferred from Yang to Zhang during 1913 to 1914.

Phytoremediation of urban wastewater by model wetlands with ornamental hydrophytes.

Phytoremediation offers a cost-effective, non-intrusive, and safe alternative to conventional cleanup techniques. In this study, we used ornamental hydrophytes plants as constructed wetlands to treat urban or rural domestic wastewater. Most ornamental hydrophytes adapted to the wastewater well, and were fairly efficient in scavenging BOD5 (biological oxygen demand 5 d), COD (chemical oxygen demand), TN (total nitrogen), TP (total phosphorus) and heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd) in the wastewater. However, the efficiency varied a lot for various species to different contaminants, Iris pseudacorus L. and Acorus gramineus Soland were good choices for treatment of composite-polluted urban wastewater. Some variation in the change of membrane peroxidation and endogenous protective system in responses to wastewater was found among six hydrophytes, which have a correlation with the efficiency of wastewater treatment. It may demonstrate that the developed antioxidative systems of I. pseudacorus and A. gramineus contributed much to their superiority. On the other hand, interaction of different components in the wastewater might have certain effects on phytoremediation.

[Textual research on the author of manuscript prefaces in Zhao Kaimei's version of Zhong Jing Quan Shu collected at the Library of Palace Museum in Taipei].

Zhong Jing Quan Shu (Zhongjing's Complete Book) published by Zhao Kaimei in the Ming dynasty is very important. In our understanding, the part of this book named Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Exogenous Cold Diseases) has been thought that the edition could be possibly the most similar to that of the edition of the Northern Song dynasty. Therefore, there are two manuscript prefaces found in the Zhong Jing Quan Shu collected at the Library of Palace Museum in Taipei. The message from the writer of the manuscript who owned facsimile handwritten copy of the official Northern Song large-character edition of Shang Han Lun. This is the first time to reveal that a paper record has been kept in the world now since the Ming dynasty. That is the reason why the edition has always been thought so much important to the world now. These manuscript prefaces quite often attracted the attention of the Chinese and Japanese scholars, but none of them could identify who the writer was. And after a thorough reading of the original work, investigating the inscriptions, and checking the seals, we finally identified the writer to be Xu Fang, in late Qing dynasty. The result of this study might be helpful to research the tracing of the valuable facsimile handwritten copy of the official Northern Song large-character edition of Shang Han Lun, and also would be possible to give some new ideas and make new contents of Shang Han Lun to the studies of bibliography and editions in the future.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of the N-diarylalkenyl-piperidinecarboxylic acid derivatives as GABA uptake inhibitors (I).

Twenty novel N-diarylalkenyl-piperidinecarboxylic acid derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake inhibitors. The biological assay showed that (R)-1-[4,4-bis(3-phenoxymethyl-2-thienyl)-3-butenyl]-3-piperidinecarboxylic hydrochloride possessed almost as strong GAT1 inhibitory activity as tiagabine. The synthesis and structure-activity relationships are discussed.