Analysis of Chinese Medical Syndrome Features of Ischemic Stroke Based on Similarity of Symptoms Subgroup / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To derive the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome classification and subgroup syndrome characteristics of ischemic stroke patients.@*METHODS@#By extracting the CM clinical electronic medical records (EMRs) of 7,170 hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke from 2016 to 2018 at Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Province, China, a patient similarity network (PSN) was constructed based on the symptomatic phenotype of the patients. Thereafter the efficient community detection method BGLL was used to identify subgroups of patients. Finally, subgroups with a large number of cases were selected to analyze the specific manifestations of clinical symptoms and CM syndromes in each subgroup.@*RESULTS@#Seven main subgroups of patients with specific symptom characteristics were identified, including M3, M2, M1, M5, M0, M29 and M4. M3 and M0 subgroups had prominent posterior circulatory symptoms, while M3 was associated with autonomic disorders, and M4 manifested as anxiety; M2 and M4 had motor and motor coordination disorders; M1 had sensory disorders; M5 had more obvious lung infections; M29 had a disorder of consciousness. The specificity of CM syndromes of each subgroup was as follows. M3, M2, M1, M0, M29 and M4 all had the same syndrome as wind phlegm pattern; M3 and M0 both showed hyperactivity of Gan (Liver) yang pattern; M2 and M29 had similar syndromes, which corresponded to intertwined phlegm and blood stasis pattern and phlegm-stasis obstructing meridians pattern, respectively. The manifestations of CM syndromes often appeared in a combination of 2 or more syndrome elements. The most common combination of these 7 subgroups was wind-phlegm. The 7 subgroups of CM syndrome elements were specifically manifested as pathogenic wind, pathogenic phlegm, and deficiency pathogens.@*CONCLUSIONS@#There were 7 main symptom similarity-based subgroups in ischemic stroke patients, and their specific characteristics were obvious. The main syndromes were wind phlegm pattern and hyperactivity of Gan yang pattern.

Seed oil of Brucea javanica induces apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in acute lymphocytic leukemia Jurkat cells / 中国天然药物

Brucea javanica oil emulsion (BJOE) has been used to treat tumor in China for more than 40 years. However, its components and effectiveness in the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and its mechanism of anti-cancer activity remain unknown. In the current study, high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) was used to analyze the components of BJOE. Then, the anti-leukemia effects of BJOE were examined both in vitro and in vivo using ALL Jurkat cells and the p388 mouse leukemia transplant model, respectively. The primary ALL leukemia cells were also used to confirm the anti-leukemia effects of BJOE. The apoptotic-related results indicated that BJOE induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells and were suggestive of intrinsic apoptotic induction. Moreover, BJOE inhibited Akt (protein kinase B) activation and upregulated its downstream targets p53 and FoxO1 (forkhead box gene, group O-1) to initiate apoptosis. The activation of GSK3β was also involved. Our findings demonstrate that BJOE has anti-leukemia effects on ALL cells and can induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells through the phosphoinositide3-kinase (PI3K) /Akt signaling pathway.

Experimental study on relationship between pungent-hot herb property express and calmodulin / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explain the essence of pungent-hot herb property express according to in vivo and in vitro studies on its effect on calmodulin on the base of the observation of the adjustment in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis functions of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Curculiginis Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex and bitter-cold herb Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in rats under the state of yang deficiency.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The yang-deficient model was duplicated by intramuscularly injecting hydrocortisone sodium succinate powder injection. After the intervention with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Curculiginis Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex and bitter-cold herb Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex for seven days, TSH, T3, T4, 17-OHCS, COR, T, E2 of hypothalamus-pituitary-target gland axis and other relevant indexes were detected. The calmodulin expression in livers and L02 cells cultured in vitro was detected by using Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Pungent-hot herbs Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Curculiginis Rhizoma, Cinnamomi Cortex can significantly correct indicators of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis and calmodulin, whereas the bitter-cold herb Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex showed no obvious effect.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pungent-hot herb property expression may be closely related to calmodulin.</p>

HPLC fingerprint of glycyrrhizea radix et rhizoma praeparata cum melle / 中国中药杂志

The chromatographic fingerprint was established by eluting with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid water on an Agilent TC-C18 (2) column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). Six chromatographic peaks were identified by HPLC-MS/MS method. Ten batches of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle were determined, and the similarity was arranged from 0.72 to 0.99. Good precision, stability and repeatability were obtained, and this study provides a reference for the quality control of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle.

Application and advance of artificial antigens in studies on allergic reaction of traditional Chinese medicine injections / 中国中药杂志

There are some small molecules with potential allergenicity in traditional Chinese medicine injections. They are lack of immunogenicity due to their small molecular weight, but they can lead to allergic reactions when they were coupled with appropriate vectors. Therefore, how to couple small molecule semi-antigens with vectors to prepare complete antigens with immunogenicity and reactogenicity is the key for screening small molecular allergenic substances out of traditional Chinese medicine injections. In terms of semi-antigen characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine injections, vector selection and application, coupling method and complete antigen purification and identification, the author introduces the latest research situations of artificial antigen and antibody preparation technology, the advance in experimental studies on screening of allergenic substances in traditional Chinese medicine injections, as well as the application prospect of immuno-chip technology in studies on allergenic substances in traditional Chinese medicine injections, with the aim of providing new experimental thoughts and methods for safety control of traditional Chinese medicine injections.

Clinical application of the penetrating needling technique from Yemen (TE 2) to Zhongzhu (TE 3) / 中国针灸

The penetrating technique of acupuncture from Yemen (TE 2) to Zhongzhu (TE 3) acts on the extraordinary effect of promoting Shaoyang meridian qi. The technique is specially good for heat pattern/syndrome of the triple energizer and it is commonly used in the treatment of common cold, high fever, anhidrosis in heat pattern/syndrome, migraine, redness, swelling and pain of the eye, tinnitus, ear pain, swelling and pain of the teeth, ulcers in the mouth and tongue, sore throat, neck rigidity, etc. In the manipulation, the needle is inserted from Yemen (TE 2), going obliquely upward along the metacarpal interspace to Zhongzhu (TE 3). With this technique, the Ying-spring and Shu-stream acupoints can be stimulated simultaneously with one needle. This method is characterized as less acupoints, exquisite needling, strong sensation, easy and safe manipulation, remarkable immediate effect and high curative rate of single treatment. Hence, it is worthy of application in clinical practice.

Combination of ginsenosides with low dose estrogen showed synergetic effect on ovariectomy induced osteopenia in rats / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To determine whether low dose of estrogen in combination with ginsenosides can completely prevent bone loss in ovariectomized rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four-month-old ovariectomized rats were treated either with 100 and 300 mg.kg-1 of ginsenosides or 30 and 100 micrograms.kg-1 of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol alone, or ginsenosides 100 mg.kg-1 in combination with 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol 30 micrograms.kg-1 for 10 weeks. Double in vivo fluorochrome labeling was made. The undecalcified longitudinal proximal tibial metaphyseal sections were processed and stained with Goldner's trichrome for histomorphometric analysis of the bone.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Body weights and serum cholesterol were increased in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats lost 74% of bone volume and high bone turnover was induced after OVX compared with the sham group. Bone volume increased by 205% in the high dose estrogen treated group while it was increased by 105% in the low dose group. The two doses of estrogen were shown to inhibit osteoclasts surface (by -65% and -55%, P < 0.01) and decrease bone turnover rate (by -85% and -83%, P < 0.01). High dose of estrogen was found to inhibit growth and stimulate uterine weight gain in rats while low dose did not. High dose of ginsenosides increased bone volume by 84% (P < 0.01) and decreased bone turnover rate by -64% (P < 0.05) while lower dose of ginsenosides did not. However, low dose ginsenosides combined with low dose estrogen achieved well preventive effects: increase of 202% in bone volume, decrease of 66% in bone turnover rate and 72% in osteoclasts surface. The combined effect in preventing bone loss equals to that the high dose of estrogen alone did.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Use of low dose of estrogen plus ginsenosides showed synergistic effect on prevention of osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy.</p>