Modular characteristics and mechanism of action of herbs for vascular calcification treatment in Chinese medicine: a data mining and network pharmacology-based identification.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the modular characteristics and mechanism of action of Chinese herbs for vascular calcification (VC) treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Network pharmacology coupled with literature data mining was utilized to assess the Chinese herbal clinical performance as well as its similarity, characteristics, ingredient, target, and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and network construction. RESULTS: The top 15 medications from the literature, according to the usage, and 190 active chemicals, 183 common targets between medication and VC-related targets were weeded out. Analysis of the relationships between the active ingredients, pharmacological targets, and signaling pathways helped to clearly define the therapeutic effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Importantly, we discovered seven most hub proteins (AKT1, CTNNB1, TNF, EGFR, TP53, JUN and IL-6) and two of the herbs' most fundamental ingredients (Formononetin and Luteolin) in TCM-mediated VC suppression. Mechanistically, the metabolic pathways [AGE-RAGE pathway, interleukin-17 (IL-17) pathway, and p53 pathway] as well as smooth muscle adaptation (functional remodeling) and oxidoreductase activity (redox homeostasis modulating) are also crucially implicated. CONCLUSIONS: Our work, accomplished by network pharmacology and data mining, increases our understanding of TCM in VC therapy and may offer insightful information for future drug discovery investigations.

[Observation of electroencephalogram spectrum changes over one year of Qigong training].

Using spectrum analysis method, the electroencephalogram (EEG) changes of the students who first learned Zhanzhuang Qigong in comparing with the students who did not practice at all were observed, over a period of one year. The results showed that the spectrum of EEG did not change significantly after half year training, but one year later, the alpha index of right frontal and right temporal regions decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and the beta index of right frontal and right temporal regions decreased significantly (P < 0.05). It was indicated that there was a higher tendency of EEG synchyonization, the brain activity changed from "active" to "harmonious" and "calm". It was a gradually adjusting process.

[Regulative effects of qixue injection on rhythmic activities in pacemaker cells of the sinoatrial node].

This study investigated, with microelectrode technic, the effects of electrical activities in pacemaker cells of sinoatrial node by Qixue injection consisting of Ginseng, Astragali and Angelicae sinensis, which may replenish the Qi and invigorate the circulation of blood. Qixue injection produced a negative chronotropic action on beating of sinoatrial node mainly because of lowering the rate of diastolic automatic depolarization and lengthening the duration of diastolic depolarization as well, but this action was caused through neither cholinergic M receptors nor adrenergic beta receptors. With hypoxia at temperature of 41 degrees C or with isoprenaline in existence to cause beating slowness and arrhythmia, Qixue injection turned them into rhythmical beating and quickened automatic beating frequency. It suggested that Qixue injection could antagonize pathologic changes caused by insufficiency of oxygen supply and improve function of sinoatrial node. Also it indicated that Qixue injection had a biphasic function on regulating rhythmical activities of sinoatrial node, which might be one of the mechanisms of the drug used clinically.