Traditional Chinese medicine manipulative reduction combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty for treating type III Kummell's disease: A case report.

BACKGROUND: A patient with type III Kummell's disease had a ruptured posterior cortex of the fractured vertebral body, which caused spinal cord compression. An open surgery was considered the best choice of operation. However, the patient and her family refused open surgery and instead demanded a minimally invasive surgical treatment such as percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). After preoperative discussion, we finally adopted the novel therapy of traditional Chinese medicine manipulative reduction (TCMMR) combined with PVP. CASE SUMMARY: A patient with type III Kummell's disease exhibiting bone block-induced spinal cord compression was admitted to our hospital. She suffered from a variety of medical disorders but refused open surgery, and instead asked for PVP surgery. TCMMR, in parallel with PVP, was used to restore the height of the compressed vertebral body and reduce the symptoms of spinal cord compression by the bone block in order to strengthen the vertebral body and prevent further collapse. The surgery was very successful. The height of the compressed vertebra was restored, and the symptom of spinal cord compression by bone block was reduced successfully via TCMMR. The fractured vertebra was solidified by the PVP. The pain visual analog score declined from preoperative 7 scores to postoperative 2 scores, and the Frankel spinal cord scale increased from preoperative D degree to postoperative E degree. CONCLUSION: The new method has advantages in treating patients with type III Kummell's disease who cannot be treated with open surgery.

New Monoterpenoid Indoles with Osteoclast Activities from Gelsemium elegans.

The well-known toxic medicine Gelsemium elegans is widely and historically used to treat bone fracture and skin ulcers by the folk people of China. Two new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, gelselegandines D and E, together with the known analogue gelegamine A were isolated from G. elegans. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic techniques and quantum chemical calculations. All isolated compounds were tested for the effects on RANKL-induced osteoclast formation. Interestingly, gelselegandine E and gelegamine A, respectively, showed significant promoting and inhibitory activities on osteoclastogenesis, while gelselegandine D had no activity under the same concentration. This work suggested the different configurations for the carbons near the C-19/20 oxygen rings of the isolated compounds may be the key active groups on osteoclast formation and provided the evidence for the rationality as the traditional treatment for bone-related diseases of G. elegans.

Genus Alangium - A review on its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities.

The species from Alangium have been used as folk medicine to treat rheumatism, skin diseases, diabetes by the people of Southeast Asia. Previous phytochemical studies have shown this genus are rich sources of alkaloids, glycosides, and terpenoids, which have attracted considerable attention of many researchers due to their markedly diverse and complex architecture. The crude extracts as well as the monomeric compounds from the title genus possess anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-oxidant pharmacological activities. Besides, some isolates from Alangium exhibited the effects on skeletal, smooth muscle and the nervous system. As a large genus of medicinal plants, the medicinal value of Alangium has been widely reported, but there is no review that provide a systematic summary towards its chemical constituents and pharmacological activities, to our knowledge. This work aims to present a comprehensive overview on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of medicinal plants in the genus Alangium, and to explore the evidence supporting its ethnopharmacological effectiveness.

[Research progress of Rehmanniae Radix in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis].

Osteoporosis fracture with high disability and mortality is a difficult problem that seriously affects the life quality of individuals. At present, there is still a lack of anti-osteoporosis drugs with clear target and significant efficacy in the clinical practice. Rehmanniae Radix and its prescriptions have significant clinical effects. In this regard, more and more studies have reported the effects and mechanisms of Rehmanniae Radix and its active components, and the certain research outputs have been achieved. In this article, the PubMed, Web of science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database were searched to collect and organize the latest research progress of Rehmanniae Radix treatment of osteoporosis in the recent 10 years. We summarized the research dynamics as well as the function indexes and mechanisms of the raw and processed Rehmanniae Radix, active ingredients such as catalpol, aucubin, acteoside and Rehmanniae Radix polysaccharide, and their formulating prescriptions, and then excavated the potential active ingredients, targets and signaling pathways, including the effect on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, promoting the osteoblast proliferation and promoting osteogenesis differentiation(increasing alkaline phosphatase, typeⅠ collagen, osteoprotegerin, and osteocalcin and promoting calcium deposits), increasing the bone density, inhibiting the osteoclast quantity and differentiation, promoting the osteoclast apoptosis, and reducing tartrate resistant acid phosphatase and bone resorption pit area to provide the reference and develop new ideas for developing Rehmanniae Radix prescriptions for treatment of osteoporosis and exploring its mechanism.

Dendrobine targeting JNK stress signaling to sensitize chemotoxicity of cisplatin against non-small cell lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for lung cancer, but chemoresistance and adverse effects especially cardiotoxicity limit its efficacy. PURPOSE: The efficacy of combination treatment of dendrobine, a plant alkaloid isolated from Dendrobium nobile, with cisplatin was examined as a possible anti-non-small cell lung cancer strategy. METHODS: The cytotoxicity of dendrobine and cisplatin against A549 lung cancer cells was analyzed by MTT and colony formation assays. Apoptosis was measured by annexin V/PI double staining. Apoptosis-related proteins were assessed by western blotting and qPCR analysis. In vivo efficacy was determined using A549 xenograft in nude mice. JNK and Bim inhibition were achieved by siRNA knockdown and/or chemical inhibition. Cardiotoxicity was assessed by serum creatine phosphokinase activity assay. RESULTS: Dendrobine induced apoptotic cell death through mitochondrial-mediated pathway. Combination treatment of dendrobine with cisplatin showed enhanced cytotoxicity through stimulation of JNK/p38 stress signaling pathways and, consequently, the induction of apoptosis involving pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bim. In addition, dendrobine attenuated the body weight reduction and cardiotoxicity induced by cisplatin in nude mice. CONCLUSION: The combination treatment showed enhanced anticancer activity toward non-small cell lung cancer cells without aggravating the cardiotoxic effects of cisplatin suggesting that the combination strategy deserves further investigation for human lung cancer treatment.

Baicalin protects mice against Salmonella typhimurium infection via the modulation of both bacterial virulence and host response.

BACKGROUND: The worsening problems of antibiotic resistance prompt the need for alternative strategies. Baicalin, which is isolated from Scutellaria baicalensisi, has been demonstrated to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-virulence and antimicrobial effects. Salmonella typhimurium is an important foodborne pathogenic bacteriaum that causes gastrointestinal disease in humans and many animals. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of baicalin on S. typhimurium infection in mice and its possible mechanism in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: To evaluate the effect of baicalin in vivo, mice were orally administered of baicalin, and then were infected by an intragastric administration of S. typhimurium. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A against S. typhimurium were detected under the guides of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. In vitro, Caco-2 cells were infected with S. typhimurium in the presence or absence of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A at sub-MICs. METHODS: In the in vivo experiment, the body weight loss, the serum levels of TNFα,  IL-6, and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), the pathological changes of the caecum and the caecum bacterial burdens were examined. The MICs and MBCs of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A against S. typhimurium were detected by two-fold serial dilutions. In vitro, Caco-2 cells were infected with S. typhimurium, and the invasion capacity, TNFα, nitrate, and LDH were analysed. The transcription levels of Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 virulence associated genes (sopB, sopE, sopE2) of S. typhimurium in the presence of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A were detected by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Our results showed that baicalin significantly decreased the body weight loss, the serum levels of TNFα,  IL-6, and LDH, and the caecum bacterial burdens of mice challenged with S. typhimurium. Histological examination showed that baicalin decreased the lesion in the caecum of S. typhimurium-infected mice. MICs and MBCs of baicalin, and oroxylin A. against S. typhimurium were > 128 µg/ml. MICs and MBCs of baicalein against S. typhimurium were 64 µg/ml, and > 128 µg/ml, respectively. Pretreatment of Caco-2 cells or S. typhimurium with baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A significantly inhibited the invasion of Caco-2 cells by S. typhimurium in a dose-dependent manner. Sub-MICs of baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A also significantly decreased the levels of TNFα, nitrate, and LDH from S. typhimurium-infected Caco-2 cells. Moreover, the transcription levels of sopB, sopE, and sopE2 were significantly suppressed by baicalin, baicalein, and oroxylin A. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that baicalin is a promising agent for the prevention of S. typhimurium infection via the modulation of both bacterial virulence and host response.

[Analysis of alcohol extract and water extract of Polygonum capitatum by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS].

In this study, we used Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry(UPLC-TOF-MS)to identify the chemical constituents in both ethanol and water extract of Polygonum capitatum. A Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column(2.1 mm×100 mm,1.7 µm) was used for separation. The mobile phase was consisted of(A) 0.10% formic acid in water and(B)0.10% formic acid in acetonitrile, and the flow rate was 0.35 mL•min⁻¹. ESI source in negative ion mode was used for MS detection. Structural identification was carried out according to the accurate mass and matching with database. The results showed that flavonoids, polyphenols and lignans were the main components in both extracts. However, the chemical compositions of both extracts were different, e.g. there are less hydrolyzable tannins, loss of ellagic acid and more anthocyanins in ethanol extract. In a conclusion, this study provides an important scientific basis for identifying the active ingredients in P. capitatum, which also help to reveal the pharmacological effect of P. capitatum.

Interference of strength training can obviously increase the effect of moxibustion treatment on patients with knee joints injuries.

OBJECTIVE: Observe the effects of Acupoint moxibustion combined with muscle training in treating the patients with knee joints strain. METHODS: The 36 patients with knee joint strains were divided into the experimental group and control group with the method of random number table, each group including 18 cases. The control group was treated with Acupoint moxibustion, while the experimental groups were treated with Acupoint moxibustion combined with muscle training. Before the treatment and after the treatment lasting 12 weeks, the therapy effects and improvement of the knee-joint muscle force for the 2 groups of patients were respectively evaluated. RESULTS: Through the treatment of 12 weeks, the clinical symptoms of control group were evidently improved than prior-treatment , but the improvement effects of the knee-joint muscle force (the peak torques of bend and stretch respectively were (32.8 ± 8.8) N·m and (35.0 ± 11.2) N·m were not significant (P > 0.05); while the clinical symptoms and knee-joint muscle force of experimental group (the peak torques of bend and stretch respectively were (40.3 ± 9.3) N·m and (42.3 ± 10.6) N·m were evidently improved than prior-treatment, and the improvement range was also evidently better than the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The Acupoint moxibustion combined with muscle force training had synergistic effects in treating the patients with elderly knee-joint strain, could further relieve the pain on knee joints, and improve the joint' s movement, such therapy was worthy to promote and apply in clinic.

[HPLC Fingerprint and Analysis of Component Difference of Crude and Wine Processed Products for Dipsacus asper Root].

OBJECTIVE: To study the HPLC fingerprint of Dipsacus asper root before and after wine processed, and to compare the changes of fingerprint and chemical composition. METHODS: The HPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent C18 (250 mm x 4. 6 mm, 5 jim) column with gradient elution of acetonitrile-0. 05% phosphoric acid at a flow rate of 1. 0 mL/min, and the column temperature was set at 25 °C. RESULTS: The content of chemical composition changed in different degree after processed, the asperosaponin VI content increased significantly, and two new chromatographic peaks were found in the fingerprint. CONCLUSION: This method can be used to reflect the difference of chemical composition of Dipsacus asper root and its wine processed products. It would he an efficient way for qualitative control of Dipsacus asper root.

Effect of Tai Chi exercise in combination with auricular plaster on patients with lumbar muscle strain.

OBJECTIVE: observe the effect of Tai Chi exercise on the patients with the chronic lumbar muscle strain under the intervention treatment of auricular plaster. METHODS: 74 middle-aged and elderly patients, suffering from the chronic lumbar muscle strain, are randomly and equally divided into an observation group and a control group, with 37 patients in each group. The patients in the control group do Tai Chi exercise, while those in the observation group are treated by the auricular plaster therapy in addition to Tai Chi exercise. Evaluate and compare the disease conditions of the patients in the two groups before the treatment and after 12 weeks' treatment. RESULTS: after 12 weeks' treatment, the patients in the two groups have been improved differently in comparison with those before the treatment (P < 0.05). However, the cure rate, the excellence rate and total effective rate of the observation group are superior to those of the control group, respectively P < 0.05 or P < 0.01, thus their difference shows statistic significance. CONCLUSION: after 12 weeks' Tai Chi exercise, it exercises an obvious curative effect on the patients with lumbar muscle strain but the curative effect is more remarkable if it is combined with auricular plaster therapy.

Effect of high temperature yoga exercise on improving physical and mental well-being of overweight middle-aged and young women.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of high temperature yoga exercise on improving physical and psychological well-being of overweight middle-aged and young women. DESIGN: 50 overweight middle-aged and young women from yoga clubs were selected. The indexes of their constitution, physiological functions, psychological adaptation were measured and compared before and after one year of uninterrupted high temperature yoga exercise. RESULTS: The indexes of the subjects' constitution and physiological functions were remarkably uplifted (P < 0.05); their psychological adaptation was improved as well. CONCLUSION: Aerobics represented by high temperature yoga can improve body shape, lower lipid, reduce weight, and exert an evident therapeutic effect on improving physiological functions and boosting psychological well-being.

[Study on sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers of Polygonum capitatum].

OBJECTIVE: To establish sequence characterized amplified region markers of Polygonum capitatum. METHOD: The random primer was screened through RAPD to obtain the specific RAPD marker band, and the band was separated, extracted, cloned and sequenced. The specific primers were designed for conventional PCR reaction on the basis of the specific band, and the SCAR marker was acquired. RESULT: Screening from 50 RAPD primer, only C29 primer had 2 specific bands could distinguish P. capitatum from P. nepalense, then 4 pairs of specific primers were designed based on the 2 sequences of RAPD marker bands, and only 1 pair primer (Z1-2) was successfully converted into SCAR marker after repeated tests. CONCLUSION: The Z1-2 primer, could be used as an effective SCAR mark to identify Z300 DNA for P. capitatum. The SCAR mark was established and can be used as a molecular marker to distinguish P. capitatum from P. nepalense

Application of a rapid and efficient quantitative analysis method for traditional Chinese medicines: the case study of quality assessment of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge.

A reference extractive, containing multiple active known compounds, has been considered to be an alternative to individual reference standards. However, in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) the great majority of reference extractives have been primarily used for qualitative identification by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and few studies on the applicability of reference extractives for quantitative analysis have been presented. Using Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge as an example in this paper, we first present a preliminary discussion on the feasibility and applicability of reference extractives for the quantitative analysis of TCMs. The reference extractive of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge, comprised of three pharmacological marker compounds, namely cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA, was prepared from purchased Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by extraction with acetone under reflux, followed by silica gel column chromatography with stepwise elution with petroleum ether-ethyl acetate (25:1, v/v, 4.5 BV) to remove the non-target components and chloroform-methanol (10:1, v/v; 3 BV) to yield a crude reference extractive solution. After concentration, the solution was further purified by preparative reversed-phase HPLC on a C18 column with isocratic elution with 77% methanol aqueous solution to yield the total reference extractive of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge. Thereafter, the reference extractive was applied to the quality assessment of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode array detection (DAD). The validation of the method, including linearity, sensitivity, repeatability, stability and recovery testing, indicated that this method was valid, reliable and sensitive, with good reproducibility. The developed method was successfully applied to quantify seven batches of samples collected from different regions in China and the results were also similar to those obtained using reference standards, with relative standard deviation (RSD) <3%. Preparation of a reference extractive of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge was significantly less expensive and time consuming than preparation of a corresponding reference standard. Quantitative analysis using a reference extractive was shown to be simple, low-cost, time-saving and practical, with high sensitivity and good stability; and is, therefore, a strong alternative to the use of reference standards.

Efficacy of combined treatment with albendazole and baicalein against eosinophilic meningitis induced by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in mice.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection causes eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Baicalein is a flavonoid originally isolated from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of the combination of albendazole and baicalein for treating eosinophilic meningitis in BALB/c mice. Therapeutic efficacy included the survival time, body weight, neurological function, leucocyte and eosinophil counts, eotaxin concentration, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity, larval recovery and histopathological examination. The results showed that the combination of albendazole and baicalein was more effective than either drug administered singly. Combination therapy increased the survival time, decreased body weight loss, neurological dysfunction, leucocyte response, eotaxin concentration and MMP-9 activity. Our results suggest that the combination of albendazole and baicalein may exhibit synergistic beneficial effects in the treatment of eosinophilic meningitis induced by A. cantonensis.

Studies of Athabasca asphaltene Langmuir films at air-water interface.

Asphaltenes are present in heavy oils and bitumen. They are a mixture of hydrocarbons having complex structures of polyaromatic rings and short side chains. In general, the high-molecular-weight asphaltene is the most aromatic fraction with the highest number of side chains and the low-molecular-weight asphaltene contains the lowest number of side chains, while the number of side chains of the whole asphaltene fraction lies in between. In this study, asphaltenes were extracted and/or fractionated from Athabasca oil sand bitumen. Subfractions of high and low molecular weight and the whole asphaltenes were characterized using a Langmuir trough and complementary techniques such as VPO, FTIR, AFM, and contact angle measurements. At an air-water interface, amphiphilic asphaltene molecules can form a monolayer. Various fractions (high, low, and whole) of the asphaltene molecules behave similarly at the air-water interface, characterized by close resemblance of their surface pressure-area, hysteresis, and relaxation isotherms. The high-molecular-weight asphaltene is the most expanded fraction, while the low-molecular-weight asphaltene fraction is the most condensed, with the whole asphaltene lying in between. At the air-water interface a monolayer of the low-molecular-weight asphaltene relaxes at a faster rate than one of the high-molecular-weight asphaltene.