Study on the mechanism of Taohong siwu decoction improving peripheral nerve injury induced by paclitaxel in rats / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Taohong siwu decoction （THD） improving peripheral nerve injury induced by paclitaxel （PTX） in rats. METHODS The effects of THD （1 g/mL drug-containing serum） and PTX （0.1 μmol/L） alone or in combination on the proliferation rate of Schwann cells line RSC96 as well as the expressions of lysosomal-associated membrane protein-2 （LAMP2）， autophagy marker protein yeast Atg 6 homolog （Beclin1）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， protein kinase B （Akt）， and mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） were investigated， and then compared with autophagy promoter rapamycin and autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine （3-MA）. The effects of high-dose and low-dose THD on the expressions of myelin basic protein （MBP） and myelin protein zero （MPZ）， S100 calcium-binding protein （S100）， LAMP2， Beclin1， PI3K， Akt and mTOR were tested at the end of the experiment. RESULTS After treatment of THD+PTX， the proliferation rate of RSC96 cells was significantly higher than those treated with PTX alone. After treatment of THD+PTX or THD+ 3-MA， the protein expressions of LAMP2 and Beclin1 in RSC96 cells were significantly higher than those treated with PTX or 3- MA alone， while the protein expressions of PI3K， Akt and mTOR were significantly lower than those treated with PTX or 3-MA alone （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， the protein expressions of MBP， MPZ， S100， LAMP2 and Beclin1 in sciatic nerve of rats were increased significantly in THD high-dose and low-dose groups， while the protein expressions of PI3K， Akt and mTOR were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS THD may activate Schwann cell autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/ mTOR signaling pathway， thereby improving peripheral nerve injury caused by PTX.

Mechanism and experimental verification of "Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix-Ligustri Lucidi Fructus" combination in treatment of acute gouty arthritis based on network pharmacology / 中国中药杂志

Based on network pharmacology, the mechanism of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix-Ligustri Lucidi Fructus(PL) combination against acute gouty arthritis(AGA) was explored and preliminarily verified by animal experiment. The chemical components and corresponding targets of PL were retrieved from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP). The active components with oral bioavailability(OB)≥30% and drug-likeness(DL)≥0.18 were screened based on literature, and the related protein targets were collected. Then the protein targets were standardized with the help of UniProt database. The AGA-related targets were searched from GeneCards, NCBI, and DrugBank. The common targets of the disease and the medicinals were yielded by FunRich V3, and the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was constructed to screen the key targets, followed by Gene Ontology(GO) term enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of the key targets. Afterwards, some of the key targets were verified by sodium urate crystal-induced AGA mouse model. A total of 25 active components and 287 targets of PL, 811 targets of AGA, and 88 common targets were screened out. PPI network analysis showed that tumor necrosis factor(TNF), interleukin-6(IL-6), and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) may be the core targets of PL in the treatment of AGA. The key targets were mainly involved in 566 GO terms(P<0.05), including multiple biological processes such as inflammatory response and immune response. Moreover, they were related to 116 KEGG pathways and these pathways were involved in inflammation and immunity, mainly including NOD-like receptor signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway. Animal experiment confirmed that PL can alleviate ankle swelling, improve abnormal gait, and down-regulate the protein expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in AGA mice, indicating that PL can treat AGA through TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β and the feasibility of network pharmacology to predict drug targets. This study preliminarily discussed the key targets and biological signaling pathways involved in the treatment of AGA with PL combination, which reflected the multi-pathway and multi-target action characteristics of Chinese medicine. Moreover, this study laid a scientific basis for research on the treatment of AGA with PL combination, as well as the mechanism of action.

Clinical Implication of Meditation in Psychiatry : Focused on Mindfulness Meditation / 신경정신의학

There is a considerable body of literature describing the trials of meditation as adjunctive treatment of psychiatry. Although meditation has included various concepts and activity through a long history, meditation used as a therapeutic intervention in psychiatry has usually been accepted as a kind of emotion and attention regulation training. The aim of this article was to review historical origin, clinical effectiveness, and neurobiological mechanism of meditation as treatment for psychiatric disorders. Meditation is originated from various types of religious tradition. In general, meditation is divided by the consciousness meditation and the awareness meditation. Concept of mindfulness-based therapy is mainly based on awareness meditation. In addition to two types of meditation, loving kindness meditation is developed and exercised in compassion-focused therapy. Neurobiological evidence suggests that meditation reduces stress-related autonomic and endocrine change. In addition, research using neuroimaging has provided biological evidence that a specific region of brain activity and connectivity is related to subjective experience of meditation. Clinical trials support the effectiveness of meditation for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and any other stress-related disorders. In the future, profound understanding of the neurobiological mechanism, clinical effectiveness, and side effects of meditation as treatment intervention of for psychiatric disorders would be provided for evidence based meditative practice.

Low back pain of cold-damp pattern treated with electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy and traditional moxibustion: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern between electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy and moxibustion box therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-one cases of low back pain of cold-damp pattern were randomized into an electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy group (group A, 26 cases) and a box moxibustion therapy group (group B, 15 cases). In the group A, the electric-thermal Bian-stone was placed over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The temperature of stone was adjusted in accordance with patient's comfort. In the group B, moxibustion box was used over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The treatment was given once every day or every two days. Ten treatments made one session. The symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were observed before and after treatment in the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were all improved in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The changing rate of symptom and physical signs and syndrome were (37.04 +/- 32.68)% and (22.85 +/- 29.95)% in the group A, and were (47.29 +/- 22.08)% and (23.89 +/- 22.53)% in the group B, respectively, without significant difference in comparison between the two groups (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern treated with the electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy is similar to that of moxibustion box therapy. This therapy is characterized as more convenient, safer operation and less pollution.</p>

Discussion on the complementation of different effects of acupuncture and Chinese drugs and clinical application / 中国针灸

Complementation of different effects of acupuncture and Chinese drugs generalizes not only the objective interrelations between acupuncture and Chinese drugs with varied actions when the two therapies are applied simultaneously but also the clinical therapeutic efficacy produced either by acupuncture or Chinese drugs singly. This view of complementation has been promoted on the basis of the understanding of the mechanism and efficacy of acupuncture and Chinese drugs as well as their interrelations concerning the different actions complementary most appropriately to one another in treatment of diseases. The presented view will be of theoretical value in working out the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture and Chinese drugs applied at the same time and help the clinical doctors understand further the properties of actions of acupuncture and Chinese drugs so as to strengthen more specifically the integration of acupuncture with Chinese drugs and improve the clinical therapeutic effect.

Urine metabonomic study of intervention effects of Morinda officinalis how. on 'kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' / 药学学报

To investigate the intervention effects of Morinda officinalis How. on 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' induced by hydrocortisone in rats, the metabolic profiles of rat urine were characterized using proton nuclear magnetic resonance and principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to study the trajectory of urinary metabolic phenotype of rats with 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' under administration of M. officinalis at different time points. Meanwhile, the intervention effects of M. officinalis on urinary metabolic potential biomarkers associated with 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' were also discussed. The experimental results showed that in accordance to the increased time of administration, an obvious tendency was observed that clustering of the treatment group moved gradually closed to that of the control group. Eight potential biomarkers including citrate, succinate, alpha-ketoglutarate, lactate, betaine, sarcosine, alanine and taurine were definitely up- or down-regulated. In conclusion, the effectiveness of M. oficinalis on 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' is proved using the established metabonomic method and the regulated metabolic pathways involve energy metabolism, transmethylation and transportation of amine. Meanwhile, the administration of M. officinalis can alleviate the kidney impairment induced by 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome'.

Observation of clinical efficacy of acupuncture for cerebral vasospasm after embolization of ruptured aneurysms / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the improvement of acupuncture in cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after embolization of ruptured aneurysms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases were randomly divided into two groups, an acupuncture-medication group and a conventional treatment group, 30 cases in each one. The cases of CVS in conventional treatment group were treated with Nimodipine. In acupuncture-medication group, on the basis of the treatment as conventional treatment group, Baihui (GV 20) and Fengchi (GB 20) were selected as the main acupoints in the treatment of CVS. The treatment lasted for 3 weeks. Hunt-Hess scale for the standard assessment was adopted to determine the severity of disease before and after treatment and compare the efficacy between two groups. The transcranial Doppler (TCD) was conducted on the 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 14th and 21st days successively after operation, and the average flow velocity of 3 pairs of vessels (ACA, MCA, and PCA) was recorded. CT perfusion (CTP) was taken to test cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT) on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days successively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The improvement of Hunt-Hess scale in acupuncture-medication group was superior to that in conventional treatment group (P < 0.05). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was adopted in the comparison of ACA, MCA, PCA, CBF, CBV and MTT between two groups. The results showed that the therapy in either group achieved the effect on CVS (all P < 0.05). But, the improvements in the above mentioned indices in acupuncture-medication group were superior to those in conventional treatment group (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Fengchi (GB 20) down-regulates the peak values or upregulates the valley values. It releases the peak of CVS effectively, improves the clinical prognosis significantly and is the effective therapy for CVS after subarachnoid hemorrhage.</p>

Studies on cyclodextrin inclusion complexes of Dragon's blood and its tablets preparation / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the cyclodextrin inclusion complexes of Dragon's blood for improving the drug solubility and the preparation.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The inclusion complexes were prepared with beta-cyclodextrin, HP-beta-cyclodextrin, SBE-beta-cyclodextrin and confirmed by DTA. The activity of the inclusion complex was tested by animal experiments. Inclusion complexes tablets were prepared and the dissolution test was performed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The solubility of inclusion complexes was increased to 13. 75-168. 39 times. The activity of the inclusion complex was markedly improved, and dissolution rate was 78.69%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cyclodextrin inclusion complexes of Dragon's blood have a good solubility, dissolution rate and pharmacological activity.</p>

Influence of Different Acupuncture Method on Points Transcutaneous CO2 Emission / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the influence of transcutaneous CO2emission (TCE) at points on the meridian or beside the meridian after different stimulations like acupuncture De-qi, sham acupuncture, study the correlation between acupuncture De-qi and local energy metabolism through TCE. Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers (male 8, female 12, average age 29 years old) were selected. Before, during and after five different acupuncture Neignan (PC 6), the TCE was measured at Quze (PC 3), point A [at the lower one fourth of line between Tianquan (PC 2) and Quze (PC 3)], point B [at the middle of line between Ximen (PC 4) and Quze (PC 3)], point C (2 cm ulnar side point A) and point D (2 cm ulnar side point B) with a high sensitive C02 instrument (Frewil-Q.F., made in China). The measure results were compared. Results: The comparison on value of TCE before and after the acupuncture, in Sham acupuncture and shallow acupuncture groups, it increased in all five points; in De-qi acupuncture group, there are significant increase on point A, point B, and Quze (PC 3), it has statistic significance, but there are no significant increase on point C and D. After Ximen (PC 4) or Daling (PC 7) were pressed to block Neiguan (PC 6), the value of TCE on Quze (PC 3), point A and point B were decreased during acupuncture Neiguan (PC 6), and increased after the block was removed, but there was no significant difference. Conclusion: Sham acupuncture has also some effects on body, it can increase energy metabolism of local skin, it may be the reason that shallow acupuncture without qi amving can obtain clinical efficacy. The operation method of traditional qi arriving acupuncture can increase energy metabolism of relevant meridian skin, mechanical press can reduce this effect.

Determination of two polyacetylenes in Herba Lobeliae Chinensis by HPLC analysis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop an HPLC method for determination of two polyacetylenes, lobetyolin and lobetyolinin, in Herba Lobeliae Chinensis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>C18 column was used with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and water. Linear gradient elution from 10% to 40% acetonitrile in 25 min was applied, at the flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1), the detection wavelength was at 267 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Lower contents of lobetyolin and lobtyolinin were found in collected samples of Herba Lobeliae Chinensis. The highest amounts of lobetyolin and lobetyolinin were found to be 0.461 and 0.436 mg x g(-1) in a sample procured from Hong Kong. However, there were no lobetyolin and lobetyolinin in some of the samples.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A simple and effective HPLC method to analyze the two polyacetylenes in Herba Lobeliae Chinensis was established. It could be applied for the quality control of this herb.</p>