Electroacupuncture alleviates postoperative pain through inhibiting neuroinflammation via stimulator of interferon genes/type-1 interferon pathway.

OBJECTIVE: This work explores the impact of electroacupuncture (EA) on acute postoperative pain (APP) and the role of stimulator of interferon genes/type-1 interferon (STING/IFN-1) signaling pathway modulation in the analgesic effect of EA in APP rats. METHODS: The APP rat model was initiated through abdominal surgery and the animals received two 30 min sessions of EA at bilateral ST36 (Zusanli) and SP6 (Sanyinjiao) acupoints. Mechanical, thermal and cold sensitivity tests were performed to measure the pain threshold, and electroencephalograms were recorded in the primary somatosensory cortex to identify the effects of EA treatment on APP. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to examine the expression and distribution of proteins in the STING/IFN-1 pathway as well as neuroinflammation. A STING inhibitor (C-176) was administered intrathecally to verify its role in EA. RESULTS: APP rats displayed mechanical and thermal hypersensitivities compared to the control group (P < 0.05). APP significantly reduced the amplitude of θ, α and γ oscillations compared to their baseline values (P < 0.05). Interestingly, expression levels of proteins in the STING/IFN-1 pathway were downregulated after inducing APP (P < 0.05). Further, APP increased pro-inflammatory factors, including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and downregulated anti-inflammatory factors, including interleukin-10 and arginase-1 (P < 0.05). EA effectively attenuated APP-induced painful hypersensitivities (P < 0.05) and restored the θ, α and γ power in APP rats (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, EA distinctly activated the STING/IFN-1 pathway and mitigated the neuroinflammatory response (P < 0.05). Furthermore, STING/IFN-1 was predominantly expressed in isolectin-B4- or calcitonin-gene-related-peptide-labeled dorsal root ganglion neurons and superficial laminae of the spinal dorsal horn. Inhibition of the STING/IFN-1 pathway by intrathecal injection of C-176 weakened the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of EA on APP (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can generate robust analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects on APP, and these effects may be linked to activating the STING/IFN-1 pathway, suggesting that STING/IFN-1 may be a target for relieving APP. Please cite this article as: Ding YY, Xu F, Wang YF, Han LL, Huang SQ, Zhao S, Ma LL, Zhang TH, Zhao WJ, Chen XD. Electroacupuncture alleviates postoperative pain through inhibiting neuroinflammation via stimulator of interferon genes/type-1 interferon pathway. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 496-508.

[Quality evaluation of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma by UPLC fingerprint combined with QAMS].

The present study was performed to establish the UPLC fingerprints of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma and determine the contents of three saponins by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker(QAMS), and provide basis for quality evaluation of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma. The analysis was carried out on an analytical column of Waters Cortecs T3(2.1 mm×100 mm,1.6 µm)with gradient elution by acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid solution, at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1). The detection wavelength was 203 nm, the column temperature was 30 ℃ and the injection volume was 1 µL. The UPLC fingerprints of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma were established and evaluated by similarity calculation, cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The relative calibration factors of toberoside B and toberoside C were determined with toberoside A as internal reference. The content was calculated by relative calibration factors to develop a method of QAMS. Comparing the results of QAMS with those of ESM, the accuracy and feasibility of one-eva-luation and multi-evaluation can be determined. RESULTS:: showed that the fingerprints of 19 batches of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma have four common peaks with similarities ranging from 0.754 to 1.000. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis classified 19 batches of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma into three categories, which was consistent with the similarity evaluation results. The relative deviation between the content of tubeicosides B and C in 19 batches of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma determined by QAMS and ESM is less than 5.0%, indicating that there was no significant difference between the two methods. Therefore, the UPLC fingerprints combined with QAMS and similarity evaluation can be effectively used to evaluate the quality of Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma.

Integrating chemical similarity and bioequivalence: A pilot study on quality consistency evaluation of dispensing granule and traditional decoction of Scutellariae Radix by a totality-of-the-evidence approach.

There is an increasing focus on the quality consistency evaluation of dispensing granule in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). According to the guideline from Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, the substantial equivalence of dispensing granule and traditional decoction should be determined, and the chromatographic fingerprint has been recommended as a comprehensive qualitative approach to assess the quality consistency between dispensing granule and traditional decoction. However, a high-degree chemical similarity does not equal a bioequivalence. Attempting to realize the quality evaluation by integrating chemical consistency and bioequivalence, we herein proposed a totality-of-the-evidence approach based on clustering analysis and equivalence evaluation taking the dispensing granule and traditional decoction of Scutellariae Radix (SR) as a typical case. Chemical fingerprints were developed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detector and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA/QTOF-MS). Subsequently, a feature selection strategy, integrated linear and nonlinear correlation analysis, was carried out to assess the correlation between chemical profiles and biological activities. Finally, quality consistency between the dispensing granule and the traditional decoction was determined by bioactive marker-guided hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), k-means clustering method and bioequivalence evaluation. The available evidence suggested that not all the dispensing granule of SR were sufficiently similar to the traditional decoction. This study provides an applicable methodology for quality consistency evaluation of dispensing granule and traditional decoction in TCMs.

[Identification of four Armillaria strains and their effects on quality and yield of Gastrodia elata f. glauca].

In order to improve the quality and yield of Gastrodia elata f. glauca,determine the suitable Armillaria strains for the accompanying experiment in Xiaocaoba,Yiliang,four Armillaria strains were selected. They were used for G. elata cultivation,and the gene sequence,r DNA-ITS,ß-tubulin and EF1-α of four Armillaria strains,were compared and analyzed. The yield was mesured in November which was based on previous laboratory research. The tubers were washed and steamed,then dried and powdered. The content of gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol was determined by UPLC,the polysaccharide was determined by phenol-concentrated sulfuric acid method. The results showed that the strains M1,M2,M3 and M4 were Armillaria gallica group but there were differences in the yield and active ingredient content when they were cultivated with the same G. elata. The yield of G. elata( Jian Ma) was the lowest when cultivated with Armillaria strain M3,but it was not the same when used M1,0. 981 kg·m-2,the highest yield in the four stains.The content of gastrodin was 0. 581%,the total content of gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol was 0. 595%,when accompanied with M1 strains. It was higher than other strains. The content of G. elata polysaccharide was 2. 132%,which was similar to the content of M3 strain,higher than that of M2 and M4 strain. Selecting phylogenesis of Armillaria strians,the content of active ingredient,and the yield as indicators,it was concluded concerned that the M1 strain was the best of four strains. The results will provide a theoretical basis and guidance for higher yield and quality in cultivation of G. elata in Yiliang.

Differential identification of mushrooms sclerotia by IR macro-fingerprint method.

Many macrofungus sclerotia are well-known medicinal herbs, health food and nutritional supplements. However, the prevalent adulterant commercial products are major hindrances to their incorporation into mainstream medical use in many countries. The mushroom sclerotia of Lignosus rhinocerotis, Poria cocos, Polyporus umbellatus, Pleurotus tuber-regium and Omphalia lapidescens are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, IR macro-fingerprint method was used in the identification of these sclerotia. The results showed that the spectrum of L. rhinocerotis (LR) was comparable with P. cocos with 94.4% correlation, except that the peak at 1543cm(-1) of LR appeared in lower intensity. The spectrum of P. umbellatus and P. tuber-regium was also correlated (91.5%), as both spectra could be clearly discriminated in that P. umbellatus spectrum has small base peaks located at the range of 1680-1500cm(-1). O. lapidescens was not comparable with all the other sclerotia as its spectrum was totally different. Its base peak was broad and derivated equally along the range. The first IR has revealed the dissimilarity among five mushrooms sclerotia. The second derivative and 2DIR further enhanced the identification in detail.

[Research on collaborative innovation in traditional Chinese medicine of China based on patent cooperation network].

In the situation of global completion, collaborative innovation is becoming increasingly important because its advantage in risk avoiding and innovation efficiency. In order to explore the model of collaborative innovation and its evolution in traditional Chinese medicine of China, the cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine patents of China from 1985 to 2013 has been analyzed by using the method of scientometrics and social network analysis. It is proved that, though the number of grated cooperative patents has increased sharply during the last thirty years, the degree of cooperation innovation in traditional Chinese medicine of China is still not high. Moreover, in spite of the individual subject' s leading role in the past domestic collaborative innovation in traditional Chinese medicine of China, the institutions have been more and more powerful and achieved great improvement. At last, core institutions, represented by universities have played an important role in the collaborative innovation of domestic institutions, because they are key links between many institutions and promote the transferring and diffusion of knowledge.

[Correlation of HPLC Characteristic Spectra of Vinegar Corydalis Rhizoma Decoction Pieces, Water Decoction and Formula Granules].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation of characteristic spectra of Vinegar Corydalis Rhizoma decoction pieces, water decoction and formula granules by HPLC, and to investigate the transfer of the main chemical constituents between three different forms. METHODS: The analysis was carried out by a Phenomenex Gemini C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm,5 µm) with acetonitrile-1% acetic acid and ammonium acetate buffer solution (pH 6.0) as the mobile phase in a gradient elution mode. The detection wavelength was 280 nm with a flow rate of 0.8 mL /min. The column temperature was 30 degrees C. The characteristic spectra from 11 batches of Vinegar Corydalis Rhizoma decoction pieces, 11 batches of water decoction and 11 batches of formula granules were established respectively. RESULTS: Ten peaks in the HPLC characteristic spectra from 11 batches of formula granules could be tracked in the water decoction, nine peaks in the HPLC characteristic spectra could be tracked in the decoction pieces. In the ten common peaks, four components such as protopine, palnatine chloride, berberine hydrochloride and tetrahydropalmatine were verified. CONCLUSION: The main chemical components of Vinegar Corydalis Rhizoma decoction pieces, water decoction and formula granules are basically the same, the common component contents have similar proportion.

[Light quality regulation of growth and endogenous IAA metabolism of Ganoderma lucidum mycelium].

To study the effect and mechanism of the light quality acting on Ganoderma lucidum, and provide a theoretical basis for G. lucidum mycelium cultivation, we focused on growth and endogenous IAA metabolism of G. lucidum mycelium under different light-emitting diode (LED) condition. The growth index, endogenous levels of IAA and Enzymes related to IAA metabolism and Polysaccharides content were investigated in different growth periods. Results showed that blue light irradiation was the best from the viewpoint of steady growth and polysaccharides accumulation, red light irradiation improved endogenous IAA level and promoted growth of mycelium in early stage of cultivation, green light irradiation decreased growth rate and fresh weight of mycelium, but increased drying rate. Enzymes related to IAA metabolism also significantly influenced by light quality. The activity of indole acetic acid oxidase (IAAO), peroxidase (POD) and tryptophan synthetase with blue light irradiation were showed high level in early time, but decreased later, and the IAA content was consistently at lower level than that in other treatments, while mycelium irradiated with yellow light showed the highest activity of both IAAO and tryptophan synthetase, and medium level of IAA content. In conclusion, the light quality affects growth and regulation of the level of endogenous IAA of G. lucidum mycelium.

[HPLC fingerprint study for the quality evaluation of atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an HPLC fingerprint analysis method for Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (warm dried). METHODS: Took methanol extract of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma as sample by ultrasonic processing, HPLC analysis was carried out on Sinochrom ODS-BP (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) chromatographic column with mobile phase of acetonitrile (A)-water (B), gradient elution with a flow at 1.0 mL/min, ultraviolet detection wavelength at 242 nm and column temperature at 30 degrees C. RESULTS: An HPLC fingerprint analysis method for Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma was developed. Eight common peaks were obtained and three peaks were identified. CONCLUSION: The method is accurate and credible which can be used for quality control of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (warm dried).

[The quality of Salvia miltforthiza from Beijing suburbs with different growing modes].

OBJECTIVE: Study the yield and quality of Salvia miltforthiza in the poplars and apple trees intercropping system. METHODS: Assay the yield, heavy metals, organochlorine pesticides and active components of Salvia miltforthiza in different intercropping systems are different. RESULTS: The contents of Cd exceeds the allowed figure seriously though other heavy metals such as Pb, As, Hg, Cu fell in the standard range. The contents of organochlorine pesticides of different Salvia miltforthiza fell in the standard range. The active components of biennial Salvia miltforthiza intercropping with apple trees, including Tanshinone II A and Salvianolic acid B complied with the quality standards of Pharmacopoeia. CONCLUSION: Soil fertility, heavy metals of intercropping system and planting years should be considered in order to ensure the quality and stability of Chinese medicine.

[The efficacy and safety of high-dose irbesartan in treatment of clinical proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose irbesartan in the treatment of mild and moderate proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: A single center, prospective, observational study was performed. A total of 96 subjects were given irbesartan 150 mg/d for 4 weeks. Twenty-six were divided into single-dose (150 mg/d) irbesartan group when their clinical efficacy were eligible for improvement criteria and 70 were divided into high-dose (300 - 600 mg/d) irbesartan group when there were no effect for single-dose treatment. Both groups received treatment for 48 weeks. Then 24-hour quantitative urine protein, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, TC, LDL-C, plasma albumin, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, blood uric acid, serum potassium and ALT were determined. RESULTS: The proteinuria level after treatment in the single-dose irbesartan group was decreased by 68.3% with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). In the high-dose group, the dose of irbesartan was increased based on the ineffectiveness when treating with single-dose, and the proteinuria was decreased by 63.4% (P < 0.001). Total effective rate in treating proteinuria in high-dose group was 72.9% (51/70). Among the blood pressure sub-groups, the effective rates for the normal blood pressure group and hypertension group in treating proteinuria were 68.2% and 76.9% respectively (P > 0.05). However, in the normal blood pressure group and hypertension group, the proteinuria was decreased by 61.9% and 67.5% respectively after treatment (P < 0.001, P < 0.01), while without difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The effective rates of high doses of 300, 450 and 600 mg/d of irbesartan in treating proteinuria were 70.8%, 63.6% and 66.7%, respectively. The difference in effective rates of treating proteinuria among different doses had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). No obvious increase of SCr value before and after treatment in high-dose group (P = 0.583). The increasing level of serum potassium in high-dose group after treatment was higher than that in the single-dose group (P < 0.05), but the highest concentration (4.8 mmol/L) was still within the normal range. The blood pressure of 3 cases who quit observation because of low blood pressure in high-dose group returned to normal after drug withdrawal. CONCLUSION: High-dose irbesartan can effectively lower the mild and moderate proteinuria in CKD patients with a good safety and tolerance and the efficacy is independent of lowering blood pressure.

[Primary effects on Isatis indigotica after spaceflight].

Isatis indigotica carried by the Chinese first spaceship "Shenzhou" was studied in order to find the mutation after spaceflight. TLC differentiation experiments showed no distinct discrepancy among the samples of spaceflight and non-space-flight, and the same color spot appeared corresponding to the location of the arginine. Isoenzymes of esterase and peroxidase were studied with PAGE. Isoenzymes of esterase were difference among the samples. To peroxidases, little difference was found with them. The ratio of dry weight and extract contents showed out the mutation has emerged after spaceflight, but some characters were unstable. It is necessary for further study.

Effect of Shenfu Injection (ginesenoside and aconite alkaloid) on the apoptosis of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells and its mechanism during ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Shenfu Injection (SF, ginesenoside and aconite alkaloid) on the apoptosis of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells during ischemia-reperfusion in rats and its potential mechanisms. METHODS: Ischemia-reperfusion model was established in rats. Twenty-four rats were divided into 3 groups with 8 rats in each, eg, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group, SF-treated group, and control group. In both SF and I/R groups, the superior mesenteric artery was closed with forceps for 1 hour and then reperfused for 2 hours. Either SF (3 ml/kg, SF group) or normal saline (I/R and control groups) was injected intravenously and continuously for 5 ml/kg with a micropump before the superior mesenteric artery was closed. The superior mesenteric artery was not closed for animals in control group. The expression of casapse-3 and Fas, and the level of TNF-alpha and pathological changes of the ileal mucosal tissue were assayed. RESULTS: (1) The number of apoptosis cells increased obviously in I/R group and was significantly higher than that in SF and control groups (P<0.05). (2) The expression of caspase-3, Fas, and TNF-alpha was significantly higher in I/R group than SF and control groups (P<0.01); however, there was not significant difference in the expression of capase-3 between control group and SF group. There was a positive correlation between the expression of caspase-3, Fas, and TNF-alpha, and the number of apoptosis cells. (3) Under light microscope, intestinal mucosal impairment was found milder in SF group than I/R group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SF can depress the apoptosis of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells during ischemia-reperfusion by restraining the expression of TNF-alpha, Fas, caspase-3, and accordingly alleviate the ischemia and reperfusion injury of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells.