Preliminary Study on the Evaluation of Skeletal Muscle Damage in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Using Ultrasonic Shear Wave Elastography.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare gastrocnemius muscle stiffness levels in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using shear wave elastography (SWE). Methods: This is a preliminary study enrolled patients with T2DM and healthy subjects at the affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between September 2021 and June 2022. Gastrocnemius muscle stiffness was measured using SWE. Results: A total of 120 individuals (mean age: 52.09 ± 5.40 years, 85 males) were enrolled, including 70 patients with T2DM and 50 healthy subjects. There was no significant difference in E at neutral ankle position, plantar flexion position and EBMI at neutral ankle position between T2DM patients and healthy subjects (P > .05). E at upright position (43.89 ± 14.93 vs. 51.71 ± 9.48, P = 0.001), EBMI at plantar flexion position (1.17 (0.82-1.29) vs. 1.55 (1.21-1.84), P < .001) and upright position (1.72 (1.23-2.16) vs. 2.10 (1.88-2.29), P < .001) of the T2DM patients were significantly lower than those of healthy subjects. In T2DM patients, E at upright position was negatively correlated with the disease course (r=-0.645, P < .001), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentration (r=-0.741, P < .001), and advanced glycation end-product (AGEs) (r=-0.675, P < .001) but not with age ((r=-0.116, P = .351). Conclusion: SWE results found that active muscle stiffness was significantly lower in T2DM patients compared to healthy controls, suggesting that evaluation of active muscle stiffness using SWE may be valuable in T2DM patients to prevent gastrocnemius muscle damage.

Green synthesis and characterization of an orally bioactive artemisinin-zinc nanoparticle with enhanced bactericidal activity.

The occurrence of multidrug-resistant bacteria necessitates the development of new antibacterial agents. This study synthesized artemisinin-zinc nanoparticles (AZ NPs) using a simple green method and investigated their physicochemical properties, antibacterial activity, and oral biological activity. A spherical shape morphology of AZ NPs was observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, with a particle size of 73 ± 2.604 nm. Energy dispersive spectrometry analysis showed that the AZ NPs consisted mainly of Zn, C, N, and O elements. According to differential scanning calorimeter analysis, the AZ NPs were stable up to 450 °C. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that artemisinin successfully bound to zinc acetate. The AZ NPs showed antibacterial activity against Salmonella and Escherichia coli, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.056 mg/mL for both and minimum bactericidal concentrations of 0.21 and 0.11 mg/mL, respectively. The mechanisms by which AZ NPs mediate membrane damage were revealed by the downregulation of gene expression, and potassium ion and protein leakage. In vivo safety trials of these drugs revealed low toxicity. After AZ NPs were administered to infected mice, the intestinal bacteria decreased significantly, liver and kidney function were restored, histopathological damage to the liver and spleen were reduced, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines decreased. Therefore, AZ NPs have the potential as an oral antibacterial agent and can be used in antibiotic development and in the pharmaceutical industry.

Arctigenin mitigates insulin resistance by modulating the IRS2/GLUT4 pathway via TLR4 in type 2 diabetes mellitus mice.

Arctigenin (AR), extracted from Arctium lappa L. (Burdock), is a folk herbal medicine used to treat diabetes. However, its mechanism of action has remained elusive. In this study, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice received AR orally for 10 weeks to evaluate its therapeutic effect based on changes in glucose and lipid metabolism, histological examination of target tissues, and liver immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, HepG2 insulin-resistant cells were established to verify the mechanism of AR against diabetes. The results showed that AR treatment reduced blood glucose and lipid levels, reversing liver as well as pancreas tissue damage in T2DM mice. AR reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum of T2DM mice, as well as those in insulin-resistant HepG2 cell supernatants, while increasing interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels. The levels of p-p65, phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were reduced in the liver tissue of T2DM mice, accompanied by an upregulation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2). In vitro studies further showed that AR downregulated toll-like receptor 4-mediated inflammation, while upregulating insulin pathway-related proteins and ultimately improving glucose uptake in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. In conclusion, AR protected mice from insulin resistance, and its therapeutic effect was likely associated with inhibition of toll-like receptor 4 inflammatory signaling to reactivate IRS-2/GLUT4.

Alterations in the Gut Microbiota and Metabolomics of Seafarers after a Six-Month Sea Voyage.

Maintaining the health of seafarers is a difficult task during long-term voyages. Little is known about the corresponding changes in the gut microbiome-host interaction. This study recruited 30 seafarers undertaking a 6-month voyage and analyzed their gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Fecal untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Significant changes in the composition of the gut microbiota and an increased ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes at the end (day 180) of the 6-month voyage, relative to the start (day 0), were observed. At the genus level, the abundances of Holdemanella and Plesiomonas were significantly increased, while the abundance of Bacteroides was decreased. Predicted microbial functional analysis revealed significant decreases in folate biosynthesis and biotin metabolism. Furthermore, 20 differential metabolites within six differentially enriched human metabolic pathways (including arginine biosynthesis, lysine degradation, phenylalanine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism) were identified by comparing the fecal metabolites at day 0 and day 180. Spearman correlation analysis revealed close relationships between the 14 differential microbiota members and the six differential fecal metabolites that might affect specific human metabolic pathways. This study adopted a multi-omics approach and provides potential targets for maintaining the health of seafarers during long-term voyages. These findings are worthy of more in-depth exploration in future studies. IMPORTANCE Maintaining the health of seafarers undertaking long-term voyages is a difficult task. Apart from the alterations in the gut microbiome and fecal metabolites after a long-term voyage, our study also revealed that 20 differential metabolites within six differentially enriched human metabolic pathways are worthy of attention. Moreover, we found close relationships between the 14 differential microbiota members and the six differential fecal metabolites that might impact specific human metabolic pathways. Accordingly, preventative measures, such as adjusting the gut microbiota by decreasing potential pathobionts or increasing potential probiotics as well as offsetting the decrease in B vitamins and beneficial metabolites (e.g., d-glucuronic acid and citrulline) via dietary adjustment or nutritional supplements, might improve the health of seafarers during long-term sea voyages. These findings provide valuable clues about gut microbiome-host interactions and propose potential targets for maintaining the health of seafarers engaged in long-term sea voyages.

Tumor immunotherapy boosted by R837 nanocrystals through combining chemotherapy and mild hyperthermia.

Melanoma is a malignant skin cancer that is prone to metastasis in the early stage and has a poor prognosis. Immunomodulatory therapy for melanoma has been a hot research topic in recent years. However, low immune cell infiltration and loss of tumor immunogenicity may occur in tumors, resulting in low response rates to immunotherapy. Thus, immunomodulatory therapy is usually used in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Development of combined therapeutic strategies with low systemic toxicity, high immune responsiveness and long-term inhibition of metastasis and recurrence of melanoma is the goal of current research. In this study, the insoluble immune adjuvant imiquimod (R837) was prepared as nanocrystals and coated with polydopamine (PDA) to form R837@PDA, which was then loaded into chitosan hydrogel (CGP) to form the drug-loaded gel system, R837@PDA@CGP (RPC), to combine immunomodulation effects, induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) effects and immune-enhancement effects. After treatment with RPC, ICD in melanoma was induced, and the infiltration rate of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) in melanoma was also significantly enhanced, which turned the tumor itself into an in situ vaccine and boosted the cancer-immunity cycle at the tumor site. Therefore, melanoma growth, metastasis and recurrence were notably inhibited.

Polygonum cuspidatum Extract (Pc-Ex) Containing Emodin Suppresses Lung Cancer-Induced Cachexia by Suppressing TCF4/TWIST1 Complex-Induced PTHrP Expression.

Cachexia, which is characterised by the wasting of fat and skeletal muscles, is the most common risk factor for increased mortality rates among patients with advanced lung cancer. PTHLH (parathyroid hormone-like hormone) is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of cancer cachexia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of PTHLH expression and the inhibitors of PTHLH have not yet been identified. The PTHLH mRNA levels were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while the PTHrP (parathyroid hormone-related protein) expression levels were measured using Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The interaction between TCF4 (Transcription Factor 4) and TWIST1 and the binding of the TCF4-TWIST1 complex to the PTHLH promoter were analysed using co-immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation. The results of the mammalian two-hybrid luciferase assay revealed that emodin inhibited TCF4-TWIST1 interaction. The effects of Polygonum cuspidatum extract (Pc-Ex), which contains emodin, on cachexia were investigated in vivo using A549 tumour-bearing mice. Ectopic expression of TCF4 upregulated PTHLH expression. Conversely, TCF4 knockdown downregulated PTHLH expression in lung cancer cells. The expression of PTHLH was upregulated in cells ectopically co-expressing TCF4 and TWIST1 when compared with that in cells expressing TCF4 or TWIST1 alone. Emodin inhibited the interaction between TCF4 and TWIST1 and consequently suppressed the TCF4/TWIST1 complex-induced upregulated mRNA and protein levels of PTHLH and PTHrP. Meanwhile, emodin-containing Pc-Ex significantly alleviated skeletal muscle atrophy and downregulated fat browning-related genes in A549 tumour-bearing mice. Emodin-containing Pc-Ex exerted therapeutic effects on lung cancer-associated cachexia by inhibiting TCF4/TWIST1 complex-induced PTHrP expression.

[Anti-inflammatory effect, plasma effective components and therapeutic targets of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on ulcerative colitis mice].

This paper was to investigate the effect of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction(HLJD) on ulcerative colitis(UC) in mice, and determine the effective components in plasma, and virtually screen its therapeutic target, and predict its mechanism. Sixty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, mesalazine treatment group(0.3 g·kg~(-1)), and HLJD treatment groups(24.66, 12.33, 6.17 g·kg~(-1)). Excepted for the blank group, all the mice in HLJD and mesalazine treatment groups were gavage administration. All mice freely drank 2.5% DSS solution for seven days to induce UC. The disease activity index(DAI) was detected each day. At the end of the experiment, HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in colon. The content of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in colon were determined by ELISA. The effective components in plasma were determined by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. The reverse docking in PharmMapper was used to screen the component targets. The disease targets of UC were collected by searching TTD, OMIM and GeneCards databases. The intersection of the component targets and disease targets was selected as the therapeutic targets. Then the therapeutic targets were imported into the STRING for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Discovery Studio was used to simulate the docking between the components and the targets. RESULTS:: showed that the DAI in the model group increased significantly(P<0.05), and the number of inflammatory cells and infiltration degree increased significantly compared with the blank group. The DAI in HLJD treatment group was significantly reduced(P<0.05), and the number and infiltration degree of inflammatory cells were reduced compared with the model group. The ELISA results showed that the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α were increased significantly in the model group(P<0.01) compared with the blank group, and significantly down regulated in the HLJD treatment group(P<0.05) compared with the model group. After UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analyse, ten components were identified. The network pharmacology analysis showed that the action targets were significantly enriched in 129 of biological processes, such as response to organic substance, chemical and oxygen-containing compound, etc., as well as 16 of signal pathways, such as IL-17, TNF and hepatitis B signal pathways, were enriched too. The results of molecular docking showed that limonin, palmatine and berberine could bind to CASP3 and MMP9 by hydrogen bond. In conclusion, HLJD could alleviate the colonic mucosal inflammatory infiltration and mucosal damage in UC mice. The mechanism may be related to the anti-inflammatory effect on UC mice by reducing the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in colon through limonin, palmatine and berberine regulating IL-17 signal pathway and TNF signal pathway via CASP3 and MMP9 meditated.

Mitochondria targeted nanoparticles to generate oxygen and responsive-release of carbon monoxide for enhanced photogas therapy of cancer.

Carbon monoxide (CO) based gas therapy has been an emerging strategy for cancer treatment. However, the uncontrolled release of CO and limited therapeutic efficacy of monotherapy are two major obstacles for clinical application. To overcome these issues, human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles combined with manganese dioxide (MnO2) were developed to deliver a photosensitizer (IR780) and CO donor (MnCO) for a synergistic therapy combining CO gas therapy and phototherapy. The nanoparticles (HIM-MnO2) formed catalyze hydrogen peroxide to produce oxygen for hypoxia relief. With laser irradiation, it can increase the generation of reactive oxygen species for the enhancement of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Furthermore, the generated heat of photothermal therapy (PTT) induced by nanoparticles could trigger the release of CO to achieve a therapeutic window for enhanced gas therapy. Due to the co-localization of IR780 in mitochondria, HIM-MnO2 could accumulate in mitochondria for the synergistic therapy combining CO gas therapy and phototherapy, and could oxidize the mitochondrial membrane and induce more apoptosis. After intravenous injection into tumor bearing mice, HIM-MnO2 could accumulate at tumor sites and with laser irradiation, tumor growth was significantly inhibited due to the enhanced PDT, PTT, and CO gas therapy. This study provides a strategy with oxygen generating and thermal-responsive CO release to combine phototherapy and CO gas therapy for cancer treatment.

Bufothionine induces autophagy in H22 hepatoma-bearing mice by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 pathway, a possible anti-cancer mechanism of cinobufacini.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cinobufacini is extracted from the skins and parotid venom glands of the toad for treating symptoms like swelling and pain in ancient times. Nowadays, cinobifucini injection has also achieved satisfactory therapeutic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China. AIM OF THE STUDY: Our previous work found that bufothionine, an alkaloid abundant in cinobufacini injection, induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. In this work, the underlying effects of bufothionine on autophagy in HCC and its possible dependent pathway were investigated. METHODS: CCK-8 and Hoechst staining assays were performed to verify effects of drugs on proliferation and apoptosis of SMMC7721 cell. H22-tumor-bearing mice model was established by inoculating ascites fluid. HE staining was used to observe pathological changes in liver and tumor tissues. ELISA and Western blot experiments were conducted to investigate IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The effects of drugs on expressions of autophagic relative proteins were investigated by Western blot in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: In vitro, CCK-8 and Hoechst staining assays showed that bufothionine inhibited SMMC7721 cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis at 100 µM. In vivo, bufothionine relieved symptoms of H22-tumor-bearing mice and exerted anti-inflammation activity. ELISA and Western blot demonstrated that bufothionine significantly reduced serum IL-6 concentration, suppressed p-Stat3tyr705, p-Stat3ser727 and Jak2 expressions in tumor tissues and upregulated Atg5, Atg7 and LC3Ⅱ expressions in SMMC7721 cell and H22 tumor. CONCLUSION: This is the first report showing that bufothionine might induce autophagy in HCC by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 pathway, presenting a possible anti-cancer mechanism of bufothionine in cinobufacini injection.

Quality evaluation of bee pollens by chromatographic fingerprint and simultaneous determination of its major bioactive components.

Bee pollens constitute a large number of flavonoids and thus possess great medicinal value. However different varieties of bee pollen flavonoids vary with different species and their content also differ greatly in different region. Herein, the aim of present research is to establish a method based on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantitative analysis of flavonoids compounds and chemical fingerprint analysis of bee pollen. Five batches of rape bee pollen collected from different region of China and particularly six bee pollen species obtained in Anhui were used to establish the fingerprint. The feasibility and advantages of the used HPLC fingerprint were verified for its similarity evaluation by systematically comparing chromatograms with professional analytical software. The similarities of liquid chromatography fingerprints for five batches of rape bee pollen were more than 0.994 while six batches of different species of bee pollen were lower than 0.810. In quantitative analysis, the six compounds showed good regression (R ≥ 0.9964) within the test ranges, and all the values for the RSD were lower than 2%. The developed HPLC fingerprint method was found simple, reliable, and it was validated for the quality control and identification of bee pollen. Additionally, simultaneous quantification of six flavonoids ingredients in the bee pollen samples was conducted to reveal the variation in their content. The results indicated that the HPLC fingerprint, as a characteristic distinguishing method combining similarity evaluation and quantification analysis, can be successfully used to assess the quality and also to identify the authenticity of bee pollen.

Study on Transformation of Ginsenosides in Different Methods.

Ginseng is a traditional Chinese medicine and has the extensive pharmacological activity. Ginsenosides are the major constituent in ginseng and have the unique biological activity and medicinal value. Ginsenosides have the good effects on antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and inhibition of the cell apoptosis. Studies have showed that the major ginsenosides could be converted into rare ginsenosides, which played a significant role in exerting pharmacological activity. However, the contents of some rare ginsenosides are very little. So it is very important to find the effective way to translate the main ginsenosides to rare ginsenosides. In order to provide the theoretical foundation for the transformation of ginsenoside in vitro, in this paper, many methods of the transformation of ginsenoside were summarized, mainly including physical methods, chemical methods, and biotransformation methods.

Protective effect of Rabdosia amethystoides (Benth) Hara extract on acute liver injury induced by Concanavalin A in mice through inhibition of TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway.

Extract of Rabdosia amethystoides (Benth) Hara (ERA), a traditional Chinese medicine has antibacterial, antiviral, anti-tumor, anti-hepatitis and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the hepatoprotective effects and molecular mechanisms of ERA on acute liver injury have not been fully elucidated. This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and liver protection of ERA against the acute liver injury induced by Concanavalin A (Con A) and its underlying molecular mechanisms in mice. Mice received ERA (50, 100, 150 mg/kg body weight) by gavage before Con A intravenous administration. We found that ERA pretreatment was able to significantly reduce the elevated serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase levels and liver necrosis in Con A-induced hepatitis. In addition, ERA treatment significantly decreased the myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde levels and augmented superoxide dismutase level in the liver tissue, and also suppressed the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in the serum, compared with Con A group by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, we observed that ERA pretreatment can significantly decrease the expression level of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 mRNA or protein in liver tissues. Further results showed that ERA pretreatment was capable of attenuating the activation of the NF-κB pathway by inhibiting IκBα kinase and p65 phosphorylation in Con A-induced liver injury. Our results demonstrate that ERA pretreatment has hepatoprotective property against Con A-induced liver injury through inhibition of inflammatory mediators in mice. The beneficial effect of ERA may be mediated by the downregulation of TLR4 expression and the inhibition of NF-κB activation.

Research on design of electro acupuncture system / 中国医学装备

Objective:The adaptive feedback algorithm was applied to the electro acupuncture system, make the cupping system according to the feedback data in real time to adjust the pulse signal, improve the treatment efficiency and quality.Methods:On the basis of analyzing the overall framework including adaptive system, based on Windows development platform, including design system and adaptive algorithm, system control software.Results: Acusector software system design can be adjusted dynamically according to the electrical data of electric acupuncture signal can realize the function of adaptive feedback, it has higher stability and efficiency.Conclusion: The system automatically changes the electric acupuncture signal waveform, avoiding the happening of adaptive phenomenon, treatment process stability is strong, high efficiency. To be able to upload data to the computer at the same time, convenient and subsequent data analysis, is helpful to the development and popularization of the technology of acupuncture and moxibustion.

Study on membrane injury mechanism of total alkaloids and berberine from Coptidis Rhizoma on Aeromonas hydrophila / 中国中药杂志

To explore the antibacterial activity and mechanism of total alkaloids and berberine from Coptidis Rhizoma on Aeromonas hydrophila, and determine the effect of total alkaloids and berberine from Coptidis Rhizoma on minimum inhibitory concentrations, permeability and fluidity of cell membrane, conformation of membrane proteins and virulence factors of A. hydrophila. The results showed that both total alkaloids and berberine from Coptidis Rhizoma had antibacterial activities on A. hydrophila, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 62.5 and 125 mg · L(-1), respectively. Total alkaloids and berberine from Coptidis Rhizoma could increase the fluidity of membrane, change the conformation of membrane porteins and increase the permeability of bacteria membrane by 24.52% and 19.66%, respectively. Besides, total alkaloids and berberine from Coptidis Rhizoma significantly decreased the hemolysis of exotoxin and the mRNA expressions of aerA and hlyA (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), the secretion of endotoxin and the mRNA expression of LpxC (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The results suggested that the antibacterial activity of total alkaloids and berberine from Coptidis Rhizoma on A. hydrophila may be related to the bacteria membrane injury. They inhibited the bacterial growth by increasing membrane lipid fluidity and changing conformation of membrane proteins, and reduced the secretion of virulence factors of A. hydrophila to weaken the pathogenicity.

Regulatory effect of coptisine on key genes involved in cholesterol metabolism / 中国中药杂志

To study the effect of cholesterol and 25-OH-cholesterol on cholesterol metabolism in HepG2 cells and the effect of coptisine (Cop) extracted from Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) in reducing and regulating cholesterol. In this study, TC, TG, LDL-c and HDL-c were measured by biochemical analysis; mRNA and protein expressions of LDLR, HMGCR and CYP7A1 were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. According to the results, cholesterol and 25-OH-cholesterol inducing could decrease in mRNA and protein expressions of LDLR and CYP7A1, so as to increase TC and LDL-c contents. However, Cop could up-regulate mRNA and protein expressions of LDLR and CYP7A1 and down-regulate that of HMGCR, so as to reduce TC and LDL-c levels. These findings suggested that Cop has potential pharmacological activity for reducing cholesterol, and may reduce cholesterol by regulating mRNA and protein expressions of key genes involved in cholesterol metabolism, such as LDLR, CYP7A1 and HMGCR. This study laid a firm theoretical foundation for developing new natural drugs with the cholesterol-lowering activity.

Curcumin protects against staurosporine toxicity in rat neurons.

OBJECTIVE: Curcumin is extracted from the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa Linn.) and is widely used as a food additive and traditional medicine. The present study investigated the activity of curcumin against staurosporine (STS) toxicity in cell culture. METHODS: Rat hippocampal neurons in primary culture were exposed to STS (20 µmol/L) and treated with curcumin (20 µmol/L). Cell viability was tested by MTT assay and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using the MitoSOX™ red mitochondrial superoxide indicator. Western blot was used to assess changes in the levels of caspase-3 (Csp3), heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and Akt. RESULTS: The results showed that curcumin protects against STS-induced cytotoxicity in rat hippocampal neurons. Csp3, Hsp70, Akt and ROS activation may be involved in this protection. CONCLUSION: Curcumin could be a potential drug for combination with STS in cancer treatment to reduce the unwanted cytotoxicity of STS.

Stir-baked Fructus gardeniae (L.) extracts inhibit matrix metalloproteinases and alter cell morphology.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play vital roles in many pathological conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and inflammation. Modulating MMP activity may therefore be a useful therapeutic approach in treating these diseases. Qing-Kai-Ling is a popular Chinese anti-inflammatory formulation used to treat symptoms such as rheumatoid arthritis, acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, hepatitis and upper respiratory tract infection. In this paper, we report that one of the components of Qing-Kai-Ling, Fructus gardeniae, strongly inhibits MMP activity. The IC50 values for the primary herbal extract and water extract against MMP-16 were 32 and 27 microg/ml, respectively. In addition, we show that the herbal extracts influence HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cell growth and morphology. These data may provide molecular mechanisms for the therapeutic effects of Qing-Kai-Ling and herbal medicinal Fructus gardeniae.

Effects of crude rhubarb on intestinal permeability in septic patients.

The therapeutic effect of crude rhubarb on intestinal permeability was investigated in septic patients. Forty septic patients were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into two groups: the crude rhubarb treatment group (n = 18) and the control group (n = 22). The same treatments were given to both groups except that the crude rhubarb treatment group was administrated with crude rhubarb powders (3 g, tid, p.o). The levels of procalcitonin, D-lactate in plasma and lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio in the urine were determined on the first day and the sixth day after treatment with or without crude rhubarb. There were no significant differences in procalcitonin, L/M ratio and D-lactate on the first day between the crude rhubarb treatment group and the control group (p > 0.05). However, the ratio of L/M on the sixth day for the control group was 0.167 +/- 0.036, while that of the crude rhubarb treatment group was 0.062 +/- 0.013 (p < 0.05). Moreover, the levels of procalcitonin and D-lactate in the crude rhubarb treatment group were obviously lower than those in the control group on the sixth day (procalcitonin: 4.11 +/- 1.40 microg/L vs. 2.21 +/- 0.61 mug/L; D-lactate: 0.24 +/- 0.06 ng/L vs. 0.09 +/- 0.03 ng/L, p < 0.05, both). These data confirmed that crude rhubarb's effects on septic patients of ameliorating intestinal permeability.

[Effects of raw rhubarb on plasma D-lactate and procalcitonin expressions in patients with sepsis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of raw rhubarb (RR) on levels of plasma D-lactate and procalcitonin in patients with sepsis. METHODS: Forty patients with sepsis enrolled were randomly divided into two groups, the RR group (n=18, treated with RR 9 g/d) and the control group (n=22, treated with conventional treatment). Plasma procalcitonin and D-lactate were determined before and after treatment. RESULTS: Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the levels of plasma procalcitonin and D-lactate between the two groups (procalcitonin: 6.50 +/- 2.37 microg/L vs 6.98 +/- 2.89 microg/L; D-lactate: 0.18 +/- 0.05 mmol/L vs 0.19 +/- 0.06 mmol/L, P > 0.05). However, after treatment, two indexes in the RR group were significantly lower than those in the control group (procalcitonin: 4.11 +/- 1.40 microg/L vs 2.21 +/- 0.61 microg/L; D-lactate: 0.24 +/- 0.06 ng/L vs 0.09 +/- 0.03 ng/L, both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: RR could ameliorate the intestinal permeability and reduce the shifting of intestinal bacteria, so as to ease the condition of disease in patients with sepsis.