[Traditional Chinese medicine may reduce the risk of readmission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis complicated with elevated platelet count: a matched cohort study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment with the risk of readmission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated with elevated platelet count. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of inpatients diagnosed with RA in our hospital from 2013 to 2021. The patients with elevated platelet count receiving TCM treatment were matched to those without TCM treatment using propensity score matching at the 1∶1 ratio, and the confounding factors were adjusted including gender, age, Chinese patent medicine, and external application. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the hazard ratio (HR) of the risk of readmission, and a Kaplan-Meier curve was generated to assess the incidence of readmission in these patients. RESULTS: A total of 1176 RA patients with elevated platelet count were included in this study, including 842 patients in the TCM group and 334 patients in the non-TCM group, and after 1∶1 propensity score matching, 334 patients were included in each group. The Cox proportional hazards model showed that the readmission rate was significantly lower in TCM group than in non-TCM group (HR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.48-0.73, P<0.001), and TCM was a protective factor against readmission in RA patients with elevated platelet count. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that long-term use of TCM helped to decrease the risk of readmission (Log-rank P<0.001). Association rules showed that the use of several Chinese herbal medicines and the Chinese patent medicine Xinfeng Capsule had a strong correlation with improvement of such clinical indicators as rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein. CONCLUSION: In RA patients with elevated platelet count, the use of TCM, as a protective factor against readmission, is strongly associated with a lowered risk of readmission with a long-term association.

[Research progress of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of periodontitis].

Curcumin is a plant-derived polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of turmeric. As curcumin has such favorable properties as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-angiogenesis, immune regulation, anti-bacterial and pro-apoptosis and showed few side effects, the application of curcumin in prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases is promising. This article reviewed the research progress of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of periodontitis.

Astragalus and Ginseng Polysaccharides Improve Developmental, Intestinal Morphological, and Immune Functional Characters of Weaned Piglets.

Antibiotic resistance is a major issue in animal industries and antibiotic-free alternatives are needed to treat infectious diseases and improve performance of pigs. Plant extracts have been suggested as a potential solution. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (Aps) and ginseng polysaccharide (Gps) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, immune function, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and microfloral community in weaned piglets. A total of 180 weaned piglets were randomly divided into three treatment groups during a 28-days feeding experiment, including a basal diet (Con), basal diet supplemented with 800 mg/kg Aps (Aps), and basal diet supplemented with 800 mg/kg Gps (Gps). Results showed that both Aps and Gps increased body weight, average daily gain and feed conversion rate, and reduced the rate of diarrhea. Gps also decreased aspartate aminotransferase compared to the Con piglets after 14 days. No significant effects on alanine aminotransferase were observed. Both Aps and Gps piglets exhibited higher serum immunoglobulin M levels after 14 and 28 days, and also decreased jejunal crypt depth, increased jejunal villus length and villus height/crypt depth ratio, and increased expression of toll-like receptor 4, myeloid differentiation primary response 88, nuclear factor-kappa B proteins in the jejunum. Aps and Gps piglets also had higher concentrations of acetic acid, isobutyric acid, and butyrate in their colon. Data of high-throughput sequencing revealed that Aps and Gps affected bacterial quantity and diversity in the colon. Species richness and evenness were higher in both Aps and Gps piglets than the control piglets. Aps and Gps piglets also had a higher relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Anaerostipes, and the Aps piglets had a higher relative abundance of Lactobacillus gasseri and L. amylovorus. Therefore, dietary supplementation with Aps and Gps could be beneficial for optimizing the performance of industry pigs and reducing dependence on antibiotics. Furthermore, Plant polysaccharides play a great role in promoting the sustainable development of animal husbandry.

Isodon eriocalyx and its bioactive component Eriocalyxin B enhance cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer, associated with poor prognosis and low survival rate, has been the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. Although gemcitabine (Gem) is the first-line chemotherapeutic drug in the management of pancreatic cancer, the median survival extension is only 1.5 months, indicating unsatisfactory clinical results. Therefore, exploring agents that can enhance the anti-cancer activity of Gem would be an attractive strategy. PURPOSE: Our previous studies have demonstrated that eriocalyxin b (EriB), an ent­kaurane diterpenoid isolated from Isodon eriocalyx (Dunn.) Hara, possesses anti-pancreatic cancer effects, thus acting as a potential therapeutic agent. In this study, we further investigated whether EriB or the ethanol extract of I. eriocalyx (Isodon) could potentiate the cytotoxic activity of Gem in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. In addition, the mechanism associated with their effects was also studied. METHODS: The anti-proliferation effect was assessed by MTT assay and Ki-67 immunostaining. The combination effect (addition, synergism and antagonism) of various agents was calculated by the Calcusyn software (Biosoft), utilizing the T.C. Chou Method. Apoptosis was detected using Annexin V and PI double staining followed by quantitative flow cytometry. Protein expression regulated by various treatments was analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS: The combination index revealed that Gem and EriB (or Isodon extract) had synergistic anti-proliferative effect. Both cellular apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of Gem were significantly increased after combination with EriB (or Isodon extract). The underlying mechanisms involved in the combination effects were elucidated, which include: (1) increased activation of the caspase cascade; (2) reduction of PDK1 and AKT phosphorylation; (3) induction of JNK phosphorylation by Isodon and Gem combination. CONCLUSION: Gem and EriB (or Isodon extract) taken together in combination regulated PDK1/AKT1/caspase and JNK signaling and promoted apoptosis synergistically, which may contribute to the much increased anti-proliferative activity compared to either agent alone.

Curcumin attenuates IR-induced myocardial injury by activating SIRT3.

OBJECTIVE: Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury remains an unresolved and complicated situation in clinical practice. In this study, H9c2 cardiomyocytes were subjected to curcumin (Cur) treatment in the absence or presence of the silent information regulator 3 (SIRT3) inhibitor 3-TYP and were then subjected to IR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: H9c2 cells and male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were cultured. MTT assay was performed to assess H9c2 cell viability. Cellular apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL assay. The expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, SIRT3, and AcSOD2 were measured by Western-blotting. The activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA were determined using commercially available kits. The myocardial infarct size was evaluated using TTC staining. RESULTS: Cur significantly increased H9c2 cell viability, decreased the cell apoptotic index, and altered several biochemical parameters, including upregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, downregulation of the proapoptotic protein Bax and AcSOD2, activation of SIRT3, increase in SOD and GSH-Px activity, and decrease in MDA content. In isolated rat hearts, Cur significantly improved cardiac function, decreased infarct size, and lowered lactate dehydrogenase levels. These protective effects induced by Cur were reversed by treatment with the SIRT3 inhibitor 3-TYP. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that Cur protects cardiomyocytes and that rat hearts were exposed to IRI by activating SIRT3.

[Clinical effect of high pressure oxygen and Butylphthalide in the recovery of cerebral metabolism after carbon monoxide poisoning].

Objective: To study the clinical effect of high pressure oxygen and Butylphthalide in the recovery of cerebral metabolism after carbon monoxide poisoning. Methods: 84 patients treated from May 2014 to May 2016 in our hospital were selected. The subjects were randomly and equally divided into two groups. The control group adopted the conventional therapy and high pressure oxygen; on the basis, the observation group also took Butylphthalide. The clinical effect, duration of coma, recovery of consciousness, incidence rate of delayed encephalopathy was observed. After 1m of treatment, the HDS point was evaluated. Results: The total effective rate of control group (76.19%, 32/42) was lower than that of observation group (95.24%, 40/42) (P<0.05) . The duration of coma for observation group was shorter than that of control group. The percentage for patients with recovery of consciousness and incidence rate of delayed encephalopathy for observation group was better than that of control group (P<0.05) . The HDS point for observation group was even higher than that of control group (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The high pressure oxygen and butylphthalide can improve the clinical effective rate, shorten the duration of coma and promote the patient's recovery of consciousness. It is worthy of clinical promotion.

Genetic diversity and structure of the threatened species Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying.

Sinopodophyllum hexandrum is an important medicinal plant that has been listed as an endangered species, making the conservation of its genetic diversity a priority. Therefore, the genetic diversity and population structure of S. hexandrum was investigated through inter-simple sequence repeat analysis of eight natural populations. Eleven selected primers generated 141 discernible fragments. The percentage of polymorphic bands was 37.59% at the species level, and 7.66-24.32% at the population level. Genetic diversity of S. hexandrum was low within populations (average HE = 0.0366), but higher at the species level (HE = 0.0963). Clear structure and high genetic differentiation were detected between populations using unweighted pair groups mean arithmetic and principle coordinate analysis. Clustering approaches clustered the eight sampled populations into three major groups, and AMOVA confirmed there to be significant variation between populations (63.27%). Genetic differentiation may have arisen through limited gene flow (Nm = 0.3317) in this species. Isolation by distance among populations was determined by comparing genetic distance versus geographical distance using the Mantel test. The results revealed no correlation between spatial pattern and geographic location. Given the low within-population genetic diversity, high differentiation among populations, and the increasing anthropogenic pressure on this species, in situ conservation measures, in addition to sampling and ex situ preservation, are recommended to preserve S. hexandrum populations and to retain their genetic diversity.

Constituents from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides.

The isolation of griffonilide (1), lithospermoside (2) and magnoflorine (3) from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides is reported.

Dehydroepiandrosterone and dihydrotestosterone recognition by human estrogenic 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. C-18/c-19 steroid discrimination and enzyme-induced strain.

Steroid hormones share a very similar structure, but they behave distinctly. We present structures of human estrogenic 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD1) complexes with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), providing the first pictures to date of DHEA and DHT bound to a protein. Comparisons of these structures with that of the enzyme complexed with the most potent estrogen, estradiol, revealed the structural basis and general model for sex hormone recognition and discrimination. Although the binding cavity is almost entirely composed of hydrophobic residues that can make only nonspecific interactions, the arrangement of residues is highly complementary to that of the estrogenic substrate. Relatively small changes in the shape of the steroid hormone can significantly affect the binding affinity and specificity. The K(m) of estrone is more than 1000-fold lower than that of DHEA and the K(m) of estradiol is about 10 times lower than that of DHT. The structures suggest that Leu-149 is the primary contributor to the discrimination of C-19 steroids and estrogens by 17beta-HSD1. The critical role of Leu-149 has been well confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis experiments, as the Leu-149 --> Val variant showed a significantly decreased K(m) for C-19 steroids while losing discrimination between estrogens and C-19 steroids. The electron density of DHEA also revealed a distortion of its 17-ketone toward a beta-oriented form, which approaches the transition-state conformation for DHEA reduction.

[Influence of magnetic field on nitric oxide in hypothalamus and its relation to hypothalamic neuroendocrine nuclei].

By employing nitric acid reductase-spectrophotometry and NADPH-diaphorase/AVP cytochemistry technique, the effects of magnetic field on NO in hypothalamus and relations to Paraventricular Nucleus (PVN), Periventricular Nucleus (PEN), Supraoptic Nucleus (SON) and Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) were investigated. It was found that the NADPH-d positive neurons and some NADPH-d/AVP dually stained neurons existed in PVN, PEN, SON, but not in SCN, and the magnetic field induced NO (OD) increase there and the high NO (OD) level lasted for 3 hours. The results suggested that NO (OD) increase after the treatment of magnetic field in hypothalamus may result from strong expression of NOergic neurons in the PVN, PEN and SON. The coexistance of NO and AVP may play important role in the regulation of endocrine and neuroendocrine by the magnetic field.

Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for operable breast cancer induces apoptosis.

The use of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (often referred to as pre-operative or primary chemotherapy) represents a major change in the management of breast cancer as a systemic disease. Laboratory studies have shown that many anti-cancer agents with differing modes of action achieve cytotoxic effects by inducing apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the induction of apoptosis by neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in human breast cancer. The aim was to determine whether a correlation existed between post chemotherapy apoptotic index (AI) and clinical response and patients' survival. Our results indicate that apoptosis is induced by neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and that the response is variable. Our data show that post chemotherapy AI correlated with clinical response and increased patient survival, including both relapse (disease) free survival and overall survival. Post-neo-adjuvant chemotherapy AI levels in primary breast cancer may possibly predict an individual patient's overall response.

[A preliminary study of two Chinese herbs protective tablets on some Chinese traditional medicines].

The protective action of 2 tablets of Chinese herb to 5 Chinese traditional medicines against harm of insects and mildews was tested. It was found that 2 tablets have a obvious effects of insect-repellency and mouthproof in the test with Homalomena occulta and Prunus armeniaca, the bore in the medicinal materials was decreased 94.95% and 95.55% respectively than that of check. The tablets have some effects of mildewproof in the test with Tussilago farfara.

[Cox proportion hazard model multivariate analysis of prognosis of 1,484 axillary node-negative breast cancer patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prognosis of axillary node-negative breast cancer patients. METHODS: The data were analyzed in 1,484 consecutive axillary node-negative breast cancer patients. Twenty-two individual variables were evaluated statistically using the cumulative survival rate by the computer's Cox multivariate analysis model. RESULTS: Menopausal status, times of pregnancy, duration before diagnosis, pregnancy-associated, tumor size, intramammary lymph node, postoperative radiotherapy and postoperative adjuvant tamoxifen therapy were independent predictors of prognosis. CONCLUSION: Parts of high risk group among axillary node-negative breast cancer patients could be identified by clinical parameters. Postoperative radiotherapy or ovarian ablation was not indicated for axillary node-negative breast cancer patients. Tamoxifen as postoperative adjuvant therapy should not be restricted to postmenopausal or ER-positive patients. The selection of high risk patients with axillary node-negative breast cancer who should receive adjuvant chemotherapy remains to be investigated at present.

[The changing vasculo-cardiology in the midst of revolution of modern science and technology].

Modern revolution of science and technology exerts profound and overall influences on the basic research, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The application of molecular biology has been revealing the nature of cause, pathogenic mechanism, physiology and pathology of cardiovascular diseases, while gene therapy is expected to yield a radical cure of these diseases. The products of modern technology including computerized tomography, computer enhanced digital angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonic-cardiography, positron emission tomography, single photon emission computerized tomography, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and other techniques, laser, artificial pacemaker, artificial heart etc. have greatly improved the capacity of diagnosis and therapy of cardiovascular diseases. Now the studies probe not only the levels of organ and cell, but also the levels of protein, nucleic acid and gene. The diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases is focussed on, besides the traditional "four diagnostic methods", i.e. inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation, precise diagnosis with the help of various advanced medical equipments. As to the treatment, in addition to traditional drugs and surgical operations, new therapeutic methods such as gene therapy and interventional measures are also applied.

[Prognosis and adjuvant chemotherapy of axillary node-negative breast cancer patients].

The significance of postoperative chemotherapy was studied in 439 cases of unilateral primary breast cancer which were proved histologically with no axillary lymph node metastasis. The survival rate was analyzed by life table method. The prognosis of node negative breast cancer patients was mainly associated with tumor size. 10 year survival rate of patients with tumor less than 3 cm treated operativel and by operation combined with chemotherapy was 92.60% and 94.13% respectively. If tumor size was larger than 3 cm, the ten year survival rate of the patients treated operatived was 79.89%, and that of the patients with combined theropy 96.02%. The prognosis was statistically different between the two groups. As to age, status of menopause, pathologral type, kind of surgery and status of ER, the prognosis of patients treated by combined therapy was better than that of patients treated by operation alone. The postoperative chemotherapy was not significantly beneficial to breast cancer patients with tumor less than 3 cm.

[Effects of tangshenkang capsule on diabetic nephropathy].

To study the effects of Chinese herbal medicine Tangshenkang (TSK) capsule on diabetic nephropathy (DN), 57 patients with DN were randomly divided into two groups, the treated group and the control group, they were treated with TSK capsule and the conventional therapy respectively. There were serious disorders of metabolism in DN patients, that showed the TXB 2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratios and lipid peroxidase (LPO) levels were higher than that of healthy people. After 6 weeks treated with TSK capsule the albuminuria levels reduced obviously (decreased 51%), renal plasma flow (RPF) increased, glomerular filtration rate and the LPO levels decreased and a positive correlation was observed between albuminuria levels and TXB 2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratios while the clearance rate of creafinin didn't improve significantly. There were no significant difference in the above-mentioned parameters in the control group before and after treatment. These results suggested that TSK capsule possessed a significant effect in improving albuminuria and glomerular function. And the effect of TSK might be due to its adjusting TXB 2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratios and its lipid-peroxidation in DN patients.

The effects of "huoxuequyu" decoction on lipid peroxidation in IUGR rats.

The rats exposed to passive smoking were used as the animal model to further study the pathogenesis of IUGR and the effects of "Huoxuequyu" decoction. The results showed that the mean birth-weight of fetus and SOD activity of placenta and plasma in model rats were significantly reduced, and LPO levels of placenta and plasma were significantly increased. We found that the mean birth-weight and SOD activity in treated group were higher than that in model group, and LPO levels of placenta and plasma were lower in treated group than that in model group and there was no difference in SOD activity and LPO levels of placenta and plasma as well as the mean birthweight between treated group and control group, indicating that "Huoxuequyu" decoction can protect placenta and plasma against lipid peroxidation, and improve the blood circulation of uteroplacenta, thus contributing to the increase of the mean birth-weight.

Study on the effects of "foshousan" plus danshen in preventing IUGR rats with passive smoking from peroxidation in erythrocyte lipid.

The pregnant rats with cigarette smoking exposure were used as the animal model for studying the pathogenesis of IUGR. The mechanism of preventing intrauterine growth retardation with "Foshousan" plus Danshen by protecting erythrocytes against lipid peroxidation damage was also preliminarily discussed. The erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxide content, erythrocyte SOD activities were detected by ultraviolet split-beam spectrophotometry and chemiluminescence technique. The results showed that the erythrocyte MDA levels and ratio of abnormal erythrocyte in model group were significantly higher than those in control group and treated group, and the fetal mean birth weight, erythrocyte SOD levels were all statistically significantly lower than those in control group and treated group. The fetal birth weight showed a significant positive correlation with SOD levels and a significant negative correlation with MDA level. The results suggest "Foshousan" plus Danshen can protect erythrocytes against lipid peroxidation damage, thus conserving the normal form, structure and function of erythrocytes, improving the uteroplacental blood flow and thereby increasing the fetal mean birth weight.

[Antiarrhythmic effects of kappa-seleno-carrageenan in experimental animals].

The effect of Kappa-seleno-carrageenan, an organic compound containing selenium, on aconitine, BaCl2 and ouabain-induced arrhythmias were studied. When rats were given ip 9 mg.kg-1.d-1 x 5 d or ig single dose of 35, 70, 140 mg.kg-1, the threshold dose of aconitine was elevated significantly to induce HA. The effect seems to resemble that of ip Na2SeO3 1 mg.kg-1 x d-1 x 5 d. With increasing ig dose, the threshold dose of aconitine was elevated for inducing VE, VT, VF. When ip 9 mg.kg-1 x d-1 x 5 d or ig 70 mg.kg-1 was given, the threshold doses of BaCl2 in inducing VF (in rats) and ouabain in inducing VE (in guinea-pig) were elevated. However, no influence was observed for ip Na2SeO3 1 mg.kg-1 x d-1 x 5 d.