Effect of Bushenwenyanghuayu decoction on nerve growth factor and bradykinin/bradykinin B1 receptor in a endometriosis dysmenorrhea mouse model.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Bushenwenyanghuayu decoction (BD), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), on the serum concentration of nerve growth factor (NGF) and bradykinin (BK), and protein and mRNA levels of NGF and bradykinin B1 receptor (BKB1R) in a mouse model of endometriosis dysmenorrhea. METHODS: Seventy-five experimental female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups, 15 mice each: sham, model, BD high dose (61.67 g/kg), BD low dose (15.42 g/kg), and gestrinone (0.4 mg/kg) groups. All the mice except for those in the sham group underwent auto-transplantation surgery and were gavaged estradiol valerate (0.5 mg/kg, daily for 12 days) after surgery. On the 12th day, 1 h after administration, writhing response was induced by intraperitoneal injection of oxytocin at 2 U/mouse. The writhing frequency and latency were recorded and the volume of the ectopic foci was measured. The concentration of serum NGF and BK was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the protein expression of NGF and BKB1R was tested by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, and NGF and BKB1R mRNAs were detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the volume of the ectopic foci in the treatment groups was significantly lower (P < 0.01), the writhing frequency was decreased (P < 0.05), and the writhing latency was prolonged (P < 0.01). Compared with the sham group, serum NGF and BK levels in the model group were significantly increased (P < 0.01). There were positive correlations for writhing frequency among the NGF and BK groups (P < 0.01). The serum NGF and BK levels were significantly lower in the treatment groups than the model group (P < 0.05). The protein expression of NGF, BKB1R was significantly decreased in the treatment groups compared with the model group (P < 0.01). NGF and BKB1R mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the treatment groups compared with the model group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: NGF and BK/BKB1R may play an important role in the development of endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea, and BD was found to inhibit the development of endometriosis and relieve dysmenorrhea by influencing NGF and BK/ BKB1R mRNA and protein levels.

Research on medication rules of urticaria treatment based on data mining / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) inheritance assist system software was used to analyze the medication experiences of treating urticaria.Methods Literatures in three TCM medical books about the treatment of urticaria were collected and analyzed in terms of the utilizing frequency and association rules between different medicines. Data mining research methods such as Apriori algorithm, complex system entropy cluster and unsupervised hierarchical cluster were used in the research.Results Based on 138 screened prescriptions, the study confirmed that the frequency of using Radix sileriswas was highest, and 20 drugs elected in 218 prescription drugs were used more than 20 times. According to the utilizing frequency order of pharmaceutical compositions from high to low, association rules between drugs ranked in the top four were‘ Radix sileris- Cicada slough’, ‘Radix sileris- Schizonepeta’, ‘Radix sileris- Paeonia’, and ‘Schizonepeta- Cicadaslough’. Meanwhile, 30 pharmaceutical drug combinations and 14 new prescriptions were found. Conclusion The research, based on TCM inheritance assist system software platform and data mining method on medication rules of urticaria treatment prescriptions, is instructive in the clinical treatment of urticaria and also provide useful reference for the development of the new drug on urticaria.

Relationship between Trace Elements and Asthenia TCM Syndromes in Embryonic Development Stops / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To study the relationship between the asthenia TCM syndromes in embryonic development stops and the level of zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium in serum, and provide thoughts for assisting reproduction and preventing miscarriage. Methods Totally 100 patients of embryonic development stops were selected randomly (6-10 weeks gestation) to be the investigated group, with other 100 cases of live fetus as the control group. The contents of trace elements in serum were detected with atomic absorption spectrometry. Results The levels of trace elements in embryonic development stops patients were generally lower than the control group. The serum iron in patients with spleen deficiency syndrome, and serum zinc and iron in patients with kidney deficiency syndrome were significant lower (P<0.05). Conclusion The contents of trace elements in serum have relationships with asthenia TCM syndromes in embryonic development stops. It should be paid attention to supplementing trace elements during the gestation period. For patients with deficiency of kidney and spleen, the supplement of zinc and iron should be given greater prominence.