Exploring the mechanism of Buxue Yimu Pill on hemorrhagic anemia through molecular docking, network pharmacology and experimental validation / 中国天然药物

Buxue Yimu Pill (BYP) is a classic gynecological medicine in China, which is composed of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Leonurus japonicus Houtt, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Colla corii asini and Citrus reticulata Blanco. It has been widely used in clinical therapy with the function of enriching Blood, nourishing Qi, and removing blood stasis. The current study was designed to determine the bioactive molecules and therapeutic mechanism of BYP against hemorrhagic anemia. Herein, GC-MS and UPLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS were employed to identify the chemical compounds from BYP. The genecards database (https: //www.genecards.org/) was used to obtain the potential target proteins related to hemorrhagic anemia. Autodock/Vina was adopted to evaluate the binding ability of protein receptors and chemical ligands. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were conducted using the ClusterProfiler. As a result, a total of 62 candidate molecules were identified and 152 targets related to hemorrhagic anemia were obtained. Furthermore, 34 active molecules and 140 targets were obtained through the virtual screening experiment. The data of molecular-target (M-T), target-pathway (T-P), and molecular-target-pathway (M-T-P) network suggested that 32 active molecules enhanced hematopoiesis and activated the immune system by regulating 57 important targets. Pharmacological experiments showed that BYP significantly increased the counts of RBC, HGB, and HCT, and significantly down-regulated the expression of EPO, IL-6, CSF3, NOS2, VEGFA, PDGFRB, and TGFB1. The results also showed that leonurine, leonuriside B, leosibiricin, ononin, rutin, astragaloside I, riligustilide and levistolide A, were the active molecules closely related to enriching Blood. In conclusion, based on molecular docking, network pharmacology and validation experiment results, the enriching blood effect of BYP on hemorrhagic anemia may be associated with hematopoiesis, anti-inflammation, and immunity enhancement.

Analysis of animal models of ulcerative colitis based on characteristics of clinical symptoms of traditional Chinese and Wes-tern medicine / 中国中药杂志

This article aims to provide a good experimental method for the study of drug treatment of ulcerative colitis. According to the characteristics of ulcerative colitis's clinical symptoms, common ulcerative colitis animal models were analyzed. Based on the characteristics of clinical symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine for ulcerative colitis disease, the existing commonly used animal models of ulcerative colitis were analyzed to summarize the current matching degree, advantages and disadvantages of the exi-sting animal models of ulcerative colitis and clinical symptoms. At present, studies on ulcerative colitis mainly adopt four types of induction modeling methods, such as immunization, chemical stimulation, compound method and gene model. There are many reported methods of colitis modeling, but no model can reflect the characteristics of clinical symptoms of ulcerative colitis treated with Western or Chinese medicine. This article summarizes the characteristics, clinically relevant symptoms and applicable scope of immunization, chemical stimulation, compound method, and gene model, so as to provide a reliable animal model for subsequent studies of prevention and treatment of colitis.

High dose vitamin C significantly reduces the nephrotoxicity of vancomycin in critically ill patients / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To observe the changes of renal function in critically ill patients using vancomycin and analyze the renal protective effect of high dose vitamin C (VC) on vancomycin nephrotoxicity.Methods:Retrospective analysis was carried out to enroll the patients who were hospitalized in emergency intensive care unit (ICU) of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2012 to October 2019. All patients were administered with vancomycin or VC infusion in addition. According to the infusion of vancomycin alone or in combination with VC, the patients were divided into vancomycin group and vancomycin in combination with VC group; vancomycin group was further divided into two groups according to before vancomycin or after vancomycin usage; combination group were further divided into two groups according to before VC use or after VC. The initial dosage of vancomycin was calculated according to the actual weight of the patient and adjusted according to the renal function. The dosage of VC was determined according to the disease severity of the patient, and the dosage range was 50-200 mg·kg -1·d -1, continuously infused into the body. The age, gender, weight and renal function etc. were recorded and analyzed. Results:A total of 245 patients who met the requirements were included in the analysis. There were 127 patients in the vancomycin group and 118 patients in the combination group. The causes of patients admitted to ICU were pulmonary infection, sepsis, severe acute pancreatitis, etc. Among them, pulmonary infection accounted for 63.0% in vancomycin group, while severe acute pancreatitis accounted for 61.9% in combination group. The quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score of combination group was significantly higher than that of vancomycin group [1.0 (0, 1.0) vs. 0 (0, 0.2), P < 0.01], its basic renal function was also significantly worse [serum creatinine (SCr, μmol/L): 98.0 (65.0, 178.2) vs. 56.0 (42.2, 71.0), blood urea nitrogen (BUN, mmol/L): 11.30 (6.48, 18.38) vs. 4.70 (3.45, 8.10), both P < 0.05], and the average daily dose of vancomycin was also significantly lower than that of vancomycin group (mg·kg -1·d -1: 23.0±9.4 vs. 26.6±8.5, P < 0.01). Compared with vancomycin before administration, the renal function was getting worse significantly after vancomycin administration [SCr (μmol/L): 68.0 (50.2, 104.5) vs. 56.0 (42.2, 71.0), BUN (mmol/L): 5.35 (3.75, 9.83) vs. 4.70 (3.45, 8.10), both P < 0.05]. Combination with VC significantly improved renal function compared with that before VC treatment [SCr (μmol/L): 79.0 (58.0, 129.0) vs. 98.0 (65.0, 178.2), P < 0.05; BUN (mmol/L): 9.60 (6.10, 18.30) vs. 11.30 (6.48, 18.38), P > 0.05] and shortened the length of ICU stay [days: 28.5 (14.8, 54.2) vs. 37.0 (25.0, 55.0), P < 0.01]. Conclusions:The incidence of drug-induced renal injury caused by vancomycin is high. Intravenous high dose VC can significantly reduce the nephrotoxicity of vancomycin and shorten the length of hospital stay. When vancomycin is used in critically ill patients, VC can be used in combination to reduce or avoid drug-induced renal injury, improve curative effect and reduce toxic effects.

Exploring Anti-inflammation Mechanism of Pien Tze Huang via Regulating of Microglia Polarization / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To investigate the anti-inflammation mechanism of Pien Tze Huang (PTH) via regulating microglia polarization. Method::The experiment was divided into five groups, Blank, M1[lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 100 μg·L-1+ interferon-γ(IFN-γ) 10 μg·L-1], M1-PTH group[LPS 100 μg·L-1+ IFN-γ 10 μg·L-1+ PTH 0.4 g·kg-1], M2 group[interleukin-4 (IL-4) 20 μg·L-1], and M2-PTH group[IL-4 20 μg·L-1+ PTH 0.4 g·kg-1]. The concentration of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) in the culture supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and arginine-1 (Arg-1) mRNA were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique(Real-time PCR), and the expression levels of p-STAT1, p-STAT3, iNOS, p-STAT6, and Arg-1 were detected by Western blot. Result::The concentration of NO and TNF-α of the culture supernatant, the level of iNOS mRNA, as well as the level of p-STAT1, p-STAT3 and iNOS in M1 group, which were significantly increased(P<0.01) .Compared with blank group, but the concentration of NO and TNF-α were down-regulated(P<0.01), and iNOS mRNA(P<0.05), as well as the expression of iNOS, p-STAT1, and p-STAT3 was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) after the invention of PTH in M1-PTH group compared with M1 group. The concentration of IL-10 and TGF-β1 in the culture supernatant, the mRNA level of Arg-1, as well as the levels of p-STAT6 and Arg-1 were significantly increased in M2 group when compared with Blank group, addition to the concentration of IL-10 and TGF-β1 were up-regulated(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression of Arg-1 mRNA, the level of Arg-1, p-STAT6 were enhanced(P<0.05, P<0.01) in M2-PTH group compared with M2 group. Conclusion::PTH plays an anti-inflammatory role via regulating microglia polarization.

Side Effect and Attenuation of Triptolide / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Triptolide (TP) is a kind of epoxy diterpene lactone compound extracted from xylem of Tripterygium wilfordii (TWHF). It is one of the main active components of TWHF, with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities and pharmacological effect. It can be used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and such cancers as leukemia, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer. In recent years, TP has been gradually applied in clinic and basic research, with a certain curative effect. But it also has certain side effect on digestive system, urinary system, reproductive system, circulatory system and immune system, including liver dysfunction, reduced fertility, chest tightness, heart palpitations, bradycardia, atrioventricular block, arrhythmia, kidney dysfunction, lymphoid organ atrophy, lymphoid tissue necrosis of lymphocytes, and reduction in the number of cells, impaired immune function. These toxic and side effect have greatly restricted the clinical application of TP. In the meantime, the researches and development related to preparations of TP have also been restricted, which has aroused wide attention from clinicians and researchers. To improve the therapeutic effect of TP and reduce the toxicity of TP in the process of application, domestic and foreign researchers have made a lot of studies and attempts, such as changing the chemical structure of TP to improve its solubility, developing drug delivery system to reduce its toxicity and using combination therapy with traditional Chinese herbal medicines to increase efficiency and reduce toxicity. In this paper, the toxic dose and mechanism of TP, TP's derivatives, drug loading system, compatibility and attenuation were integrated to provide ideas for further researches on toxicity and attenuation of TP.

Protective Effect of Norcantharidin on Collagen-Induced Arthritis Rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of norcantharidin (NCTD) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=10): normal group, CIA model group(model group), NCTD low-dose group [1.35 mg/(kg•d)], NCTD middle-dose group [2.7 mg/(kg•d)], NCTD high-dose group [5.4 mg/(kg•d)] and methotrexate (MTX) group [1.8 mg/(kg/w)]. Anesthetized rats were sacrificed by luxation of cervical vertebra after 4 weeks of administration. The arthritis scores were evaluated twice a week. The pathological changes in the ankle joints of rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The serum levels of interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), IL-17 and transform growth factor (TGF) β were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression of retinoid-related orphan nuclear receptorγt (RORγt) and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) in peripheral blood lymphocytes were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MTX and high-dose NCTD not only decreased the arthritis scores but also alleviated the pathological changes in CIA rats' ankle joints compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). All doses of NCTD significantly inhibited the serum levels of IL-6, IL-17 and TNF-α in CIA rats (P<0.05). Only middle- and high-dose of NCTD prominently decreased serum IL-1β and TGF-β levels of CIA rats (P<0.05). However, NCTD has no effect on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in CIA rats. The Foxp3 mRNA expression in all NCTD groups were increased significantly than in the model group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of RORγt in NCTD high-dose group was decreased apparently in comparison with the model group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NCTD showed therapeutic effect on CIA rats by inhibition of cytokines and regulation of Th17/Treg cells.</p>

Study on regulation mechanism of Toutongning capsule through TNF signaling pathway in treatment of migraine based on systems pharmacology method / 中国中药杂志

Toutongning capsule (TTNC) is a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) with good effect for treating migraine in clinical application. In this paper, a systems pharmacology method was carried out to study the TNF mechanism of the TTNC on the migraine. First, the ingredients for TTNC were collected from TCM databases, and ADME properties prediction was firstly applied to screen out the active compounds of TTNC. Then, the target searching and identification was performed by using CSDT model, and the targets were mapped to the migraine disease to determine the active targets through some common databases like TTD. To obtain the targets related with TNF signaling pathway, KEGG pathway analysis was performed by DAVID online analysis tool. Finally, the "herbs-compounds-targets" network was built by Cytoscape software. According to the results of degree and betweenness in the network, the key active compounds and targets were determined to explore the TNF mechanism for TTNC. Results showed that 19 active compounds and 8 targets played a crucial role in the treatment of migraine by TNF pathway for TTNC. This work provided a new perspective to deepen the understanding of the TNF signaling pathway mechanism in migraine treatment by TTNC, and may provide a necessary theoretical basis for the determination of effective markers and the clinical research of this medicine.

Anticancer effects of crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-cancer effects of crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc and its possible molecular mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Transonic alcohol-chloroform extraction method was used to extract toosendanin from the bark of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc, and the content of toosendanin in the crude extract was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Anti-cancer effects of crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc were investigated in in vivo and in vitro studies. In the in vitro experiment, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines SMMC-7721 and Hep3B were co-incubated with toosendanin crude extract of different concentrations, respectively. In the in vivo experiment, BALB/c mice were subcutaneously inoculated with mouse hepatocellular carcinoma H22 cells and treated with crude extract.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HPLC revealed the content of toosendanin was about 15%. Crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc inhibited cancer cells growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50, 72 h) was 0.6 mg/L for SMMC-7721 cells and 0.8 mg/L for Hep3B cells. Both high-dose [0.69 mg/(kg d)] and low-dose [0.138 mg/(kg d)] crude extract could markedly suppress cancer growth, and the inhibition rate was greater than 50%. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed necrotic area in cancers and transmission electron microscopy displayed necrotic and apoptotic cancer cells with apoptotic bodies. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of Bax and Fas increased and the expression of Bcl-2 reduced.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Toosendanin extract has potent anti-cancer effects via suppressing proliferation and inducing apoptosis of cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism of apoptosis involves in mitochondrial pathway and death receptor pathway.</p>

Analysis on regularity of prescriptions in "a guide to clinical practice with medical record" for diarrhoea based on traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system / 中国中药杂志

To analyze the regularities of prescriptions in "a guide to clinical practice with medical record" (Ye Tianshi) for diarrhoea based on traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system(V2.5), and provide a reference for further research and development of new traditional Chinese medicines in treating diarrhoea. Traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system was used to build a prescription database of Chinese medicines for diarrhoea. The software integration data mining method was used to analyze the prescriptions according to "four natures", "five flavors" and "meridians" in the database and achieve frequency statistics, syndrome distribution, prescription regularity and new prescription analysis. An analysis on 94 prescriptions for diarrhoea was used to determine the frequencies of medicines in prescriptions, commonly used medicine pairs and combinations, and achieve 13 new prescriptions. This study indicated that the prescriptions for diarrhoea in "a guide to clinical practice with medical record" are mostly of eliminating dampness and tonifying deficienccy, with neutral drug property, sweet, bitter or hot in flavor, and reflecting the treatment principle of "activating spleen-energy and resolving dampness".

Efficacy Observation of Potassium Magnesium Aspartate in the Auxiliary Treatment of Ventricular Prema-ture Beat / 中国药师

Objective:To observe the curative effect of potassium magnesium aspartate in the auxiliary treatment of ventricular pre -mature beat.Methods:Totally 70 patients with ventricular premature beat were randomly divided into the observation group (36 ca-ses) and the control group (34 cases).The patients were treated with metoprolol , and the patients in the observation group was treated with potassium magnesium aspartate as the auxiliary therapy , and the patients in the control group were treated with potassium chloride sustained release tablets as the adjuvant treatment .After 3-week continuous treatment , the changes of serum potassium , serum creatine kinase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and ECG were observed in the two groups .The therapeutic effects and adverse drug re-actions were compared between the two groups .Results: After the treatment , the levels of serum potassium , serum creatine kinase isoenzyme, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly improved when compared with those before the treatment (P0.05).The total effective rate of the observation group was 91.67%, which was higher than that of the control group (82.35%, P<0.05).The incidence of adverse drug reactions in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:Potassium magnesium aspartate in the adjuvant treatment of ventricular premature beat can significantly improve the levels of serum potassium and serum myocardial enzyme and heart rate and ECG of the patients , and the efficacy and the incidence of adverse drug reactions are better than those of potassium chloride sustained -release tablets in the adju-vant treatment .

Study on names of Wenyujin Rhizoma Curcumae and Rhizoma Curcumae Longae Concisa and their origins / 中国中药杂志

To study the name of Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum and Film Turmeric by literature research methods provide the basis for correct application of Cuba in modern clinical application. Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum and Film Turmeric often called each other mutual generation and used as the same kind of medicine in the ancient prescriptions books. They were often recorded and stated as the same species of Curcumae Longae Rhizoma. Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum and Curcumae Longae Rhizoma also often called each other mutual generation in the ancient prescriptions books and used as the same kind of medicine. Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum was often recorded and stated under the Curcumae Longae Rhizoma articles in the ancient materia medica literatures. Ancient literatures on Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum records were almost the same, the modern literatures on the records of the sources of Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum were inconsistency. Inconsistency of Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum source records in modern literatures was related to the changes of the modern records on source records about Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, Root-tuber of Aromatic Curcumae Longae Rhizoma and Zedoray. The author thinks that Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum is the ancient Film Turmeric which referes to the same medicine as Curcumae Longae Rhizoma. The source of it just as the Curcumae Longae Rhizoma is not only one kind. Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum and Curcumae Longae Rhizoma have been recorded as two medicines at the present, and the source of them simply referes to the original plant Curcuma wenyujin. When using ancient prescriptions, we need to understand the changes that Curcumae Longae Rhizoma and Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum are the same in ancient but different today in order to choose medicine correctly in the clinical.

Effect of Ligusticum wallichii-containing serum on expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 in hepatic stellate cells / 中国中药杂志

To observe the effect of Ligusticum wallichii-containing serum on the expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 in hepatic stellate cells. Clean-grade SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups and orally given L. wallichii decoction, colchicine and normal saline for 7 d to prepare L. wallichii-containing serums. Except for the blank group, all of the remaining groups were stimulated with LPS 1 mg x L(-1) for 24 h. After being intervened, the L. wallichii-containing serums were cultured in 5% CO2 incubator at 37 degrees C for 24 hours. The expression of TLR4 and MyD88 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. After HSC was stimulated with LPS, TLR4 and MyD88 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly higher than the blank control group (P < 0.01). After being intervened with L. wallichii-containing serum, TLR4 and MyD88 mRNA and protein expressions were notably lower than the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In conclusion, L. wallichii-containing serum could regulate the TLR4 signaling pathway and show the anti-fibrosis effect by inhibiting the expression of TLR4 and MyD88 in LPS-induced HSCs.

Clinical trials of integrative medicine for rheumatoid arthritis: Issues and recommendations / 中国结合医学杂志

Controlled clinical trials of integrative therapies available to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) improved dramatically in the past 20 years, largely because of the growing need and the methodologies improvement. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F., a typical example of popular use herb, has been extensively studied in trials. However, clear and convincing evidence of integrative therapy, effectiveness and safety, remains insufficient to make decision. Many research efforts are hampered by standing problems with 'syndrome' recruitment failure. In addition, the outcome multiplicity induces the findings inefficiency to generalize to RA patients at large. Development of validated syndrome outcomes and methodologies has also been critical. Current efforts to enhance the understanding of integrative treatment options for patients with RA include the development of drug-specific rather than disease-specific strategies, studies in predictive biomarkers, and development of peer-review trial protocol for regular clinical trials.

Effect of meteorological factors on incidence of tuberculosis: A 15-year retrospective study based on Chinese medicine theory of five circuits and six qi / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the correlations between the incidence of tuberculosis and meteorological factors over the same period and previous periods including 1, 2 and 3 years ago, defined according to the Chinese medicine theory of five circuits (Wu Yun) and six qi, to establish medical-meteorological forecast models for the Beijing area of China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data regarding the incidence of tuberculosis between 1990 and 2004 were obtained from the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the data regarding the meteorological factors (including daily average temperatures, wind speeds, precipitations, relative humidities, vapor pressures and low cloud covers) between 1987 and 2004 were collected from the Beijing Meteorological Observatory and analyzed. Descriptive statistics and a back-propagation artificial neural network were adopted to analyze the data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant correlations between the incidence of tuberculosis and the meteorological factors in the corresponding year and previous years. Among these correlations, wind speed was the factor with the strongest influence on tuberculosis (the standardized significance was 100%). Additionally, all prediction models would successfully established, suggesting the use of a collection of meteorological factors spanning from three years ago to the present is superior to the use of single data.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The incidence of tuberculosis in Beijing area is correlated to meteorological factors in the current year and previous years, which verifies the practicality of the theory of five circuits and six qi.</p>

Effect of Combination Therapy of Tetramethylpyrazine with Methotrexate on Inflammatory Reac- tions and Hemorheology in Collagen-induced Arthritis Rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of combination therapy of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) with methotrexate (MTX) on collagen induced arthritis (CIA) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 55 male SD rats were stratified by body weight. Nine of them were randomly recruited as the normal control group. The rest 46 were immunized with type II bovine collagen (C II) for establishing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model. Forty successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to swollen toe degree, i.e., the CIA group, the TMP group, the MTX group, and the TMP plus MTX group, 10 in each group. Rats in the MTX group were administered with MTX (1. 2 mg/kg) , once per week for 4 continuous weeks. Those in the TMP group were administered with 40 mg/kg TMP, once per day for 10 continuous days, and then discontinued for 7 successive days, and continued for another 10 successive days. Rats in the TMP plus MTX group were administered with a mixture of equal dose MTX and TMP, and when MTX was discontinue, TMP was administered according to the way in the TMP group. Equal volume of saline solution was given to rats in the normal control group and the CIA group. Clinical parameters including ankle width (mediolateral diameter) and hindpaw swelling were measured at day 0, 4, 11, 18, and 26 after treatment. Rats were sacrificed 28 days after treatment, their knee joints and ankle joints were collected for pathological analyses. Serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17A were detected by ELISA. Changes of fibrinogen (FIB) and platelet aggregation rate (PAg) were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control group, the ankle width and hindpaw swelling increased significantly (P < 0.01), contents of FIB and PAg increased obviously (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 increased remarkably (P <0. 01) in the CIA group. Obvious cell proliferation, inflammatory cell infiltration, hyperemia and edema of synovial tissues could be seen. Pannus formed and immerged in cartilages, resulting in necrosis. Compared with the model group, changes of ankle width and hindpaw swelling were all alleviated in each medicated group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Of them, the effect was superior in the MTX group to that of the TMP group and the MTX plus TMP group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Contents of FIB, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 decreased significantly in the MTX group (P < 0.05). Contents of FIB, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 decreased significantly in the TMP group and the MTX plus TMP group (P < 0.05). Besides, serum levels of FIB and IL-6 were obviously lower in the MTX plus TMP group than in the TMP group and the MTX group (P < 0.01). Levels of PAg and IL-17A were more significantly lowered in the TMP group than in the MTX plus TMP group and the MTX group. Pathological changes could be alleviated in each medicated group, with the optimal effect obtained in the MTX plus TMP group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination of TMP with MTX could significantly ameliorate inflammatory reactions and FIB contents of CIA rats.</p>

The Incidence of Hypertension in Beijing Region Based on Yun-qi Theory: an Exploratory Research / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the scientificity of Yunqi theory based on incidence of disease related recognitions such as year evolutive phase, host climatic qi, six climatic factors, celestial manager qi, qi in the earth by analyzing data of hypertension incidence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1,265 inpatients with confirmed first diagnosis as hypertension were recruited at Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from February 4, 1999 to February 4, 2011. Each period (including year evolutive phase, host climatic qi, guest climatic qi) was deducted based on Yun-qi theory. Their ratios of different phases and qi in the total number of hypertension inpatients number were calculated and statistically tested.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was statistical difference in ratios at year evolutive phase, celestial manager qi, and qi in the earth (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The incidence of hypertension has certain difference in each period, which is consistent with Yun-qi theory.</p>

A wavelet analysis on the onset cycle of scarlet fever in Beijing and its relationship with theory of five evolutive phases and six climatic factors / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the onset cycle of scarlet fever in Beijing and its association with theory of five evolutive phases and six climatic factors (FEPSCF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the monthly scarlet fever data from 1970 to 2004, Complex Morlet wavelet was adopted to analyze the annual incidence and the incidence of six climatic factors in the past 35 years. Its association with the cycles of FEP-SCF was explored. The features of heavenly stems and earthly branches in the year that the wave peak corresponded and their correlations with doctrine of FEPSCF were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The annual incidence of scarlet fever and the incidence of FEPSCF had two main cycles, i.e., 5 years and 28 years. The 5-year primary cycle was consistent with 5-year cycle of FEPSCF theory. The high incidence year of 5-year primary cycle was Jinyun.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The cycle of five evolutive phases was consistent with the onset cycle of scarlet fever. The quasi-periodic phenomenon and multi-cycle superimposed phenomenon of FEPSCF theory existed in the incidence of scarlet fever.</p>

Modern elucidative strategies for scientific connotation of controlling toxic reactions while toxic herbs are used to the indication syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

One of effective measures for controlling toxic reactions is to use toxic herbs according to corresponding indication syndrome. It is important to develop toxicity theory of Chinese medicine in a sound and international way using modern language to elucidate its scientific connotation. We expect to explain scientific connotation of controlling toxic reaction while toxic herbs are used to the indication syndrome by using holistic research ideas and methods capable of reflecting governing exterior to infer interior, establish appropriate corresponding syndrome animal models by cutting into dose-effect/toxicity of toxic Chinese herbs, construct and analyze multi-layer molecular network using theories and technologies of metabonomics, network biology, and bioinformatics.

Treatment of premature ovarian failure by bushen huoxue recipe combined estrogen and progesterone: a clinical research / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy of bushen huoxue recipe (BHR) combined estrogen and progesterone in treating premature ovarian failure (POF), and to explore an effective treatment program of POF by integrative medicine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 265 POF patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups, i.e., Group I (86 cases, treated by BHR),Group II (88 cases,treated by conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate), and Group III (91 cases,treated by BHR +conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate). The therapeutic course for each group was 6 months. The main symptoms (including menstrual cycle, hectic fever, night sweat, vaginal dryness, and low libido), laboratory indices [including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotropic hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and inhibin B (INH-B)], B-ultrasound indicators (including endometrial thickness, ovarian volume, and antral follicle count), and adverse reactions were observed in the three groups at the end of treatment and 6 months after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with before treatment, the main symptoms, laboratory indices, and B-ultrasound indicators were statistically improved in the three groups at the end of treatment and 6 months after treatment (P <0.05, P <0.01). Better effects were obtained in Group III in improving symptoms of the menstrual cycle, vaginal dryness, and low libido, lowering levels of FSH and LH, elevating levels of E2and INH-B, and ameliorating the endometrial thickness, the ovarian volume, and the antral follicle count (P <0.05, P <0.01). No obvious adverse reaction occurred in the three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BHR combined estrogen and progesterone showed better clinical efficacy than use of BHR or estrogen/progesterone alone, indicating it was an effective treatment program for POF.</p>

Correlation analysis for the attack of bacillary dysentery and meteorological factors based on the Chinese medicine theory of Yunqi and the medical-meteorological forecast model / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the impact of meteorological factors on the outbreak of bacillary dysentery, so as to provide suggestions for disease prevention.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the Chinese medicine theory of Yunqi, the descriptive statistics, single-factor correlation analysis and back-propagation artificial neural net-work were conducted using data on five basic meteorological factors and data on incidence of bacillary dysentery in Beijing, China, for the period 1970-2004.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of bacillary dysentery showed significant positive correlation relationship with the precipitation, relative humidity, vapor pressure, and temperature, respectively. The incidence of bacillary dysentery showed a negatively correlated relationship with the wind speed and the change trend of average wind speed. The results of medical-meteorological forecast model showed a relatively high accuracy rate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There is a close relationship between the meteorological factors and the incidence of bacillary dysentery, but the contributions of which to the onset of bacillary dysentery are different to each other.</p>