Discovery and identification of antithrombotic chemical markers in Gardenia Fructus by herbal metabolomics and zebrafish model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Gardenia Fructus (GF), a traditional Chinese medicine for clearing heat and purging fire, has been reported to use to treat thrombotic related diseases, but the antithrombotic components are not clear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To develop efficient research methods for discovering some representative antithrombotic compounds of GF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AB line zebrafish induced by arachidonic acid (AA) was used as a fast and trace-sample-required valuation model for antithrombptic effect of GF samples. Among nine samples of GF from different production areas, two samples with the largest difference in bioactivity were selected for downstream analysis. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was applied to detect compounds in the GF samples. And herbal metabolomics and grey correlation analysis (GCA) were used to identify crucial compounds with potential antithrombotic activity. Then the bioactivity of those important compounds was verified on the zebrafish model. Network pharmacology was used to explore the protein targets and signaling pathways of these compounds. RESULTS: Among the GF samples, S1 (Huoshan City, Anhui Province), and S6 (Jichun City, Hubei Province), significantly differed in thrombus inhibiting bioactivity. HPLC-Q-TOF/MS identified a total of 614 compounds in each GF sample. 19 compounds were selected as important potential variables from metabolomics data by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). And 10 compounds among them were further found to be positively correlated with the antithrombotic bioactivity of GF by GCA. Finally, 3 compounds in them, geniposide, citric acid, and quinic acid, were confirmed as representative antithrombotic chemical markers of GF. Using network pharmacology analysis, some key protein targets, such as proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (SRC) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), and some signaling pathways were found to supply powerful evidence about antithrombotic mechanisms of three compounds and GF. CONCLUSIONS: This research have succeeded to discover and identify three representative antithrombotic compounds of GF using an efficient integrated research strategy we established, an Omics Discriminant-Grey Correlation-Biological Activity strategy. The antithrombotic chemical makers we found could also contribute to provided more accurate index components for comprehensive quality control of GF.

Astragalus polysaccharide ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced cell injury in ATDC5 cells via miR-92a/KLF4 mediation.

BACKGROUND: Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory and anti-aging activities. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the effect and associated mechanisms of APS on LPS-induced injury in ATDC5 cells, to evaluate the potential of APS for use as an adjuvant therapy for osteoarthritis (OA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: ATDC5 cells were pre-treated with APS and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability, ROS generation as well as the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and Cox-2 were evaluated by performing CCK8 assay, ROS detection, ELISA, western blot and qRT-PCR. The expression of NF-κB and p38MAPK signal pathways related proteins and KLF4 was measured through western blot. RESULTS: LPS increased the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α, elevated the expression of Cox-2, iNOS and increased ROS generation. APS treatment significantly alleviated LPS-induced damage in ATDC5 cells. Besides, miR-92a was down-regulated while KLF4 was up-regulated by APS. At the same time, the targeting relationship between miR-92a and KLF4 was demonstrated. The inhibitory effects of APS on LPS-induced injury in ATDC5 cells were attenuated by the combination of KLF4 siRNA. In addition, LPS induced NF-κB and p38MAPK signal pathways were decreased by APS treatment. Also, the inhibitory effect of APS on NF-κB and p38MAPK signal pathways was reversed by KLF4 siRNA. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals that APS protects ATDC5 cells against LPS induced-injury by regulation of miR-92a/KLF4 axis and suppressing NF-κB and p38MAPK signal pathways.

Characterization and Initial Application of Endophytic Bacillus safensis Strain ZY16 for Improving Phytoremediation of Oil-Contaminated Saline Soils.

Hydrocarbon-degrading and plant-growth-promoting bacterial endophytes have proven useful for facilitating the phytoremediation of petroleum-contaminated soils with high salinity. In this study, we identified Bacillus safensis strain ZY16 as an endophytic bacterium that can degrade hydrocarbons, produce biosurfactants, tolerate salt, and promote plant growth. The strain was isolated from the root of Chloris virgata Sw., a halotolerant plant collected from the Yellow River Delta. ZY16 survived in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth with 0-16% (w/v) sodium chloride (NaCl) and grew well in LB broth supplemented with 0-8% NaCl, indicating its high salt tolerance. The endophytic strain ZY16 effectively degraded C12-C32 n-alkanes of diesel oil effectively, as well as common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons under hypersaline conditions. For example, in mineral salts (MS) liquid medium supplemented with 6% NaCl, ZY16 degraded n-undecane, n-hexadecane, n-octacosane, naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene, with degradation percentages of 94.5, 98.2, 64.8, 72.1, 59.4, and 27.6%, respectively. In addition, ZY16 produced biosurfactant, as confirmed by the oil spreading technique, surface tension detection, and emulsification of para-xylene and paraffin. The biosurfactant production ability of ZY16 under hypersaline conditions was also determined. Moreover, ZY16 showed plant-growth-promoting attributes, such as siderophore and indole-3-acetic acid production, as well as phosphate solubilization. To assess the enhanced phytoremediation of saline soils polluted by hydrocarbons and the plant-growth-promotion ability of ZY16, a pot trial with and without inoculation of the endophyte was designed and performed. Inoculated and non-inoculated plantlets of C. virgata Sw. were grown in oil-polluted saline soil, with oil and salt contents of 10462 mg/kg and 0.51%, respectively. After 120 days of growth, significant enhancement of both the aerial and underground biomass of ZY16-inoculated plants was observed. The soil total petroleum hydrocarbon degradation percentage (a metric of phytoremediation) after incubation with ZY16 was 63.2%, representing an elevation of 25.7% over phytoremediation without ZY16 inoculation. Our study should promote the application of endophytic B. safensis ZY16 in phytoremediation by extending our understanding of the mutualistic interactions between endophytes and their host plants.

Downregulating PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling with allicin for ameliorating the progression of osteoarthritis: in vitro and vivo studies.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the degeneration and destruction of articular cartilage. Allicin, a dietary garlic active constituent, exerts anti-inflammatory effects on several diseases. However, its effects on OA have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we explored the effects of allicin on OA in both in vitro and in vivo models. Allicin inhibited interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) induced overproduction of nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase, prostaglandin E2, and cyclooxygenase-2, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 in chondrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, allicin reversed the overproduction of metalloproteinase-13 and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 and the decrease of aggrecan and type II collagen. Furthermore, allicin dramatically suppressed IL-1ß-stimulated PI3K/Akt/NF-κB activation in chondrocytes. In vivo, treatment with allicin prevented the destruction of cartilage and inhibited PI3K/Akt/NF-κB activation in the cartilage of mice OA models. Taken together, these results indicate that allicin may be a potential therapeutic agent for OA.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Electroacupuncture for Perimenopause Women with Mild-Moderate Depression.

OBJECTIVE: Up to 62% of perimenopausal women have depression symptoms. However, there is no efficacy treatment. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of EA therapy and escitalopram on perimenopause women with mild-moderate depressive symptom. METHOD: A multicenter, randomized, positive-controlled clinical trial was conducted at 6 hospitals in China. 242 perimenopause women with mild-moderate depressive symptom were recruited and randomly assigned to receive 36 sessions of EA treatment or escitalopram treatment. The primary outcome measure was the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17). The secondary outcome measures include menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) and serum sexual hormones which include estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. RESULTS: 221 (91.3%) completed the study, including 116 in the EA group and 105 in the escitalopram group. The baseline levels of demographic and outcome measurements were similar in the two groups. In the intervention period, there was no difference between two groups. However, in the follow-up, both HAMD-17 and MENQOL were significantly decreased, and at week 24 the mean differences were -2.23 and -8.97, respectively. There were no significant differences in the change of serum sexual hormones between the two groups. No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: EA treatment is effective and safe in relieving depression symptom and improving the quality of life in the perimenopausal depression. Further research is needed to understand long-term efficacy and explore the mechanism of this intervention. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02423694.

[Metabolic stability and metabolic enzyme phaenotypes of lanceolatin B in liver microsomes of different species by UPLC-MS/MS].

To investigate the metabolic stability and parameters in vitro of lanceolatin B in liver microsomes of rats, human, Beagle dogs, and monkeys, and to identify the phaenotypes of CYP enzymes of lanceolatin B by using the liver microsome incubation system in vitro. After incubated with different species of liver microsomes, lanceolatin B was quantified by UPLC-MS/MS method to evaluate its metabolic stability and metabolic kinetic parameters in vitro. Lanceolatin B was incubated with specific inhibitors of CYP450 isoforms (CYP2E1, 2C19, 1A2, 2D6, 2C9, 3A4, and 2A1) to determine the phaenotypes of metabolic enzymes. The results showed that lanceolatin B was metabolized in the liver microsomes of rats and monkeys but not in the human and Beagle dogs. Their in vitro half-life T1/2 and intrinsic clearance rate CLint in rat and monkey liver microsomes were 11.57,8.07 min, and 0.12,0.17 mL•min⁻¹â€¢mg⁻¹ without significant difference. The results of metabolic phenotyping indicated that CYP1A2 was mainly involved in the metabolism of lanceolatin B. There existed a difference in the metabolism of lanceolatin B in different types of liver microsomes. Several of CYP450 isoforms metabolized lanceolatin B together in liver microsomes of rats, in which CYP1A2 was the major enzyme mainly responsible for the metabolism of lanceolatin B.

Two new diterpenes from the seeds of Caesalpinia minax Hance.

Molecules with diterpene skeletons often possess valuable medicinal properties. Two new diterpenes 1α,6α,7ß-triacetoxy-5α-hydroxy-14ß-ethyl-O-vouacapane (1) and 2α-acetoxy-14,15-cyclopimara-7ß,16-diol (2) were isolated from the seeds of Caesalpinia minax Hance. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, including HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, NOESY) methods. The stereochemical structure of 1 was confirmed via the circular dichroism spectrum and calculated ECD experiment. The inhibitory activity of nitric oxide production of RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide of compounds 1 and 2 was evaluated, and compound 1 was found to show significant inhibitory effect.

[Academic discussion of adverse reaction of clinical trials of new traditional Chinese medicines and relevant influencing factors].

Data of clinical trial projects involved by clinical trial institutions certified by the State Food and Drug Administration from 2002 to November 2012 were collected to summarize adverse reactions in project summary/statistical reports, analyze the rate of adverse reactions of clinical trials of new traditional Chinese medicines and relevant influencing factors, and increase the awareness of the safety of new traditional Chinese medicines. A total of 73 050 cases in 209 projects of 14 specialties were collected, including 49 689 cases in the new traditional Chinese medicine group and 271 adverse reaction cases, with an incidence rate of adverse reactions at 0.55%. The adverse reaction rate in 3 months < middle long course ≤ 6 months was the highest (1.04%), whereas that in short course ≤ half a month was the lowest (0.48%). The adverse reaction was closely related with the route of administration, 1.28% for topical > 0.63% for injection > 0.50% for oral. In the administration of only the test drug, the adverse reaction rate of patches was the highest (2.68%), whereas that of aerosols and suppositories was lowest (0). In the combined administration of the test drug and the simulation agent, the adverse reaction rate of external test patch + capsule was the highest (3.38%), whereas that of capsule + oral liquid, pills + granules, tablets + oral liquid, tablets + pills, tablet + capsule was the lowest (0). In the administration of only the test drug, the adverse reaction rate was 0.47%; In the combined administration with simulation agent (drug volume increase), the adverse reaction rate was 0.74%. Different doses caused adverse reaction different rates; The adverse reaction rate of drugs with whole-course dose between 1 100-1 200 g was the highest (3.36%), that for whole-course doses of 500-600, 900-1 000, 1 400-1 500, 1 600-1 700, 1 800-1 900 g was the lowest (0). In conclusion, the adverse reaction rate of new traditional Chinese medicines was still up to 0.55%, with the adverse reaction rate between 0.47% and 0.72% over the 11 years, without significant difference in each year. The adverse reaction rate was closely related to course of treatment, approach of administration, dosage form and medication dosage, with no significant correlation with medication dosage during the course of treatment. The adverse reaction rate increased with the rise in trial duration and drug volume. In the administration of only the test drug, the adverse reaction rates of external formulations and injections were higher than that of oral dosage forms. It is suggested to give more attention to the adverse reactions of drugs with long course of treatment and large volumes, injections and external patches in clinical trials of new traditional Chinese medicines.

Identification and biological evaluation of secondary metabolites from the endolichenic fungus Aspergillus versicolor.

A chemical investigation of the endolichenic fungus Aspergillus versicolor (125a), which was found in the lichen Lobaria quercizans, resulted in the isolation of four novel diphenyl ethers, named diorcinols F-H (1-3, resp.) and 3-methoxyviolaceol-II (4), eight new bisabolane sesquiterpenoids, named (-)-(R)-cyclo-hydroxysydonic acid (5), (-)-(7S,8R)-8-hydroxysydowic acid (6), (-)-(7R,10S)-10-hydroxysydowic acid (7), (-)-(7R,10R)-iso-10-hydroxysydowic acid (8), (-)-12-acetoxy-1-deoxysydonic acid (9), (-)-12-acetoxysydonic acid (10), (-)-12-hydroxysydonic acid (11), and (-)-(R)-11-dehydrosydonic acid (12), two new tris(pyrogallol ethers), named sydowiols D (13) and E (14), and fifteen known compounds, 15-29. All of the structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses, and a number of them were further identified through chemical transformations and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Preliminary bioassays of these isolates for the determination of their inhibitory activities against the fungus Candida albicans, and their cytotoxicities against the human cancer cell lines PC3, A549, A2780, MDA-MB-231, and HEPG2 were also evaluated.

[Primary study of skin wound healing in rats for Loropetalum chinens].

OBJECTIVE: Cutaneous wound is a common health problem of humans. Loropetalum chinens, a medicinal plant, is widely used to treat wounds among the people. The research aims to observe whether L. chinens can promote the rats' wounds healing process, isolate the extracts primarily and commit the wound healing selection, which provide work basis for wound healing research of L. chinens. METHOD: First we analyzed the possible components with HC-MS/MS, then committed our wound healing experiments for L. chinens in the rat incision wound model and excision wound model, which are commonly used worldwide. After that, we carried on the preliminary isolation of the L. chinens and we screened the heal-promoting effects of the isolations in incision wound model. RESULT: L. chinens significantly accelerates the wound healing of rat's skin, shortens the healing period, enhances the healing intensity and promotes the cell proliferation and blood vessels formation around the wounds. The isolations, which are petroleum ether layer, ethyl acetate layer and n-butyl alcohol layer, exert heal-promoting effects. It indicates that the possible morphon that promotes wound healing may exist in these three components, with small polar. CONCLUSIONS: L. chinens possesses strong wound healing promoting effects, and the active constituent, with small polar, exists in petroleum ether layer, ethyl acetate layer and n-butyl alcohol layer, and we should focus on these three layers when carrying on further studies.

[Isolation and characterization of petroleum catabolic broad-host-range plasmids from Shen-Fu wastewater irrigation zone].

Based on triparental mating, we isolated a total of eight broad host range (BHR) petroleum hydrocarbon catabolic plasmids from the soils, sediments, and wastewater samples in the Shen-Fu irrigation zone. The antibiotic resistance of the plasmids was tested, and then, the plasmids were transferred to Escherichia coli EC100. The plasmids carrying no antibiotic resistance were tagged by miniTn5 transposon consisting of antibiotic resistant genes. The PCR-based incompatibility test revealed that the pS3-2C and pS4-6G belonged to Inc P group, the pS3-2G, pW22-3G, and pA15-7G belonged to Inc N group, the pS7-2G was identified as Inc W plasmid, and the pA23-1G and pA10-1C were placed into Inc Q group. By adopting the reported PCR amplification methods of petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading catabolic genes, the petroleum-degrading capability of these BHR plasmids were preliminarily analyzed. The plasmids pS3-2G, pS7-2G, pA23-1G, pW22-3G, and pA10-1C carried aromatic ring- hydroxylating dioxygenase gene phdA and toluene monooxygenase gene touA; the plasmid pA15-7G carried touA and toluene dioxygenase gene tod; the plasmid pS3-2C carried ben, phdA, and tod; whereas the pS4-6G only carried ben. The host range test showed that all the isolated plasmids except pS3-2C could be transferred and maintained stably in the representative strains Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58, Cupriavidus necator JMP228, and E. coli EC100 of the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-Proteobacteria, respectively.

[Isolation identification and characterization of halotolerant petroleum-degrading bacteria].

To obtain efficient halotolerant petroleum-degrading bacteria, 39 bacteria strains were isolated from 30 petroleum contaminated saline soil samples in Yellow River Delta, an important base of petroleum production in China. One bacterium (strain BM38) was found to efficiently degrade crude oil in highly saline environments based on a series of liquid and soil incubation experiments. According to its morphology, physiochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, this strain was identified as Pseudomonas putida. Moreover, a series of liquid incubation experiments were conducted to investigate its characteristics such as halotolerance, biosurfactants production and degrading efficiency for various hydrocarbons. The salt resistance test demonstrated that strain BM38 grew well at NaCl concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 6.0%. Petroleum degradation experiments showed that strain BM38 could degrade 73.5% crude oil after 7 days in a liquid culture medium containing 1.0% NaCl and remove more than 40% of total petroleum hydrocarbons after 40 days in the soil with 0.22% and 0.61% of salinity, these results proved that the strain was effective in removing petroleum hydrocarbons. Strain BM38 could produce a bioemulsifier in a liquid culture medium. The NaCl concentration had the significant effect on the EI24 of fermentation broth, which decreased sharply if the NaCl concentration was greater than 1.0%. However, the EI24 of BM38 was still quite high in the presence of 2.0% of NaCl, and the value was 61.0%. Furthermore, this strain was also able to grow in mineral liquid media amended with hexadecane, toluene, phenanthrene, isooctane and cyclohexane as the sole carbon sources. Among these hydracarbons, strain BM38 showed relatively high ability in degrading n-alkanes and aromatic hydracarbons. The results indicated that strain BM38 had potential for application in bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated saline soil.

[Distribution of Chinese medicine syndrome patterns and its laws in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution laws of the Chinese medicine syndrome patterns and its correlated symptoms in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and the possible correlation between Chinese medicine syndrome patterns and PCOS associated parameters, thus to provide a guidance for selecting proper indices in curative effectiveness assessment. METHODS: Using clinical epidemiological methods and mathematical statistics, the Chinese medicine syndrome patterns were studied in 228 PCOS patients. The distribution features of Chinese medicine syndrome patterns were summarized. RESULTS: Shen-deficiency blood-stasis syndrome was the most frequently seen in PCOS patients, followed by Pi-deficiency phlegm-dampness syndrome, Pi-Shen yang-deficiency syndrome, and Shen-yin deficiency syndrome. Positive correlation existed between serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Pi-Shen yang-deficiency syndrome. Positive correlation existed between fasting blood sugar (FBS), waist to hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin (FIN), and Hirsutism score and Pi-deficiency phlegm-dampness syndrome. Positive correlation existed between serum levels of prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2 ) and qi stagnancy and blood stasis syndrome. Positive correlation existed between serum progesterone (PRG) level, FSH, FIN, BMI, acne score and Gan stagnancy and blood heat syndrome. Positive correlation existed between luteinizing hormone (LH) and Shen-deficiency blood-stasis syndrome. Besides, LH/FSH >3 was possibly more frequently seen in Pi-deficiency phlegm-dampness syndrome and Pi-Shen yang-deficiency syndrome. Family heritability could be seen in each syndrome patterns. Among them, female heritability was more often seen in Shen-deficiency blood-stasis syndrome, while male heritability was more often seen in Shen-yin deficiency syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Shen-deficiency blood-stasis syndrome, Pi-deficiency phlegm-dampness syndrome, Pi-Shen yang-deficiency syndrome, and Shen-yin deficiency syndrome were most frequently seen in PCOS patients. The sex hormones (including 6 items), FBS, FIN, WHR and BMI, etc. were correlated with each Chinese medicine syndrome pattern to various extents, which could be taken as reference in Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation.

Correlation between cognitive functions and syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between the cognitive functions and syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and to provide evidence for clinical syndrome differentiation treatment. METHODS: Six hundred subjects from Dongzhimen Hospital and seven communities in Beijing, aged between 40 and 85 years, accepted neuropsychological assessments, imaging and biochemical examinations, and syndrome differentiation, from whom 159 aMCI patients, 213 normal control (NC) subjects and 171 Alzheimer's dementia (AD) patients were screened out. Correlation between the cognitive functions and TCM syndromes in aMCI patients was analyzed. RESULTS: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in aMCI patients was closely correlated with kidney essence vacuity and deficiency of blood and qi (r = -0.11, r = -0.11; P = 0.003, P = 0.015). Delayed Word Recall (DWR) score was correlated with kidney essence vacuity (r = -0.20, P = 0.020). Instant Story Recall (ISR) and Delayed Story Recall (DSR) scores were respectively correlated with turbid phlegm blocking upper orifices (r = -0.11, r = -0.27; P = 0.021, P = 0.000). Language function was correlated with kidney essence vacuity and deficiency of blood and qi (r = -0.11, r = -0.13; P = 0.042, P = 0.007). Attention/calculation was also closely correlated with kidney essence vacuity and deficiency of blood and qi (r = -0.10, r = -0.21; P = 0.039, P = 0.010). Attention score of aMCI patients was correlated with excess of heat toxin syndrome (r = -0.29, P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: The memory decline of aMCI is correlated with kidney essence vacuity and turbid phlegm blocking upper orifices. Furthermore, turbid phlegm blocking upper orifices is correlated with episodic memory decline, which is closely related to AD. The aMCI patients with phlegm have the risk to progress into AD. Although other cognitive functions of aMCI remain relatively intact, the patients' language function, attention/calculation and the whole cognitive function may be worsen as the aggravation of kidney essence vacuity, deficiency of blood and qi, phlegm and heat toxin, and may eventually lead to multiple cognitive domains impairment, even dementia.

[Guiding principles of clinical research on mild cognitive impairment (protocol)].

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), as a nosological entity referring to elderly people with MCI but without dementia, was proposed as a warning signal of dementia occurrence and a novel therapeutic target. MCI clinical criteria and diagnostic procedure from the MCI Working Group of the European Alzheimer's Disease Consortium (EADC) may better reflect the heterogeneity of MCI syndrome. Beijing United Study Group on MCI funded by the Capital Foundation of Medical Developments (CFMD) proposed the guiding principles of clinical research on MCI. The diagnostic methods include clinical, neuropsychological, functional, neuroimaging and genetic measures. The diagnostic procedure includes three stages. Firstly, MCI syndrome must be defined, which should correspond to: (1) cognitive complaints coming from the patients or their families; (2) reporting of a relative decline in cognitive functioning during the past year by the patient or informant; (3) cognitive disorders evidenced by clinical evaluation; (4) activities of daily living preserved and complex instrumental functions either intact or minimally impaired; and (5) absence of dementia. Secondly, subtypes of MCI have to be recognized as amnestic MCI (aMCI), single non-memory MCI (snmMCI) and multiple-domains MCI (mdMCI). Finally, the subtype causes could be identified commonly as Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and other degenerative diseases such as frontal-temporal dementia (FTD), Lewy body disease (LBD), semantic dementia (SM), as well as trauma, infection, toxicity and nutrition deficiency. The recommended special tests include serum vitamin B12 and folic acid, plasma insulin, insulin-degrading enzyme, Abeta40, Abeta42, inflammatory factors. Computed tomography (or preferentially magnetic resonance imaging, when available) is mandatory. As measurable therapeutic outcomes, the primary outcome should be the probability of progression to dementia, the secondary outcomes should be cognition and function, and the supplement outcome should be the syndrome defined by traditional Chinese medicine. And for APOE epsilon4 carrier, influence of the carrier status on progression rate to dementia and the effect of treatment should be evaluated.

[An explanation on "guiding principles of clinical research on mild cognitive impairment (protocol)"].

In order to provide the "guiding principles of clinical research on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (protocol)" edited by Beijing United Study Group on MCI of the Capital Foundation of Medical Developments (CFMD) with evidence support, clinical criteria, subtypes, inclusion and exclusion of MCI, and use of rating scales were reviewed. The authors suggested that MCI clinical criteria and new diagnosis procedure from the MCI Working Group of the European Alzheimer's disease Consortium (EADC) may better reflect the heterogeneity of MCI syndrome. Diagnostic rating scales including Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) are very useful in definition of MCI but can not replace its clinical criteria. Absence of major repercussions on daily life in patients with MCI was emphasized, but the patients may have minimal impairment in complex IADL. According to their previous research, the authors concluded that highly recommendable neuropsychological scales with cut-off scores in the screening of MCI cases should include Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), logistic memory test such as Delayed Story Recall (DSR), executive function test such as Clock Draw Test (CDT), language test such as Verbal Category Fluency Test (VCFT), etc. And finally, the detection of biological and neuroimaging changes, including atrophy in hippocampus or medial temporal lobe in patients with MCI, was introduced.