[Gallnut and its identification as a herb in traditional Chinese medicine].

Gallnut (Mo Shi Zi), as one of the herbs popularly used in traditional Chinese medicine, came into China from Persia in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Gallnut was translated into different names from Persian into Chinese. This study attempted to identify its names, sources and nature by starting with Mo Shi Zi () and comparing with its relevant names Mo Shi Zi(),Ba Lv Zi () and Wu Bei Zi (). It was found that'', meaning black, in Mo Shi Zi () did not make sense because it neither matched the pronunciation in translation nor interpreted the medical meaning of Mo Shi Zi (). Mo Shi Zi () and Ba Lv Zi() were the same herb in traditional Chinese medicine. In Greek and Arabic classic books, Bullut referred to oak groups and their galls, but not Ba Lv Zi (). Ba Lv Zi () in these books referred to Omphacitis. Mo Shi Zi () referred to insect galls in the family of Quercus infectoriain Xi Yao Da Cheng, a book from overseas, and Wu Bei Zi ()appeared in the annotated text of Mo Shi Zi () as a similar herb. It was found that in traditional Chinese medicine, Mo Shi Zi () and Wu Bei Zi( ) were two different herbs, but could be interchanged in their medical nature.

[A real-world study of 176 cases with aplastic anemia treated in outpatient].

Objective: To explore the diagnostic process and outcomes of patients with aplastic anemia (AA) who received outpatient treatment in a real-world setting. Methods: The diagnostic processes, treatment regimens, and outcomes of 176 patients with AA treated in outpatient centers from January 2018 to December 2019 were reviewed. Results: The median interval from the onset of symptoms to the first visit was 7 (5-120) months. Complaints during the first visit included bleeding (52.3% ) , anemia (51.7% ) , and infection (6.8% ) . For diagnosis, 168 patients (95.5% ) underwent bone marrow aspiration; however, only 22 of them (17.1% ) consented aspiration in multiple sites (sternum) . The completion rate of bone marrow biopsy was 85.1% (143/168) ; flow immunophenotype and karyotype analyses were performed on 59.5% (100/168) and 58.9% (99/168) of AA patients, respectively, and the culture of clonal forming units by bone marrow mononuclear cells was performed on 26.8% (45/168) of AA patients. The most preferred regimen was cyclosporine combined with androgen and levamisole (43.8% , 77 patients) , followed by cyclosporine combined with androgen (25.6% , 45 patients) . Cyclosporine alone was administered in 24 patients (13.6% ) and androgen alone in 16 patients (9.1% ) . Furthermore, 14 patients (7.9% ) did not consent to any drugs or only chose traditional Chinese medicine. The patients were divided according to the frequencies of follow-up: regular follow-up group (≥4 times/year, n=130) and irregular group (<4 times/year, n=46) . The former had a higher 6-month remission rate (52.5% vs 28.0% , P=0.005) , a greater high-quality remission rate in 12 months (40.7% vs 16.7% , P=0.027) , and a lower relapse rate in 24 months (4.4% vs 36.4% , P=0.001) . Conclusion: In real-world settings, bone marrow aspiration in multiple sites should be addressed in outpatient treatment for AA diagnostic work-up, including PNH clone screening, flow immunophenotype, chromosome karyotype analysis, and culture of clonal forming units. Patients with AA who follow regular visits were more likely to achieve high-quality remission and a lower relapse rate. Visits at least four times per year are recommended for AA patients undergoing outpatient treatment.

[Treatment of Chilomastix mesnili infection with traditional Chinese medicine: a case report].

This paper reports a case with Chilomastix mesnili infections, and summarizes the diagnosis and treatment with traditional Chinese medicine.

[Research update of effectiveness and mechanism of essential fatty acids in treating dry eye].

Topical anti-inflammatory therapy has become the significant way of treating dry eye so far. However, as the long-term use of routine anti-inflammatory medications are restricted from their side effects, it is inevitable to explore safer and more effective alternatives. Essential fatty acids have proven to be anti-inflammatory systemically, which makes it possible to treat dry eye. Clinical trials have demonstrated that supplementation with either ω-3 or ω-6 essential fatty acids or both has multifactorial efficacies including improvement of subjective symptoms, alleviation of inflammation of ocular surface and eyelid margin, prolongation of tear break-up time and increase of tear flow secretion. Besides anti-inflammation effects, several basic researches have revealed that other mechanisms of essential fatty acids treating dry eye might lie in the corneal epithelial healing and tear secretion promotion. This review puts emphasis on the effectiveness, feasibility and mechanism of treating dry eye with essential fatty acids. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 225-229).

Observation of the clinical effects of iontophoresis of a chinese drug in the treatment of degenerative osteoarthropathy.

Degenerative osteoarthropathy, a kind of arthrosis induced by various factors, mainly affects articular cartilage and causes syndesmophyte formation. Its morbidity increases year by year, tending to occur more among young people than previously. This paper mainly discusses the clinical effects of iontophoresis of the Chinese drug in treating degenerative osteoarthropathy. A total of 296 cases of degenerative osteoarthropathy were randomly divided into two groups (of both genders): the iontophoresis group: the joint was treated with iontophoresis of the Chinese drug and a medium frequency electrotherapy instrument; the frequency electrotherapy group: the joint was treated only by medium frequency electrotherapy. The two groups were both treated for 30 min once a day, for a total of 4 weeks. The results of the study showed that, the total effective rate in the medium frequency electrotherapy group was 74.3%, the iontophoresis group was 93.2%, indicating the curative effect of iontophoresis of the Chinese medicine. The above finding indicates that, iontophoresis has a good clinical effect in the treatment of osteoarthropathy and deserves to be promoted and applied.

Chemical composition of yak colostrum and transient milk.

The objective of this study was to assess the changes in the chemical composition of yak colostrum and transient milk. Samples were collected from 12 yaks on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 post-partum (PP). The gross composition, nitrogen fraction distribution, amino acid (AA) profile and fatty acid (FA) profile were analysed. All the components decreased rapidly during the first 3 days except lactose which increased. The ratio of whey protein to casein protein decreased from 46:54 to 17:83 during the first 7 days PP. The content of all the AAs decreased, while the percentages of eight essential AAs in protein of samples increased during the study period. Monounsaturated FAs and polyunsaturated FAs decreased in the first 7 days PP, whereas saturated FAs increased. In conclusion, the changes in chemical composition were remarkable during the first 3 days. The slight variations, happened during the transient period, are not negligible, which also should be taken into account in the development of yak colostrum supplements.

Alleviation of ferric chloride-induced seizures and retarded behaviour in epileptic rats by cortical electrical stimulation treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of low-frequency cortical electrical stimulation (CES) on seizures and behaviour in a rat model of epilepsy induced by ferric chloride (FeCl3). METHODS: Rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n=8 per group): normal healthy rats; saline-treated control rats; FeCl3-induced epileptic rats; CES-treated FeCl3-induced epileptic rats. Behavioural tests, analysis of the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein in brain tissue, and ultrastructural studies using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were undertaken. RESULTS: CES significantly decreased the number and grade of seizures, and improved rat behaviour, compared with untreated epileptic rats. CES reduced levels of BDNF protein in the forebrain and increased levels of BDNF protein in the hippocampus compared with untreated epileptic rats. TEM showed less damage and ultrastructural changes in the neurons of CES-treated epileptic rats. CONCLUSIONS: CES inhibited seizures in FeCl3-induced epileptic rats and improved their behaviour. These effects might be mediated by altering BDNF protein levels in the brain.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil from berries of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.

Essential oils of Schisandra chinensis seeds and berries without seeds were separately extracted. A total of 55 compounds were identified in the essential oil of berries without seeds (EOB), representing 85.75% of the total content. A total of 52 compounds were identified in the essential oil of seeds (EOS), representing 89.74% of the total content. For EOB, the top three content compounds were α-cis-bergamotene (10.79%), 4,11-selinadiene (5.28%) and α-cadinol (5.19%), while the top three content compounds of EOS were ylangene (10.16%), ß-himachalene (9.46%) and di-epi-α-cedrene (8.92%). The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was tested using the DPPH radical-scavenging method. The antioxidant activity of EOB was higher than EOS. The IC(50) values of EOB and EOS were 8.4 and 15.8 mg/mL, respectively. This study concluded that EOB and EOS were not only different in extraction yield but also in chemical composition and antioxidant activity.

Pharmacokinetics of dl-praeruptorin A after single-dose intravenous administration to rats with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: As a novel drug in the treatment of cardiac diseases, dl-praeruptorin A (Pd-Ia) is the major active component of traditional herbal medicine Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn and is metabolized primarily via cytochrome P450 isozymes (CYP) 3A1 and 3A2 in rats. In the present study, the influence of liver cirrhosis on pharmacokinetics of Pd-Ia and hepatic mRNA expression of CYP3A1 and 3A2 in rats with experimental liver cirrhosis (LC rats) were evaluated. METHODS: Pd-Ia was given intravenously (5 mg kg(-1)) to LC rats induced by dimethylnitrosamine and pharmacokinetic variables were measured. Enzyme kinetic metabolism of Pd-Ia in rat hepatic microsomes was also investigated and hepatic mRNA expression of CYP3A1 and 3A2 were measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS AND MAJOR CONCLUSION: After intravenous administration in LC rats, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-8) was significantly greater than that in control rats, which might be due to slower rate of the hepatic blood flow and significant slower hepatic intrinsic clearance (CL(int)) in rats. The decreased metabolic clearance of Pd-Ia in LC rats might be at least partly caused by the decreased levels of CYP3A1 and 3A2 responsible for Pd-Ia metabolism. These findings may provide new insights into the inter- and intra-individual pharmacokinetic variability of Pd-Ia.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid clivorine-induced oxidative stress injury in human normal liver L-02 cells.

Clivorine is an otonecine-type pyrrolizidine alkaloid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Ligularia hodgsonii Hook. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are well-known hepatotoxins widely distributed around the world. The present study sought to evaluate clivorineinduced oxidative injury in human normal liver L-02 cells. After cells were treated with various concentrations of clivorine for 48 h, cellular total antioxidant capacity, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) were determined to evaluate oxidative injury. Results showed that cellular total antioxidant capacity and GST activity both increased in clivorine-treated L-02 cells, while clivorine decreased GR activity in cells. Further, the protective effects of some antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C, Vc), Trolox, dithiothreitol (DTT) and mannitol against clivorine-induced cytotoxicity were observed. Results showed that Trolox, which is an analogue of tocopherol (vitamin E, Ve), prevented clivorine-induced cytotoxicity in L-02 cells. Taken together, these results revealed clivorineinduced oxidative injury in human liver L-02 cells. These results also indicated the possible use of Trolox in the reduction of clivorine-induced hepatotoxicity.

The transcription factors GATA4 and GATA6 regulate cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo.

The zinc finger-containing transcription factors GATA4 and GATA6 are important regulators of basal and inducible gene expression in cardiac and smooth muscle cell types. Here we demonstrate a direct functional role for GATA4 and GATA6 as regulators of cardiomyocyte hypertrophic growth and gene expression. To model the increase in endogenous GATA4 and GATA6 transcriptional activity that occurs in response to hypertrophic stimulation, each factor was overexpressed in cardiomyocytes using recombinant adenovirus. Overexpression of either GATA4 or GATA6 was sufficient to induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy characterized by enhanced sarcomeric organization, a greater than 2-fold increase in cell surface area, and a significant increase in total protein accumulation. In vivo, transgenic mice with 2.5-fold overexpression of GATA4 within the adult heart demonstrated a slowly progressing increase in heart to body weight ratio, histological features of cardiomyopathy, and activation of hypertrophy-associated genes, suggesting that GATA factors are sufficient regulators of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate the requirement of GATA factors as downstream transcriptional mediators of hypertrophy, a dominant negative GATA4-engrailed repressor fusion-encoding adenovirus was generated. Expression of GATA4-engrailed blocked GATA4- and GATA6-directed transcriptional responses and agonist-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, demonstrating that cardiac-expressed GATA factors are necessary mediators of this process.

High-performance liquid chromatography multiplex detection of two single nucleotide mutations associated with hereditary hemochromatosis.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been applied to the multiplex detection of the two single nucleotide mutations commonly found in hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). HH is associated with a major G to A transition at position 845 (mutation Cys282Tyr) and a minor C to G transition at position 187 (mutation His63Asp) in the cDNA of the HFE gene. Two detection assays were developed based on HPLC analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) or single nucleotide extension (SNE) products following multiplex PCR amplification. RFLP genotypes the two sites as dsDNA fragments of different lengths generated by restriction enzymes Rsa I/Bcl I. SNE extends primers 5'-adjacent to the sites of interest with a dideoxynucleotide triphosphate (ddNTP) to generate extended ssDNA. The identity of the added ddNTP reveals the identity of the original possible mutation site(s). Application of these methods with HPLC analysis provides simple and reliable genotyping for HH and can be applied to other single nucleotide polymorphism studies.

[The effects of bizhongxiao decotion (BZX) on T-lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of BZX on T-lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and study the mechanism of curative effects of BZX in immunization. METHODS: 42 patients with RA in active stage were divided into 1. treatment group with BZX 2. control group with western medicine and twenty healthy control group (HCG) was arranged before treatment. Their CD4+ and CD8+ were tested and the ratio of CD4+ cells to CD8+ cells was calculated before treatment and after 3 months treatment. RESULTS: In the peripheral blood of patients with RA, CD4+ was more than that of the HCG. but CD8+ was lower and the ratio of CD4+ cell to CD8+ cells was higher than that of the HCG. After 3 months treatment, CD4+ decreased, CD8+ increased and the ratio of CD4+ cells to CD8+ cells decreased. In addition, all results were similar to the normal. We found there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in the results after treatment. CONCLUSION: There were cell immunoregulation disorders in patients with RA. BZX can regulate the disorder of T-lymphocyte subsets, help rebuild the immune steading and have effects of immune suppression similar to MTX combined medicine.

[Analysis of corneal pathologic changes and laboratory parameters in herpes simplex karatitis patients with ganhuo-shangyanzheng or ganshengyinxuzheng].

In order to investigate the relationship between Ganhuo shangyanzheng and Can-shengyin xuzheng in herpes simplex karatitis patients, we observed corneal pathologic changes and examined blood levels of prostaglandin F2 (PGF2), prostaglandin E2 (PGF2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), arginine vasopressin (AVP), norepinephrine (NR), epinephrine (E) in sixty herpes simplex karatitis patients with Ganhou shangyanzheng or Gan-shengyinxuzheng. The results showed that the corneal pathologic changes were corneal ulcer infiltrating to stroma of cornea in Ganhuo shangyanzheng patients, and refractary corneal ulcer with large amount of corneal neovascularizaton and infiltration of corneal stroma in Gan-shengyinxuzheng patients, the blood levels of PGF2, PGE2, TNF, AVP, NE, E in Ganhuo shangyanzheng patients were higher than those in Gan-shengyinxuzheng patients or healthy persons. The results suggest that these parameters may be objective parameters for differential diagnosis of traditional Chinese medicine Zheng types in patients with herpes simplex karatitis.

Dietary calcium supplementation increases apoptosis in the distal murine colonic epithelium.

BACKGROUND: Increased dietary calcium might reduce colorectal cancer risk, possibly by reduction of colonic epithelial hyperproliferation, but not all studies have demonstrated this. Little is known about the effects of calcium on colonic apoptosis. AIM: To quantify the effects of increasing calcium on apoptosis and cell proliferation in normal murine colonic crypt epithelium. METHODS: Twenty one day old male C57B1/6 mice were fed either control AIN-76 diet (0.5% calcium wt/wt; n = 10) or the same supplemented with calcium carbonate (1.0% calcium; n = 10) for 12 weeks. Apoptotic cells in proximal and distal segments were counted and expressed as an apoptotic index (AI: frequency of apoptosis/100 longitudinal crypts). The bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labelling index was also determined. Differences were analysed by the student's t test. RESULTS: In control animals, the AI was significantly higher in the caecum/proximal colon (mean, 28.6; SEM, 2.0) compared with the distal colon (mean, 19.9; SEM, 1.8; p = 0.004). In the calcium treated group, the AI in the caecum/proximal colon (mean, 30.6; SEM, 1.7) was similar to controls (p = 0.71) but the AI in the distal colon was significantly greater (mean, 32.6; SEM, 1.8; p = 0.001) than in control mice and was raised to values similar to those in the proximal colon. Calcium was also associated with reduced crypt cellularity and, in the proximal colon, a downward shift in the crypt position at which apoptosis occurred. There were no significant differences in the BrdU labelling index between groups or between proximal and distal colonic segments in each group. CONCLUSIONS: Increased dietary calcium is associated with the induction of apoptosis in normal mouse distal colonic epithelium without affecting cell proliferation. This might contribute to its putative chemopreventive role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Whether this effect is direct or indirect requires further study.

[Clinical investigation of effects of bizhongxiao decoction (BZX) on rheumatoid arthritis on active phase].

Ninety-six patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) on active phase were divided into BZX-treated group(BZXG) and methotrexate-treated group(MTXG). The results showed that after 1-month treatment, symptoms and signs, such as joint tenderness, arthralgia, arthroncus, of patients in BZXG improved notably(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), while those of patients in MTXG did not improve, there was significant difference between these two groups(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). After 3-month treatment, these symptoms and signs improved in both groups(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but BZX had a better effect than MTX. ESR, CRP, RF, C3, IgG, IgA and IgM decreased significantly in both groups after treatment(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), ESR, CRP in BZXG decreased more and faster than those in MTXG. In BZXG the obviously efficient rat was 70%, the total efficacy rate was 94%, while in MTXG was 52% and 87% respectively. It is indicated that BZX can improve symptoms and signs of patients with RA, has better and faster effects on acute phase reaction than MTX; and it has anti-immunologic effects similar to MTX, and has no obvious side effect.

[Effects of Nao-Yi-An granule on activity of cytochrome c oxidase in hippocampus of experimental intracerebral hemorrhagic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the neuronal protective effects of a traditional Chinese medicine complex Nao-Yi-An granule(NYA) on experimental intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) in rats. METHODS: Eighty collagenase-induced ICH rats were used. At 12 h, 24 h, 2 d, 4 d, 7 d, cytochrome c oxidase(CO) activity was measured with histochemistry combined with gray scale scanning. Pyramidal cell(PC) counting was also employed following Nissl's staining. RESULTS: The CO activities in NYA-treated group were less than those in model control group, and the neuronal loss was less in NYA-treated group than that in model control group. CONCLUSIONS: The neuronal protective mechanism of NYA following ICH may be related with its maintaining activity of cytochrome c oxidase, which contributes to improving cellular aerobic metabolism and increasing energy supply for cells.

[Effects of plasma catecholamines contents on acute cerebral hemorrhage treated with nao yi-an granule].

In order to investigate the efficacy mechanism of Nao Yi-an(NYA) granule on acute cerebral hemorrhage(ACH), 38 cases of ACH were treated with NYA granule(NYA group) or with Western Medicine (WM group). The contents of their plasmal NE, E, and DA before and after treatments were observed. The results showed that the contents of the plasmal NE, E and DA increase remarkably, compared with those of normal control group(P < 0.01), and accompanied by the increase of volume of hemorrhage or the gravity of the disease. After treatment, the contents of the plasmal NE, E and DA in NYA group are notably lower than those before the treatment(P < 0.01), but in WM group, they are not significantly lower than those before the treatment(P > 0.05), and they are strikingly lower in NYA group than in WM group. It is indicated that the NYA group can effectively decrease the contents of plasmal NE, E and DA, to remove cerebrovascular spasm, to relieve cerebral edema, to improve microcirculation of brain tissue, to increase blood and energy supplies, anticerebral secondary ischemia and hypoxia and improve the clinical effects.

[Protection of naoyi-an granule in ischemic brain injury secondary to intracerebral hemorrhage in rats].

AIM: To explore the protective effect and its mechanism of the traditional Chinese medicine complex, naoyi-an granule(NYAG), on intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) in rats. METHODS: Collagenase-induced ICH rats were used. Inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) activity of ischemic cerebral cortex surrounding the intracerebral hematoma was assayed by monitoring the conversion of L-3H-arginine to L-3H-citrulline. Pathologic changes in the same area were observed with transmission electron microscope on the 2nd day, the 4th day and the 7th day after ICH. RESULTS: The iNOS activities of NYA-treated group decreased remarkably(P < 0.01) compared with those of the saline-treated group. Ultrastructural observation also indicated that NYAG ameliorated the brain edema, cell degeneration and necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The inhibitory effect of NYAG on iNOS activity may be related to its protection against ischemic brain injury secondary to ICH.