Efficacy and safety of a music-therapy facilitated pulmonary telerehabilitation program in COPD patients: the COPDMELODY study protocol.

Despite considerable evidence for the benefit in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the implementation of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is insufficient. However, music therapy may help address this gap due to its unique benefits. Therefore, we aimed to develop a music-therapy facilitated pulmonary telerehabilitation program based on rhythm-guided walking, singing, and objective telemonitoring. A supervised, parallel-group, single-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted, including 75 patients with COPD anticipated to be randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio into three groups. The intervention groups will receive a 12-week remotely monitored rehabilitation program, while the usual care group will not receive any rehabilitation interventions. Of the two intervention groups, the multi-module music therapy group will contain rhythm-guided walking and singing training, while the rhythm-guided walking group will only include music tempo-guided walking. The primary outcome is the distance of the incremental shuttle walking test. Secondary outcomes include respiratory muscle function, spirometry, lower extremity function, symptoms, quality of life, anxiety and depression levels, physical activity level, training adherence, and safety measurements. The results of this study can contribute to develop and evaluate a home-based music-facilitated rehabilitation program, which has the potential to act as a supplement and/or substitute (according to the needs) for traditional center-based PR in patients with stable COPD. Clinical trial registration: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT05832814.

Isolation, Identification, Anti-Inflammatory, and In Silico Analysis of New Lignans from the Resin of Ferula sinkiangensis.

Ferula sinkiangensis K. M. Shen (Apiaceae) is distributed in arid desert areas of Xinjiang, and its resin is a traditional Chinese medicine to treat gastrointestinal digestive diseases. To explore bioactive components from F. sinkiangensis, three new lignans and thirteen known components were isolated. The structural elucidation of the components was established utilizing spectroscopic analyses together with ECD calculations. Griess reaction results indicated new compounds 1 and 2 significantly decreased NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and ELISA results indicated that they effectively attenuated LPS-induced inflammation by inhibiting TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 expressions. The in silico approach confirmed that compound 1 docked into the receptors with strong binding energies of -5.84~-10.79 kcal/mol. In addition, compound 6 inhibited the proliferation of AGS gastric cancer cells with IC50 values of 15.2 µM by suppressing the cell migration and invasion. This study disclosed that F. sinkiangensis might be a promising potential resource for bioactive components.

Bioactive-guided isolation and identification of oligostilbenes as anti-rheumatoid arthritis constituents from the roots of Caragana stenophylla.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The roots of Caragana stenophylla have been used as folk medicine due to the functions of activating blood, diuresis, analgesic and tonicity, especially in treating rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension. However, the anti-rheumatoid arthritis mechanisms and bioactive ingredients have not previously been fully investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to assess the anti-rheumatoid arthritis effects of the roots of Caragana stenophylla ethanol extract (EC), elucidate its mechanism of action and identify its active substances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity of EC was assessed using type II-collagen induced arthritis in rats. Arthritis severity was evaluated by foot paw volume, arthritis index, joint swelling degree and histopathology. The serum inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were also detected by immunohistochemical analysis. In addition, the protein expression of IκB, p-IκB, iNOS and COX-2 was analyzed by western blot. RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were employed to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of fractions and compounds in vitro. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was adopted to appraise the ingredients of the active fraction of the roots of C. stenophylla. Furthermore, various chromatographic techniques and spectroscopic methods were used for isolation and structure elucidation of compounds. RESULTS: The results showed that EC could reduce type II collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis model arthritic score and histopathology markedly at dose of 240 mg/kg. Besides, EC could suppress the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-3, MMP-9), and the expression levels of COX-2, p-IκB and iNOS also were declined. While, the levels of IL-10 and IκB were increased. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited potent inhibitory effects against nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Eleven main components including 1 flavonoid and 10 oligostilbenes from active fraction were isolated by mass directed chromatographic techniques. Their structures were determined on the basis of various spectroscopic methods and by comparison with the published NMR data. CONCLUSION: The roots of C. stenophylla attenuated arthritis severity, restored serum cytokine imbalances by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway in type II collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis model. Oligostilbenes were essential ingredients in ethyl acetate extract of C. stenophylla roots. Stilbenes and flavonoids should be responsible for its anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities.

[Determination of common dyes in dyed safflower by near infrared spectroscopy].

Because the red and bright color of corolla is the main indicator for the quality assessment of good safflower,the dyed safflower is sometimes found at the herbal market,what is influence on this herb quality and efficacy. A total of 127 safflower samples was therefore collected from different cultivating areas and herbal markets in China to develop a rapid method to identify the dyed safflower. Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) combined with characteristic identification,high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC),principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least squares regression analysis(PLS) were employed to differentiate safflower from dyed safflower samples,and further quantify the levels of the 6 dyes,i.e. tartrazine,carmine,sunset yellow,azorubine,acid red 73 and orange Ⅱ in the dyed safflower. The results indicated that the 50 safflower samples and 77 dyed safflower samples were located at different regions in PCA cluster diagram by NIR spectra. Tartrazine,carmineand and sunset yellow were found in the 77 dyed safflower samples with the amounts of 0. 60-3. 66,0. 11-1. 37,0. 10-0. 71 mg·g-1,respectively. It indicated that the three dyes were the common and main dyes in the dyed safflower. However,azorubine,acid red 73 and orange Ⅱ were not detected in all herb samples. A total of 62 dyed safflower samples were chosen as calibration samples to develop the model for estimating the amount of dyes in dyed safflower. The estimating accuracy was verified by another 15 dyed safflower samples. The values of tartrazine,carmine and sunset yellow in dyed safflower samples were compared between the NIRS and HPLC methods. Each value of mean absolute difference(MAD) was less than 5%. The correlation coefficients of tartrazine,carmineand and sunset yellow were 0. 970,0. 975,0. 971,respectively. It indicated the data quantified by NIRS and HPLC were consistence. It is concluded that NIRS can not only differentiate safflower from dyed safflower,but also quantify the amount of the dyes. NIRS is suitable for rapidly identify the quality of safflower.

Natural neuro-inflammatory inhibitors from Caragana turfanensis.

Because of the critical role of over-activated microglia in the progress of neurodegenerative diseases, it has been selected as a potential therapeutic target for drug discovery. In order to find natural neuroinflammatory inhibitors, we carried out a bioactivity-oriented phytochemical research of Caragana turfanensis Kom. (Krassn.), which is a folk medicine widely distributed in Xinjiang. As a result, a new coumarin lactone caraganolide A (1) and 35 known components were characterized from the effective extract of C. turfanensis. Furthermore, their anti-neuroinflammatory effects were evaluated in LPS-induced BV2 microglial cells using Griess assay to determine the release of nitric oxide (NO). Compounds 1, 2, 4-6, 9, 13-15, 20, 29 and 30 exhibited significant inhibitory activities and no obvious cytotoxicities were observed at their effective concentrations. It is noteworthy, the new compound caraganolide A (1) (IC50 1.01±1.57µM) and 3',7,8-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (5) (IC506.87±2.23µM) exhibited more excellent action than that of positive control minocycline (IC50 9.07±0.86µM).

[Research on spectral reflectance characteristics for Glycyrrhizae Radix].

In order to study the spectral reflectance differences of Glycyrrhizae Radix under different growth conditions and lay the foundation for quantitative monitoring of Glycyrrhizae Radix remote sensing images, spectra of Glycyrrhiza species under different growth period and different varieties and different regions were measured by a portable spectrometer. The results showed that the reflectivity of annual G. uralensis was obviously higher than that of the two years plant in the visible light band own to the contents of crown layer chlorophyll. The reflectivity of two years G. pallidiflora was higher than that of G. uralensis in the near infrared band own to the leaf area index and the content of leaf water. The red edge spectrum of annual plant fluctuated largely than that of two years plant due to vegetation coverage and leaf area index. G. pallidiflora grew well than G. uralensis. Under different regions of the Glycyrrhiza species, spectral data analysis showed that within a certain range, the average annual precipitation and average annual evaporation were the major factors to affect the differences of Glycyrrhiza species spectral data under different regions owe to the leaf water content, the higher leaf water content, the lower spectral reflectance. The principal component analysis and continuum-removed method of the spectral data under different regions found that, within a certain range, the average annual precipitation and average annual evaporation were the major factors caused by the differences of Glycyrrhiza species spectral data under the different regions, Glycyrrhiza species spectral similarity related to the spatial distance.

[Speciation analysis of harmful elements in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Chrysanthemi Flos].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the state and distribution of Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cu in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Chrysanthemi Flos. METHOD: The samples were prepared by modified Tessier sequential extraction; The elements of Cu, Pb, and Cd in the samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), while Hg, and As were analyzed by atomic fluorescence (AFS). RESULT: Cu,Pb,Cd,Hg,As in Chrysanthemi Flos were 12.806, 10.478, 0.436, 0.231, 1.531 mg x kg(-1), respectively. Cu, Pb, Hg in Chrysanthemi Flos mainly existed in residual and organic states; Cd was priority to ion exchange state; the residual state was the main form of As, and ion exchange state and water soluble state also had a large proportion. Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg, As in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma were 10.530, 4.926, 0.478, 0.260, 0.750 mg x kg(-1), respectively. Cu, Pb and Hg of residual state were the highest ratio; Cd and As mainly existed in ion exchange state. CONCLUSION: The experiment results showed that sequential extraction can be applied in speciation analysis of the harmful elements of traditional Chinese medicine. The method can speciate the state and distribution of harmful elements and provide the information of harmful elements. It will provide reference to the production of Chinese traditional patent medicine and herb extracts, processing of medicine herbs, the development of new drugs and safety evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine.

[HPLC fingerprint spectrum of xinjiang uyghur medicine Nigella glandulifera seed].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the HPLC fingerprint spectrum of Nigella glandulifera seed identification. METHODS: The chromatographic system consisted of a Shim-pack ODS C18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) and a mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid in condition of gradient elution,The detection wavelength was 280 nm. The column temperature was 30 degrees C. RESULTS: Detected the HPLC fingerprint spectrum of 10 batches samples Nigella glandulifera seed from Xinjiang; Calibrated 18 characteristic peaks. The result was in accordance with the technical requirement of fingerprint spectrum. The similarity calculation software showed that the similarity was higher than 0. 95. CONCLUSION: The HPLC fingerprint spectrum of Nigella glandulifera seed can be used as an identification method. It may provide the basis for quality control of Nigella glandulifera seed.

[Simultaneous determination of contents of sophoridine, oxymatrine and oxysophocarpine in seed of Sophora alopecuroides by HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a HPLC method for simultaneous determination of the contents of sophoridine, oxymatrine and oxysophocarpine in seed of Sophora alopecuroides. METHOD: Chromatographic condition included a Phenomenex Gemini C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column and thmobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol-0.2% phosphatic acid (7:93). The detection wavelength was at 205 nm. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and column temperature was set at 30 degrees C. RESULT: All calibration curves showed good linearity (r > or = 0.9997) within test ranges. The mean recoveries were 100.0%, 97.0% and 97.0% respectively. CONCLUSION: This method is simple, rapid and accurate, and suitable for quality control of S. alopecuroides seed.

[Determination and comparision of gentiopicroside of various parts of five species of genus Gentiana collected from Xinjiang by TLCS].

OBJECTIVE: To study gentiopicroside's determination and comparison of various parts of herb by TLCS and make it impossible to uncover resource of Gentian in Xinjiang area. METHOD: Gentiopicroside's determination and comparison of various parts of herb in Gentiana Plants were carried out by TLCS. RESULT: The average recovery rate was 98.66% (RSD = 1.33%, n = 5). The Contents were stable. The results kept a high degree of comparable with HPLC ones. CONCLUSION: This method was good-steady, high-accurate, simple, convenient, sensitive, reproducible.