Cinnamaldehyde: An effective component of Cinnamomum cassia inhibiting Helicobacter pylori.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cinnamomum cassia Presl (Cinnamomum cassia) is a common traditional Chinese medicine, which can promote the secretion and digestion of gastric juice, improve the function of gastrointestinal tract. Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a synthetic food flavoring in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to search for the active ingredient (CA) of inhibiting H. pylori from Cinnamomum cassia, and elucidate mechanism of action, so as to provide the experimental basis for the treatment of H. pylori infection with Cinnamomum cassia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It's in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties were evaluated based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and an acute gastric inflammation model in mice infected with H. pylori. Drug safety was evaluated using the CCK8 method and high-dose administration in mice. The advantageous characteristics of CA in inhibiting H. pylori were confirmed using acidic conditions and in combination with the antibiotics. The mechanism underlying the action of CA on H. pylori was explored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), adhesion experiments, biofilm inhibition tests, ATP and ROS release experiments, and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) screening of target proteins. The protein function and target genes were verified by molecular docking and Real-Time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: The results demonstrated that CA was found to be the main active ingredient against H. pylori in Cinnamomum cassia in-vitro tests, with a MIC of 8-16 µg/mL. Moreover, CA effectively inhibited both sensitive and resistant H. pylori strains. The dual therapy of PPI + CA exhibited remarkable in vivo efficacy in the acute gastritis mouse model, superior to the standard triple therapy. DARTS, molecular docking, and qRT-PCR results suggested that the target sites of action were closely associated with GyrA, GyrB, AtpA, and TopA, which made DNA replication and transcription impossible, then leading to inhibition of bacterial adhesion and colonization, suppression of biofilm formation, and inhibition ATP and enhancing ROS. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the suitability of CA as a promising lead drug against H. pylori, The main mechanisms can target GyrA ect, leading to reduce ATP and produce ROS, which induces the apoptosis of bacterial.

Resolvin and lipoxin metabolism network regulated by Hyssopus Cuspidatus Boriss extract in asthmatic mice.

Resolvin (Rv) and lipoxin (Lx) play important regulative roles in the development of several inflammation-related diseases. The dysregulation of their metabolic network is believed to be closely related to the occurrence and development of asthma. The Hyssopus Cuspidatus Boriss extract (SXCF) has long been used as a treatment for asthma, while the mechanism of anti-inflammatory and anti-asthma action targeting Rv and Lx has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of SXCF on Rv, Lx in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized asthmatic mice. The changes of Rv, Lx before and after drug administration were analyzed based on high sensitivity chromatography-multiple response monitoring (UHPLC-MRM) analysis and multivariate statistics. The pathology exploration included behavioral changes of mice, IgE in serum, cytokines in BALF, and lung tissue sections stained with H&E. It was found that SXCF significantly modulated the metabolic disturbance of Rv, Lx due to asthma. Its modulation effect was significantly better than that of dexamethasone and rosmarinic acid which is the first-line clinical medicine and the main component of Hyssopus Cuspidatus Boriss, respectively. SXCF is demonstrated to be a potential anti-asthmatic drug with significant disease-modifying effects on OVA-induced asthma. The modulation of Rv and Lx is a possible underlying mechanism of the SXCF effects.

First Report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae Causing Stem Brown Rot of Loquat in China.

Loquat (Rhaphiolepis biabas, heterotypic synonym: Eriobotrya japonica) is an important edible and medicinal plant that is widely cultivated on 133 thousand hectares (recorded in 2022) in China. A stem brown rot was observed on young and old trees in Mengzi city (23°23' N; 103°23' E), Yunnan Province, southwest China, during October 2014 and September 2021. Incidence ranged from 20% of trees in surrounding plantations to 50% incidence of a 160 tree orchard that was the focal point of the disease survey. Circular brown lesions occurred initially on the stems and gradually covered all the epidermis of the stem, leading to irregular dents within the bark that developed a dark brown powdery appearance (Fig.1A). Larger lesions affected vascular tissues, causing diseased trees to wither and die. Diseased tissues were surface-disinfected in a 5% sodium hypochlorite solution for 3 min, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated in the dark at 28°C. Twenty samples were collected for tissue isolation, and 11 isolates were single-spored on water agar. In culture, the colonies on PDA were white to dark-gray, velvet, with dense hyphae, diameter 7.64 cm after 5 days. After 18 days, spherical or subglobose pycnidia were developed and semi-buried in medium, their walls were thicker and dark-brown, which were black particles surrounded by gray-black hyphae. Conidiogenous cells were hyaline, cylindrical, holoblastic, slightly swollen at the base, with rounded apex. Conidia were initially hyaline and aseptate with elliptic or ovate shape, becoming dark brown with a single septate and developing longitudinal striations along thick walls at maturity. Conidia dimensions varied from 8.0 to 12.2 × 3.8 to 6.1µm (n=50) (Fig.1D). The morphological characteristics of eleven isolates were consistent with the description of Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Alves et al. 2008). Further confirmation was also determined by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), ß-tubulin genes, partial translation elongation factor-1α (TEF-1α) (White et al. 1990, Carbone et al. 1999, Glass et al.1995). The isolate LSB-1 was selected for DNA sequence analysis. Based on BLASTn analysis, ITS sequences (OM617921) had 98.3% similarity with L. theobromae CBS164.96 (accession AY640255), CBS124.13(accession DQ458890), CAA006 (accession DQ458891) and CBS111530 (accession EF622074), ß-tubulin sequences (OM643838) showed 99.1% similarity with L. theobromae accessions EU673110. The TEF-1α (OM643839) had 99.0% identity with L. theobromae accession EF633054. The isolate LSB-1 clustered on the same clade with other L. theobromae. Pathogenicity testing of isolate LSB-1, LSB-2, LSB-3 was conducted by inoculating the stems of l-year-old seedlings growing in pots. The epidermis at the inoculation site, 15-20 cm below the crown, was wiped with 75% alcohol cotton ball, washed three times with sterile water, and then punctured (5mm diameter) with sterile inoculation needle. A 5mm block of each isolate cultured on PDA for seven days was attached to the inoculation site. Controls were inoculated with sterile PDA blocks. The inoculation area was covered with polyethylene cling film. All inoculated seedlings were kept in controlled greenhouse at 27°C with 80% relative humidity under natural daylight conditions, and watered weekly. Each treatment was repeated three times. Eight days after inoculation, all diseased plants showed dark brown discoloration at the point of inoculation (Fig. 1G) with the bark at the inoculation site gradually raising as the disease progressed. Thirty days after inoculation, all inoculated seedlings produced typical symptoms, whereas the control seedlings remained healthy. Fungal isolates were only recovered from symptomatic stems and were morphologically identical to L. theobromae, completing Koch's postulates. According to the relevant literature, Lasiodiplodia theobromae has a broad host range, causing numerous diseases, including canker and dieback of branch (Aguilera-Cogley et al., 2021), panicle blight (Mahadevakumar et al, 2022), root rot (Abd-El Ghani and Fatouh, 2005), fruit rot(Freire et al., 2011) in diverse geographical regions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of L. theobromae causing stem brown rot of loquat in China and provides a foundation for further study of the epidemiology and integrated management of this disease.

A new acylated iridoid and other chemical constituents from Valeriana jatamansi and their biological activities.

A new acylated iridoid, valejatadoid H (1), along with fourteen known compounds, were obtained from the n-BuOH extract of the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana jatamansi, and their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods. Among them, compounds 8, 11 and 13 exhibited potent inhibition on NO production, with IC50 values of 4.21, 6.08 and 20.36 µM, respectively. In addition, compounds 14 and 15 showed anti-influenza virus activities, among which compound 14 exhibited significant effect with an IC50 value of 0.99 µM.

Oridonin Alters Hepatic Urea Cycle via Gut Microbiota and Protects against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury.

Acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the western world. Oridonin (OD), which is the major active ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine Rabdosia rubescens, reportedly exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. Here, we first find that OD protects against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. The results of hepatic tissue-associated RNA-seq and metabolomics showed that the protective effects of OD were dependent upon urea cycle regulation. And such regulation of OD is gut microbiota partly dependent, as demonstrated by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Furthermore, using 16S rRNA sequencing, we determined that OD significantly enriched intestinal Bacteroides vulgatus, which activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway to regulate redox homeostasis against APAP by urea cycle. In conclusion, our study suggests that the Bacteroides vulgatus-urea cycle-Nrf2 axis may be a potential target for reducing APAP-induced liver injury, which is altered by OD.

Effect of Therapeutic Ultrasound for Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects and safety of therapeutic ultrasound in patients with neck pain. DATA SOURCES: The PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Physiotherapy Evidence databases were searched for articles published before December 1, 2020. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials that compared the effects of therapeutic ultrasound on neck pain were included in this review. The included studies compared therapeutic ultrasound plus other treatments with the other treatments alone or compared therapeutic ultrasound with sham or no treatment. Outcome measures involved the effects on pain, disability, and quality of life. Other treatments included all nonultrasonic therapies (eg, various exercises, massage, electrotherapy). DATA EXTRACTION: Data on the study population, therapeutic ultrasound intervention, combined intervention, outcome measures, and follow-up were extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS: Twelve randomized controlled trials (705 patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Seven studies compared therapeutic ultrasound plus other treatments vs the other treatments alone (449 patients). Therapeutic ultrasound yielded additional benefits for pain, but there was high heterogeneity and we could not draw a clear conclusion. Ultrasound did not have a better effect on disability or quality of life when it was combined with other treatments. Five studies compared therapeutic ultrasound with sham or no treatment (256 patients), and the pooled data showed that therapeutic ultrasound significantly reduced pain intensity. No adverse events of therapeutic ultrasound were reported in the included studies. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic ultrasound may reduce the intensity of pain more than sham or no treatment, and it is a safe treatment. Whether therapeutic ultrasound in combination with other conventional treatments produced additional benefits on pain intensity, disability, or quality of life is not clear. The randomized trials included in this review had different levels of quality and high heterogeneity. A large trial using a valid methodology is warranted.

Electroacupuncture alleviates intestinal inflammation and barrier dysfunction by activating dopamine in a rat model of intestinal ischaemia.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36 involves dopamine (DA) and its receptor and whether it is mediated by the vagus nerve in a rat model of intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: Rats were subjected to gut ischaemia for 30 min and then received EA for 30 min with or without abdominal vagotomy or intraperitoneal administration of butaclamol (D1 receptor antagonist) or spiperone (D2 receptor antagonist). Plasma levels of DA and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were assessed 1 or 4 h after reperfusion. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in intestinal tissues were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Intestinal tissue injury was assessed by observation of the pathological lesions and permeability to 4 kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran. RESULTS: EA significantly increased levels of DA and lowered levels of TNF-α. EA also inhibited intestinal levels of MPO and MDA and intestinal tissue injury and decreased intestinal permeability to FITC-dextran. Abdominal vagotomy and intraperitoneal administration of butaclamol (but not spiperone) inhibited the effects of EA. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that EA at ST36 could attenuate intestinal I/R-induced inflammatory injury and that the underlying mechanism may involve EA-induced increases in levels of DA, mediated by the vagus nerve and D1 receptors.

Antiviral effect of saikosaponin B2 in combination with daclatasvir on NS5A resistance-associated substitutions of hepatitis C virus.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The rapid progress in the development of direct-acting antivirals has greatly elevated the cure rate to ≥95% in recent years. However, the high cost of treatment is not affordable to patients in some countries, necessitating the development of less expensive treatment. METHODS: We adopted a cell culture-derived HCV system to screen a library of the pure compounds extracted from herbs deposited in the chemical bank of the National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taiwan. RESULTS: We found that saikosaponin B2 inhibited viral entry, replication, and translation. Saikosaponin B2 is a plant glycoside and a component of xiao-chai-hu-tang, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine extracted from the roots of Bupleurum falcatum. It also inhibited daclatasvir-resistant mutant strains of HCV, especially in combination with daclatasvir. CONCLUSION: Our results may aid the development of a new combination therapy useful for patients with HCV who are intolerant or refractory to the currently available medications, including pegylated interferon and direct-acting antiviral agents.

Protective Effect of Electroacupuncture at Zusanli on Myocardial Injury in Septic Rats.

The protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli points (ST36) on myocardial injury in a model of sepsis was observed. Forty-eight male Sprague-Daley rats were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and randomly divided into 4 groups (n=12; A: sepsis + EA; B: sepsis + sham acupuncture; C: sepsis + vagotomy; D: sepsis + vagotomy + EA). Bilateral points were stimulated (2mA, 2-100 Hz) for 1 hour. Abdominal vagotomy was performed in groups C and D. At 6h after CLP, the plasma activity of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) was determined. A part of cardiac muscle was harvested for evaluating levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and the rate of water content. The activities of CK-MB, TNF-α, NO, and MPO and the rate of water content in group A were significantly lower than those of the other groups 6h after CLP. EA after vagotomy showed less anti-inflammatory and protective effects. The results indicated that EA obviously reduced the increased levels of the proinflammatory factors at 6h after CLP, and vagotomy could weaken or eliminate the effects of EA. Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is one of the main mechanisms of cardioprotective effect of EA.

Inhibitory Effects of Amentoflavone and Orobol on Daclatasvir-Induced Resistance-Associated Variants of Hepatitis C Virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is recognized as a major causative agent of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite rapid progress in the development of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) against HCV infection in recent years, cost-effective antiviral drugs with more affordable prices still need to be developed. In this study, we screened a library of natural compounds to identify natural HCV inhibitors. The library of the pure compounds extracted from Chinese herbs deposited in the chemical bank of National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine (NRICM), Taiwan was screened in the cell culture-derived HCV (HCVcc) system. We identified the flavone or flavan-based compounds amentoflavone, 7,4[Formula: see text]-dihydroxyflavanone, and orobol with the inhibition of viral entry, replication, and translation of the HCV life cycle. Amentoflavone and orobol also showed inhibitory effects on resistant-associated variants to the NS5A inhibitor daclatasvir. The results of this study have the potential to benefit patients who are intolerant to the adverse effect of pegylated interferon or who harbor resistant strains refractory to treatment by current direct-acting antiviral agents.

[Analyzing Effect of Shenmai Injection on Levels of WBC and Neutrophilic Granulocytes Using Propensity Score Method].

Objective To observe the effect of Shenmai Injection (SI) on levels of white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophilic granulocyte. Methods Case data in Hospital Information System ( HIS) were collected including patients who used SI (as the experimental group) and those who unused SI (as the control group). Data of their WBC and neutrophilic granulocyte in routine blood test were extracted. The bias of confounding factors were balanced based by propensity score matching (PSM). Data were analyzed using X² test. Results The samples after being matched (0. 661 ) was less than the samples before being matched (0. 710). Totally 5 138 cases were successfully matched in the total of 7 256 cases in the control group. There was statistical difference in increased levels of WBC and neutrophilic granulo- cyte between the two groups (X² =10. 312 ,P = 0. 027; X² =14. 228 ,P =0. 013). There was no statistical difference in decreased levels of WBC and neutrophilic granulocyte between the two groups (X² =1. 385, P = 0. 536; X² = 2. 339,P = 0. 126). Conclusion Results based the data of HIS and present research methods showed that SI might have effect on increased levels of WBC and neutrophilic granulocyte, but no effect on their decreased changes.

Acupotomy versus sodium hyaluronate for treatment of knee osteoarthritis in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible advantages of acupotomy over sodium hyaluronate injection for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: Twenty rabbits were divided randomly into four groups (n = 5 in each): a control group, model group, acupotomy group, and sodium hyaluronate injection group. The model, acupotomy, and sodium hyaluronate groups underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection plus partial medial meniscectomy. Sodium hyaluronate injection and acupotomy were administered to the respective groups from weeks 5 to 8, and samples of the tibial plateau and medial condyle of the femur were collected in week 9. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was assessed in cartilage and subchondral bone by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Articular cartilage degeneration was less pronounced in the acupotomy compared with the model and sodium hyaluronate groups. VEGF expression levels in cartilage and subchondral bone were increased in the model group compared with the control group (P < 0.01), and acupotomy had a more pronounced therapeutic effect than sodium hyaluronate injection (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupotomy and sodium hyaluronate injection may both reduce degeneration in the cartilage and subchondral bone in KOA based on the results from a rabbit model, but acupotomy improved the histopathology and reduced the VEGF content more effectively than sodium hyaluronate injection, probably by reducing venous stasis and intraosseous pressure. Acupotomy may improve KOA by lowering VEGF.

Physiological Responses of Two Epiphytic Bryophytes to Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur Addition in a Subtropical Montane Cloud Forest.

Atmospheric depositions pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms are not well understood, and few studies have considered the combined effects and interactions of multiple pollutants. This in situ study explored the physiological responses of two epiphytic bryophytes to combined addition of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. We investigated the electrical conductivity (EC), total chlorophyll concentration (Chl), nutrient stoichiometry and chlorophyll fluorescence signals in a subtropical montane cloud forest in south-west China. The results showed that enhanced fertilizer additions imposed detrimental effects on bryophytes, and the combined enrichment of simulated fertilization exerted limited synergistic effects in their natural environments. On the whole, EC, Chl, the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) and photochemical quenching (qP) were the more reliable indicators of increased artificial fertilization. However, conclusions on nutrient stoichiometry should be drawn cautiously concerning the saturation uptake and nutrient interactions in bryophytes. Finally, we discuss the limitations of prevailing fertilization experiments and emphasize the importance of long-term data available for future investigations.

Effect of ultrasound-guided acupotomy vs electro-acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of acupotomy on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), compared to electro- acupuncture (EA). METHODS: Sixty KOA patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: ultrasound-guided acupotomy group and EA group; each had 3 weeks' therapy. After the treatment, by contrast before and after therapy, by comparing curative effects among groups, we looked into disease improvement degree through activities of daily living score (ADL), hospital for special surgery index (HSS), visual analogue scales score (VAS) and knee joint's infrared thermal imaging detection . RESULTS: Graded by ADL, the excellent rate in acupotomy group was much higher than EA group; both acupotomy group and EA group had obvious changes in HSS index before and after the therapy (P < 0.01). And there was remarkable difference in HSS index variation between the groups (P < 0.01). Acupotomy group and EA group showed big difference in pain index before and after treatment (P < 0.01). Apparent difference also existed in the comparison among groups (P < 0.01). Both acupotomy group and EA group had apparent changes in infrared thermal imaging detection before and after the treatment (P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION: Acupotomy and EA both have significant effects in KOA treatment; the former is better than the latter in relieving pain and improving knee functions.

[Meta-analysis on incidence of adverse drug reaction induced by Shuanghuanglian injection].

To conducted a systematic review on the safety of Shuanghuanglian injection in clinical use. In this paper, data from Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data were retrieved. After extracting information and evaluating research methodological quality according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, Meta-analysis was conducted by using R3.2.3 software. A total of 56 individual studies were included, in which 585 cases showed adverse reactions in a total of 11 001 patients with Shuanghuanglian injections. Meta-analysis showed that the total incidence of adverse reactions was 6.5% (95%CI 0.051 to 0.082). Subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of adverse reactions was 4.8% (95%CI (0.032 to 0.067) and 8.1% (95%CI 0.054 to 0.112) respectively in children and adults; 7.2% (95%CI 0.049 to 0.095) and 6.6% (95%CI 0.036 to 0.104) respectively in 5%-10% glucose injection and 0.9% sodium chloride injection; 6.3% (95%CI 0.047 to 0.082) and 7.0% (95%CI 0.044 to 0.099) respectively in powder injection and liquid injection; 5.8% (95%CI 0.043 to 0.075) and 8.9% (95%CI 0.049 to 0.140) respectively in cases with duration of ≤7 d and >7 d; 4.2%(95%CI 0.027 to 0.059) and 8.4% (95%CI 0.059 to 0.113) respectively in single use and combined medication. Three most frequent types of adverse reaction symptoms reported were in skin and mucosa, digestive system, and body temperature center, with an incidence of 4% (95%CI 0.03 to 0.04), 3% (95%CI 0.02 to 0.03), and 1% (95%CI 0.00 to 0.01), respectively. The systemic evaluation demonstrated that the occurrence of adverse reaction of Shuanghuanglian injection was related to age, menstruum, duration of medication and combined medication. Incidence of adverse reactions differed considerably among different damage types. From the study demonstrated above, this paper concludes that we should follow the principles of evidence-based medication of traditional Chinese medicine; use Shuanghuanglian injection singly instead of combination with other drugs in clinical use; use Shuanghuanglian injection strictly in accordance to instructions, especially for children and the elderly, whose weight should be calculated and considered in medication; intensively monitor the drug adverse reaction after use; assess the risks of adverse effects for long-term usage, and take corresponding safety measures to ensure safety.

[Electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) Alleviates Myocardium Damage in Intestinal Ischemia-reperfusion Rats by Up-regulating Periphery Dopamine Level].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli" (ST 36) on myocardium ischemic damage following intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats. METHODS: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:sham, I/R-1 h, I/R-4 h, EA-I/R-1 h and EA-I/R-4 h (n=6 in each group). The intestinal I/R model was established by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 2-3 mA) was applied to bilateral ST 36 for 30 min. In rats of the sham group, only the stomach was opened. Plasma dopamine (DA) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α contents, and myocardial myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) content were assayed using ELISA, and plasma creastine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenese (LDH) activities were detected using a fully biochemical analyser. Myocardial pathological changes were observed under microscope after H.E. staining. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, plasma DA content was significantly decreased in both I/R-1 h and I/R-4 h groups, while plasma TNF-α content and CK-MB and LDH activities, and myocardial MPO activity and MDA content in both I/R-1 h and I/R-4 h groups were obviously increased (P<0.05). After EA, the decreased plasma DA and the increased plasma TNF-α contents and the increased plasma CK-MB and LDH and myocardial MPO activities and MDA contents in the EA-I/R-1 h and EA-I/R-4 h groups were reversed (P<0.05). The inhibitory rates of EA on myocardial MDA content and MPO activity were 9% and 13% in the EA-I/R-1 h group and 30% and 15% in the EA-I/R-4 h group, respectively, suggesting a better protective effect of EA intervention on myocardium in the EA-I/R-4 h group. CONCLUSIONS: EA of ST 36 has a better protective action on myocardium in intestinal I/R injury rats, which may be related to its effects in up-regulating plasma DA level and down-regulating circulating pro-inflammatory factor TNF-α content, and reducing myocardial oxygen free radicals.

Meta-analysis on incidence of adverse drug reaction induced by Shuanghuanglian injection / 中国中药杂志

To conducted a systematic review on the safety of Shuanghuanglian injection in clinical use. In this paper, data from Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data were retrieved. After extracting information and evaluating research methodological quality according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, Meta-analysis was conducted by using R3.2.3 software. A total of 56 individual studies were included, in which 585 cases showed adverse reactions in a total of 11 001 patients with Shuanghuanglian injections. Meta-analysis showed that the total incidence of adverse reactions was 6.5% (95%CI 0.051 to 0.082). Subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of adverse reactions was 4.8% (95%CI (0.032 to 0.067) and 8.1% (95%CI 0.054 to 0.112) respectively in children and adults; 7.2% (95%CI 0.049 to 0.095) and 6.6% (95%CI 0.036 to 0.104) respectively in 5%-10% glucose injection and 0.9% sodium chloride injection; 6.3% (95%CI 0.047 to 0.082) and 7.0% (95%CI 0.044 to 0.099) respectively in powder injection and liquid injection; 5.8% (95%CI 0.043 to 0.075) and 8.9% (95%CI 0.049 to 0.140) respectively in cases with duration of ≤7 d and >7 d; 4.2%(95%CI 0.027 to 0.059) and 8.4% (95%CI 0.059 to 0.113) respectively in single use and combined medication. Three most frequent types of adverse reaction symptoms reported were in skin and mucosa, digestive system, and body temperature center, with an incidence of 4% (95%CI 0.03 to 0.04), 3% (95%CI 0.02 to 0.03), and 1% (95%CI 0.00 to 0.01), respectively. The systemic evaluation demonstrated that the occurrence of adverse reaction of Shuanghuanglian injection was related to age, menstruum, duration of medication and combined medication. Incidence of adverse reactions differed considerably among different damage types. From the study demonstrated above, this paper concludes that we should follow the principles of evidence-based medication of traditional Chinese medicine; use Shuanghuanglian injection singly instead of combination with other drugs in clinical use; use Shuanghuanglian injection strictly in accordance to instructions, especially for children and the elderly, whose weight should be calculated and considered in medication; intensively monitor the drug adverse reaction after use; assess the risks of adverse effects for long-term usage, and take corresponding safety measures to ensure safety.

[Study on HPLC specific chromatograms of Lu Dangshen].

In this paper, the RP-HPLC specific chromatography was adopted, with DIKMA-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm) as the chromatographic column, with a gradient elution compose of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acid at flow rate of 0.8 mL · min(-1), the detection wavelength was 220 nm. The difference of the HPLC specific chromatograms between the Lu Dangshen and other different base sources and different producing area of Codonopsis Radix was compared, involved in the similarities and differences of the number and the relative peak area of characteristic peaks in the HPLC specific chromatograms. The HPLC specific chromatograms of Lu Dangshen was established and the relative retention times of seven peaks was determined, and the peaks of codonopyrrolidium B, syringin, lobetyolin, tangshenoside I and atractylenoide III were identified; The HPLC specific chromatograms of Lu Dangshen provided a method for scientific evaluation and effective control the quality of Lu Dangshen from Shanxi famous-region.

Decreased brain PME/PDE ratio in bipolar disorder: a preliminary (31) P magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to measure brain phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31) P MRS) metabolite levels and the creatine kinase reaction forward rate constant (kf ) in subjects with bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: Subjects with bipolar euthymia (n = 14) or depression (n = 11) were recruited. Healthy comparison subjects (HC) (n = 23) were recruited and matched to subjects with BD on age, gender, and educational level. All studies were performed on a 3-Tesla clinical magnetic resonance imaging system using a (31) P/(1) H double-tuned volume head coil. (31) P spectra were acquired without (1) H-decoupling using magnetization-transfer image-selected in vivo spectroscopy. Metabolite ratios from a brain region that includes the frontal lobe, corpus callosum, thalamus, and occipital lobe are expressed as a percentage of the total phosphorus (TP) signal. Brain pH was also investigated. RESULTS: Beta-nucleoside-triphosphate (ß-NTP/TP) in subjects with bipolar depression was positively correlated with kf (p = 0.039, r(2) = 0.39); similar correlations were not observed in bipolar euthymia or HC. In addition, no differences in kf and brain pH were observed among the three diagnostic groups. A decrease in the ratio of phosphomonoesters to phosphodiesters (PME/PDE) was observed in subjects with bipolar depression relative to HC (p = 0.032). We also observed a trend toward an inverse correlation in bipolar depression characterized by decreased phosphocreatine and increased depression severity. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, kf was not altered in the euthymic or depressed mood state in BD. However, decreased PME/PDE in subjects with bipolar depression was consistent with differences in membrane turnover. These data provide preliminary support for alterations in phospholipid metabolism and mitochondrial function in bipolar depression.

Electroacupuncture at Zusanli Prevents Severe Scalds-Induced Gut Ischemia and Paralysis by Activating the Cholinergic Pathway.

Severe burn injuries may result in gastrointestinal paralysis, and barrier dysfunction due to gut ischemia and lowered vagus excitability. In this study we investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) could prevent severe scalds-induced gut ischemia, paralysis, and barrier dysfunction and whether the protective role of EA at ST36 is related to the vagus nerve. 35% burn area rats were divided into six groups: (a) EAN: EA nonchannel acupoints followed by scald injury; (b) EA: EA at ST36 after scald injury; (c) VGX/EA: vagotomy (VGX) before EA at ST36 and scald injury; (d) VGX/EAN: VGX before EAN and scald injury; (e) atropine/EA: applying atropine before scald injury and then EA at ST36; (f) atropine/EAN: applying atropine before scald injury and then EA at nonchannel acupoints. EA at the Zusanli point significantly promoted the intestinal impelling ratio and increased the amount of mucosal blood flow after scald injury. The plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) and intestinal permeability decreased significantly after scald injury in the EA group compared with others. However, EA after atropine injection or cervical vagotomy failed to improve intestinal motility and mucosa blood flow suggesting that the mechanism of EA may be related to the activation of the cholinergic nerve pathway.