Explore the effects of Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang on Alzheimer's disease by UPLC-QTOF/MS-based plasma metabolomics study.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with neither definitive pathogenesis nor effective treatment method so far. Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT) is a classic formula of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) proven to have ameliorative effects on learning and memory deficits of dementia. Morris water maze (MWM) test and pathology analysis have demonstrated that HLJDT could ameliorate learning and memory deficits in AD mouse model, which may act via its anti-neuroinflammation properties. According to our previous studies, an UPLC-QTOF/MS-based metabolomics approach was performed to explore the potential mechanisms of HLJDT on preventing AD. As a result, a total of 23 potential metabolites (VIP >1, |Pcorr| >0.58, CUFjk excludes 0, P < 0.05) contributing to AD progress were identified. The metabolic pathway analysis with MetPA revealed that glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism and tryptophan metabolism were disturbed in mouse model of AD. After HLJDT treatment, 14 metabolites were restored back to the control-like levels.

Statin Use Reduces Prostate Cancer All-Cause Mortality: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Studies have suggested that statin use is related to cancer risk and prostate cancer mortality. We conducted a population-based cohort study to determine whether using statins in prostate cancer patients is associated with reduced all-cause mortality rates. Data were obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The study cohort comprised 5179 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer who used statins for at least 6 months between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2010. To form a comparison group, each patient was randomly frequency-matched (according to age and index date) with a prostate cancer patient who did not use any type of statin-based drugs during the study period. The study endpoint was mortality. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using Cox regression models. Among prostate cancer patients, statin use was associated with significantly decreased all-cause mortality (adjusted HR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.60-0.71). This phenomenon was observed among various types of statin, age groups, and treatment methods. Analyzing the defined daily dose of statins indicated that both low- and high-dose groups exhibited significantly decreased death rates compared with nonusers, suggesting a dose-response relationship. The results of this population-based cohort study suggest that using statins reduces all-cause mortality among prostate cancer patients, and a dose-response relationship may exist.

Higher risk for meningioma in women with uterine myoma: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.

OBJECT: Evidence suggests that hormones play a role in modifying both uterine myoma (UM) and meningioma. A number of studies have observed the positive association between these diseases. The aim of the current population-based study was to determine if women with UM are at a higher risk for meningioma. METHODS: The authors used data from the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan for the study. The UM cohort contained 281,244 women. Each woman was randomly frequency-matched with 4 women without UM, based on age, index year of diagnosis, occupation, urbanization (urbanization level was categorized by the population density of the residential area into 4 levels, with Level 1 as the most urbanized and Level 4 as the least urbanized), and comorbidity, to form the control cohort. Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis was conducted to estimate the influence of UM on the meningioma risk. RESULTS: Among women with UM, the risk of developing meningioma was significantly higher (45%) than among women without UM (95% CI 1.23-1.70). The same phenomenon was observed among most age groups, but a significant difference was only seen in the middle-age range. For women with UM, further analysis did not show a significant change after myomectomy. The cumulative incidence of meningioma between groups with and without UM differed over time. CONCLUSIONS: The nationwide population-based cohort study found that Taiwanese women with UM are at higher risk for developing meningioma.

Risk of prostate and bladder cancers in patients with spinal cord injury: a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of prostate and bladder cancers in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data obtained from the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan for this study. The SCI cohort contained 54,401 patients with SCI, and each patient was randomly frequency matched with 4 people from the general population (without SCI) based on age, sex, and index date. Incidence rates, SCI cohort to non-SCI cohort rate ratios, and hazard ratios were measured to evaluate the cancer risks. RESULTS: Patients with SCI showed a significantly lower risk of developing prostate cancer compared with subjects without SCI (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.73; 95% confidence interval = 0.59, 0.90), after accounting for the competing risk of death. No significant difference in the risk of bladder cancer emerged between the SCI and control groups. Further analyses found a higher spinal level of SCI tended to predict a lower risk for prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SCI incurred a lower risk for prostate cancer compared with people without SCI. The risk for bladder cancer did not differ between people with or without SCI.

New anti-HBV caryophyllane-type sesquiterpenoids from Euphorbia humifusa Willd.

Activity-guided fractionation of Euphorbia humifusa for anti-HBV activity led to the isolation of two novel sesquiterpenoids, named humifusane A (1) and humifusane B (2). Their structures were elucidated by spectral data to show that they have a caryophyllane-type precursor structure. The two new sesquiterpenoids showed anti-HBV activities through specifically inhibiting the secretion of HBsAg in HepG2.2.15.

Anti-HBV active flavone glucosides from Euphorbia humifusa Willd.

Thirteen flavone glucosides from the herb of Euphorbia humifusa were isolated and elucidated. Among them, five compounds including apigenin-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), apigenin-7-O-(6''-O-galloyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), luteolin-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (7), luteolin-7-O-(6''-O-trans-feruloyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (8) and luteolin-7-O-(6''-O-coumaroyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (9) showed anti-HBV activity in vitro. The structure-activity relationship showed that the parent structure was closely relevant to the anti-HBV activity of these compounds (agigenin>luteolin>quercetin). It was found that the number of glucoside in the structure may significantly influence their activities (flavone monoglucoside>flavone diglucoside) and cytotoxicity (flavone>flavone monoglucoside>flavone diglucoside). In addition, the substitution of acyl group on glucoside may be important to keep the anti-HBV activities of these compounds (galloyl>feruloyl>coumaroyl).

[Optimization of preparative separation and purification of water-soluble substance from Salvia miltiorrhiza by macroporous resins].

OBJECTIVE: To study the optimum conditions for the isolation and purification of water-soluble substance from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. METHODS: The optimum macroporous resin was selected and the separation and purification process was evaluated by measuring the content of Salvianolic acid B in the fractions by HPLC. RESULTS: The XDA-5 macroporous resin was the most effective compared with other macroporous resins. The optimum conditions were screened, which were 18 mg/ml corresponding to Salvianolic acid B for concentration of extract, pH was 4, and the volume of 70% (V/V) ethanol as eluant was 3 BV. By this method, the elution efficiency of Salvianolic acid B exceeded 90%. CONCLUSION: The method is more effective for large-scale isolation and purification of water-soluble substance from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.

[Effects of electroacupuncture of low frequency on heroin-seeking behavior and FosB protein expression in relative brain regions].

OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of electroacupuncture (EA) of low frequency on heroin-seeking behavior and FosB protein expression in relative brain regions so as to explore the mechanism of EA. METHODS: Rat model of relapsing into heroin was established with progressive fixed ratio program, and model rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a "Sanyinjiao" needle-retention control group, a low frequency and weak EA group, and a low frequency and strong EA group. Heroin-seeking behavior was elicited by conditional clue and small dose of heroin; FosB protein expression was investigated with immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: After treatment, the heroin-seeking behavior induced by conditional clue decreased in the needle-retention control group and the weak EA group, and the heroin-seeking behavior induced by small dose of heroin in the weak EA group significantly reduced as compared with the control group, and FosB protein expression in the nucleus accumbens septi, globus pallidus, basolateral amygdaloid nucleus significantly decreased in the weak EA group, and did not significantly change in the strong EA group; the activity induced by heroin increased as compared with those in the control group and the weak EA group. CONCLUSION: EA of low frequency and low intensity can cure the heroin-seeking behavior, which is correlated with regulating nervous adaptation of nucleus accumbens septi, basolateral amygdaloid nucleus, etc..

[Effects of Ailing Granule on immuno-reconstruction in HIV/AIDS patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible mechanism of Ailing Granule (AG, a Chinese herbal preparation for nourishing Qi and activating blood circulation) in intervening HIV/AIDS. METHODS: Twenty-one HIV/AIDS patients were orally administered with AG (mainly composed of Fructus Ligustri lucidi, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Astragalus and Eupolyphaga et polyphage) by 20g, twice a day for 4 months. Their symptoms and signs were scored, T cell subgroup (CD3, CD4, CD8) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) were detected with flow-cytometry, and viral load determined with RT-PCR, as well as some indexes for safety evaluation, including ALT, Cr and BW were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the symptom and sign score of patients lowered, among them the scores of fatigue, anorexia, spontaneous sweating and skin rash reduced with difference statistically (P < 0.05); the total effective rate was 61.9%; CD4 count and IL-2 level increased from 308.29 +/- 150.66/microl and 13.19 +/- 5.93 ng/L to 336.50 +/- 148.94/micro1 and 15.14 +/- 5.14 ng/L respectively( P < 0.05); while the viral load lowered but showed no significant difference. All the indexes of safety measured kept unwavering during treatment(P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: AG could significantly alleviate the symptoms of HIV/AIDS patients, improve their immune function, inhibit HIV reproduction to a certain extent or keep it stable. No obvious toxic or adverse reaction was seen.