[Preliminary observation on the clinical application of rehabilitation support for lumbar disc herniation based on 3D printing technology].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the important effect of 3D printing personalized lumbar support on lumbar pain and lumbar function in patients with lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: From October 2018 to May 2021, 60 patients initially diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group, with 30 patients in each group. Among them, there were 18 males and 12 females in the observation group;the age ranged from 24 to 56 years old, with an average of (45.23±6.07) years old. The course of disease ranged from 1 to 24 months, with an average of(6.25±0.82) months, and rehabilitation treatment was carried out by wearing 3D printed personalized lumbar support. There were 19 males and 11 females in the control group;the age ranged from 25 to 57 years old, with an average of (42.78±7.58) years old. The course of disease ranged from 1 to 24 months, with an average of (6.72±1.36) months, and rehabilitation treatment is carried out by wearing traditional lumbar protective equipment. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, lumbar Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were evaluated and compared between the two groups before and 1 course after treatment (3 weeks). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in JOA, ODI, and VAS between two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After one course of treatment (3 weeks), JOA scores of both groups was increased compared to before treatment (P<0.05), while ODI and VAS decreased compared to before treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, JOA score of observation group was higher than that of control group (P<0.05), while ODI and VAS scores were lower than those of control group. No adverse events occurred in both groups. CONCLUSION: The application of 3D printing personalized lumbar support can effectively alleviate the pain of patients with lumbar disc herniation and improve their lumbar function of patients.

[Heat-tonifying acupuncture relieves pain and synovial inflammatory injury by regulating Keap1-Nrf2/ARE/ HO-1 signaling pathway in rabbits with cold syndrome type rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of heat-tonifying needling on Keap1-Nrf2/ARE/HO-1 signal transduction pathway in knee synovium in rabbits with cold syndrome type rheumatoid arthritis (RA), so as to explore its mechanisms underl-ying improvement of RA. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal control, RA model, uniform reinforcing-reducing acupuncture, twisting reinforcing acupuncture and heat-tonifying acupuncture groups, with 6 rabbits in each group. The cold syndrome type RA model was established by subcutaneous injection of mixture fluid of ovalbumin and Freund's complete adjuvant at the shoulder-back as well as injection of mixture of ovalbumin and normal saline into knee-joint cavity combined with ice-compress freezing. Acupuncture stimulation (uniform reinforcing-reducing, or twisting reinforcing or heat-tonifying) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST36) for 1 min with the needle retained for 30 min, once a day for 7 consecutive days. The general conditions of rabbits in each group were recorded, the thermal pain threshold (TPT) and perimeter of knee joints was measured. Conditions of the synovium in the knee cavity, hydrops, blood flow signal, articular surface, and related muscles were observed by using a color Doppler ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the blood flow signals inside the synovium (image scores) were divided into 0 (no signals), I (1 or 2 dot-like signal), II (less than half) ad III (more than half). After H.E. staining, the pathological changes (0-3 points) were assessed according to the state of inflammatory cell infiltration, and hyperplasia of synovial matrix and coating cells. The expression levels of Keap1, Nrf2, HO-1 and GSH-PX1 mRNAs in the knee synovium were detected by quantitative real-time PCR, and the expression of knee synovial HO-1 protein was measured by Western blot. RESULTS: In comparison with the normal control group, the model group had a significant increase in the perimeter, pathological score, expression of Nrf2, HO-1 mRNAs and HO-1 protein (P<0.05), and an obvious decrease in the TPT, expression levels of Keap1 and GSH-PX1 mRNAs (P<0.05). Relevant to the model group, all the three acupuncture maneuvers reversed modeling-induced increase of perimeter and pathological score (P<0.05), decrease of TPT and expression of GSH-PX1 mRNA(P<0.05), further down-regulated expression of Keap1 mRNA (P<0.05), further up-regulated the expression of Nrf2, HO-1 mRNAs and HO-1 protein (P<0.05). The heat-reinforcing manipulation was significantly superior to uniform reinforcing-reducing and twirling reinforcing manipulations in up-regulating TPT, and expression of Nrf2 mRNA, GSH-PX1 mRNA, HO-1 mRNA and protein (P<0.05), and in down-regulating pathological score and Keap1 mRNA expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Heat-tonifying, uniform reinforcing-reducing and twirling reinforcing needling manipulations may relieve pain and improve pathological state in RA rabbits, which may be associated with their functions in raising the ability of anti-oxidative stress by regulating Keap1-Nrf2/ARE/ HO-1 signaling pathway, the therapeutic effect of heat-tonifying needling is superior to that of uniform reinforcing-reducing and twirling reinforcing needling.

Functional characterization, structural basis, and regio-selectivity control of a promiscuous flavonoid 7,4'-di-O-glycosyltransferase from Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa.

A highly efficient and promiscuous 7,4'-di-O-glycosyltransferase ZjOGT3 was discovered from the medicinal plant Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa. ZjOGT3 could sequentially catalyse 4'- and 7-O-glycosylation of flavones to produce 7,4'-di-O-glycosides with obvious regio-selectivity. For 7,4'-dihydroxyl flavanones and 3-O-glycosylated 7,4'-dihydroxyl flavones, ZjOGT3 selectively catalyses 7-O-glycosylation. The crystal structure of ZjOGT3 was solved. Structural analysis, DFT calculations, MD simulations, and site-directed mutagenesis reveal that the regio-selectivity is mainly controlled by the enzyme microenvironment for 7,4'-dihydroxyl flavones and 3-O-glycosylated 7,4'-dihydroxyl flavones. For 7,4'-dihydroxyl flavanones, the selectivity is mainly controlled by intrinsic reactivity. ZjOGT3 is the first plant flavonoid 7,4'-di-O-glycosyltransferase with a crystal structure. This work could help understand the catalytic mechanisms of multi-site glycosyltransferases and provides an efficient approach to synthesise O-glycosides with medicinal potential.

China rheumatoid arthritis registry of patients with Chinese medicine (CERTAIN): Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of the first 11,764 enrollees.

BACKGROUND: Chinese medicine (CM) has become a popular interventional treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, limited knowledge about general characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes hampers the development of CM for RA. PURPOSE: The main objectives of the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) were to describe the population of RA patients receiving CM treatment in multiple centers in China using different variables and compare these findings with internationally reported data. STUDY DESIGN: The CERTAIN is a prospective, multicenter, observational disease registry. METHODS: Adult RA patients who fulfilled the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for RA and received CM treatment were recruited into the CERTAIN by rheumatologists from 145 hospitals across 30 provinces in China. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, comorbidities, treatments, and adverse events, with a 2-year follow-up, were collected and documented using a predefined protocol. RESULTS: In the 2 years since the study began in September 2019, 11,764 patients have been enrolled (enrolment is ongoing), and 13.10% of participants have completed the 6-month follow-up. We present the baseline characteristics of the first 11,764 enrollees. CONCLUSIONS: The CERTAIN is the first nationwide registry to document comprehensive data on CM treatment in patients with RA. The development of the CERTAIN resource is a significant step forward for Chinese RA patients, herbal medicine users, and research communities and will deepen our understanding of CM for RA. REGISTRATION: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05219214).

GuRhaGT, a highly specific saponin 2''-O-rhamnosyltransferase from Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

A highly regio- and donor-specific 2''-O-rhamnosyltransferase GuRhaGT was characterised from the medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza uralensis. GuRhaGT could efficiently catalyse rhamnosylation at 2''-OH of the C-3 glycosyl moiety of triterpenoid saponins.

Functional Characterization and Protein Engineering of a Triterpene 3-/6-/2'-O-Glycosyltransferase Reveal a Conserved Residue Critical for the Regiospecificity.

Engineering the function of triterpene glucosyltransferases (GTs) is challenging due to the large size of the sugar acceptors. In this work, we identified a multifunctional glycosyltransferase AmGT8 catalyzing triterpene 3-/6-/2'-O-glycosylation from the medicinal plant Astragalus membranaceus. To engineer its regiospecificity, a small mutant library was built based on semi-rational design. Variants A394F, A394D, and T131V were found to catalyze specific 6-O, 3-O, and 2'-O glycosylation, respectively. The origin of regioselectivity of AmGT8 and its A394F variant was studied by molecular dynamics and hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. Residue 394 is highly conserved as A/G and is critical for the regiospecificity of the C- and O-GTs TcCGT1 and GuGT10/14. Finally, astragalosides III and IV were synthesized by mutants A394F, T131V and P192E. This work reports biocatalysts for saponin synthesis and gives new insights into protein engineering of regioselectivity in plant GTs.

Dissection of the general two-step di-C-glycosylation pathway for the biosynthesis of (iso)schaftosides in higher plants.

Schaftoside and isoschaftoside are bioactive natural products widely distributed in higher plants including cereal crops and medicinal herbs. Their biosynthesis may be related with plant defense. However, little is known on the glycosylation biosynthetic pathway of these flavonoid di-C-glycosides with different sugar residues. Herein, we report that the biosynthesis of (iso)schaftosides is sequentially catalyzed by two C-glycosyltransferases (CGTs), i.e., CGTa for C-glucosylation of the 2-hydroxyflavanone aglycone and CGTb for C-arabinosylation of the mono-C-glucoside. The two enzymes of the same plant exhibit high homology but remarkably different sugar acceptor and donor selectivities. A total of 14 CGTa and CGTb enzymes were cloned and characterized from seven dicot and monocot plants, including Scutellaria baicalensis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Oryza sativa ssp. japonica, and Zea mays, and the in vivo functions for three enzymes were verified by RNA interference and overexpression. Through transcriptome analysis, we found homologous genes in 119 other plants, indicating this pathway is general for the biosynthesis of (iso)schaftosides. Furthermore, we resolved the crystal structures of five CGTs and realized the functional switch of SbCGTb to SbCGTa by structural analysis and mutagenesis of key amino acids. The CGT enzymes discovered in this paper allow efficient synthesis of (iso)schaftosides, and the general glycosylation pathway presents a platform to study the chemical defense mechanisms of higher plants.

[Effects of the frequency and amount of drip irrigation on yield, tuber quality and water use efficiency of potato in sandy soil of Yulin, northern Shaanxi, China]. / 滴灌频率和灌水量对榆林沙土马铃薯产量、品质和水分利用效率的影响.

Reasonable irrigation is still lacking for potato production in the sandy areas of Yulin, northern Shaanxi Province. To solve this problem, field drip fertigation was conducted to examine the growth, yield and quality of potato during the whole growing season. We further analyzed the responses of these indices to different irrigation frequencies and amounts. There were three irrigation frequencies (d), i.e. 4 (D1), 8 (D2) and 10 (D3), and three irrigation amounts, i.e. 60%ETc (W1), 80%ETc(W2) and 100%ETc(W3), where ETc was the crop water requirement, resulting in a total of nine treatments. Under the same irrigation frequency, plant height, leaf area index, dry matter, tuber yield and economic benefits of W3 were higher than those of W1 and W2. W1 had the highest irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), while water use efficiency was not significantly affected by irrigation amount. The average tuber yield of W3 was 43442 kg·hm-2, which was 23.3% and 11.6% higher than that of W1 and W2, respectively. The net income of W3 was 23492 yuan·hm-2, which was 40.4% and 18.7% higher than that of W1 and W2, respectively. Tubers from W3 had the highest starch and vitamin C contents but the lowest reducing sugar content, which were 14.4%, 18.54 mg·(100 g)-1 FW and 0.7%, respectively. At the same irrigation amount, tuber yield, IWUE, starch and vitamin C contents of D1 were the highest, but the reducing sugar content was the lowest at the low and medium irrigation amounts. At the high irrigation amount, D2 had the highest tuber yield, IWUE, net income, starch and vitamin C contents but the lowest reducing sugar content, which were 46572 kg·hm-2, 23.04 kg·m-3, 26,622 yuan·hm-2,14.6%, 19.53 mg·(100 g)-1 FW and 0.7%, respectively. Based on the interacting effects of drip irrigation frequency and amount, both yield and quality of D2W3 reached the maximum. Results from the principal component analysis showed that D2W3 had the highest score. D2W3(8 d, 100%ETc) had the greatest yield and quality and relatively higher water use efficiency, which was thus considered as the optimal combination of drip irrigation frequency and amount. The results could provide a scientific basis for the drip irrigation scheduling design for high-yield, high-efficiency and high-quality potato production in the sandy areas of Yulin, northern Shaanxi.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of needle-knife for dry mouth and eyes symptoms of primary Sjögren's syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of needle-knife and hydroxychloroquine sulfate in the treatment of dry mouth and eyes symptoms of primary Sjögren's syndrome. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In the observation group, needle-knife was used in the range of 2 cm and 2-3 cm below the occipital protuberance, the left and right lateral bone edges of the C2 spinous process, between and within the range of 1.5-3 cm beside the C3 and C4 spinous processes, points between the left and right mandibular angle and the mastoid, the treatment was given 1 time a week for 8 times. The hydroxychloroquine sulfate was applied 0.2 g each time, 2 times daily, 4 weeks as a course and a total of 2 courses in the control group. The changes of salivary flow rate, tear volume, serum immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, IgM contents and Chinese medicine symptom score were observed before and after treatment in the two groups, and the efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the observation group was 86.7% (26/30), which was better than 70.0% (21/30) in the control group (P<0.05). The salivary flow rates, tear volume, serum IgG contents and Chinese medicine symptom scores in the two groups were significantly improved after treatment (all P<0.05), and the improvement degree in the observation group was better than the control group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in IgA and IgM between the two groups and before and after treatment (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Needle-knife is superior to hydroxychloroquine sulfate in improving dry mouth and eyes symptoms and reducing serum IgG content in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Removal of a broken acupuncture needle in retroperitoneum by laparoscopy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is a famous traditional medicine in China, but the complications caused by broken acupuncture needles have been rarely reported. It seems easy to remove the foreign matters usually, but things become difficulty in special issues. Here, we reported a recently encountered case to provide an important teaching point of treating a chronically retained broken needle in retroperitoneum. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old man presented with a chronically retained broken needle in his body after acupuncture therapy two years ago. However, due to the discomfort at the left back recently and ordinary inconvenience such as security check, he came to our hospital for minimally invasive surgery. He was introduced to our department because the broken needle had migrated from subcutaneous to adipose tissue in retroperitoneum during the two years. Considering the position of the broken needle, the patient was performed by laparoscopy in general anesthesia. The operation time was about 31 min and there were only three 7 mm incisions in the left lateral abdominal wall. The X-ray exam was performed to confirm that the broken needle was removed integrally. The patients begun normal activity at 6 h after surgery and was discharged on the second day after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture is widely used for pain treatment in China, but how to handle the complication of acupuncture needle broken in body are rarely reported. Laparoscopy will be the reasonable choice for treating needles broken in retroperitoneum.

[Meta-analysis of needle-knife treatment on cervical spondylosis].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of cervical spondylosis by needle-knife treatment according to the correlated literature of RCT,to compare advantages of needle-knife treatment. METHODS: Randomized Controlled Trials about needle-knife treatment of cervical spondylosis were indexed from Chinese HowNet (CNKI) and Wanfang (WF) from 2000 to 2012, then were analyzed the efficacy by Review Manager 5.1 software. RESULTS: A total of 13 RCT literatures and 1 419 patients were included. The methods of included studies were poor in quality evaluation because of large sample and multi-center RCT studies was lacked, randomization method was not accurate enough, diagnostic criteria and efficacy evaluation were various, only four studies described long-term efficacy, most of the literature didn't describe the adverse event and fall off,all studies did not use the blind method. The Meta analysis outcome showed overall efficiency of needle-knife therapy was better than acupuncture and traction. Needle-knife therapy compared with Acupuncture, the total RR = 0.19, 95% confidence interval was (0.15, 0.24), P < 0.000.01. Compared with traction therapy the total RR = 1.30, 95% confidence intervalwas (1.18,1.42), P < 0.00001. CONCLUSION: Compared with acupuncture therapy,the overall effectiveness of needle-knife therapy is higher;compared with traction therapy, although,needle-knife therapy has a high overall effectiveness, but because of the loss of total sample size, the outcome RCT researches to confirm.

[Parkinson's disease combined with depression treated with electroacupuncture and medication and its effect on serum BDNF].

OBJECTIVE: To verify the efficacy on Parkinson's disease combined with depression treated with electroacupuncture and medication and to explore the therapeutic mechanism. METHODS: Sixty cases of Parkinson's disease combined with depression were randomized into an acupuncture + medication group and a medication group, 30 cases in each one. The conventional therapeutic program of oral administration of madopar and fluoxetine was applied in both groups. In the acupuncture + medication group, on the basic treatment as the above, electroacupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Taichong (LR 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. The level of the serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the score of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) were observed and compared before treatment and after 3 months of treatment. The efficacy was assessed in two groups. RESULTS: The level of BDFN was improved significantly after treatment as compared with that before treatment in two groups (both P < 0.05) and the result in the acupuncture + medication group was superior to the medication group (P < 0.05). HAMD scores were reduced significantly after treatment as compared with those before treatment in two groups (both P < 0.05) and the result in the acupuncture + medication group was superior to the medication group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 90.0% (27/30) in the acupuncture + medication group, which was better than 83.3% (25/30) in the medication group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The combined therapy of electroacupuncture and medication achieves the significant efficacy on Parkinson's disease combined with depression. This therapy regulates effectively serum BDNF level, relieves depression symptoms of the patients. The efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with medication is superior to the simple medication.

[Application and effect of auricular acupoint pressing for analgesia in perioperative period of total knee joint replacement].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of auricular acupoint pressing (AAP) for analgesia during perioperative period of total knee joint replacement. METHODS: Sixty patients with osteoarthritis of ASA grade I - III scheduled to receive unilateral total knee joint replacement were equally randomized into the AAP group and the control group, 30 in each group. The general anesthesia on all patients was implemented by physicians of an identical group through endotracheal intubation. To the patients in the AAP group, AAP with Vaccaria seed was applied before operation, and the local analgesia on affected limb with acupoint pasting was used after operation. Besides, administering of celecoxib 400 mg on the day before operation, and celecoxib 200 mg twice daily post-operation was given to all patients. When the visual analogue scales (VAS) reached more than 7 points, 0.1 g of bucinnazine hydrochloride was given for supplement. Meantime, same post-operative training methods were adopted in both groups. The resting VAS pain scores, contentment of sedation, incidence of adverse event, postoperative range of motion (ROM) of knee joint and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score were recorded. RESULTS: The resting VAS pain scores at 6 h and 24 h after operation was 5.99 +/- 0.67 scores and 4.26 +/- 0.59 scores in the AAP group respectively, which was significantly lower than that in the control group at the corresponding time (7.02 +/- 0.85 scores and 4.92 +/- 0.43 scores, P < 0.01); but it showed insignificant difference between the two groups at 1 h and 48 h after operation (P > 0.05); sedation contentment in the two groups was similar; incidence of adverse event in the AAP groups seemed lower (4 cases vs. 11 cases), but the intergroup difference was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). ROM before surgery were 75.63 degrees +/- 5.74 degrees and 75.43 degrees +/- 5.63 degrees in the two groups respectively, showing no significant difference (P > 0.05), two weeks after operation, the initiative ROM raised to 96.50 degrees +/- 3.79 degrees and 93.50 degrees +/- 3.50 degrees, and the passive ROM reached 107.8 degrees +/- 3.37 degrees and 105.27 degrees +/- 3.25 degrees in the two groups respectively, with statistical significance between them (P < 0.05). HSS score was similar between groups before operation (60.23 +/- 3.44 scores vs. 61.70 +/- 2.83 scores, P > 0.05); while it became 86.97 +/- 2.33 scores and 85.37 +/- 2.30 scores after operation, showing significant difference between groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Applying auricular acupoint pressing in perioperative period of knee joint replacement is favorable for alleviating postoperative pain, decreasing narcotic consumption, and promoting early rehabilitation, and it has the advantages of low cost, less complication, simple manipulation and high safety.

5-Fluorouracil concentration in blood, liver and tumor tissues and apoptosis of tumor cells after preoperative oral 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: To study the levels of 5-fluorouracail (5-FU) in plasma, liver and tumor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after oral administration of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR). METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with oral 5'-DFUR for more than 4 d before operation. The contents of 5-FU in plasma, liver and tumor were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and apoptosis of tumor cells was evaluated by in-situ TUNEL after resection of tumor. RESULTS: The concentrations of 5-FU were 1.1 mug/mL, 5.6, 5.9, and 10.5 mug/g in plasma, the liver tissue, the center of tumor and the periphery of tumor, respectively. 5-FU concentration was significantly higher in the periphery of tumor than that in the liver tissue and the center of tumor (10.5+/-1.6 mug/g vs 5.6+/-0.8 mug/g, t = 21.38, P<0.05; 10.5+/-1.6 mug/g vs 5.9+/-0.9 mug/g, t = 20.07, P<0.05). 5-FU level was significantly lower in plasma than that in the liver and the tumor (1.1+/-0.3 mug/mL vs 5.6+/-0.8 mug/g, t = 19.63, P<0.05; 1.1+/-0.3 mug/mL vs 10.5+/-1.6 mug/g, t = 41.01, P<0.05). Apoptosis of tumor cells was significantly increased after oral 5'-DFUR compared to the control group without 5'-DFUR treatment. CONCLUSION: There is a higher concentration of 5-FU distributed in the tumor compared with liver tissue and apoptosis of tumor cells is increased following oral 5'-DFUR compared with the control group. The results indicate that 5'-DFUR is hopeful as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy to prevent recurrence after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

[An experimental study on distribution of musk into the brain through blood brain barrier].

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible pathway of the effect of musk on brain disorder, distributing into the brain through blood brain barrier. METHODS: We used the musk ketone (muscone), a main composition of musk, to inject through the tail vein of the rats into the blood and took the brain and other organs at different times to make samples. Then gas chromatography was used to measure the distribution of muscone in the brain and other organs. RESULTS: Muscone could pass through the normal rat's blood brain barrier into the brain and soon reached the highest peak and remained in higher concentration, and more slowly metabolized as compared with other organs. CONCLUSION: Musk distributing into the brain through blood brain barrier provides the basis for its effect in treating brain disorders. Chromatography is an effective method to study the active composition of Chinese herbal medicine distributing through the blood brain barrier into the brain.

A Chinese herbal medicine Ermiao wan reduces serum uric acid level and inhibits liver xanthine dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase in mice.

Ermiao wan, which is composed of phellodendri cortex and atractylodis rhizome, is described as eliminating heat, excreting dampness and anti-edema prescription in traditional Chinese medical literatures including Danxi's Experiences in Medicine and State Pharmacopoeia of People's Republic of China. So it is being used clinically in the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia in China. In the present study, the water extracts of Ermiao wan and phellodendri cortex at 840 and 480 mg/kg/day orally for 7 days were demonstrated to possess in vivo potent hypouricemic effects both in hyperuricemic mice pretreated with oxonate and in normal mice, respectively. In the hyperuricemic animals, the effect of Ermiao wan was equal to that of the reference drug allopurinol (at 10 mg/kg/day orally for 7 days), but in the normal mice, the former was weaker than latter. In addition, both Ermiao wan and phellodendri cortex were found to have in vivo relatively inhibitory effects on mouse liver xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities at the same dose described above. These inhibitory effects were weaker than that observed for allopurinol. Atractylodis rhizome at 340 mg/kg/day orally for 7 days did not show any effects on the above experiments. These results suggested that atractylodis rhizomes assisted and enhanced the effect of phellodendri cortex on reduction of serum uric acid level in hyperuricemic mice, and hypouricemic effects of Ermiao wan and phellodendri cortex may be achieved by other mechanism partly instead of the XDH and XO inhibition.

[Effects of aqueous extract in herba of Lysimachia christinae on hyperuricemia in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study hypouricemic effect of aqueous extract of Lysimachia christinae on hyperuricemia in mice. METHOD: The uricase inhibitor potassium oxonate was used to induce hyperuricemia in mice, and serum uric acid level was determined with the phosphotungstic acid method. RESULT: The aqueous extract of Lysimachia christinae, when administered orally to the oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice at the doses of 5.2, 10.4 and 20.8 g.kg-1, was able to elicit dose-dependent hypouricemic effects. At these doses of the extract, the serum urate levels of the oxonate-pretreated mice showed no difference from the normal mice. In normal mice, however, oral administration of the extract at the same doses did not produce any observable hypouricemic effects. CONCLUSION: The aqueous extract of Lysimachia christinae possesses potent hypuricemic effects on models of hyperuricemia in mice pretreated with oxonate.