The anti-colorectal cancer effect and metabolites of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. (Rosaceae, A. pilosa) has been used in traditional medicine in China, Japan, Korea, and other Asian countries for treatment of acute and chronic enteritis and diarrhea. Secondary metabolites have been isolated and tested for biological activities. It remains unclear in terms of its potential components of anti-colorectal cancer properties. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to how extracts from A. pilosa and their components influenced tumor microenvironment and the colorectal tumor growth in vivo on AOM/DSS induced colorectal cancer mice, the metabolites of A. pilosa was also been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different methods have been used to extract different parts of A. pilosa. And the anti-proliferation effect of these extracts on colon cancer cells have been tested. The components of A. pilosa and its metabolites in vivo were analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. The anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) effects of A. pilosa and its components in vivo were studied on AOM/DSS induced CRC mice. The effects of constituents of A. pilosa on the composition of immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) were analyzed by flow cytometry. 16 S rDNA technology was used to analyze the effect of administration on the composition of intestinal microflora. Pathological section staining was used to compare the morphological changes and molecular expression of intestinal tissue in different groups. RESULTS: The constituent exists in root of A. pilosa showed the strongest anti-proliferation ability on colon cancer cells in vitro. The extract from the root of A. pilosa could attenuate the occurrence of colorectal tumors induced by AOM/DSS in a concentration-dependent manner. Administration of the extract from the root of A. pilosa could affect the proportion of γδT cells, tumor associated macrophages and myeloid derived suppressor cells in TME, increasing the proportion of anti-tumor immune cells and decrease the immunosuppressive cells in the TME to promote the anti-tumor immune response. The administration of the extract adjusted the composition of gut microbiota and its components Agrimoniin and Agrimonolide-6-o-glucoside showed the strongest anti-CRC effect in vivo with adjusting the gut microbiota differently. CONCLUSIONS: The extract from root of A. pilosa showed anti-colorectal cancer effects in vivo and in vitro, affecting the composition of gut microbiota and the anti-tumor immune response. Within all components of A. pilosa, Agrimoniin and Agrimonolide-6-o-glucoside showed remarkable anti-CRC efficiency in vivo and in vitro. Besides, the metabolites of extract from root of A. pilosa in gastrointestinal tract mainly composed of two parts: Agrimonolide-related metabolites and Urolithins. The extract from root of A. pilosa could contribute to potential drugs for assisting clinical anti-colon cancer therapy.

Danhong Injection Up-regulates miR-125b in Endothelial Exosomes and Attenuates Apoptosis in Post-Infarction Myocardium.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of endothelial cells (ECs)-derived exosomes in the anti-apoptotic effect of Danhong Injection (DHI) and the mechanism of DHI-induced exosomal protection against postinfarction myocardial apoptosis. METHODS: A mouse permanent myocardial infarction (MI) model was established, followed by a 14-day daily treatment with DHI, DHI plus GW4869 (an exosomal inhibitor), or saline. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-induced ECs-derived exosomes were isolated, analyzed by miRNA microarray and validated by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). The exosomes induced by DHI (DHI-exo), PBS (PBS-exo), or DHI+GW4869 (GW-exo) were isolated and injected into the peri-infarct zone following MI. The protective effects of DHI and DHI-exo on MI hearts were measured by echocardiography, Masson's trichrome staining, and TUNEL apoptosis assay. The Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate the expression levels of miR-125b/p53-mediated pathway components, including miR-125b, p53, Bak, Bax, and caspase-3 activities. RESULTS: DHI significantly improved cardiac function and reduced infarct size in MI mice (P<0.01), which was abolished by the GW4869 intervention. DHI promoted the exosomal secretion in ECs (P<0.01). According to the results of exosomal miRNA microarray assay, 30 differentially expressed miRNAs in the DHI-exo were identified (28 up-regulated miRNAs and 2 down-regulated miRNAs). Among them, DHI significantly elevated miR-125b level in DHI-exo and DHI-treated ECs, a recognized apoptotic inhibitor impeding p53 signaling (P<0.05). Remarkably, treatment with DHI and DHI-exo attenuated apoptosis, elevated miR-125b expression level, inhibited capsase-3 activity, and down-regulated the expression levels of proapoptotic effectors (p53, Bak, and Bax) in post-MI hearts, whereas these effects were blocked by GW4869 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: DHI and DHI-induced exosomes inhibited apoptosis, promoted the miR-125b expression level, and regulated the p53 apoptotic pathway in post-infarction myocardium.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial to evaluate efficacy and safety of Shen-Yuan-Dan capsules, a traditional Chinese medicine, for treatment of peri-procedure myocardial injury following percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Peri-procedural myocardial injury (PMI) is a common complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), which cannot be entirely avoided using available treatments. The findings of earlier research have shown that Shen-Yuan-Dan (SYD) capsules, a traditional Chinese medicine, can potentially alleviating PMI. This study aimed to confirm further this hypothesis in a rigorous, well-designed randomized controlled study. METHODS: Our clinical trial was randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled. A total of 181 patients with unstable angina (UA) undergoing elective PCI were randomized to pretreatment with SYD or a placebo under the basis of conventional treatment; 87 patients were pretreated with SYD (4 capsules, 3 times a day, with a further 4 capsules 2 h before PCI) 3 days before the procedure, and 94 patients were given a placebo. No patients received reloading statins before PCI, and SYD or placebo was maintained for 1 month after PCI. The primary endpoint was the incidence of PMI. The secondary endpoint was calculating the incidence rate of all 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, unplanned revascularization). The safety outcomes, including abnormalities in electrocardiogram and serum biochemical examinations caused by drug use, were also tested. RESULTS: The levels of creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) in both the SYD and placebo groups were increased at 4 h and 24 h after PCI compared with before the procedure (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of PMI in the SYD group (10.3 %) was lower than that in the placebo group (34 %) (absolute difference, 23.7 % [95 % CI, 11.7-34.8 %], P < 0.01). After taking SYD, the relative risk reduction (RRR) and absolute risk reduction (ARR) were 69.7 % and 24.3 %, respectively; further, number needed to treat (NNT) was 4.2. The 30-day major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) rate was not statistically different between the SYD and placebo groups (6.9 % vs. 9.6 %, P = 0.352). There were no abnormal situations during the trial. CONCLUSION: These findings showed that pretreatment with SYD could safely reduce the incidence rate of PMI in patients with UA undergoing elective PCI. Further study on the effects of SYD and how it can improve adverse cardiovascular events outcomes is needed.

Relationship Between Intestinal Flora and Bone and Joint Diseases and Regulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Intestinal flora is the largest microbial community in human body， which consists of more than 1 000 species. Its structure and metabolites change dynamically with the age， diet and intestinal environment of the host. Study shows that the intestinal microbes play a pivotal role in regulating human physiological and pathological processes， and intestinal flora imbalance may be the key factors affecting the occurrence and development of bone and joint diseases， including osteoporosis， osteoarthritis， rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis. At present， calcitonin， estrogen， nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs， immunosuppressants， xanthine oxidase inhibitors and other western drugs are mostly used to treat the above diseases. However， long-term use of western drugs leads to poor compliance and obvious gastrointestinal adverse reactions among patients. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） predominates in the treatment of bone and joint diseases due to its low price， high efficacy and slight side effects， with the advantages of multi-targets， multi-mechanism and multi-levels. In recent years， many scholars have carried out experiments and clinical studies on the treatment of bone and joint diseases by TCMs on the basis of the liver and kidney theory such as "tonifying liver and kidney and strengthening muscles and bones". Gratifying results have been achieved. However， the mechanism of action has not been fully clarified. Intestinal flora becomes a hot spot in medical research， and a close relationship between intestinal flora and bone and joint diseases has been unveiled. Relevant literature in China and abroad showed that TCM has a significant effect on the treatment of bone and joint diseases by regulating intestinal flora. In this paper， the relationship between intestinal flora and bone and joint diseases was summarized and the intervention of TCM active ingredients and compounds on intestinal flora was reviewed to facilitate the prevention and treatment of bone and joint diseases by TCM.

Effects of Danhong Injection () on Peri-Procedural Myocardial Injury and Microcirculatory Resistance in Patients with Unstable Angina Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Pilot Randomized Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Danhong Injection (, DH) on the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and myocardial injury in patients with unstable angina undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with unstable angina were randomly divided into DH group (39 cases) and the control group (39 cases) during elective PCI. Randomization was performed using a random-number table. The DH group received DH at a dosage of 40 mL (mixed with 250 mL saline, covered by a light-proof bag, intravenous drip) during PCI and daily for 7 consecutive days, while the control group only received the same dosage of saline. Both groups received standardized treatment. The IMR and fractional flow reserve (FFR) were measured at maximal hyperemia before and after PCI. Myocardial markers, including myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), and coronary troponin T (cTnT) values were measured at baseline and 24 h after PCI. RESULTS: Among the 78 patients enrolled, the baseline and procedural characteristics were similar between the two groups. There was no significant difference in pre-PCI myocardial markers and coronary physiological indexes between the two groups. However, post-PCI CK and CK-MB levels in the DH group were significantly lower than those in the control group (111.97 ± 80.97 vs. 165.47 ± 102.99, P=0.013; 13.08 ± 6.90 vs. 19.75 ± 15.49, P=0.016). Post-PCI myoglobin and cTNT-positive tend to be lower in the DH group than in the control group but did not reach statistical significance (88.07 ± 52.36 vs. 108.13 ± 90.94, P=0.52; 2.56% vs.7.69%, P=0.065). Compared with the control group, the post-IMR levels of the DH group tended to decrease, but there was no statistical difference (20.73 ± 13.15 vs. 26.37 ± 12.31, P=0.05). There were no statistical differences in post-FFR in both groups. The peri-procedural myocardial injury of the DH group was significantly lower than that of the control group (2.56% vs. 15.38%, P=0.025). During the 30-d follow-up period, no major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in either group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated benefit of DH in reducing myocardial injury and potential preserving microvascular function in patients with unstable angina undergoing elective PCI.

Effect of Danhong Injection () on Improving Coronary Microcirculation Injury after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of Danhong Injection () on improving microcirculatory injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted and 90 patients were enrolled. A random sequence was generated using statistical analysis software. Patients with microcirculatory injuries after PCI were randomly divided into 3 groups for treatment (30 subjects in each group): Danhong Injection group: after PCI, Danghong Injections were given with intravenous administration with 40 mL twice a day for a week; statins intensive group: after PCI, atorvastatin calcium tablets were given oral medication with 80 mg once, and then atorvastatin 40 mg daily for 1 week; the control group: after PCI, atorvastatin calcium tablets were given oral medication with 10-20 mg daily for 1 week. The index of microcirculation resistance (IMR) was used to assess microcirculatory injury during PCI. The IMR of the target vessel was reexamined after 1 week of drug treatment. RESULTS: After one week's drug treatment, IMR was significantly decreased in both statins intensive group and Danhong Injection group compared with the control group (P<0.01), but no difference was found between statins intensive group and Danhong injection group (14.03 ± 2.54 vs. 16.03 ± 5.72 U, P=0.080). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of Danhong Injection is non-inferior to statin. Early use of Danhong Injection after PCI can effectively improve coronary microcirculation injury after PCI.

Acute Myocardial Infarction in Chinese Medicine Hospitals in China from 2006 to 2013: An Analysis of 2311 Patients from Hospital Data.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the trends in characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients in tertiary Chinese medicine (CM) hospitals in China between 2006 and 2013. METHODS: This retrospective study was based on two nationwide epidemiological surveys of AMI in tertiary CM hospitals during 2 years (2006 and 2013). Patients admitted to the hospital for AMI were enrolled. Hospital records were used as the data source. Case data were derived regarding baseline characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of patients to assess changes from 2006 to 2013. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between prognosis, general influencing factors of disease, and various treatment measures. RESULTS: Totally 26 tertiary CM hospitals in 2006 and 29 tertiary CM hospitals in 2013 (18 were repetitive) were surveyed. A total of 2,311 patients with AMI were enrolled (1,094 cases in 2006 and 1,217 cases in 2013). From 2006 to 2013, the mean age did not significantly change, but the proportion of patients younger than 65 years increased. The prevalence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia also increased. Significant increases were observed in primary percutaneous coronary intervention [20.48% (2006) vs. 24.90% (2013)] and revascularization [36.11% (2006) vs. 52.42% (2013)]. In-hospital mortality decreased from 11.15% in 2006 to 10.60% in 2013. A mortality logistic regression analysis identified reperfusion therapy [odds ratio (OR), 0.222; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.106-0.464], Chinese patent medicines (OR, 0.394; 95% CI, 0.213-0.727), and CM decoctions (OR, 0.196; 95% CI, 0.109-0.353) as protective factors. CONCLUSION: Reperfusion and revascularization capabilities of tertiary CM hospitals have improved significantly, but in-hospital mortality has not significantly decreased. Efforts are needed to improve medical awareness of AMI and expand the use of CM to reduce in-hospital mortality in China.

Role of Cytokines in Osteoporosis and Intervention with Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Osteoporosis （OP） is one of the most common diseases in the aged population worldwide. Due to the rapid change in world population structure， the effective prevention and treatment of OP is increasingly becoming the health problem of global concern and also the hot spot of clinical research. OP can be affected by many factors such as heredity， endocrine dyscrasia， nutritional deficiency， and bad living habits. The breakdown of coupling of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption to osteoblast-mediated bone formation leads to stronger bone resorption than bone formation， which is currently recognized as the main pathogenesis of OP. The exploration of OP in modern medicine based on molecular immunology has revealed that related cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of OP，and regulating the osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and osteoblast-mediated bone formation is essential for controlling the occurrence and development of OP. Tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） are able to stimulate bone formation and inhibit osteoblast function， thus playing a key role in bone destruction. By contrast， such cytokines as vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， bone morphogenetic protein （BMP）， and osteoprotegerin （OPG） strengthen osteoblast differentiation and promote bone formation. At present， western medicine like calcitonin， estrogen， and bisphosphonate are mostly used for clinical treatment of OP， but a long-term use of these drugs will result in poor compliance and obvious gastrointestinal adverse reactions. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） occupies an important position in the treatment of OP due to its advantages of overall regulation， low price， and few side effects. In addition， with the deepening of research on network pharmacology and molecular biology， it has been found that TCM exerts the therapeutic effect against OP by interfering with the expression of various cytokines and adjusting bone homeostasis. This paper has elaborated the role of related cytokines in the pathogenesis of OP and reviewed the research results concerning the regulation of related cytokines by TCM， in order to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of OP with TCM.

Polymorphisms of genes related to vitamin D metabolism and transportation and its relationship with the risk of osteoporosis: protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study in China.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporotic fracture is one of the most common causes of disability and a major contributor to medical care costs in many regions of the world. The polymorphisms of genes related to vitamin D metabolism and transportation are associated with variation in bone mineral density and the risk of osteoporosis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The China Community-based Cohort of Osteoporosis study is an observational, longitudinal, multicentre, prospective cohort study for middle-aged and older permanent residents of China, which has been ongoing in six cities since 2016. Female residents aged 45-80 years old and male residents aged 50-80 years old are identified through permanent resident lists. All the enrolled participants will complete questionnaires on their personal characteristics and histories. The bone mineral density of their lumbar vertebrae and left hip will be measured and serum bone metabolism parameters assessed. Polymorphisms of genes related to vitamin D metabolism and transportation will be detected, and their relationship with the risk of osteoporosis, and osteoporotic fracture, will be analysed. About 18 000 residents will be involved in the study. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by Institutional Ethics Board of Longhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2016LCSY065). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. The results of this study are expected to improve the understanding of the association between polymorphisms of genes related to vitamin D metabolism and transportation and the risk of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture among middle-aged and older residents of China. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02958020.

Salidroside Delays Cellular Senescence by Stimulating Mitochondrial Biogenesis Partly through a miR-22/SIRT-1 Pathway.

Calorie restriction (CR) is a nongenetic intervention with a robust effect on delaying aging in mammals and other organisms. A mild stimulation on mitochondrial biogenesis induced by CR seems to be an important action mode for its benefits. Here, we reported that a component isolated from Rhodiola rosea L., salidroside, delays replicative senescence in human fibroblasts, which is related to its stimulation on mitochondrial biogenesis by activating SIRT1 partly resulted from inhibition on miR-22. Salidroside increased the mitochondrial mass that accompanied an increment of the key regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis including PGC-1α, NRF-1, and TFAM and reversed the mitochondrial dysfunction in presenescent 50PD cells, showing a comparable effect to that of resveratrol. SIRT1 is involved in the inducement of mitochondrial biogenesis by salidroside. The declined expression of SIRT1 in 50PD cells compared with the young 30PD cells was prevented upon salidroside treatment. In addition, pretreatment of EX-527, a selective SIRT1 inhibitor, could block the increased mitochondrial mass and decreased ROS production induced by salidroside in 50PD cells, resulting in an accelerated cellular senescence. We further found that salidroside reversed the elevated miR-22 expression in presenescent cells according to a miRNA array analysis and a subsequent qPCR validation. Enforced miR-22 expression by using a Pre-miR-22 lentiviral construct induced the young fibroblasts (30PD) into a senescence state, accompanied with increased senescence-related molecules including p53, p21, p16, and decreased SIRT1 expression, a known target of miR-22. However, salidroside could partly impede the senescence progression induced by lenti-Pre-miR-22. Taken together, our data suggest that salidroside delays replicative senescence by stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis partly through a miR22/SIRT1 pathway, which enriches our current knowledge of a salidroside-mediated postpone senility effect and provides a new perspective on the antidecrepitude function of this naturally occurring compound in animals and humans.

Dosimetry of the brain and hypothalamus predicting acute lymphopenia and the survival of glioma patients with postoperative radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate dosimetric factors for predicting acute lymphopenia and the survival of glioma patients with postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). METHODS: A total of 148 glioma patients were reviewed. Acute lymphopenia was defined as a peripheral lymphocyte count (PLC) lower than 1.0 × 109 /L during radiotherapy with a normal level at pretreatment. PLCs with the corresponding dates and dose volume histogram parameters were collected. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were constructed to assess the significance of risk factors associated with lymphopenia and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Sixty-nine (46.6%) patients developed lymphopenia during radiotherapy. Multivariate analyses revealed that the risk increased with the maximal dose of the hypothalamus (HT Dmax) ≥56 Gy (58.9% vs 28.5%, P = 0.002), minimal dose of the whole brain (WB Dmin) ≥2 Gy (54.3% vs 33.9%, P = 0.006), or mean dose of the WB (WB Dmean) ≥34 Gy (56.0% vs 37.0%, P = 0.022). Patients with older age, high-grade glioma, development of lymphopenia, high HT Dmax, WB Dmin, and WB Dmean had significantly inferior OS in the multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: HT Dmax, WB Dmin, and WB Dmean are promising indicators of lymphopenia and the survival of glioma patients undergoing postoperative IMRT. The necessity and feasibility of dosimetric constraints for HT and WB is warranted with further investigation.

Efficacy and safety of Shen-Yuan-Dan capsules for peri-procedural myocardial injury following percutaneous coronary intervention: study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Peri-procedural myocardial injury (PMI) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) will result in an unfavorable clinical prognosis in patients, thus urgently necessitating effective drug treatment measures. Shen-Yuan-Dan (SYD) capsules are a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation that have been found to have potential myocardial protection effects during the peri-procedural phase of PCI in previous clinical and basic research; however, there is a lack of rigorous, randomized, and controlled studies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SYD in decreasing PMI. METHODS: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 284 patients with unstable angina will be randomized into test and control groups. The two groups will be given SYD or a placebo (three times each day, four capsules each time) 3 days before PCI on the basis of conventional treatment. Twelve hours before PCI, an additional 4 capsules will be given, and drug treatment is planned to be maintained for 1 month after surgery. Dynamic changes in the myocardial enzyme in four time-points (before PCI, and 4, 24, 48 hours after PCI) in both groups of patients that will be observed. The follow-up period will be 1 month. The primary observation markers are planned to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SYD in decreasing PMI. The secondary observation markers will be to evaluate the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) status at day 30 after PCI, (all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, repeated revascularization of target blood vessel) and Seattle Angina Questionnaire scores. GRACE scores will be used for risk stratification, and the intervention efficacy of SYD on PMI patients with different risks will be retrospectively evaluated. DISCUSSION: This study will provide a rigorous clinical evidence to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SYD in decreasing PMI and the results are worth anticipating. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The design of this trial has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR-IPR-17011069).

Electroacupuncture Improves Cognitive Function and Hippocampal Neurogenesis after Brain Irradiation.

Cognitive impairments after brain irradiation seriously affect quality of life for patients, and there is currently no effective treatment. In this study using an irradiated rat model, the role of electroacupuncture was investigated for treatment of radiation-induced brain injury. Animals received 10 Gy exposure to the entire brain, and electroacupuncture was administered 3 days before irradiation as well as up to 2 weeks postirradiation. Behavioral tests were performed one month postirradiation, and rats were then sacrificed for histology or molecular studies. Electroacupuncture markedly improved animal performance in the novel place recognition test. In the emotion test, electroacupuncture reduced defecation during the open-field test, and latency to consumption of food in the novelty suppressed feeding test. Brain irradiation inhibited the generation of immature neurons, but did not cause neural stem cell loss. Electroacupuncture partially restored hippocampal neurogenesis. Electroacupuncture decreased the amount of activated microglia and increased resting microglia in the hippocampus after irradiation. In addition, electroacupuncture promoted mRNA and protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. In conclusion, electroacupuncture could improve cognitive function and hippocampal neurogenesis after irradiation, and the protective effect of electroacupuncture was associated with the modulation of microglia and upregulation of BDNF in the hippocampus.

Research on Ratio of Dosage of Drugs in Traditional Chinese Prescriptions by Data Mining.

Maximizing the effectiveness of prescriptions and minimizing adverse effects of drugs is a key component of the health care of patients. In the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is important to provide clinicians a reference for dosing of prescribed drugs. The traditional Cheng-Church biclustering algorithm (CC) is optimized and the data of TCM prescription dose is analyzed by using the optimization algorithm. Based on an analysis of 212 prescriptions related to TCM treatment of kidney diseases, the study generated 87 prescription dose quantum matrices and each sub-matrix represents the referential value of the doses of drugs in different recipes. The optimized CC algorithm can effectively eliminate the interference of zero in the original dose matrix of TCM prescriptions and avoid zero appearing in output sub-matrix. This results in the ability to effectively analyze the reference value of drugs in different prescriptions related to kidney diseases, so as to provide valuable reference for clinicians to use drugs rationally.

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP): Emergence As an Alternative Technology for Herbal Medicine Identification.

Correct identification of medicinal plant ingredients is essential for their safe use and for the regulation of herbal drug supply chain. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a recently developed approach to identify herbal medicine species. This novel molecular biology technique enables timely and accurate testing, especially in settings where infrastructures to support polymerase chain reaction facilities are lacking. Studies that used this method have altered our view on the extent and complexity of herbal medicine identification. In this review, we give an introduction into LAMP analysis, covers the basic principles and important aspects in the development of LAMP analysis method. Then we presented a critical review of the application of LAMP-based methods in detecting and identifying raw medicinal plant materials and their processed products. We also provide a practical standard operating procedure (SOP) for the utilization of the LAMP protocol in herbal authentication, and consider the prospects of LAMP technology in the future developments of herbal medicine identification and the challenges associated with its application.

Electroacupuncture prevents cognitive impairments by regulating the early changes after brain irradiation in rats.

Cognitive impairments severely affect the quality of life of patients who undergo brain irradiation, and there are no effective preventive strategies. In this study, we examined the therapeutic potential of electroacupuncture (EA) administered immediately after brain irradiation in rats. We detected changes in cognitive function, neurogenesis, and synaptic density at different time points after irradiation, but found that EA could protect the blood-brain barrier (BBB), inhibit neuroinflammatory cytokine expression, upregulate angiogenic cytokine expression, and modulate the levels of neurotransmitter receptors and neuropeptides in the early phase. Moreover, EA protected spatial memory and recognition in the delayed phase. At the cellular/molecular level, the preventative effect of EA on cognitive dysfunction was not dependent on hippocampal neurogenesis; rather, it was related to synaptophysin expression. Our results suggest that EA applied immediately after brain irradiation can prevent cognitive impairments by protecting against the early changes induced by irradiation and may be a novel approach for preventing or ameliorating cognitive impairments in patients with brain tumors who require radiotherapy.

Antiplatelet activity of loureirin A by attenuating Akt phosphorylation: In vitro studies.

Loureirin A is a flavonoid extracted from Dragon׳s Blood that has been used to promote blood circulation and remove stasis in Chinese traditional medicine. However, the mechanisms of these effects are not fully understood. We explored the anti-platelet activity and underlying mechanism of loureirin A in vitro. Our results indicated that loureirin A negatively affected agonist-induced platelet aggregation such as collagen, collagen-related peptide (CRP), ADP and thrombin. Loureirin A inhibited collagen-induced platelet ATP secretion and thrombin-stimulated P-selectin expression in a dose-dependent manner. Platelet spreading on immobilized fibrinogen was significantly impaired in the presence of loureirin A. Immunoblotting analysis indicated that 100µM of loureirin A almost completely eliminated collagen-induced Akt phosphorylation at Ser473. Interestingly, a submaximal dose (50µM) of loureirin A had an additive inhibitory effect with the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor Ly294002 on collage-induced Akt phosphorylation in platelets. Taken together, loureirin A had an inhibitory effect on platelet activation, perhaps through an impairment of PI3K/Akt signaling.

[Comparative study on substituting hedyseri radix for astragali radix in serum containing yiqiyangxue prescription on aged mice spleen lymphocyte proliferation and anti-oxidant effect].

OBJECTIVE: By substituting Hedyseri Radix for Astragali Radix in Yiqiyangxue prescription, to compare the effects of both serum containing medicine on aged mice spleen lymphocyte proliferation and anti-oxidant effect. METHOD: After using the same dose of Hedyseri Radix to replace Astragali Radix in Yiqiyangxue prescription, the best concentration of serum containing medicine,the best incubation time and the effects of ConA-induced spleen lymphocyte proliferation were determined by MTY method. Use reagent kits to detect the activity of SOD, MDA and ROS levels in aged mice spleen lymphocytes and IL-2 level in culture supernatant fluid of spleen lymphocytes. RESULTS: Both serum containing medicine can enhance the proliferation of aged mice spleen lymphocytes. The best concentration of serum containing medicine was 40% and the incubation time was 72 h. The serum containing Yiqiyangxue of Hedyseri Radix prescription acted more effective than that of Astragali Radix on the enhancement of proliferation. Both serum containing medicine showed similar effects on increasing SOD activity, IL-2 level and decreasing MDA and ROS level. Moreover,serum of Hedyseri Radix was superior in the enhancement of proliferation, IL-2 and the reduction of ROS level. CONCLUSION: Both serum containing medicine of Hedyseri Radix and Astragali Radix generate the same effect of anti-aging and enhancement of proliferation.