RESUMO
Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be more susceptible to infection by coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) due to immune system dysfunction. However, there are still insufficient treatment strategies for patients with RA and COVID-19. Since Jingulian is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with anti-viral and immune regulatory functions, our study aims to explore the detailed mechanisms of Jingulian in treating patients with RA and COVID-19. Methods: All the components of Jingulian were retrieved from pharmacology databases. Then, a series of network pharmacology-based analyses and molecular docking were used to understand the molecular functions, core targets, related pathways, and potential therapeutic targets of Jingulian in patients with RA/COVID-19. Results: A total of 93 genes were identified according to the disease-compound-target network. We investigated that the main targets, signaling pathways, and biological functions of Jingulian in RA and COVID-19. Our results indicated that Jingulian may treat patients with RA/COVID-19 through immune processes and viral processes. Moreover, the results of molecular docking revealed that tormentic acid was one of the top compounds of Jingulian, which had high affinity with Janus kinase 1 (JAK1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in patients with RA/COVID-19. Furthermore, 5 core targets of Jingulian were also identified, including JAK1, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), STAT3, lymphocyte specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK), and EGFR. Conclusions: Tormentic acid in Jingulian may regulate JAK1, STAT3, and EGFR, and might play a critical role in RA/COVID-19.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Shenfu Qiangjing Decoction (SQD) in the treatment of non-inflammatory and non-liquefied semen in infertile males with kidney-yang deficiency. METHODS: Sixty cases of male infertility caused by non-inflammatory and non-liquefied semen with kidney-yang deficiency were equally and randomly divided into an SQD and a control group, the former given oral SQD and the latter vitamin C tablets plus intramuscular chymotrypsin. Both groups were observed for sperm viability, sperm motility, serum testosterone, seminal plasma PSA and improvement of kidney-yang deficiency symptoms before and after the medication. The therapeutic effects were evaluated according to the semen liquefaction within 60 min. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in the improvement of kidney-yang deficiency symptoms after the medication between the SQD and control groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) , and in sperm viability and motility of the SQD group before and after the treatment (P < 0.01) as well as between the two groups after the medication (P < 0.05). The levels of serum T and seminal plasma PSA also showed significant differences before and after the treatment in the SQD group (P < 0.01) and between the two groups after the medication (P < 0.05). The rate of total effectiveness was 93.3% in the SQD and 76.7% in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SQD can shorten the semen liquefaction time in patients with non-inflammatory and non-liquefied semen and restore semen liquefaction to normal in over 90% of the patients. Meanwhile it can also improve the low testosterone level resulting from various kidney-yang deficiency symptoms.