Effect of early preventive supplementation with calcium and phosphorus on metabolic bone disease in premature infants.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to study the effect of early preventive calcium and phosphorus supplementation on metabolic bone disease in preterm infants. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 234 preterm infants with a gestational age < 32 weeks or birth weight < 1500 g who were hospitalized in the Neonatology Department of the Second Hospital of Shandong University from 01.2018 to 12.2020 was conducted. One hundred thirty-two premature infants hospitalized from 01.2018 to 06.2019 did not receive prophylactic calcium and phosphorus supplementation in the early postnatal period. These infants received calcium or phosphorus supplementation at the time of hypocalcaemia or hypophosphatemia diagnosis. One hundred two premature infants hospitalized from 07.2019 to 12.2020 received early preventive calcium and phosphorus supplementation after birth. The levels of serum calcium and phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone at different time points and growth indicators at six months of age were compared between the two groups of infants. The number of cases of metabolic bone disease and fracture between the two groups was compared. RESULTS: 1) A total of 12 infants (5.13%) among the 234 preterm infants were diagnosed with metabolic bone disease, including 2 (1.96%) in the prophylactic supplementation group and 10 (7.58%) in the nonprophylactic supplementation group. Fractures occurred in 3 premature infants (25.0%) with metabolic bone disease, all of whom were in the group that did not receive prophylactic supplementation. 2) There was no significant difference in serum calcium and calcitonin levels between the two groups. The levels of serum phosphorus and 25 hydroxyvitamin D in the prophylactic supplementation group were higher than those in the nonprophylactic supplementation group (P < 0.05). In comparison, alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone levels were lower in the prophylactic supplementation group than in the nonprophylactic supplementation group (P < 0.05). Preterm infants in the prophylactic supplementation group had higher weight, length, head circumference, and bone density values than those in the nonprophylactic supplementation group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Preventive supplementation with calcium and phosphorus after birth can effectively improve calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and reduce the incidence of metabolic bone disease and fractures in premature infants. This can be further publicized and used clinically.

Age and sex-specific differences of mindfulness traits with measurement invariance controlled in Chinese adult population: A pilot study.

Objectives: To examine the relationships of age and sex with mindfulness traits among Chinese adults with controlling for measurement invariance. Methods: A total of 1777 participants completing the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire were included for analysis. Their age and sex information were also collected. Descriptive analysis, Pearson's Chi-Square test and analysis of variance were performed to test the age- and sex-specific differences, measurement invariance was examined by confirmatory factor analysis. Results: Excellent data fit to the model indicated configural, metric, and scalar invariance across age and sex. Participants aged 60 or above scored significantly higher in dimensions of acting with awareness, nonjudging of inner experience, nonreactivity to inner experience, and the total scores than younger individuals, who had higher scores in the observing domain. In addition, females scored higher in describing and observing than males, while the latter had higher score in nonreactivity to inner experience. Conclusions: The Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire Mindfulness showed acceptable measurement invariance across age and sex in Chinese adult population. The old and the young differs in the traits of awareness, observing, nonjudging of inner experience, nonreactivity to inner experience and the total mindfulness level, while males and females varied in describing, observing and nonreactivity to inner experience. Individual differences should be considered and well addressed in future studies on mindfulness.

Indirubin-3'-oxime promotes the efficacy of GnRHa in obese-induced central precocious puberty and maintains normal bone growth and body weight via the ERK-Sp1-KISS-1/GPR54 axis.

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is a widespread developmental abnormality. The application of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) is widely useful for the medical therapy of CPP. This study aimed to investigate the combination effect and mechanism of indirubin-3'-oxime (I3O), an active ingredient analogue of traditional Chinese medicine, and GnRHa treatment on the progression of CPP. First, female C57BL/6 mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for the induction of precocious puberty and treated with GnRHa and I3O alone or in combination. Development of sexual maturation, bone growth and obesity were determined by vaginal opening detection, H&E staining and ELISA. The protein and mRNA expression levels of related genes were evaluated via western blotting, immunohistochemical method and RT-qPCR. Subsequently, tBHQ, an inhibitor of ERK, was applied to verify whether the mechanism of I3O was associated with this signaling. The results showed that the treatment of I3O alone or in combination with GnRHa could alleviate the HFD-induced earlier vaginal opening and serum levels of the gonadal hormone in mice. And, I3O could significantly eliminate the role of growth deceleration of GnRHa in bone development and reversed the side effect of GnRHa on body weight. More importantly, we found that I3O decreased the expression of KISS-1 and GPR54 by suppressing the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Sp1 in the hypothalamus in mice. In summary, these data indicated that I3O could promote the efficacy of GnRHa in HFD-induced precocious puberty, and maintain bone growth and body weight in mice via the ERK-Sp1-KISS-1/GPR54 axis.

Mindfulness and burnout among Chinese college students: mediation through sleep quality and perceived stress.

College students often face challenges and obstacles which leads them vulnerable to burnout. Though numerous studies have supported an association between mindfulness and burnout, yet little is known about the potential mediating role of mindfulness exerts its effect in this link. This study aimed to explore the relationship between mindfulness and burnout among Chinese college students and investigated the sleep quality and perceived stress as two potential mediators of that relationship. A total of 536 college students (mean age = 21.93, 66.2% female) were investigated and completed the Five Facet of Mindfulness Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Perceived Stress Scale and Academic Burnout Scale of College Students. Path analyses were employed to examine the mediating effect. Results indicated that mindfulness had significant negative correlation with burnout (r=-.584, p < 0.001). Sleep quality and perceived stress were significant mediators of the observed relationship between mindfulness and burnout. These findings shed light upon the mediating role of sleep quality and perceived stress, and suggest that college students' mindfulness may facilitate their sleep quality and decrease perceived stress, which, in turn, may help prevent and reduce burnout.

Clinical application of jejunal feeding tube for early enteral nutrition after surgical treatment of upper digestive tract malformation in newborns / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective:To study the clinical application of jejunal feeding tube (J-tube) for early enteral nutrition after surgical treatment of upper digestive tract malformation in newborns.Methods:From January 2019 to December 2021, newborns with upper digestive tract malformation received stage Ⅰ small bowel resection and anastomosis in our hospital were enrolled in this prospective randomized controlled study. According to different types of postoperative nutritional support, these patients were randomly assigned into J-tube group and control group using block randomization method. The J-tube group were given enteral nutrition vis J-tube within 48-72 h after surgery and the control group were given oral feeding after the recovery of gastrointestinal function. Calories and proteins intake, growth indicators, duration of hospital stay and parenteral nutrition, time needed for full oral feeding and complications were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 24 patients were in J-tube group and 28 in controlled group. No significant differences existed on the general status between the two groups ( P>0.05). The average daily intake of calories and proteins in j-tube group in the first week after surgery were significantly higher than control group [(108.7±8.3) kcal/(kg·d) vs. (97.9±7.0) kcal/(kg·d), (3.4±0.3) g/(kg·d) vs. (3.1±0.2) g/(kg·d)] ( P<0.05). No significant differences existed in the average daily intake of calories and proteins during the second postoperative week between the two groups ( P>0.05). Compared with control group,J-tube group showed increased growth velocity in head circumference and weight over time ( P<0.05), while the trend over time in length growth was not significant ( P>0.05). No significant differences existed in the duration of hospital stay and parenteral nutrition, time needed for full oral feeding and complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Enteral nutrition via J-tube 48-72 h after surgery is safe and feasible in the postoperative nutritional management of newborns with upper digestive tract malformation. This strategy may promote physical growth after surgery without increasing the incidences of complications.

Role of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in diabetic kidney disease and research progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention / 中国中药杂志

Diabetic kidney disease is an important microvascular complication of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Its pathological characteristics mainly include epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT) in glomerulus, podocyte apoptosis and autophagy, and damage of glomerular filtration barrier. Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway is specifically regulated by a variety of mechanisms, and is a classic pathway involved in physiological activities such as apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. At present, many studies have found that TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease. Traditional Chinese medicine has significant advantages in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease for its multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway characteristics, and some traditional Chinese medicine extracts, traditional Chinese medicines and traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription improve the renal injury of diabetic kidney disease by regulating TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. This study clarified the mechanism of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in diabetic kidney disease by expounding the relationship between the key targets of the pathway and diabetic kidney disease, and summarized the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease by interfering with TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in recent years, to provide reference for drug research and clinical treatment of diabetic kidney disease in the future.

Effectiveness of integrated care for older adults with depression and hypertension in rural China: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Effectiveness of integrated care management for common, comorbid physical and mental disorders has been insufficiently examined in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We tested hypotheses that older adults treated in rural Chinese primary care clinics with integrated care management of comorbid depression and hypertension (HTN) would show greater improvements in depression symptom severity and HTN control than those who received usual care. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The study, registered with ClinicalTrials.gov as Identifier NCT01938963, was a cluster randomized controlled trial with 12-month follow-up conducted from January 1, 2014 through September 30, 2018, with analyses conducted in 2020 to 2021. Participants were residents of 218 rural villages located in 10 randomly selected townships of Zhejiang Province, China. Each village hosts 1 primary care clinic that serves all residents. Ten townships, each containing approximately 20 villages, were randomly selected to deliver either the Chinese Older Adult Collaborations in Health (COACH) intervention or enhanced care-as-usual (eCAU) to eligible village clinic patients. The COACH intervention consisted of algorithm-driven treatment of depression and HTN by village primary care doctors supported by village lay workers with telephone consultation from centrally located psychiatrists. Participants included clinic patients aged ≥60 years with a diagnosis of HTN and clinically significant depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] score ≥10). Of 2,899 eligible village residents, 2,365 (82%) agreed to participate. They had a mean age of 74.5 years, 67% were women, 55% had no schooling, 59% were married, and 20% lived alone. Observers, older adult participants, and their primary care providers (PCPs) were blinded to study hypotheses but not to group assignment. Primary outcomes were change in depression symptom severity as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) total score and the proportion with controlled HTN, defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) <130 mm Hg or diastolic BP <80 for participants with diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, or renal disease, and systolic BP <140 or diastolic BP <90 for all others. Analyses were conducted using generalized linear mixed effect models with intention to treat. Sixty-seven of 1,133 participants assigned to eCAU and 85 of 1,232 COACH participants were lost to follow-up over 12 months. Thirty-six participants died of natural causes, 22 in the COACH arm and 14 receiving eCAU. Forty COACH participants discontinued antidepressant medication due to side effects. Compared with participants who received eCAU, COACH participants showed greater reduction in depressive symptoms (Cohen's d [±SD] = -1.43 [-1.71, -1.15]; p < 0.001) and greater likelihood of achieving HTN control (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI] = 18.24 [8.40, 39.63]; p < 0.001). Limitations of the study include the inability to mask research assessors and participants to which condition a village was assigned, and lack of information about participants' adherence to recommendations for lifestyle and medication management of HTN and depression. Generalizability of the model to other regions of China or other LMICs may be limited. CONCLUSIONS: The COACH model of integrated care management resulted in greater improvement in both depression symptom severity and HTN control among older adult residents of rural Chinese villages who had both conditions than did eCAU. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01938963 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01938963.

Quality standards of Gleditsiae Spina and its decoction pieces / 中国中药杂志

In view of the current inadequate standards for Gleditsiae Spina in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, this study put forward some new items of the quality standards of Gleditsiae Spina. Thin-layer chromatography(TLC) was performed for identification with the reference substance of taxifolin and the reference material of Gleditsiae Spina as the control. According to the general principles of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition, Vol. 4), the moisture, total ash content, and alcohol-soluble extract of medicinal materials and decoction pieces of Gleditsiae Spina were determined. The content determination method for medicinal materials and decoction pieces of Gleditsiae Spina was established using high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), with taxifolin as the quality control index. Based on the determination results of 30 batches of samples of Gleditsiae Spina from different habitats, the draft quality standards of Gleditsiae Spina were developed, which provided suggestions for the revision of the quality standards of Gleditsiae Spina in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Implementing collaborative care for older people with comorbid hypertension and depression in rural China.

BACKGROUND: Depression often coexists with other chronic conditions in older people. The COACH study is an ongoing random controlled trial (RCT) to test the effectiveness of a primary-care-based collaborative care approach to treat co-morbid hypertension and depression in Chinese rural elders. In the COACH model, a team-village doctor (VD), aging worker (AW), and psychiatrist consultant-provides collaborative care to enrolled subjects in each intervention village for 12 months. This study examines how COACH was implemented and identifies facilitators and barriers for its more widespread implementation. METHODS: Five focus groups were conducted, two with VDs, two with AWs, and one with psychiatrists, for a total of 38 participants. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: COACH care-team members showed shared understanding and appreciation of the team approach and integrated management of hypertension and depression. Team collaboration was smooth. All members regarded COACH to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms and improving patient health. Facilitators to implementation include training, leaders' support, geographic proximity between VD and AW pairs, preexisting relationships among care-team members, comparability of COACH activities and existing practices of VDs and AWs, and care team members' caring about older members of their villages. Barriers to sustainability include frustration of some VDs related to their low wages and feelings of overload of some AWs. CONCLUSIONS: COACH was positively perceived and successfully implemented. The findings offer guidance for planning primary-care-based collaborative depression care in low- and middle-income countries.

Can Mindfulness-Based Training Improve Positive Emotion and Cognitive Ability in Chinese Non-clinical Population? A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: Based on eastern philosophy, mindfulness is becoming popular for human being's mental health and well-being in western countries. In this study, we proposed to explore the effectiveness and potential pathway of mindfulness-based training (MBT) on Chinese Non-clinical higher education students' cognition and emotion. METHODS: A paired control design was used. 48 higher education students (24 in MBT group, 24 in control group) were recruited in the study. The MBT group engaged in a 12-week MBT. A package of measurements, including sustained attention tasks (The Continuous Performance Test, CPT), executive function task (Stroop) for cognitive functions, the self-reported mindfulness levels (The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, MAAS) and emotion (The Profile of Mood States, POMS), were apply for all participants at baseline and every 4 weeks during next 12 weeks. RESULTS: There were no differences in baseline demographic variables between two groups. Over the 12-week training, participants assigned to MBT group had a significantly greater reduction in CPT reaction time (Cohen's d 0.72), significantly greater improvement in positive emotion (Vigor-Activity, VA) (Cohen's d 1.08) and in MAAS (Cohen's d 0.49) than those assigned to control group. And, MAAS at 4th week could significantly predict the CPT RT and VA at 8th week in the MBT group. VA at 4th week could significantly predict the CPT RT at 8th week (B = 4.88, t = 2.21, p = 0.034, R2 = 0.35). CONCLUSION: This study shows the efficiency of 12-week MBT on Chinese Non-clinical students' cognition and emotion. Mindfulness training may impact cognition and emotion through the improvement in mindfulness level, and may impact cognition through the improvement in positive emotion.

Expression of CXCL10 ,CXCR3 and T cell subsets in peripheral blood and effect of compound Chinese medicine on it in patients with advanced vitiligo / 重庆医学

Objective To detect the expression levels of peripheral blood CXCL10 and its receptor CXCR3 and T cell subsets in of the patients with advanced vitiligo and the influence of compound Chinese medicine on it.Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect the cellular proportions of peripheral blood T cell subsets,ELISA was employed to quantify serum CXCL10 and CXCR3 expression levels before and after treatment.Results After 1 month of taking Chinese medicine,the proportions of CD3+ CD4+ cells and CD3+ CD8+ cells were increased compared before treatment(P＜0.05).The expression level of peripheral serum CXCL10 before treatment was significantly increased compare with the healthy control group(P＜0.01),and the CXCL10 level after treatment was decreased significantly compared with that before treatment(P＜0.05).The expression level of peripheral serum CXCR3 was significantly increased compared with the healthy control group(P＜0.05),while which after treatment was still significantly higher than that in the healthy control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion CXCL10,CXCR3 and T cell subsets proportion may be involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.The compound Chinese medicine used in this study plays the curative effect possibly by regulating T cell subsets and expression levels of CXCL10 and CXCR3.

Kisspeptin permits the sexual development of female rats with normal and precocious puberty but is not a trigger for it.

OBJECTIVE: We inferred how KISS-1/GPR54 system to involved in precocious puberty by observing hormones level during the process of precocious puberty in model and normal rats during sexual development and the estrus cycle. METHOD: Female rats were divided randomly into CPP and control groups; the former were injected with NMDA twice daily, and control groups were injected with saline. Blood and tissue samples were collected and measured during the stages of prepuberty, vaginal opening, estrus, proestrus and diestrus. RESULTS: The times of onset of puberty and sexual maturity in the CPP group were significantly earlier than in the control groups. Hypothalamic levels of KISS-1 and GPR54 gene expression, kisspeptin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone started to rise before puberty. In stable estrus cycles, kisspeptin levels were the lowest during proestrus, while gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) levels rose to the highest during estrus. GnRH levels increased significantly in the estrus cycle compared with the prepubertal stage, but kisspeptin levels did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: the hypothalamic KISS-1/GPR54 system might permit the onset of puberty, but is not its primary trigger. Hormone levels were lower and gonadal maturity markers in the CPP groups were worse than in the control groups.

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among older patients with hypertension in rural China.

OBJECTIVE: The comorbidity of depression and hypertension (HTN) is common and complicates the management of both conditions. This study investigated the prevalence of depressive symptoms among older patients with HTN in rural China and explored the relationship between the two conditions. METHODS: The baseline data of older patients diagnosed with HTN included in the depression/HTN in Chinese Older Adults-Collaborations for Health Study were used for the analysis. The Chinese Older Adults-Collaborations for Health Study was conducted in rural villages of Tonglu County, Zhejiang Province, China. In all, 10 389 older village residents had HTN (57.2% female, mean age 71.5 ± 8.1 years). Blood pressure was measured by using a calibrated manual sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. Depressive symptom was measured by using the Chinese version of the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: Among 10 389 patients with HTN, 12.8% had significant depressive symptoms (nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire ≥ 10). Rates of significant depressive symptoms were 5.3% and 32.8% among patients with controlled and uncontrolled HTN (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90), respectively (χ2 = 8.701, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that those in older age group (≥70 years) and with uncontrolled HTN have higher rates of significant depressive symptoms than those who are younger (age 60 to <70) and with controlled HTN. CONCLUSION: Our findings show high rates of depressive symptoms among patients with HTN in rural China and higher rates of depressive symptoms among patients with uncontrolled HTN. These support the development and dissemination of integrative care approaches for older adults with HTN and depression in rural China. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Comparative study on curative effects of two traditional Chinese medicine compounds in guinea pigs models of vitiligo / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To observe the curative effects of two traditional Chinese medicine compounds in guinea pigs models of vitiligo .Methods The dark skin of guinea pigs ,which were intragastrically administrated with vitiligo granules No .1 (No .1 group) ,vitiligo granules No .2(No .2 group) and pure water(control group) respectively ,were selected to establish vitiligo modles induced by p‐dihydroxy‐benzene(hydroquinone) .Taking physiological saline as a control(model group) .Curative effects were ob‐served by visual inspection ,and the effects of repigmentation after intragastric administration were scored .The melanocyte count of normal part of skin was compared with that of vitiligo skin by using hematoxylin‐eosin(HE) staining ,ferrous sulfate staining and Deoxy‐dyeing .Results The guinea pigs models of vitiligo were successfully induced by hydroquinone .After treatment by using vit‐iligo granules No .1 and No .2 ,the melanocyte counts of vitiligo skin in No .1 group and No .2 group were increased when compared with that in the control group(P0 .05) .Conclusion The two Chinese medicine compounds ,vitiligo granules No .1 and vitiligo granules No .2 ,both are effective for the treatment of vitiligo and without obvious effects on normal parts of skin , which could provide experimental data for clinical treatment .

Clinical study on aconite prescriptions with incompatible herbs in different areas based on association rules and analysis on compatibility features / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the current application and features of Aconite prescriptions with incompatible herbs in grade A class three hospitals in east China and central China through a clinical study and comparative analysis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Clinical prescriptions containing Aconite with incompatible herbs were collected. Association rules were utilized to analyze the compatible features of these herbs.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>This analysis found that the frequently used incompatible herba; pairs are Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata-Pinelliae Rhizoma, with the support rate of 44.45%, occupying nearly half of the surveyed prescriptions; Pinelliae Rhizoma is the most frequently used herb in the two areas, with support rate up to 76.24%. Among the top 10 herbal pairs in the support rate, except for Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata and Pinelliae Rhizoma, the top 10 herbs in Central China were mostly for warming the middle jiao and tonifying qi, such as Zingiberis Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Codonopsis Radix; Whereas those in east China were mostly for activating and nourishing blood, such as Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Among the top 10 herbal pairs in the support rate, except for Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata-Pinelliae Rhizoma, the core herbal pairs applied in central China were mainly for resolving phlegm and warming the middle jiao, such as Pinelliae Rhizoma-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Pinelliae Rhizoma-Zingiberis Rhizoma; Whereas those in east China were principally for activating blood and tonifying qi, like Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma, Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Pinelliae Rhizoma. Among the core herbal groups in the two areas, the most frequently used herbal groups in the two areas are Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma with the support rate of 59.73%, accounting for the highest proportion among all of herbal groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are the combined clinical application of Aconite with incompatible herbs, mostly with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata-Pinelliae Rhizoma, but with differences in the combined application in east China and central China.</p>

Effect of Xianxiong decoction on acute lung injury mice induced by lipopolysaccharide / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Xianxiong decoction on the mice with acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Eighty female ICR mice were randomly divided into 8 groups: model group, Xianxiong decoction group, Daxianxiong decoction group, Xianxiong decoction group without Kansui Radix group, Xianxiong decoction group without Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Kansui Radix group, normal group and control group. Animals of each group, except normal group, were undertaken intraperitoneal injection and intranasal inhalation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on day 1, 2, 3 to establish acute lung injury (ALI) model. 30 min after modeling, 0.2 mL corresponding drugs were administrated to each mice, dexam ethasone and normal saline were given to the mice of control group and normal group respectively. White blood cell in blood, neutrophil percentage of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) supernatant, the ratio of wet and dry lung tissue ( W/D), histopathological changes of lung tissue were estimated. Sixty ICR mice were randomly divided into normal, model, control, high, middle and low dose Xianxiong decoction groups and were modeled in the same way. ELISA was applied to detect the level of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in BALF, PCR for NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha mRNA in lung tissue, and Western blot for NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha. Half of 20 ICR mice were administrated with Xianxiong decoction of its maximum tolerant normal saline.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with model group, the number of WBC in blood of Xianxiong decoction group mice decreased (P < 0.01), percentage of neutrophils in both blood and BALF decreased as well (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); it also significantly reduced the ratio of W/D (P < 0.01); and found the alveolar wall, the number of inflammatory cells infiltrating improved, compared with model group. Xianxiong decoction reduced the level of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in BALF (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05); its high and low dose groups only found TNF-alpha level declined. Five mice died 24 h after administration of Xianxiong decoction which indicated its toxicity when other influential factors were considered.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Xianxiong decoction is effective on the ALI mice induced by LPS, but it is of toxicity at 3 g x mL(-1).</p>

Mistletoe alkaloid fractions alleviates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis through inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation via TGF-ß/Smad interference.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Mistletoe (Viscum coloratum (Kom.) Nakai) has long been categorized as a traditional herbal medicine in Asia. In addition to its application in cancer therapy, mistletoe has also been used in the treatment of chronic hepatic disorders in China. In the present study, we investigated the antifibrotic effect and mechanisms of action of mistletoe extracts in a rat model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental model of hepatic fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of rats with CCl4 for 8 weeks. Rats were subsequently treated with a mistletoe alkaloid fraction preparation via oral administration (120mg/kg daily for 8 weeks) or with distilled water as a control. Histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson׳s trichrome staining. The expression of markers relevant to hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation in the liver was assessed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The anti-fibrosis activity and mechanisms of action of mistletoe alkaloid fractions were further investigated in the HSC-T6 HSC line, following treatment with mistletoe alkaloid fractions (12mg/ml) for 48h. RESULTS: Hepatic fibrosis decreased markedly in CCl4-treated animals following treatment with mistletoe alkaloid fractions, compared to controls. The mRNA levels of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), procollagen I and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) were significantly downregulated, by about 40%, 40% and 45%, respectively, in liver tissues from rats treated with mistletoe alkaloid fractions. Furthermore, significant downregulation of TGF-ß1, TGF-ß1 receptor, phosphorylated Smad 2 and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) proteins, by about 45%, 30% and 40%, respectively, was also observed in liver tissues from mistletoe alkaloid fractions-treated rats. In contrast, Smad 7 levels were significantly increased by about 30% in mistletoe alkaloid fractions-treated rats. Treatment of HSC-T6 cells with mistletoe alkaloid fractions significantly induced Smad 7 expression and inhibited the expression of α-SMA, TGFß1, TGF-ß1 receptor, Smad 2 and TIMP-1, in vitro. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that mistletoe alkaloid fractions decrease extracellular matrix accumulation by inhibiting HSC activation. Mechanistically, this may occur via inhibition of TGF-ß1/Smad 2 and Smad 7 signal transduction, thereby blocking the synthesis of procollagen I and TIMP-1. These findings suggest that mistletoe alkaloid fractions may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.

A method based on endogenous fluorescence determination for screening NAMPT inhibitors / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method for screening nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) inhibitors based on endogenous fluorescence determination.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The double mutants of NAMPT, G355C/D393C, was cross-linked by using 1, 4-Bismaleimidobutane (BMB) to block the entrance of enzymatic active site of NAMPT. The binding of compounds to NAMPT was evaluated according to the change of spontaneous fluorescence of NAMPT and BMB-NAMPT with 280 nm excitation and 333 nm emmision. The in vitro enzamatic activity of NAMPT was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance. The cell viability was determined by MTT assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>FK866 significantly decreased the spontaneous fluorescence of NAMPT but not of BMB-NAMPT. Rosmaric, cynarine and 1, 3-dicaffeoylquinic acid also decreased the spontaneous fluorescence of both NAMPT and BMB-NAMPT. However, the inhibition on two proteins was equivalent. FK866 significantly inhibit the catalysis of NAMPT. Rosmarinic acid, cynarine and 1, 3-dicaffeoylquinic acid failed to inhibit the catalysis of NAMPT. FK866 inhibited the viability of A549 cells, but rosmarinic acid, cynarine and 1, 3-dicaffeoylquinic acid did not.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endogenous fluorescence spectrometry based on NAMPT and BMB-NAMPT protein can be used for screening compounds that bind with NAMPT, and distinguishing the binding site - either within the enzymatic active site or not. Rosmarinic acid, cynarine and 1, 3-dicoffeoylquinic acid can bind to NAMPT out its enzymatic active site.</p>

Effect of environmental factors on photosynthetic physiology and flavonoid constituent of Scutellaria baicalensis / 中国中药杂志

To discuss the effect of environmental factors and photosynthesis on the growing of plant and the content of active components in Scutellaria baicalensis, the photosynthetic physiology index and diurnal changes of flavonoid constituent of S. Baicalensis were observed and tested in flowering and fruiting stages, and in the meantime environmental parameters were recorded. The obtained data were analyzed data by using path analysis and gray correlation analysis. The results showed that PAR and SWC were important environmental factors impacting on photosynthesis of S. baicalensis. SWC, RH and Ca were important environmental factors impacting on baicalin content. PAR, Po and Ta were important environmental factors impacting on baicalein content.

Activation of apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma by the Chinese traditional medicine Hu Qisan.

To investigate the effects of Hu Qisan (HQS) on apoptosis in diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a Solt-Farber two-step test model of precancerous liver lesions was established in rats using a previously described method. HQS (4 and 8 g/kg body weight/day) was administered for 4 weeks, after the majority of the liver was removed. HepG2 cells were used to detect the HtrA serine peptidase 2 (HtrA2/Omi) release from mitochondria and caspase-3 activation promoted by HQS. Exposure of the rats to DEN for 6 weeks induced hepatic carcinogenesis. HQS (4 and 8 g/kg body weight/day) markedly induced cell apoptosis. The protective effects against hepatic carcinogenesis were mediated by multiple mechanisms, including the reduction of DEN-induced γ-GT-positive cell proliferation, mitochondrial morphological changes, HtrA2/Omi release from mitochondria and the activation of caspase-3. In conclusion, HQS is a potential anti-carcinogenic agent that may induce apoptosis by reducing the inhibitory effects of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) on caspase-3. Thus, HQS should be further explored as a potentially promising new therapeutic agent against human hepatic cancer.