The flavonoid corylin exhibits lifespan extension properties in mouse.

In the long history of traditional Chinese medicine, single herbs and complex formulas have been suggested to increase lifespan. However, the identification of single molecules responsible for lifespan extension has been challenging. Here, we collected a list of traditional Chinese medicines with potential longevity properties from pharmacopeias. By utilizing the mother enrichment program, we systematically screened these traditional Chinese medicines and identified a single herb, Psoralea corylifolia, that increases lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Next, twenty-two pure compounds were isolated from Psoralea corylifolia. One of the compounds, corylin, was found to extend the replicative lifespan in yeast by targeting the Gtr1 protein. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, RNA sequencing data showed that corylin ameliorates cellular senescence. We also examined an in vivo mammalian model, and found that corylin extends lifespan in mice fed a high-fat diet. Taken together, these findings suggest that corylin may promote longevity.

[Entecavir combined with Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet in treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients with liver fibrosis: 96-week efficacy analyses].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of long-term therapy with entecavir and Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-associated fibrosis and explore the synergistic therapy that accelerates the reversion of liver fibrosis. METHODS: A total of 197 patients with CHB-associated fibrosis were recruited from Nanfang Hospital between June, 2010 and June, 2015. The patients were divided into two groups after matching for age, gender and liver stiffness measurement (LSM), namely group A (n=98) treated with Fufang Biejia Ruangan Tablet plus entecavir, and group B (n=99) to receive entecavir only. HBV DNA quantification, HBV serological indicators, blood biochemical indexes, and results of abdominal ultrasound and FibroScan were recorded every 12 weeks. FibroScan values were converted to Metavir staging. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant decreases in serum levels of HBV DNA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and LSM value from baseline (all P<0.05). The median time to achieve Metavir fibrosis staging improvement were 72 weeks in group A and 96 weeks in group B (P<0.05), and the median time to achieve ALT and AST normalization were 12 and 24 weeks in Group A, respectively, significantly shorter than the time in group B (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between the two groups in HBV DNA undetectable rate and HBeAg seroconversion rate. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy with Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet and entecavir produces a stronger efficacy than entecavir alone in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients with liver fibrosis, and Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet shows an obvious hepatoprotective effect in these patients.

A nationwide population-based study of traditional Chinese medicine usage in children in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) among pediatric patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: This study examined data sets from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Two cohorts, each with one million patients who were randomly sampled from the beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Program from January 1 to December 31 in 2005 or 2010, were chosen for analysis. Children had at least one TCM outpatient clinical record were defined as TCM users, whereas children who had no TCM outpatient records were defined as non-TCM users. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The demographic data, treatment modalities and the disease distributions of the pediatric TCM users were analyzed from two randomly sampled cohorts. RESULTS: Overall, 22% and 22.5% of the children used TCM in 2005 and 2010, respectively. The utilization rate of TCM increased with age. Herbal remedies were the most commonly used therapeutic approach, followed by manipulative therapy and acupuncture. There was an increasing trend of using herbal remedies (increased from 65.6% to 74.4%) and acupuncture (increase from 7.5% to 11.4%), but there was a markedly decreased use of manipulative therapies from 25.6% to 12.3% from 2005 to 2010. There is an obvious increasing use of TCM due to diseases of the digestive system, skin/subcutaneous tissue and genitourinary system from 2005 to 2010. A further comparison of the prevalence rates between TCM and non-TCM visits indicated that allergic rhinitis, dyspepsia, injury and musculoskeletal diseases, as well as menstrual disorders, were the main diseases that children tended to visit TCM clinics in Taiwan. CONCLUSIONS: Our nationwide population-based study revealed the high prevalence and specific usage patterns of TCM in the pediatric population in Taiwan. The results of this study should provide valuable information for physicians, parents and the government concerning pediatric healthcare.

Characteristics and prescription patterns of traditional Chinese medicine in atopic dermatitis patients: ten-year experiences at a medical center in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: Complementary and alternative therapies in treating atopic dermatitis are not uncommon. However, substantial evidence and consensus on treating atopic dermatitis is lacking. The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics and utilization of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with atopic dermatitis. DESIGN: We retrospectively collected patients with atopic dermatitis at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan between 2002 and 2011. Patients' demographic data, duration and frequency of treatment, serum total immunoglobulin E levels, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment principles and prescription were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 4145 patients (8.8%) received traditional Chinese medicine therapy between 2002 and 2011. Among them, 2841 (68.54%) chose TCM only and 1304 (31.46%) chose to combine TCM and WM therapies. Those who chose combination therapy were younger, and needed more times of visit and longer duration of treatment. The most frequent comorbid conditions accompany atopic dermatitis were allergic rhinitis (46.06%) and asthma (21.46%). Among the 87,573 prescriptions written for Chinese medicine, the most frequently prescribed herbal formula and single herb were Xiao-Feng-San (Eliminate Wind Powder) (16.98%) and Bai-Xian-Pi (Cortex Dictamni) (12.68%), respectively. The most commonly used therapeutic principles of herbal formulas and single herbs were releasing exterior (20.23%) and clearing heat (41.93%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our hospital-based study characterized the utilization patterns of traditional Chinese medicine in atopic dermatitis patients. This information could be used as references for clinical application and provide valuable information for future clinical trials.

Alternative therapy for persistent childhood immune thrombocytopenic purpura unresponsive to intravenous immunoglobulin.

OBJECTIVE: Presentation of a case illustrating the benefits of traditional Chinese herbal granules for treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura in children. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 4-year-old girl presented with persistent immune thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to the first-line conventional treatment of steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin over 7 months. She was brought to the traditional Chinese medical clinic at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in 2011 for alternative therapy. She received a modified Chinese herbal formula, Zi-Ying-Jiang-Huo-Tang (Phellodendri Combination), for 6 months and was followed clinically by both a pediatrician and a traditional Chinese medical doctor. The patient had a dramatic improvement in platelet count and entered complete remission after treatment with the traditional Chinese medicine. There was no recurrence of disease or side effects of treatment noted during the 12-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Our case report suggests that collaborative monitoring of treatments with traditional Chinese medicine may prove beneficial in the management of childhood persistent immune thrombocytopenic purpura. A larger clinical study is warranted for further evaluation of the role of Zi-Ying-Jiang-Huo-Tang in treating immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Glutathione reverses peroxynitrite-mediated deleterious effects of nitroglycerin on ischemic rat hearts.

This study examined the potential deleterious effect of high-dose nitroglycerin (NTG) on cardiac function and cellular injury after ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (120 min) in isolated perfused rat hearts. Low-dose (0.75 microg/h), medium-dose (3.75 microg/h), high-dose (15 microg/h) NTG or high-dose NTG plus glutathione (GSH, 1 mmol/L) was administrated at the time of reperfusion. Administration of high-dose NTG significantly exacerbated cardiac reperfusion injury as evidenced by increased creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity in coronary effluent, increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necrosis, and decreased cardiac function recovery after reperfusion. Compared with the vehicle group, formation of nitrotyrosine, a footprint for peroxynitrite (ONOO) production, was markedly increased in the hearts treated with medium-dose or high-dose NTG. Most interestingly, cotreatment with GSH blocked high-dose NTG-induced ONOO formation and attenuated myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Taken together, our present results demonstrated that administration of high-dose NTG aggravated, rather than attenuated myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury likely via increasing ONOO formation. Coadministration of GSH may reverse the advert action of high-dose NTG.