Uncovering the mechanism of Qidan Dihuang Granule in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease combined network pharmacology, UHPLC-MS/MS with experimental validation.

Background and aim: Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Multi-center, randomized controlled trials have shown that Qidan Dihuang Granule (QDDHG) reduces the levels of albuminuria of DKD. However, the specific mechanisms of QDDHG on DKD are not clarified. Thus, this study utilized network pharmacology, UHPLC-MS/MS (Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry) and animal experiments to reveal the mechanisms of QDDHG on DKD. Experimental procedure: Screening and retrieving active ingredients and corresponding targets of QDDHG on DKD through the TCMSP, ETCM, Disgenet, GeneCards, Omim and DrugBank databases. The PPI were performed with BioGrid, STRING, OmniPath, InWeb-IM. AutoDock Vina molecular docking module to estimate the validation from the compounds and target proteins. Free energy to estimate the binding affinity for identified compounds and target proteins. The ingredients of QDDHG were analyzed utilizing UHPLC-MS/MS. In vivo experiment with db/db mice were used to verify the targets and pathway predicted by network pharmacology. Results and conclusion: The results demonstrated that QDDHG has 18 active compounds and 13 target proteins of QDDHG exerted a crucial role in treatment of DKD. QDDHG affect the multiple biological processes included cellular response to lipid, response to oxidative stress, and various pathways, such as AGE-RAGE, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, TNF, EGFR, STAT3. The results of UHPLC-MS/MS showed that six ingredients predicted by network pharmacology were also verified in experiment. In vivo experiment verified the effects of QDDHG on protecting the renal function mainly through inhibited the expression of EGFR, STAT3 and pERK in the db/db mice.

Correlation of Serum FGF23 and Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Abnormality Markers With Cardiac Structure Changes in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: CKD-MBD is a mineral and bone metabolism syndrome caused by chronic kidney disease. FGF23 is an important factor regulating phosphorus and is the main influencer in the CKD-MBD process. In this study, we observed the correlation among serum FGF23 and calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone, and the correlation between FGF23 levels and cardiac structural changes in MHD patients. Methods: We examined serum FGF23 concentrations in 107 cases of MHD patients using the ELISA method, recorded demographic information and biochemical data, and analyzed the correlation between serum FGF23 levels and blood calcium and blood phosphorus and PTH levels. All patients were evaluated by cardiac color ultrasound, and we finally analyzed the association between the FGF23 level and cardiac structural changes. Results: In 107 cases of MHD patients, serum FGF23 levels were linearly associated with serum calcium (r = 0.27 P < 0.01) and parathyroid hormone levels (r = 0.25, P < 0.05). FGF 23 was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.44, P < 0.01).Serum FGF23 levels were correlated with right atrial hypertrophy in HD patients (P < 0.05). No correlation was found among FGF23, left ventricular hypertrophy/enlargement, and valve calcification stenosis (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Serum FGF23 showed a positive correlation among blood calcium levels and PTH levels in hemodialysis patients, and FGF23 levels can affect the incidence of right atrial hypertrophy in MHD patients.

A review of the application of near-infrared spectroscopy to rare traditional Chinese medicine.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has become popular in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due to its many practical advantages, such as providing rapid, accurate, and simultaneous analysis. This review is intended to provide up-to-date information on qualitative and quantitative NIRS analysis in TCM, especially rare TCM. By performing a substantial survey of the literature from China and abroad, we also combine our own studies on some rare TCMs using NIRS to review the application of NIRS in this field. Basic analytical methods and specific examples of NIRS demonstrates NIRS's ability in authenticity identification, species identification, geographic origin analysis, quantitative analysis, adulteration detection, rapid detection, and on-line monitoring of TCM, and illustrates the feasibility and effectiveness of NIRS applied in the quality control (QC) of TCM. Some disadvantages and prospects of NIRS are also discussed here in detail.

Identification of autotoxic compounds from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz and preliminary investigations of their influences on immune system.

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (A. macrocephala) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used in China, Japan, and Korea due to its health benefits. Autotoxicity, as one of the major problems hindering continuous cultivation of A. macrocephala, has been reported to inhibit plant growth by various means. However, the impact of autotoxicity on the plant immune system is rarely reported. In this study, 2, 4-Ditertbutyl phenol (2,4-DP), an autotoxic compound, isolated from root exudates and rhizosphere soil of A. macrocephala was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results of germination trials showed that 2,4-DP had a significant inhibitory effect on seed germination. In addition, in non-inoculated seedlings, three concentrations of 2,4-DP (0.1, 1 and 10 mmol/L) affected indicators of systemic acquired resistance (SAR): accumulation of salicylic acid (SA), activities of protective enzymes, atractylenolides contents, and increased the disease index (DI). In inoculated seedlings, 2,4-DP decreased indicators of SAR and increased the DIs at low and high concentrations but increased indicators of SAR and decreased the DI at a moderate concentration. These results suggest that 2,4-DP has an inhibitory effect on the plant immune system, but it can induce the SAR at a certain concentration by controlling the pathogenic fungi.