HbA1c comparison and diagnostic efficacy analysis of multi center different glycosylated hemoglobin detection systems / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: Compare and analyze the results of the domestic Lanyi AH600 glycated hemoglobin analyzer and other different detection systems to understand the comparability of the detection results of different detectors, and establish the best cut point of Lanyi AH600 determination of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in the diagnosis of diabetes. Methods: Multi center cohort study was adopted. The clinical laboratory departments of 18 medical institutions independently collected test samples from their respective hospitals from March to April 2022, and independently completed comparative analysis of the evaluated instrument (Lanyi AH600) and the reference instrument HbA1c. The reference instruments include four different brands of glycosylated hemoglobin meters, including Arkray, Bio-Rad, DOSOH, and Huizhong. Scatter plot was used to calculate the correlation between the results of different detection systems, and the regression equation was calculated. The consistency analysis between the results of different detection systems was evaluated by Bland Altman method. Consistency judgment principles: (1) When the 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA) of the measurement difference was within 0.4% HbA1c and the measurement score was≥80 points, the comparison consistency was good; (2) When the measurement difference of 95% LoA exceeded 0.4% HbA1c, and the measurement score was≥80 points, the comparison consistency was relatively good; (3) The measurement score was less than 80 points, the comparison consistency was poor. The difference between the results of different detection systems was tested by paired sample T test or Wilcoxon paired sign rank sum test; The best cut-off point of diabetes was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results: The correlation coefficient R2 of results between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument in 16 hospitals is≥0.99; The Bland Altman consistency analysis showed that the difference of 95% LoA in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Jiangsu Province (reference instrument: Arkray HA8180) was -0.486%-0.325%, and the measurement score was 94.6 points (473/500); The difference of 95% LoA in the Tibetan Traditional Medical Hospital of TAR (reference instrument: Bio-Rad Variant II) was -0.727%-0.612%, and the measurement score was 89.8 points; The difference of 95% LoA in the People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT) was -0.231%-0.461%, and the measurement score was 96.6 points; The difference of 95% LoA in the Taihe Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui Province (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT) was -0.469%-0.479%, and the measurement score was 91.9 points. The other 14 hospitals, Lanyi AH600, were compared with 4 reference instrument brands, the difference of 95% LoA was less than 0.4% HbA1c, and the scores were all greater than 95 points. The results of paired sample T test or Wilcoxon paired sign rank sum test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument Arkray HA8180 (Z=1.665,P=0.096), with no statistical difference. The mean difference between the measured values of the two instruments was 0.004%. The comparison data of Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument of all other institutions had significant differences (all P<0.001), however, it was necessary to consider whether it was within the clinical acceptable range in combination with the results of the Bland-Altman consistency analysis. The ROC curve of HbA1c detected by Lanyi AH600 in 985 patients with diabetes and 3 423 patients with non-diabetes was analyzed, the area under curve (AUC) was 0.877, the standard error was 0.007, and the 95% confidence interval 95%CI was (0.864, 0.891), which was statistically significant (P<0.001). The maximum value of Youden index was 0.634, and the corresponding HbA1c cut point was 6.235%. The sensitivity and specificity of diabetes diagnosis were 76.2% and 87.2%, respectively. Conclusion: Among the hospitals and instruments currently included in this study, among these four hospitals included Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Jiangsu Province (reference instrument: Arkray HA8180), Tibetan Traditional Medical Hospital of TAR (reference instrument: Bio-Rad Variant Ⅱ), the People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT), and the Taihe Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui Province (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT), the comparison between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instruments showed relatively good consistency, while the other 14 hospitals involved four different brands of reference instruments: Arkray, Bio-Rad, DOSOH, and Huizhong, Lanyi AH600 had good consistency with its comparison. The best cut point of the domestic Lanyi AH600 for detecting HbA1c in the diagnosis of diabetes is 6.235%.

Intervention Effect and Mechanism of Celastrol on NASH Induced by Methionine-choline Deficiency Diet in Mice / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To study the intervention eff ects and pot ential m echanism of celastrol on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH）induced by methionine-choline deficiency （MCD）diet. METHODS ：Male C 57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control group ，model group ，celastrol low-dose and high-dose groups [ 0.5，1 mg/（kg·d）]，with 7 mice in each group. The normal control group was given a methionine-choline sufficient diet ，while the model group and administration groups were fed an MCD diet to induce NASH model. At the same time ，normal control group and model group were given polyoxyethylene castor oil intragastrically；administration groups were given relevant drugs intragastrically ；the volume of gavage was 0.1 mL/g，once a day ， for consecutive 4 weeks. The liver morphology was observed ，and the pathological changes of liver tissue were observed by HE staining and oil red O staining. The levels of serum liver enzymes （AST，ALT），and the levels of lipid indexes （TC，TG）in serum and liver tissue were detected by enzyme method. The protein expression of NF-κB p65，TNF-α and IL-6 in liver tissue were determined by Western blotting assay. RESULTS ：Compared with normal control group ，the volume of the liver was reduced and the color was yellow ，and the surface was rough in model group ；inflammatory cell infiltration ，fat vacuoles and lipid droplets aggregation were found in the liver tissue ；the serum levels of TC and TG were significantly decreased ，the levels of serum liver enzymes and protein expression of NF-κB p65，TNF-α and IL-6 in liver tissue were significantly increased （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group ，the liver surface of each administration group was ruddy and smooth without brown spots ，the inflammatory cells and fat vacuoles in liver tissue were reduced ，and the coverage area of lipid droplets was reduced ；the levels of serum TC and TG were significantly increased ，the levels of serum liver enzymes ，the levels of TG and protein expression of NF-κB，TNF-α and IL-6（except for celastrol low-dose group ）in liver tissue were significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS ： Celastrol can improve the liver injury of NASH model mice induced by MCD diet ，which is related to the reduction of TG accumulation in liver tissue and inhibition of the expression of inflammatory related factors.

Experience of Finland children's whole-course health care service and management and its enlightenment / 上海预防医学

Finland is acknowledged as an international leader in the children's health care by the World Health Organization, especially in the formulation and planning of children's health care policies. In the article, we introduces Finnish service mode and management experience in the whole-process medical care for children, including successful operation of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, key role of public health nurses in the whole-process management, significant influence of social and family environment on the healthy development of children, and integration of children's health and welfare services through multi-sectoral cooperation. We make some suggestions and recommendations for the construction of children's health service capacity in China in strengthening the laws and policies in the children's health, improving the network construction and three-level connection of maternal and child health care system, taking the construction of pediatric integrated health care system as the breakthrough point to further promote hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, improving the multi-sectoral cooperation mechanism, and maximizing the influence of information technology and family.

Active constituents and mechanisms of Respiratory Detox Shot, a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, for COVID-19 control and prevention: Network-molecular docking-LC-MS analysis / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Lung-toxin Dispelling Formula No. 1, referred to as Respiratory Detox Shot (RDS), was developed based on a classical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the theoretical understanding of herbal properties within TCM. Therapeutic benefits of using RDS for both disease control and prevention, in the effort to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have been shown. However, the biochemically active constituents of RDS and their mechanisms of action are still unclear. The goal of the present study is to clarify the material foundation and action mechanism of RDS.@*METHODS@#To conduct an analysis of RDS, an integrative analytical platform was constructed, including target prediction, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and cluster analysis; further, the hub genes involved in the disease-related pathways were identified, and the their corresponding compounds were used for in vitro validation of molecular docking predictions. The presence of these validated compounds was also measured in samples of the RDS formula to quantify the abundance of the biochemically active constituents. In our network pharmacological study, a total of 26 bioinformatic programs and databases were used, and six networks, covering the entire Zang-fu viscera, were constructed to comprehensively analyze the intricate connections among the compounds-targets-disease pathways-meridians of RDS.@*RESULTS@#For all 1071 known chemical constituents of the nine ingredients in RDS, identified from established TCM databases, 157 passed drug-likeness screening and led to 339 predicted targets in the constituent-target network. Forty-two hub genes with core regulatory effects were extracted from the PPI network, and 134 compounds and 29 crucial disease pathways were implicated in the target-constituent-disease network. Twelve disease pathways attributed to the Lung-Large Intestine meridians, with six and five attributed to the Kidney-Urinary Bladder and Stomach-Spleen meridians, respectively. One-hundred and eighteen candidate constituents showed a high binding affinity with SARS-coronavirus-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL), as indicated by molecular docking using computational pattern recognition. The in vitro activity of 22 chemical constituents of RDS was validated using the 3CL inhibition assay. Finally, using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry in data-independent analysis mode, the presence of seven out of these 22 constituents was confirmed and validated in an aqueous decoction of RDS, using reference standards in both non-targeted and targeted approaches.@*CONCLUSION@#RDS acts primarily in the Lung-Large Intestine, Kidney-Urinary Bladder and Stomach-Spleen meridians, with other Zang-fu viscera strategically covered by all nine ingredients. In the context of TCM meridian theory, the multiple components and targets of RDS contribute to RDS's dual effects of health-strengthening and pathogen-eliminating. This results in general therapeutic effects for early COVID-19 control and prevention.

Electroacupuncture ameliorated neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury via inactivation of PI3K/AKT pathway

@#Objective: To explore the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on neuropathic pain and the role of PI3K/AKT pathway in microglial activation in spinal cord. Methods: Chronic constriction injury model was established using Sprague-Dawley rats to mimic neuropathic pain. The pain intensity was then detected by paw withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blot were used to evaluate the activation of PI3K/AKT pathway as well as microglia in L4-5 of all rats. Proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 were analyzed by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: It was demonstrated that chronic constriction injury-induced hyperalgesia was significantly improved by LY294002 intrathecal administration and electroacupuncture stimulation at “Zusanli” 足三里 (ST36) and “Yanglingquan” 阳陵泉 (GB34). Also, treatment with electroacupuncture significantly reduced the activation of microglia and downregulated the levels of TNF-α and IL-6, which was similar to the outcomes of LY294002 intrathecal administration. Furthermore, the expression and phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT signaling was markedly suppressed by electroacupuncture treatment. Conclusions: These findings indicated that electroacupuncture exhibited the analgesic effect on CCI rats by inhibiting the activation of microglia and production of proinflammatory cytokines in spinal cord through blocking the microglial PI3K/AKT signaling activation

Different Survival Benefits of Chinese Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer: How to Choose? / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) on patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) in a retrospective population-based study.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between January 1, 2013, and August 30, 2016, according to whether received Western medicine treatment, the patients were included into either integrative medicine (IM) group or CM group. All enrolled patients were orally administrated with Gexia Zhuyu Decoction () or Liujun Ermu Decoction () by syndrome differentiation, twice a day, last for at least 2 months. The primary end point was overall survival (OS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 174 patients with PC were enrolled in this study. In stage I/II, the median OS was 20.5 months in the IM group [95% confidence interval (CI), 12.499 to 28.501] and 11.17 months in the CM group (95% CI, 5.160 to 17.180, P=0.015). The 1- and 2-year survival rates for the two groups were 47.0%, 40.0% and 21.0%, 21.0%, respectively. In stage III/IV, median OS was 13.53 months (95% CI, 8.665 to 18.395) in the IM group versus 6.4 months (95% CI, 0.00 to 15.682) in the CM group, respectively (P=0.32). The 1- and 2-year survival rate for the IM and CM groups were 27.0%, 7.0% and 20.0%, 2.0%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Intervention of CM contributes to the different survival benefits for PC in different stages. Multimodality treatment might be a promising strategy for PC patients in early stage. While, in advanced stage, CM might be an alternative candidate for PC patients.</p>

Effect of Qiling Decoction combined HAART on expression levels of Treg cells and Th17 in HIV/AIDS patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Qiling Decoction (QD) combined highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on expression levels of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells in HIV/AIDS patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 55 HIV/AIDS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (28 cases) and the combination group (27 cases). Besides, 21 HIV negative patients were recruited as the healthy control group. Those in the treatment group received HARRT alone, while those in the combination group received HAART combined QD. The observation lasted for 24 weeks. Meanwhile, according to peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts before treatment, HIV/AIDS patients were assigned to three subgroups. For patients in subgroup 1, 1 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 100 cells/microL; For patients in subgroup 2, 101 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 200 cells/lL; For patients in subgroup 3, 201 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 350 cells/microL. Expression of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, and number of CD4+ T cell counts were detected using flow cytometry (FCM)in HIV/AIDS patients at the pre-treatment baseline, week 4, 12, and 24, as well as those in the healthy control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the healthy control group, CD4+ T cell counts and the baseline expression level of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients significantly decreased, the expression level of Treg cells significantly increased P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, CD4+ T cell counts all increased at week 4, 12, and 24 in the two treatment groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate at various CD4+ T cell levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of Th17 and Treg cells between the combination group and the treatment group at any time point (all P >0.05). The Th17/Treg ration significantly increased in the combination group after 24 weeks of treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with the treatment group (U = 2.135, P = 0.038).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QD could improve the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, which might be one of its mechanisms for improving HIV/AIDS patients' immunity.</p>

Experimental studies on pharmacokinetics of three components in Buyanghuanwu injection on base of total quantum statistical moment / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To verify established the total quantum statistic moments model with astragaloside IV, paeoniflorin, tetramethylpyrazine in Buyanghuanwu injection, in order to establish a pharmacokinetic experimental method with multi-component traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound system.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The RP-HPLC was adopted, with the chromatographic column of C18, 4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm. As for astragaloside IV, the ELSD detector was adopted with acetonitrile-water (35: 65) as the mobile phase at 1 mL x min(-1); the pressure of column was (15.0 +/- 0.408) MPa, the column temperature was 30 degrees C. Regarding paeoniflorin and tetramethylpyrazine, the detection of wavelengths was 254 nm, with acetonitrile-water (35:65) as the mobile phase at 1 mL x min(-1), the column pressure of (15.17 +/- 0.41) MPa. The pharmacokinetic parameters for single component were dealt with DAS and the total quantum statistical moment (TQSM) parameters were calculated using formulations.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>All of the three components followed the two compartmental pharkacokinetic model (P < 0.01) in rats. Compared with the superimposed total concentration, each single component showed difference in parameters up to 10 000 times at most, whereas the RSD of TQSM parameters was 3.510%. The TQSM pharmacokinetic parameters of the three components in Buyanghuanwu injection showed that AUC(t), MRT(t), VRT(t), CL(t), V(t), were (119.8 +/- 27.20) g x min x L(-1), (210.0 +/- 54.49) min, (5.608 +/- 2.723) x 10(4) min2, (0.319 6 +/- 0.068 8) mL x min(-1) x kg(-1) and (64.12 +/- 8.243) mL x kg(-1), respectively, suggesting that the half-life time for the three components were (145.5 +/- 37.76) min and 95% of them were metabolized within 0-674. 2 min.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The TQSM can be used to study pharmacokinetic parameters of multi-component TCM compound, because the method can characterize the pharmacokinetic regularity of quantum-time change in a multi-component system.</p>

Effects of rosuvastatin on monocrotaline-induced pulmonary artery hypertension in rats / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of rosuvastatin on monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary artery hypertension in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pulmonary arterial hypertension was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline (50 mg/kg) in rats. In the prevention protocol, 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8 each): low-dose rosuvastatin prevention group (2 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)), high-dose rosuvastatin prevention group (10 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)), pulmonary arterial hypertension group, normal control group. Beginning on the MCT injection day, rats were treated with rosuvastatin by daily gavage for 4 weeks. Normal control group and pulmonary arterial hypertension group received vehicle by gavage. In the treatment protocol, 52 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 13 each): low-dose rosuvastatin treatment group (2 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)), high-dose rosuvastatin treatment group (10 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)), pulmonary arterial hypertension group, normal control group. Four weeks after MCT injection, rats were treated with rosuvastatin by daily gavage for 4 weeks. Normal control group and pulmonary arterial hypertension group received vehicle by gavage. At the end of study, survival rates, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), wall thickness of small pulmonary artery and right ventricular hypertrophy among groups were compared. The expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and endothelial nitricoxide synthase (eNOS) protein in small pulmonary artery, the expression levels of Rho kinase 1(ROCK-1) and eNOS mRNA in lung tissue were also detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All rats in the prevention protocol survived. Rosuvastatin treatment improved survival in the treatment protocol (58%, 75% vs.30%, P < 0.05). Rosuvastatin therapy in both preventive or treatment protocols significantly lowered mPAP [prevention protocol: (27.53 ± 3.43), (25.72 ± 1.76) vs. (36.05 ± 2.45) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), P < 0.01; treatment protocol: (30.39 ± 3.17), (27.59 ± 1.99) vs. (40.68 ± 1.39) mm Hg, P < 0.01], reduced thickening of small pulmonary artery wall (P < 0.01) and right ventricular hypertrophy (P < 0.01). Rosuvastatin also inhibited PCNA expression of SMC (P < 0.01), restored eNOS expression of EC (P < 0.05) and inhibited ROCK-1 mRNA expressions in lung tissue (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Rosuvastatin therapy reduced mPAP in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension rat model and this effect is linked with inhibition of ROCK-1 expression, inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation and restoration of endothelial cell functions.</p>

Protective effects of gastrodin on lead-induced synaptic plasticity deficits in rat hippocampus.

Lead is a well-known toxin in the environment that causes severe damage to the nervous system. Gastrodin is the main bioactive component of Tian ma ( GASTRODIA ELATA Bl.), which is a traditional herbal medicine widely used in eastern Asia. Increasing lines of evidence show that gastrodin has diverse effects, especially neuroprotective effects. In the present study, we investigated whether gastrodin supplementation can rescue impairments of synaptic plasticity produced by developmental lead exposure. We examined three electrophysiological parameters of synaptic plasticity: input/output (I/O) function, paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), and long-term potentiation (LTP) of field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats on postnatal day 22 (P22). Our results showed that lead exposure significantly impaired synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1 region and that gastrodin can effectively rescue these lead-induced impairments. Therefore, gastrodin may have potential therapeutic value for lead-induced impairments during human developmental stages.

Effect of soluble total proteins of Zaocys dumnades on interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 expressions in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes in vitro / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of soluble total proteins of Zaocys dhumnades on the expressions of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-10 in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) cultured in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primary cultured FLS isolated from the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were incubated in the presence of different concentrations (50, 150 and 450 microg/ml) of soluble total proteins of Zaocys dhumnades, with Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch (THH) and DMEM as the positive and negative controls, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RT-PCR were used to detect the expressions of IL-1beta, IL-10 and TNF-alpha in the FLS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The protein and mRNA levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in the supernatant of the FLS exposed to 150 and 450 microg/ml of the soluble total proteins of Zaocys dhumnades decreased, while IL-10 protein and mRNA increased significantly as compared with those in the negative control group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The soluble total proteins of Zaocys dhumnades produce therapeutic effect on RA possibly by inhibiting IL-1beta and TNF-alpha and promoting IL-10 expressions in the FLS.</p>

Clinical observation on the treatment of childhood refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with Dihuang Zhixue Capsule / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical effect of Dihuang Zhixue Capsule (DZC, a Chinese preparation for cooling blood and dispelling toxic substances) in the treatment of childhood refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (RITP), with cyclosporin A (CsA) used as the control.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-one children of RITP were randomized into the treated group and the control group. The 21 patients in the treated group were orally given 2 to 3 DZC capsules each time, thrice a day and the 20 in the control group were given 3 mg/kg CsA per day, with 3 months as one therapeutic course. The therapeutic efficacy, platelet count and adverse reaction in the two groups were compared at the end of the course.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) In the treated group, 1 (4.8%) patient was evaluated as cured, 3 (14.3%) as markedly effective, 5 (23.8%) as effective, 5 (23.8%) as improved, 7 (33.3%) as ineffective, with the total effective rate being 66.7%; while in the control group, the corresponding numbers were 0, 2 (10.0%), 2 (10.0%), 3 (15.0%), 13 (65.0%) and 35.0%, respectively, showing statistical significance in difference between the total effective rates of the two groups (xi(2)=4.11, P=0.0426). (2) As compared with the baseline, the platelet count increased in both groups after 2 months' treatment (P<0.05). After 3 months' treatment, the platelet count was higher in the treated group than in the control group (P<0.05). (3) The improvement of hemorrhage in the treated group after 8 weeks' treatment was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). (4) No apparent adverse reaction was observed in the treated group, while in the control group, hirsutism was shown in 15 cases; gingival hyperplasia in 10; digestive reaction in 5, liver function impairment in 5, hypertension in 2 and renal impairment in 2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapeutic efficacy of DZC is better than that of CsA, and DZC shows good compliance but brings no obvious adverse reaction.</p>

Synergistic effects of biotic and abiotic elicitors on the production of tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy root culture / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the synergistic effects of a biotic elicitor yeast extract and different abiotic elicitors (Ag+, Co2+ and alpha-amino isobutyric acid) on the production of tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy root.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Different elicitors and their combinations were added to S. miltiorrhiza hairy root culture and the contents of three major tanshinones (crypotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone II A) were analyzed by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The combinations of yeast extract with different abiotic elicitors had notable synergistic effects on the tanshinone I and tanshinone II A production but not on crypotanshinone. The combination of yeast extract and Ag+ (300 micromol x L(-1)) yielded the highest tanshinone I content, which was nearly 14-fold of the control, and the synergistic elicitation coefficient was 3.0. The combination of yeast extract and Co2+ (100 micromol L(-1)) led to the highest tanshinone IIA content, which was about 14.5-fold of the control, and the synergistic elicitation coefficient was 2.1. Only yeast extract combined with alpha-amino isobutyric acid (200 micromol x L(-1)) increased the crypotanshinone content more effectively than single elicitors. The highest crypotanshinone content was 1.28 mg x g(-1), about 30-fold of the control with a synergistic elicitation coefficient of 1.3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The elicitation by the combination of a biotic elicitor and an abiotic elicitor can generate a synergistic effect, which is more effective than single elicitors to promote secondary metabolite production in plant tissue cultures.</p>

[Clinical efficacy of shenzhe zhuyun mixture in treating esophageal lesion in patients with systemic sclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of Shenzhe Zhuyun mixture (SZM) in treating esophageal lesion in patients with systemic sclerosis. METHODS: Sixty-four patients conforming to the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into 2 groups, the treated group and the control group treated respectively by SZM and cisapride, with the blank preparation imitating the contrast one, the treatment course to both groups was 2 months. The clinical efficacy, the changes in symptom scores of esophageal lesion, the orthostatic and clinostatic time of barium passing through esophagus, the clinostatic esophageal emptying index of barium, and the widest transverse diameter of ectatic esophageal segment, as well as the influence of treatment on patients' quality of life were observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the treated group was superior to that in the control group (96.9% vs 56.2%, P < 0.01). Symptom of esophageal lesion was significantly improved after treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and the improvement in the treated group was better than that in the control group (P <0.01). The time of Barium passing through esophagus, both orthostatic and clinostatic, and the esophageal emptying index of barium were improved in the treated group (P < 0.01), but the change of the widest transverse diameter of ectatic esophagus was insignificantly improved. While in the control group, excepting the clinostatic time of barium passing through was improved (P<0.01), the other indexes showed no obvious change. Patients' quality of life was significantly improved in the treated group, but improvement didn't revealed in the control group. CONCLUSION: SZM can reinforce esophageal dynamic function in patients with systemic sclerosis, it can be an effective TCM prescription in treating esophageal lesion for them.

Protective role of astragalus polysaccharide on endothelium cells induced by atherosclerosis / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: The structural and functional impairment of endothelium cells were mainly presented by lowered endothelium activity, reduced nitrogen monoxide production, as well as increased endothelium vasoconstrictor peptide (EVCP).OBJECTIVE: To study the protective role of astragalus polysaccharide on atherosclerosis induced by eudothelium cell injury, which was compared with that of Captopril.DESIGN: Randomly controlled observation.SETTING: Department of Physiology, Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College of Wuhan University;Department of Surgery,Hetang Hospital of Guangdong Province;Department of Endocrinopathic Sciences,Renmin Hospital,Wuhan University.MATERIALS: The study was carried out at the Organic Function Laboratory of Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Pathophysiological Department of Wuhan Medical University from July 2001 to December 2002. Forty healthy male rabbits provided by the experimental animal center of Wuhan medical university, weighed of 2.4-3.0 kg, were randomly divided into blank group,model control group,astragalus polysaccharide group and captopril group with 10 rabbits in each group.Astragalus polysaccharide was extracted from Shanxi produced astragalus root and made into injection powder that should be freshly composed with physical saline before usage.METHODS: Rabbits in blank group were raised with granular feed, while rabbits in other three groups were given hyperlipid feed (80％ basal feed mixed with 15％ yolk powder, 0.5％ cholesterin and 5％ lard), in addition with venous injection of bovine serum by 1 mL/kg once, atherosclerosis induced endothelium injury model was established on rabbit by hyperlipid feed combined with immune injury. Rabbits in astragalus polysaccharide group received intraperitoneal injection of polysaccharide of 500 mg/kg once a day; which replaced by 5 mg/kg captopril in captopril group that equals to 5 times clinical dosage; While rabbits in blank group and model control group were given the same volume physical saline of 4 mL/kg for totally 50 days. Blood were collected from SVC 24 after the last medication and then rabbits were put to death, the morphological changes of abdominal aorta were observed under optical microscope, meanwhile the changes of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, nitrogen monoxide, EVCP, superoxide dismutase, malonaldehyde and total antioxidation activity were examined.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Morphological changesof abdominal aorta. ② Changes of serum parameters.RESULTS: All 40 rabbits complete the experiment without loss. ① In contrast with model control group group, the total serum total cholesterol and triglycerides in astragalus polysaccharide group and captopril group obviously decreased [(9.33±1.13), (6.60±0.61), (7.09±0.74) mmol/L, P ＜ 0.05;(3.05±0.44), (1.26±0.16), (2.17±0.46) mmol/L, P ＜ 0.01, P＜ 0.05],malonaldehyde and EVCP markedly decreased [(9.98 ± 1.11 ), (7.10 ±0.68),(9.46±1.27) μmol/L, P ＜ 0.01; (741.90±34.98), (632.62±26.95),(600.74±32.59) ng/L, P ＜ 0.01]. ② Comparing to model control group group,the serum nitrogen monoxide and superoxide dismutase were obviously increased in astragalus polysaccharide group and captopril group ·[(11.04±1.68),(19.96±6.05), (18.35±3.52) μmol/L, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.05; (159.32±5.26),(207.54±16.98), (197.59±28.41) NU/mL, P ＜ 0.0l, P ＜ 0.05], the total antioxidation activity also increased [(23.8±3.5), (34.7±5.6), (30.7±6.8)％,P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.05]. ③ Either the decrement of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol and malonaldehyde or the increment of nitrogen monoxide, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidation activity in astragalus polysaccharide group was greater than captopril group (P ＜ 0.01). ④ Morphological changes of abdominal aorta: The aorta intima was smooth and endothelium cells were continuous with small intervals between cells in blank control group,endothelium cells presented normal configuration without edema;while intima in model control group became thick and upheaved, part of endothelinm cells detached with widened intervals. The media became thickened with leiomyocyte displaying hyperplasic and infiltering into endothelium, foaming cells could also be observed; the aorta intima was smooth and endothelium was closely connected in astragalus polysaccharide group, the hyperplasia of leiomyocyte was not active and foaming cells seldom observed; while in captopril group, the aorta intima was smooth without obvious detachment of endothelium cells and infiltration of leiomyocyte, leiomyocytes were normal and ranked orderly.CONCLUSION:Astragalus polysaccharide could markedly eliminate serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, malonaldehyde and EVCP, thereby alleviate vascular impairment induced by EVCP, meanwhile markedly increased serum nitrogen monoxide, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidation activity, the intima surface of abdominal aorta could be smooth due to the administration of AP, endothelium configuration would be basically complete, implying that it has better antioxidation property and protective role for endothelium cells.

Clinical efficacy of shenzhe zhuyun mixture in treating esophageal lesion in patients with systemic sclerosis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical efficacy of Shenzhe Zhuyun mixture (SZM) in treating esophageal lesion in patients with systemic sclerosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four patients conforming to the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into 2 groups, the treated group and the control group treated respectively by SZM and cisapride, with the blank preparation imitating the contrast one, the treatment course to both groups was 2 months. The clinical efficacy, the changes in symptom scores of esophageal lesion, the orthostatic and clinostatic time of barium passing through esophagus, the clinostatic esophageal emptying index of barium, and the widest transverse diameter of ectatic esophageal segment, as well as the influence of treatment on patients' quality of life were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate in the treated group was superior to that in the control group (96.9% vs 56.2%, P < 0.01). Symptom of esophageal lesion was significantly improved after treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and the improvement in the treated group was better than that in the control group (P <0.01). The time of Barium passing through esophagus, both orthostatic and clinostatic, and the esophageal emptying index of barium were improved in the treated group (P < 0.01), but the change of the widest transverse diameter of ectatic esophagus was insignificantly improved. While in the control group, excepting the clinostatic time of barium passing through was improved (P<0.01), the other indexes showed no obvious change. Patients' quality of life was significantly improved in the treated group, but improvement didn't revealed in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SZM can reinforce esophageal dynamic function in patients with systemic sclerosis, it can be an effective TCM prescription in treating esophageal lesion for them.</p>

Effects of phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol on normal human breast / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol (alpha-ZAL) on normal human breast.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten specimens of normal human breast tissues were subcutaneously implanted into 30 athymic nude mice aged 9-10 weeks, one for 3 mice. These mice were then randomly divided into three groups: control group (without hormone treatment, n = 10), 1 mg/kg alpha-ZAL group (n = 10), and 5 mg/kg alpha-ZAL group (n = 10). All breast tissues were taken out 6 weeks later. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the protein expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), inhibiting apoptosis gene Bcl-2, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression levels of estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) mRNA and bridging integrator protein-1 (BIN1) mRNA. Morphological features of grafts before and after treatment were also observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Alpha-ZAL had no significant effects on Bcl-2, PCNA, ER, and PR expression of mammary epithelial cells in graft specimens. Alpha-ZAL upregulated BIN1 mRNA expression in grafts, but had no significant effect on ESTmRNA expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Alpha-ZAL does not affect the morphology, proliferating, and apoptosis of epithelial cells in normal human breast tissues implanted into nude mice, but it may increase the gene expression of tumor-inhibiting BIN1, suggesting that alpha-ZAL may have potential proteotive effect on normal human breast.</p>

Experimental study on anti-pyretic effect of gegen qin lian decoction and its compounds / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate composition principles of Gegen Qin Lian decoction through anti-pyretic experiment.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Pharmacological effects of different compounds of Gegen Qin Lian decoction according to six hours temperature response index (TRI6) and average top temperature response height (deltaT) after the decoction was given to feverish animal model by inactived bacteria suspension.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>As for reducing six hour temperature response index, Scutellaria baicalensis root was the main effective drug. Pueraria lobata root could enforce the effect while Coptis chinensis rhizome and Glycyrrhiza uralensis root counteracted it. As for reducing average top temperature response height, the Effects of four herbal drugs were the same as for TRI6.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Of the compounds of Gegen Qin Lian decoction, as to the pharmcological anti-pyretic effects, the best one is the compound of Scutellaria baicalensis and Pueraria lobata roots.</p>