Tetramethylpyrazine-loaded electroconductive hydrogels promote tissue repair after spinal cord injury by protecting the blood-spinal cord barrier and neurons.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) usually induces profound microvascular dysfunction. It disrupts the integrity of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), which could trigger a cascade of secondary pathological events that manifest as neuronal apoptosis and axonal demyelination. These events can further lead to irreversible neurological impairments. Thus, reducing the permeability of the BSCB and maintaining its substructural integrity are essential to promote neuronal survival following SCI. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) has emerged as a potential protective agent for treating the BSCB after SCI. However, its therapeutic potential is hindered by challenges in the administration route and suboptimal bioavailability, leading to attenuated clinical outcomes. To address this challenge, traditional Chinese medicine, TMP, was used in this study to construct a drug-loaded electroconductive hydrogel for synergistic treatment of SCI. A conductive hydrogel combined with TMP demonstrates good electrical and mechanical properties as well as superior biocompatibility. Furthermore, it also facilitates sustained local release of TMP at the implantation site. Furthermore, the TMP-loaded electroconductive hydrogel could suppress oxidative stress responses, thereby diminishing endothelial cell apoptosis and the breakdown of tight junction proteins. This concerted action repairs BSCB integrity. Concurrently, myelin-associated axons and neurons are protected against death, which meaningfully restore neurological functions post spinal cord injury. Hence, these findings indicate that combining the electroconductive hydrogel with TMP presents a promising avenue for potentiating drug efficacy and synergistic repair following SCI.

Berberine promotes the degradation of phenylacetic acid to prevent thrombosis by modulating gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Berberine is the main bioactive constituent of Coptis chinensis, a quaternary ammonium alkaloid. While berberine's cardiovascular benefits are well-documented, its impact on thrombosis remains not fully understood. PURPOSE: This study investigates the potential of intestinal microbiota as a novel target for preventing thrombosis, with a focus on berberine, a natural compound known for its effectiveness in managing cardiovascular conditions. METHODS: Intraperitoneal injection of carrageenan induces the secretion of chemical mediators such as histamine and serotonin from mast cells to promote thrombosis. This model can directly and visually observe the progression of thrombosis in a time-dependent manner. Thrombosis was induced by intravenous injection of 1 % carrageenan solution (20 mg/kg) to all mice except the vehicle control group. Quantitative analysis of gut microbiota metabolites through LC/MS. Then, the gut microbiota of mice was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing to assess the changes. Finally, the effects of gut microbiota on thrombosis were explored by fecal microbiota transplantation. RESULTS: Our research shows that berberine inhibits thrombosis by altering intestinal microbiota composition and related metabolites. Notably, berberine curtails the biosynthesis of phenylacetylglycine, a thrombosis-promoting coproduct of the host-intestinal microbiota, by promoting phenylacetic acid degradation. This research underscores the significance of phenylacetylglycine as a thrombosis-promoting risk factor, as evidenced by the ability of intraperitoneal phenylacetylglycine injection to reverse berberine's efficacy. Fecal microbiota transplantation experiment confirms the crucial role of intestinal microbiota in thrombus formation. CONCLUSION: Initiating our investigation from the perspective of the gut microbiota, we have, for the first time, unveiled that berberine inhibits thrombus formation by promoting the degradation of phenylacetic acid, consequently suppressing the biosynthesis of PAG. This discovery further substantiates the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota and thrombosis. Our study advances the understanding that intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in thrombosis development and highlights berberine-mediated intestinal microbiota modulation as a promising therapeutic approach for thrombosis prevention.

Ginsenoside Rg3 decreases breast cancer stem-like phenotypes through impairing MYC mRNA stability.

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are responsible for breast cancer metastasis, recurrence and treatment resistance, all of which make BCSCs potential drivers of breast cancer aggression. Ginsenoside Rg3, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, was reported to have multiple antitumor functions. Here, we revealed a novel effect of Rg3 on BCSCs. Rg3 inhibits breast cancer cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Importantly, Rg3 suppressed mammosphere formation, reduced the expression of stemness-related transcription factors, including c-Myc, Oct4, Sox2 and Lin28, and diminished ALDH(+) populations. Moreover, tumor-bearing mice treated with Rg3 exhibited robust delay of tumor growth and a decrease in tumor-initiating frequency. In addition, we found that Rg3 suppressed breast cancer stem-like properties mainly through inhibiting MYC expression. Mechanistically, Rg3 accelerated the degradation of MYC mRNA by enhancing the expression of the let-7 family, which was demonstrated to bind to the MYC 3' untranslated region (UTR). In conclusion, our findings reveal the remarkable suppressive effect of Rg3 on BCSCs, suggesting that Rg3 is a promising therapeutic treatment for breast cancer.

The Herbal Combination Shu Gan Jie Yu Regulates the SNCG/ER-a/AKT-ERK Pathway in DMBA-Induced Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Cell Lines Based on RNA-Seq and IPA Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Soothing the liver (called Shu Gan Jie Yu in Chinese, SGJY) is a significant therapeutic method for breast cancer in TCM. In this study, 3 liver-soothing herbs, including Cyperus rotundus L., Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle and Rosa rugosa Thunb. were selected and combined to form a SGJY herbal combinatory. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the inhibiting effect of SGJY on breast cancer in vivo and vitro, and to explore the potential mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SGJY herbal combination was extracted using water. A breast cancer rat model was developed by chemical DMBA by gavage, then treated with SGJY for 11 weeks. The tumor tissue was preserved for RNA sequencing and analyzed by IPA software. The inhibition effects of SGJY on MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells were investigated by SRB assay and cell apoptosis analysis, and the protein expression levels of SNCG, ER-α, p-AKT and p-ERK were measured by western blotting. RESULTS: SGJY significantly reduced the tumor weight and volume, and the level of estradiol in serum. The results of IPA analysis reveal SGJY upregulated 7 canonical pathways and downregulated 16 canonical pathways. Estrogen receptor signaling was the key canonical pathway with 9 genes downregulated. The results of upstream regulator analysis reveal beta-estradiol was the central target; the upstream regulator network scheme showed that 86 genes could affect the expression of the beta-estradiol, including SNCG, CCL21 and MB. Additionally, SGJY was verified to significantly alter the expression of SNCG mRNA, CCL21 mRNA and MB mRNA which was consistent with the data of RNA-Seq. The inhibition effects of SGJY exhibited a dose-dependent response. The apoptosis rates of MCF7 and T47D cells were upregulated. The protein expression of SNCG, ER-α, p-AKT and p-ERK were all significantly decreased by SGJY on MCF-7 and T47D cells. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that SGJY may inhibit the growth of breast cancer. The mechanism might involve downregulating the level of serum estradiol, and suppressing the protein expression in the SNCG/ER-α/AKT-ERK pathway.

[Effect and mechanism of Yueju Pills on breast cancer induced by DMBA in rats].

This paper aims to explore the inhibitory effect of Yueju Pills on breast cancer and decipher the underlying mechanism. A total of 92 SPF-grade SD female rats were involved in this study, and 14 of them were randomly selected into control group. The remaining 78 rats were administrated with 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene(DMBA) by gavage to establish the breast cancer model. The modeled rats were randomized into model, tamoxifen(1.9 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and low-and high-dose(17, 34 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) Yueju Pills groups. The mental state, food intake, and activities of the rats were observed daily, and the body weight was measured on alternate days. After 12 weeks of administration, the rats were sacrificed and the tumor weight was measured. The serum estrogen and progeste-rone levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The histopathological changes of the breast and tumor were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Western blot was employed to measure the protein levels of glucose transporter 1(GLUT1), lactate dehydrogenase A(LDHA), phosphofructokinase muscle(PFKM), pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2(PKM2), hexokinase 2(HK2), nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB), and phosphorylated NF-κB. The intestinal microbiome was examined by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that compared with the model group, high and low-dose Yueju Pills showed the tumor inhibition rate of 15.8% and 64.5%, respectively, and the low dose group had stronger inhibitory effect. Compared with the control group, the model group presented elevated the levels of estrogen and progesterone in serum. The administration of Yueju Pills lowered such ele-vation, and the low-dose group showed stronger lowering effect(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, Yueju Pills reduced the glands with increased breast tissue, the degree of breast duct expansion, the number and area of acinar cavity, the secretions, and the layers of mammary epithelial cells. Furthermore, Yueju Pills down-regulated the expression of GLUT1, LDHA, PFKM, PKM2, HK2, and NF-κB(P<0.05) and altered the diversity, composition, structure, and abundance of intestinal flora. The results showed that Yueju Pills could inhibit breast cancer by regulating the secretion of estrogen and progesterone, glycolysis, inflammatory cytokines, and intestinal flora.

[Characterization and identification of chemical constituents from Schizonepetae Spica based on UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technique].

The chemical constituents of Schizonepetae Spica were qualitatively analyzed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. An Agilent poroshell 120 SB-C_(18) column(3.0 mm×100 mm, 2.7 µm) was used for gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid water(A)-acetonitrile(B) solution as mobile phase at the flow rate of 0.4 mL·min~(-1) and column temperature of 45 ℃. The data were collected by scanning in positive and negative ion modes, and the compounds were identified by comparison of reference materials and PeakView software. Ninety-seven compounds were identified from Schizonepetae Spica, including 28 flavonoids, 23 phenolic acids, 23 fatty acids, 15 terpenoids, and 8 other compounds. The UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method established in this study can identify the chemical components of Schizonepetae Spica rapidly, accurately, and comprehensively, and provide a basis for the basic study of pharmacodynamic substances of Schizonepetae Spica.

Alisol B 23-acetate promotes white adipose tissue browning to mitigate high-fat diet-induced obesity by regulating mTOR-SREBP1 signaling.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a global health concern with management strategies encompassing bariatric surgery and anti-obesity drugs; however, concerns regarding complexities and side effects persist, driving research for more effective, low-risk strategies. The promotion of white adipose tissue (WAT) browning has emerged as a promising approach. Moreover, alisol B 23-acetate (AB23A) has demonstrated efficacy in addressing metabolic disorders, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent in obesity management. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of AB23A for mitigating obesity by regulating metabolic phenotypes and lipid distribution in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: An obesity mouse model was established by administration of an HFD. Glucose and insulin metabolism were assessed via glucose and insulin tolerance tests. Adipocyte size was determined using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression of browning markers in WAT was evaluated using Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Metabolic cage monitoring involved the assessment of various parameters, including food and water intake, energy metabolism, respiratory exchange rates, and physical activity. Moreover, oil red O staining was used to evaluate intracellular lipid accumulation. A bioinformatic analysis tool for identifying the molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine was used to examine AB23A targets and associated signaling pathways. RESULTS: AB23A administration significantly reduced the weight of obese mice, decreased the mass of inguinal WAT, epididymal WAT, and perirenal adipose tissue, improved glucose and insulin metabolism, and reduced adipocyte size. Moreover, treatment with AB23A promoted the expression of browning markers in WAT, enhanced overall energy metabolism in mice, and had no discernible effect on food intake, water consumption, or physical activity. In 3T3-L1 cells, AB23A inhibited lipid accumulation, and both AB23A and rapamycin inhibited the mammalian target of rapamycin-sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (mTOR-SREBP1) signaling pathway. Furthermore, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, dexamethasone and insulin, at concentrations of 0.25 mmol/L, 0.25 µmol/L and 1 µg/mL, respectively, induced activation of the mTOR-SREBP1 signaling pathway, which was further strengthened by an mTOR activator MHY1485. Notably, MHY1485 reversed the beneficial effects of AB23A in 3T3-L1 cells. CONCLUSION: AB23A promoted WAT browning by inhibiting the mTOR-SREBP1 signaling pathway, offering a potential strategy to prevent obesity. Please cite this article as: Han LL, Zhang X, Zhang H, Li T, Zhao YC, Tian MH, Sun FL, Feng B. Alisol B 23-acetate promotes white adipose tissue browning to mitigate high-fat diet-induced obesity by regulating mTOR-SREBP1 signaling. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(1): 83-92.

Polysaccharide of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr regulates macrophage immune response and epigenetic memory through TLR4-JNK/p38/ERK signaling pathway and histone modification.

BACKGROUND: Innate immune memory of macrophages is closely linked to histone modifications. While various studies have demonstrated that the polysaccharide of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr (ACMP), extracted through alcohol-alkali extraction, enhances macrophages' non-specific immune function; no literature currently addresses whether ACMP's regulatory effect is related to innate immune memory and histone modification. PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate if ACMP induces innate immune memory emergence in macrophages via pattern recognition receptor (PRR). STUDY DESIGN: After co-incubating different doses of ACMP with RAW264.7 cells and BMDM cells, we observed changes in signaling pathways related to PRR and assessed the presence of innate immune memory phenomenon in the cells. METHODS: We observed the morphological characteristics of the ACMP using a scanning electron microscope, infrared spectrum, and HPLC pre-column derivatization method. We used q-PCR, Western blot, RNA-seq, and CUT&Tag-seq methods to examine ACMP's regulation of macrophage immune response and innate immune memory and explored its specific mechanism. RESULTS: ACMP, primarily composed of Man, GlcN, Rha, Fuc, GalA, Xyl, Glc, Gal, Ara, and, exhibited a molar ratio of each monosaccharide (1.41: 0.35: 0.49: 0.18: 1.00: 97.12: 0.36: 3.58: 1.14). ACMP regulated immunological function in macrophages through the TLR4-MAPK-JNK/p38/ERK pathway. ACMP induced elevated levels of chromosomal H3K4me1, enhancing TNF-α, IL-1ß, and other genes' responsiveness, allowing macrophages to develop innate immune memory to ACMP stimulation. CONCLUSION: This study first time demonstrates that ACMP regulates immunological function through the TLR4-MAPK-JNK/ERK/p38 signaling pathway, distinct from prior reports. ACMP induces innate immune memory in macrophages in response to its immune stimulation by promoting increased H3K4me1 on chromosomes. This mechanism may be crucial in how plant polysaccharides regulate macrophages and the body's immune function.

Out-of-set association analysis of lung cancer drugs and symptoms based on clinical case data mining.

BACKGROUND: There are 1.8 million lung cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for 18% of global cancer deaths, including 710,000 in China, accounting for 23.8% of all cancer deaths in China. OBJECTIVE: To explore the out-of-set association rules of lung cancer symptoms and drugs through text mining of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment of lung cancer, and form medical case analysis to analyze the experience of TCM syndrome differentiation in its treatment. METHODS: The medical records of all patients diagnosed with lung cancer in Nanjing Chest Hospital from January to December 2018 were collected, and the out-of-set association analysis was performed using the MedCase v5.2 TCM clinical scientific research auxiliary platform based on the frequent pattern growth enhanced association analysis algorithm. RESULTS: In terms of TCM treatment of lung cancer, the clinical symptoms with high correlation included cough, expectoration, chest distress, and white phlegm; and the drugs with high correlation included Pinellia ternata, licorice root, white Atractylodes rhizome, and Radix Ophiopogonis; with the prescriptions based on Erchen and Maimendong decoctions. CONCLUSION: This analytical study of the medical cases of TCM treatment for lung cancer was performed using data mining techniques, and the out-of-set association rules between clinical symptoms and drugs were analyzed, including the understanding of lung cancer in TCM. Moreover, the essence of experience in drug use was gathered, providing significant scientific guidance for the clinical treatment of lung cancer.

Screening Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Predicting the Efficacy of Electroacupuncture for Fatigue Treatment in Patients with Breast Cancer Following Adjuvant Chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy-induced fatigue reduces not only the quality of life of patients but also effect their recurrence-free survival rate. Although electroacupuncture can relieve fatigue, it has limited affect on some patients. Therefore, appropriate biomarkers are needed to help screen patients who can benefit from electroacupuncture treatment of fatigue. We conducted this study to explore the predictive ability of SNPs on the efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of fatigue in patients with breast cancer after adjuvant chemotherapy. Our study included breast cancer patients with fatigue after receiving paclitaxel and/or anthracycline based adjuvant chemotherapy. The patients were divided into the electroacupuncture group and the control group. The electroacupuncture treatment group received adjuvant chemotherapy and electroacupuncture treatment, while the control group only received adjuvant chemotherapy, and then compared the fatigue relief degree of two groups. In addition, we used NCBI dbSNP and PharmGKB databases to select fatigue related genes and their SNPs. We collected peripheral blood from the included patients for SNPs typing, and recorded the efficacy of electroacupuncture to analyzed the correlation between different SNPs and therapeutic efficacy. The side effects of electroacupuncture treatment were also recorded. 76 patients in the electroacupuncture group and 48 patients in the control group were enrolled. In the electroacupuncture group, 63 patients (82.9%) experienced moderate to severe fatigue (BFI score > 3). After electroacupuncture treatment, the number of patients with a BFI score of > 3 was 46 (60.5%). Therefore, the fatigue symptoms of 26.9% patients were significantly improved (P < 0.05). In the control group, which did not receive electroacupuncture treatment, 40 of 48 patients had a BFI score of > 3. Following the same observation time used in the electroacupuncture group, 36 patients had a BFI score of > 3 points. Thus, fatigue was not significantly relieved in the control group (83.3% vs. 75.0%, P > 0.05). We included 56 patients in our analysis of the correlation between SNPs and electroacupuncture treatment effects. We divided the patients into an effective group and ineffective group according to therapeutic effects. Our results indicated that the effective rate of electroacupuncture treatment with IL1A rs3783550 AC and CC genotypes was higher than that with other genotypes (AC: 84.6%, CC: 81.8%, AA: 33.0%, P < 0.05). Similarly, the effective rate of electroacupuncture treatment with HTR1A rs6295 GG and CC genotypes was higher than that with other genotypes (GG: 63.0%, CC: 55.6%, GC: 18.2%, P < 0.05). However, no other genotypes were related to the effect of electroacupuncture treatment on fatigue. Our result showed that electroacupuncture has therapeutic effect on fatigue after adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and the side effects are tolerable. In addition, IL1A rs3763550 and HTR1A rss6295 can predict the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on fatigue after adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer, which helps to better screen patients who can benefit from electroacupuncture treatment.

The ROS/SIRT1/STAR axis as a target for melatonin ameliorating atrazine-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and steroid disorders in granulosa cells.

The granulosa cells (GCs) of birds are essential for the reproduction and maintenance of populations in nature. Atrazine (ATR) is a potent endocrine disruptor that can interfere with reproductive function in females and Diaminochlorotriazine (DACT) is the primary metabolite of ATR in the organism. Melatonin (MT) is an endogenous hormone with antioxidant properties that plays a crucial role in development of animal germ cells. However, how ATR causes mitochondrial dysfunction, abnormal secretion of steroid hormones, and whether MT prevents ATR-induced female reproductive toxicity remains unclear. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the protective effect of MT against ATR-induced female reproduction. In the present study, the GCs of quail were divided into 6 groups, as follows: C (Serum-free medium), MT (10 µM MT), A250 (250 µM ATR), MA250 (10 µM MT+250 µM ATR), D200 (200 µM DACT) and MD200 (10 µM MT+200 µM DACT), and were cultured for 24 h. The results revealed that ATR prevented GCs proliferation and decreased cell differentiation. ATR caused oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to disruption of steroid synthesis, which posed a severe risk to GC's function. However, MT supplements reversed these changes. Mechanistically, our study exhibited that the ROS/SIRT1/STAR axis as a target for MT to ameliorate ATR-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and steroid disorders in GCs, which provides new insights into the role of MT in ATR-induced reproductive capacity and species conservation in birds.

Baiheqingjin formula reduces inflammation in mice with asthma by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/NF-κb signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Baiheqingjin Decoction (BHQJ), which consists of 7 traditional Chinese herbs including Baibu (Stemona tuberosa Lour.), Hezi (Terminalia chebula Retz.), Mahuang (Ephedra sinica Stapf.), Ziwan (Aster tataricus L. f.), Dilong (Pheretima), Sangbaipi (Morus alba L.), and Xianhecao (Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.). BHQJ is commonly used for treating cough asthma, and variant cough-variant asthma as it, is effective in improving asthma symptoms and reducing airway inflammation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the mechanisms of BHQJ in treating allergic asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected information about the components and targets of 6 Chinese medicines (excluding Pheretima) from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Additionally, we obtained genes associated with asthma from six disease databases. To create a protein-protein interaction network, we conducted an intersection analysis using differentially expressed genes derived from RNA transcriptome data. Subsequently, we carried out Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses. To validate the findings from network pharmacology and transcriptomics, we established an allergic asthma mouse model induced by ovalbumin and conducted in vivo experiments. RESULTS: Using network pharmacology and transcriptomics analyses, we identified the pathways including the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and NF-κB signaling pathway. Among these, the involvement of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway in various pathological processes of asthma, such as airway inflammation, smooth muscle contraction, and excessive mucus production, are well-documented. Histopathological examinations indicated that BHQJ had the potential to mitigate inflammatory cell infiltration and the excessive growth of goblet cells in the airways of asthmatic mice, consequently reducing mucus secretion. Results from Western blot demonstrated that BHQJ could inhibit the activation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway at the protein levels. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay findings revealed that BHQJ could reduce the production of typical "type 2 asthma" cytokines and immunoglobulin (Ig) E in the blood. These discoveries imply that BHQJ has the potential to reduce the release of inflammatory cytokines and suppress the overactivation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway, thus offering a therapeutic approach for asthma. CONCLUSION: Our research offers initial insights into the fundamental mechanisms through which BHQJ treats asthma. This study reveals the potential mechanism of BHQJ in treating asthma, particularly its role in reducing inflammatory cytokines, mucus production, and cell infiltration, as well as inhibiting the expression of PI3K/AKT/P65 phosphorylated protein. These findings indicate the potential of BHQJ in treating asthma. In summary, our study provides preliminary insights into the asthma treatment mechanism of BHQJ and provides guidance for future research.

Harmonizing international quality standards for Andrographis paniculata: A comparative analysis of content determination methods across pharmacopeias.

The quality standards for Andrographis paniculata, a widely used medicinal herb, exhibited significant variations across different pharmacopeias. In this study, we compared the HPLC content determination methods and total lactone content of A. paniculata samples from different regions, as specified in the Chinese (CP), United States (USP), European (EP), Thai (TP), and Indian pharmacopeias (IP), as well as the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HK). We aimed to assess the differences and similarities among these pharmacopeias and harmonized international quality standards for A. paniculata. The analysis revealed variations in sample preparation, liquid chromatographic conditions, fingerprint profiles, and total lactone content among the different pharmacopeias. Specifically, the CP and HK methods exhibited superior sample preparation and chromatographic separation. Further comparing the content of 20 A. paniculata samples with the CP, USP, EP and HK methods showed consistent determinations for the same components, indicating similar detection capabilities. The discrepancies in total lactone content primarily stemmed from differences in the number and types of detected compounds. Moreover, the acceptance criteria exhibited a stringency in the order CP > HK > EP > USP. In conclusion, this comparison analysis of content determination in CP, USP, HK, EP, TP and IP provided a scientific foundation for the international standardization and trade regulations of A. paniculata. It also served as a valuable reference for the development of international quality standards for other medicinal herbs, facilitating the harmonization of global pharmaceutical standards.

Treatment of postpartum depression with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine nursing and electrical stimulation.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common psychological disease among puerperal women, and postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction is a common disease among pregnant women. The occurrence of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction will increase the incidence of PPD. AIM: To explore the therapeutic effect of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine nursing combined with electrical stimulation of pelvic floor muscles and the rectus abdominis on PPD. METHODS: From April 2020 to January 2022, 100 parturients with a rectus abdominis muscle separation distance > 2.0 cm who underwent reexamination 6 wk after delivery at our hospital were selected as the research subjects. According to the random number table method, the patients were divided into either an observation group (n = 50) or a control group (n = 50). There was no significant difference in the general data between the two groups (P > 0.05). Both groups were treated by electrical stimulation. The observation group was additionally treated by integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine nursing. A self-designed Depression Knowledge Questionnaire was used to evaluate the awareness of knowledge on depression in all patients 3 wk after intervention. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate the depression before intervention and 1 wk and 3 wk after intervention, and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) was used to evaluate the medication compliance. SPSS19.0 was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The rate of awareness of knowledge on depression in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The scores of MMAS-8 were comparable between the two groups before intervention (P > 0.05), but were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group at 1 wk and 3 wk after intervention (P < 0.05). The HAMD scores were comparable between the two groups before intervention (P > 0.05), but were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group at 1 wk and 3 wk after intervention (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine nursing combined with electrical stimulation of pelvic floor muscles and the rectus abdominis is effective in the treatment of postpartum depression and worthy of clinical promotion.

Insight into the Interaction Mechanism of Vitamin D against Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis and In Silico Study.

As a dietary supplement or functional food additive, vitamin D (VD) deficiency may impact extra-skeletal functions associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors. However, the precise effects and mechanisms of VD supplementation on dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in MetS subjects remain controversial. Here, we investigate potential therapeutic targets, pathways and mechanisms of VD against MetS through a comprehensive strategy including meta-analysis, network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking, dynamics simulations, and quantum chemical calculations. Our results reveal that VD supplementation significantly reduces triglyceride levels, fasting glucose, and insulin concentrations in subjects, thereby improving insulin homeostasis to some extent. We theoretically identify 14 core MetS-associated targets. Notably, VD exhibits substantial interactions with three targets (PPARγ, FABP4, and HMGCR) in the PPAR signaling pathway, indicating that VD can modulate this pathway. Van der Waals forces predominantly stabilize the complexes formed between VD and the three targets. Nonetheless, to provide valuable insights for personalized MetS management, further research is necessary to confirm our findings, emphasizing the importance of exploring genetic variability in VD response. In conclusion, our study contributes insights into the mechanisms of VD in preventing and treating MetS through dietary supplementation, promoting the development of VD-based functional foods or nutritious diets.

[Chemical constituents from stems and leaves of Cratoxylum cochinchinense and their inhibitory effects on proliferation of synoviocytes in vitro].

The chemical constituents from the stems and leaves of Cratoxylum cochinchinense were isolated and purified using silica gel, ODS gel, and Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, as well as preparative HPLC. The chemical structures of all isolated compounds were identified on the basis of their physicochemical properties, spectroscopic analyses, and the comparison of their physicochemical and spectroscopic data with the reported data in literature. As a result, 21 compounds were isolated from the 90% ethanol extract of the stems and leaves of C. cochinchinense, which were identified as cratocochine(1), 1-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone(2), 1-hydroxy-5,6,7-trimethoxyxanthone(3), ferrxanthone(4), 3,6-dihydroxy-1,5-dimethoxyxanthone(5), 3,6-dihydroxy-1,7-dimethoxyxanthone(6), 1,2,5-trihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxyxanthone(7), securixanthone G(8), gentisein(9), 3,7-dihydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone(10), pancixanthone B(11), garcimangosxanthone A(12), pruniflorone L(13), 9-hydroxy alabaxanthone(14), cochinchinone A(15), luteolin(16), 3,5'-dimethoxy-4',7-epoxy-8,3'-neolignane-5,9,9'-triol(17), N-benzyl-9-oxo-10E,12E-octadecadienamide(18), 15-hydroxy-7,13E-labdadiene(19), stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one(20), and stigmast-5-en-3ß-ol(21). Among these isolates, compound 1 was a new xanthone, compounds 2-5, 7, 8, 12, and 16-21 were isolated from the Cratoxylum plant for the first time, and compounds 11 and 13 were obtained from C. cochinchinense for the first time. Furthermore, all isolated compounds 1-21 were appraised for their anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities by MTS method through measuring their anti-proliferative effect on synoviocytes in vitro. As a result, xanthones 1-15 displayed notable anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities, which showed inhibitory effects on the proliferation of MH7A synoviocytes with the IC_(50) values ranging from(8.98±0.12) to(228.68±0.32) µmol·L~(-1).

[LC-MS fingerprint and multi-indicator components analysis of classical formula Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction].

This study developed an optimal pre-processing technique for the reference substance of the classic formula Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction(GXBD) and established a comprehensive quality control method for GXBD reference substance to provide a reference for its overall quality evaluation. The authors prepared 15 batches of GXBD samples and innovatively used the extracted ion chromatogram under the base peak chromatogram mode to establish a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) fingerprint, identify characteristic peaks, and perform quantitative analysis of indicator components. The yield of the 15 batches of GXBD samples ranged from 50.28% to 76.20%. In the positive ion mode, 12 common characteristic peaks were detected in the LC-MS fingerprint, and the structures of five common peaks were identified by comparison with reference standards. The similarity between the fingerprint profiles of different batches of samples and the reference fingerprint profile ranged from 0.920 to 0.984. Finally, liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(LC-QQQ/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode was used to determine the content of eight indicator components in GXBD, including loliolide, chrysoeriol, rutin, cucurbitacin D, macrostemonoside Ⅰ, 25S-timosaponin B Ⅱ, 25R-timosaponin B Ⅱ, and peptide proline-tryptophan-valine-proline-glycine(PWVPG). The method established in this study can reduce matrix interference in the compound, and it has good accuracy, stability, and practical value. It effectively reflects the quality attributes of GXBD samples and can be used for the comprehensive quality control of GXBD.

Understanding base and backbone contributions of phosphorothioate DNA for molecular recognition with SBD proteins.

Bacterial DNA phosphorothioate (PT) modification provides a specific anchoring site for sulfur-binding proteins (SBDs). Besides, their recognition patterns include phosphate links and bases neighboring the PT-modified site, thereby bringing about genome sequence-dependent properties in PT-related epigenetics. Here, we analyze the contributions of the DNA backbone (phosphates and deoxyribose) and bases bound with two SBD proteins in Streptomyces pristinaespiralis and coelicolor (SBDSco and SBDSpr). The chalcogen-hydrophobic interactions remained constantly at the anchoring site while the adjacent bases formed conditional and distinctive non-covalent interactions. More importantly, SBD/PT-DNA interactions were not limited within the traditional "4-bp core" range from 5'-I to 3'-III but extended to upstream 5'-II and 5'-III bases and even 5''-I to 5''-III at the non-PT-modified complementary strand. From the epigenetic viewpoint, bases 3'-II, 5''-I, and 5''-III of SBDSpr and 3'-II, 5''-II, and 5''-III of SBDSco present remarkable differentiations in the molecular recognitions. From the protein viewpoint, H102 in SBDSpr and R191 in SBDSco contribute significantly while proline residues at the PT-bound site are strictly conserved for the PT-chalcogen bond. The mutual and make-up mutations are proposed to alter the SBD/PT-DNA recognition pattern, besides additional chiral phosphorothioate modifications on phosphates 5'-II, 5'-II, 3'-I, and 3'-II.

Effect of governor vessel moxibustion (GVM) therapy with mild to moderate psoriasis: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: It was hypothesized that governor vessel moxibustion (GVM) therapy may improve the course of mild to moderate psoriasis (PS) in patients. METHODS: A randomized, controlled clinical trial lasting 40 days was conducted at the Shaanxi Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine. Investigators were blinded to patient groupings. Individuals with mild to moderate PS ranging in age from 18 to 70 years were enrolled. GVM therapy was administered one every 10 days for 40 days with 1.5 hours on the governor meridian in the GVM therapy group. The PS area and severity index (PASI) and dermatological life quality index (DLQI) scores were monitored before and after treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in the mean PASI score in the GVM therapy group of 0.76 points (2.37 [2.61]; SE, 0.39) after 40 days of treatment compared with the control group (3.12 [2.12], SE, 0.32) (P < .01). There were also significantly greater changes in the DLQI scores of the GVM therapy group (4.23 [2.25]; SE, 0.34) compared with those in the control group (8.91 [3.85]; SE, 0.59) (P < .001). CONCLUSION: GVM therapy effectively reduced both PASI and DLQI scores in patients with mild to moderate PS.

[Tiaoshen acupuncture for primary insomnia: a pilot randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tiaoshen (regulating the spirit) acupuncture on cognitive function and sleep quality in patients with primary insomnia (PI). METHODS: Sixty patients with PI were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off, 1 case was excluded). The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), and bilateral Benshen (GB 13), Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The patients in the control group were treated with shallow needling at non-effective points. Each treatment was provided for 30 min, once every other day, 3 treatments per week for 4 weeks. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), digit span test (DST), trail making test (TMT)-A, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and fatigue scale-14 (FS-14) were used to assess cognitive function and sleep quality before and after treatment, as well as in follow-up of 4-week after treatment completion. Correlation analysis was conducted between the differences in PSQI scores and differences in MoCA scores before and after treatment in the observation group. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, the total score, visuospatial and executive function score and delayed memory score of MoCA as well as DST backward score were increased (P<0.01), while TMT-A time, PSQI and FS-14 scores were significantly reduced (P<0.01) after treatment and in follow-up in the observation group. Compared with before treatment, the PSQI score in the control group was reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05). After treatment and in follow-up, the observation group had significantly higher total score, visuospatial and executive function score, delayed memory score of MoCA, and DST backward score compared to the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the observation group, the TMT-A time was significantly shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the PSQI and FS-14 scores were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). In the observation group, there was a negative correlation between the difference in PSQI scores (post-treatment minus pre-treatment) and the difference in MoCA scores (post-treatment minus pre-treatment) (r=-0.481, P<0.01). A similar negative correlation was found between the difference in PSQI scores (follow-up minus pre-treatment) and the difference in MoCA scores (follow-up minus pre-treatment) (r=-0.282, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tiaoshen acupuncture could improve cognitive function, enhance sleep quality, and alleviate daytime fatigue in patients with PI. The improvement in cognitive function in patients with PI is correlated with the improvement in sleep quality.