TCMSSD: A comprehensive database focused on syndrome standardization.

BACKGROUD: Quantitative and standardized research on syndrome differentiation has always been at the forefront of modernizing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory. However, the majority of existing databases primarily concentrate on the network pharmacology of herbal prescriptions, and there are limited databases specifically dedicated to TCM syndrome differentiation. PURPOSE: In response to this gap, we have developed the Traditional Chinese Medical Syndrome Standardization Database (TCMSSD, http://tcmssd.ratcm.cn). METHODS: TCMSSD is a comprehensive database that gathers data from various sources, including TCM literature such as TCM Syndrome Studies (Zhong Yi Zheng Hou Xue) and TCM Internal Medicine (Zhong Yi Nei Ke Xue) and various public databases such as TCMID and ETCM. In our study, we employ a deep learning approach to construct the knowledge graph and utilize the BM25 algorithm for syndrome prediction. RESULTS: The TCMSSD integrates the essence of TCM with the modern medical system, providing a comprehensive collection of information related to TCM. It includes 624 syndromes, 133,518 prescriptions, 8,073 diseases (including 1,843 TCM-specific diseases), 8,259 Chinese herbal medicines, 43,413 ingredients, 17,602 targets, and 8,182 drugs. By analyzing input data and comparing it with the patterns and characteristics recorded in the database, the syndrome prediction tool generates predictions based on established correlations and patterns. CONCLUSION: The TCMSSD fills the gap in existing databases by providing a comprehensive resource for quantitative and standardized research on TCM syndrome differentiation and laid the foundation for research on the biological basis of syndromes.

An Apriori Algorithm-Based Association Analysis of Analgesic Drugs in Chinese Medicine Prescriptions Recorded From Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain.

Chronic pain, a common symptom of people with rheumatoid arthritis, usually behaves as persistent polyarthralgia pain and causes serious damage to patients' physical and mental health. Opioid analgesics can lead to a series of side effects like drug tolerance and addiction. Thus, seeking an alternative therapy and screening out the corresponding analgesic drugs is the key to solving the current dilemma. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy has been recognized internationally for its unique guiding theory and definite curative effect. In this study, we used the Apriori Algorithm to screen out potential analgesics from 311 cases that were treated with compounded medication prescription and collected from "Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University" in Hangzhou, China. Data on 18 kinds of clinical symptoms and 16 kinds of Chinese herbs were extracted based on this data mining. We also found 17 association rules and screened out four potential analgesic drugs-"Jinyinhua," "Wugong," "Yiyiren," and "Qingfengteng," which were promised to help in the clinical treatment. Besides, combined with System Cluster Analysis, we provided several different herbal combinations for clinical references.

[Effects of crocin on hippocampus rapid kindling epilepsy in mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect of crocin on the progression and generalized seizure of temporal lobe epilepsy in mice. Methods: Hippocampus rapid kindling model was established in C57BL/6J mice. The effects of crocin on seizure stage, afterdischarge duration (ADD), number of stimulation in each stage and final state, the incidence of generalized seizure (GS), average seizure stage and ADD were observed. Results: Crocin (20 mg/kg) significantly retarded behavioral seizure stages ( P<0.05) and shortened cumulative ADD ( P<0.01) during hippocampus rapid kindling acquisition in mice compared with vehicle group. Meanwhile, number of stimulations in stage 1-2 was significantly increased ( P<0.05) and the incidence of fully kindled animals was significantly decreased ( P<0.01). However, 10 or 50 mg/kg crocin showed no significant effect on the above indexes (all P>0.05). Crocin (100 or 200 mg/kg) significantly decreased the incidence of GS (all P<0.01) and reduced average seizure stages (all P<0.01) in fully-kindled mice compared with vehicle group; Fifty mg/kg crocin only reduced average seizure stages ( P<0.05). Conclusion: Low-dose crocin can retard the progression in hippocampus rapid kindling acquisition in mice, while high-dose crocin relieves the GS in fully-kindled mice, which suggests that crocin may be a potential anti-epileptic compound.

Mechanism of uncoupling protein 2­mediated myocardial injury in hypothermic preserved rat hearts.

In the present study, the alterations in uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) expression following hypothermic preservation in rat hearts were investigated. Isolated rat hearts were preserved in Celsior solution for 3­12 h followed by 60 min of reperfusion. The cardiac function was evaluated using the Langendorff perfusion system. UCP2 and silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) proteins were detected by western blot analysis. The ATP production and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were assessed. Subsequent to preservation in ice­cold Celsior solution for 3­12 h, the UCP2 protein expression in rat hearts was observed to increase in a time­dependent manner. The UCP2 inhibitor genipin inhibited the hypothermic preservation­induced cardiac dysfunction, prevented a decline in ATP production induced by 9 h of preservation, however had no effect on the hypothermic preservation­induced increase in mitochondrial ROS levels. Compared with the control group, the SIRT1 protein expression in rat hearts reduced following hypothermic preservation. Compared with the 9­h preservation group, Celsior solution supplemented with the SIRT1 activator resveratrol (20 or 40 µmol/l) inhibited UCP2 protein overexpression, prevented the decline in ATP production and resulted in an improvement cardiac function. The SIRT1 inhibitor EX­527 abolished the resveratrol­induced inhibition of UCP2 overexpression and cardiac protection in the hypothermic preserved rat heart. These observations suggest that downregulation of UCP2 expression in the hypothermic preserved rat heart in part initiated the protective mechanism via the SIRT1 pathway.

Improved myocardial function with supplement of levosimendan to Celsior solution.

Levosimendan is a calcium-sensitizing agent shown to prevent myocardical contractile depression in various heart diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of levosimendan on cardiac dysfunction and apoptosis in hypothermic preservation rat hearts. Isolated rat hearts were preserved in Celsior solution with or without levosimendan. The left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) recovery rate of isolated rat heart significantly decreased, and the apoptosis index increased after 9 hours of hypothermic preservation. Supplement Celsior solution with levosimendan (10 and 10 mole/L) enhanced the LVDP recovery rate and reduced apoptosis. Levosimendan inhibited the hypothermic preservation-induced calpain activation and cleavage of Bid. Levosimendam induced increased myocardial inducible nitric oxide synthase but not endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression. A selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 1400W, and a mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate but not a sarcolemmal KATP channel blocker HMR-1098 prevented improvement effect of levosimendam on LVDP recovery rate, abolished the inhibitory effect of levosimendan on hypothermic preservation-induced activation of calpain, cleavage of Bid, and apoptosis. These data suggested that Celsior solution supplement with levosimendan improved cardiac function recovery and reduced myocyte apoptosis in hypothermic preservation rat hearts.