Protective efficacy of Shenge San on mitochondria in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ-coactivator-1α/nuclear respiratory factor 1 (PGC-1α/NRF1) activity can protect mitochondrial function in the setting of cardiac hypertrophy and improve cardiomyocyte energy metabolism. METHODS: Cardiac hypertrophy was modeled in H9c2 cells treated with isoproterenol (ISO) to assess the effects of Shenge San (, SGS) on cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential. We assessed mitochondrial complex mRNA levels and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation factor mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: Compared with the 100 µM ISO group, cell size was significantly decreased in the 0.3 mg/mL SGS and 20 µM ZLN005 (PGC-1α activator) groups ( < 0.01). Compared with the SGS (0.3) +ISO group, we observed lower phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK) protein levels in the ISO and ZLN005+SGS+ISO groups ( < 0.01). Compared with the compound C group, SGS significantly increased PGC-1α expression in ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy cells ( < 0.01), and this was inhibited by compound C pretreatment ( < 0.05). Compared with the ISO group, the mitochondrial red-green fluorescence ratio increased in the 0.3 mg/mL SGS group ( < 0.05). mRNA levels of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) in the ISO and compound C groups were lower than those in control group ( 0.01), and the mRNA levels of CO1 and ATP8 were significantly lower in the ISO and compound C groups versus control ( 0.01). Compared with the SGS (0.3) +ISO group, ATP synthetase subunit 8 (ATP8) mRNA was significantly decreased in the ISO group ( < 0.01) and compound C+SGS+ISO group ( < 0.05). Compared with the SGS (0.3) +ISO group, NRF1 mRNA levels were significantly decreased ( < 0.05) in the ISO and compound C+SGS+ISO groups. CONCLUSIONS: SGS can attenuate ISO-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, restore the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and upregulate PGC-1α/NRF1 levels. Notably, these effects can be blocked by AMPK inhibitor-compound C.

Tongue and pulse features of 668 asymptomatic patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant in Shanghai.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the tongue and pulse manifestations in asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Shanghai. METHODS: We conducted a clinical study of 668 patients with asymptomatic infections in which we analyzed the tongue and pulse features in the Shanghai New International Expo Center mobile cabin hospital. The medical records of the patients, including tongue color, tongue coating, and pulse manifestations, were reviewed by healthcare workers. RESULTS: In total, 668 COVID-19 cases were included in the study. Patient age ranged from 5 to 96 years, with a median of 44.0 (IQR 33.0-53.0) years. Among the patients, 6.14% had comorbidities. The most common comorbid condition was diabetes (1.65%), followed by hypertension (0.89%), coronary heart disease (0.89%), thrombotic diseases (0.89%), congestive heart failure (0.60%), and stroke (0.45%). Pink-red (75.4%) was the most common tongue color, followed by red (23.4%) and pale red (1.2%). Tongue coating color and thickness were classified as white fur (9.28%), thin and yellow fur (48.65%), white greasy fur (8.98%), yellow greasy fur (24.70%), and less coating (8.39%). In addition, a large number of patients ( 300, 44.91%) presented superficial and rapid pulses, and 250 patients (37.4%) exhibited a slippery pulse. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results showed that wind, heat, and dampness were the main etiologies of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant infection in traditional Chinese medicine. Furthermore, the main symptoms of the disease may be wind-heat invading the lung syndrome or damp-heat with the exuberance of virulence syndrome, which is of most significance in COVID-19 treatment.

Analysis of clinical characteristics and prognosis of 4 264 patients with asymptomatic and mild novel coronavirus infections in Shanghai / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients infected with novel coronavirus Omicron variant in Shanghai, as to provide a reference for epidemic prevention, clinical diagnosis, and treatment.Methods:Altogether 4 264 novel coronavirus Omicron variant-infected patients with positive results of nucleic acid admitted to Shanghai New International Expo Center N3 Mobile Cabin Hospital from April 2 to May 7, 2022, were included. The demographic and baseline clinical characteristics, treatment strategy, prognosis, and different factors affecting the length of hospital stay were analyzed.Results:A total of 4 264 novel coronavirus variant Omicron-infected cases were collected, including 3 111 cases (73.0%) asymptomatic infections and 1 153 cases (27.0%) mild infections. The overall median age was 45 (33, 55) years old with a range from 2 years old to 81 years old. The male to female ratio was 1.37∶1. Altogether 3 305 cases (77.5%) had been vaccinated, of which 3 166 cases completed more than 2 doses. The upper respiratory tract symptoms such as cough and expectoration were the most common clinical manifestations of these infected patients. During the course of the disease, patients with asymptomatic infection were mainly treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM, 55.1%) and clinical observation (36.8%), and those with mild infection were mainly treated with TCM (42.2%) or integrated Chinese and Western medicine (30.4%). All patients were cured and discharged. The overall median length of hospital stay and the negative conversion time of nucleic acid were 9 (6, 10) days and 8 (5, 9) days, respectively. Compared with the asymptomatic infected patients, the hospitalization duration and the nucleic acid negative conversion time of the mildly infected patients were slightly longer [days: 10 (8, 11) vs. 9 (5, 10); 8 (6, 10) vs. 7 (4, 9), both P < 0.001]. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the increasing age and mild infection were associated with longer hospitalization duration, and the treatment of TCM or integrated Chinese and Western medicine was associated with shortened length of hospital stay (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:The current novel coronavirus Omicron variant epidemic in Shanghai mainly caused asymptomatic and mild infections. The young and middle-aged population had a relatively high infection rate. The upper respiratory tract symptoms such as cough and expectoration were the most common clinical symptoms. Elderly and confirmed patients had prolonged hospitalization duration, while for patients receiving TCM treatment, the hospitalization duration was shortened.

Expert consensus on Tongsaimai Tablets/Capsules in treatment of peripheral vascular diseases in clinical practice / 中国中药杂志

Tongsaimai Tablets/Capsules are composed of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, Codonopsis Radix, Dendrobii Caulis, Astragali Radix, Scrophulariae Radix, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and are effective in promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, supplementing Qi, and nourishing Yin. It is widely used in the treatment of peripheral vascular diseases. With 40 years of clinical application, it has accumulated substantial research data and application experience. Its good clinical efficacy and pharmacoeconomic benefits in improving the clinical symptoms of peripheral vascular diseases have been confirmed by relevant research. Meanwhile, this drug has also been recommended by many expert consensus, guidelines, and teaching materials, serving as one of the most commonly used Chinese patent medicines in clinical practice. To further improve the understanding of the drug among clinicians and properly guide its clinical medication, the China Association of Chinese Medicine took the lead and organized experts to jointly formulate this expert consensus. Based on the questionnaire survey of clinicians and the systematic review of research literature on Tongsaimai Tablets/Capsules with clinical problems in the PICO framework, the consensus, combined with expert experience, concludes recommendations or consensus suggestions by GRADE system with the optimal evidence available through the nominal group technique. This consensus defines the indications, usage, dosage, course of treatment, medication time, combined medication, and precautions of Tongsaimai Tablets/Capsules in the treatment of peripheral vascular diseases, and explains the safety of its clinical application. It is recommended for clinicians and pharmacists in the peripheral vascular department(vascular surgery), traditional Chinese medicine surgery(general surgery), and endocrinology department of hospitals at all levels in China.

Establishment of fingerprint of Buyang Huanwu Decoction based on core-shell chromatography and its Q-Orbitrap HRMS/MS analysis / 中草药

Objective: To establish the fingerprint of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD) based on core-shell column for its quality control. Methods: The extract of BHD was separated on an Agilent Poroshell 120 SB-C18 (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 2.7 μm) with a gradient elution. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid. The detection wavelength was 280 nm. The similarity evaluation of 15 batches of BHD was carried out by the “Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprints of TCM”. HPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS/MS was used to characterize the 21 chemical compounds of the extract of BHD. Results: The chromatographic fingerprints of 15 batches of BHD were generated 21 common peaks (P1-P21), belonging to all seven medicinal herbs in 38 min. Methyl quinate (P4), calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (P11), calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside-6″-O-malonate (P13), ononin (P15), (6αR, 11αR)-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-β-D-glucoside (P16), isomucronulatol-7-O-β-D-glucoside (P17), calycosin (P18), formononetin (P19), (6αR,11αR)-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan (P20), and isomucronulatol (P21) were from Astragali Radix. Succinyl adenosine (P3), 6-hydroxykaempferol-3,6-diglucoside (P5), and kaempferol-3-O-sophoroside (P10) were from Carthami Flos. Gallic acid (P2) and paeoniflorin (P9) were from Paeoniae Radix Rubra. Vanillic acid (P7) was from Angelicae Sinensis Radix. Guanoside (P1) was from Pheretima. Amygdalin (P6) and prunasin (P8) were from Persicae Semen. Ferulic acid (P12) and senkyunolide H (P14) were from Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Chuanxiong Rhizoma. A total of 21 components were identified by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS/MS. It was the first time to establish the UHPLC fingerprint of BHD by core-shell chromatography technology. Conclusion: The method is simple and accurate with a good reproducibility and time consuming, which will provide a basis for the further research on effective constituents in BHD.

Simultaneous determination of 8 bioactive isoflavonoids in Astragali Radix by UHPLC equipped with core-shell column / 中国中药杂志

This research aims to develop an UHPLC method, based on core-shell column(i.e. superficially porous particles), for simultaneous determination of eight isoflavonoids including formononetin,(6αR,11αR)-3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,(3R)-7,2-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyisoflavone, calycosin, ononin,(6αR,11αR)-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and(3R)-7,2-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyisoflavan-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside in Astragali Radix. The analysis was performed on an Agilent Poroshell EC-C_(18 )column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 2.7 μm) with 0.2% formic acid solution(A)-acetonitrile(B) as mobile phase for gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.5 mL·min~(-1), with column temperature of 40 ℃ and the wavelengths were set at 260 and 280 nm. According to the results, all calibration curves showed good linearity(R~2>0.999 8) within the tested concentration ranges. Both the intra-and inter-day precisions for 8 isoflavonoids were less than 0.80%, with the mean recovery at the range of 94.71%-104.6%. Thus, the newly developed UHPLC method using core-shell column owned the advantages in terms of rapid analysis, low column pressure and less solvent consumption, thus enabling the usage of conventional HPLC systems. Meanwhile, quantitative evaluation was carried out for 22 batches of commercial Astragali Radix. It has been found that great variations occurred for the content of the individual isoflavonoids among different batches; in contrast, the total content of total 8 isoflavonoids(>0.1%) was stable in most samples, indicating that it was reasonable to involve all isoflavonoids as the chemical markers for the quality control of Astragali Radix.

Analysis of heart rate variability in patients with chest pain accompanied by different traditional Chinese medicine syndromes / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

Objective To explore the correlations between different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes and the heart rate variability (HRV) accompanying patients with chest pain,and to provide a referen()for clinical syndrome differentiation in such patients.Methods A prospective study was conducted.()hundred and seventeen patients with chest pain admitted into Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai U()of TCM from January 2015 to October 2016 were assigned in a study object,and according to the diffe()TCM syndromes,they were divided into syndrome of qi deficiency with blood stasis,the blood sta()the deficiency of qi and yin,suppression of the chest yang,phlegm and blood stasis,qi-stagnan ()syndromes.In the same period,123 healthy people having undergone physical examination wer()control group.The time domain indexes of HRV were recorded by dynamic electrocardiogr()normal control group were compared to those of patients with different TCM syndrom()distribution in different TCM syndromes and various HRV time domain indexes we()cycle time domain indexes were as follows:the average standard deviation o()standard deviation of R-R interval (SDNN),24 hours standard deviation of()5 minutes (SDANN),24 hours the mean square root of difference values,()were observed in both groups.Results The chest pain patients a()accounting for the largest proportion (35 cases,29.9％),and ac()smallest proportion (5 cases,4.3％) in the study group;the nu()syndrome (17 cases vs.14 cases),blood stagnation of hea()(6 cases vs.2 cases) and qi-stagnation and blood stasis s()in men;the numbers of patients with deficiency of qi()(4 cases vs.2 cases) in men were more than thos()female patients were lower than those in maj()66.8 (33.4,33.4) vs.103.4 (39.7,135.4),124.7 (88.0,143.4) vs.167.0 (90.5,230.1),84.0 (22.5,132.6) vs.152.4 (31.4,240.0),all P ＜ 0.05].The SDANN in patients with chest discomfort accompanied by any one of the above mentioned types of TCM syndrome was significantly lower than that in the control group,and its degree of descent was more remarkable in the patients with qi deficiency with blood stasis,the blood stagnation of heart and suppression of the chest yang syndromes (ms:74.86± 25.69,80.39± 20.53,70.97± 23.53 vs.131.30± 34.70,all P ＜ 0.05);the SDNN of patients with deficiency of qi and yin syndrome was higher than that in the blood stagnation of heart syndrome,phlegm and blood stasis,and qi-stagnation and blood stasis syndrome significantly (ms:181.25 ± 65.20 vs.97.88± 23.61,84.28 ± 22.34,89.93 ± 8.43,all P ＜ 0.05);the RMSSD of patients with deficiency of qi and yin syndrome was increased significantly compared with that in the healthy controls and in patients with the blood stagnation of heart syndrome (ms:91.94 ± 44.02 vs.28.00± 10.50,32.21 ± 18.25,both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Patients with chest pain accompanied by different TCM syndrome types may develop obvious heart rate variability,and the descent of SDANN level was the most significant.The analysis of HRV changes in such patients has positive significance for their diagnosis and treatment.

Regulatory effect of Tripterygium wilfordii polycoride (TWP) towards TLR4/MyD88 independent pathway in TNBS/ethanol ulcerative colitis (UC) rat model / 中国中药杂志

In order to study the regulatory effect of Tripterygium wilfordii polycoride (TWP) towards TLR4/MyD88 independent pathway in TNBS/ethanol ulcerative colitis (UC) rat model, TNBS/ethanol enema was adopted to build TNBS/ethanol UC rat model. After the successful modeling procedure, 90 male Wistar rats are were divided into 6 groups, including namely normal group, model group, TWP low, middle, high dose groups (3, 6, 12 mg•kg⁻¹)and azathioprine (AZA) group (6 g•kg⁻¹), with 15 rats in each group. All rats in each group were administrated with corresponding medicines for 14 days. After 14 days of administration, corresponding colon tissues were taken for general and microscopic evaluation. Western blotting analysis and RT-PCR were adopted to test the mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4/MyD88 independent pathway-related molecules, namely TLR4, TRAM, TRIF, NF-κB and IFN-γ. The results showed that DAI, general and microscopic evaluations all indicated that TNBS/ethanol UC rat model was successful. TWP can improve UC-related clinical manifestation and heal colonic mucosa, which was equal to AZA. RT-PCR and WB results showed that the expression of TLR4/MyD88 independent pathway-related molecules in model group were significantly superior to that in normal group at either mRNA or protein level (P<0.01). Compared with model group, TWP can inhibit the expression of each node in TLR4/MyD88 independent pathway in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of TWP with high dose towards the above molecules was inferior to that in model group at either mRNA or protein level (P<0.05). The inhibitory effect of TWP with high dose towards upstream molecules of TLR4/MyD88 independent pathway (TLR4, TRAM, TRIF, NF-κB) was slightly superior to AZA group at either mRNA or protein level. However, such inhibitory effect towards terminal inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ) was inferior to AZA group at either mRNA or protein level. All the above differences had no statistical significance. Therefore, in TNBS/ethanol UC rat model, TLR4/MyD88 independent pathway took part in regulating inflammation. TWP exerted its anti-inflammation effect by inhibiting the expression of TLR4/MyD88 independent pathway in a dose-dependent manner.

Agglutinin isolated from Arisema heterophyllum Blume induces apoptosis and autophagy in A549 cells through inhibiting PI3K/Akt pathway and inducing ER stress / 中国天然药物

Arisaema heterophyllum Blume is one of the three medicinal plants known as traditional Chinese medicine Rhizoma Arisaematis (RA). RA has been popularly used to treat patients with convulsions, inflammation, and cancer for a long time. However, the underlying mechanisms for RA effects are still unclear. The present study was designed to determine the cytotoxicity of agglutinin isolated from Arisema heterophyllum Blume (AHA) and explore the possible mechanisms in human non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells. AHA with purity up to 95% was isolated and purified from Arisaema heterophyllum Blume using hydrophobic interaction chromatography. AHA dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells and induced G phase cell cycle arrest. AHA induced apoptosis by up-regulating pro-apoptotic Bax, decreasing anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and activating caspase-9 and caspase-3. In A549 cells treated with AHA, the PI3K/Akt pathway was inhibited. Furthermore, AHA induced increase in the levels of ER stress markers such as phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (p-eIF2α), C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), and phosphorylated c-Jun NH-terminal kinase (p-JNK). AHA also induced autophagy in A549 cells. Staining of acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs) and increase in the levels of LC3II and ATG7 were observed in AHA-treated cells. These findings suggested that AHA might be one of the active components with anti-cancer effects in Arisaema heterophyllum Blume. In conclusion, cytotoxicity of AHA on cancer cells might be related to its effects on apoptosis and autophagy through inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway and induction of ER stress.

Study on effects of Tripterygium wilfordii polycoride in resisting macrophage inflammation and regulating inflammation via TLR4/NF-κB / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the effect of Tripterygium wilfordii polycoride (TWP) on LPS-induced macrophage inflammatory response, particularly the inhibitory effect on inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β and the regulatory effect on inflammation via TLR4/NF-κB. The MTT method was adopted to test the effects of tested drugs, TWP, dexamethasone (DXM) and azathioprine (AZA) on cell growth to define the appropriate concentration. LPS was used to induce the inflammatory reaction in mouse RAW264. 7 cell lines. The Elisa kit was adopted to test the release level of TNF-α and IL-1β. The Western blotting was applied to test the protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β. The RT-PCR was adopted to test the expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB. According to the results, TWP could inhibit the release of macrophage inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β in a dose dependent manner. All of TWP groups showed a weaker efficacy than that of the DXM group. But the TWP high dose group revealed a better effect on TNF-α and equal effect on IL-1β compared with the AZA group. TWP show an equal or better effect in down-regulating TLR4 and NF-κB p65 expressions in a dose dependent manner than DXM and AZA. In conclusion, TWP could inhibit TLR4 and NF-κB p65, which may be related to the down-regulation of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 receptor expressions.

Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on urine metabonomics of healthy people / 中西医结合学报

To study biomarkers and their diversification in healthy people's urine before and after oral administration of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, and to investigate the influence of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on urine metabonomics of healthy people.

Effect of treadmill exercise and nutrition supplement on activity and gene expression of rate-limiting enzyme of heme metabolism and globin / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the possible role of rate-limiting enzyme of heme metabolism and globin in the development of the low hemoglobin (Hb), red blood (cell) count (RBC) and hematocrit (Hct) after long-term exercise, and effect of nutrition supplement on sports anemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10): control (C), exercise (P) and exercise + nutrition (G). Animals in the P and G groups started treadmill running at 30 m/min, 0% grade, 1 min/time. Running time was gradually increased with 2 min/time during initial 5 weeks and final 4 weeks. In addition, running frequency was 2 times/day except initial 2 weeks. At the end of eleventh week, gene expression of 5-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS), ferrochelatase, alpha-globin and beta-globin in bone marrow were measured with RT-PCR. Mean-while heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) activity in liver was measured with immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eleven weeks of exercise induced a significant increase in HO-1 and a significant increase in gene expression of beta-globin (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). Treatment with anti-sports anemia compound dosage led to no significant differences in rate-limiting enzyme of heme metabolism and globin in the exercised rats. The G group had a significantly higher HO-1 level in liver than the C group (P < 0.01). These finds showed that exercise was associated with no significant difference in heme synthetase and alpha-globin gene expression, and significant difference in heme catabolic enzyme and beta-globin gene expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increase of HO-1 activity in liver might be one of the causes of the lower Hb, RBC and Hct status in exercised rats.</p>

Urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid variation in benzene exposed / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) variation in the benzene dynamic exposed rat models and benzene exposed workers, and study the feasibility of use of urinary S-PMA as the biomarker in benzene exposed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In an animal model study, forty-eight adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, low-dose group, middle-dose group and high-dose group. The exposed groups were dynamically exposed for 28 days (4 periods) by benzene and the concentration was monitored. The urine was immediately collected after every exposure period and detected by the liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometry methods. In a cohort study, eighty benzene exposed workers in a ship-yard in Guangzhou were selected as the exposed subjects while forty healthy officers in the same shipyard who were not occupationally exposed to benzene were treated as the control. The urine was collected after work shift. The urinary S-PMA and the benzene in the workplace was treated as the rat model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the animal model study, the urinary S-PMA increased along with the environment benzene in every period and had significantly difference in the different exposed groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but did not change along with the exposed time course (P > 0.05). In the cohort study, the urinary S-PMA in the high-dose group [(27.2 +/- 7.9)microg/L] was significantly higher than the low-dose group [(13.6 +/- 3.4)microg/L] (P < 0.01). Otherwise, the background of urinary S-PMA was lower than 5microg/L in both workers and rat models.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The urinary S-PMA can be proposed as a sensitive biomarker of occupational benzene exposure.</p>

Role and mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge in alleviating injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation in HK-2 cells / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Salvia miltorrhiza Bunge (SMB) is a traditional Chinese herb, which is considered to promote blood flow and remove blood stasis. This study examined whether SMB can alleviate injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in human kidney proximal tubular cells-2 (HK-2 cells).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>There were 3 experimental groups: control, H/R injury and SMB-treated H/R injury. H/R injury of HK-2 cells was induced by first covering the cells with and then removing liquid paraffin wax. Different concentrations of compound SMB solution (0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15% or 0.20%) were administered to the SMB-treated H/R injury group before the hypoxic injury. After 4, 12 and 24 hrs of hypoxia and 4, 12, 24 and 48 hrs of reoxygenation, morphologic changes of HK-2 cells were observed under an inverted microscope. Cell viability was measured by the MTT method. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the culture supernatants was assayed using biochemical methods; TNF-alpha levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The number of HK-2 cells was significantly reduced in the H/R injury group after hypoxia, and reached a nadir 24 hrs after hypoxia treatment. Various concentrations of SMB-treated groups showed significantly greater number of HK-2 cells than the H/R injury group. SMB solution (0.10%) produced the best effect. The levels of LDH and TNF-alpha in the H/R injury group were significantly increased, and reached a peak between 24 hrs of hypoxia and 4 hrs of reoxygenation when compared to the control group. Pre-treating with 0.10% SMB resulted in significantly lower levels of LDH and TNF-alpha than in the untreated H/R injury group at various time points of H/R.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SMB has protective effects against H/R injury of HK-2 cells, possibly through inhibition of inflammatory cytokines.</p>

An integrated method works well on varicocele / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess an integrated method of operation + Chinese medicine + dexamethasone + vitamin E in treating varicocele.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-six patients with varicocele were randomly divided into two groups, the experimental group (Group A, n=47) treated with the integrated method, the control group (Group B, n=49) treated with Chinese medicine, dexamethasone and vitamin E.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the treatment, the sperm density and motility and pregnancy rate were higher (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) and the sperm deformity rate was lower in the experiment group than in the control (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The integrated method works better than either operation or Chinese medicine applied alone in the treatment of varicocele.</p>