Zhuang-Gu-Fang intervenes vasculogenic and osteogenic coupling in GK rats through Notch1/Noggin/VEGF pathway.

Background: Zhuang-Gu-Fang (ZGF) has been proved to treat osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats by increasing osteogenic related factors Leptin, Ghrelin and Peptide YY(PYY). However, the mechanism of ZGF in the treatment of diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect of ZGF on DOP and its potential molecular mechanism. Methods: Using GK rats as models, the pharmacodynamic effects of ZGF on bone loss were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and micro-computed.tomography (micro-CT). The expression levels of CD31 and endomucin (Emcn) were detected by immunofluorescence to assess the role of ZGF in angiogenic osteogenic coupling. Finally, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and Western Blot (WB)were used to detect the expression levels of osteogenic and angiogenesis-related genes and proteins Notch1, Noggin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Results: Administration of ZGF demonstrated a significant mitigation of bone loss attributable to elevated glucose levels. H&E staining and micro-CT showed that ZGF notably improved the integrity of the trabecular and cortical bone microarchitecture. Moreover, ZGF was found to augment the density of type H vessels within the bone tissue, alongside elevating the expression levels of Osterix, a transcription factor pivotal for bone formation. Furthermore, our findings suggest that ZGF facilitates the activation of the Notch1/Noggin/VEGF pathway, indicating a potential mechanism through which ZGF exerts its osteoprotective effects. Conclusion: Our results suggest that ZGF potentially facilitates the formation of type H vessels through the Notch1/Noggin/VEGF pathway. This action not only enhances angiogenic-osteogenic coupling but also contributes to the improvement of bone structure and density. Consequently, ZGF emerges as a promising therapeutic agent for the prevention and management of DOP, offering a novel approach by leveraging angiogenesis-dependent osteogenesis.

Yidiyin, a Chinese herbal decoction, improves erectile dysfunction in diabetic patients and rats through the NO-cGMP pathway.

The nitric-oxide (NO)-cyclic-guanosine-monophosphate (cGMP) pathway plays a key role in penile erection. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a complication in male diabetic patients that impacts their quality of 1ife. Recently, Yidiyin, a Chinese herbal decoction, is used to treat diabetic ED, but convincing evidence is lacking, and the potential mechanisms remain uncertain. In the study, diabetic ED patients had low scores on international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5), and administration of Yidiyin and hypoglycemic drugs for 16 weeks ameliorated patients' scores on IIEF-5 more than the hypoglycemic drug alone. Moreover, streptozotocin-induced diabetes severely impaired rats' erectile function and the activity of the NO-cGMP pathway in the corpora cavernosum, and treatment with Yidiyin for 4 weeks obviously increased the rats' erectile function, remarkably enhanced the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and elevated the contents of NO and cGMP. Our findings indicate that Yidiyin improves diabetic ED probably by enhancing the NO-cGMP pathway.

Treatment of thirty primary hypothyroidism patients by fuzheng fujia mixture / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy of treating primary hypothyroidism by Fuzheng Fujia Mixture (FFM) with formula composing principles of warming and tonifying Pi and Shen, and eliminating blood stasis and removing turbid substances.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 60 patients with primary hypothyroidism were randomly assigned to the treated group and the control group, 30 in each group. All were treated by Levothyroxine Sodium Tablet (LST) as routines. Those in the treated group took FFM additionally, 3 times daily, one month as 1 therapeutic course. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed after three therapeutic courses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment the symptom scores were significantly reduced in the two groups (P < 0.05). The decrement was larger in the treated group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The dose of LST was significantly lower in the treated group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The blood lipids levels were significantly reduced in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.05). The decrement was significantly larger in the treated group than in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FFM could obviously improve the symptoms of hypothyroidism patients, reduce the replacement dose of thyroid hormone, and lower the blood lipids levels.</p>