Galectin-1 secreted by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells mediates anti-inflammatory responses in acute airway disease.

The hallmarks of allergic airway disease (AAD) include infiltration of inflammatory cells into the bronchoalveolar space. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) show anti-inflammatory properties in AAD. In addition, galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a lectin significantly upregulated upon inflammation and is also known to mediate potential anti-inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that BMSCs regulated inflammatory responses by secretion of Gal-1 during AAD pathogenesis. BMSCs were isolated from murine femurs and tibiae and adoptively transferred into an ovalbumin-induced AAD mouse model. Knockdown of Gal-1 in BMSCs was performed using shRNA. Flow cytometry, ELISAs, and immunohistology were performed to analyze inflammatory responses in mice, and a Transwell system was used to establish an in vitro co-culture system of lung epithelial cells (MLE-12) and BMSCs. Administration of BMSCs significantly upregulated Gal-1 expression upon inflammation and decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in vivo. In addition, we showed that this function was mediated by reduced activation of the MAPK p38 signaling pathway. Similar observations were found using an in vitro lipopolysaccharide-induced model when MLE-12 cells were co-cultured with BMSCs. Gal-1 secretion by BMSCs alleviated inflammatory responses observed in AAD and hence provides a promising therapeutic alternative to AAD patients insensitive to conventional drug treatments.

[Clinical study on Qinghouyan lozenge in treatment of acute pharyngitis].

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Qinghouyan lozenge in the treatment of acute pharyngitis due to Lung-heat and Yin-deficiency, and compare with Qinghouyan oral Liquid. Totally 144 subjects were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups (72 in the test group and 72 in the control group). The participants in the test group were given Qinghouyan lozenge for 5 days, and those in the control group were given Qinghouyan oral Liquid for 5 days. The effectiveness evaluation indexes were pharyngalgia/odynophagia disappearance rate, overall efficacy of TCM syndromes, TCM syndrome scores, and single syndrome and sign disappearance rate. During the test, the safety was evaluated by vital sign, lab examination indexes and adverse events. The results for the full analysis set showed that the couth disappearance rate, the incidence rate of TCM syndromes, and the throat/uvula congestion disappearance rate of the test group were higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), with significant differences in the changes in syndrome scores between the two groups (P < 0.05). Altogether 3 adverse events were observed in the test group while 6 adverse events in the control group, without significant differences in the adverse event rate between the two groups (P < 0.05), serious abnormal laboratory examinations and vital signs. In conclusion, Qinghouyan lozenge has better efficacy in treatment of acute pharyngitis due to Lung-heat and Yin-deficiency than Qinghouyan oral liquid, with good safety.

Effect of "yang-warming and kidney essence-replenishing" herbal paste on cold-related asthma exacerbation.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of "Yang-warming and kidney essence-replenishing" herbal paste on cold-related asthma exacerbation. METHODS: One hundred and fifty one patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma were randomly divided into a treatment group (n = 74) and a control group (n = 69). Both groups were given basic treatment according to the Global Initiative for Asthma scheme. The treatment group was also treated with herbal paste in the winter. The frequency of asthma exacerbation, cold and cold-related asthma exacerbation, scores of the asthma control test (ACT), and kidney-deficiency syndrome during the one-year follow-up in each group were recorded. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the onset frequencies of catching cold, asthma exacerbation, cold-related asthma exacerbation, and kidney-deficiency syndrome score were significantly reduced. There was no significant difference in scores of ACT between the two groups. CONCLUSION: "Yang-warming and kidney essence-replenishing" herbal paste could reduce cold-related asthma exacerbation.

Treatment of common cold patients with the shi-cha capsule: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial.

This study was designed to determine the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the Shi-cha capsule, a Chinese herbal formula, in the treatment of patients with wind-cold type common cold. In our multi-center, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial, patients with wind-cold type common cold received 0.6 g of Shi-cha capsule plus 0.6 g placebo (group A), 1.2 g of Shi-cha capsule (group B), or 1.2 g placebo (group C), three times daily for 3 days and followed up to 10 days. The primary end point was all symptom duration. The secondary end points were main symptom duration, minor symptom duration, the changes in cumulative symptom score, main symptom score, and minor symptom score 4 days after the treatment, as well as adverse events. A total of 377 patients were recruited and 360 met the inclusive criteria; 120 patients constituted each treatment group. Compared with patients in group C, patients in groups A and B had significant improvement in the all symptom duration, main symptom duration, minor symptom duration, as well as change from baseline of cumulative symptom score, main symptom score, and minor symptom score at day 4. The symptom durations and scores showed slight superiority of group B over group A, although these differences were not statistically significant. There were no differences in adverse events. The Shi-cha capsule is efficacious and safe for the treatment of patients with wind-cold type common cold. Larger trials are required to fully assess the benefits and safety of this treatment for common cold.

Treatment with JianPiYiFei II granules for patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A 52-week randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial.

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative therapy is widely used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A Chinese herbal medicine, JianPiYiFei (JPYF) II granules, have been shown to improve COPD patients' quality of life, however long-term effectiveness has not been examined. PURPOSE: To investigate whether long-term treatment with JPYF II granules is effective and safe for patients with stable, moderate to very severe COPD. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Eligible participants from six hospitals were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either JPYF II granules or placebo for 52 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score during treatment. Secondary outcomes included the frequency of acute exacerbations during treatment, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), 6-minute walking test (6MWT), lung function, body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnoea, exercise capacity (BODE) index, and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) at the end of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 276 patients (138 in each group) were included in the analysis. JPYF II granules led to a significantly greater reduction in SGRQ score (-7.33 points, 95% CI -10.59 to -4.07; p < 0.0001) which reflects improved quality of life. JPYF II granules improved CAT (-3.49 points, 95% CI -5.12 to -1.86; p < 0.0001) and 6MWT (45.61 metres, 95% CI 20.26 to 70.95; p = 0.0005), compared with placebo. Acute exacerbations were less frequent with JPYF II granules than with placebo (0.87 vs. 1.34 events per patient; p = 0.0043). There were no significant differences between the groups in lung function, BODE index and SpO2. JPYF II granules were well tolerated and no significant adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term treatment with JPYF II granules is effective in moderate to very severe COPD, improving quality of life and exercise capacity, decreasing the risk of acute exacerbation, and relieving symptoms.

[Effects of medicinal extract for tonifying kidney to relieve asthma on glucocorticoid receptor expression in lung tissues of rats with bronchial asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of medicinal extract for tonifying kidney to relieve asthma on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in rats with asthma, and to explore its mechanism in treating asthma. METHODS: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, untreated group, dexamethasone group, and medicinal extract-prevented, medicinal extract-treated, and medicinal extract-prevented and -treated groups, with ten rats in each group. Asthma was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and forced inhalation of atomized OVA. Expression of GR in lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemical method. Pathological changes of the lung tissues were observed by HE straining. RESULTS: Expression of GR was lower in the untreated group than in the normal control group (P<0.05). Expressions of GR in medicinal extract groups were up-regulated as compared with those in the untreated group and dexamethasone group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and there were no significant differences as compared with the normal control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Medicinal extract for tonifying kidney to relieve asthma can increase the expression of GR in lung tissues of asthmatic rats, which may be one of its mechanisms in preventing and treating asthma.

Small RNA Sequencing Reveals Exosomal miRNAs Involved in the Treatment of Asthma by Scorpio and Centipede.

Asthma is a common respiratory disease with inflammation in the lungs. Exosomes and microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial role in inflammation, whereas the role of exosomal miRNA in asthma remains unknown. Here, we aimed to identify the key exosomal miRNAs and their underlying mechanisms involved in scorpio and centipede (SC) treatment in asthma. Eighteen mice were randomly divided into three groups: control group, asthma group, and SC treatment group. Effect of SC was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and real-time PCR. Exosomes from asthma and SC treatment groups were analyzed by small RNA-seq. Results revealed SC significantly alleviated the pathogenesis of asthma and suppressed the release of inflammatory cytokines. A total of 328 exosomal miRNAs were differentially expressed between the exosomes from asthma and SC-treated mice, including 118 up- and 210 downregulated in SC-treated mice. The altered exosomal miRNAs were primarily involved in the function of transcription, apoptotic process, and cell adhesion; and pathway of calcium, Wnt, and MAPK signaling. Real-time PCR verified exosomal miR-147 was downregulated, while miR-98-5p and miR-10a-5p were upregulated in SC-treated mice compared to asthma mice. Moreover, the target genes of miR-147-3p, miR-98-5p, and miR-10a-5p were mainly enriched in Wnt and MAPK inflammatory signaling. miR-10a-5p promoted the proliferation of mouse lung epithelial cells and downregulated the expression of Nfat5 and Map2k6. These data suggest SC-induced exosomal miRNAs might mediate the inflammatory signaling and might be involved in the SC treatment in asthma. The exosomal miRNAs might be promising candidates for the treatment of asthma.

[Discussion about treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome based on syndrome differentiation].

Severe acute respiratory syndrome is an infectious disease caused by a new type of coronavirus. It belongs to the seasonal febrile diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. The prevention and treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) can be under the guidance of the doctrines for treating febrile diseases of traditional Chinese medicine, treatment based on syndrome differentiation, such as syndrome differentiation of triple energizer, syndrome differentiation according to defensive phase, qi phase, nutrient phase and blood phase. During April and May of 2003, 8 cases of SARS were diagnosed in Shanghai, and 6 patients accepted complementary therapy of traditional Chinese medicine, without death case. The only one patient who didn't take glucocorticoid therapy was complementarily treated with traditional Chinese herbs through the whole treating procedure. Upon the successful treatment of the eight cases of SARS in Shanghai, it is demonstrated that the triple-energizer syndrome differentiation and defensive-qi-nutrient-blood syndrome differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine are of high value in treating SARS patients.