Effect of Linguizhugan decoction on neuroinflammation and expression disorder of the amyloid ß­related transporters RAGE and LRP­1 in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Linguizhugan decoction (LGZG), a notable prescription in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a classical formula for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), inflammatory injury and fluid retention. The present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of LGZG on an amyloid ß (Aß)­induced AD rat model. Sprague­Dawley rats were administered with Aß1­42 to induce AD and inflammatory responses, and subsequently with LGZG (4.8, 2.4 or 1.2 g/kg), donepezil (2 mg/kg) or distilled water for 30 consecutive days. Learning and memory behaviors were evaluated via Morris water maze test. The neuronal impairment of AD rats was observed via hematoxylin­eosin staining. The levels of pro­inflammatory cytokines, and Aß in the brain tissue were detected with ELISA kits. Protein expression levels of mitogen­activated protein kinase and nuclear factor­κB signalling were measured by western blot analysis. The expression of lipoprotein receptor­related protein­1 (LRP­1) and receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) in the brain were detected by western blot analysis, reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry analysis. LGZG was demonstrated to significantly improve learning and memory ability, and ameliorate neuroinflammation in AD rats. LGZG increased the levels of LRP­1 and decreased the levels of RAGE. Furthermore, the present results demonstrated that LGZG treatment significantly inhibited MAPK and NF­κB signalling, and reduced the production of pro­inflammatory cytokines and Aß accumulation in AD rats. LGZG exhibited a potential protective effect on Aß1­42­induced AD by regulating Aß transportation, and inhibiting RAGE/MAPK and NF­κB signalling. These results suggest that LGZG may be considered for the treatment of AD.

[Guiding Significance of "Mistreatment by Warming Therapy" in Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer].

"Mistreatment by warming therapy" refers to various symptoms/syndromes caused by improper use of fire methods mentioned in Treatise on Febrile Diseases, which are similar to damaged yin induced fire-heat syndrome (injury of yin, consumption of qi, loss of yin, consumption of body fluid) manifested after radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in modern clinics. Better efficacy was obtained in treating various symptoms/syndromes by using nourishing yin purging fire method. In this paper authors focuses on exploring guiding significance of using "Mistreatment by warming therapy" in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Latest Study on the Relationship between Pathological Process of Inflammatory Injury and the Syndrome of Spleen Deficiency and Fluid Retention in Alzheimer's Disease.

Inflammation exists throughout the incidence and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) differentiates the pathogenesis of AD as kidney essence deficiency and qi and blood deficiency as well as blood stasis in syndromes, whose action mechanisms are all associated with the intervention in its inflammatory process. Our preliminary studies both in clinic and in vitro have demonstrated that the syndrome of spleen deficiency and fluid retention has also been an important pathogenesis for the incidence and development of AD. Hence, the paper aims to further illustrate the correlation between inflammatory process in AD and the syndrome of spleen deficiency and fluid retention, laying solid foundation for the application of invigorating the spleen and eliminating the dampness in clinic, and enriching the theoretical connotation for AD prevention and treatment in TCM.