Molecular Mechanism of Medicinal Pair Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix Against Diabetic Cardiomyopathy / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the action mechanism of medicinal pair Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix against diabetic cardiomyopathy （DCM） based on network pharmacology and<italic> in vivo </italic>animal experiment. Method:The active ingredients and targets of Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechANism of Traditional Chinese Medicine （BATMAN-TCM）， and the relevant targets of DCM from the disease database. The common specific targets between the medicinal pair and DCM obtained via comparison were used for constructing the main active ingredients of Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix-DCM-target network， followed by protein-protein interaction （PPI） analysis of compound-DCM common targets and the screening of important modules using Molecular Complex Detection （MCODE） plugin. The gene ontology （GO） and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes （KEGG） enrichment analysis was carried out based on DAVID for exploring the possible molecular mechanisms， which were then subjected to experimental verification. Result:A total of 126 core targets of Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix for treating DCM were screened out based on network pharmacology. As indicated by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis， the above-mentioned key targets might be related to such pathways as inflammatory response， oxidative stress， insulin resistance， and apoptosis. The findings of <italic>in vivo</italic> animal experiments demonstrated that Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix delayed high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte injury of DCM rats， suggesting that this medicinal pair intervened in the pathological process to a certain extent. Conclusion:Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix alleviates DCM possibly by acting on multiple targets including interleukin-6， vascular endothelial growth factor A， tumor necrosis factor， TP53 gene， and nuclear transcription factor， regulating apoptosis and glucolipid metabolism， and improving oxidative stress and inflammatory response. The research based on network pharmacology and experimental verification has provided new ideas for investigating the pathogenesis of DCM and its clinical treatment.

[Laboratory diagnosis of an imported case of visceral leishmaniasis in Henan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological and clinical data of an imported case of visceral leishmaniasis in Henan Province, and explore the method of laboratory diagnosis of kala-azar. METHODS: The epidemiological and clinical data of an imported visceral leishmaniasis patient were analyzed. Leishmania donovani bodies in bone marrow smears were observed microscopically. The antibody was detected by using rK39 dipstick test strips. Two pairs of specific primers, K13A-K13B and LITSR-L5.8S, were used to amplify kinetoplast DNA and internal transcribed spacer of rDNA of the parasite, respectively. RESULTS: The patient had been in the epidemic area of visceral leishmaniasis, and had symptoms such as irregular fever, splenomegaly, pancytopenia, and inversed ratio of albumin and globulin. The amastigotes of L. donovani were found in the bone marrow smears, and rK39 test strip was positive, and the PCR products of K13A-K13B and LITSR-L5.8S were 87 bp and 285 bp respectively. The similarities of the two fragment sequences to the corresponding sequences of L. donovani were 94% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The case is diagnosed as visceral leishmaniasis according to the epidemiological data, clinical manifestations and laboratory test results of the patient, and the pathogen is L. donovani.

Laboratory diagnosis of an imported case of visceral leishmaniasis in Henan Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To analyze the epidemiological and clinical data of an imported case of visceral leishmaniasis in Henan Province, and explore the method of laboratory diagnosis of kala-azar. Methods The epidemiological and clinical data of an imported visceral leishmaniasis patient were analyzed. Leishmania donovani bodies in bone marrow smears were observed microscopically. The antibody was detected by using rK39 dipstick test strips. Two pairs of specific primers, K13A-K13B and LITSR-L5.8S, were used to amplify kinetoplast DNA and internal transcribed spacer of rDNA of the parasite, respectively. Results The patient had been in the epidemic area of visceral leishmaniasis, and had symptoms such as irregular fever, splenomegaly, pancytopenia, and inversed ratio of albumin and globulin. The amastigotes of L. donovani were found in the bone marrow smears, and rK39 test strip was positive, and the PCR products of K13A-K13B and LITSR-L5.8S were 87 bp and 285 bp respectively. The similarities of the two fragment sequences to the corresponding sequences of L. donovani were 94% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion The case is diagnosed as visceral leishmaniasis according to the epidemiological data, clinical manifestations and laboratory test results of the patient, and the pathogen is L. donovani.

Laboratory diagnosis of an imported case of visceral leishmaniasis in Henan Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To analyze the epidemiological and clinical data of an imported case of visceral leishmaniasis in Henan Province, and explore the method of laboratory diagnosis of kala-azar. Methods The epidemiological and clinical data of an imported visceral leishmaniasis patient were analyzed. Leishmania donovani bodies in bone marrow smears were observed microscopically. The antibody was detected by using rK39 dipstick test strips. Two pairs of specific primers, K13A-K13B and LITSR-L5.8S, were used to amplify kinetoplast DNA and internal transcribed spacer of rDNA of the parasite, respectively. Results The patient had been in the epidemic area of visceral leishmaniasis, and had symptoms such as irregular fever, splenomegaly, pancytopenia, and inversed ratio of albumin and globulin. The amastigotes of L. donovani were found in the bone marrow smears, and rK39 test strip was positive, and the PCR products of K13A-K13B and LITSR-L5.8S were 87 bp and 285 bp respectively. The similarities of the two fragment sequences to the corresponding sequences of L. donovani were 94% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion The case is diagnosed as visceral leishmaniasis according to the epidemiological data, clinical manifestations and laboratory test results of the patient, and the pathogen is L. donovani.

Comparative study on the efficacy of intracoronary infusion with various types of autologous bone marrow stem cells for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of intracoronary infusion of mononuclear stem cells (MNCs) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DCM patients with left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) < 40% were randomized to intracoronary infusion of MNCs [(5.1 ± 2.0) × 10(8), n = 16] or MSCs [(4.9 ± 1.7) × 10(8), n = 17] or equal volume normal saline (n = 20) through the guiding catheter. Changes of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), LVEF and myocardium perfusion defects were assessed before and at (30 ± 3) days and (90 ± 7) days after the procedure. Malignant cardiovascular events were also recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) One month after the procedure, LVEF in transplantation groups significantly increased compared to before procedure (all P < 0.05), and significant increase of LVEF was observed only in MSCs transplantation group compared to control group (P < 0.05). However, absolute changes of LVEDd and perfusion defects of myocardium were similar among and within groups (P > 0.05). (2) Comparing with before procedure and control group, LVEF in transplantation groups increased significantly in three months after the procedure (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between transplantation groups (P > 0.05). LVEDd and myocardium perfusion defects in transplantation groups improved significantly compared with that of before procedure (P < 0.05), while significant decrease of myocardium perfusion defects was only observed in patients treated with MSCs compared with control group at three months after procedure (P < 0.05). (3) There were no significant differences in major cardiovascular events between transplantation group and control during follow-up (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Intracoronary bone marrow stem cells transplantation is safe and effective for DCM patients while the efficacy of MSCs and MNCs transplantation is comparable.</p>

[Outcome of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia patients with residual lung tumor after completion of treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze retrospectively the prognosis of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) patients who achieved normal human chorionic gonadotropin-beta subunit (beta-hCG) titer after completing treatment but remained with residual lung tumor. METHODS: A total of 1130 GTN patients were hospitalized at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from Jan 1985 to Jan 2004. Among these patients, 901 achieved complete remission (CR); 152 achieved normal blood beta-hCG titer after the completion of treatment but remained with residual lung tumor (defined as partial remission). Retrospective analyses were carried out on the 152 patients. Statistical analysis was used to compare the recurrent rate of the CR patients with the progression rate of the 152 patients. RESULTS: The blood beta-hCG level of all the 152 patients returned to normal after they received 1-30 courses of standard multiple-drug combined chemotherapy treatment. Another 0-8 courses of chemotherapy were applied to these patients before they left hospital. Seventeen of the 152 patients lost to follow-up. Of the rest 135 patients followed up for 14 to 110 months, 83 showed no significant changes in terms of their residual tumors; the residual tumors in 46 patients diminished or disappeared; and the other 6 patients had progression of disease (PD), with beta-hCG levels going up 6-8 months after completing treatment (increased lung metastases were observed in four of the six patients). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the recurrent rate [3.4% (31/901)] of the 901 CR patients and the progression rate [3.9% (6/152)] of the 152 patients. There was also no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the recurrent rate [2.2% (10/463)] of the CR patients with lung metastasis and the progression rate of the 152 patients. CONCLUSIONS: After normalization of beta-hCG titer, patients whose lung tumors remained unchanged even after several additional courses of chemotherapy should be considered as CR patients. Follow-ups should be strictly carried out on these patients, especially at around 6 months after the completion of treatment, and particularly for high-risk and drug-resistant choriocarcinoma patients.

Studies on immunoregulation of polysaccharides-la from Radix Cynanchi Bungei / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of PRCB1a (one component of polysaccharides from Radix Cynanchi Bungei) on transformation of T lymphocytes of rabbit in vitro and immune function in mice.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Three doses of PRCB1a (2,4,6 g x L(-1)) were respectively put in bottle with PHA and blood of rabbit. The effect of PRCB1a on immunity in vitro was studied by observing transformation of T lymphocytes; The dosage of PRCB1a (50,100,150 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) was given orally for seven days. The effects on immune function were investigated in mice.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Three doses of PRCB1a could significantly promote (P < 0.01) the ability of T lymphocytes proliferation; PRCB1a could improve the mouse thymus and spleen index, the celiac macrophage ability of engulfing CRBC, the delayed type hypersensitivity ability and the macrophage engulfing carbon granula ability.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results indicate PRCB1a can enhance nonspectific and specific cellular immune function.</p>