Network-Based Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Study on the Mechanism of Action of Gujiansan in the Treatment of Steroid-Induced Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head.

Objective: To investigate the main pharmacological basis and mechanism of action of Gujiansan in the treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH). Methods: The active constituents and targets of Gujiansan were screened by using TCMSP and other databases, and relevant disease targets were obtained by analyzing the microarray of SANFH in the GEO database. The intersection of the two was taken to obtain the potential targets of Gujiansan for the treatment of SANFH, and key active constituents were screened with the "active constituent-target" network constructed by the Cytoscape software; then, the STRING database was used to construct the protein interaction network to screen the key targets. The Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses of key targets were performed by the DAVID database, and the relationship between the "key active constituent-key target-key signaling pathway" was explored. Finally, the molecular docking between key active constituents and key targets was verified. In addition, qPCR detection technology was used to evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effects of key active constituents of Gujiansan in a rat osteoblast model of SANFH to verify the possible mechanism of the effect of Gujiansan in the treatment of SANFH. Results: (1) 106 active constituents and 55 targets were obtained for the treatment of SANFH. (2) Quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, cryptotanshinone, and naringenin were the key active constituents for the treatment of SANFH. (3) IL1B, STAT3, CAT, PTGS2, and MAPK3 were the key targets for the treatment of SANFH. (4) IL1B, STAT3, CAT, PTGS2, MAPK3, and HMOX1 are key targets in the protein interaction network. (5) DAVID enrichment analysis mainly covers the regulation of DNA-binding transcription factor activity, positive regulation of cytokine production, and response to oxidative stress and other biological processes, involving IL-17, AGE-RAGE, C-type lectin receptor, and other signaling pathways. (6) Gujiansan is a multitarget and multisignaling pathway for the treatment of SANFH. (7) Good binding activity exists between key active constituents and key targets. Conclusion: This study analyzes the potential mechanism of action of Gujiansan in the treatment of SANFH with network pharmacology, which can provide a reference for the further study of its pharmacological basis and targets.

Exploring the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus and osteoporosis based on bioinformatics.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and osteoporosis (OP) based on bioinformatics. METHODS: The expression profiles of SLE and OP gene chips were searched through the GEO database, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out to obtain the intersection. Then, the Funrich software was used to predict the upstream miRNAs of the intersection genes, and the miRNA-mRNA relationship network was constructed. Afterward, the String database and Cytoscape software were used to construct the protein interaction network of the intersection genes to screen out the key genes. Finally, the functions and related pathways of key genes were analyzed by using the DAVID database. RESULTS: ①A total of 140 intersection genes of SLE and OP were obtained; ②There were 217 miRNAs regulating the intersection genes; ③IL-4, FOS, TLR1, TLR6, CD40LG, CCR1 were the key genes in the protein interaction network; ④The DAVID enrichment analysis mainly covered the positive regulation of cytokine production, the regulation of osteoclast differentiation, macrophage activation and other biological processes, involving Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway, Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells Differentiation, IL-17 signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: SLE and OP still have some highly overlapping differential gene expressions under the background of complex gene networks. The gene functions and signaling pathways involved can simultaneously regulate the two diseases, suggesting that there is a close relationship between the molecular mechanisms of the two diseases, and that it may be a target of drugs that interfere with two diseases at the same time.

Chinese herbal compound prescription for Endometriosis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis (EMT) is one of the common diseases of women of childbearing age. EMT destroys the anatomical structure of the pelvis, which leads to abnormal ovulation and endocrine abnormalities. It also affects embryo implantation and makes patients infertile. Recently, it is confirmed that Chinese medicine also have an excellent clinical efficacy on EMT. Compared with the conventional western medicine treatment, it effectively relieve pain and other concomitant symptoms. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The following databases will be searched for relevant information before July 2020: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CNKI. MAJOR RESULTS: the overall effective rate, VAS score. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: blood serum estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), adverse events. Data will be collected independently by 2 researchers, and the risk of bias in meta-analysis will be evaluated according to "Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions". All data analysis will be conducted using Review Manager V.5.3. and Stata V.12.0. RESULTS: The curative effect and safety of Chinese herbal compound prescription treatment for EMT patients will be evaluated systematically. CONCLUSION: The systematic review of this study will summarize the currently published evidence of Chinese herbal compound prescription treatment for EMT to further guide its promotion and application. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The private information from individuals will not be published. This systematic review also will not involve endangering participant rights. Ethical approval is not required. The results may be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated in relevant conferences. OPEN SCIENCE FRAMEWORK (OSF) REGISTRATION NUMBER:: https://osf.io/p5nrk.

Orientation Ordering and Chiral Superstructures in Fullerene Monolayer on Cd (0001).

The structure of C60 thin films grown on Cd (0001) surface has been investigated from submonolayer to second monolayer regimes with a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). There are different C60 domains with various misorientation angles relative to the lattice directions of Cd (0001). In the (2√3 × 2√3) R30° domain, orientational disorder of the individual C60 molecules with either pentagon, hexagon, or 6:6 bond facing up has been observed. However, orientation ordering appeared in the R26° domain such that all the C60 molecules adopt the same orientation with the 6:6 bond facing up. In particular, complex chiral motifs composed of seven C60 molecules with clockwise or anticlockwise handedness have been observed in the R4° and R8° domains, respectively. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) measurements reveal a reduced HOMO-LOMO gap of 2.1 eV for the C60 molecules adsorbed on Cd (0001) due to the substrate screening and charge transfer from Cd to C60 molecules.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with probiotics for depression and chronic diarrhea in patients and effect on serum inflammatory cytokines, NE and BDNF.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with probiotics for depression and chronic diarrhea in patients, and its effect on the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines, norepinephrine (NE) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were investigated. A total of 104 patients with depression and chronic diarrhea admitted to The First Clinical Faculty, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2014 to June 2018 were randomly divided into the observation group (n=56) and the control group (n=48). The observation group was treated with electroacupuncture combined with probiotics, and the control group was given conventional drugs for depression and chronic diarrhea. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score and the abdominal symptom score were evaluated before treatment and at 3 weeks after treatment. Changes in the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] as well as the levels of NE and BDNF in the two groups of patients before and after treatment were determined using radioimmunoassay. Compared with those in the control group, the symptoms of depression and diarrhea in the observation group were remarkably alleviated (p<0.05). After treatment, the serum cytokine levels in the two groups of patients were decreased, and the decreased level of serum inflammatory cytokines in the observation group was not obviously different from that in the control group. Besides, the serum BDNF level in the observation group was also reduced (p<0.05). The overall efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group, showing a statistical difference. Electroacupuncture combined with probiotics brings good efficacy to patients with depression and chronic diarrhea, which is worthy of clinical promotion and development.