The metabolomic study on atherosclerosis mice and its application in a traditional Chinese medicine Sishen granule.

Although an atherosclerosis (AS) model using low-density lipoprotein receptor deletion mice has been widely applied, its pathological pathway in metabolite level is still not clear. To further reveal the metabolite profile and identify the potential biomarkers in AS development, a serum metabolomic approach was developed based on reversed-phase liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS). The established metabolomic platform was also used for elucidating the therapeutic mechanism of a traditional Chinese medicine named Sishen granule (SSKL). Twenty-one potential biomarkers in AS mouse serum were identified. Through functional analysis of these biomarkers, inflammation, proliferation, dysfunction of energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism were considered the most relevant pathological changes in AS. DNA damage products were found for the first time in the metabolomic study of AS. The network established by 20 biomarkers revealed that pyruvate metabolism, citrate cycle, fatty acid metabolism and urea metabolism were seriously disturbed. This metabolomic study not only supplied a systematic view of the progression of AS but also provided a theoretical basis for the treatment of AS. This metabolomic study also demonstrated that SSKL had therapeutic effectiveness for AS through partly reversing the inflammation reaction and amino acid metabolism dysfunction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxa combustion on prostate hyperplasia.

INTRODUCTION: Both acupuncture and moxibustion have been used for thousands of years in China for diverse conditions. But there are few reports on their combined effect in managing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). To answer this question, we designed a prospectively study and the present protocol described details of this randomized controlled trial (RCT). METHODS: In this RCT, an estimated number of 200 patients with BPH will be enrolled from Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, China. They will be assigned to either the combined therapy group or the conventional western medicine group in a ratio of 1:1. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) will be assessed as the primary outcome, other parameters, including the post-voiding residual urine volume, maximum flow rate (Qmax), and average flow rate (Qave), voiding time, and time to maximum flow, are secondary outcomes. DISCUSSION: Results of this study will provide the theoretical basis for clinicians to select combined therapy or conventional western medicine treatments for BPH patients based on the efficacy of these therapies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2000030504/ChiMCTR2000003082. http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=47719&htm=4, Registered on 5th March 2020.

Metabolomic study on the faecal extracts of atherosclerosis mice and its application in a Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The intestinal microbiota and their metabolites are closely related to the formation of atherosclerosis (AS). In this study, a metabolomic approach based on the reversed-phase liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) platform was established to analyze the metabolic profiling of fecal extracts from AS mice model. The established metabolomic platform was also used for clearing the effective mechanism of a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) named Sishen granule (SSKL). Totally, sixteen potential biomarkers in faeces of AS mice were identified and 5 of them could be reversed by SSKL. Through functional analysis of these biomarkers and the established network, lipid metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, energy cycle, and inflammation reaction were considered as the most relevant pathological changes in gastrointestinal tract of AS mice. The metabolomic study not only revealed the potential biomarkers in AS mice' faeces but also supplied a systematic view of the pathological changes in gastrointestinal metabolite in AS mice. This metabolomic study also demonstrated that SSKL had the therapeutic effectiveness on AS through partly reversing the lipid metabolism, inflammation and energy metabolism.