Xiang Qin Kang Gan Granules Treated the Human Coronavirus 229E Induced Pneumonia with Damp-Heat Syndrome in Mice.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which causes severe respiratory illness, was first reported in Wuhan, China. The etiology of the disease is a new novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was reported to share the same origin as SARS-CoV, causing severe public health events in 2002. Unlike the SARS-CoV, which was conquered in the early summer of 2003, this virus was still contagious widely and reached a pandemic level. It can still spread fast even if the season's temperature is raised. Here, we made a model of pneumonia of human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) with damp-heat syndrome treated by Xiangqin Kanggan granules to find a new medicine for treating these kinds of infectious diseases coronaviruses induced.

Adverse Effects of Gefitinib on Skin and Colon in a Lung Cancer Mouse Model.

BACKGROUND: Gefitinib, an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), frequently causes side effects when used to treat non-small cell lung cancer. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the side effect of gefitinib on the skin and colon of mice. METHODS: Male Balb/c nu-nu nude mice aged 4-5 weeks were used as xenograft tumor models, and gefitinib at 150 mg/kg and 225 mg/kg was started at 9 days after the xenograft tumor grew out. The mice's weights and tumor volumes were tracked concurrently, and the mouse skin adverse reactions and diarrhea were observed during the treatment. The animal tissues were subjected to biochemical and pathological evaluations after 14 days. RESULTS: Gefitinib effectively decreased the size and weight of transplanted tumors in nude mice, while also lowering body weight and raising indexes of the liver and spleen. Gefitinib could cause skin adverse reactions and diarrhea in mice. Further pathological investigation revealed tight junction- related markers in the mice's skin and colon to be reduced and macrophages and neutrophils to be increased after gefitinib treatment. CONCLUSION: The findings imply that gefitinib has negative effects on the skin and colon. Gefitinib- induced skin and colon adverse reactions in mice have been successfully modeled in this study.

Metastatic colon cancer treated using traditional Chinese medicine combined with chemotherapy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer (CC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used in the treatment of various chronic diseases. CC easily metastasizes and results in high morbidity and mortality rates. CASE SUMMARY: A 71-year-old man with a 12-year history of old myocardial infarction and a 7-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus was diagnosed with CC and underwent right hemicolectomy 1 year ago. Tumor biopsy revealed moderately poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Subsequently, chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and paclitaxel was administered. Anastomosis recurrence and pelvic metastasis were noted 37 d later. The patient received eight 21-d cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and capecitabine after recurrence. However, the tumor persisted, and chemotherapy-related liver damage developed gradually. Thus, he was advised to take TCM for the recurrence and pelvic metastasis. The patient's metastatic CC was cured after receiving TCM combined with long-term chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: TCM may be an effective adjunct therapy in the treatment of patients with metastatic CC.

Rheumatic valvular heart disease treated with traditional Chinese medicine: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is an autoimmune disease that leads to irreversible valve damage and heart failure. Surgery is an effective treatment; however, it is invasive and carries risks, restricting its broad application. Therefore, it is essential to find alternative nonsurgical treatments for RHD. CASE SUMMARY: A 57-year-old woman was assessed with cardiac color Doppler ultrasound, left heart function tests, and tissue Doppler imaging evaluation at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University. The results showed mild mitral valve stenosis with mild to moderate mitral and aortic regurgitation, confirming a diagnosis of rheumatic valve disease. After her symptoms became severe, with frequent ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular tachycardia > 200 beats per minute, her physicians recommended surgery. During a 10-day preoperative waiting period, the patient asked to be treated with traditional Chinese medicine. After 1 week of this treatment, her symptoms improved significantly, including resolution of the ventricular tachycardia, and the surgery was postponed pending further follow-up. At 3 -month follow-up, color Doppler ultrasound showed mild mitral valve stenosis with mild mitral and aortic regurgitation. Therefore, it was determined that no surgical treatment was required. CONCLUSION: Traditional Chinese medicine treatment effectively relieves symptoms of RHD, particularly mitral valve stenosis and mitral and aortic regurgitation.

Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treated using the Feibi recipe: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Rationale: No other treatment besides lung transplant is effective for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Patients with IPF have poor prognosis, which may eventually lead to death. Patient concerns: Two female patients were diagnosed with IPF. In our recent follow-up, both these patients maintained a good quality of life. CASE SUMMARY: Diagnosis: Both patients had dry cough and progressive dyspnea. Interventions: The first patient was treated with prednisone, and the second patient was treated with prednisone and tripterygium glycosides. However, the symptoms did not improve and fibrosis was not controlled. Thus, the Feibi recipe was used. Outcomes: No deterioration was observed after the treatment, and the dry cough and its effect were ameliorated. Furthermore, they are still alive and the quality of their lives has improved. CONCLUSION: These two cases suggest that the Feibi recipe and other traditional Chinese medicine therapies could be beneficial for IPF treatment.

Feibi decoction-medicated serum inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells and BMDMs.

Feibi decoction (FBD) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and has been clinically used in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), which is characterized by diffuse interstitial inflammation and exaggerated collagen accumulation. However, the potential mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of FBD-medicated serum (FBDS) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in macrophages. In RAW264.7 macrophages and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), FBDS treatment significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS. In addition, it was indicated that FBDS treatment suppressed the activation of NF-κB and Smad2/Smad3 following LPS treatment. Furthermore, FBDS treatment decreased the expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 and chitinase-3-like protein 1. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that treatment with FBDS inhibited LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 and BMDM cells. These data may improve understanding of the effect of FBD on anti-inflammation and help determine the mechanisms underlying the alleviation of PF via FBD.

Number 2 Feibi Recipe Ameliorates Pulmonary Fibrosis by Inducing Autophagy Through the GSK-3ß/mTOR Pathway.

Number 2 Feibi Recipe (N2FBR) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N2FBR inhibits H2O2-mediated oxidative stress damage in alveolar epithelial cells by increasing autophagy, as we previously demonstrated. However, it is unknown if similar mechanisms occur in vivo. We established a pulmonary fibrosis model by instilling bleomycin (BLM) from the airway to examine the effects of N2FBR on pulmonary fibrosis and investigate its probable mechanism in this work. We discovered that N2FBR treatment effectively alleviated interstitial fibrosis as well as collagen deposition, primarily in upregulating SOD, GSH-Px, T-AOC and downregulating MDA content. N2FBR also increased the expression of LC3B, Beclin-1, LAMP1, TFEB and downregulated the expression of p62, legumain. N2FBR treatment boosted the production of autophagosomes, according to the results of the TEM observation. Furthermore, we explored that N2FBR exerted its anti-oxidative stress and pro-autophagy effects via GSK-3ß/mTOR signalling pathway. Therefore, these results provide further evidence for the protective effect of N2FBR in pulmonary fibrosis. Our findings could have ramifications for the development of antifibrosis therapies.

NeuroProtect, a Candidate Formula From Traditional Chinese Medicine, Attenuates Amyloid-ß and Restores Synaptic Structures in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. The emerging data suggest that cognitive decline occurred in the setting of Aß accumulation with synaptic dysfunction, which started to happen at preclinical stages. Then, presymptomatic intervention is more critical to postponing AD processing. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of treating and preventing dementia. Findings have shown that the decoction of Panax notoginseng and Gardenia jasminoides Ellis enhances memory functions in patients with stroke, and their main components, Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) and geniposide (GP), improved memory abilities in experimental AD models. Since herbal medicine has advantages in protection with few side effects, we wish to extend observations of the NeuroProtect (NP) formulation for reducing amyloid-ß and restoring synaptic structures in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Methods: APP/PS1 transgenic mice and their wild-type littermates were fed with control, NP, and their components from 4 to 7 months of age. We assessed the synaptic structure by Golgi staining, analyzed the amyloid deposits by Thioflavin-S staining, and measured related protein levels by Western blot or ELISA. We used the Morris water maze and shuttle box test to evaluate cognitive functions. Results: Compared to WT mice, APP/PS1 mice are characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques, reducing synaptic structure richness and memory deficits. NP prevents these changes and ameliorates cognitive deficits. These effects may have been due to the contribution of its components by inhibition of insoluble amyloid-ß deposition and restoration of synaptic structures. Conclusion: These findings reveal a beneficial effect of NP on AD progression under an early intervention strategy and provide a food supplement for AD prevention.

Exploration of the Potential Mechanism of Qi Yin San Liang San Decoction in the Treatment of EGFRI-Related Adverse Skin Reactions Using Network Pharmacology and In Vitro Experiments.

Background: Adverse skin reactions are the most common side effects of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) in the treatment of cancer, significantly affecting the survival rate and quality of life of patients. Qi Yin San Liang San Decoction (QYSLS) comes from folk prescription and is currently used in the clinical treatment of adverse skin reactions caused by EGFRIs. However, its therapeutic mechanism remains unclear. Objectives: To explore the potential mechanism of QYSLS in the treatment of adverse skin reactions caused by EGFR inhibition using network pharmacology and experimental research. Methods: First, we verified the effectiveness of QYSLS in vivo using model mice. Second, the related targets of adverse skin reactions associated with EGFR inhibition were predicted by the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and effective components and predictive targets of QYSLS were analyzed by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) and Batman-TCM databases. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were performed via the Bioconductor (R) V3.8 bioinformatics software. Molecular docking studies verified the selected key ingredients and targets. Finally, the results of network pharmacology were verified by in vitro experiments. Results: In the in vivo mouse model, QYSLS effectively reduced the occurrence of skin side effects. Network pharmacological results showed that the active ingredient luteolin, quercetin, licochalcone a, and kaempferol and the effective targets prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) were related to the interleukin-17 (IL-17) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathway. Subsequently, the related active compounds and targets were verified using HaCaT cells as an in vitro adverse reaction model. The results showed that luteolin and quercetin increased the expression of PTGS2 and MMP9 and reduced the expression of CCL2 in HaCaT cells treated with gefitinib. Conclusions: The results revealed that QYSLS effectively treats EGFRI-related adverse skin reactions through multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms. Luteolin and quercetin may be the core active ingredients of QYSLS in the treatment of EGFRI-related adverse skin reactions, and their therapeutic effects are potentially mediated through PTGS2, CCL2, and MMP9 in the IL-17 and TNF signaling pathway.

Anti-Stroke Chinese Herbal Medicines Inhibit Abnormal Amyloid-ß Protein Precursor Processing in Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs), as an important and integral part of a larger system of medicine practiced in China, called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), have been used in stroke therapy for centuries. A large body of studies suggest that some Chinese herbs can help reverse cognitive impairment in stroke patients, while whether these herbs also exert therapeutic benefits for Alzheimer's disease remains to be seen. OBJECTIVE: To address this issue, we selected four types of CHMs that are commonly prescribed for stroke treatment in clinical practice, namely DengZhanXiXin (D1), TongLuoJiuNao (T2), QingKaiLing (Q3), and HuangQinGan (H4), and tested their effects on amyloid-ß protein precursor (AßPP) processing in vitro. METHODS: AßPP, ß-secretase (BACE1), and 99-amino acid C-terminal fragment of AßPP (C99) stably transfected cells were used for the tests of AßPP processing. The production of Aß, activity of BACE1, neprilysin (NEP), and γ-secretase were assessed by ELISA, RT-PCR, and western blot. RESULTS: By upregulating BACE1 activity, D1 increased Aß production whereas decreased the ratio of Aß42/Aß40; by downregulating BACE1 activity and modulating the expression of γ-secretase, T2 decreased Aß production and the ratio of Aß42/Aß40; by downregulating BACE1 activity, Q3 decreased Aß production; H4 did not change Aß production due to the simultaneously downregulation of BACE1 and NEP activity. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that these four anti-stroke CHMs regulate AßPP processing through different mechanisms. Particularly, T2 with relatively simple components and prominent effect on AßPP processing may be a promising candidate for the treatment of AD.

Feibi Recipe Reduced Pulmonary Fibrosis Induced by Bleomycin in Mice by Regulating BRP39/IL-17 and TGFß1/Smad3 Signal Pathways.

Fibrotic remodeling has become the result of many lung diseases, and these disorders can be categorized with known as well as unknown etiologies. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most fatal disease among the unknown etiology. TGFß1/Smad3 signal pathway plays an important role in lung fibrosis and epithelial regeneration. This study investigated the effects and mechanism of Feibi Recipe (FBR) on pulmonary fibrosis. In this experiment, C57BL/6 mice were used and bleomycin was used to induce the lung injury. Meanwhile, the study showed a significant reduction in pathological response and mediators of inflammation and fibrosis such as IL-6, ICAM-1, IL-13, IL-17, BRP-39, TGFß1, Smad3, and Smad7 were identified. Collectively, the FBR appears to attenuate the lung injury and the modeling of fibrosis in mice.

Number 2 Feibi Recipe Reduces PM2.5-Induced Lung Injury in Rats.

Air pollution is the main cause of respiratory diseases. Fine particulates with the diameter below 2.5 µm can get into the alveoli and then enter the blood circulation through the lung tissue ventilation function and cause multiple systemic diseases especially the respiratory diseases. This study investigated the pathological mechanism of the lungs injury in rats induced by PM2.5 and the effect and mechanism of the Chinese herbal medicine number 2 Feibi Recipe (number 2 FBR) on lungs injury. In this experiment, Wistar rats were used. Lungs injury was induced by PM2.5. Number 2 FBR was used to treat the rats. The result showed that number 2 FBR could improve the lung injury in the rats. Meanwhile, it significantly reduced pathological response and inflammatory mediators including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-13 (IL-13), interleukin-17 (IL17), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and transforming growth factor-α (TNF-α) and upregulated glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the PM2.5 induced lung injury in the rats. Collectively, number 2 FBR appears to attenuate the lungs injury in rats induced by PM2.5.

Mixture prepared with Chinese medicines in terms of releasing exterior cold and clearing interior heat: its efficacy and safety in patients with seasonal influenza-a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety in 105 patients with seasonal Influenza in Beijing, the mixture prepared with Chinese medicines follows the treatment regimen of releasing exterior cold and clearing interior heat. METHODS: Total 330 patients with seasonal influenza were enrolled and randomly and averagely divided into the Chinese herbal medicine, the western medicine and the Chinese patent medicine group. They were treated with Chinese medicine Oseltamivir Phosphate Capsules and the Scattering Wind and Resolving Toxins Capsules. The main efficacy indicators were the antifebrile onset time and recovery time of body temperature. The efficacy and safety of the mixture was scientifically evaluated. Comparisons of several variables were analyzed. RESULTS: Median antifebrile onset time of the Chinese herbal medicine group was significantly shorter than the western medicine group (P < 0.05) and the Chinese patent medicine group (P < 0.05). The median antifebrile recovery time of the Chinese herbal medicine group was significantly shorter than the Chinese patent medicine group (P < 0.05). The groups evaluated by TCM symptom pattern effect, both the Chinese herbal medicine group and Western Medicine group were better than the Chinese patent medicine group (P < 0.05). The disappearance rate of main symptoms and some minor symptom patterns of the Chinese herbal medicine group were higher than the other 2 groups. CONCLUSION: The mixture of releasing exterior cold and clearing interior heat could significantly shorten the fever time with safety.