Role of macrophages in heart failure and traditional Chinese medicine intervention / 中国中药杂志

As the disease with high morbidity and mortality in the world, heart failure affects the development of human society. Due to its complicated pathology and limited treatment options, it is urgent to discover new disease targets and develop new treatment strategies. As innate immune cells accompanied by the evolution of heart failure, macrophages play an important role in cardiac homeostasis and stress. In recent years, the role of macrophages in the heart has attracted more and more attention as a potential target for heart failure intervention, and the research on cardiac macrophages has made important progress. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has significant effects on regulating inflammatory response, treating heart failure, and maintaining homeostasis. In this article, researches on the functions of cardiac macrophages and application of TCM were reviewed from the source and classification of cardiac macrophages and the relationship of macrophages and cardiac inflammation, myocardial fibrosis, cardiac angiogenesis, and cardiac electrical conduction, which provided a basis for further basic research and clinical applications.

Expert Consensus on Sepsis Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

To give full play to the therapeutic advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in sepsis， clarify the entry point of integrated TCM and western medicine， further standardize the clinical treatment of TCM， develop a recognized and integrated treatment protocol of TCM and western medicine， and improve the clinical efficacy on sepsis，the Chinese Association of Chinese Medicine organized TCM and western medicine experts specialized in sepsis treatment to conduct in-depth discussions on the advantages of TCM and integrated TCM and western medicine in the treatment of sepsis based on the TCM etiology and pathogenesis of sepsis， a representative acute and critical disease. They emphasized the pathogenesis characteristics of asthenia of healthy Qi and sthenia of pathogenic factors and summarized the roles of Chinese medicine in correcting the imbalance of inflammatory response， improving blood coagulation dysfunction， and relieving organ damage. Furthermore， they proposed the treatment protocol with integrated TCM and western medicine， which is expected to provide references for actual clinical treatment and scientific research.

Longshengzhi Capsules Improves Cognitive Function of Vascular Dementia Model Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the effect of Longshengzhi capsules on the cognitive function of vascular dementia （VD） rats and reveal the underlying mechanism. MethodA VD rat model was established by permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries. The model rats were randomly assigned into the model group （normal saline for gavage）， Hydergine （0.54 mg·kg-1） group， and high-， medium-， and low-dose （2.16， 1.08， and 0.54 g·kg-1， respectively） Longshengzhi capsules groups， with 15 rats each group. Additionally， a sham group （normal saline for gavage） was designed in this study. Morris water maze test was conducted in the last week. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was employed for observation of the pathological changes in the hippocampal area of rat brain. Serum oxidative stress indicators including superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） were examined. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The expression levels of B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， protein kinase B （Akt）， p-Akt， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）， and matrix metallopeptidase-9 （MMP-9） were determined by Western blot. ResultMorris water maze results showed that compared with sham operation group， the escape latency of rats in model group was significantly prolonged， and the number of crossing platform was significantly reduced. Compared with model group， the time of escape latency in Longshengzhi capsules high- and medium-dose groups was significantly shortened， and the number of crossing platform was significantly increased. Compared with sham operation group， SOD and GSH-Px levels in model group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， MDA levels were significantly increased （P<0.05）， TNF-α， IL-6 and IL-1β levels were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with model group， the level of SOD in serum of Longshengzhi capsules high-dose group was significantly increased （P<0.05）， the level of GSH-Px in serum of Longshengzhi capsules high-， medium- and low-dose groups was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the level of MDA was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. TNF-α， IL-6 and IL-1β levels were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. HE staining showed that Longshengzhi capsules could improve pathological damage in hippocampus of VD rats. Western blot results showed that compared with sham operation group， the protein expressions of Bax， NF-κB， MMP-9 and ICAM-1 in model group were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the protein expressions of Bcl-2， Akt and p-Akt were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The protein expression of Bax， NF-κB， MMP-9 and ICAM-1 in Longshengzhi capsules high-， medium- and low-dose groups was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The protein expression of Akt in Longshengzhi capsules high- and medium-dose groups was significantly increased （P<0.05）. The expression of p-Akt protein in Longshengzhi capsules high-dose group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionLongshengzhi capsules can improve the cognitive function of VD rats， and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress， inflammatory response and apoptosis. ConclusionLongshengzhi capsules can improve the cognitive function of VD rats by inhibiting oxidative stress， inflammatory reaction， and neuronal apoptosis.

Detoxification of cardiotoxic traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese medicine for prevention of cardiotoxicity: a review / 中国中药杂志

Cardiotoxicity is smong the main safety problems of drugs in clinical application. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has been gradually emphasized and studies on the evaluation of cardiac safety and prevention of cardiotoxicity of Chinese medicine have been on the rise, particularly the cardiotoxic Chinese medicine or the Chinese medicine components targeting cardiotoxicity. As for the research methods for cardiac safety evaluation of Chinese medicine, this review introduces the related clinical indexes and cell and animal models. As to the improvement of heart safety, this study reviews the material basis and mechanism of cardiotoxic Chinese medicines as well as the alleviation of cardiotoxicity by controlling the content of toxic compounds and changing dosage form, processing method, and compatibility of Chinese medicine. In addition, the effective components and mechanisms of prescriptions and active compounds in Chinese medicine for preventing and treating cardiotoxicity induced by chemotherapeutic drugs in recent years were summarized. This review is expected to serve as a reference for cardiac safety evaluation and clinical rational application of Chinese medicine.

Construction of "2R network pharmacology" research method for effective components of traditional Chinese medicine based on "prediction of dominant components-screening of potential targets" / 中国中药杂志

Chinese traditional medicine compound is the main form of Chinese medicine clinical application. The elucidation of the effective components of traditional Chinese medicine is one of the key scientific issues to promote the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. At present, there are many research ideas on the effective components of traditional Chinese medicine compounds. By analyzing the current status and existing problems of existing research ideas, the author proposes a "double reduction network pharmacology"(2 R network pharmacology) research method based on "prediction of dominant components-potential target selection". Chemical components with good properties were selected by ADMET property prediction technology, and compared with the blood components and target organ components to determine the dominant components with potential therapeutic effect, that is "reducing constituents"; the potential core regulatory pathway of traditional Chinese medicine compound was enriched by RNA-Seq technology combined with network database, and then the target of traditional Chinese medicine compound was mined based on the signal pathway, that is "reducing targets". To improve the efficiency and accuracy of effective component screening, the network relationship of "component target" was established by the related technology of network pharmacology. The purpose of this study is to provide practical research ideas and methods for clarifying the effective components of traditional Chinese medicine, revealing the law of compatibility of traditional Chinese medicine and clarifying the target of drug action.

Obstetric Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

In recent years， with the change in life style， social environment， and national childbearing policy， the proportion of high-risk pregnant women has increased significantly， triggering the spectrum of obstetric diseases to constantly change， which has brought new challenges to the diagnosis and treatment of obstetrics. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been proved effective in dealing with a variety of obstetric diseases， and various treatment methods are available， which can serve as alternative means for solving refractory obstetric diseases. However， most obstetric clinicians are currently less aware of the therapeutic effects of TCM， which has significantly hindered its participation in clinical treatment. Therefore， the China Association of Chinese Medicine （CACM） organized the outstanding young obstetricians of TCM and western medicine to discuss 15 obstetric diseases responding specifically to TCM or integrated TCM and western medicine， including hyperemesis gravidarum， threatened abortion， ectopic gestation， cough during pregnancy， pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome， maternal-fetal ABO incompatibility， postpartum hypogalactia， residual pregnancy tissue in uterine cavity， puerperal infection， pantalgia after childbirth， hematoma/undesirable healing after caesarean section， postpartum urinary retention， ileus after cesarean section， pelvic floor dysfunction， and postnatal depression. The suggestions for their treatment with TCM or integrated TCM and western medicine were also proposed， aiming to provide patients with effective and personalized treatments in clinical practice and improve the diagnosis and treatment effects of obstetric diseases， thus benefiting the public. At the same time， more obstetrical clinicians are expected to understand the therapeutic effects and advantages of TCM and draw on the strengths of both TCM and western， thereby promoting the establishment of an obstetric diagnosis and treatment system with Chinese characteristics.

Anti-inflammatory mechanism of heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese herbs / 中国中药杂志

Heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese herbs (HDCHs) are mainly used to treat carbuncle, sore throat, erysipelas, gills, dysentery and other diseases induced by heat-toxicity. Inflammation is a defensive response to damaging factors in living organism with vascular system. In recent years, a large amount of experimental and clinical studies showed that HDCHs had good therapeutic effect on inflammation. This review analyzed the anti-inflammatory mechanism of 11 HDCHs by retrieving literature in past 5 years, including Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Jinyinhua), Lonicerae Flos (Jinyinhua), Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis (Rendongteng), Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao), Rhizoma Coptidis（Huanglian）, Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi), Andrographis Herba (Chuanxinlian), Taraxaci Herba (Pugongying), Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen), Pulsatillae Radix (Baitouweng), and Agrimoniae Herba (Xianhecao). The data showed that the regulatory effect of HDCHs on inflammation may be involved mainly in the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway, with similarity of action links among these three. Based upon the analysis of literature, we proposed some promising directions in this research field, providing a reliable theoretical basis for both experimental researches and clinical practices of HDCHs.

Overview of research projects funding in traditional Chinese medicine oncology field supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China / 中国中药杂志

In this paper, the funding situation of traditional Chinese medicine oncology research projects supported by National Natural Science Fund from 1986-2016 was reviewed. The characteristics of funded projects were summarized from funding amount, funding expenses, funding category, and the main research contents of projects, etc. At the same time, the main problems in the projects were analyzed in this paper, in order to provide reference for the relevant fund applicants.

Analysis of projects funded by NSFC in field of Chinese material medica resource in recent three years / 中国中药杂志

The paper reviewed the sponsorship and final reports of projects focus on Science of Chinese materia medica resource in Medical Science Department, National Natural Science Foundation of China. The applicant and supportive organizations were analyzed. The progress and results of some projects were summarized by research fields including formation mechanism of Dao-di herbs, research of plant taxonomy, breeding and cultivation of medical plants, ecological and environmental adaptability of Chinese materia medica resource, quality assessment of Chinese materia medica resource, and biosynthesis and regulation of active compounds. In addition, the potential problems and the most and least focused areas in the application were summarized for reference.

Metabolomic profiling reveals distinct patterns of tricarboxylic acid disorders in blood stasis syndrome associated with coronary heart disease / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the underlying metabolomic profifiling of coronary heart disease (CHD) with blood stasis syndrome (BSS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CHD model was induced by a nameroid constrictor in Chinese miniature swine. Fifteen miniature swine were randomly divided into a model group (n=9) and a control group (n=6), respectively according to arandom number table. After 4 weeks, plasma hemorheology was detected by automatic hemorheological analyzer, indices including hematocrit, plasma viscosity, blood viscosity, rigidity index and erythrocyte sedimentation rate; cardiac function was assessed by echocardiograph to detect left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVED), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS) and other indicators. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and bioinformatics were applied to analyze spectra of CHD plasma with BSS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of hemorheology analysis showed signifificant changes in viscosity, with low shear whole blood viscosity being lower and plasma viscosity higher in the model group compared with the control group. Moreover, whole blood reduction viscosity at high shear rate and whole blood reduction viscosity at low shear rate increased signifificantly (P <0.05). The echocardiograph results demonstrated that cardiac EF and FS showed signifificant difference (P <0.05), with EF values being decreased to 50% or less. The GC-MS data showed that principal component analysis can clearly separate the animals with BSS from those in the control group. The enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes biological pathways results suggested that the patterns involved were associated with dysfunction of energy metabolism including glucose and lipid disorders, especially in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, galactose metabolism and adenosine-triphosphate-binding cassette transporters.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism disorders were the major contributors to the syndrome classifification of CHD with BSS.</p>

Energy metabolism disorder and myocardial injury in chronic myocardial ischemia with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome based on 2-DE proteomics / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To inquire the characteristic proteins in chronic myocardial ischemia by testing twodimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) map to explore the possible inherent pathological mechanism and the therapeutic intervention of qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ameroid constrictor ring was placed on the first interval of left anterior descending coronary artery to prepare chronic myocardial ischemia model on Chinese miniature swine. Animals were randomly divided into sham group and model group with 10 animals in each group, respectively. The dynamic symptoms observation of the four diagnostic information was collected from 0 to 12 weeks. Echocardiography was employed to evaluate cardiac function and the degree of myocardial ischemia, 2-DE and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) were used to carry out proteomics research on animals. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to identify the relevant differential proteins on chronic myocardial ischemia with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The preliminary study found that at the 12th week, chronic myocardial ischemia with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome model was established stably. Compared with the sham group, there were 8 different proteins down-regulated, 22 proteins up-regulated significantly. After validated by MALDITOF-MS/MS, 11 protein spots were identified. Distinct proteins were mainly associated with energy metabolism and myocardial structural injury, including isocitrate dehydrogenase 3 (NAD+) alpha, NADH dehydrogenase (NAD) Fe-S protein 1, chain A (crystal structure of aldose reductase by binding domain reveals a new Nadph), heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), oxidoreductase (NAD-binding protein), antioxidant protein isoform, cardiac troponin T (cTnT), myosin (myosin light polypeptide), cardiac alpha tropomyosin, apolipoprotein A-I and albumin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Down-regulated energy metabolism disorder mediated by NADH respiratory chain and myocardial injury may be the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. These proteins may be the potential diagnostic marker(s) for qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, finally provided new clues for new therapeutic drug target of Chinese medicine.</p>

Clinical characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease in Harbin and the prediction of severe cases / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is an emerging public health problem in China, not only threatening the health of children, but also causing tremendous loss and burden to both families and society. The aim of this study was to characterize the epidemiology and clinical features of HFMD, and to understand the key factors affecting HFMD in the Harbin region to provide scientific evidence for effective prevention and control strategies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Epidemiological and clinical information from 2379 randomly chosen cases of HFMD treated at the Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention from May 2008 to November 2011 were analyzed. All cases were separated into common and severe HFMD, with key factors for severe HFMD analyzed using multivariable Logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 2379 patients, 1798 were common cases and 581 severe cases, 14 of which resulted in death. Most cases were in children younger than 5 years. Morbidity peaked in July and was higher in the surrounding country and cities than in Harbin proper. Medical expenses were significantly higher for severe than for common cases (P < 0.001). The primary clinical symptoms were fever and erythema; laboratory examination showed leucocytosis together with pneumonia, carditis, and abnormal electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram in severe cases. Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that the key factors for severe HFMD were age, morbidity location, morbidity area, fever duration, mouth mucosal symptoms, and abnormal serum levels of neutrophils (NEUT), hemoglobin and glucose (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>To improve prognosis, reduce medical expense and prevent the development of severe cases, we should improve the epidemiological detection of HFMD to treat patients quickly. We should also closely monitor children with the EV71 virus, who present with continuous fever as well as abnormal laboratory results, from areas highly susceptible to HFMD attacks.</p>

Effect of compound recipe Gengniankang on senile sexual hormone and expression of estrogen receptor in bone of climacteric female rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the therapeutic effect of Compound Recipe Gengniankang ( GNK) with that of hormone replacement treatment (HRT) on climacteric female rats with osteoporosis, and to investigate the roles of estrogen and estrogen receptors in the mechanism of osteoporosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Climacteric female rats with osteoporosis were chosen and divided into three groups (GNK group, HRT group and control group). Apoptosis of ovarian granulose cells was measured by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Serum level of estradiol (E(2)), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined by the method of radioimmunoassay (RIA). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCT) technology was used to evaluate the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) in bone. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by double energy X-ray absorption (DEXA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the climacteric rats, BMD, serum E(2), ER mRNA expression in bone decreased remarkably, and serum FSH, LH and apoptosis of ovarian granulose cells increased obviously. After treating with GNK, all the indexes were reversed except serum E(2). The increase of E(2) was not significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GNK is effective on climacteric osteoporosis female rats. Its role is performed not by increasing serum E(2) but by enhancing ER in the bone and inhibiting apoptosis of ovarian granulose cells. GNK can deter further exhaustion of ovarian function.</p>

Experimental study on regulatory effect of compound gengniankang on endocrine and immune functions in aged female rats with osteoporosis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of compound gengniankang (GNK) in regulating the endocrine and immune functions in aged female rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Aged female rats with osteoporosis were selected as the object for observation and healthy young rats were taken for control. Animals were administered by GNK and nilestriol respectively, through gastric perfusion, for 3 months to observe the therapeutic effect of drug treatment on osteoporosis and the regulatory effect on endocrine and immune function. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by double energy X-ray absorption technique, serum levels of estradiol (E2), follicule-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined by RIA, T-cell subsets and apoptosis in spleen were detected by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In aged rats with osteoporosis, the BMD decreased, serum level of E2 lowered, FSH and LH levels raised, splenic CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ significantly decreased and T-cell apoptosis rate significantly elevated. GNK could increase the BMD, lower the FSH and LH levels, but showed no significant effect on E2 level. It could increase the CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio to nearby the normal range, and reduce the apoptosis of T-cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GNK has therapeutic effect on osteoporosis in aged rats, and is able to regulate the endocrine and enhance the immune function in organism.</p>