A New Perspective for Chinese Medicine Intervention for Coronary Artery Disease: Targeting Inflammation / 中国结合医学杂志

Inflammation, which plays a critical role in atherosclerosis and the occurrence of acute cardiovascular events, may be a new target for treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) to reduce residual cardiovascular risk. Recently, Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease (CANTOS), the largest scale clinical trial that targeted inflammation but not lipids, has affirmed for the first time the inflammatory hypothesis of artherosclerosis and marked the advent of an exciting era of targeting inflammation for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Chinese medicine (CM) is a promising adjuvant therapy for CAD in light of its safety and pleiotropic effect of anti-inflammation, anti-platelet, lipid-regulating, endothelium-protection, microcirculation-improving, etc. In recent years, exploration of anti-inflammatory treatment of CAD with CM has been going on from theory to practice. Taking CANTOS as an example, the design strategy to combine CM and Western medicine to inhibit inflammation were discussed in this paper, which might provide a new perspective for CM intervention on CAD.

Effects of total flavonoids in Astragali Complanati Semen on liver lipid level and ERα expression on liver in hyperlipidemia rats with kidney-Yang deficiency pattern / 中国中药杂志

Menopausal women appear lipid metabolism disorder with the ovarian function decline and the estrogen levels decreased. Modern clinical usually use estrogen replacement therapy and with long time application with lots of side effect appear. Traditional Chinese medicine has more secure and effective methords,using warming Yang drugs and methods. And the previous study proves the Chinese medicine Astragali Complanati Semen water extraction has a good role in regulation of blood lipids. Because of the liver is the most important organ on regulating metabolism, therefore this study aimed to evaluate the effects of total flavonoids in Astragali Complanati Semen(TFS)on liverlipid level and ERα expressionon liver in hyperlipidemia rats with kidney-Yang deficiency pattern to explore the substance basis and mechanism of Astragali Complanati Semen in regulate lipid effect and clarify traditional Chinese medicine advantages and features. This experiment uses hyperlipidemia rats with kidney-Yang deficiency pattern with bilateral ovariectomized and fed with high fat diet for 6 weeks. And rats of sham operation group and model group rats were intragastrilly(ig) with saline, estrogen group were intragastrilly with estrogen(0.2 mg·kg⁻¹). And three TFS group were intragastrilly with TFS at dose 28.5, 57, 114 mg·kg⁻¹ for 8 weeks. At the same time, TC, TG, LDL-C,HDL-C liver weight, liver index, uterine weight, uterine index, serum estrogen level, FSH levels and liver pathology, liver estrogen receptor expression were detected, weighting and calculating their organ index. The experimental results compared with the model group, TFS 114 mg·kg⁻¹ decreased the level of liver TG (<0.05), TC (<0.001) and LDL-C (<0.001) and increased the level of HDL-C (<0.05). Compared with the model group, estrogen group increased the level of blood serum (<0.001) and decreased the level of FSH (<0.001). In addition, compared with sham operation group,model group decreased the protein expression of ERα（<0.01）. Compared with the model group, estrogen group increased the protein expression of ERα significantly（<0.001）.TFS mid-dose group and TFS high-dose group is increased the protein expression of ERα（<0.01, <0.001）.In a conclusion,Flavonoids is the main active ingredient of Astragali Complanati Semen. The mechanism of it maybe is enhancing the estrogen receptor sensitivity or the number of estrogen receptors, amplifying the signal after the receptor conduction, which could result in lipid-lowering effect.

Biomechanics effect of screw-rod internal fixation for Tile B2 pelvic fractures / 医用生物力学

Objective To investigate the validity of screw-rod system for fixing pelvic fractures by comparing the biomechanical behaviors from using screw-rod system or steel plate for fixing Tile B2 type pelvic fractures. Methods The finite element models of normal pelvis including ligaments, and Tile B2 fractured pelvis fixed by different screw-rod fixations (2 screws at fractured side, 3 screws at fractured side and at healthy side), and steel plate fixation were established. The vertical load (500 N) was applied on the upper terminal plate of the first body of the sacrum to simulate pelvis load during double-leg standing, single-leg standing and sitting. The displacement and stress distributions on normal pelvis and fractured pelvis with screw-rod fixation or with steel plate fixation were compared and analyzed. Results Both the screw-rod system and steel plate could effectively fix the fractured pelvis, and the fixation models showed similar displacement and stress distribution as normal pelvis. The largest displacement of fractured pelvis with 3-screw fixation on the diseased side was smallest under each working condition, and its stress level was also obviously lower than that of the other internal fixation models. During double-leg standing, compared with 2 screws fixation, 3 screws at healthy side fixation, and steel plate fixation, the Von Mises stress for 3 screws at fractured side fixation was reduced by 30.4%, 20.8%, 20.3%; during single-leg standing, the Von Mises stress for 3 screws at fractured side fixation was reduced by 31.8%,25.4%,18.5%; during sitting, the Von Mises stress for 3 screws at fractured side fixation is reduced by -6.5%,28.0%,61.1%,respectively. Conclusions The screw-rod system can fix Tile B2 pelvic fracture effectively, especially for 3-screw fixation on the fractured side. The results can provide the theory basis for clinical treatment of pelvic fracture.

FGF-21 inhibits lipopolysaccharide induced acute inflammation and its molecular mechanism / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) on acute inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its mechanism. METHODS: Mouse model of acute inflammation was established by injection of LPS and treated with FGF-21 at high, medium and low doses, the pathological changes were detected with HE staining, the expression level of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17 in serum and peritoneal macrophage were determined by ELISA and Real-time PCR. NF-κB p65 in macrophage cells was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscope and Western-blotting. RESULTS: FGF-21 treatment reduced lung damage and inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased the expression level of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17 in both serum and peritoneal macrophage. The results of confocal laser scanning microscope and Western-blotting both showed that FGF-21 could inhibit NF-κB transferring to the nucleus. CONCLUSION: FGF-21 could regulate the immune system by acting on macrophage. Relieving the inflammatory response in mice through NF-κB signal pathway may be one of the mechanisms FGF-21 regulating immune system.

Effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma combined with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma on p53 and p21 gene expression of IEC-6 cells / 中国中药杂志

To study the effect of the combined administration of different doses of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma on the proliferation of DFMO-treated intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) and p53, p21 mRNA and protein expressions, in order to define the molecular basis for the effect of the combined administration of different doses of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma on the cell proliferation. The effect of the drugs on the cell division rate and cell cycle of IEC-6 cells was detected by FCM. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the effect of the drugs on mRNA of p2l and p53 related to IEC-6 proliferation. Western blot was used to analyze the effect of the drugs on p2l and p53 protein expressions of IEC-6 cells. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma could increase p53, p21 mRNA and proteins expression in DFMO-treated IEC-6 cells. The combined administration of different ratios of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma could significantly down-regulate Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma's effect on p53, p21 mRNA and proteins expression in DFMO-treated IEC-6 cells and promote the proliferation of IEC-6 cells. The combined administration of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma could down-regulate Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma's effect on DFMO-treated intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6).

The diagnostic criteria of blood-stasis syndrome: considerations for standardization of pattern identification / 中国结合医学杂志

Pattern identification (PI), also called Bian Zheng ([symbols; see text]), syndrome differentiation, pattern diagnosis, or pattern classification, is the basic principle and the key concept of Chinese medicine (CM). The core of PI is CM syndrome, on which CM theory, therapeutic method, prescribing formula and the use of Chinese herbal medicine are basically based. PI, in fact, is another classification method anticipated to improve the clinical efficacy. How to make an exact PI seems to be very important for taking full advantage of PI in clinical practice. Therefore, the establishment of diagnostic criterion of pattern has been the prerequisite for the standardization of PI. In recent years, a lot of diagnostic criteria of different CM patterns have been formulated. Taking the diagnostic criteria for blood-stasis syndrome as a model, the methodologies and considerations in establishing a pattern diagnostic criterion were discussed in this paper, which might be of great reference value in future PI standardization research.

The synergism and mechanism of action of rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL on HCC / 药学学报

To investigate the cell-killing effect and its possible mechanism of rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL on human hepatic carcinoma (HCC) cell line, first of all, recombinant plasmid pee12.4-hDR5 was introduced into HepG2 cells by liposome transfection. After five rounds of screening by flow cytometry, HepG2 cells expressing high levels of DR5 on cell surface were isolated. The cytotoxicity of TRAIL to selected cells was higher than that of TRAIL to HepG2 cells by MTT method (P < 0.01). The result suggested that the cloned hDR5 gene had biological activity. MTT assay showed that, rClone30- hDR5 in combination with TRAIL more efficiently inhibited the tumor growth of HepG2 cells compared to rClone30-hDR5 or TRAIL in vitro. The results of Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and Quantitative Real-time PCR indicated that rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL significantly increased the mRNA levels of caspase 3 and caspase 8, and induced the apoptosis of tumor cells. HepG2 cells were infected with rClone30-hDR5 or rClone30 at MOI of 1. The expression of hDR5 on tumor surface increased significantly by rClone30-hDR5 compared to that by rClone30, which contributed to the sensitivity to TRAIL. In conclusion, rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL has potential application value in cancer treatment.

Integrative medicine on coronary heart disease: annual academic review 2013 / 中国中西医结合杂志

The progress in integrative medicine (IM) of coronary heart disease (CHD) in 2013 was summarized in this paper. Gratifying progress has taken place both in clinical studies and basic research of IM on CHD during 2013. We got some innovation in Chinese medical etiologies and pathogeneses of CHD. We also got some improvement in researches on Chinese medical syndromes in various fields. Many clinical studies have proved Chinese medicine and pharmacy is playing a role in preventing and improving CHD patients. In-depth basic researches on preventing and treating CHD by IM are gradually undergoing. Acting targets and mechanism are further clarified. Besides, we also pointed out the developing tendency of CHD researches and the current deficiency in CHD researches, hoping to provide reference for further studies in this field.

Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor and hyaluronic acid on proliferation of rabbit chondrocytes in vitro / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hyaluronic acid (HA) on the proliferation of rabbit chondrocytes in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chondrocytes from the knee joints of New Zealand white rabbits were cultured. bFGF or HA or both were added into the culture medium respectively, and the proliferation of the chondrocytes was measured with MTT 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2, 5-diphenyl-tetra-zolium bromide. (MTT, Sigma, M2128).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Basic fibroblast growth factor (10 ng/ml) with low concentration of fetal bovine serum in the culture medium promoted the proliferation of chondrocytes significantly, and this effect reached its maximum when concentration of bFGF reached 50 ng/ml. HA itself had no effect on the proliferation of chondrocytes. However, when bFGF was used in combination with HA, especially when the concentration of bFGF was 50-500 ng/ml and that of HA was 10-50 ng/ml, the effect on the proliferation of chondrocytes was much more than when bFGF or HA was used alone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>bFGF can promote the proliferation of chondrocytes. HA, which has no effect on the proliferation of the cells, can maintain a normal growth of chondrocytes. When bFGF is used in combination with HA, more proliferation is obtained.</p>