ABSTRACT
The gut microbiota and its metabolites play a critical role on health maintenance, because they are involved in the absorption and metabolism of nutrients in the human bodies. This is also similar to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) view that the ascending and descending of Qi movement affects Yin-Yang, Qi-blood, pneuma and body fluid, viscera and meridians of our bodies. More and more studies have demonstrated that gut microbiota is closely related to the development and progression of diabetes and its complications. Gut microbiota disorder could affect host metabolic signaling pathways, thereby promoting the formation and development of diabetes. The smooth ascending and descending of Qi movement is the basic form of maintaining host metabolic homeostasis, whose dysfunction however can lead to internal environment disturbance. Based on the theory of ascending and descending of Qi movement, this paper focuses on the pathogenesis of imbalanced intestinal flora in the process of the induction of diabetes mellitus from a dynamic perspective. It is assumed that the imbalance of Qi ascending and descending may act as a trigger for such symptoms as lung Qi impairment, spleen deficiency to dissipating essence, liver Qi stagnation and kidney Yang deficiency. Under this circumstance, gut microbiota will be out of balance, which will further lead to the nutrient substance metabolic disturbance in the body, and thus induce diabetes. Thus, it is significant to explore the regulatory mechanism of gut microbiota and its metabolites on diabetes based on the theory of ascending and descending of Qi movement, so as to reveal the scientific connotation of TCM in regulating substance metabolism homeostasis in the body.
ABSTRACT
Reducing glycemic excursion is of great importance to the successful practice for diabetes intervention and complication prevention. This is also an advantage of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of diabetes. More and more studies have shown that the dysfunction of islet microcirculation is the key pathological link for glycemic excursion caused by decrease of islet function. The over-activation of local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in islet microcirculation is a key ring to the islet decompensation, intimately related to the functionality of islet endocrine cells, and has gradually become the focus in the study of islet functionality. In TCM, it is believed that glycemic excursion in diabetes mellitus is closely related to the incapability of "spleen Qi to dispersing essence". If spleen fails to disperse essence, the essence will be accumulated in the body and become harmful stuffs. The stuffs further break the blood glucose homeostasis, acting as the key pathogenesis of diabetes. By supplementing the "spleen" Qi and promoting the dispersion of nutrient substance (hormone) in "pancreas", the balance between sugar-regulated hormones can be restored and therefore glycemic excursion can be reduced. However, the regulation mechanism of "spleen Qi to dispersing essence" on glycemic excursion remains unclear at present. Based on the previous clinical and scientific work, the following ideas were proposed by the authors:the effects of "spleen Qi to dispersing essence" on the improvement of islet function and the regulation of glycemic excursion may be achieved by promoting islet microcirculation, and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the activation status of local RAS in islet microcirculation. It is important to note that the mutual antagonistic relationship between the signal pathways of RAS in islet microcirculation is similar to the antagonistic relationship between "spleen Qi to dispersing essence" and spermatozoa in TCM. Thus, the mechanism of "spleen Qi to dispersing essence" on the regulation mechanism of blood glucose fluctuations needs to be further explored from the perspective of the overall regulation of RAS in islet microcirculation, so as to reveal the scientific connotation of TCM on regulating the body's environmental homeostasis and reducing glycemic excursion in diabetic patients.
ABSTRACT
The metabolic memory formed by early hyperglycemia in diabetes is one of the important factors triggering the development of diabetes and relavant complications. At present, treatment of various adverse factors of metabolic memory shows a limited clinical efficacy. In recent years, exosome emerged as an important mediator of cellular communication and have gradually gained importance attendance in the field of diabetes treatments. This review summarizes the main mechanisms involved in the metabolic memory of exosomes in the pathological state, including inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress and apoptosis. In addition, protection mechanisms of the stress pretreatment and stem cells derived exosomes on metabolic memory are discussed in this review. Finally, the possible ways to obtain therapeutic exosomes are elaborated, which is beneficial to generate new ideas for the clinical drug treatment.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To establish the Q-Marker database for Chinese medicine Qingreling Granules (QG) based on the concept of Q-Marker by the method of ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-quadrupole-orbitrap MS) to recognize and identify the chemical constituents, and study the quality of QG. Methods: The 50% methanol extract was separated on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm), and eluted with a gradient of methanol-water containing 0.1% formic acid. Constituents of QG were identified by HRMS in the negative ion mode using both full scan and two-stage threshold-triggered mass modes. Eleven Q-Marker were docked by Autodock vina 1.1.2 software, using H5N1 avian influenza virus as the Neuraminidase receptor, and the active site of target protein were determined by the Auto Dock 1.5.6 program. Results: A total of 39 compounds were identified, including 25 flavonoids, 6 phenylethanoid glycosides, 4 organic acids, 2 triterpenoids, and 2 lignan ingredients. Totally 15 components were specific and 32 chemical compositions were reported for the first time in QG by the method of UPLC-quadrupole-orbitrap MS. Baicalin, wogonoside, forsythoside A, liquiritin, forsythoside E, forsythoside B, isoliquiritin, baicalein, phillyrin, wogonin, and liquirtigenin could be used to establish the Q-Marker database. Conclusion: To establish Q-Marker database for Chinese medicine QG and identify the compounds in QG by the method of UPLC-quadrupole-orbitrap MS.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the adaptation of root canal filled with three obturation techniques in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-seven cleaned and shaped premolars were divided into three groups, each group including 10 single root canal premolars and 9 double root canal premolars, and filled respectively with following techniques: GuttaFlow paste with single master cone (GF group), cold lateral compaction technique with AH plus sealer (LC group), warm vertical compaction technique with AH plus sealer (VC group). The roots were invested and sectioned at 1 mm interval from crown to apex using a microtome saw under water cooling. Both surfaces of the sections were digitally photographed and measured using a stereomicroscope. The number of sections with voids and the area of voids were measured and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of sections with voids: VC group (21.4%, 76/355) was significantly lower than GF group (47.7%, 173/363) and LC group (52.6%, 190/361), P < 0.0167. There was no significant difference between GF and LC group (P > 0.0167). The percentage of voids area (AV%): GF group was significantly higher than LC and VC group (P = 0.000, P = 0.008). The median of GF group was 2.67, LC group was 1.55, VC group was 1.01. No significant difference between VC and LC group (P = 0.076). The filling quality of isthmus: 86% (85/99) isthmus were well filled in VC, significantly higher than GF group (55%, 43/78) and LC group (58%, 49/84), P < 0.0167. There was no significant difference between GF and LC group (P > 0.0167).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The adaptation of root canal filled with warm vertical compaction technique was superior to cold lateral compaction technique and GuttaFlow technique.</p>