Novel strategy in Dengzhan Shengmai capsule metabolites analysis based on the prediction database / 药学学报

Dengzhan Shengmai capsule, as a compound Chinese patent medicine, consists of four herbs: Herba Erigerontis, Ginseng, Ophiopogon, and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, and contains significant components of flavonoids, lignans, saponins, and organic acids. It is widely used clinically to treat cerebrovascular diseases such as chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and dementia with remarkable efficacy. This study proposes a research strategy for multi-component traditional Chinese medicine metabolites based on prediction databases and unfolds the analysis using Dengzhan Shengmai capsule as an example. Using the UPLC-Q-TOF/MS method, the analytical method was established and detected biological samples such as urine, feces, and bile of rats before and after administration based on the prediction of theoretical metabolites of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule. The possible secondary fragment ion information of metabolites was identified by comparing the detected results with prediction databases. The metabolites were identified based on the archetypal component mass spectrometric cleavage law and multistage mass spectrometric data. 51 metabolites, mainly flavonoid, organic acid, and lignan constituents, were finally identified from rat biosamples based on 306 theoretical metabolites of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule. This study provides a new strategy for the identification of metabolites in vivo and the analysis of metabolic pathways of TCM. The study complied with the procedures established by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and passed the animal experiment ethics examine (No. 00003645).

Effect of Fufang Shelong Capsules on Rats with Membranous Nephropathy Based on p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the nephroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of Fufang Shelong capsules （FFSL） in rats with membranous nephropathy （MN）， and the role of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway. MethodMale SD rats of SPF grade were divided into a normal group and an experimental group. The MN model was induced by tail vein injection of cationized bovine serum albumin in the experimental group. After screening， the eligible model rats were included and divided into a positive control group （tripterygium glycosides tablets） and low-， medium-， and high-dose FFSL groups （0.375， 0.75， 1.5g·kg-1）. The rats were treated correspondingly for eight weeks， and urine protein was detected during drug intervention. Renal function and inflammation-related indicators were detected after drug intervention. The changes in 24-hour urine total protein （24 h UP）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-8 （IL-8）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， creatinine （Cr）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， total protein （TP）， albumin （Alb）， and total cholesterol （TC） were detected. Flow cytometry was used to detect CD4+/CD8+ changes. Kidney tissues were collected to observe pathological changes under a light microscope and an electron microscope. The protein expression of p38 MAPK and phosphorylated p38 MAPK （p-p38 MAPK） in kidney tissues was detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed increased 24 h UP （P<0.01）， elevated serum Cr， BUN， TC， IL-6， IL-8， and TNF-α （P<0.05，P<0.01）， decreased serum Alb and TP levels （P<0.05，P<0.01）， increased CD4+/CD8+ in the peripheral blood （P<0.01）， and up-regulated protein expression of p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK in kidney tissues （P<0.05）. Additionally， in the model group， immune complex deposition and foot process fusion， accompanied by infiltration of inflammatory cells， were observed on the epithelial side of the basement membrane in the pathological kidney tissues. Compared with the model group， the groups with drug intervention showed declining 24 h UP levels at six weeks （P<0.05，P<0.01）， decreased serum Cr， BUN， TC， IL-6， IL-8， and TNF-α （P<0.05，P<0.01）， increased serum Alb and TP levels （P<0.05，P<0.01）， reduced CD4+/CD8+ in the peripheral blood （P<0.01）， improved renal pathological damage， and down-regulated p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK in kidney tissues （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionFFSL can decrease the expression of inflammatory factors， reduce proteinuria， delay kidney damage， and protect kidney function by inhibiting the expression of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Research progress on role of traditional Chinese medicine in hepatic fibrosis based on miRNA-mediated activation of NLRP3 inflammasome / 中国中药杂志

In recent years, liver fibrosis has become a hotspot in the field of liver diseases. MicroRNA(miRNA)-mediated Nod-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3) inflammasome activation is pivotal in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. The present study mainly discussed the role of miRNA-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Different miRNA molecules regulated liver fibrosis by mediating NLRP3 inflammasome activation, including miRNA-350-3 p(miR-350-3 p)/interleukin-6(IL-6)-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)/c-myc signaling pathway, miR-148 a-induced autophagy and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells via hedgehog signaling pathway, miR-155-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome by the negative feedback of the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1(SOCS-1), miR-181 a-mediated downstream NLRP3 inflammatory pathway activation through mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase(MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)/nuclear transcription factor κB(NF-κB) inflammatory pathway, miR-21-promoted expression of NF-κB and NLRP3 of RAW264.7 cells in mice by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-α inducible protein 3(A20), and miR-20 b-promoted expression of IL-1β and IL-18 by activating NLRP3 signaling pathway. Additionally, the anti-liver fibrosis mechanism of different active components in Chinese medicines(such as Curcumae Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Aurantii Fructus, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, Moutan Cortex, Paeoniae Radix Alba, Epimedii Folium, and Cinnamomi Cortex) was also explored based on the anti-liver fibrosis effect of miRNA-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Changes of Chemical Components in Raw Products and Characteristic Processed Products with Porcine Cardiac Blood of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma from Menghe Medical School by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To compare the chemical components in raw products and characteristic processed products with porcine cardiac blood of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma from Menghe medical school.Method: The ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC® C18 column (2.1 mm×100 mm,1.7 μm),mobile phase was 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution (A)-0.1% formic acid acetonitrile solution (B) for gradient elution (0-1 min,8% B,1-1.5 min,8%-20% B,1.5-4 min,20% B,4-5 min,20%-60% B,5-9 min,60%-70% B,9-10 min,70%-95% B,10-13 min,95% B).The column temperature was 40℃ and the flow rate was 0.3 mL·min-1.Q-TOF/MS with electrospray ionization (ESI) and scanning range of m/z 50-1 200 were applied for analysis under positive and negative ion mode,respectively.All ionic peaks were assigned by comparison of reference substances,mass spectra data,database matching and literature reference,changes of chemical components in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were investigated by comparing number and area of ionic peaks before and after processing.Result: A total of 59 components were identified from raw products and characteristic processed products,and peak areas of 25 components showed obvious change.However,there were no new compound was found in characteristic processed products.After being processed with porcine cardiac blood,the contents of water-soluble ingredients (protocatechuic aldehyde,salvianolic acid C,F,G),fat-soluble ingredients (tanshinaldehyde,tanshindiol A,tanshinone Ⅰ) and amino acid (L-phenylalanine) in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were significantly increased.Conclusion: Changes of contents of chemical components in raw products and processed products of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma are remarkable,part of water-soluble ingredients,fat-soluble ingredients and amino acids have quantitative change,which may be related to promoting treatment of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma on cerebral ischemia after being processed with porcine cardiac blood.

Complications Following Radiofrequency Ablation of Benign Thyroid Nodules: A Systematic Review / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This systematic review examined whether radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe treatment modality for benign thyroid nodules (BTNs).</p><p><b>DATA SOURCES</b>PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library database were searched for articles that (a) targeted human beings and (b) had a study population with BTNs that were confirmed by fine-needle aspiration cytology and/or core needle biopsy.</p><p><b>STUDY SELECTION</b>Thirty-two studies relating to 3409 patients were included in this systematic review.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Based on literatures, no deaths were associated with the procedure, serious complications were rare, and RFA appears to be a safe and well-tolerated treatment modality. However, a broad spectrum of complications offers insights into some undesirable complications, such as track needle seeding and Horner syndrome.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>RFA appears to be a safe and well-tolerated treatment modality for BTNs. More research is needed to characterize the complications of RFA for thyroid nodules.</p>