Mechanism of Xinfeng Capsules improving rheumatoid arthritis based on CD19~+B cells regulating FAK/CAPN/PI3K pathway / 中国中药杂志

To observe the effect of Xinfeng Capsules on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) B lymphocytes,inflammatory mediators,FAK/CAPN/PI3K pathway,in order to explore the mechanism of Xinfeng Capsules in improving clinical symptoms of RA.Joint and systemic symptoms of RA patients were observed,and laboratory indicators[hemoglobin (HGB),platelet count (PLT),erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR),immunoglobulin (Ig) G,Ig A,Ig M,rheumatoid factor (RF),anti-cyclic citrulline antibody (CCP-AB),C-reactive protein (CRP)]were detected.ELISA was used to detect serum interleukin (IL)-1β，IL-10,IL-33,chemokine 5 (CCL5),and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).CD3~-CD19~+B cells were measured by flow cytometry.Western blot was used to detect FAK,p-FAK,CAPN,PI3K protein.The results showed that Xinfeng Capsules could significantly alleviate RA joint and systemic symptoms and improve clinical efficacy.And Xinfeng Capsules could increase HGB,decrease PLT,CCP-AB,CRP,ESR index,upregulate IL-10 expression,and down-regulate IL-1β，IL-33,CCL5,VEGF,CD3~-CD19~+B cells,FAK,p-FAK,CAPN,PI3K expressions (P<0.01).Based on the above results,Xinfeng Capsules may reduce the expression of CD3~-CD19~+,regulate the balance of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines,inhibit abnormal activation of FAK/CAPN/PI3K pathway,and improve clinical symptoms of RA.

Rabbit skull defects repaired by the hydroxyapatite/geltin scaffold combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and umbilical vein endothelial cells / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyapatite-geltin composite has good biocompatibility and osteoinductivity, and can used be as tissue engineering scaffold to repair bone defects. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of three-dimensional (3D) printed hydroxyapatite/gelatin scaffold combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and umbilical vein endothelial cells in repairing rabbit skull defects. METHODS: Nine male New Zealand white rabbits were taken to establish a skull defect model with a diameter of approximately 0.8 cm, and randomly divided into three groups: blank group: no any treatment; control group: only 3D printed hydroxyapatite-geltin scaffold; experimental group: 3D printed hydroxyapatitegeltin scaffold and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells complex group, with three rabbits in each group. At 8 weeks after the operation, CT scan of the skull pyramid beam and histological observation of the skull defect were performed on the white rabbits of each group. Animal experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee of Jining Medical College. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) CT scan of pyramidal tract: Blank group showed obvious bone defects, and the defect area was slightly radiopaque with the edges of the surrounding normal bone tissue. Control group showed some new bone formation, which was discontinuous and inconsistent with the surrounding bone tissue. Experimental group showed that the new bone tissue was linear and continuous; the thickness was thin; and the defect area merged with the adjacent bone tissue edge. (2) Histological observation: Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining showed that fibrous connective tissue formation and a small amount of free bone cells were seen in the defect area of the blank group. A small amount of bone formation was seen in the control group. Bone matrix was deposited at the edge of the material, replacing the material to form small bone trabeculae. The material space of the experimental group was gradually replaced by new bone, and the defect area was filled with new bone and trabecular bone structure-like tissue. (3) The results show that the 3D bionic printing hydroxyapatite-geltin scaffold combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can effectively promote the growth of bone tissue and accelerate the repair of bone defects.

Xinfeng capsule for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients with decreased pulmonary function--a randomized controlled clinical trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the effectiveness and safety of Xinfeng Capsules (XFC) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with decreased pulmonary function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This was a randomized controlled clinical trial of 80 RA patients. Participants were assigned to the trial group (40 cases) and the control group (40 cases) by block randomization. The trial group was treated with XFC, three pills each time three times daily for 2 months. The control group was treated with tripterygium glycoside (TPT), two pills each time three times daily for 2 months. Both groups were followed up after 2 months. The clinical effects, changes in joint and pulmonary function, and quality of life before and after treatment were observed; safety indices were also evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pain, swelling, tenderness, and duration of morning stiffness of joints were obviously decreased after treatment in both the trial and the control groups compared with baseline (P<0.01). Compared with before treatment, hand grip strength increased significantly after treatment in the trial group (P=0.0000); pulmonary function parameters such as forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), 50% of the expiratory flow of forced vital capacity (FEF50), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco) were increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05); measures of quality of life such as role-physical, body pain, vitality and mental health were also improved after treatment in the trial group (all P<0.05). Joint swelling in the trial group decreased compared with the control group (P=0.0043), while hand grip strength was increased after treatment (P=0.0000). The increase in FEF50, DLco, and the dimensions of quality of life such as vitality and mental health were all significantly greater in the trial group than the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>XFC not only relieved joint pain in RA patients, but also significantly improved the ventilation and diffusion function of the lungs. Therefore, XFC could improve the whole body function and enhance the quality of life of RA patients.</p>

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by xinfeng capsule: an efficacy observation / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the curative effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XC) in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recruited were 80 active RA patients, who were randomly assigned to the normal control group and the treatment group, 40 in each group. All patients received the same routine anti-rheumatic treatment: Methotrexate 10 mg per week; Diclofenac 50 mg when pain was obvious, twice daily. Patients in the treatment group took XC 3 tablets each time, thrice daily. All treatment lasted for 12 consecutive weeks. Serum iron (SI), serum ferritin (SF), transferrin (TRF); and RA disease activity index (DAS-28) were detected in all patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>XC could improve HAQ, DAS-28, hypersensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), prostaglandins A (PGA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), number of swelling joints, number of tender joints, and morning stiffness time in acute RA patients, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, SI, SF, DAS-28, and TRF significantly decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>XC could improve DAS-28, and SI reserve in patients with active RA, and lower DAS-28 related indicators.</p>

Changes of behavior and brain amino acids of rats with adjuvant arthritis and effects of Xinfeng Capsule on them / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the changes of behavior and amino acids in brain tissue of rats with adjuvant arthritis, and effects of Xinfeng Capsule (XFC) on them.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>AA model was induced by complete Freund's adjuvant in rats. Five groups including the normal control group, the model group, the XFC group, the methotrexate (MTX) group and the Tripterygium wilfordii polysaccharide (TPT) group were set up. The changes of behavior, amino acids in brain tissue, swelling degree of joints, and arthritis index (AI) were observed and the correlation analysis on these indexes was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those in the normal control, the frequency of independent activity obviously decreased in the model rats, accompanied with increased number of step-down errors, shortened step down latency (SDL) and prolonged escape latency (EL), also the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in brain tissue elevated and glutamic acid (GLU)/GABA reduced (P <0.05). Compared with those in the model group, all the above indexes were improved significantly in the XFC group after treatment (P <0.05), while they changed insignificantly in the MTX and TPT groups (P> 0.05), the degree of joint swelling and AI were obviously lower in the 3 treated groups (P< 0.05). Correlation analysis showed the frequency of independent activity and SDL were negatively correlated to the swelling degree of joint, and levels of AI, glycine (GLY) and GABA respectively, but positively correlated with GLU/GABA (P<0.05); while EL and number of step-down errors were positively correlated to AI, GLY and GABA respectively, but negatively correlated to GLU/GABA (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Immune stress could lead to the changes of rat behavior and amino acids in brain tissue. XFC treatment could improve the behavior of AA rats through regulating the levels of amino acids in brain tissue.</p>