Meta-analysis for Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure with Syndrome of Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills in the treatment of chronic heart failure. Method: Eight databases were searched at home and abroad, and the randomized controlled trials of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills in the treatment of chronic heart failure were screened. Literature quality of the included studies was evaluated by the bias risk assessment tool of Cochrane collaboration network, and the Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 software. Result: A total of 606 related literature were retrieved, and 11 studies were eventually included, involving 931 patients. The quality of the included literature was generally low. Meta-analysis results showed that efficacy of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills combined with conventional western medicine was better than conventional western medicine alone in improving B-type natriuretic peptide[weighted mean difference (WMD)=-29.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-37.29,-21.64), PPPP=0.005], 6-minute walk test[WMD=50.13, 95%CI (22.32, 77.93), P=0.000 4]. In terms of safety indicators, one study intended to observe safety indicators, but it was not reported in the actual literature, and the remaining studies did not find adverse reactions of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills combined with conventional western medicine. Conclusion: The results of this study support the clinical use of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills combined with conventional western medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure, but in view of the limitations in the quantity and quality of clinical studies, the positive results are only used as a reminder and reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. In the future, more high-quality researches are needed to further confirm its efficacy.

Effects of Astragalus Polysaccharide on Mechanical Characterization of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells by Atomic Force Microscopy at Nanoscale / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), the primary effective component of the Chinese herb medicine Astragalus membranaceus (frequently used for its anti-hepatic fibrosis effects), on nanoscale mechanical properties of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using endothelial cell medium as the control, 5 experimental groups were established utilizing different concentrations of APS, i.e. 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL. By using atomic force microscopy along with a microcantilever modified with a silicon dioxide microsphere as powerful tools, the value of Young's modulus in each group was calculated. SAS 9.1 software was applied to analyze the values of Young's modulus at the pressed depth of 300 nm. Environmental scanning electron microscopy was performed to observe the surface microtopography of the SECs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The value of Young's modulus in each APS experimental group was significantly greater than that of the control group: as APS concentration increased, the value of Young's modulus presented as an increasing trend. The difference between the low-concentration (12.5 and 25 μg/mL) and high-concentration (200 μg/mL) groups was statistically significant (P<0.05), but no significant differences were observed between moderateconcentration (50 and 100 μg/mL) groups versus low- or high-concentration groups (P>0.05). Surface topography demonstrated that APS was capable of increasing the total area of fenestrae.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The values of Young's modulus increased along with increasing concentrations of APS, suggesting that the stiffness of SECs increases gradually as a function of APS concentration. The observed changes in SEC mechanical properties may provide a new avenue for mechanistic research of anti-hepatic fibrosis treatments in Chinese medicine.</p>

Molecular Analysis-Based Genetic Characterization of a Cohort of Patients with Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy in Eastern China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are common X-linked recessive neuromuscular disorders caused by mutations in dystrophin gene. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (multiplex PCR) and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) are the most common methods for detecting dystrophin gene mutations. This study aimed to contrast the two methods and discern the genetic characterization of patients with DMD/BMD in Eastern China.</p><p><b>Methods</b>We collected 121 probands, 64 mothers of probands, and 15 fetuses in our study. The dystrophin gene was detected by multiplex PCR primarily in 28 probands, and MLPA was used in multiplex PCR-negative cases subsequently. The dystrophin gene of the remaining 93 probands and 62 female potential carriers was tested by MLPA directly. In fetuses, multiplex PCR and MLPA were performed on 4 fetuses and 10 fetuses, respectively. In addition, sequencing was also performed in 4 probands with negative MLPA.</p><p><b>Results</b>We found that 61.98% of the subjects had genetic mutations including deletions (50.41%) and duplications (11.57%). There were 43.75% of mothers as carriers of the mutation. In 15 fetuses, 2 out of 7 male fetuses were found to be unhealthy and 2 out of 8 female fetuses were found to be carriers. Exons 3-26 and 45-52 have the maximum frequency in mutation regions. In the frequency of exons individually, exon 47 and exon 50 were the most common in deleted regions and exons 5, 6, and 7 were found most frequently in duplicated regions.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>MLPA has better productivity and sensitivity than multiplex PCR. Prenatal diagnosis should be applied in DMD high-risk fetuses to reduce the disease incidence. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of physicians to inform female carriers the importance of prenatal diagnosis.</p>

Intestinal absorption and metabolism of Puerariae Lobatae Radix decoction by in situ closed-loop method / 中国中药杂志

Biopharmaceutics classification system of Chinese materia medica (CMMBCS) emphasizes characteristic of the multi-component environment based on the drug solubility and permeability. In this study, the in situ closed-loop method combined with LC-MS technique was utilized to study the intestinal absorption and metabolism of Puerariae Lobatae Radix decoction (PLRD), providing selection basis for intestinal permeability components in CMMBCS. A total of 36 components were identified from PLRD. Among them, 17 components could be detected in the plasma sample, indicating that 17 components could be absorbed into blood, so these 17 components could be used as intestinal permeability evaluation components in CMMBCS. The other 19 components were not detected in the plasma sample, suggesting that they may not be absorbed or metabolized by the gut wall enzymes.

A correlation research on Chinese medical syndromes of chronic heart failure and various complications / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the correlation between various complications of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and Chinese medical syndromes, thus indicating distribution laws of Chinese medical syndromes in various complications of CHF patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chinese medical syndrome typing was performed in 630 CHF patients by cross-sectional study of the demographic data, history of present diseases, related information on Chinese medical four diagnostic methods, and the distribution of complications. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation of various complications of CHF patients and Chinese medical syndromes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In this study, recruited were common complications such as hypertension, diabetes, arrhythmia, hyperlipemia, and cerebral vascular accident, and so on. Main syndromes were sequenced as qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, water retention syndrome, yin deficiency syndrome, phlegm turbid syndrome, yang deficiency syndrome. Results of Logistic regression analysis indicated that correlation existed between common complications and Chinese medical syndromes. In CHF complicated hypertension patients, Logistic regression analysis showed qi deficiency syndrome and yang deficiency syndrome were negatively correlated with hypertension (P < 0.05). In CHF complicated diabetes patients, Logistic regression analysis showed phlegm turbid syndrome and water retention syndrome were positively correlated with diabetes (P < 0.05). In CHF complicated arrhythmia patients, there was no statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome (P > 0.05). In CHF complicated hyperlipemia patients, Logistic regression analysis showed qi deficiency syndrome and water retention syndrome were negatively correlated with hyperlipemia (P < 0.05), while blood stasis syndrome, yin deficiency syndrome, and phlegm turbid syndrome were positively correlated with hyperlipemia (P < 0.01). In CHF complicated cerebral vascular accident patients, Logistic regression analysis showed qi deficiency syndrome and yang deficiency syndrome were negatively correlated with cerebral vascular accident (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There existed certain correlations between complications of CHF and the distribution of main Chinese medical syndromes. It could be used as guidance for treating CHF and its various complications by Chinese medicine and pharmacy.</p>

Gel electrophoresis analysis on plasma differential protein in patients with unstable angina of blood-stasis pattern / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To seek the plasma differential proteins in patients with unstable angina of blood-stasis pattern (UA-BSS) for exploring the proteomic specialty in them by way of two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) detection on plasma of patients and healthy persons.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using DIGE and tandem mass spectrometry, comparative proteomic study was conducted on the plasma of 12 UA patients of qi-deficiency and blood-stasis pattern (UA-QBS), 12 UA patients of phlegm-stasis cross-blocking pattern (UA-PSS) and 12 healthy volunteers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Preliminary results showed that Haptoglobin beta chain, DBP, HBB, HBA, Transthyretin, ApoA- I, ApoA-IV were significantly differentially expressed in both patterns, while Haptoglobin alpha1 chain, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, ApoC-III, ApoA-II, ApoC-II, ApoJ, and Haptoglobin alpha 2 chain were only seen differentially expressed in the UA-PSS patients, alpha1-antitrypsin, Fibrinogen gamma chain, and Fibrin beta were only seen differentially expressed in UA-QBS patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The common proteomics characteristics of patients of QBS and PSS patterns may be correlated with inflammatory reaction and metabolic disturbance (including blood lipid and blood oxygen).</p>

Study on proteomic specificity of unstable angina with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To seek the special plasma molecule in unstable angina (UA) patients of qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome (QDBS) and method for explore the proteomic specificity of the disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>LC-MS(E) analysis was performed in UA patients of QDBS or non-QDBS and in healthy persons after the 6 proteins with optimal abundance in plasma being removed by polyclonal antibody affinity column (product of Agilent Co. USA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Actin were found only expressed, and FN, ApoH and ANXA6 were found highly expressed in plasma of patients with UA-QDBS, suggesting they might be the special molecules for the disease. Moreover, as compared with health persons, SAA, CP, MYH11 and C6 showed high expression, and the 6 proteins, e.g. A1BG, ApoA4, GSN, HBB, HBD and TF, showed low expression in the plasma of UA-QDBS patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>UA-QDBS might belong to a kind inflammatory reaction. There are simultaneous existence of myocardial injury, blood coagulation factor abnormality, lipid metabolic disorder and oxygen transport obstacle in patients of UA-QDBS, they influence and interact mutually. The newly discovered differential proteins might provide clues for studying or discovering new protein targets of angina relieving drugs. The new technique of label free quantitative proteomics is an efficient method for bio-marker research of diseases and syndromes.</p>

Effect of tetrandrine in combination with droloxifen on the expression of NF-kappaB protein in K562 and K562/A02 cell lines / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of tetrandrine (Tet) in combination with droloxifen (DRL) on the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) in K562 and K562/A02 cell lines and its reversal mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The activation of NF-kappaB in K562 and K562/A02 cell lines and the effect of Tet or DRL alone or in combination on NF-kappaB protein expression were determined with immunocytochemistry and Western blotting respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) K562/A02 cells displayed higher level of NF-kappaB protein expression than K562 cells. (2) The application of Tet or DRL alone or in combination had no effect on NF-kappaB expression in K562 cells at 6 h and 12 h (P > 0.05). (3) Tet and DRL alone or in combination could significantly down-regulate NF-kappaB protein expression in nuclei of K562/A02 cells. The effect was more significant in combination than either alone. This effect was more significant at 12 h than at 6 h.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>(1) Activation of NF-kappaB may be involved in the mechanism of MDR of K562/A02 cell line. (2)Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation may be involved in the reversal of multidrug resistance in K562/A02 cells by Tet and DRL.</p>

Apoptosis of human myelodysplastic syndrome cell Line MUTZ-1 induced by sodium valproate / 中国实验血液学杂志

To study the effects of sodium valproate (VPA) on human myelodysplastic syndrome cell line MUTZ-1. The cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay, apoptotic morphological features were observed by light microscopy and transmission electronmicroscopy, cell apoptosis and cell cycle shift were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that VPA could inhibit the growth of MUTZ-1 cells in dose-and time-dependent manners. The typical apoptotic morphological features appeared in MUTZ-1 cells treated with 4 mmol/L VPA for 72 hours. Pyknosis of cells and nuclei, disintegration of nuclear chromatin and apoptotic body could be observed by light microscopy. Aggregation and margination of nuclear chromatin, concentration of plasm, increment of density and chromatin mass of irregular size could be observed by transmission electronmicroscope. The flow cytometric analysis indicated that the VPA could induce cell apoptosis, apoptosis rate increased in dose-dependent manner, ratio of cells at G(0)/G(1) phase increased and ratio of cells at S phase decreased in dose-dependent manner, the cells were arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase. It is concluded that the VPA can induce apotosis and inhibite proliferation of MUTZ-1 cells via arresting cells at G(0)/G(1) phase.