Research Progress on Animal Models of Menopausal Syndrome： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

In order to explore the pathological mechanism of perimenopausal syndrome and seek prevention and treatment measures， it is necessary to establish animal models that similar to human perimenopausal syndrome， so as to provide reference for drug research， new drug development and clinical application. In this paper， the keywords of "perimenopausal period" "perimenopausal syndrome" "menopause" "menopausal syndrome""menopausal period" "menopausal syndrome" and "animal" were searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）， Chongqing Weipu， China Biomedical Literature Database （CBM） and Pubmed. In addition， the selection of domestic peripheral menopausal syndrome model animals in recent years and the advantages and disadvantages of corresponding models were summarized. A total of 673 studies were identified， of which 61 were included in the analysis. The most common animal model of perimenopausal syndrome is castration model， while the immunodeficiency model is less used. With the aging of the population and the rapid increase of psychosocial stress， the incidence of perimenopausal syndrome is high. Therefore， it is particularly important to explore the mechanism of perimenopausal syndrome. According to the experimental purpose， experimental period， experimental technology and other factors， the selection of appropriate model animals and modeling methods is the key of the success of the experiment of perimenopausal syndrome.

Kaiyuqingre formula improves insulin secretion via regulating uncoupling protein-2 and KATP channel / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) results from the complex association of insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell failure. Recent studies have shown that patients diagnosed with T2DM present with a significant decrease in β-cell function, which can be further compromised during the progression of the disease. Several mechanisms have been shown to play a role in this process such as glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity, which contribute to accelerating insulin secretion. In this regard, Chinese medicine has a certain advantage. This experiment was performed to observe the effect of a Chinese medicine named Kaiyuqingre formula (KYQRF) on β-cell function and its mechanisms of action therein.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>High glucose was used to set up a model of β-cell function failure. At the same time, medicated serum of KYQRF with different doses were administered to the cells. Rosiglitazone was taken as a control to observe the changes in insulin secretion, ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (K(ATP) channel) and uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) in each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>KYQRF had some effects on the insulin secretion. In a low glucose environment, no effective change in insulin secretion was observed (P > 0.05). However, insulin levels increased significantly when INS-1 cells were exposed to a high glucose environment (P < 0.05). KYQRF could also enhance cell viability (P < 0.05) in an effect similar to rosiglitazone. Although KYQRF had no effect on inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir6.2) (P > 0.05), it could decrease the overexpression of both UCP-2 and sulfonylurea receptor 1 (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>KYQRF can protect islet function by decreasing UCP-2 and sulfonylurea receptor 1.</p>

Study on the differential gene expression of peripheral CD4+ among rheumatoid arthritis patients of cold or heat syndrome type with or without rheumatoid factor / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the differential gene expression of peripheral CD4+ among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of cold or heat syndrome type with or without rheumatoid factor (RF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Differential gene expression of peripheral CD4+ lymphocytes purified from fasting venous blood of RA patients and healthy subjects was studied using gene chip technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 55 differential genes between RA patients with and without RF, mainly involving those related with immune response and signal transduction. In patients with RF, 71 differential genes, mainly related with functional metabolism and immune response, and in those without RF, 70 related with functional metabolism were found between patients of cold and heat syndrome type respectively, all of them were not repetitive with the above-mentioned 55, and only 2 were found repetitive between the 70 and the 71 differential genes, mainly involving functional metabolism.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The differential genes between RA patients with or without RF are different with those between patients of heat and cold syndrome type, suggesting the TCM syndrome classification has its own basis of gene expression profile.</p>

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of cyanidin from cherries on rat adjuvant-induced arthritis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of cyanidin from cherries on adjuvant induced arthritis (AA) in SD rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Arthritis was induced by the complete Freud's adjuvant in male Sprague Dauley rats and assessed based on paw swelling. Rats were randomly divided into normal group (NM), adjuvant arthritis group (AA) and three cyanidin-treated groups in high dosage (HA), middle dosage (MA), and low dosage (LA). The morphological changes in the hind limbs were conducted under a light microscope. We detected glutathione (GSH) in whole blood and malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) activity in serum by special kits to assess the antioxidant effects of cyanidin on AA. Moreover, the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in paw tissues were determined by radioimmunoassay and TNF-alpha levels in serum were determined using ELISA kits specific for rat.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The cyanidin could protect against the paws swelling in AA rats. From the day 14 after AA induction, the swellings of the cyanidin treated groups at high dosage and low dosage were significantly reduced compared with the model group (P < 0.05, 0.01). Histological examination of sections through the hind limbs revealed alleviation of inflammatory reaction in the joint after the treatment. The cyanidin at high and low dosage could increase the GSH, SOD activity and T-AOC levels in whole blood or serums and decrease MDA in AA rats (P < 0.01). The cyanidin could decrease the PGE2 levels in paw tissues and the TNF-alpha levels in serum at high and low dosages (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cyanidin could protect against the paws swelling in AA rats, and alleviate the inflammatory reaction in the joint, and the mechanism might be via the increase activity of GSH, SOD and T-AOC that improve the total antioxidative capacity and scavenge the free radicals, perhaps as a result of that the levels of the PGE2 in paw tissues and TNF-alpha contents in serum were decreased. The results suggest that the cyanidin from cherries could be one of the potential candidates for the alleviation of arthritis.</p>