Based on the macromolecules in traditional Chinese medicine exploring the material basis and mechanism of the analgesic effect of Shaoyao Gancao Decoction / 药学学报

In order to study the analgesic effect of Shaoyao Gancao Decoction, this paper discussed material basis and mechanism from the perspective of macromolecules in traditional Chinese medicine. Inspired by the phenomenon of turbidity after boiling Chinese medicine, this experiment took Shaoyao Gancao Decoction as the research object to study the formation process of precipitation during boiling. The results showed that aggregates with a certain shape were formed in the solvent during the boiling process, and the precipitate was obtained by standing and centrifuging. Analysis found that the precipitation was mainly composed of small molecules such as paeoniflorin, albiflorin, liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, isoliquiritin and gallic acid, and macromolecules such as protein and polysaccharide. The composition of precipitate was consistent with that of Shaoyao Gancao Decoction, but the analgesic effect of Shaoyao Gancao Decoction after removing the precipitate was significantly reduced. Based on these results, we isolated small molecular compounds, polysaccharides and protein from Shaoyao Gancao Decoction and their contents are 60.4, 700.7 and 207.2 mg·g-1 respectively. We get the ratio, polysaccharide: small molecule = 11.6∶1, protein: small molecule = 3.4∶1, the precipitate is prepared in the state of boiling. The characterization results showed that the particle size of the precipitate will change significantly after co-heating, and the content determination results showed that the content of the six small molecular compounds which was free in solvent was significantly reduced after the formation of the precipitate. The acetic acid writhing experiment proved that the precipitate has a good analgesic effect, and effectively reduced the levels of inflammatory factors prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide, and increased the level of anti-inflammatory factor interleukin-10. These results proved that the precipitate in Shaoyao Gancao Decoction is an important material basis for analgesic effect, and macromolecules such as protein and polysaccharide are the main components of the precipitate. The study of macromolecules in the precipitate of Shaoyao Gancao Decoction not only provides new ideas and methods for elucidating the pharmacodynamic material basis of Shaoyao Gancao Decoction, but also provides a reference for analyzing the scientificity of traditional decoction.

Changes in liver function of Tibetans with different BMI during the early stage of migration to plain / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the changes in liver function of Tibetan youth living in plateau with different body mass index (BMI) during the early stage of migration to the plain, and to provide scientific basis for high attitude de adaptation.@*Methods@#A total of 3 035 Tibetan youth who firstly migrated to the plain (Shaanxi) from the plateau (Tibet) were selected as the research subjects, and were screened for symptoms of plateau de adaptation. Participants were divided into four groups: underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese, and received liver function test on the 3rd, 6th, 9th dayafter migration, respectively. Chi square test was used to detect the abnormal rate of liver function indicators among each group, and binary Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between BMI and abnormal liver function indicators.@*Results@#The alanine aminotransferase(ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase(AST), γ glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) of overweight Tibetan male and obese Tibetan male and female adolescents, the total bile acid (TBA) of overweight Tibetan male and obese Tibetan female were higher than those of the normal weight group at the early stage of de adaptation( P <0.05). With the de adaptation for 3, 6, 9 days, the indexes showed an overall upward trend, including: direct bilirubin (DBIL) in overweight male and female adolescents, total protein (TP) and globulose (GLOB) in obese female adolescents( P <0.05). The abnormal rate of overweight group (male ALT: 13.9%), obesity group (male and female ALT, GGT: 34.3%, 26.7%, 11.4%, 13.3%; female AST:10.0%) was significantly higher than that in underweight (2.8%, 3.5%, 0, 1.0%, 1.5%) and normal group(3.5%, 3.4%, 0.9%, 3.6%, 4.1%)( χ 2=48.07, 20.55, 20.55, 17.93, 10.23 , P <0.05). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age and gender, overweight was positively correlated with abnormal ALT( OR=2.10, 95%CI =1.20-3.62). Obesity was positively correlated with abnormal ALT( OR=5.50, 95%CI =4.23-7.40) and GGT( OR=4.10, 95%CI =2.03-6.74)( P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#During the early stage of migration to the plain among Tibetan youth living on the plateau, changes in liver function indicators are related to BMI. Overweight and obese Tibetans have a higher abnormal rate of liver damage indicators. It is suggested that individuals with high risk of obesity should undergo health examination and medical supervision when migrates from plateau to plain.

Evaluation of factors for predicting risk of uveitis recurrence in Behcets disease patients

This study aimed to investigate the predictive factors for uveitis recurrence (UR) risk in Behcet's disease (BD) patients. BD patients (n=164) with a history of uveitis were recruited, and demographic data, clinical features, and laboratory tests were recorded. Uveitis was defined as anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, panuveitis referring to the "International Uveitis Study Group recommendations for the evaluation of intraocular inflammatory disease". In total, there were 70 UR patients and 94 non-UR patients. Compared to non-UR patients, UR patients appeared to be older and presented with increased uveitis occurrence rate and times within 3 months, oral ulcers occurrence rate, as well as higher concentrations of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and serum amyloid A (SAA). Multivariate logistic model disclosed that uveitis occurrence times within 3 months, oral ulcers, TG, LDL, and SAA independently predicted higher risk of UR. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the combination of uveitis occurrence times within 3 months, oral ulcers, TG, LDL, and SAA exhibited a high predictive value for UR risk with an area under the curve of 0.983 (95%CI: 0.969−0.998). In conclusion, uveitis occurrence times within 3 months, oral ulcers, TG, LDL, and SAA might be potential predictive factors for UR risk in BD patients, which can help in prevention and management of the disease.

Efficacy and safety of metformin for Behcet's disease and its effect on Treg/Th17 balance: a single-blinded, before-after study / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#Behcet's disease (BD) is an autoimmune disorder that causes most commonly mouth and genital ulcerations and erythema nodules of the skin and currently has limited options of therapeutic medicines. Metformin is recently reported to suppress immune reaction, and we hypothesized that metformin could be an option for treatment of BD.@*METHODS@#Thirty patients with BD were enrolled in this perspective single-blinded, before-after study. We recorded the changes in the mucocutaneous activity index for BD (MAIBD), relapse frequency, C-reactive protein (CRP) level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) after metformin treatment to assess the changes in the disease activity. We also analyzed the changes in the protein and mRNA expression levels of Foxp3, interleukin-35 (IL-35), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Ror-γt, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) in these patients using ELISA and qRT-PCR.@*RESULTS@#Of the 30 patients enrolled, 26 completed the trial. After the treatment, favorable responses were achieved in 88.46% (23/26) of the patients, and partial remission was obtained in 11.54% (4/26) of them. During the treatment, 8 patients complained of gastrointestinal side effects, for which 4 chose to withdraw from the study in the first week. Our results showed that metformin treatment decreased MAIBD and relapse frequency in the patients, and significantly lowered the clinical inflammatory indexes including CRP and ESR. The results of ELISA and qRT-PCR revealed that metformin treatment obviously increased Foxp3 and TGF-β expressions at both the protein and mRNA levels and significantly decreased the levels of ROR-γt, IL-17 and TNF- as well as IL-35 level in these patients.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Metformin treatment relieves the clinical symptoms, reduces the inflammatory reaction indexes and regulates the Treg/Th17 axis in patients with BD, suggesting the potential of metformin as a candidate medicine for treatment of BD.

Phenotypes of CIK cells prepared by ATG-F culture system and its killing effect against K562 cells / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@# Objective: To investigate the function of CIK (cytokine induced killer) cells cultured using ATG-F (anti-human T lymphocyte rabbit immunoglobulin-Fresenius) and IFN- γ, IL-2 system and its feasibility in clinical practice. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy donors and were used to culture CIK cells by different activating antibodies; the total cell count was calculated on Day 7 and 14. The CIK cell composition, cell surface activation and proportion of inhibitory receptor molecular in ATG-F group, CD3 group and TG (Thymoglobulin) group were analyzed by Flow cytometry, and the cytotoxicity of CIK cells against K562 cells were also determined by flow cytometry at day 14 in ATG-F high-dose group, CD3 group and TG group. Results: CIK cells were successfully cultured by ATG-F, IFN-γ, IL-2 system. The proliferation rate of ATGF high-dose group was significantly higher than that in TG group (27.25±1.25 vs 16.60±1.72, P <0.01), but the proportion of CD3+ CD56+ cells showed no statistical difference compare with the CD3 group ( P >0.05). The percentage of CD3-CD56+ NK cells in ATG-F high-dose group was significantly higher than that in TG group and CD3 group [(11.19±2.60）% vs（5.66±1.00）%,（1.42± 0.51）% ， P <0.01], while the proportion of CD4+T cells was significantly lower than that in CD3, TG group [(4.35±1.47）% vs （26.88±5.01）%,（14.52±6.22）%, P <0.01]; the proportion of CD56+CD94+, CD56+CD158a+, CD56+CD158b cells was significantly higher than those in CD3 group (all P <0.01). The ATG-F high does group showed significantly higher cytotoxicity against K562 cells than that of CD3 group at the target/effect ratio of 1∶10. Conclusion: CIK cells cultured by ATG-F culture system has higher NK cell proportion than other ordinary culture system, and its activated receptor has more stronger cytotoxicity against K562 cells.

Cloning, subcellular lacalization and expression analysis of chloroplast-targeted Obg gene in Cyathula officinalis / 中国中药杂志

According to ObgC gene sequences from Cyathula officinalis genomic data, the specific primers were designed, and a full-length CoObgC cDNA (2 226 bp) was obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methord. Sequence alignment showed that CoObgC gene contained a 1 818 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 605 amino acids. Sequence analysis predicted that molecular weight of CoObgC protein was about 66.39 kDa, the academic isoelectric point was 5.35, and the protein was stable protein. Then multiple sequence alignment was applied to construct phylogenetic tree. The real-time fluorescence quantification PCR (RT-qPCR) demonstrated that a high expression level in leaf, followed by root and flower, the low transcription was in stem. The recombinant vector pCABIA2300-CoObgC was constructed and introduced into tobacco epidermal cells by agrobacterium-mediated transformation, green fluorescence was tested and targeted to chloroplast under a laser scanning confocal microscope. These findings will be helpful to lay a foundation for studying the structure and function of CoObgC gene, and elucidating C. officinalis molecular biology experiment.

Physiological and biochemical change of Paris seed in after-ripening during variable temperature stratification / 中国中药杂志

In order to explore the dormancy physiological and biochemical mechanism of Paris seeds, the seed embryo growth courses, and the dynamic change of 5 enzymes, include SOD, POD, CAT, MDH, G-6-PDH were measured during variable temperature stratification. The results indicated that Paris seeds embryo grew quickly after 40 d in warm-stratification (18 ± 1) °C, at the meantime the metabolic activity was significantly strengthened. These facts showed that Paris seeds turned into physiological after-ripening process. After 60-80 d, the morphological embryo after-ripping process basically completed, and the following cold-stratification (4 ± 1) °C furthered Paris seed to finish physiological after-ripening. After 40 d, the activity of MDH decreased while G-6-PDH increased significantly. This showed that the main respiratory pathway of seed changed from TCA to PPP, which benifited breaking seed dormancy. In the whole period of stratification process, the activity variation of SOD and CAT was insignificantly and the activity of POD was enhanced significantly after shifting the seed in cold stratification process. This showed that SOD, CAT had no direct effects on breaking Paris seed dormancy but keeping the seed vigor, while the POD might involve in the process of Paris seed dormancy breaking.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene 2350 G/A polymorphism and susceptibility to atrial fibrillation in Han Chinese patients with essential hypertension

OBJECTIVE: The angiotensin-converting enzyme gene is one of the most studied candidate genes related to atrial fibrillation. Among the polymorphisms of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene, the 2350 G/A polymorphism (rs4343) is known to have the most significant effects on the plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme concentration. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2350 G/A polymorphism with atrial fibrillation in Han Chinese patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: A total of 169 hypertensive patients were eligible for this study. Patients with atrial fibrillation (n = 75) were allocated to the atrial fibrillation group, and 94 subjects without atrial fibrillation were allocated to the control group. The PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism technique was used to assess the genotype frequencies. RESULTS: The distributions of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2350 G/A genotypes (GG, GA, and AA, respectively) were 40.43%, 41.49%, and 18.08% in the controls and 18.67%, 46.67%, and 34.66% in the atrial fibrillation subjects (p = 0.037). The frequency of the A allele in the atrial fibrillation group was significantly greater than in the control group (58.00% vs. 38.83%, p = 0.0007). Compared with the wild-type GG genotype, the GA and AA genotypes had an increased risk for atrial fibrillation. Additionally, atrial fibrillation patients with the AA genotype had greater left atrial dimensions than the patients with the GG or GA genotypes (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in this study indicate that the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2350 G/A polymorphism is associated with atrial fibrillation and that the A allele shows an increased risk for atrial fibrillation in Han Chinese patients with essential hypertension. .

Observation on non-invasive electrode pulse electric stimulation for treatment of Bell's palsy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore non-invasive therapy for treatment of Bell palsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and seventy-six were randomly divided into two groups, a treatment group and a control group, 138 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with non-invasive electrode pulse electric stimulation at Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Sibai (ST 2), Qianzheng (Extra), Dicang (ST 4), and the control group with routine medicine (prednisone, dibazol, vitamine B complex and Qianzheng Powder), once each day, 10 days constituting one course. After two courses, their therapeutic effects were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rate and the effective rate were 83.3% and 99.3% in the treatment group, and 48.5% and 88.4% in the control group respectively with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Non-invasive electrode pulse electric stimulation at facial points has obvious therapeutic effect on Bell palsy.</p>