Effect and mechanism of Jingqi Yukui Capsules on gastric ulcer mucosa healing quality: based on network pharmacology and animal experiment / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to identify the active components and the mechanism of Jingqi Yukui Capsules(JQYK) in the treatment of gastric ulcer based on network pharmacology, and verify some key targets and signaling pathways through animal experiment. To be specific, first, the active components and targets of JQYK were retrieved from a Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine(BATMAN-TCM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP), and the targets of gastric ulcer from GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM) with the search term "gastric ulcer". The common targets of the two were the potential targets of the prescription for the treatment of the di-sease. Then, protein-protein interaction(PPI) network of key targets were constructed based on STRING and Cytoscape 3.7.2, followed by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment by matescape database and pathway visualization by Omicshare. For the animal experiment, the improved method of Okabe was used to induce gastric ulcer in rats, and the model rats were classified into the model group, JQYK high-dose(JQYK-H), medium-dose(JQYK-M), and low-dose(JQYK-L) groups, Anweiyang Capsules(WYA) group, and Rabeprazole Sodium Enteric Capsules(RBPZ) group. Normal rats were included in the blank group. Rats in the blank group and model group were given distilled water and those in the administration groups received corresponding drugs. Then gastric ulcer healing in rats was observed. The changes of the gastric histomorphology in rats were evaluated based on hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and the content of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) in rat gastric tissue was detected with Coomassie brilliant blue method. The mRNA and protein levels of some proteins in rat gastric tissue were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and Western blot(WB) to further validate some key targets and signaling pathways. A total of 206 active components and 535 targets of JQYK, 1 305 targets of gastric ulcer, and 166 common targets of the disease and the drug were yielded. According to PPI analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, multiple key targets, such as interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor(TNF), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1(MAPK1), MAPK3, and MAPK14, as well as nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB) signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and leukocyte transendothelial migration in the top 20 key signaling pathways were closely related to inflammation. The key protein p38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway were selected for further verification by animal experiment. The gastric ulcer in the JQYK-H group recovered nearly to the level in the blank group, with significant decrease in the content of iNOS in rat gastric tissue and significant reduction in the mRNA and phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and the mRNA and protein levels of NF-κB p65 in rat gastric tissue. The results indicated that JQYK can inhibit the phosphorylation of the key protein p38 MAPK and the expression of NF-κB p65 in the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby exerting the anti-inflammatory effect and effectively improving the quality of gastric ulcer healing in rats. Thus, the animal experiment result verifies some predictions of network pharmacology.

Effect of Huangqi Jianzhongtang on JAK2/STAT3 Signal Pathway in Rats with Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold Type Gastric Ulcer / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of Huangqi Jianzhongtang on Janusprotein tyrosine kinase 2/signal transducers and transcriptional activator protein 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signal pathway in rats with spleen-stomach deficiency cold type gastric ulcer (GU). Method:A total of 60 SPF level Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: blank group and model group. Model rats were used to reconstruct the spleen-stomach deficiency cold type GU model by comprehensive modeling method. Model rats were divided into model group, Anweiyang group and high, medium and low-dose Huangqi Jianzhongtang groups according to the random number table, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in blank group and model group were given 10 mL·kg-1·d-1 distilled water, and 16, 8, 4 g·kg-1·d-1 Huangqi Jianzhongtang, respectively. Rats in the positive control group were given 0.14 g·kg-1·d-1 Anweiyang for 21 days. The gene expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 in the ulcer tissue were detected by Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), the protein expressions and phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 in the ulcer tissue were detected by Western blot, and the contents of interleukin-10（IL-10）and interleukin-17（IL-17）in the gastric tissue of each group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result:Compared with the blank group, the general survival condition of the model group was worse, the content of IL-10 in gastric homogenate was significantly reduced, while the content of IL-17 was significantly increased (P<0.05), the protein expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 in gastric tissue was not significantly increased, whereas the gene expressions and phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the content of IL-10 increased, but the content of IL-17 decreased, the gene expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 and the level of protein phosphorylation decreased in the treatment group, especially in the high-dose Huangqi Jianzhongtang group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion:Huangqi Jianzhongtang can improve the survival condition of rats with spleen stomach deficiency cold type gastric ulcer, and its mechanism may be related to the intervention of gastric mucosal immune barrier dysfunction mediated by JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation.

Study on interference effect of Sijunzi decoction on brain-gut CaM/CaMK II of spleen Qi deficiency syndrome rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the dynamic time-phase expressions of key genes of brain-gut CaM signal pathway of spleen Qi deficiency rats and the intervention effect of Sijunzi decoction.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, model 14 d, 21 d, 28 d groups, and Sijunzi decoction 14 d, 21 d, 28 d groups. Except for the normal control group, the remaining groups were included into the spleen Qi deficiency model with the bitter cold breaking Qi method (ig 7.5 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹ of Rheum officinale, Fructus aurantii immaturus, Magnolia officinalis preparation) and the exhaustive swimming method. On the 7th day after the modeling, the Sijunzi decoction groups were orally administered with Sijunzi decoction 20 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹. The expressions of key genes CaM/CaMK II of CaM signaling pathway in hippocampus and intestine at different time points by immunohistochemical method and Western blot. At the same time, the intervention effect of Sijunzi decoction on spleen Qi deficiency rats and its mechanism were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Spleen Qi deficiency rats showed higher intestinal CaM/CaMK II expression and lower hippocampus CaM/CaMK II expression than normal rats (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After the treatment of Sijunzi decoction, spleen Qi deficiency rats showed reduction in intestinal CaM/CaMK II expression and increase in hippocampus CaM/CaMK II expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The formation of spleen Qi deficiency syndrome may be related to the high expression of CaM/CaMK II in small intestine tissues and its low expression in hippocampus tissues. Sijunzi decoction may achieve the therapeutic effect in spleen Qi deficiency syndrome by reducing the CaM/CaMK II expression in intestinal tissues and increasing it in hippocampus tissues.</p>

Relationship between pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV infection: a meta-analysis / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection in high risk populations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A computerized literature searching had been carried out in PubMed, EMbase, Ovid, Web of Science, Science Direct, Wanfang, Tsinghua Tongfang database and related websites to collect relevant papers (from establishment to June 2012) with the key words of pre-exposure prophylaxis, HIV, AIDS, high risk populations, relative risk, reduction. All randomized controlled trials (RCT) papers about using single or compound antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) orally or topically before HIV exposure or during HIV exposure in high risk populations were enrolled. Meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 10.0 to calculate the pooled RR value (95%CI). Consistency test was performed and publication bias was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Finally 5 RCT papers were enrolled, including 10 271 persons who were at high risk of HIV infection. The number of the experimental group was 5929, among which 116(1.96%) became infected. The number of the control group was 4342, among which 201(4.63%) became infected. Meta-analysis showed that the pooled relative risk (RR) and 95%CI was 0.49 (0.39 - 0.61), P < 0.05, indicating that the persons in experimental group had a 0.49 times lower risk of HIV infected, as compared with the control group. Publication bias analysis revealed a symmetry funnel plot. The fail-safe number was 825.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PrEP was an effective and safe protection measure to reduce HIV infection in high risk populations.</p>

Clinical significance of (18)F-FDG PET/CT evaluation of response to treatment in T-cell lymphoma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the usefulness of (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging in restaging, evaluating the treatment outcome, monitoring relapse and predicting prognosis of T-cell lymphoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective analysis of PET/CT image results of thirty-four patients with T-cell lymphoma, and to evaluate its clinical significance in restaging, treatment efficiency, relapse monitor and prognosis prediction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinical restaging among the 20 stage I and II patients, 6 were ascended, 9 descended and 5 unchanged. Restaging among the other 14 stage III and IV patients, 3 were ascended, 4 descended and 7 unchanged. There were 12 patients in complete remission (CR), 11 in partial remission (PR), 2 in stable disease (SD) and 9 in progressive disease (PD) among all the 34 patients. There is obvious statistical difference of the standardized uptake value (SUV) between the efficacy group and the inefficacy group after treatment of 6 courses at least in 25 patients among all the 34 patients (P = 0.009). There is obvious statistical difference of the SUV value before and after treatment in 8 patients among all the 34 patients (P = 0.000). There is obvious statistical difference in the survival time between the efficacy group and the inefficacy group after treatment of 6 courses at least in 25 patients among all the 34 patients (P = 0.015).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>(18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging plays an very important role in guiding clinical restaging, evaluating the treatment outcome, monitoring relapse and predicting prognosis of T-cell lymphoma. It is helpful to establish personalized treatment planning.</p>