Effect of fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma on airway inflammation in chronic bronchitis based on TGF-β signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to explore the mechanism of fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma against chronic bronchitis airway inflammation. The SD rats of SPF grade were divided into control group, model group, Guilongkechuanning group(GLKCN, 1.125 g·kg~(-1)), high-dose fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma group(LG-HD, 15 g·kg~(-1)), and low-dose fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma group(LG-LD, 7.5 g·kg~(-1)). The chronic bronchitis models of rats in other groups except the control group were induced by the modified smoking method. From the 15 th day of modeling, the rats were given corresponding agents by gavage for 20 consecutive days. After the last administration, the rats were sacrificed for sample collection. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to detect serum transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) and interleukin-6(IL-6) levels. The protein expression of TGF-β, IL-1β and IL-6 in lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemical method. Masson staining was performed to detect collagen fibers and muscle fibers in lung tissue, and HE staining to detect the pathological changes of lung tissue. Human bronchial epithelial(16 HBE) cells were cultured in vitro, and CCK-8(cell counting kit-8) method was used to detect the cytotoxicity of cigarette smoke extract(CSE) and fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma. After the exposure of 16 HBE cells to 3.5% CSE and appropriate concentration(800, 400 μg·mL~(-1)) of fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma for 24 h, quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to determine the mRNA levels of TGF-β and IL-1β, and Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of TGF-β and IL-6 in the cells. The rat model of chronic bronchitis induced by smoking was successfully established. Fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma reduced serum TGF-β and IL-6 levels, down-regulated the protein levels of TGF-β, IL-1β, and IL-6 in lung tissue, and alleviated pathological changes and fibrotic lesions in lung tissue. Moreover, it down-regulated the CSE-induced protein expression of TGF-β and IL-6 as well as the mRNA level of TGF-β in 16 HBE cells. These results indicated that fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma could prevent airway inflammation from chronic bronchitis and promote cell repair by inhibiting the TGF-β signaling pathway.

Data mining of drug use rules based on traditional Chinese medicine treatment of ulcerative colitis / 中国中药杂志

To explore the drug use rules of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, and to provide some references for clinical treatment. The full-text search of "ulcerative colitis+TCM" was conducted based on CNKI. The literatures published from 2000 to 2020 were selected, and the clinical prescriptions for ulcerative colitis were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The statistical processing and association rule analysis were carried out with use of Excel 2013, Clementine 12.0 and IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 statistical software. A total of 177 prescriptions were obtained after retrieval of 3 432 relevant literatures, including 93 oral prescriptions and 84 enema prescriptions. Among them, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Coptidis Rhizoma, Aucklandiae Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba were the most frequently used drugs in oral administration, with the functions of tonifying, heat clearing and Qi regulating. The drugs with high frequency in enema included Bletillae Rhizoma, Coptidis Rhizoma, Sanguisorbae Radix, Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, with the functions of heat clearing, blood stopping and tonifying. Both oral and enema means of drugs were mainly of warm, cold and slightly cold properties, and bitter and sweet flavors, involving spleen, stomach, lung and large intestine. In cluster analysis, oral and enema drugs were divi-ded into 5 groups. Accordingly, in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, tonifying medicine, heat clearing medicine and Qi regulating medicine are often used for oral administration and heat clearing medicine, hemostatic medicine and tonifying medicine are often used for enema administration. On this basis, they are combined with diuretic drugs and astringent drugs respectively.

Analysis of animal model of atopic dermatitis based on characteristics of clinical symptoms traditional Chinese and Western medicine / 中国中药杂志

Based on the clinical characteristics of atopic dermatitis( AD) in traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) and Western medicine,the existing animal models were analyzed,and the coincidence degree,advantages and disadvantages between the models and the clinical manifestations of AD were evaluated,so as to provide reference for establishing a rational animal model. After consulting relevant literatures in recent years and summarizing the existing modeling methods,it is found that spontaneous,transgenic/gene knockout models were highly consistent,but with high breeding conditions and expensive prices. The hapten-induced model was low in cost and fast in modeling. It revealed the corresponding mechanism of AD to a certain extent,but did not fully reflect the state of the entire process of AD. The modeling method was guided by Western medicine,but with a lack of pathogenic factors of traditional Chinese medicine,and so has certain limitations in TCM research. Therefore,it is necessary to combine the etiology,pathogenesis and clinical mani-festations of AD with traditional Chinese and Western medicine,so as to improve the coincidence degree between the model and the characteristics of clinical symptoms and lay the foundation for in-depth studies on AD.

Analysis of Animal Models of Allergic Conjunctivitis Based on Characteristics of Clinical Symptoms in Chinese and Western Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Allergic conjunctivitis （AC） is one of the most common eye diseases in ophthalmology， including type I allergies and type Ⅳallergies， which seriously affect the quality of life of patients. This article analyzes the current models of allergic conjunctivitis based on the characteristics of clinical symptoms of Chinese and Western medicine， including the types of animals selected， the characteristics of the models， and the analysis of the degree of agreement with the clinical symptoms of Chinese and Western medicine. It is concluded that most of the current AC model replication uses ovalbumin （OVA） induction method， ragweed pollen induction method. In recent years， animal models of fungal-inducible， compound 48/80-inducible， and murine allergic conjunctivitis have appeared， which are sensitized by the "systemic first and then local" method. Most of them have a high degree of coincidence with the characteristics of Western medicine symptoms， but there are certain gaps in the indicators of Chinese medicine， and there are also inconsistencies between the existing observation indicators and the diagnostic standards of Chinese medicine， resulting in unclear symptoms of Chinese medicine and irregular classification judgments. Therefore， To replicate the animal model with high clinical anastomosis of Chinese and Western medicine， further discussion and research are needed to better promote the research of allergic conjunctivitis.

Analysis of animal models of heart failure based on characteristics of clinical symptoms of traditional Chinese and Western medicine / 中国中药杂志

The incidence of heart failure has increased year by year, with a negative impact on quality of life and life expectancy of patients. Reproduction of animal models that meet the characteristics of clinical symptoms is a prerequisite for conducting experimental studies relating to heart failure. Based on the characteristics of clinical symptoms of heart failure in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and Western medicine, the existing common animal models of heart failure were explored, and the clinical anastomosis of the existing animal models was analyzed based on the clinical diagnostic criteria of heart failure in TCM and Western medicine. After analysis and comparison, it can be seen that the existing modeling methods are mostly single-factor animal models, with certain gaps between the characteristics of clinical multi-factors and interactions that jointly lead to heart failure, and the modeling methods were mostly guided by Western medicine, with a lack of TCM pathogenic factors in the model process, which is different from the clinical diagnostic criteria of Chinese and Western medicine for heart failure. In terms of syndrome differentiation, heart failure is classified into heart and lung Qi deficiency syndrome, Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome, heart and kidney Yang deficiency syndrome, Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, Yang deficiency and water flooding syndrome, phlegm-drinking obstructive lung syndrome, Yin and yang exhausted syndrome. The existing animal models mostly confused them, with no effective and recognized method for modeling at present. There are major limitations in studies of Chinese medicine. Therefore, based on clinical characteristics of heart failure in Chinese and Western medicine, this article analyzed the existing animal models, defined their advantages and disadvantages and application prospects, and then suggested further improving the corresponding animal models of heart failure and standardizing the model evaluation, so as to improve the clinical coincidence between animal models and Chinese and Western medicine, make heart failure animal models better serve scientific studies, and promote relevant mechanism studies, pathological change studies and drug screening.

Analysis of animal models of chronic skin ulcers based on characteristics of clinical symptoms of traditional Chinese and Western medicine / 中国中药杂志

Based on the characteristics of clinical symptoms of chronic skin ulcers in traditional Chinese and Western medicine, the current animal models of skin ulcers are summarized. This article analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of animal models according to the etiology and pathogenesis of chronic skin ulcers, traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnostic criteria and observation indicators, and eva-luates the agreement between the existing animal models and the characteristics of clinical syndromes of traditional Chinese and Western medicine for chronic skin ulcers. Through analysis and comparison, it is found that most of the existing modeling methods are single-factor animal models, and there are certain gaps in the physiological and pathological characteristics of chronic skin ulcers caused by clinical multi-factors and interactions. Most of the modeling methods are guided by Western medicine. The lack of pathogenic factors of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in the process of modeling. Therefore, this article proposes to establish a reasonable quantification standard for chronic skin ulcer animal models, and to establish a combination model of chronic skin ulcer disease with traditional Chinese and Western medicine as the focus of future animal model research.

Analysis of animal models of ulcerative colitis based on characteristics of clinical symptoms of traditional Chinese and Wes-tern medicine / 中国中药杂志

This article aims to provide a good experimental method for the study of drug treatment of ulcerative colitis. According to the characteristics of ulcerative colitis's clinical symptoms, common ulcerative colitis animal models were analyzed. Based on the characteristics of clinical symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine for ulcerative colitis disease, the existing commonly used animal models of ulcerative colitis were analyzed to summarize the current matching degree, advantages and disadvantages of the exi-sting animal models of ulcerative colitis and clinical symptoms. At present, studies on ulcerative colitis mainly adopt four types of induction modeling methods, such as immunization, chemical stimulation, compound method and gene model. There are many reported methods of colitis modeling, but no model can reflect the characteristics of clinical symptoms of ulcerative colitis treated with Western or Chinese medicine. This article summarizes the characteristics, clinically relevant symptoms and applicable scope of immunization, chemical stimulation, compound method, and gene model, so as to provide a reliable animal model for subsequent studies of prevention and treatment of colitis.

Telithromycin versus clarithromycin for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The emergence of bacterial resistance to commonly used antibiotics, such as macrolides, is complicating the management of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Telithromycin, a ketolide antimicrobial structurally related to macrolides, is approved for the treatment of community-acquired RTIs, and shows lower pathogen resistance rates. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of telithromycin with clarithromycin, a macrolide routinely used as therapy for RTIs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed a meta-analysis of relevant randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) identified in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI and VIP databases. The primary efficacy outcome was clinical treatment success assessed at the test-of-cure time in the per-protocol population, and the primary safety outcome was drug related adverse effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seven RCTs, involving 2845 patients with RTIs, were included in the meta-analysis. Oral telithromycin and clarithromycin showed a similar clinical treatment success in modified intention to treat and per-protocol population (cure and improvement) (odds ratios (ORs): 0.84, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.64 - 1.11 and OR: 1.14, 95%CI: 0.71 - 1.85, respectively). Similar findings were obtained for secondary efficacy outcomes: clinical treatment success at a late post-therapy visit (OR: 0.92, 95%CI: 0.57 - 1.48) and microbiological treatment success at the test-of-cure time (OR: 1.14; 95%CI: 0.71 - 1.85). The safety outcome analysis indicated telithromycin had a similar risk of drug-related adverse effect and serious adverse effect with clarithromycin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our findings indicate that oral telithromycin and clarithromycin have similar treatment efficacy and adverse effect. The advantages of lower antimicrobial resistance rates, once-daily short-duration dosing and reported lower health-care costs make oral telithromycin a useful option for the empiric management of mild-to-moderate RTIs.</p>

Constituents of the anti-asthma herbal formula ASHMI(TM) synergistically inhibit IL-4 and IL-5 secretion by murine Th2 memory cells, and eotaxin by human lung fibroblasts in vitro / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI(TM)), a combination of three traditional Chinese medicinal herbs developed in our laboratory, has demonstrated efficacy in both mouse models of allergic asthma, and a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with asthma. This study was designed to determine if the anti-inflammatory effects of individual herbal constituents of ASHMI(TM) exhibited synergy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Effects of ASHMI and its components aqueous extracts of Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum), Kushen (Sophora flavescens) and Gancao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), on Th2 cytokine secretion by murine memory Th2 cells (D10.G4.1) and eotaxin-1 secretion by human lung fibroblast (HLF-1) cells were determined by measuring levels in culture supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Potential synergistic effects were determined by computing interaction indices from concentration-effect curve parameters.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Individual Lingzhi, Kushen and Gancao extracts and ASHMI (the combination of individual extracts) inhibited production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 by murine memory Th2 cells and eotaxin-1 production by HLF-1 cells. The mean 25%-inhibitory-concentration (IC25) values (mg/mL) for ASHMI, Lingzhi, Kushen and Gancao for IL-4 production were 30.9, 79.4, 123, and 64.6, respectively; for IL-5 production were 30.2, 263, 123.2 and 100, respectively; for eotaxin-1 were 13.2, 16.2, 30.2, and 25.1, respectively. The IC50 values (mg/mL) for ASHMI, Lingzhi, Kushen and Gancao for IL-4 production were 158.5, 239.9, 446.7, and 281.8, respectively; for eotaxin-1 were 38.1, 33.1, 100, and 158.5, respectively. The interaction indices of ASHMI constituents at IC25 were 0.35 for IL-4, 0.21 for IL-5 and 0.59 for eotaxin-1. The interaction indices at IC50 values were 0.50 for IL-4 and 0.62 for eotaxin-1 inhibition. Inhibition of IL-5 did not reach IC50 values. All interaction indices were below 1 which indicated synergy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By comparing the interaction index values, we find that constituents in ASHMI(TM) synergistically inhibited eotaxin-1 production as well as Th2 cytokine production.</p>

Apixaban versus enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis after total hip or knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Enoxaparin is routinely used for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total hip or knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of apixaban, a newly oral direct inhibitor of factor Xa versus enoxaparin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed a meta-analysis of relevant randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) identified in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase China Biological Medical Literature database, Countries Journal full-text database, VIP database, and WanFang database. The primary efficacy outcome for our meta-analysis was all VTE and all-cause mortality. The secondary efficacy outcomes included major VTE, non-fatal pulmonary embolism, and mortality. The primary safety outcome was bleeding events, categorized as major, clinically relevant non-major, or minor events.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four RCTs, involving 14 065 patients, were included in our meta-analysis. Compared to enoxaparin, thromboprophylaxis with apixaban was associated with significantly fewer VTE and all-cause mortality (8346 patients, risk ratio (RR): 0.63, 95%CI 0.42 - 0.95) and similar incidence of bleeding events (major bleeding, 11 525 patients, RR 0.76, 95%CI 0.43 - 1.33; clinically relevant non-major bleeding, 11 525 patients, RR 0.83, 95%CI 0.69 - 1.01; and minor bleeding, 11 828 patients, RR 0.93, 95%CI 0.79 - 1.09). However, our meta-analysis revealed similar effects of apixaban with enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis with regard to the secondary efficacy outcomes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Apixaban was more effective than recommended dose of enoxaparin and had a similar safety profile for thromboprophylaxis after hip and knee arthroplasty. But more evidence, especially well designed head-to-head RCTs, is needed to confirm the superior efficacy of apixaban.</p>

Effects and mechanisms of actions of Chinese herbal medicines for asthma / 中国结合医学杂志

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of airways that affects approximately 300 million adults and children worldwide. Most therapy currently uses bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Systemic side effects from chronic use of these drugs are concern. Chinese medicine (CM) has a long history of human use in China and other Asian countries and well received by the patients. But as one component of Western integrative medicine (WIM), it is required that CM use is supported by scientific evidence. On the other hand, there are also suggestions that Western standardized medicine should consider personalized practice. In recent years there have been an increasing studies to narrow the gap between CM, the personalized medicine and Western medicine, evidence based medicine. This communication reviews several CM studies published in the English language in details by reviewing the effects and mechanisms of actions on asthma from clinic and experimental studies.Chinese herbal medicines exhibit broad actions on multiple asthma pathologic mechanisms. These mechanisms may involve antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, inhibiting airway remodeling and normalization of hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal (HPA)-axis disturbances. However, the mechanisms of actions of Chinese herbal medicines for asthma are not fully understood. More controlled clinical studies are warranted and some anti-asthma CM may be proved to be effective when used as monotherapy or complementary asthma therapies.

Relationship between various Chinese medicine types and T-cell subsets in patients with ulcerative colitis / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between various Chinese medicine (CM) types and T-cell subsets (CD4(+) and CD8(+)) in the colonic mucous membranes of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty UC patients were enrolled, after differentiation into four types by CM syndromes, i.e., the internal heat-damp accumulation type (IHDA), the qi-stagnancy with blood stasis type (QSBS), the Pi-Shen yang-deficiency type (PSYD) and the yin-blood deficiency type (YBD). From every patient, 3-5 pieces of intestinal mucous membrane tissues were taken through colonoscopy to determine the levels of the T-cell subsets (CD4(+) and CD8(+)) using immunohistochemical method. The results were compared with those in the normal control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The level of CD8(+)increased and the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+)decreased mainly in colonic mucous membranous tissues in UC patients. The level of CD4(+)decreased significantly in IHDA types (P<0.01), but decreased only slightly in the PSYD, QSBS and YBD types. CD8(+)increased significantly in the IHDA types (P<0.01), but only slightly in the other three types.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The IHDA types of UC are closely related with T-cell subsets. The difference of T-cell subsets in various IHDA types of UC patients has provided a theoretical basis for syndrome differentiation in the CM typing of UC.</p>

Metabolic flux analysis of L-valine fermentation in Corynebacterium glutamicum / 生物工程学报

In industrial fermentation of amino acids the cells are often forced to synthesize the biochemicals excessive of their physiological needs. The knowledge of metabolic networks and their regulation relevant usually come from biochemical research, especially from enzymology, not from engineering study. To enrich the knowledge of metabolic sub-network of L-valine syntheses for higher production of L-valine, Corynebacterium glutamicum AS1.495 and its genetic derivatives AA361, AAT231, AATV341 were used for metabolic flux analysis. AS1.495 is a leucine auxotrophic (Leu-), and the three derivatives carry additional mutations. AA361 contains D-aspartic acid-beta-hydroxamate supersensitive marker (Leu-, L-AAHss), AAT231 (Leu-, L-AAHss, 2-TAr) is D-aspartic acid-beta-hydroxamate supersensitive and 2-thiazole alanine resistant, and AAT341 (Leu-, L-AAHss, 2-TAr, Vd-) is a D-aspartic acid-beta-hydroxamate supersensitive, 2-thiazole alanine resistant and valine-decompose-ability imperfect (Vd-). The concentrations of extra-cellular metabolites were determined under sub-steady-state of the batch culture. The metabolic flux distribution maps of the four strains were obtained, compared and analyzed. Our analysis showed that the flux ratio of EMP and HMP from the glucose-6-phosphate had increased from 0.205 in the parental strain AS1.495 to 0.321 in the multiple-mutation strain AATV341; the flux ratio of L-valine synthesis branch and the rest branches from the pyruvate node increased from 0.188 in AS1.495 to 3.29 in AATV341; the flux of lactic acid synthesis branch decreased from 11.1 in AS1.495 to 1.16 in AATV341; the flux of L-valine synthesis branch increased from 5.37 in AS1.495 to 37.3 in AATV341; and the productivity of L-valine correspondently increased from 4 g/L in AS1.495 to 24.5 g/L in AATV341. These results indicate that the introduction of analog supersensitive marker L-AAH55 and/or analog resistant marker 2-TAr skew the metabolic flux towards the formation of L-valine. This study revealed the usefulness of the metabolic flux analysis as a tool for verification of existing production strains. The analysis may play an important role in helping us b to rationally re-design metabolism for further improvement of fermentation process.

Study on the relationship between the functional integrity of sperm membrane and seminal parameters related to CASA / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the relationship between the functional integrity of sperm membrane and seminal parameters related to CASA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-eight fertile and one hundrend and twenty four infertile males were tested the functional integrity of sperm membrane by the kit and parameters by CASA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant difference in the functional integrity of sperm membrane between fertile and infertile group (P < 0.01). The items related to CASA between normal and abnormal group in the functional integrity of sperm membrane had a remarkable difference, except motion degree, seminal volume and pH.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>To determine the functional integrity of sperm membrane can be used as a necessary supplementary method for CASA, and it has clinical significance in diagnosing, treating and researching male infertility.</p>