ABSTRACT
Macroangiopathy is a complication of Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), which is mainly caused by fibrosis of blood vessels. Using T2DM rat models, we investigated whether the traditional Chinese medicine, Di-Dang Decoction (DDD), exhibited anti-fibrotic actions on great vessels. T2DM rats were randomly divided into non-intervention group, early-, middle-, late-stage DDD intervention groups and control groups, including pioglitazone group and aminoguanidine group. After administration of DDD to T2DM rats at different times, we detected the amount of extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in the thoracic aorta. The results showed that early-stage intervention with DDD could effectively protect great vessels from ECM deposition. Considering that TGF-β1 is the master regulator of fibrosis, we further validated at the molecular level that, compared to middle- and late-stage intervention with DDD, early-stage intervention with DDD could significantly decrease the expression levels of factors related to the activated TGF-β1/Smad signalling pathway, as well as the expression levels of downstream effectors including CTGF, MMP and TIMP family proteins, which were directly involved in ECM remodelling. Therefore, early-stage intervention with DDD can reduce macrovascular fibrosis and prevent diabetic macroangiopathy.
ABSTRACT
Objective]To investigate the thought of manipulating The Three Blood Statsis Removal Decoctions(Taohe Chengqi Decoction, Di Dang Decoction, Di Dang Pills) of ZHANG Zhongjing.[Method]Collect and analyse the explanations of the scriptures involving the Three Blood Statsis Removal Decoctions of ShangHanLun interpreters from past to nowadays, combine with the theory said in Huang Di Nei Jing, knowledge of exegetics and personal view, in order to summarise the original intention of manipulating the Three Blood Statsis Removal Decoctions by ZHANG Zhongjing. [Result] The main purpose of Taohe Chengqi Decoction is to purge heat, since heat is the main reason of stagnation of blood. It applies to the preliminary stage of combination of heat and blood clot. The main purpose of Di Dang Decoction is to attack the rigid blood-heat stagnation in lower-energizer, it is applied to the late stage of combination of heat and blood clot. Di Dang Pill is the milder prescription of Di Dang Decoction, which is applied to the milder situation of blood-heat combination. [Conclusion]Comparing the Three Blood Statsis Removal Decoctions,“ Superficial”and“ deep”words should be used to differentiate the application of Taohe Chengqi Decoction and Di Dang Decoction, while“ light”and“ severe”words should be used to differentiate that of Di Dang Decotion and Di Dang Pills.