Application of stem cells, tissue engineering scaffolds and neurotrophic factors in the treatment of spinal cord injury / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Stem cells have multi-directional differentiation potential. Tissue engineering scaffolds can provide support for them. Neurotrophic factors can promote the differentiation of stem cells. The combination of the three therapies to promote the functional recovery of spinal cord injury is one of the current research hotspots. OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress of stem cells, tissue engineering scaffolds, neurotrophic factors and their combined transplantation in the treatment of spinal cord injury in recent years. METHODS: The authors searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, Medline, and CNKI for original articles from January 2000 to October 2019. The key words were “spinal cord injury, mesenchymal stem cells, issue engineering, neurotrophic factor” in English and Chinese, respectively. Totally 712 studies were retrieved. After strict screening, 79 studies that met the requirements were classified and reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Stem cell transplantation alone cannot reconstruct the complex structure and stability of the spinal cord. Biological materials or neurotrophic factors alone cannot replace the loss of neurons during spinal cord injury. Therefore, combined transplantation is the research direction of spinal cord injury treatment. However, due to the differences in the location of spinal cord injury, the tissue of injury and the nutritional requirements of its repair, the characteristics of various stem cells, tissue engineering scaffolds and neurotrophic factors are different. How to optimize the combination of the three is still a huge challenge.

Analysis on dosage of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces stipulated in Chinese pharmacopoeia / 中国中药杂志

Chinese Pharmacopoeia I (2010 edition) covers dosage and usage of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and decoction pieces, and provides dosage ranges of most of decoction pieces. By using the descriptive statistical method, the article discusses the distribution of maximum dosage, minimum dosage and dosage range of decoction pieces set forth in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and compares toxic drugs and non-toxic drugs. Altogether 617 drugs are included into the study. Except for 16 decoction pieces whose dosages are not clear, all of the remaining decoction pieces are covered by Chinese Pharmacopoeia, with the maximum common dosage, minimum common dosage and dosage range of 3, 10 and 6 g. Upon comparison, we discovered that Chinese Pharmacopoeia sets stricter standards for toxic drugs than non-toxic drugs. Compared with dosages in classical prescriptions and actual clinical usages, dosage ranges described in Chinese Pharmacopoeia are much narrower. There is no significant difference between drugs that can be used as foods or healthcare foods and other drugs according to Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

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>