The Fourier transform infrared spectra of the key organs derived from Kidney (Shen)-yang deficiency syndrome mice / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore an approach to rapidly and accurately identify the compounds as biomarkers of Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry was applied to investigate the characteristic components of a mice model of Kidney (Shen)-yang deficiency syndrome (KDS), and the remedial effect of a typical CM formula Shenqi Pill (). Thirty-six females and 18 males of Balb/c mice were randomly divided into KDS, Shenqi or control group. The females and males of the same group freely were mated for 96 h, and the males were taken out and only the female mice were raised. Females of the KDS group were threatened by a ferocious cat every other day for 14 d. After delivery, the KDS, or gestational threatened, offspring were raised at standard condition for 11 weeks. Then 10 male offspring were randomly selected, anaesthetized and their representative organs, i.e. testes, kidneys, lungs and feet were collected, for the FT-IR scan. Mice of the Shenqi group were intragastric administered Shenqi Pill; while mice in the KDS and control groups were given the same volume of saline.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The attenuated birth outcomes of the KDS group were displayed. The remarkable FT-IR differences of all organs between KDS mice and healthy control were mainly at 1,735-1,745 cm(-1) (indicating the increased levels of lipids) and at 1,640-1,647 cm(-1) and 1,539-1,544 cm(-1) (displaying the decreased proteins). No statistic FT-IR difference between Shenqi and control mice was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In accordance with major traits of KDS, prenatal stress extensively impaired the building up of proteins and resulting in the excessive lipid storage, and FT-IR could effectively identify the biomarkers of KDS.</p>

The research course and the perspective of molecular regulation network and blood stasis syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

Studying the literature of blood stasis syndrome (BSS), we reviewed the research course and the perspective of molecular regulation network and BSS. The essence study of BSS was firstly proposed by Chen Ke-ji and Wang Jie, and developed for more than thirty years. The course for BSS study mainly included the formulation of BSS diagnostic standard, the establishment of BSS animal model, pedigree methods, twins combined clinical epidemiological survey of BSS research, the four "zu" subjects combined molecular regulation network of BSS, signal transduction system network and BSS research, and so on. Along with a new sequencing approach in basic research, clinical diagnostics, and drug development, we are promising to see the whole gene network research of human diseases, such as metabolic disease, cancer, and etc. These achievements could provide a new way of thinking for further studying the essence of BSS.

Effects of warming-needle therapy on gene expression pathways in the patient with knee osteoarthritis of deficiency-cold syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of warming-needle therapy in treatment of knee osteoarthritis of deficiency-cold syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight cases of knee osteoarthritis of deficiency-cold syndrome were selected and treated with warming-needle therapy at Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) , Zosanli (ST 36), etc.. The gene expression profiles before and after treatment in 4 cases who showed better therapeutic effect were compared. Taking ratio < 0.5 or ratio > 2.0 as differentially expression gene and obtaining differentially expression pathway (P < 0.5, n>3) by http://www. DAVID 2006.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two cases were clinically cured, 4 cases were markedly effective, 1 case was effective and 1 case was ineffective. With help of the microarray, 449 differentially expression genes, and 10 differentially expression pathways were obtained including 2 energy metabolism pathways (oxidative phosphorylation, ATP synthetase), 4 cell signal transduction pathways (insulin signal pathway, Toll-like receptor signal pathway, JAK-STAT signal pathway, and MAPK signal pathway) and cell apoptosis pathway.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Warming-needle therapy is an effective therapy for knee osteoarthritis with deficiency-cold syndrome , which is possibly involved in the control and regulation of many gene expression by various signal transduction pathways.</p>

Application of metabonomics in complicated theory system research of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Metabonomics, a new and rapid-developing technology, will be powerful means to the research of complexed theory system and modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Discovery of biomarkers and analysis of common properties from the metabolome of a specific TCM syndrome will facilitate the modernized study of TCM system, promote the quantitative and scientific elucidation of TCM syndrome differentiation, provide an in-depth understanding of the TCM theory of Zang-xiang, help predict the disease on-set, and achieve a comprehensive evaluation of systemic clinical efficacy, safety and mechanism of action of the TCM combination formulas along with a better understanding of intestinal microflora ecology. The new approach with combined metabonomics and TCM methodologies will provide a new pathway and methodology for the study of complicated theory system of TCM and its modernization.

Research on gene expression of warm-hot drug treating cold syndrome / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the therapeutic molecular mechanism of the warm-hot drugs treating cold syndrome.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A brother and his sister with deficiency-cold syndrome were chosen and treated with appropriate Chinese formula consisted chiefly of warm-hot drugs for 45 days. Then microarray technique was applied for comparing the gene expression difference of sister who had significant effect, the data was dialed with multiple analysis method and the results were mined though gene function and pathway.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>276 differential genes were obtained, which were related to metabolism and 18 pathways.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Warm-hot drugs work on the gene expression of metabolism. It may be exerting the curative action by gene network and there is distinct difference between gene expression of curative effect and syndrome.</p>