Role of NLRP3 inflammasome in diabetic neuropathy and prevention and treatment with traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

As one of the most frequent complications of diabetes, diabetic neuropathy often involves peripheral and central nervous systems. Neuroinflammation is the key pathogenic factor of secondary nerve injury in diabetes. NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3(NLRP3) inflammasome is a group of subcellular multiprotein complexes, including NLRP3, apoptosis associated speck-like protein(ASC), and pro-cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1(pro-caspase-1). NLRP3 inflammasome is an inducer of innate immune responses. Its activation stimulates the inflammatory cascade reaction, promotes the release of inflammatory mediators, triggers cell death and uncontrolled autophagy, activates glial cells, facilitates peripheral immune cell infiltration, and initiates amyoid β(Aβ)-tau cascade reactions. As a result, it contributes to the central nerve, somatic nerve, autonomic nerve, and retinal nerve cell damage secondary to diabetes. Therefore, due to its key role in the neuroinflammation responses of the body, NLRP3 inflammasome may provide new targets for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. With multi-target and low-toxicity advantages, traditional Chinese medicine plays a vital role in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Accumulating evidence has shown that traditional Chinese medicine exerts curative effects on diabetic neuropathy possibly through regulating NLRP3 inflammasome. Although the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in diabetes and related complications has been investigated in the literature, systematical studies on drugs and mechanism analysis for secondary neuropathy are still lacking. In this article, the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in diabetic neuropathy was explored, and the research progress on traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy through NLRP3 inflammasome was reviewed.

Network pharmacology-based analysis of effective components and mechanism of Rhizoma coptidis in treating diabetes

Objective: To identify the active ingredients, potential targets, and mechanism of Rhizoma coptidis by bioinformatics method, and to explore the hypoglycemic effect of Rhizoma coptidis by in vitro experiments. Methods: The chemical components of Rhizoma coptidis were collected through database search, and oral bioavailability and drug-likeness were used for preliminary screening. The targets of Rhizoma coptidis and diabetes-related targets were collected by database retrieval and reverse docking techniques, and the biological process of cross-set proteins was analyzed. The inhibitory effects of Rhizoma coptidis on α-glucosidase, α-amylase activity, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were determined via in vitro experiments. In addition, the effects of Rhizoma coptidis on pre-adipocyte differentiation, absorption of glucose by adipocytes, and the level of intracellular triglyceride were investigated using the adipocyte differentiation model. Results: There were 11 potentially active ingredients in Rhizoma coptidis. IL-6, caspase-3, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), MYC, and estrogen receptor 1 were considered as the key genes. The bioinformatics analysis showed that Rhizoma coptidis played an anti-diabetic role mainly via biological processes and signaling pathways including hormone receptor activity, glutathione binding, steroid binding, etc. In vitro experiments showed that the extract of Rhizoma coptidis inhibited the activities of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, and the generation of AGEs; meanwhile, the extract promoted the absorption of glucose by adipocytes. In addition, the extract of Rhizoma coptidis decreased triglyceride level. Conclusions: Our network pharmacology and in vitro experiments demonstrate the anti-diabetic effects and possible underlying mechanisms of Rhizoma coptidis extract.

Network pharmacology-based analysis of effective components and mechanism of Rhizoma coptidis in treating diabetes

Objective: To identify the active ingredients, potential targets, and mechanism of Rhizoma coptidis by bioinformatics method, and to explore the hypoglycemic effect of Rhizoma coptidis by in vitro experiments. Methods: The chemical components of Rhizoma coptidis were collected through database search, and oral bioavailability and drug-likeness were used for preliminary screening. The targets of Rhizoma coptidis and diabetes-related targets were collected by database retrieval and reverse docking techniques, and the biological process of cross-set proteins was analyzed. The inhibitory effects of Rhizoma coptidis on α-glucosidase, α-amylase activity, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were determined via in vitro experiments. In addition, the effects of Rhizoma coptidis on pre-adipocyte differentiation, absorption of glucose by adipocytes, and the level of intracellular triglyceride were investigated using the adipocyte differentiation model. Results: There were 11 potentially active ingredients in Rhizoma coptidis. IL-6, caspase-3, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), MYC, and estrogen receptor 1 were considered as the key genes. The bioinformatics analysis showed that Rhizoma coptidis played an anti-diabetic role mainly via biological processes and signaling pathways including hormone receptor activity, glutathione binding, steroid binding, etc. In vitro experiments showed that the extract of Rhizoma coptidis inhibited the activities of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, and the generation of AGEs; meanwhile, the extract promoted the absorption of glucose by adipocytes. In addition, the extract of Rhizoma coptidis decreased triglyceride level. Conclusions: Our network pharmacology and in vitro experiments demonstrate the anti-diabetic effects and possible underlying mechanisms of Rhizoma coptidis extract.

Network pharmacology-based analysis of effective components and mechanism of Rhizoma coptidis in treating diabetes

Objective: To identify the active ingredients, potential targets, and mechanism of Rhizoma coptidis by bioinformatics method, and to explore the hypoglycemic effect of Rhizoma coptidis by in vitro experiments. Methods: The chemical components of Rhizoma coptidis were collected through database search, and oral bioavailability and drug-likeness were used for preliminary screening. The targets of Rhizoma coptidis and diabetes-related targets were collected by database retrieval and reverse docking techniques, and the biological process of cross-set proteins was analyzed. The inhibitory effects of Rhizoma coptidis on α-glucosidase, α-amylase activity, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were determined via in vitro experiments. In addition, the effects of Rhizoma coptidis on pre-adipocyte differentiation, absorption of glucose by adipocytes, and the level of intracellular triglyceride were investigated using the adipocyte differentiation model. Results: There were 11 potentially active ingredients in Rhizoma coptidis. IL-6, caspase-3, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), MYC, and estrogen receptor 1 were considered as the key genes. The bioinformatics analysis showed that Rhizoma coptidis played an anti-diabetic role mainly via biological processes and signaling pathways including hormone receptor activity, glutathione binding, steroid binding, etc. In vitro experiments showed that the extract of Rhizoma coptidis inhibited the activities of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, and the generation of AGEs; meanwhile, the extract promoted the absorption of glucose by adipocytes. In addition, the extract of Rhizoma coptidis decreased triglyceride level. Conclusions: Our network pharmacology and in vitro experiments demonstrate the anti-diabetic effects and possible underlying mechanisms of Rhizoma coptidis extract.

Efficacy of endoscopic variceal ligation and its correlation with liver function / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the efficacy of endoscopic variceal ligation and its correlation with liver function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>322 patients received EVL (endoscopic variceal ligation) and 34 patients with PDP (pericardial devascularization procedure) were retrospectively analyzed and divided into groups A, B and C. These patients were then subdivided into bleeding and non-bleeding subgroups according to Child-Pugh scores of liver function and history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The bleeding rate and mortality were contrasted between EVL and PDP. Liver function, Platelet count, leucocyte count and spleen thickness of before and after ligation were contrasted in EVL.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The bleeding rate and mortality were 1.7%, 3.4%, 7.0%; 0%, 5.1%, 8.1% in EVL group and 9.1%, 14.3%, 100.0%; 0%, 9.5%, 50.0% in PDP group, respectively. Variceal obliteration needed means of 2.1+/-0.7, 3.1+/-0.8 and 4.2+/-1.2 sessions in A, B and C ligation groups, respectively (F = 41.2, P is less than 0.01). On subgroup analysis, the numbers of ligation session were 2.6+/-0.7, 3.2+/-0.9 and 4.3+/-1.1 in A, B and C bleeding subgroup (F = 39.3, P value is less than 0.01) and 2.0+/-0.6, 2.7+/-0.6, and 2.9+/-0.4 in A, B and C non-bleeding subgroup, respectively (F = 17.0, P value is less than 0.01). ALT, AST, Platelet count and leucocyte count reduced significantly, spleen thickness increased remarkably in bleeding subgroup after ligation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The efficacy of EVL was significantly negatively correlated with liver function and prior to pericardial devascularization procedure. EVL had no effect on liver function but might increase spleen thickness and aggravate hypersplenism. EVL was recommended especially for the bleeding liver cirrhosis patients with Child B and C scores.</p>

Semenogelin and sperm motility inhibition: an update / 中华男科学杂志

Semen liquefaction and sperm capacitation are the key processes for sperm to acquire forward movement ability. In these processes, semenogelin plays a vital role by directly participating in the formation of semen coagulation, collaborating with other protease and metal ions from the male reproductive tract, and then reacting with the surface of sperm cells, finally involved in the regulation of these processes and ensuring sperm's acquisition of forward movement ability.

Effect of combined therapy with Kangyanling and Omeprazole on digestive dysfunction in burned patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the curative effects of combined therapy with Kangyanling (KYL, a Chinese herbal preparation) and Omeprazole on post-burn digestive dysfunction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with post-burn digestive dysfunction were assigned to two groups, the 32 in the treated group, including 18 with acute stress gastrointestinal mucosal hemorrhagic lesion and 14 with toxic enteroparalysis, were treated by KYL plus Omeprazole, and the 20 patients in the control group, 11 with acute stress gastrointestinal mucosal hemorrhagic lesion and 9 with toxic enteroparalysis were treated with Omeprazole alone. The pH value in gastric mucosa was determined before and 12 h after treatment, the hemostasis effects in 48 h, and the anti-paralysis effects in 72 h were observed as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pH value in gastric mucosa of both groups before therapy were all lower than the normal range, it raised after treatment in the treated group (P < 0.05), approaching to the normal range, but with no significant change in the control group. The total hemostatic rate and the anti-paralysis rate was 77.8% and 85.7% respectively in the treated group, and 45.5% and 0% in the control group, all shown statistical significance between groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combined therapy with Kangyanling and Omeprazole has obvious curative effects on post-burn gastric dysfunction.</p>