Mechanism of Modified Shenqiwan in Relieving Renal Interstitial Fibrosis in Diabetic Mice Based on GSK-3β/CREB Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of modified Shenqiwan on renal function and fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy mice and explore the underlying mechanism based on the glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β）/cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP） response element-binding protein （CREB） signaling pathway. MethodFifty male db/db mice and 10 db/m mice were used in this study. The fifty db/db mice were randomly divided into model group， irbesartan group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose modified Shenqiwan groups. The 10 db/m mice were assigned to the normal group. The mice in the low-， medium-， and high-dose modified Shenqiwan groups were administered with modified Shenqiwan in the dosage form of suspension of Chinese medicinal granules by gavage， those in the irbesartan group were given irbesartan suspension by gavage， and those in the normal and model groups were given distilled water of equal volume by gavage. The intervention lasted for 12 weeks. The blood glucose levels， urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio （UACR）， and the protein expression levels of GSK-3β， CREB， transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）， E-cadherin， Vimentin， fibronectin （FN）， plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 （PAI-1）， and Collagen type Ⅳ （Coll Ⅳ） in the mouse kidneys were recorded before and after treatment. The extent of renal pathological damage was also observed. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significant increases in blood glucose levels， UACR levels， and the protein expression levels of GSK-3β， TGF-β1， E-cadherin， Vimentin， FN， PAI-1， and Coll Ⅳ in the kidneys （P<0.05）， decreased protein expression level of CREB （P<0.05）， and severe renal pathological damage. Compared with the model group， the low-， medium-， and high-dose modified Shenqiwan groups and the irbesartan group showed varying degrees of decreases in blood glucose levels， UACR levels， and the protein expression levels of GSK-3β， TGF-β1， E-cadherin， Vimentin， FN， PAI-1， and Coll Ⅳ in the kidneys （P<0.05）， increased expression level of CREB protein （P<0.05）， and improved renal pathological damage. ConclusionModified Shenqiwan can effectively reduce blood glucose levels， improve renal function， and alleviate fibrosis， and the mechanism of action is related to the inhibition of the GSK-3β/CREB signaling pathway.

Effect of Jingui Shenqiwan on Diabetic Osteoporosis in Mice via AGEs/RANKL/NF-κB Pathway Based on Theory of "Kidneys Governing Bones" / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Jingui Shenqiwan on diabetic osteoporosis （DOP） in mice by regulating the advanced glycation end products （AGEs）/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand （RANKL）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway based on the theory of "kidneys governing bones". MethodForty 6-week-old male and female skeletal-muscle-specific， dominant negative insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor （MKR） mice were selected and fed on a high-fat diet for eight weeks to establish the DOP model. The model mice were randomly divided into a model group， low- and high-dose Jingui Shenqiwan group （1.3， 2.6 g·kg-1）， and an alendronate sodium group （0.01 g·kg-1）， with 10 mice in each group. Additionally， 10 FVB/N mice of the same age were assigned to the normal group. The corresponding drugs were administered orally to each group once a day for four weeks. After the administration period， fasting blood glucose （FBG） measurement and oral glucose tolerance test （OGTT） were conducted. Kidney function and kidney index were measured. Renal tissue pathological changes were observed through hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Masson staining. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the protein expression levels of AGEs， phosphorylated NF-κB （p-NF-κB）， and RANKL in renal tissues. Western blot analysis was conducted to measure the expression of proteins related to the AGEs/RANKL/NF-κB signaling pathway， osteoprotegerin （OPG）， and Runt-related transcription factor 2 （RUNX2） proteins in femoral bone tissues. ResultCompared with the normal group， mice in the model group exhibited significantly increased FBG （P<0.01）， trabecular bone degeneration， abnormal bone morphological parameters， significantly increased area under the curve （AUC） of OGTT （P<0.01）， enlarged kidney volume， significantly increased kidney function indicators and kidney index （P<0.01）， disrupted renal glomeruli and renal tubule structures， significantly increased expression of AGEs， RANKL， and p-NF-κB/NF-κB in renal tissues （P<0.05）， and significantly decreased expression of OPG and RUNX2 in femoral bone tissues （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， mice in the Jingui Shenqiwan groups showed a significant decrease in OGTT AUC （P<0.01）. Histopathological analysis revealed alleviated structural lesions in renal glomeruli and renal tubules. Furthermore， the expression of AGEs， RANKL， and p-NF-κB/NF-κB in renal tissues was significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the expression of RUNX2 and OPG in femoral bone tissues was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionJingui Shenqiwan can improve kidney function and downregulate the AGEs/RANKL/NF-κB signaling pathway to inhibit inflammatory reactions， thereby alleviating the symptoms of DOP in mice， demonstrating a therapeutic effect on DOP from the perspective of the kidney.

Regulation Effect and Clinical Efficacy of Addition and Subtraction Therapy of Jinkui Shenqiwan Combined with Buzhong Yiqitang on Immune Inflammatory Factors of Patients with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis and Deficiency of Spleen and Kidney / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of addition and subtraction therapy of Jinkui Shenqiwan combined with Buzhong Yiqitang to postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMO） with deficiency of spleen and kidney， and to investigate its regulation effect on immune inflammatory factors. Method:One hundred and sixty patients were randomly divided into observation group and control group， with 80 cases in each group. Both groups got comprehensive western medicine treatment measures. Patients in control group additionally got Zhuanggu Zhitong capsule， 4 capsules/time， 3 times/day. Patients in observation group additionally got addition and subtraction therapy of Jinkui Shenqiwan combined with Buzhong Yiqitang， 1 dose/day. The treatment was continued for 24 weeks. Before and after treatment， lumbar L2-4 bone mineral density （BMD） was detected by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry （DXA） and lumbar BMD was detected by quantitative CT （QCT）. Scores of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） syndromes and Chinese osteoporosis-targeted quality of life questionnaire （COQOL） were graded. Levels of Estradiol （E₂）， type Ⅰ procollagen amino terminal pro peptide （PINP）， serum osteocalcin （OC）， osteoprotegerin （OPG）， type Ⅰ collagen cross-linked C-terminal peptide （S-CTX）， tartrate resistant acid phosphatase （TRACP） and urinary pyridinoline （PYD） were detected. Levels of CD4⁺ T cells， CD8⁺ T cells， interleukin-17 （IL-17）， tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α</italic> （TNF-<italic>α</italic>）， <italic>γ-</italic>interferon（IFN-<italic>γ</italic>） and interleukin-4 （IL-4） were calculated. The proportion of T helper cell （Th）17 and regulatory T cell （Treg） in CD4⁺ T cells was calculated. Besides， the safety was evaluated. Result:Bone density was detected by DXA in observation group， and its T-value and bone density detected by QCT were all higher than those in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. After treatment， scores of TCM syndrome and COQOL were lower than those in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Levels of PINP， OC， S-CTX， TRACP and PYD/Cr were all lower than those in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Levels of OPG， CD8⁺ and Treg were higher than those in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， levels of Th17， Th17/Treg， CD4⁺/CD8⁺， IL-17， TNF-<italic>α</italic> and IFN-<italic>γ </italic>were lower （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and levels of IL-4 and E₂ were higher than those in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The clinical efficacy in observation group was better than that in control group （<italic>Z</italic>=2.103， <italic>P</italic><0.05）. Conclusion:On the basis of calcium and vitamin D supplementation， Jinkui Shenqiwan combined with Buzhong Yiqitang can improve levels of E₂ and bone density， reduce clinical symptoms， improve quality of life， regulate bone metabolism index and immune inflammation reaction， with better clinical efficacy and safety.

Role of Jiawei Shenqi-wan in Treatment of Cathartic Colon on the Basis of Interstitial Cells of Cajal / 胃肠病学

Background: Cathartic colon belongs to the category of 'constipation' in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and its pathogenesis is related to deficiency of kidney temperament and weak promotion ability, which has become a hot spot of global medical attention. Aims: To investigate the effect and possible mechanism of Jiawei Shenqi-wan (JSQW) on intestinal transmission function and pathological changes of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in rats with cathartic colon. Methods: Forty rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, prucalopride group and JSQW group. Fecal moisture content, fecal particle number and intestinal transit rate were detected. The pathological changes of ICCs were observed under transmission electron microscope. RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of water channel proteins (AQP3 and AQP9) and SCF/c-kit pathway. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)

Effect of Jingui Shenqiwan Combined with Fracture Three-stage Syndrome Differentiation on Recovery of Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures After Operation / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the short-term and long-term efficacy of Jingui Shenqiwan combined with three-stage syndrome differentiation on osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) after operation, and its regulatory effect on biomarkers of bone metabolism. Method:One hundred and thirty-five patients were randomly divided into control group (67 cases) and observation group (68 cases) by random number table. A total of 58 patients in control group completed the treatment (4 patients were exfoliated, 2 patients were lost to follow-up, 3 patients were eliminated); and 60 patients in observation group completed the treatment (3 patients were exfoliated, 2 patients were lost to follow-up, 3 patients were eliminated). Both groups patients were given calcitonin injection through intramuscular injection, 20 u/time, 1 time/week, for 12 weeks, calcium carbonate D3 chewable tablets (Ⅱ), 1 tablet/time, 2 times/day, and alendronate sodium tablets, 70 mg/time, 1 time/week. Patients in control group got Bushen Jiangu capsule, 4 grains/time, 3 times/day. And patients in observation group got modified Jingui Shenqiwan combined with fracture three-stage symptom differentiation, 1 dose/day. The courses of treatment in the two groups were 24 weeks, and a 24 week follow-up was provided. Before the operation and at the 12th and 24th week after operation, the short-term efficacy indexes, such as back pain, lumbar function, traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes and complications, were recorded. And the long-term efficacy indexes, such as recovery of responsible vertebral body, lumbar function, bone density and quality of life and incidence of 48 week re-fracture, were also recorded. Before and after operation, levels of bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (BGP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRAP-5b), type I collagen carboxy terminal prepeptide (PICP), type I collagen cross-linked C-terminal peptide (β-CTX) and N-MID-OT were detected, and the safety was evaluated. Result:The comprehensive efficacy in observation group was superior to that in control group (Z=2.026, P<0.05). At the 12th and 24th week after operation, scores of back pain, lumbar function and TCM syndromes were all lower than those in control group (P<0.01), and score of lumbar function at the 48th week after operation was also lower than that in control group (P<0.01). Bone density was higher than that in control group at the 24th and 48th week after operation, and score of quality of life was lower than that in control group (P<0.01). At the 24th and 48th week after operation, Cobb angles were less than those in control group, and heights of responsible centrums (anterior, central, posterior) were higher than those in control group. Cumulative incidence of complications in control group was 51.72% (30/58), which was higher than 26.67% (16/60) in control group (χ2=7.784, P<0.01). The levels of BGP were higher than those in observation group at the 24th and 48th week after operation, and the levels of BALP, TRAP-5b, PICP, β-CTX and N-MID-OT were all lower than those in control group (P<0.01). And there was no side effect relating to Jingui Shenqiwan. Conclusion:Modified Jingui Shenqiwan combined with fracture three-stage symptom differentiation can reduce the symptoms of back pain and promote the recovery of lumbar function, with a significant short-term comprehensive efficacy. In the long term, it can improve the strength of responsible centrums, restore the anatomical structure of injured centrums, increase the bone density of centrums, further improve the lumbar function, reduce the occurrence of complications, regulate the markers of bone metabolism, and improve osteoporosis.

Novel chinmedomics strategy for discovering effective constituents from ShenQiWan acting on ShenYangXu syndrome / 中国天然药物

Elucidation of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is of importance for scientists of modern medicine to understand the value of TCM clinical experience, and it is necessary to have a biological language to scientifically describe the efficacy of TCM. With this background?Chinmedomics has been proposed by our team, which includes integrating serum pharmacochemistry and metabolomics technology, defining theory and research methods for expressing the efficacy of TCMs based on the biomarkers discovery of TCM syndrome and elucidating the efficacy of TCM formulae, discovering effective constituents, and finally elucidating the scientific value of TCM. In the present study, the innovative chinmedomics strategy was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of ShenQiWan (SQW) acting on ShenYangXu (kidney-yang deficiency syndrome, KYDS). We analyzed the urine metabolic trajectory between the model and control groups, and identified the biomarkers by the multivariate analysis. We found that SQW caused significant restoration of abnormal metabolism of KYDs. Using the method of metabolomics, 17 potential urine biomarkers were analyzed through 4 repeated tests in our serial studies on SQW and KYDS. Under the premise of therapeutic efficacy, a total of 56 peaks were tentatively characterized in vivo by the use of serum pharmacochemistry. Correlation analysis between marker metabolites and in vivo constituents of SQW showed that 28 compositions had a close relationship with urine biomarkers of therapeutic effects, whichmight play a key role in the therapeutic effect of SQW. These compounds were imported into an online database to predict their targets. Twenty-three important potential targets were identified, which were related to the metabolism of steroid hormone, tryptophan utilization, and thyroid hormone. In conclusion, chinmedomics is a useful strategy for discovery of potentially effective constituents from complex TCM formulae.

The Empirical Study on mtDNA4834 Deletion in Mimetic Aging Model Rat’s Cochlear / 听力学及言语疾病杂志

Objective To study the effect of Shenqiwan and vitamin E on mtDNA 4834 deletion in a mimetic aging rat model .Methods Forty rats three months old ,were randomly divided into four groups :group A ,which was treated with hypodermic 5 % D -galactose for 8 weeks ,and group B (shenqiwan group ,n=10) which was treated daily with Shenqiwan for 2 weeks after hypodermic 5 % D -galactose for 6 weeks ,group C (vitamin E group ,n = 10) which were treated daily with Vitamin E for 2 weeks after hypodermic 5 % D -galactose for 6 weeks ,group D were given saline only .Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to detect the hearing thresh-old of rats before and after the treatment .The inner ear tissue was harvested and mitochondrial DNA was amplified to identify the 4834 bp deletion mutation by nested primer polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) technique .Re-sults The threshold of ABR in the group A ,B and C were significant higher than that in group D .However the difference in shift of ABR threshold between group A ,B ,C and group D was not significant .The mtDNA4834 de-letion rate in three modeled groups (group A ,B ,C) was significant high than that of in group D .There was statis-tically significant difference between the treated group (group B ,C) and the model group (group A) on mtDNA4834 deletion in cochlea ,but the difference between the treated groups on mtDNA 4834 deletion in cochlea was not statistically significant .Conclusion Shenqiwan and vitamin E can reduce the aging induced mtDNA 4834 deletion in aging rats inner ear .

Protective Effect of Shenqi-wan on Traumatic Brain Injury-induced Delayed Apoptosis in Rat Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus

Shenqi-wan, Oriental herbal medicine formulation, has been traditionally used for delayed mental and physical development in children, complications of diabetes, and glomerulonephritis. In the present study, the protective effect of the aqueous extract of Shenqi-wan against traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the rat hippocampal dentate gyrus was investigated. For this study, step-down avoidance task, terminal deoxynuclotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, Bax immunohistochemistry, and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry were conducted. In the present results, it was shown that apoptotic cell death and cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus were significantly increased following TBI in rats and that the aqueous extract of Shenqi-wan suppressed the TBI-induced increase in apoptosis and cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus. Based on the present results, it is possible that the aqueous extract of Shenqi-wan has a neuroprotective effect on TBI-induced neuronal cell death.