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Cordyceps, a unique precious Chinese herbal medicine in China, has the effects of tonifying the kidney and lungs, stopping bleeding, and resolving phlegm. It has definite clinical effects on diabetes, respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), chronic kidney diseases, slow arrhythmia, and hyperlipidemia. We searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP, SpringerLink (Biomedical Sciences), Embase, Proquest (Life Sciences), PubMed, Cochrane Library, and SinoMed for the research on the arsenic content in Cordyceps. According to statistical analysis, arsenic in Cordyceps mainly exists in the non-toxic or low-toxic form. The arsenic-containing compounds in Cordyceps may be an arsenic-sugar compound with anticancer effect. The inorganic arsenic content in Cordyceps is lower than the arsenic standard stipulated by the State Food and Drug Administration. It remains uncertain whether different measurement methods can affect the results. The total arsenic content varies in Cordyceps from different producing areas, and the general rule of total arsenic content in Cordyceps produced in different provinces, districts, and counties cannot be obtained from the results of the existing studies. The arsenic content in Cordyceps is mainly concentrated in the insect part, which is significantly different from that in stroma, and no arsenic is detected in the mycelia. The soil arsenic content in the growing areas is generally high, which may be a main reason for the high arsenic content in Cordyceps. As a valuable medicinal material for tonifying and nourishing, Cordyceps still plays an irreplaceable role in disease prevention, health care, chronic disease management, and rehabilitation.
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Since LIU Hejian proposed the concept of sweat pore, the theory of sweat pore has experienced accelerated development. Especially with the advances in modern human anatomy and physiology, the microscopic anatomy of sweat pore begins to focus on the intercellular space, ion channels and other membranous space with channels, pores, doors, etc., which exert the functions of exchanging fluid, information, and energy inside and outside blood vessels and discharging metabolic wastes so as to maintain the normal operation of organs. Therefore, sweat pore is the structural basis for the movement of Qi and the central link of Qi-fluid exchange in the body. The brain, as the house of original spirit, is in charge of the spirit of five Zang-organs. The brain sweat pore is pivotal for the circulation of Qi, blood, and fluid in the brain, and it is the structural basis for the normal physiological functions of the brain. The dysfunction of the brain sweat pore will cause the stagnation of Qi and the abnormal transport of blood and fluid. It will cause the abnormal exchange of Qi, liquid and other material and information, which fail to nourish the original spirt and cause the loss of vital activity, eventually leading to consciousness and emotion disorders. The treatment should focus on opening the brain sweat pore, smoothing the exchange of Qi and fluid inside and outside the pore, and restoring the Qi movement, so as to cure encephalopathy. At present, western medicine treatment of encephalopathy needs to solve the problem of drug efflux from the blood-brain barrier and improve the effective concentration of drugs into the brain. The structure and function of brain sweat pore is similar to those of the blood-brain barrier. The aromatic resuscitative medicines and wind-extinguishing medicines can open the brain sweat pore. When being combined with other medicines, they can lead the medicine to enter the brain to restore the Qi movement of the brain sweat pore and enhance the therapeutic effect. Liver-pacifying wind-extinguishing medicines, insect medicines, tonifying medicines, heat-clearing toxin-removing medicines, and damp-draining medicines can treat pathological factors such as wind, phlegm, stasis, deficiency, toxin, and dampness, respectively. These medicines, combined with the medicines with the tropism to brain meridians, can open the brain sweat pore and guide the medicine into the brain to enhance the effective concentration of the medicine, thereby enhancing the efficacy against encephalopathy.
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Objective To explore the effects of Kaixin Jieyu Pill(KJP)on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha(PPARα),serum and hippocampal tissue fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21)and hippocampal tissue fibroblast growth factor receptor 1(FGFR1)in rats with depression model.Methods A rat chronic stress model was prepared using the chronic unpredictable mild stimulus method(CUMS)to observe behavioral changes in depression.Hippocampal FGF21,FGFR1 and liver PPARα protein and mRNA expression levels were measured in hippocampal tissues by western blot and real-time fluorescence quantification(RT-qPCT).Results The expression levels of PPARα,FGF21 and FGFR1's protein and their mRNA were dramatically decreased in the CUMS model rats compared with the normal group(P<0.001).KJP could modify the depressive-like behaviors of rats(P<0.001),upregulate the protein expression level of PPARα,FGF21,and FGFR1(P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.01);markedly modify the mRNA expression levels of PPARα,FGF21,and FGFR1(P<0.001,P<0.01,P<0.01).Conclusion PPARα/FGF21/FGFR1 pathway may participate in the pathogenesis of depression;upregulation of PPARα/FGF21/FGFR1 pathway may be related to the antidepressant mechanism of KJP.
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Objective To evaluate the dynamic efficacy of Invigorating Qi and Dissipating Depression Herbs in the treatment of depressive disorders and its effect on recurrence rate and suicidal thoughts.Methods The prospective cohort study was used to divide the patients into three cohorts according to the different exposure factors(treatment regimens):Western medicine group,integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine group,and Invigorating Qi and Dissipating Depression Herbs group,and followed up for 2 years,and the treatment effects of each cohort at half a year,one year,one and a half years,and two years were observed respectively,and the evaluation indicators were Montgomery Depression Scale(MADRS),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)and Social Deficit Screening Scale(SDSS)reduction rates,and endpoint events(relapse,suicidal ideation)incidence;By comparing the efficacy and endpoint event rate of the three cohorts,the effect of Invigorating Qi and Dissipating Depression Herbs on improving depressive disorders was evaluated.Results A total of 409 patients(67 in the Western medicine group,131 in the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine group,and 211 cases in the Invigorating Qi and Dissipating Depression Herbs group)were enrolled,and the rate of score reduction after treatment with MADRS,HAMA and SDSS increased compared with the pre-treatment treatment with the extension of the drug taking time.The difference between the MADRS and SDSS reduction rates in the Invigorating Qi and Dissipating Depression Herbs group on taking the drug for half a year and the SDSS reduction rate on one year of taking the drug were statistically significant compared with the Western medicine group,and there was no significant difference compared with the integrated Chinese and Western medicine group.On one and a half years and two years of medication,the integrated Chinese and Western medicine group had more advantages in MADRS reduction rate than the Invigorating Qi and Dissipating Depression Herbs group.The recurrence rates of depression in the three groups within 2 years were 20.9%,30.5%and 36.0%,and the difference was not statistically significant,and the length of taking medication was used as a protective factor by logistic regression analysis.The incidence rates of suicidal thoughts were 44.8%,19.1%and 17.5%,and the differences were statistically significant,and the exposure factors and income level were the protective factors by logistic regression analysis.Conclusion Invigorating Qi and Dissipating Depression Herbs can significantly improve the depressive state of patients,promote the recovery of social function,reduce the occurrence of long-term suicidal ideation,and appropriately extend the time of taking medicine can increase the long-term efficacy and reduce recurrence.
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The research on the essence of triple energizer has not reached a consensus. The correspondence between the existing understanding and the classical theory of triple energizer is still limited in terms of structure and function. According to the traditional theory, nutrient-defense takes channels as the main circulatory system, while the operation of nutrient-defense in the triple energizer remains unclear. Since little is known about the physical structure of the triple energizer, the role of triple energizer as a collection of other Zang-fu organs has been ignored in most cases. The new progress in anatomy paves the way for the research on the essence of triple energizer. The function and structure of triple energizer are similar to those of interstitium and interfacial fluid flow, which enriches our understanding of the macro and micro structures of triple energizer. The triple energizer is distributed throughout the body and composed of membrane and interstitial space. The material structure of triple energizer includes fiber scaffold, collagen fiber, mesenchymal stem cells, histiocytes, pericytes, and interstitial fluid. The functions of triple energizer include passing body fluids, operating nutrient-defense, distributing original Qi, and transmitting and changing pathogenic Qi. According to the available theories and research achievements, we put forward the concept of vertical and horizontal triple energizer, pointed out that triple energizer had independent structure and the features of Zang-fu organs, and preliminarily defined the spatial distribution of triple energizer. The relationship between channels and triple energizer is essential for discussing the operation of nutrient-defense. Telocyte (Tc) and telopod (Tp) has the characteristics of channels in function and structure. The connective tissue with the distribution of Tc and Tp belongs to the same material as the basic structure of interstitial/interfacial fluid flow system and the fibrous skeleton of interstitium. It is clear that channels and triple energizer have material commonality. From the operation paths of nutrient-defense, we proposed that channels may be soaked and attached in triple energizer and put forward the model of channels soaked and attached in triple energizer. By combining the circulation of nutrient-defense with the vertical and horizontal triple energize, we developed the theory of triple energizer-nutrient-defense loop to comprehensively describe the generation, transport, and metabolism of nutrient-defense in channels and triple energizer, aiming to provide a theoretical model for future studies of disease transmission and change from exterior to interior.
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The research on the essence of triple energizer has not reached a consensus. The correspondence between the existing understanding and the classical theory of triple energizer is still limited in terms of structure and function. According to the traditional theory, nutrient-defense takes channels as the main circulatory system, while the operation of nutrient-defense in the triple energizer remains unclear. Since little is known about the physical structure of the triple energizer, the role of triple energizer as a collection of other Zang-fu organs has been ignored in most cases. The new progress in anatomy paves the way for the research on the essence of triple energizer. The function and structure of triple energizer are similar to those of interstitium and interfacial fluid flow, which enriches our understanding of the macro and micro structures of triple energizer. The triple energizer is distributed throughout the body and composed of membrane and interstitial space. The material structure of triple energizer includes fiber scaffold, collagen fiber, mesenchymal stem cells, histiocytes, pericytes, and interstitial fluid. The functions of triple energizer include passing body fluids, operating nutrient-defense, distributing original Qi, and transmitting and changing pathogenic Qi. According to the available theories and research achievements, we put forward the concept of vertical and horizontal triple energizer, pointed out that triple energizer had independent structure and the features of Zang-fu organs, and preliminarily defined the spatial distribution of triple energizer. The relationship between channels and triple energizer is essential for discussing the operation of nutrient-defense. Telocyte (Tc) and telopod (Tp) has the characteristics of channels in function and structure. The connective tissue with the distribution of Tc and Tp belongs to the same material as the basic structure of interstitial/interfacial fluid flow system and the fibrous skeleton of interstitium. It is clear that channels and triple energizer have material commonality. From the operation paths of nutrient-defense, we proposed that channels may be soaked and attached in triple energizer and put forward the model of channels soaked and attached in triple energizer. By combining the circulation of nutrient-defense with the vertical and horizontal triple energize, we developed the theory of triple energizer-nutrient-defense loop to comprehensively describe the generation, transport, and metabolism of nutrient-defense in channels and triple energizer, aiming to provide a theoretical model for future studies of disease transmission and change from exterior to interior.
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This study was aimed to explore the antidepressant effect of Kai-Xin Jie-Yu (KXJY) prescription on depressive model of rats,and to explore the level of inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood.According to sucrose preference and weight,male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group,model group and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) group.The model of depression was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress and separation for @@6 weeks.Body weight,sucrose preference and forced swimming test were used to evaluate the depressive state.The levels of IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6 and TNF-α in the serum of rats were measured by ELISA.The results showed that compared with the normal group,the weight,sucrose preference and total drinking water of rat model gToup were significantly reduced.The immobility time of forced swimming was significantly prolonged.The level of IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6 and TNF-α expression in serum was significantly increased.There was no significant difference between the body weight of rats in the model group and TCM group.The total amount of drinking water and sucrose preference were significantly increased.The immobility time of forced swimming was reduced.Levels of IL-1 β,IL-2,IL-6 and TNF-α expression were decreased significantly.It was concluded that KXJY prescription can improve depression symptoms in depression model of rats.It may be related to regulate the expression level of serum inflammatory cytokines.
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This study was aimed to detect the expression of miR-665 in the hippocampal of depression rat model treated with Kai-Xin Jie-Yu (KXJY) decoction and bioinformatic analysis of target genes of miR-665,in order to investigate the role of miR-665 in the pathogenesis of depression and the antidepressant mechanism of KXJY decoction.The rat model of chronic stress depression was established and then treated with KXJY decoction for 42 days.The total RNA from hippocampus tissues was extracted.And the relative expression of miR-665 in hippocampus of rats in each group was detected by RT-qPCR.TargetScan and microRNAorg databases were used to predict target genes for miR-665.DAVID database was used to classify GO function and to analyze KEGG signaling pathway of target genes.The results showed that compared with the normal group,the expression level of miR-665 in hippocampus of the model group was significantly higher with significant difference (P < 0.01).Compared with the model group,the expression level of miR-665 in hippocampus of Chinese medicine group and western medicine group decreased significantly with significant difference (P < 0.01).The biological functions of miR-665 target genes were mainly concentrated in the response to organic substance.The signal pathway was mainly concentrated in N-Glycan biosynthesis.It was concluded that miR-665 may be involved in the pathological process of depression,by correcting the abnormal expression of miR-665,which may be one of the antidepressant mechanisms of KXJY decoction.Through the analysis and prediction of the target genes,it provided a certain direction and theoretical basis for further study on the specific mechanism of KXJY decoction intervention on miR-665.
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This article was aimed to investigate the function and mechanism of Kai-Xin Jie-Yu (KXJY) pill on depression.The depression model rats were established by chronic unpredictable mild stress and separation.The sucrose preference test and Morris water maze (MWM) were performed.The regulation effects of neural plasticity-related genes including glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β),cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB),5-hydroxytryptamine 2C receptors (HTR2C),and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined.The results showed that among depression model rats,KXJY pill significantly increased the sucrose preference and the escape latency of MWM in a certain extent.The neural plasticity-related genes including GSK-3β and HTR2C mRNA were decreased significantly,whereas CREB and VEGF mRNA were increased significantly with the treatment of KXJY pill.It was concluded that KXJY pill had the function of reducing depression-like behavior,which might be mediated by the regulation of GSK-3β,CREB,HTR2C and VEGF.
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AIM To aim at investigating the function of Kaixin Jieyu Pills (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Bupleuri Radix,Morindae officinalis Radix,etc.) to vascular depression and their mechanism of action.METHODS A vascular depression model of rat was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress and separation after ligation of the bilateral common carotid arteries.The rats were treated with Kaixin Jieyu Pills and fluoxetine hydrochloride (FLU) for 28 days,respectively.The sucrose preference test and open-field test were performed.Cerebral perfusion was investigated with a Perfusion Speckle Imager.The monoamines including serotonin,dopamine and noradrenaline,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were determined with ELISA and Western bolt,respectively.RESULTS Kaixin Jieyu Pills significantly increased sucrose preference,moving distance and cortical blood flow.Kaixin Jieyu Pills could upregulate,to different extents,the expressions of monoamines,including serotonin,noradrenaline and dopamine,and BDNF.Kaixin Jieyu Pills had a function similar to FLU in behavior,upregulating monoamines and BDNF,but it is superior to FLU in cortical blood flow.CONCLUSION Kaixin Jieyu Pills has the advantage of reducing the depression-like behavior and improving cerebral hypoperfusion,which might be mediated by the upregulation of the serotonin,noradrenaline and BDNF.
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Cytosolic pH changes in single thymocytes in the early stages of apoptosis were examined with spectral-crosstalk-improved three-channel real-time fluorescence imaging. Spectral crosstalk was greatly reduced by this improved image processing method. Compared with normal thymocytes, the improved image processing method showed that the cytosolic pH value of thymocytes undergoing apoptosis was lower. A slight diversity in the intracellular pH values of samples subjected to different drug treatments was also observed. This new image processing method is beneficial to the application of the three-channel real-time fluorescence imaging to biological processes.
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Apoptosis , Cytosol/metabolism , Optical Imaging , Thymocytes/cytology , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Objective To pick up the Chinese materia medica with principal antidepressive effect in Kaixin Jieyu prescription based on uniform distribution. Methods 11 groups of concerted application with different dosages of six simplex Chinese materia medica (X 1-X 6) of Kaixin Jieyu prescription were arranged by the designlist and sustentacular table of U11(1110). Positive and negative control groups were also formed. Mice were randomized into 13 groups according to body weight and fed with medicine 14 d and estimated by tail suspension test, forced swim test and autonomic activities test. Results Relationship of percentage of immovability time (Y 1) in the tail suspension test and X 1-X 6 were analyzed with multivariant non-linear regression analysis and resulted in Y 1=1.133 1-0.842 3×X 1+0.438 2×X 3-0.712 9×X 6. It indicated that both Radix Ginseng and Fructus Aurantii Immaturus had obvious antidepressive function, and Radix Paeoniae Rubra may facilitate depression. Relationship of immovability time (Y 2) in forced swim test and X1-X6 were analyzed with multivariant non-linear regression analysis and resulted in Y 2=167.69-2.99×X 12-2.14×X 1-1.65×X 6. It also indicated that both Radix Ginseng and Fructus Aurantii Immaturus had obvious antidepressive function. Relationship of autonomic activities index (Y 3) in autonomic activities test indicated that X 1-X 6 had no obvious influence on Y 3 and antidepressive function of KaixinJieyu prescription was not concerned with excitability to the central nervous system. Conclusion Radix Ginseng and Fructus Aurantii Immaturus were the Chinese materia medica with principal antidepressive effect in Kaixin Jieyu prescription.
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This study was aimed to build up a diagnosis and treatment procedure of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for HIV/AIDS headache. Domestic and foreign articles correlated to HIV/AIDS headache diagnosed and treat-ed by TCM were summarized. The specialist questionnaire of clinical diagnosis and treatment standard operating pro-cedures of TCM for HIV/AIDS headache was designed by focus group discussions. And the national specialist ques-tionnaire survey was carried out twice. The results showed that the standard operating procedure of TCM clinical di-agnosis, treatment, nursing and therapeutic efficacy assessment for HIV/AIDS headache was preliminarily established. It was concluded that this regulation identified concept, etiology and pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS, established TCM standard diagnosis and treatment service. It also demonstrated features of propaganda and education, follow-ups, con-secutive diagnosis and treatment inside or outside the hospital.
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This study was aimed to establish traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis and treatment procedure of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in AIDS, and to construct questionnaires for key points and revision of the procedure. The TCM draft of diagnosis and treatment procedure for VZV in AIDS was established through literature retrieval and peer review. Two rounds of surveys were carried out to investigate the confirmation and advice of in-group specialist to key points of TCM or integrative medicine draft including diagnosis, treatment and nursing. Then, diagnosis and treatment procedure were revised according to survey results. The results showed that the recovery of complete ques-tionnaires in the first-round survey was 96%. More confirmation of specialists were given to concept, clinical feature, cause, mechanism, case history and general examination, diagnostic criteria, syndrome differentiation and treatment of dampness-heat of liver channel syndrome, skin, dietary and psychological nursing, treatment course and therapeutic effect standard. The coefficient of variations (CVs) of experiential effective recipe, moxibustion and massage, auxiliary examination, syndrome differentiation and treatment of dampness stagnancy due to spleen deficiency syndrome and qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, and western medicine treatment were large. The weight coefficients of all items were within 0.043 6 and 0.046 2. The Cronbach Coefficient Alpha (CCA) was 0.996 and the split-half reliability R was 0.86. Recovery of complete questionnaires in the second-round survey was 100%. More confirmation of special-ists were given to outline, cause, mechanism, case history and general examination, diagnostic criteria, syndrome dif-ferentiation and treatment of three syndromes, experiential effective recipe, skin, dietary and psychological nursing. The CV was 0. The CV of auxiliary examination, moxibustion and massage was 0.063 8, which was less than those of first-round survey. The consistency of specialist was relatively increased. The weight coefficients of all items in the second-round survey were within 0.058 2 and 0.059 0. The CCA was -0.041 and the split-half reliability R was 0.79. A new revised procedure was preliminarily established according to results of two rounds of surveys. It was concluded that the activeness, concentration and coordination of specialists were good in two rounds of surveys. Con-sensus in key points of the procedure draft was reached including diagnosis, treatment and nursing.
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Objective To compare the bio-medical parameters in SIV infected Chinese rhesus monkeys with diverse disease progression,by which the pathogenesis of simian AIDS were to be investigated.Methods Sixteen Chinese rhesus monkeys were inoculated intravenously with SIVmac239 and followed-up for 18 months.Based on their progression patterns and plasma viral loads,animals were divided into 3 groups,including 1 rapid progressor( RP),13 normal progressors(NP),and 2 elite controllor(EC).Their parameters of haematology,virology,immunology and pathology were examined and compared. Results Compared with other animals,RM449(RP) showed higher viral load,unresponsive humoral immunity,and higher level of auto-antibodies against lymph node,thymus,and spleen.Additionally,its effector memory CD4 count was lower,with the transformation progress being blocked-like from naive/central memory subsets to effector memory subset,as the flow-cytometry assay showed.Notable decrease in its peripheral B cell was also observed,especially to the sub-population of tissue-like memory B cells and activated memory B cells.Pathological examination showed the depletion of lymphoid tissue,atrophy of spleen and loss of thymus.Moreover,most of these parameters of RM450 and RM453 (EC) changed opposite to that of RP.Conclusion The hallmarks of RM449 were higher viraemia and lower SIV specific IgG level,which may due to the disturbance of T cells and B cells development and differentiation.Moreover,destructions of organs of the immune system may contribute to the disturbance.Our study suggest that the change of micro-environments of thymus induced by SIV infection,which is necessary in T cell and B cell development and differentiation,may contribute at least partially to the AIDS pathogenesis.