Efficacy of Moxa-burning heat stimulating Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) on expressions of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and macrophage apoptosis in rabbits with adjuvant-induced arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of moxa-burning heat stimulating acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) on macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and its related molecules which can provide scientific experimental basis for the clinical application of moxibustion treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Thirty rabbits were randomly assigned to control group, RA model (established by injecting Freund's Complete Adjuvant) group (RA group) and RA model with moxibustion group [Moxa group, Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23), 5 moxa pillars/day, 6 d × 3]. The expressions of MIF mRNA were evaluated with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; the apoptosis rates of macrophages were detected by erminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dTUP nick end labeling; the expressions of related signal molecules were detected with immunohistochemical S-P method and the levels of IL-2 were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The expressions of MIF mRNA, extracellular regulated protein kinases 2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κ-gene binding p65 in synovial tissue of RA group were significantly increased when compared with control group, which were lower remarkably in moxa group than those in RA group. The apoptosis rates of macrophages in RA group were significantly down-regulated as compared with the control group, which were up-regulated in moxa group compared with the RA group. The levels of IL-2 in synovial fluid from the RA group were elevated significantly as compared with that from control group, but those of the moxa group were reduced when compared with those from RA group. CONCLUSIONS: Moxibustion may simultaneously regulate the expressions of MIF and its related signaling pathways molecules, the apoptosis rate of macrophages in synovial tissue, as well as the level of inflammatory factors in synovial fluid. The results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of moxibustion on RA may be related to inhibit the expression of MIF in synovial tissue, the molecules of some related signaling pathways and promote the apoptosis of macrophage.

[Network Meta-analysis of Huoxue Huayu Chinese medicine injections on hypertensive nephropathy].

To assess the clinical efficacy of Huoxue Huayu Chinese medicine injections on hypertensive nephropathy by using Network Meta-analysis method. The relative randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of Huoxue Huayu Chinese medicine injections on hypertensive nephropathy were retrieved from CNKI, WanFang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science in November 2019. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening, data extraction and quality evaluation. The data was analyzed by RevMan 5.3, Stata 15.1, ADDIS 1.16.8 software. Finally, 4 518 patients in 50 RCTs were included, involving 5 kinds of Huoxue Huayu Chinese medicine injections. The five Chinese medicine injections were Breviscapine Injection, Danhong Injection, Sodium Tanshinone Ⅱ_A Sulfonate Injection, Ginkgo Dipyridamole Injection, and Salvianolate Injection. Meta-analysis showed that, in terms of renal function protection, urine protein quantification and serum creatinine of each Chinese medicine injections combined with conventional Western medicine group, except Salvianolate Injection combined with conventional Western medicine group, was significantly lower than those of the conventional Western medicine treatment group. Ginkgo Dipyridamole Injection combined with conventional Western medicine had the best effect in reducing urine protein, and Danhong Injection combined with conventional Western medicine had the best effect in reducing serum creatinine. In terms of blood pressure control, the blood pressure of each Chinese medicine injections combined with conventional Western medicine group, except Breviscapine Injection combined with conventional Western medicine group, was significantly lower than that of conventional Western medicine treatment group. Salvianolate Injection combined with conventional Western medicine had the best effect in reducing blood pressure. In terms of safety, no serious adverse reactions were found in all studies. The five kinds of Huoxue Huayu Chinese medicine injections combined with conventional Western medicine had significantly advantages in the treatment of hypertensive nephropathy. Ginkgo Dipyridamole Injection combined with conventional Western medicine is most likely to be the optimal therapy. However, limited by the quantity and quality of the documents included, the conclusion of this study still needs to be verified by more high-quality, multi-center and large-sample RCT.

[Source control of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid--research on quality of Taraxaci Herba based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography fingerprint].

Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid has been widely used in the clinical treatment of inflammatory diseases such as upper respiratory tract infections. Taraxaci Herba, as the monarch medicine in Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid, due to its multi-source, multi-origin characteristics, and the difference in the content of active ingredients in different medicinal parts, has become a potential factor for the unstable quality among different batches of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid. In this paper, Thermo Scientific Vanquish ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC) system was used, and the Chinese Medicine Chromatographic Fingerprint Similarity Evaluation System(2012 Edition) issued by National Pharmacopoeia Commission was used for processing and analysis. The main common peaks were identified and contents were determined by comparison with reference substances. Fingerprints of Taraxaci Herba medicinal materials from different origins were established. 13 common peaks were identified, and 29 batches of samples from five origins had similarities above 0.90. At the same time, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the determination of monocaffeoyl tartaric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, chicoic acid, and luteolin in Taraxaci Herba. The quantitative analysis conditions were verified by methodology, and the average sample recovery was 97.30%-101.8%. The results showed that the content of the same ingredient in Taraxaci Herba from different origins and different medicinal parts was obviously different, and the fluctua-tion range was also different for different ingredients. The establishment of UPLC fingerprints for Taraxaci Herba from different regions combined with multi-component content determination methods provides a reference for improving the quality control of Taraxaci Herba medicinal materials, and also provides a source guarantee for the quality improvement of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid.