Effect of Electroacupuncture with Different Current Intensities on the Serum Metabolomics of Functional Constipation.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the serum metabolomics of electroacupuncture (EA) with different current intensities in the treatment of functional constipation (FC). Methods: The total number of FC patients was 19, (7, 6, 6, in the low current intensity group (LCI), high current intensity group (HCI), and mosapride citrate tablet control group (MC), respectively). Patients in the EA groups received 16 sessions of acupuncture treatments. Patients in the MC group were orally administered 5 mg mosapride citrate tablets 3 times daily, and serum samples were collected from the patients before and after treatment. Orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to assess the metabolic data. The significant differences before and after FC treatment are shown in the OPLS-DA score plot. Variable importance plots (VIPs) and T tests were used to identify significant metabolites. Results: Among the three groups, the number of metabolites with VIP > 1 was 11, 7, and 21 (in LCI, HCI and MC groups, respectively). Compared with those before treatment, the serum metabolites of patients were characterized by increased levels of L-ornithine (p < 0.05) and glyceric acid in the LCI group (p < 0.05), increased levels of vanillic acid in the MC group (p < 0.05), and decreased levels of arabinonic acid in the MC group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The effects of EA treatment on the serum metabolomics of FC may involve fatty acid and amino acid metabolism.

Antiviral effect of Chinese herbal prescription JieZe-1 on adhesion and penetration of VK2/E6E7 with herpes simplex viruses type 2.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Chinese Herbal Prescription JieZe-1(JZ-1), added and subtracted from Yihuang Decoction, a famous formula in the 12th year of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty, has a clear effect on Genital Herpes (GH) and no obvious adverse reactions occur clinically. JZ-1 also has preventive and therapeutic effects on Trichomonas vaginitis, Candida albicans vaginitis and GH in vitro and in vivo experiments. AIM OF STUDY: The effect and mechanism of JZ-1 on anti-herpes simplex virus type 2(HSV-2) in vitro focusing on adhesion and penetration stages were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A model of HSV-2 infection of VK2/E6E7 was developed. In order to explore JZ-1's anti-HSV-2 effect in vitro, cell morphology, ultrastructural pathology, cell viability and expression of viral glycoprotein D (gD) were assessed at 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, and 24 h of JZ-1 treatment. Then we measured the exact time required for adhesion and penetration of HSV-2 into VK2/E6E7 among a series of times at room temperature and under temperature control techniques. We treated VK2/E6E7 with JZ-1, penciclovir, or berberine and explored the mechanism of JZ-1 in blocking HSV-2 adhesion and penetration of host cells by assessing the cell ultrastructural pathology, viability, viral proteins gB, gD, VP16, ICP5, and ICP4 and host cell proteins HVEM, Nectin-1, and Nectin-2. RESULTS: HSV-2 can fully adhere and penetrate into VK/E6E7 within 5 mins at room temperature while it takes 60mins under temperature control techniques. JZ-1 and penciclovir showed significant anti-HSV-2 effects, with improved host cell morphologies and increased host cell viabilities observed after treatment for 24 h. The anti-HSV-2 effect of JZ-1 can be detected after treatment for 6 h while that of penciclovir was not obvious until treatment for 12 h. JZ-1 showed distinct effect on HSV-2 adhesion and penetration stages by significantly reducing the expression of viral proteins gB, gD, VP16, ICP5, and ICP4, improving cell morphology and increasing cell viability. However, these effects were not exerted via downregulated expression of membrane fusion-related proteins such as HVEM, Nectin-1, or Nectin-2. The specific anti-HSV-2 mechanism of JZ-1 need to be further explored. CONCLUSION: The anti-HSV-2 effect of JZ-1 was superior to that of penciclovir and berberine in vitro, and was mainly mediated by enhancing host cell defense and blocking adhesion and penetration of HSV-2.

The Influence of Liraglutide for Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of liraglutide to treat heart failure remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of liraglutide on heart failure. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through March 2018 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of liraglutide on cardiac function of heart failure. Meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model. RESULTS: Four RCTs involving 629 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with the control group for heart failure, liraglutide treatment significantly can reduce NT-proBNP (Std. MD = -3.06; 95% CI = -5.78 to -0.34; P = .03), and improve 6MWT (Std. MD=1.10; 95% CI = 0.75 to 1.44; P < .00001), but has no remarkable influence on LVEF change (Std. MD=1.10; 95% CI = -1.97 to 3.98; P = 0.51), LVEDV change (Std. MD = 6.26; 95% CI = -1.45 to 13.97; P = .11), LVESV change (Std. MD = -13.47; 95% CI = -31.04 to 4.10; P = .13), hospitalization for heart failure (RR = 1.18; 95% CI = 0.88 to 1.58; P = .27), major adverse cardiovascular events (RR = 1.55; 95% CI = -0.24 to 9.89; P = .64), and cardiac death (RR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.61 to 2.04; P = .72). CONCLUSIONS: Liraglutide treatment has an important ability to reduce NT-proBNP and improve 6MWT for heart failure, but shows no important influence on LVEF, LVEDV, LVESV, hospitalization for heart failure, major adverse cardiovascular events, and cardiac death.

Therapeutic Effects of a Long-Acting Cholinergic Receptor Blocker, Tiotropium Bromide, on Asthma.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of tiotropium bromide on asthma. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 160 patients with moderate persistent asthma were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=40): the 3 control groups were given fluticasone propionate aerosol (group A), salmeterol-fluticasone propionate inhalant (group B), and tiotropium bromide inhalation powder combined with salmeterol-fluticasone propionate inhalant (group C), respectively, and the experimental group received tiotropium bromide inhalation powder combined with fluticasone propionate aerosol (group D) and salbutamol was used to relieve symptoms when necessary. RESULTS After 8 weeks of treatment, the pulmonary function of group D, which was significantly better than those of group A (P<0.05), was similar to those of groups B and C (P>0.05). Group D had significantly better asthma control test scores and nighttime symptom scores than in group A (P<0.05), without significant differences from those of group B or group C (P>0.05). The number of times salbutamol was used to alleviate symptoms was significantly different (P<0.05) between group D and group A (P<0.05), as well as between group C and group D (P<0.05). Groups D and B had similar results (P>0.05). IL-13 levels in induced sputum had significant differences (P<0.05). The levels in group D, which were higher than those of groups A and B (P<0.05), were similar to those of group C (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Tiotropium bromide combined with fluticasone propionate improved the respiratory function and quality of life, and is a new therapy for moderate, persistent asthma.

[Advances of studies on the biophysical and biochemical properties of meridians].

The essence of meridian-collateral system is one of the momentous theoretical topics of the life science. In recent years, many authors have been trying to elucidate various kinds of meridian phenomenon from different points of view including physics, chemistry, biology, traditional Chinese medicine, modern science and so on. The physical detection results intuitively indicated biophysics specificities of meridians, including electricity, heat, sound, light, magnesium, the migration of the injected isotope along the running route of meridians and so on. Results of the studies on chemical materials (ion, PO2, neurotransmitters) within the tissues along the meridian and those of cell junction communications showed that some chemical substances have a close relation with the meridian activities. This review summarizes recent research results on meridian and acupoints from biophysics and biochemistry in order to have a comprehensive understanding in this field.

[Effect of Bushen Yiqi Hexue recipe on endometrial P21 expression of embryo implantation dysfunctional mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Bushen Yiqi Hexue recipe on endometrial P21 and PCNA expression of embryo implantation dysfunctional mice. METHOD: The expression of P21 protein was analyzed by means of immunoblot and immunohistochemical method. The expression of PCNA protein was analyzed by means of immunohistochemical method. RESULT: The expression and disappearance of P21 and PCNA protein in endometrium of embryo implantation dysfunctional mice lagged behind in a temporal and cell specific manner. Bushenyiqihexue recipe could improve the expression of P21 and PCNA protein in a temporal and cell specific manner, and then improve the decidual reaction of endometrium of embryo implantation dysfunctional mice. CONCLUSION: Improving the expression of P21 and PCNA protein in endometrium and eventually regulating endometrium decidual reaction is one of the mechanisms of improved embryo implantaion by Bushen Yiqi Hexue recipe.