Thoughts and practices on studies of membrane processes for Chinese materia medica based on data science / 中草药

Data science is a form of data-oriented science, which serves as a set of theories, methodologies and technologies for data exploration and analysis. Considering that membrane separation process for Chinese materia medica (CMM) manufacturing is a non-linear system, the data obtained regarding its process can be either multivariate, non-linear, strong noise, non-normally distributed, or non-evenly distributed. Due to the special features of data science, research has shed lights on its application in the scientific exploration and technological innovation in the complex membrane processes based on CMM system. There are a few key aspects of data science that are worth mentioning, making it competent as an analytical tool for CMM manufacturing integrated membrane processes. They can be recognized as the following, such as (1) the ability to precisely describe the mass transfer properties of CMM integrated membrane processes; (2) the dynamic description of membrane mass transfer process by molecular simulation; (3) the application of computational fluid dynamics simulation in membrane technology, and (4) the powerful and advanced data processing technology. This paper also reviewed some real case studies encountered by the authors during the investigation of membrane technology for CMM manufacturing based on data science.

Exploratory research into theories and system for membrane technology based on green manufacturing of Chinese materia medica-An emerging concept construction based on material-chemical engineering / 中草药

The implementation of membrane technology in the manufacturing of Chinese materia medica (CMM) plays a critical role in the strategic plan and demand from the perspective of national science and technology, and it is a new and high technology that needs to be popularized in Chinese medicine pharmaceutical industry. The manufacturing technology of CMM is primarily based on the theory and practices of chemical engineering in which the upgrade of its separation technology mainly relies on the advancement in chemical engineering. Our authors have been exploring and implementing membrane technology in the green manufacturing process of CMM in the past decade. Recently, we were granted funding in the topic of "The Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine" from The National Key Research and Development Program of China. In the research proposal, we introduced the emerging concept of "material-chemistry engineering", and suggested the concept of theoretical framework for "the process design and engineering of membrane-based green manufacturing of CMM". The framework included the establishment of analytical testing approach for precise analysis in aqueous CMM environment, a systematic testing and inspection method for the membrane and membrane process to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of the CMM products, as well as the integrated membrane process design and optimization for the CMM manufacturing process. The ultimate goal of the proposal is to achieve high flux and decent separation efficiency for CMM production in multi-scale range, in particular to understand the correlation between the aqueous CMM environment and the structure, property and preparation of the membrane. Furthermore, with the aid of computational modeling in process design and manufacturing, the theoretical foundation of membrane-based CMM green manufacturing can be assured. The innovation in the interdisciplinary of CMM production and material-chemistry engineering will help overcoming the current bottleneck encountered in the CMM manufacturing industry in China, resolving the urgent issues of energy, resources and environment, and providing a feasible solution to sustainable development.

Heme oxygenase-1 improves the survival of discordant cardiac xenograft through its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects.

HO-1 is a rate-limiting enzyme in hemoglobin metabolism, and exerts anti-inflammatory as well as anti-apoptotic effects. Previous studies have shown that expression of HO-1 can prolong the survival of concordant transplanted organs. However, little is known about the precise effect and mechanism of HO-1 in discordant xenotransplantation. In this study, we investigated the role of HO-1 in discordant cardiac xenotransplantation. First, HUVECs were used to assess the effect of HO-1 on TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. Results showed that TNF-alpha induced apoptosis of HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, induction of HO-1 by hemin suppressed TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. However, the anti-apoptotic action of HO-1 was reversed by SnPP. The up-regulation of HO-1 by hemin treatment significantly prolonged the survival time of discordant cardiac xenograft, greatly reduced the swelling and apoptosis of myocardial cells, interstitial edema, lymphocyte infiltration, and thrombus formation in small vessels. Furthermore, HO-1 overexpression significantly attenuated the serum level of xenoantibody IgM, tissue deposition of IgM and complement 3 (C(3)) in endangium. Finally, HO-1 mitigated CD40L transcription in the xenograft and recipient spleen. These results indicate that the up-regulation of HO-1 can improve the survival of discordant cardiac xenograft by inhibiting apoptosis and alleviating inflammation and thrombosis.

Clinical study on effect of chuankezhi injection in treating children with bronchial asthma / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of chuankezhi injection to children with bronchial asthma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-eight children suffered from asthma and/or asthma complicated with allergic rhinitis were randomly divided into the treated group and the control group, who received treatment of chuankezhi injection and Ginkgo injection respectively. Clinical observation on daily-symptom scores, and lung functions as peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were conducted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment the median of symptomatic scores in the treated group was 6.0 (M25-M75: 4.9-21.5) and that in the control group was 10.0 (M25-M75: 6.19-27.5), showing significant difference between groups; significant improvement was shown in the treated group, in which the PEF variance rate was reduced to 4.3 +/- 5.1%, while in the control group, it was 5.9 +/- 6.7%, the difference between the two groups was significant. Similar result also showed in comparison of FEV1 rate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chuankezhi is helpful in improving clinical symptoms, reducing PEF variance rate and enhancing lung function in children with bronchial asthma, so as to be benefit to the long-term stable alleviation of asthma.</p>