Journal of Holistic Integrative Pharmacy最新文献

Computing technology plays a crucial role in the field of drug discovery and development. With the rapid development of genomics and the improvement of databases, the application of genomics-based tools is important in drug discovery and development. These tools can deeply explore the information in gene expression profile databases, revealing the connections and interactions between drugs, diseases and genes, and providing strong support for drug discovery and development. This paper introduces various significant genomics-based tools for drug discovery and development, discusses the advantages of deep learning and artificial intelligence in utilizing large-scale genomic data, and reveals the development trends and future prospects of drug genomics tools. The continuous progress of these tools will provide more accurate and efficient support for drug discovery and development.

Objectives

Croton Crassifolius Geisel of the genus Croton in the Euphorbia family is a widely distributed herb in South China. It has medicinal value for the treatment of a sore throat, soothing tendons, activating collateral, and treating rheumatoid arthritis. Although it has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine, there has been no systematic study on its identification and classification of the authenticity of this plant. The purpose of this study is to provide a scientific basis for the identification and classification of the authenticity of this plant.

Methods

An accurate and effective identification system was established through morphological characteristics, microscopic characteristics, physical and chemical parameter determination, phytochemical screening, and DNA barcoding analysis.

Results

The physicochemical results revealed that this plant might contain flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and alkaloids. The ITS locus in the nuclear genome in the chloroplast genome was screened and evaluated and Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic trees can effectively identify Croton Crassifolius Geisel to a certain extent.

Conclusion

This research contributed to the development of species identification.

Objective

This study aimed to observe the inhibitory effects of xiaochaihu decoction (XCHD) on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells resistant to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (Bel-7402/5-FU) in vitro and in vivo and investigate its possible mechanisms.

Methods

Bel-7402 ​cells and their resistant cells to 5-FU (Bel-7402/5-FU) were cultured, and a xenograft was established in nude mice. MTT assays were used to detect the cell viability after XCHD treatment, and an inverted phase contrast microscope was used to observe the morphology and flow cytometry and TUNEL assays were used to determine XCHD-induced apoptosis. Western blot was used to detect Bax and Bcl-2 expressions. Cyto-ID staining was used to assess XCHD-induced autophagy, and the autophagy-related protein (LC3, p62, and beclin) was determined. Finally, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was detected.

Results

Bel-7402/5-FU cells were more resistant to 5-FU compared with Bel-7402 ​cells (P ​< ​0.05), thus XCHD could inhibit the viability of Bel-7402/5-FU cells. Further, XCHD promoted Bel-7402/5-FU cell apoptosis via inducing Bax expression and deducing Bcl-2 expression in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, XCHD promoted autophagy of Bel-7402/5-FU cells by regulating related protein expression. Finally, XCHD blocked the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Conclusion

XCHD induces Bel-7402/5-FU cell apoptosis and autophagy via blocking the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway which is one of the important mechanisms by which XCHD reverses the multidrug resistance of HCC.

A diabetic foot ulcer is defined as the ulceration of tissues brought on by trauma and some peripheral neurological abnormalities, primarily as a result of the bacterial infection. The infection of the toe's surrounding tissue is the primary cause of the infectious diabetic toe ulcer. In this case report, a 58-year-old male patient with a deep foot ulcer was admitted to the emergency ward on October 15, 2022, due to pus discharge at the right big toe of the foot. Antibiotics like Vancomycin 30mg per kg twice per day and Ciprofloxacin 400mg twice per day were suggested, along with enzymatic debridement therapy, which helps stop infections faster. A decrease in wound size and an improvement in overall health showed that the patient's response to the combination therapy was encouraging. The use of collagenase-santyl dressings, along with suitable antibiotics, can play a crucial role in the successful treatment of foot ulcers by facilitating wound healing and preventing complications like cellulitis or osteomyelitis.

Objective

This study aimed to summarize and share the experience of clinical pharmacists in the clinical treatment of children with Kawasaki disease based on the “integration” concept.

Methods

Clinical pharmacists were actively involved in the treatment of children with Kawasaki disease by providing rational drug selection, adjustment advice, and pharmacological monitoring services. Hence, we proposed a pharmacy service model for children with Kawasaki disease based on the “integration” concept.

Results

The pharmacy service model based on the “integration” concept was initially developed by applying integration perception to clinical medication practice, allowing the clinical pharmacist to assist the clinician in controlling the infection in children, and children were discharged from the hospital in good condition.

Conclusion

Clinical pharmacists should initiate cooperation with the treatment team in clinical work and use their professional advantages to ensure that sick children meet the expectations in the medication treatment process to play a crucial role in clinical pharmacy services.

Objective

In order to better screen targeted drugs, a microfluidic chip that can culture both diseased and normal cells is designed.

Methods

With Human hepatocellular carcinomas (HepG2) and Human normal liver cells (LO2) as the cell models, Polydimethylsiloxane-glass (PDMS-glass) chip as the carrier, and potential anticancer drug sanguinarine as the research object, two cells were co-cultured on the chip and the drug acted on both cells simultaneously in a diffusion manner.

Results

In co-cultured cell chips, the apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells was significantly higher than that of LO2 cells under the action of sanguinarine.

Conclusion

The chip diffusion perfusion form does not damage the cells, and can achieve cell staining and in situ observation more flexibly and conveniently, and more realistically reflects the selective effect of drugs on different cells, which has the advantages of simple operation and low cost.

Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. and Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et Mey.) O. Ktze. are commonly used traditional Chinese medicines. They belong to the family Lamiaceae and have very similar macroscopical features, making it difficult to differentiate them. To establish a discriminatory method for P. cablin of various origins that has abundant in chemical components and has high medicinal value, we utilized near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in this study to gather spectral information in the ranging from 4000 to 12,000 cm⁻¹. Subsequently, we employed principal component and cluster analyses to develop qualitative discriminant models. The results showed that spectral pretreatment improved the classification and aggregation characteristics of P. cablin and A. rugosa in principal component and cluster analyses. The percentage of samples correctly classified using the principal component analysis in calibration and validation set was 99.9 ​%. This study results demonstrate that NIRS with pattern recognition can be utilized as a simple and rapid method for distinguishing between P. cablin and non-P. cablin, as well as A. rugosa.

Abrus precatorius is a leguminous plant with high medicinal value. Its leaves are rich in flavonoids. There only are limited reports on the extraction process and quality assessment of total flavonoids in Abrus precatorius leaves (APL). This study presents the extraction process of total flavonoids in APL and its optimisation by response surface methodology (RSM). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV methods were used to determine the total flavonoid content and their differences were compared. The feasible extraction parameters of total flavonoids from APL were found to be 50% ethanol, a liquid-solid ratio of 50:1, an extraction time of 60 ​min and two extraction cycles. The number of extraction cycles was the main influencing factor. The total flavonoid content as determined by this optimised process was 69.0 ​mg/g by HPLC and 41.7 ​mg/g by UV. There was a significant difference between the total flavonoid content determined by the UV method and HPLC. A comparative analysis of 29 samples in RSM and 14 batches of APL showed that the total flavonoid content as determined by UV was only about half of that determined by HPLC. The factors that influence this difference and potential solutions to this challenge were discussed. The results of this study could lay a foundation for the quality assessment, standardisation, development and utilisation of flavonoids in APL.

Objective

The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of Protein tyrosine phosphatase 4A (PTP4As), specifically PTP4A1, PTP4A2, and PTP4A3, to investigate their aberrant expression, genomic alterations, prognostic values, and molecular functions. The aim was to evaluate the roles of PTP4As in cancer development and progression, as previous research has primarily focused on PTP4A3 and yielded inconsistent results regarding their expression in cancers.

Methods

A meticulous and extensive analysis of PTP4As was performed across diverse cancer types. mRNA expression levels of PTP4A isoforms were examined, and correlations between protein expression and mRNA expression were investigated. Genomic alterations affecting PTP4As, such as amplification, were analyzed. Survival analysis was conducted to assess the prognostic values of PTP4As in different cancers. Additionally, pathway enrichment analysis was performed to identify signaling pathways and biological processes associated with PTP4A2 and PTP4A3.

Results

The analysis revealed that PTP4A3 exhibited the most prevalent up-regulation at the mRNA level among the PTP4A isoforms. PTP4A2 mRNA expression in cancer generally displayed an up-regulated trend. However, inconsistent results were observed for PTP4A1 expression, even within the same cancer type but across different datasets, indicating the need for further investigation. The correlation between PTP4As protein expression and mRNA expression was found to be weak, indicating the complexity of their regulatory mechanisms. Genomic analysis showed that amplification was the major type of alteration affecting PTP4As, although it did not always translate into higher expression. Survival analysis revealed that high PTP4As expression was typically associated with unfavorable prognoses in several cancers, although exceptions existed. Pathway enrichment analysis unveiled novel signaling pathways and biological processes potentially influenced by PTP4As.

Conclusion

The pan-cancer analysis of PTP4As provided insights into their aberrant expression, genomic alterations, prognostic values, and molecular functions. PTP4A3 exhibited the most prevalent up-regulation, while PTP4A2 showed a general up-regulated trend. Inconsistent results were observed for PTP4A1 expression, warranting further investigation. These findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which PTP4As may contribute to cancer pathogenesis.