Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine最新文献

Objective: To develop a patient-reported outcome instrument for chronic gastrointestinal diseases and to select items by analyzing the data from clinical investigation.

Methods: The instrument was developed by establishing the item pool through reviewing the literature on subject of chronic gastrointestinal diseases, interviewing typical cases, focus group discussion and referring to related instruments, and then the processes of selecting and optimizing items, forming primary instrument and testing in a small sample pilot survey. A clinical investigation was conducted in 4 hospitals in Beijing. The data of 274 effective respondents with chronic gastrointestinal diseases were obtained and analyzed for selecting items using SPSS 16.0 software by applying methods such as Cronbach's α coefficient, correlation coefficient, t test, dispersion logistic regression and factor analysis.

Results: In the patient-reported outcome instrument, 35 items were selected from investigation. Among the 35 items, 2 items were deleted, and 6 items were modified for further investigation.

Conclusion: The results of item selection provide a good reference for the primary instrument, which still needs further modification, and lots of work needed to be done, at the base of large sample size.

Objective: To study the pulse diagram parameters of subjects with subhealth state and to find the pulse parameters for subhealth state evaluation.

Methods: A total of 1 275 subjects without diagnosed diseases were recruited and their health conditions were assessed with Health Evaluating Questionnaire H20 V2009. The subjects were assigned to health group or subhealth group according to the scale score. Subjects' syndrome in the subhealth group was differentiated using score of "subhealth state of syndrome differentiation V2010". Another 121 patients with cardiovascular diseases were enrolled as a control. The pulse information was collected with YJJ-101 subhealth pulse monitoring system and the parameters include amplitude of main wave (h₁), amplitude of repeat wave (h₅) and its front wave (h₃), 1/3 or 1/5 width of main wave (w₁) or (w₂), time of rapid ejection phase (t₂), period of pulse (t), pulse pressure (Pp), square (S), area in systole (As) and area in diastole (Ad) of pulse diagram and ratios of h₃/h₁, h₅/h₁, w₁/t, w₂/t and h₁/t₁.

Results: Pulse diagram analysis showed significant differences among health, subhealth and disease group in Pp, h₁, S and As and ratios of h₅/h₁ and w₂/t. Compared with the health group, the values of w₁/t and w₂/t of the subhealth group increased (P<0.05), and Pp, h₁, h₅, h₅/h₁, S, As and Ad decreased (P<0.05). Compared with health group, the parameters of pulse of the subhealth group were increased in Pp and h₅/h₁ (P<0.05) and decreased in h1, w₂/t, S and As (P<0.05). Compared with health group, pulse parameters h₃/h₁, w₁, w₁/t, w₂/t of excess and deficiency syndrome group increased, and h₁, h₅, h₁/t ₁and h₅/h₁ decreased. Among different syndromes of subhealth state, pulse diagram parameters h₁, h₅, h₃/h₁, h₅/h₁ and w₁/t of yin deficiency, qi deficiency, liver stagnation and excess heat group were significantly different (P<0.05) from the health group, for example, pulse parameters h₁ and h₅ of stagnation, yin deficiency, qi deficiency and excess heat group declined in order, and pulse parameters h₃/h₁ and w₁/t of liver stagnation, excess heat, yin deficiency and qi deficiency group increased in order. Pulse index h₁ in the kidney deficiency group was higher than that in the health group and the other syndrome groups.

Conclusion: Results of analyzing sphygmogram parameters showed different characteristics among different health status and the subhealth state due to different syndromes. Sphygmogram parameters may be used for objective evaluation of health status or subhealth syndrome differentiation.

Objective: To explore the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by comparing the therapeutic efficacy of methods for fortifying the spleen and replenishing qi, warming yang and fortifying the spleen and warming yang to move water.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal, model, Sijunzi Tang (SJZ), Lizhong Tang (LZ), Linggui Zhugan Tang (LGZG) and Shenzhuo Tang (SZ) groups. Rats in the normal group were fed with ordinary diet, while the rats in the other groups were fed with high fat diet including 88% ordinary food, 10% lard oil and 2% cholesterol. After four weeks of treatment, the weight of liver and epididymal fat was recorded respectively for calculating the indexes of liver (liver weight/body weight) and epididymal fat (weight of epididymal fat pads/body weight); the pathological changes in liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining; the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triacylglycerol (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and liver TAG concentration were analyzed by biochemical test.

Results: Body weight, liver and epididymal fat indexes and liver TAG level of rats all significantly increased in the model group as compared with the normal group (P<0.05). Hepatic fatty infiltration, TAG concentration and the levels of serum TAG and ALT were significantly decreased in the LGZG and SZ groups when compared to those in the model group (P<0.05). In addition, epididymal fat index and serum TC level also significantly decreased in the LGZG group as compared with the model group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant change in liver TAG concentration in LZ and model groups.

Conclusion: Method of warming yang or moving water can promote the lipid metabolism. It may be an effective strategy in preventing and treating NAFL by treating with warming yang and moving water together.

Objective: To investigate the potential of hydroethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (MOHE) against 7, 12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA)-induced toxicity in male Swiss albino mice.

Methods: Experimental mice were respectively pretreated with 200 and 400 mg/kg of MOHE, and 0.5% and 1% of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) for two weeks prior to the administration of 15 mg/kg of DMBA, respectively. Levels of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome (Cyt) P450 and Cyt b5, activities of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and renal aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and content of protein and total cholesterol were measured to determine the nephrotoxicity caused by DMBA and to elucidate the ameliorating role of M. oleifera.

Results: Single oral administration of 15 mg/kg of DMBA resulted in significant increases in Cyt P450 and Cyt b5 (P<0.01). The toxic effect of DMBA was justified by the significant decreases in the activities of GSH and GST in renal tissues (P<0.05). The levels of renal AST, ALT and ALP and protein content which are indicative of renocellular damage were also found decreased along with significant increase in total cholesterol content in DMBA-treated mice (P<0.01). The DMBA-induced alterations in the tissues were significantly reversed after pretreatment with 200 and 400 mg/kg of MOHE orally for 14 d (P<0.01).

Conclusion: The effects of MOHE in enhancing the levels of antioxidants and enhancing the levels of biochemical assays in DMBA-induced carcinogenesis are by reducing the formation of free radicals. This study rationalizes the ethnomedicinal use of M. oleifera for the protection against nephrotoxicity induced by chemical carcinogens.

Chinese herbal formulas can well present the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with their simple, convenient, inexpensive and effective uses. However, due to the high cost of production, manufacturing pharmacies inside the hospital closed down one after another, which rendered the difficult situation of developing preparation of Chinese herbal formulas. The Pudong New Area of Shanghai, as a pilot region for comprehensive reforms on national development of TCM, vigorously explores the standardized research on and application of hospital-made Chinese herbal formulas. The Health Bureau of the Pudong New Area, based on the Shuguang Hospital, has established a clinical evaluation center for hospital-made Chinese herbal formulas. Through screening, manufacturing, quality control, unified allocation, and standardized clinical evaluation, the clinical evaluation center has summarized its experience on these processes.

Objective: Previously, ethanolic extract of Ficus septica Burm. f. (Moraceae) leaves and its ethyl acetate soluble fraction (EASF) exhibited potent cytotoxic effects on T47D breast cancer cells. In the present study, we further investigated the effects of EASF of ethanolic extract of F. septica leaves in combination with doxorubicin on T47D breast cancer cell line in cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction.

Methods: The cytotoxic effect analysis on T47D cells was carried out using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Analysis of cell cycle distribution was performed using a flowcytometer and the data were analyzed using ModFit LT 3.0 program. Apoptosis assay was carried out by double staining method using ethidium bromide-acridin orange. The expression of cleaved-poly ADP-ribose polymerase in the T47D cell line was identified using immunohistochemical techniques.

Results: The combination of doxorubicin (2 to 8 nmol/L) with EASF (0.875 to 7 μg/mL) more potently inhibited cell growth than the single treatment of doxorubicin in T47D cells. In addition, the combination of doxorubicin and EASF could increase the incidence of cells undergoing apoptosis. EASF was found to improve cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin by changing the inhibition of cell cycle G(2)/M to G(1) phase. The combination also exhibited a more intensive stimulatory effect on cleaved-PARP expression in T47D cells than the single treatment.

Conclusion: It is concluded that EASF may enhance doxorubicin activities in T47D cells by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of Naoshuantong, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on the main components of neurovascular unit in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Methods: A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, ischemia/reperfusion, and ischemia/reperfusion plus Naoshuantong groups. The cerebral ischemia was induced by 1.5 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion, followed by unlocking the thread to induce reperfusion injury. After 24 h of reperfusion, neurological functional deficits were assessed, apoptosis of main components of neurovascular unit was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end-labeling combined with neuronal nuclei antigen, glial fibrillary acidic protein or CD31 immunofluorescence double staining.

Results: Naoshuantong significantly reduced neurological functional deficits, and reduced neuron, astrocyte and vascular endothelium cell apoptosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury in the border zone of ischemic cortex.

Conclusion: Naoshuantong is effective in protecting the neurovascular unit including neurons, astrocytes and vascular endothelium cells against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of binding of human serum albumin (HSA) with potential sensitinogen, including chlorogenic acid and two isochlorogenic acids (3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid).

Methods: By using the docking algorithm of computer-aided molecular design and the Molegro Virtual Docker, the crystal structures of HSA with warfarin and diazepam (Protein Data Bank ID: 2BXD and 2BXF) were selected as molecular docking receptors of HSA sites I and II. According to docking scores, key residues and H-bond, the molecular docking mode was selected and confirmed. The molecular docking of chlorogenic acid and two isochlorogenic acids on sites I and II was compared based on the above design.

Results: The results from molecular docking indicated that chlorogenic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid could bind to HSA site I by high affinity scores of -112.3, -155.3 and -153.1, respectively. They could bind to site II on HSA by high affinity scores of -101.7, -138.5 and -133.4, respectively. In site I, two isochlorogenic acids interacted with the key apolar side-chains of Leu238 and Ala291 by higher affinity scores than chlorogenic acid. Furthermore, the H-bonds of isochlorogenic acids with polar residues inside the pocket and at the entrance of the pocket were different from chlorogenic acid. Moreover, the second coffee acyl of isochlorogenic acid occupied the right-hand apolar compartment in the pocket of HSA site I. In site I, the second coffee acyl of isochlorogenic acid formed the H-bonds with polar side-chains, which contributed isochlorogenic acid to binding with site II of HSA.

Conclusion: The isochlorogenic acids with two coffee acyls have higher binding abilities with HSA than chlorogenic acid with one coffee acyl, suggesting that isochlorogenic acids binding with HSA may be sensitinogen.

Syndromes constitute a core aspect in the study of Chinese medicine, and research on the concept of syndromes is important to the study of the process of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. However, it is somewhat challenging to define a syndrome due to the complexity inherent in the subject, even with the assistance of the reductionism approach of modern medicine. Holistic and dynamic in nature and attaching much importance to functional changes, the newly emerging metabonomics is in many ways inline with the concepts of syndrome differentiation of pathological states in traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, metabonomics has comparatively strong advantages in the very respect of revealing the natural laws of syndrome differentiation. By reviewing and analyzing the current research on the concept of syndromes and the application of metabonomic technology to exploring the essential core of syndrome differentiation, the authors illustrated the potential commonalities. This would also show the issues requiring attention between the study of syndromes and the metabonomic technology. In the meantime this study reflected the core problems in detail and put forward suggestions with regard to reaching solutions.