Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan最新文献

Objective: To synthesize the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicine (CPM) on atherosclerosis (AS) or with a high risk of atherosclerosis.

Methods: All RCTs in three databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library) were included from the inception of the database to September 20, 2019. The methodological evaluation of the included trials was carried out using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 software. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to evaluate the quality of evidence.

Results: Eighteen RCTs were included, involving a total of 3885 patients with AS or with a high risk of AS. Most trials had favorable methodology. Meta-analysis suggested significant differences in clinical endpoint (n = 1938, RR 0.53; 95% CI 0.40 to 0.69, P < 0.00001; I ² = 0%); the change in carotid artery IMT (n = 1723, MD -0.09, 95% CI －0.14 to -0.04, P < 0.001; I ² = 40%); change in FMD (n = 239, MD 0.87, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.21, P < 0.00001; I ² = 0%); change in high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (n = 1527, MD －1.89, 95% CI －3.36 to －0.42, P = 0.01; I ² = 94%) and incidence of total adverse events (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.93, P = 0.009; I ² = 40%) in favor of the experimental group. However, meta-analysis showed no significant differences in the change in low-density lipoprotein-C (LDL-C) (n = 2419, MD －0.19, 95% CI －0.50 to 0.12, P = 0.22, I ² = 94%) between the experimental and control groups.

Conclusion: CPM could have certain clinical efficacy in the treatment of AS. However, more double-blinded placebo-controlled RCTs are required in further evaluations to provide stronger evidence.

Objective: To corroborate the efficacy of Jintiange capsules (JTGs) in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) by exploring the potential mechanism of action of synovial mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (SMSC-Exos) and articular chondrocytes (ACs) through transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq).

Methods: Type II collagenase was used to induce OA in rats. The efficacy of JTGs was confirmed by macroscopic observation of articular cartilage, micro-CT observation, and safranin fast green staining. After SMSC-Exos and ACs were qualified, RNA-seq was used to screen differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs. The target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs in Synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs) were predicted based on the multiMiR R package. The co-differentially expressed genes of SMSC-Exos and ACs were obtained by venny 2.1.0. The miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed by Cytoscape software. Based on the OmicShare platform, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis was performed on the mRNA regulated by key miRNAs. Expression trend analysis was performed for co-differentially expressed genes. Correlation analysis was performed on micro-CT efficacy indicators, co-differentially expressed genes mRNA and miRNA.

Results: The efficacy of each administration group of JTGs was significant compared with the model group. SMSC-Exos and ACs were identified by their characteristics. The expression of rno-miR-23a-3p, rno-miR-342-3p, rno-miR-146b-5p, rno-miR-501-3p, rno-miR-214-3p was down-regulated in OA pathological state, and the expression of rno-miR-222-3p, rno-miR-30e-3p, rno-miR-676, and rno-miR-192-5p expression was up-regulated, and the expression of all these miRNAs was reversed after the intervention with JTGs containing serum. The co-differentially expressed genes were enriched in the interleukin 17 signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway, etc. The expression trends of Ccl7, Akap12, Grem2, Egln3, Arhgdib, Ccl20, Mmp12, Pla2g2a, and Nr4a1 were significant. There was a correlation between micro-CT pharmacodynamic index, mRNA, and miRNA.

Conclusion: JTGs can improve the degeneration of joint cartilage and achieve the purpose of cartilage protection, which can be used for the treatment of OA. SMSCs-related miRNA expression profiles were significantly altered after the intervention with JTGs containing serum. The 9 co-differentially expressed genes may be the key targets for the efficacy of JTGs in the treatment of OA rats, which can be used for subsequent validation.

Objective: To analyze part of the mechanism of electroacupuncture on Sishencong (EX-HN1) for stroke-related sleep disorders (SSD) and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).

Methods: Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, 72 patients were assigned to the electro-acupuncture (EA) group or the sham acupuncture (SA) group. A healthy control (HC) group was also included. Both groups were given routine rehabilitation treatment. Then, patients in the EA group were given additional electroacupuncture at Sishencong (EX_HN1). Meanwhile, patients in the SA group were given a flat-head needle sham/placebo treatment placed at the bilateral Jianyu (LI15) and Binao (LI14) line midpoints and the Jianyu (LI15) and Jianzhen (SI9) line midpoints. Before and after treatment, scales were collected and analyzed. In the second phase of the study, some subjects from the EA group were selected for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data acquisition and comparative analysis with the HC group using a non-RCT design.

Results: The EA group performed better than the SA group on the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Montreal cognitive assessment basic (MoCA_B), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS). Analysis of the fMRI showed that low-frequency (2 Hz) electroacupuncture stimulation at Sishencong (EX_HN1) can restrain frontal sup medial right (SFGmed.R), precuneus right (PCUN.R), and posterior cingulate cortex right (PCC.R) and enhance angular left (ANG.L), parietal inf left (IPL.L) and occipital mid left (MOG.L). The functional connectivity (FC) of SFGmed.R was positively correlated with PSQI. Electroacupuncture stimulation at Sishencong (EX_HN1) can reduce the side efficiency of the whole brain connection with the Thalamus.L, Hippocampus.L, and Occipital.Mid.L.

Conclusions: Low frequency (2 Hz) electroacupuncture stimulation at Sishencong (EX_HN1) can simultaneously improve sleep quality, negative emotions, and cognitive functions, the first two of which may be related to SFGmed.R restraint. Electroacupuncture can make some brain areas approach the physiological bias state, which is characterized by dominant hemispheric enhancement and non-dominant hemispheric weakening. The reduced whole brain connection side efficiency with some key nodes of the brain net may relate to sleep quality improvements in SSD patients.

Chinese materia medica (CMM) compatibility is one core content in the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and elaborating the scientific connotation of CMM compatibility is of great significance to promote the modernization of TCM. Self-assembly is the combination of active ingredients into aggregates through non-covalent bonds, such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, ionic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions. The complex properties and special structures of CMM components create the basis for self-assembly. The self-assembled materials formed after CMM compatibility is an important part of the material basis for the efficacy of TCM, which can help explain the scientific connotations of CMM compatibility. This review summarizes the self-assembly phenomenon from the perspective of drug pair combinations in recent decades and explains the scientific connotation of CMM compatibility about the material basis, pharmacodynamic changes, and mechanism of action, providing new ideas and methods for the study of TCM.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Weichang'an pill (, WCAP) on functional dyspepsia (FD) and explore its regulation of brain-gut peptides (BGPs) and gut microbiota balance as a potential treatment mechanism.

Methods: The "0 ℃ saline gavage + irregular feeding and tail clamp" method was used to establish the FD rat model, excluding the normal group. The successfully established FD rat models were randomly divided into the model group and the WCAP1 (WC1), WCAP2 (WC2), WCAP3 (WC3), WCAP4 (WC4), WCAP5 (WC5), and Domperidone (Dom) groups (n = 10 per group). The unhandled rats were designated as the control group. The gastrointestinal motility of the rats was evaluated using the charcoal propulsion test. Histopathology was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay method was used to detect the levels of motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and somatostatin (SS) in the serum from each group. In addition, the gut microbiota composition of fecal samples was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.

Results: Rat models were successfully established according to data from rat state, gastrointestinal motility assessments, and HE staining. WCAP improved FD symptoms by accelerating the gastric emptying and small intestinal transit of FD rats. Mechanistically, WCAP increased the levels of GAS and MTL and reduced the levels of VIP and SS. Moreover, WCAP treatment restored the total relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, increased the species richness of the gut flora, and modulated the changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiota.

Conclusion: WCAP can effectively promote the recovery of gastrointestinal motility disorders in FD rats. The mechanism may be related to regulating the secretion of BGPs and the composition of the gut microbiota.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and potential mechanism of Bailing capsule (, BL) anti-autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT).

Methods: Based on the AIT rat model, the effect of BL in alleviating AIT was evaluated by detecting serum thyroid index free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and inflammatory factors Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukin-4, -10, and -12 (IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12) as well as thyroid tissue Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and ultrastructure observation. The mechanism of BL was explored by combining transcriptome and proteome analysis, and further verified by Western blot (WB).

Results: BL effectively reduced serum FT3, FT4, TGAb, and TPOAb levels in AIT rats, restored TSH balance, inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12, promoted the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, and significantly reduced IFN-γ/IL-4 and IL-12/IL-10, improved thyroid follicular structure, and protected thyroid tissue from injury. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and protein interaction network analysis showed that BL affected the expression of fatty acid-binding protein 4, acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1, and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase long chain to regulate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the fatty acid metabolism and the inflammatory state of AIT rats.

Conclusions: BL could effectively reduce thyroid inflammation in AIT model rats. The possible BL mechanism was to regulate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway and inhibit fatty acid metabolism. This study suggested that BL has the potential to be used in clinical treatment of AIT.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Bushen Huoxue decoction (, BSHXD) to treat endometriosis-induced infertility.

Medhods: The main compounds of BSHXD were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The effect of BSHXD on Homeobox A10 (HOXA10) and alpha(v)beta(3) (αvβ3) integrin expression of Ishikawa cells, mouse model, and endometriosis-associated infertility women was evaluated by using Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and Real-Time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The efficacy of BSHXD on embryo attachment were examined by using the BeWo spheroid and mouse embryo attachment assay. HOXA10 concentration in uterine flushing fluid of endometriosis-associated infertility women treated with BSHXD was measured by Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: BSHXD improved BeWo spheroid and mice blastocysts attachment to Ishikawa cells and increased embryo implantation rates in mice and pregnancy rates in women with endometriosis-associated infertility. BSHXD enhanced HOXA10 and αvβ3 integrin expression in Ishikawa cell, endometriosis mouse model, and endometriosis-associated infertility women, which potentially improved endometrial receptivity.

Conclusions: BSHXD could improve endometrial receptivity of endometriosis-associated infertility in a dose-dependent manner by regulating HOXA10 and αvβ3 integrin expression.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism and effect of Renshen (Radix Ginseng) polysaccharide on the migration of intestinal epithelial cell line 6 (IEC-6), as well as the repair mechanism of Renshen (Radix Ginseng) polysaccharide on colonic injury induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice.

Methods: Mice were fed 3% (w/v) DSS for 6 d to create colonic lesions. A cell-migration model was created using cell scratching. mRNA expression, protein expression, translation efficiency of mRNA, and nucleoplasmic distribution of human antigen R (HuR) were determined by real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, a dual luciferase reporter system, and immunofluorescence staining, respectively.

Results: Renshen (Radix Ginseng) polysaccharide promoted the migration of IEC-6 cells and affected expression of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42) at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.

Conclusions: Renshen (Radix Ginseng) polysaccharide-induced repair of intestinal mucosal injury may be mediated by increased cell migration via polyamine-based regulatory mechanisms. In vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that Renshen (Radix Ginseng) polysaccharide-induced post-transcriptional regulation of STIM1 and Cdc42 may be related to differences in the regulation of different target genes by HuR. Taken together, these data provide a reference for further exploration of the protective effect of Renshen (Radix Ginseng) on the intestinal mucosa.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Zuyangping (, ZYP) formula on wound healing in diabetic rats, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved.

Methods: The main compounds in ZYP formula were identified by the Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Sprague-Dawley rats, injected with streptozotocin (STZ) to establish diabetes model, then, formed a defective skin trauma in the back, and each group was treated with corresponding drugs once a day. Granulation was taken from each time node for histological analysis. The Western blotting was used to measured protein expression of advanced glycation end products receptor (RAGE) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) axis-related proteins. The relative expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

Results: The main ingredients were identified in the ZYP formula. Histological analysis showed that the ZYP formula could inhibit the expression of inflammation, promote angiogenesis and collagen deposition. In addition, the ZYP formula could regulate the expression of RAGE and HIF1-α axis-related proteins, thus promoting the wound healing in diabetic rats.

Conclusion: The ZYP formula could accelerate wound healing in diabetic rats.

Objective: To investigate composition of gut microbial community in a rat model of functional dyspepsia (FD) and to explore the interventional effects of Simo Tang (, SMT).

Methods: A rat model of FD was established through the tail-clamping stimulation method. The rat model of FD was assessed by the state of rats, their weight, sucrose preference rate, and intestinal propulsion rate. The DNA was extracted from stool samples after treatment with SMT. Amplified polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of the 16S rDNA were sequenced using NovaseQ6000 after construction of libraries. Composition of gut microbial community in the stool samples was determined and analyzed by cluster analysis, bioinformatic analysis, and analysis of α-diversity and β-diversity.

Results: The rat model of FD was successfully established using the tail-clamping stimulation method. The statistical results of cluster analysis of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed that the relative abundance of OTUs in the FD group was the lowest, while it was the highest in the normal (N) group. The composition of microbiome in the four groups was similar at phyla level. Compared with the FD group, the abundance of Firmicutes was downregulated, and the abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes was upregulated in the Simo Tang (SMT) and high-dose Simo Tang (SMT.G) groups. The ratio of Bacteroidetes/ Firmicutes was also elevated. According to the analysis of α-diversity and β-diversity, the abundance of flora in FD rats was significantly reduced. The treatment using SMT appeared beneficial to improve the diversity of flora. SMT could improve the intestinal flora in FD rats. The results showed that FD rats had intestinal flora imbalance, and species diversity increased. The results suggested that SMT could regulate the disorders of intestinal flora caused by FD.

Concludions: SMT could restore gut homeostasis and maintain gut flora diversity by modulating the gut microbiota and its associated metabolites in rats, thereby treating gastrointestinal diseases.