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

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Qixuan Yijianing (,QYN) in minimizing cardiac injury in Graves' disease (GD) mice using microRNA (miRNA) sequencing analysis.

Methods: Female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the modeling and control groups (CG). The modeling group was established with Ad-TSHR289. Following 10 weeks of successful modeling, the mice were randomly assigned to four groups: model (MG), methimazole (MMI), QYN low-dose (LD), and high-dose (HD). After four weeks of treatment, the heart rate, heart volume, and heart index were measured, and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBD), creatine kinase (CK), and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) in the serum were detected using a biochemical analyzer. Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were used to determine histological changes in cardiac tissue. The heart tissues in the CG, MG, and HD groups were selected, and miRNA sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. A bioinformatics database was used to predict the target genes of differential miRNAs, and Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were conducted on the predicted target genes.

Results: As compared to the CG group, the MG group's heart rate, heart volume, heart index, AST, CK, CK-MB, LDH, α-HBD, myocardial fiber thickness, and collagen fiber significantly increased, all P < 0.01, while following QYN, these indicators improved in the HD group, all P < 0.01 or P < 0.05. Compared to the CG group, the MG group identified 151 differentially expressed miRNAs, with 42 miRNAs downregulated and 109 miRNAs upregulated; compared to the MG group, the HD group identified 70 differentially expressed miRNAs, 40 were downregulated, and 30 were upregulated. The GO functions of differential miRNA target genes are mostly enriched in cardiac development regulation, cardiac contraction control, heart rate regulation, and so on. The most enriched KEGG pathways include the mitogen-activated protein kinase, ErbB, Hippo, forkhead box protein O, and Wnt signaling pathways.

Conclusion: QYN may protect the cardiac structure and function and minimize cardiac damage caused by GD by regulating relevant target genes and signaling pathways through miRNAs which include miR-206-3p, miR-122-5p, and miR-200a-3p.

Objective: To explore whether moxibustion exerts therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by regulating the expression of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-containing protein-3 (TIM-3) and subsequently modulating the macrophage M1 polarization toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway.

Methods: We utilized moxibustion treatment in RA rat models using the Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) acupoints. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the synovial tissue under a section light microscope, and pathological scoring was performed according to the grading standard of the degree of synovial tissue disease. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to verify the efficacy of moxibustion in reducing inflammation. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of the TIM-3/TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway-related molecules, and Western blot was used to detect the contents of synovial NF-κB.

Results: We established the Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced RA model in rats. The expression level of M1 polarization signaling pathway TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB and the inflammatory factors interleukin-12(IL-12), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β) were significantly increased in the RA model. After moxibustion treatment, the expression level of TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB was significantly decreased, and the inflammatory factors IL-12, TNF-α, and TNF-β were decreased, but the expression level was significantly increased in the RA model. When TIM-3 expression was inhibited, the expression level of TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB, and the inflammatory factors IL-12, TNF-α, and TNF-β were not suppressed, even after moxibustion treatment.

Conclusions: Moxibustion regulates the key target TIM-3 by acting on the Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) points, thereby inhibiting the M1 polarization of macrophages; that is, it inhibits the TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway, and finally achieves alleviation of pathological changes and anti-inflammatory effects.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of different Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-based kidney-tonifying and bone-strengthening therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The current Bayesian network Meta-analysis compared different TCM-based kidney-tonifying and bone-strengthening therapies for RA. Eight electronic databases and two trial registration platforms were searched. RevMan 5.4 and Stata 16 software were employed.

Results: A total of 42 studies involving 3779 cases were included. The results showed that the most effective intervention for improving efficacy was Wanbi decoction; Bushen Quhan Zhiwang decoction was superior in reducing the incidence of adverse reactions; and Qiwei Tongbi oral liquid effectively reduced C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels.

Conclusion: Combining TCMs with conventional Western Medicine can improve the clinical efficacy of RA treatments, reduce inflammatory indexes, and result in a higher safety profile. However, this conclusion needs to be verified by more high-quality randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To investigate the anti-liver cancer effect of 2-hydroxy-3-methyl anthraquinone (HMA) and the specific mechanism based on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1)/cellular tumor antigen p53 (p53) pathway.

Methods: Cell counting kit-8 method was used to observe the effect of HMA on the activity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) cells. At 72 h and 80 μL HMA, the apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells in each group was measured by flow cytometry. Transwell was used to assay for cell invasion. The protein expression levels of SIRT1, p53, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), caspase-9 (CASP9) and caspase-3 (CASP3) were detected by Western Blot.

Results: HMA significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, The half inhibiting concentration (IC50) of the HMA at 24, 48 and 72 h were examined and it were 126.3, 98.6, and 80.55 μM, respectively. Compared with the control group, the apoptosis rate of HMA, Selisistat (EX527), and HMA+ EX527 groups enhanced, while the apoptosis rate of SRT1720 diminished, demonstrating that inhibition of SIRT1 can lead to apoptosis of HepG2 cells. HMA+ EX527 group had the highest apoptosis rate, the lowest expression of SIRT1 and Bcl-2, and the highest expression of p53, Bax, CASP9 and CASP3. The number of invasions of HepG2 was significantly reduced after HMA and EX527 intervened. Western blot shows HMA could inhibit SIRT1, promote the expression of p53, and decrease the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.

Conclusions: HMA induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells, while inhibiting proliferation and invasion. The mechanism of HMA against HCC may be related to the SIRT1/p53 pathway.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Tongyang Fumai decoction (, TYFM) on the quality of life (QOL) as a complementary therapy for sick sinus syndrome (SSS).

Methods: This randomized controlled study involved 224 patients with symptomatic SSS. Patients were randomly assigned to either the TYFM group or the control group (receiving theophylline sustained-release tablets). The primary endpoints included changes in average heart rate, the longest R to R (RR) interval, and the occurrences of long RR intervals. Secondary endpoints comprised the Short Form (SF)-36 questionnaires, the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS).

Results: TYFM significantly improved average heart rate (TYFM: 6 bpm vs control: 3 bpm, P < 0.01), shortened longest RR interval (TYFM: －0.20 s vs control: －0.0027 s, P < 0.05), and reduced numbers of long RR (TYFM: －99 vs control: －59, P < 0.01). In SF-36, TYFM enhanced physical and mental components (P < 0.01), outperforming the control group. TYFM also improved eight SF-36 dimensions significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Regarding SAS and SDS, TYFM reduced scores significantly (P < 0.01), while SAS improved in the control group (P < 0.01), with no change in SDS. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) were observed in SAS and SDS between TYFM and control groups post-intervention.

Conclusions: TYFM emerges as a promising alternative strategy for treating SSS, demonstrating favorable therapeutic effects and significant improvements in the quality of life for patients with SSS.

Objective: To assess Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba extract (ARE) neuroprotective function in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mice and related genes.

Methods: Examined mRNA-DNA methylation changes induced by ARE in MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) model's substantia nigra.

Results: ARE mitigated MPTP-induced motor impairment in rotarod and open field tests and preserved tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neuronal cells in substantia nigra and striatum. Genome RNA-Sequencing and Methyl-Sequencing in substantia nigra of vehicle/ARE-treated MPTP-induced PD mice showed 84 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1804 differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Upregulated genes involved zinc ion homeostasis, cilium protein localization, and transcription; downregulated genes linked to ephrin receptor signaling, somitogenesis, and gene expression regulation. Hyper/hypomethylated DMRs post-ARE treatment associated with Wnt signaling, mitochondrial organization, dopamine biosynthesis, and hindbrain development. No significant correlation between DEGs and methylated genes related to PD pathogenesis.

Conclusion: This research has identified the epigenetic targets of ARE's therapeutic action and gives insight on how ARE protects neurons in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Cyclocarya paliurus (C. paliurus) polysaccharide on the liver injury of diabetic rats.

Methods: Rats were divided into 6 groups, including normal group, model group, control group, low-dose group of C. paliurus polysaccharide treatment, middle-dose group of C. paliurus polysaccharide treatment and high-dose group of C. paliurus polysaccharide treatment. Histological analysis of liver was analyzed using hematoxilin and eosin. Levels of plasma biological parameters and anti-oxidative enzymes were determined by spectrophotometry. Nuclear factor kappa-B-p65 (NF-κB p65), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins 6 (IL-6), IL-1β were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Compared with that of model group, the glucose level of plasma decreased 62.32% (P < 0.01), but glycogen and insulin level increased 1.51 times and 1.27 times in the high-dose group of C. paliurus polysaccharide treatment, respectively. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level decreased 47.47% (P < 0.05), 43.65% (P < 0.05) and 50.51% (P < 0.05) in the high-dose group of C. paliurus polysaccharide treatment, respectively. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase level increased 1.16 times (P < 0.01), 71.28% (P < 0.05), 1.29 times (P < 0.01) and 87.46% (P < 0.05) in the high-dose group of C. paliurus polysaccharide treatment, respectively. Enzyme activities of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were decreased 39.29% (P < 0.05), 51.11% (P < 0.05), 37.42% (P < 0.05) and 36.50% (P < 0.05), respectively.

Conclusions: Administration of C. paliurus polysaccharide may play a protecting role for liver injury of diabetic rats through lowering glucose, ALT, AST, ALP level, increasing glycogen and insulin level, enhancing the anti-oxidative ability and down-regulating the inflammatory factors expression.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of acupuncture anesthesia on the consumption of sedatives and anesthetics, pain, and time consumption in patients undergoing colonoscopy, thus providing evidence that acupuncture anesthesia should be extended to endoscopists and anesthetists.

Methods: Four English and four Chinese databases were searched for randomised controlled trials of acupuncture anaesthesia in patients undergoing colonoscopy, published from database inception to 1 March 2023. Outcomes were consumption of sedatives and anaesthetics, pain tolerance, visual analog scale (VAS) score, the meantime consumption of examination, satisfaction, and adverse reactions.

Results: Thirty-one randomized controlled trials with a total of 4790 participants were included. Results showed that acupuncture anaesthesia significantly reduced consumption of sedatives and anaesthetics [9 studies, n = 944, standardized mean difference (SMD) = －0.82, 95% CI (－1.31, －0.33), P = 0.001], VAS score [9 studies, n = 1790, mean difference (MD) = －1.13, 95% CI (－1.70, －0.57), P < 0.001], meantime consumption [21 studies, n = 3799, MD = －2.09, 95% CI (－3.15, －1.03), P<0.001] and adverse reactions of colonoscopy [7 studies, n = 738, odds ratio (OR) = 0.17, 95% CI (0.10, 0.28), P<0.001]. Acupuncture also significantly improved pain tolerance [14 studies, n = 1661, OR = 7.05, 95% CI (3.79, 13.12), P<0.001], while no beneficial effects were found for satisfaction [7 studies, n = 843, SMD = 0.02, 95% CI (－0.38, 0.43), P = 0.91].

Conclusion: Acupuncture has beneficial effects on patients undergoing colonoscopy, particularly in reducing consumption of sedatives and anaesthetics, alleviating pain, shortening the time consumption of examination and preventing adverse events. As an alternative, effective, inexpensive, and accessible approach, acupuncture anaesthesia should be extended to endoscopists and anaesthesiologists.