This article proposes the "Efficacy Theory" hypothesis of the traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs): TCMs take effects and weaken toxicities through the additive effects of numerous effective forms (including their constituents or/and metabolites) on a same target, the synergistic effects based on the overall action of the additive effects on individual targets and their toxicities scattering effects. A TCM may include approximately 1000 constituents and each constituent may produce about 100 metabolites in vivo after oral administration. Numerous effective forms of incalculable constituents and their metabolites could work like a "army group" together. When the quantity of a specific target molecule is larger than the pharmaceutical molecules, the molecules of different kinds of effective forms could combine with the target molecules successively, to exert the additive effects. When the target molecules are mostly occupied ("target most spaces occupied"), this TCM begins to work. The additive effects maybe exert not only in concentration but also in a time order way, which gives a sustained efficacy of TCM. The additive effects and the toxicities scattering effects are resulted from the same effective groups and not identical toxic groups among different effective form molecules. The "toxicities scattering effect" can be used to explain the non-toxic TCMs, but not fit for toxic TCMs. The efficacy theory showed that the variety of constituents and metabolites may participate in the process of pharmacodynamic actions, including the additive effects, synergy effects and toxicities scattering effects, which may be useful for explaining and developing the characteristic advantage of the TCMs. The questions we need to study or confirm are as follows: What are the TCMs' pharmacodynamic substance basis and mechanism made up of Why are toxicities of most TCMs' smaller How is the TCMs' "Efficacy Theory" which reflects characteristic advantage of TCMs applied in the research and development of new drugs.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of total flavonoids of Herba Epimedium (FHE) on BMP-2/RunX2/OSX signaling pathway in promoting osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).

METHODSPassage 3 BMSCs were randomly divided into the control group, the experimental group, and the inhibitor group. BMSCs in the control group were cultured in 0.2% dimethyl sulfoxide + Osteogenuxic Supplement (OS) fluid + DMEM/F12 culture media. BMSCs in the experimental group were intervened by 20 microg/mL FHE. BMSCs in the inhibitor group were intervened by 20 microg/mL FHE and 1 microg/mL NOGGIN recombinant protein. At day 9 alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured. Calcium nodules were stained by alizarin red staining and the density was observed. The transcription expression of osteogenic differentiation-related proteins (type I collagen, osteocalcin, and osteopontin) and related factors of BMP-2/RunX2/OSX signaling pathway was assayed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, ALP activities were enhanced and the density of calcium nodules significantly increased; type I collagen, osteocalcin, and osteopontin expression levels were increased in the experimental group. The expression of osteogenesis-related transcription factor was also increased in the experimental group. Noggin recombinant protein inhibited FHE promoting BMSCs osteogenesis in the inhibitor group. Compared with the experimental group, ALP activity decreased (P < 0.05), the density of calcium nodules was lowered, expression levels of type I collagen, osteocalcin, osteopontin significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the inhibitor group.

CONCLUSION20 microg/mL FHE promoted osteogenic differentiation process of BMSCs by BMP-2/RunX2/OSX signaling pathway.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Osteocalcin ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sp7 Transcription Factor ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

Metabonomics is a new method to study on the metabolic network and the relationship between body and environment, which conforms to the way of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research. In the study process of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, effectively conjunction with metabonomics method will facilitate the integration of TCM with modern biological science and technology, and promote the modernization of TCM. This paper introduce the application of metabonomics in the research of toxicity mechanism of TCM, compatibility mechanism of TCM formula, pharmacology effect of TCM and processing mechanism of TCM. This paper summarize the problems in the TCM metabonomics research and prospect its bright future.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; analysis ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Metabolomics ; methods ; trends

To develop an analytic method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of dodecatetraenamides A, B in 42 samples of two official species of Asari Radix et Rhizoma( ARR) (37 samples of Asarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum with different collection time and 5 samples of Asarum sieboldiivar. seoulense). The HPLC-IT-TOF-MS/MS methods for the qualitative and UPLC-PDA methods for the quantitative analysis were established. Dodecatetraenamides A, B were identified by comparing the retention time, UV absorption spectrum and quasi-molecular ion peak [ M + H]+ with the reference compound using HPLC-IT-TOF-MS/MS. The content of dodecatetraenamides A and B in ARR were determined by UPLC-PDA. The separation was successfully carried out on a ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 µm) column eluted with mobile phases of water (A) and acetonitrile (B) in gradient program (0-3 min, 35% B; 3-5 min, 35%-36% B; 5-6 min, 36%-43% B; 6 min-11 min 43% B; 11-12 min, 43%-100% B). The column temperature was 45 °C, and the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm. The flow rate was 0.6 mL · min(-1). On one level mass spectrometry scanning, the results showed that the quasi-molecular ion [M + H] + of both dodecatetraenamides A and B were m/z 248.20. The quantitative method with UPLC-PDA has made the baseline separation of the constituents, which were reported as mixtures in the most literatures. The average recovery of dodecatetraenamides A and B were 97.90% and 99.86%, the relative standard deviation were 0.4% and 1.1%, respectively. The contents of dodecatetraenamides A, B in all ARR samples was in the range of 0.11-3.89 and 0.24-6.65 mg · g(-1). Their contents reduced with the extension of storage time. Compared with the samples of 2013, the average content of the two constituents in the samples collected in year 2002-2003 reduced 34% and 36%, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared the A. sieboldii var. seoulense and A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum with the same collective time and production area, the average contents of the two constituents in latter were up to (1.59 ± 0.75) mg · g(-1) and (2.90 ± 1.17) mg · g(-1), respectively, significantly higher than that in A. sieboldii var. seoulense (dodecatetraenamide A were (0.78 ± 0.52) mg · g(-1), dodecatetraenamide B were (1.69 ± 0.83) mg · g(-1)) (P < 0.05). The content of the dodecatetraenamide A in overground part was in the range of 0.11-0.33 mg · g(-1), dodecatetraenamide B was 0. 24-0.60 mg · g(-1), which were much lower than that of the underground part of ARR (dodecatetraenamide A was in the range of 0.73-3.89 mg · g(-1), dodecatetraenamide B was 2.11-6.24 mg · g(-1)). The method was certified to be simple, accurate and reliable and could be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of dodecatetraenamide A and B in different species of ARR, also can be used for the comprehensive quality control of traditional Chinese medicine, Asari Radix et Rhizoma.
Amides ; chemistry ; Asarum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Rhizome ; chemistry

This study is to develop an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of (-)-epicatechin, 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid, neoisoastilbin, astilbin, neoisoastilbin, isoastilbin and engeletin in Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma. Samples of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, Heterosmilacis Chinensis Rhizoma and Heterosmilacis Yunnanensis Rhizoma were separated on an Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 column with gradient elution of acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid at a flow rate of 1.0 mL · min(-1). The detected wavelength was set at 230 nm and the column temperature was maintained at 35 °C. The contents of (-)-epicatechin, 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid, neoastilbin, astilbin, neoisoastilbin, isoastilbin and engeletin in 84 Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma samples were in the range of trace-1.381, trace-9.913, trace-3.673, 0.6706-27.08, trace-1.181, trace-4.833 and trace-2.754 mg · g(-1), respectively. The established method was used for analysis of common adulterants. The results demonstrated that the contents of (-)-epicatechin in Heterosmilacis Yunnanensis Rhizoma and Heterosmilacis Chinensis Rhizoma were 0.01163-0.06007 mg · g(-1) and 0.01583-0.08585 mg · g(-1), respectively, while the other six constituents were not detected. The method is simple and accurate, and can be used for the quality control of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma. The constituents of Heterosmilacis Yunnanensis Rhizoma and Heterosmilacis Chinensis Rhizoma are significantly different from Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, and they are not suitable for using as Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Liliaceae ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Objective To analyze the safety and effectiveness of photoselective green-light laser vaporization of the prostate(PVP)in treatment of large prostate with volume more than 80 ml. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed in 25 benign prostatic hypertrophy patients undergoing the PVP treatment,whose prostate volume was more than 80 ml.Results Twenty-five patients with prostate mean volume of 151.8(84.0-270.0)ml were treated by PVP and 23 cases were finished successfully.One operation was suspended because of bleeding and the other because of damaging orifice.No blood transfusion was needed and no“transurethral resection(TUR)syndrome”happened.Five cases had acute retention and 2 of them needed second PVP.In a mean of 7.9(3.0- 12.0)months follow-up,maximal urinary flow rate(Qmax),international prostate symptom score (IPSS),quality of life score(QOL),and prostate-specific antigen(PSA)level were improved significantly.The volume of prostate reduced after PVP than before PVP but no significant difference was found.Conclusions PVP is feasible in treating large prostate even the volume is more than 80 ml,although it needs better skill.Catheterization for some time is helpful in reducing the incidence of early postoperative acute urinary retention.

ObjectiveTo survey 0—6 years old disabled children in Guiyang.Methods4 999 children aged 0—6 years old chosen randomly from 9 145 children of 12 blocks were investigated with the disability sampling survey criteria of 1987.ResultsThe rate of disabled children in Guiyang was 1.58%, and was not significantly different compared with that of whole country (1.36%) and other three areas including Siping City (P>0.05),but significantly higher than that of other six districts including Heping district of Tianjin municipality (P<0.05). All kinds of disability found by this survey were separately intellectual disability (0.92%),comprehensive disability (0.28%),limb disability (0.24%),vision disability (0.10%),psychiatric disability (0.03%),and hearing disability (0.02%). Rates of intellectual and vision disabilities were significantly higher than that of whole country ( P>0.05).ConclusionSome diseases are directly relative to occurrence of disability. The poor income of the children family,lower education of his parents and not gotten preschool education were risk factors of disability. The institution based rehabilitation and community based rehabilitation are main rehabilitation forms to disabled children.

In order to study the spectral reflectance differences of Glycyrrhizae Radix under different growth conditions and lay the foundation for quantitative monitoring of Glycyrrhizae Radix remote sensing images, spectra of Glycyrrhiza species under different growth period and different varieties and different regions were measured by a portable spectrometer. The results showed that the reflectivity of annual G. uralensis was obviously higher than that of the two years plant in the visible light band own to the contents of crown layer chlorophyll. The reflectivity of two years G. pallidiflora was higher than that of G. uralensis in the near infrared band own to the leaf area index and the content of leaf water. The red edge spectrum of annual plant fluctuated largely than that of two years plant due to vegetation coverage and leaf area index. G. pallidiflora grew well than G. uralensis. Under different regions of the Glycyrrhiza species, spectral data analysis showed that within a certain range, the average annual precipitation and average annual evaporation were the major factors to affect the differences of Glycyrrhiza species spectral data under different regions owe to the leaf water content, the higher leaf water content, the lower spectral reflectance. The principal component analysis and continuum-removed method of the spectral data under different regions found that, within a certain range, the average annual precipitation and average annual evaporation were the major factors caused by the differences of Glycyrrhiza species spectral data under the different regions, Glycyrrhiza species spectral similarity related to the spatial distance.
Geography ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis ; Spectrum Analysis

In order to develop a rapid method which can check Campylobacter jejuni in animal and poultry foods nicely, an immunomagnetic capture-fluorescent PCR (IMC-FPCR) method was established in this paper. The reported method involves isolation of the target pathogen by immunocapture prior to the fluorescent PCR step, therefore the immunomagnetic-beads for Campylobacter were developed, and two groups of primer/probe, which targeted for the species special sequence of flaA gene and hipO gene for Campylobacter jejuni were designed. The immunomagnetic capture-fluorescent PCR assay amplification of the hipO gene and flaA gene for detection of Campylobacter jejuni was firstly reported in this paper. Result indicated that IMC-FPCR method permits direct detection of the pathogen without an enrichment step and can be performed in approximately 24 h. The assay results are positive for all of the isolates of Campylobacter jejuni (3 isolates, including type strain ATCC 33560 and ATCC8341) with a detection limit of approximately 10 cfu/mL, are negative for Campylobacter coli and several other bacteria. IMC-FPCR assay provide not only a rapid, sensitive method for quantitative detection of Campylobacter jejuni, but also an important method for detecting of Campylobacter jejuni of viable but non-culturerable (VNC) state.
Campylobacter jejuni ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Fluorescence ; Immunomagnetic Separation ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between polymorphisms of MnSOD and the susceptibility of chronic poisoning exposed to manganism occupationally.

METHODSIn a study of case-control, genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP in 164 patients with chronic occupational mangamism poisoning and 328 controls with age- and sex-matched for MnSOD 9Ala-Val.

RESULTSThere was a significant difference in the frequency of MnSOD 9Ala-Val at V locus mutant allele between cases and controls (χ(2) = 15.225, P < 0.01, 95%CI = 1.43 ∼ 3.00). Individuals with the genotype VV had a 1.30 of risk increase of occupational chronic manganism poisoning compared with the the genotype AV or AA (OR = 2.30, 95%CI = 1.52 ∼ 3.49, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe MnSOD polymorphisms may be related with the susceptibility to chronic occupational manganism poisoning, the risk of chronic occupational manganism poisoning increases in carriers with genotype VV at MnSOD 9Ala-Val locus.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Manganese Poisoning ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; genetics ; Occupational Exposure ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Superoxide Dismutase ; genetics