Acinetobacter Infections ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; Animals ; Birds ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; complications ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of safflower injection (SI) in protecting heart, and on energy charge and anti-apoptosis gen bcl-2 in cardiac tissue.

METHODSRats' Langendorff isolated heart infused model was used in the experiment to study the effect of SI by measuring the cardiac function, energy charge and bcl-2 expression of the cultured heart in the modified Euro-Collins (mEC) heart preserving liquid with or without addition of SI.

RESULTSAs compared with the control, SI showed the effects of improving functions of cardiac contraction and dilation, increasing coronary blood flow, and strengthening the bcl-2 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONSI has excellent effect in protecting heart.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Genes, bcl-2 ; drug effects ; In Vitro Techniques ; Injections ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of triangle drugs as ginseng, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim, and rhubarb on the levels of blood lipids as [total cholesterol (TC), triglyeride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)] and pro-inflammatory cytokines as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) during the process of treating atherosclerosis.

METHODSTwenty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups after one-week adaptive feeding, i.e., the normal control group (n=6), the model group (n=6), and the triangle drugs group (n=8). High fat diet was fed to rabbits in the triangle drugs group and the model group at the daily dose of 100 g for six weeks. Iliac artery was injured in the model group and the triangle drugs group at the seventh week using balloon injury. High fat diet was successively fed to those after surgery for six weeks. At the same time of modeling, preventive medication (at the daily dose of dry ginseng 0.64 g/kg, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim 2.14 g/kg, and prepared Radix et Rhizoma Rhei with wine 0.43 g/kg, with the volume of 2 mL/kg) was administered by gastrogavage to rabbits in the triangle drugs group. Changes of blood lipids levels and related pro-inflammatory cytokines were dynamically observed.

RESULTSOn the 7th week (before surgery), the levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C in the model group, TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C in the triangle drugs group significantly increased, showing significant difference when compared with those of the normal control group (P < 0.05). The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the model group and the triangle drugs group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.05). Levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C were lower in the triangle drugs group than in the model group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). After the 8th week the levels of blood lipids and ICAM-1 in the model group, and levels of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and ICAM-1 in the triangle drugs group were significantly higher than those of the normal control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). After the 12th week levels of blood lipids in the model group, LDL-C and HDL-C in the triangle drugs group were significantly higher than those of the normal control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The LDL-C level was lower in the triangle drugs group than in the model group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and hs-CRP in the model group were obviously higher than those in the triangle drugs group and the normal control group, showing statistical significance (P < 0.05). The hs-CRP level was higher in the triangle drugs group than in the normal control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe triangle drugs may postpone the process of atherosclerosis by lowering blood lipids levels, especially by lowering the elevating levels of TC and LDL-C. Its roles in decreasing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines might be associated with lipids lowering and anti-inflammation. Its roles may also be associated with improvement of the endothelial function and inhibition of the smooth muscle proliferation.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Panax ; Phytotherapy ; Rabbits ; Rheum ; Trichosanthes ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on mRNA expression of lung inflammatory cytokines and pulmonary pathological injury of mice infected by influenza virus, in order to discuss the mechanism of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines against pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of infected mice.

METHODIn different time phases after mice were infected with influenza virus FM1, the RT-PCR method was adopted to observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on five inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ, and the changes in pulmonary pathological injury of mice with viral pneumonia after intervention with tonifying qi traditional Chinese medicines.

RESULT(1) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines significantly reduced the mRNA expression of TNF-α at 1-5 d and IL-1 mRNA expression at 7 d, may increase IL-1 mRNA expression in mouse lung at 3 d, significantly reduced IL-6 mRNA expression in mouse lung and increased IL-10 mRNA expression at 3-7 d, and significantly increased IFN-γ mRNA expression at 1 d. (2) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines could significantly inhibited and repaired pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of mice infected by FM1, which was most remarkable at 3-7 d after the infection with influenza virus FM1.

CONCLUSIONTonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture could resist pulmonary immune inflammatory injury and repair inflammatory injury by regulating the mRNA expression of imbalance inflammatory cytokines of organisms infected with influenza virus.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; drug effects ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; immunology ; Lung ; immunology ; virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo probe into the correlativity of TCM syndromes to auricular points.

METHODSSixty-three cases of typical liver-qi stagnation syndrome and 52 healthy persons were divided into an observation group and a control group, respectively. The auricular points on both side were respectively detected by auricular point pressure pain method with spring pressure bar and a pressure of 50 g, and then the number of auricular points with positive response on both sides were respectively calculated and the positive rates between the two groups were compared.

RESULTSCan (liver), Shidao (esophagus), Sanjiao (triple energy), Pi (spleen), Yidan (pancreas and gall bladder), Tingzhong (center of superior concha), Wei (stomach), Shenmen had high tenderness positive rates, with significant differences between the liver-qi stagnation syndrome group and the healthy person group. The correlativity were Gan>Shidao>Sanjiao>Pi>Yidan>Tingzhong>Wei>Shenmen.

CONCLUSIONTCM syndromes and auricular points have correlativity.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of dongchong xiacao capsule on the airway inflammation of asthmatic patients and to explore the relevant mechanism of therapeutic effect of Dongchongxiacao capsule.

METHODSixty patients with moderate persistent asthma were randomized into the treatment group (n=30) and the control group (n=30). Inhaled corticosteroid and as-needed beta-agonist were used in the treatment group while this therapy plus dongchong xiacao capsule were used in the control group for two months. Serum IL-4, IFN-gamma, sICAM-1, MMP-9, IgG, IgE level were assessed at randomization and 2 months after randomization.

RESULTThe serum level of IgE, sICAM-1, IL-4 and MMP-9 of the treatment group was lowered to a greater degree than that of the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ).

CONCLUSIONDongchong xiacao capsule can reduce the serum markers of airway inflammation, which suggests this therapy bares the anti-inflammation effects probably through regulating the balance of TH1/TH2, inhibiting the activity of adherence molecule and reducing IgE production. It may also have the effect of reversing airway remodeling, which needs further research to determine.

Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Bronchitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Capsules ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Middle Aged ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

Objective To investigate the effect of Feixian Formula (with effects of activating blood circulation and resolving stasis), and mechanism of inhibiting lung vascular genesis and remodeling in rats with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis. Method The rat model of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis was established with intratracheal injection of bleomycin. On the 14th, 28th and 45th day after the establishment of the model the serum levels of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), endothelin (ET) and thromboxane (TXB-2) were detected in the model group, sham-operation group, Feixian Formula group and prednisone group respectively. Result Feixian Formula decreased significantly the serum levels of PDGF, ET and TXB-2. Conclusion The mechanism of antifibrosis of Feixian Formula may be related to that it can inhibit the lung vascular genesis and remodeling in rats with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis.

In this paper, the author systematically summarized and explained the idea of Prof. JIANG Liang-duo for preventing and treating the coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19). According to Prof. JIANG, in the early stage of the disease, dampness and heat injury to the lung is the main cause and pathogenesis, and the high-risk group can be protected by supplementing Qi and nourishing Yin, clearing away heat and penetration. The patients with mild disease can be treated with Chinese medicine. But the accurately treatment can be given only knowing the ratio of the dampness, heat, deficiency and excess. For the patients with severe disease, both strengthening and removing pathogenic factors are important. But the drug for Qi should be prescribed instead of drugs for blood. The prognosis of critical illed patients is very poor, and the method of Invigorating Qi and taking Jin is useful to strengthen the foundation, promot lung, remove dampness, clear heat and cool Ying. Clinical medication should be adjusted according to people, time and place in the different situations.

Tung tree (Vernicia fordii) is an economically important woody oil plant that produces tung oil rich in eleostearic acid. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-scale genome sequence of tung tree. The genome sequence was assembled by combining Illumina short reads, Pacific Bio-sciences single-molecule real-time long reads, and Hi-C sequencing data. The size of tung tree gen-ome is 1.12 Gb, with 28,422 predicted genes and over 73％ repeat sequences. The V. fordii underwent an ancient genome triplication event shared by core eudicots but no further whole-genome duplication in the subsequent ca. 34.55 million years of evolutionary history of the tung tree lineage. Insertion time analysis revealed that repeat-driven genome expansion might have arisen as a result of long-standing long terminal repeat retrotransposon bursts and lack of efficient DNA deletion mechanisms. The genome harbors 88 resistance genes encoding nucleotide-binding sites;17 of these genes may be involved in early-infection stage of Fusarium wilt resistance. Further, 651 oil-related genes were identified, 88 of which are predicted to be directly involved in tung oil biosynthesis. Relatively few phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase genes, and synergistic effectsbetween transcription factors and oil biosynthesis-related genes might contribute to the high oil content of tung seed. The tung tree genome constitutes a valuable resource for understanding genome evolution, as well as for molecular breeding and genetic improvements for oil production.

In the clinical practice, Professor Jiang Liangduo, a national senior Chinese medicine doctor, has created the theory of "sanjiao meridian stasis" from the theory of meridian dialectics and from the overall state. In this paper, the traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine clinical characteristics of sanjiao meridian stasis theory which is often used by Professor Jiang Liangduo in the treatment of out-patient syndrome differentiation, were first studied and summarized to investigate its inherent regularity. First, the source of data and research methods were introduced, and then the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System was used with the method of data mining to retrospectively analyze the disease characteristics of Chinese and Western medicine in 279 patients with sanjiao meridian stasis diagnosed by Professor Jiang in 2014. Then the following main conclusions were made after research: sanjiao meridian stasis was more common in women as well as young and middle-aged population. Often manifested by prolonged treatment course, red tongue with yellowishfur, with good correlation between modern Western medicine diagnosis and TCM differentiation syndrome. The symptoms of sanjiao meridian stasis syndrome are mostly of heat syndromes, and middle-aged patients are the most common patients with stasis and stasis of sanjiao. Related information of Western medicine diagnosis can help to diagnose the "sanjiao meridian stasis".