The five-flavor theory of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) and the flavor efficacy generation mechanism has long been focuses and difficulties in studies on traditional Chinese medicinal properties. In this paper, by using the pharmacophore-based virtual screening technique, the authors discussed the relations between the pungent property and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) by studying the TCM components' role in regulating TRPV1 ion channel. The results showed that the matching relationship between TRPV1 agonist pharmacophore model and TCM chemical components could identify the active ingredients from pungent herbs. Therefore, the authors proposed that TRPV1 is one of the potential targets for efficient pungent herbs. The pungent property of TCMs is decided by its chemical components, and consistent with the inherited and additive characteristics.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Smell ; TRPV Cation Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Taste

Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Flavonoid compounds are main chemical constituents of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum, which exert anti-inflammatory property. However, the underlying anti-inflammatory mechanisms of flavonoid compounds are incompletely understood. It has been reported that isoliquiritigenin, liquiritigenin, naringenin and butein possess anti-inflammatory property. The purpose of this study is to illuminate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of flavonoid compounds based on the protein interaction network (PIN) analysis on molecular network level. 130 targets of the main medicinal ingredients of flavonoid compounds were gained though database retrieval. A protein interaction network of flavonoid compounds was constructed with 589 nodes and 216 interactions. By a graph theoretic clustering algorithm Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE), 26 modules were identified and analyzed by Gene ontology (GO) enrichment. Two modules were associated with anti-inflammatory actions. The most interesting finding of this study was that the anti-inflammatory effect of flavonoid compounds may be partly attributable to inhibite FOS, PTGS2 expression, inhibite of IL-1beta release, and block the MAPK pathway and toll-like receptor pathway.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Dalbergia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Protein Binding ; drug effects ; Protein Interaction Maps ; drug effects ; Proteins ; metabolism

Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pneumoconiosis ; microbiology ; Sputum ; microbiology ; beta-Lactam Resistance ; beta-Lactamases ; analysis

Panax notoginseng (PN) is one of the commonly used clinical medicines for cardiovascular diseases and possesses a variety of pharmacological effects. P. notoginseng saponins (PNS) are the most important bioactive components in PN. The purpose of this study was to explain the mechanism of PNS on molecular network level. 18 targets of the main medicinal ingredients of PNS were gained by virtual screening based on pharmacophores and data mining. A protein interaction network of PNS was constructed with 189 nodes and 721 interactions. By a graph theoretic clustering algorithm Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE), 14 modules were detected. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the modules demonstrated that the roles of PNS played in cardiovascular disease related to multiple biological processes, which could represent the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a whole to regulate the disease. The results showed that the blood circulation and hemostasis efficacy of PN related with the biological processes such as positive regulation of cAMP metabolic and biosynthetic process, platelet activation and regulation of blood vessel size, regulation of T cell proliferation and differentiation and so on. Therefore, the module-based network analysis will be an effective method for better understanding TCM.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Protein Interaction Maps ; drug effects ; Proteins ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry

Objective To understand clinical distribution and antimicrobial resistance characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P.aeruginosa)isolated from hospitalized patients, so as to provide reference for the empiric use of antimicrobial agents and control of healthcare-associated infection(HAI).Methods Clinical distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results of P.aeruginosaisolated from patients in a hospital between 2012 and 2016 were analyzed retrospectively, statistical analysis were conducted based on different wards, specimen types and age groups.Results A total of 2 432 strains of P.aeruginosa were isolated from2012 to 2016, most of which were isolated from intensive care unit(ICU)(n=727, 29.89％), the main specimen was sputum(n=2 064, 84.87％). Resistance rates of P.aeruginosa to other antimicrobial agents except piperacillin/tazobactam in each year from 2012 to 2016 were significantly different(all P＜0.05).Resistance to piperacillin, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, meropenem, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin decreased after peaked in2014;resistance rates to amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin were all low, showing decreased trend year by year(all P＜0.05).Except resistance rates to cefepime and tobramycin, resistance rates of P.aeruginosafrom sputum specimen were all higher than other specimens(all P＜0.05).Resistance rates of P.aeruginosaisolated from patients aged≥65 years to most antimicrobial agents were significantly higher than those isolated from patients aged＜65 years(all P＜0.05).Except resistance rates to gentamicin and tobramycin, resistance rates of P.aeruginosaisolated from ICU were higher than those isolated from other departments, which were 7.71％-66.02％.Resistance rate of P.aeruginosaisolated from department of surgery were relatively low, which were 1.69％-11.86％.Conclusion Clinical distribution of antimicrobial resistance of P.aeruginosais obviously heterogeneity, empiric antimicrobial use and formulation of HAI monitoring measures should be based on the data of antimicrobial resistance in different wards, different infection sites, and different age.

This study was to investigate the permeability and absorbability of capsaicin cubosome across abdominal skin of the SD rats in vitro. Diffusion of capsaicin cubosome and cream was performed with the modified Franz diffusion cell technique. The capsaicin cubosome showed no enhancement of skin permeation within 24 hours. However, the deposition amounts of capsaicin in the rat skin in the cubosome group was markedly higher than those in the commercial cream group (P < 0.01). Cubosome showed excellent characetristic of skin-targed which could be a good carrier for the local transdermal drug delivery system.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Capsaicin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Kinetics ; Male ; Particle Size ; Permeability ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of MUC1 in thyroid cancer and benign thyroid diseases (nodular goiter and adenoma) and its clinical significance. Methods The expression level of MUC1 was examined by immunohistochemical analysis with MUC1 monoclonal antibody in 68 samples of thyroid carcinoma and in 18 samples of benign diseases and 10 normal thyroid tissues. Results Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive expression of MUC1 in 51 out of 68 cases of thyroid cancer, in 4 out of 18 cases of benign thyroid diseases and 1 out of 10 normal control thyroid tissue, with a difference statistically significant between the malignancy and benign and normal control (? 2=17.20,P0.05).Conclusion The over-expression of MUC1 in thyroid cancer may act as diagnostic markers of thyroid carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the expression of MUC1 in primary liver carcinoma (PLC) and in cirrhotic liver tissue and its clinical significance in the diagnosis and immuotherapy of PLC. Methods The expression of MUC1 was examined by immunohistochemical analysis in 43 samples of primary liver carcinoma (PLC) , incluing 34 samples of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 9 samples of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) ;and 12 samples of cirrhotic liver tissue and 6 samples of normal liver tissues. Results Immunohistochemical analysis showed over- expression of MUC1 in PLC , which aberrantly localized in the cancer cell membrane; while expression of MUC1 was detected only in 2 cirrhotic liver samples,and no expression in normal liver tissue. The expressional level of MUC1 in PLC was significantly higher than that in cirrhotic and normal liver tissue ( P 0.05),but the expressional levels between with portal cancer emboli group and without portal cancer embloli group was significant difference( P

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts on the recovery of swallowing function in patients of dysphagia after acute stroke treated with acupuncture and functional electric stimulation.

METHODSSeventy-four patients were randomized into an acupuncture plus electric stimulation group (38 cases) and an electric stimulation group (36 cases). The functional electric stimulator was used in the two groups. The electric pads were placed on the hyoid bone, the upper part of thyroid cartilage, the masseter muscle and the mandibular joint. The treatment lasted for 30 mm each time. In the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, acupuncture was supplemented at motor area of Jiao's scalp acupuncture, lower 2/5 of sensory area, Baihui (CV 20), Lianquan (CV 23), Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13), 30 mm each time. The treatment was given once a day, 6 treatments for one session and there was 1 day at interval between the sessions, 4 sessions were required totally in the two groups. The dysphagia scale was adopted for efficacy evaluation before treatment and after 4 sessions of treatment in the two groups. The removal rate of nasal feeding tube was observed after treatment.

RESULTSThe dysphagia score was increased apparently after treatment compared with that before treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.05). After treatment, in the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, the dysphagia score was increased much more apparently than that in the electric stimulation group (8.01 +/- 1.25 vs 6.73 +/- 1.36, P < 0.05). The remarkably effective rate was 84.2% (32/38) in the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, better than 58.3% (21/36) in the electric stimulation group (P < 0.05). The removal rate of nasal feeding tube was 89.5% (34/38) in the acupuncture plus electric stimulation group, which was higher than 50. 0% (18/36) in the electric stimulation group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with electric stimulation achieves the much better efficacy on dysphagia after acute stroke and promotes the early removal of nasal feeding tube. The efficacy is better than that of the simple electric stimulation therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electric Stimulation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the influence of thiamine deficiency(TD)at early pre- pathological lesion stage on cognitive function and the correlation between cognitive dysfunction and hippocampal neurogenesis.Methods TD mouse model was prepared by feeding a thiamine-depleted diet. Learning and memory functions of TD mice were tested with Y-maze.Hippoeampal neurogenesis was studied with bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU),proliferative cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),and Doublecortin(Dcx) immunohistochemical staining on the 7th(TD7),9th,14th and TD25th day.Results TD9 mice without pathological impairment and cholinergic nerve degeneration needed more times of training(22.3?2.2)in the learning test of Y maze compared with the controls(13.5?3.5).Correspondingly,the numbers of BrdU-positive ceils and the immunoreactivity of Dcx decreased significantly in the TD9 mice(19.8?0.4, 1537.2?50.2 vs 23.9?0.3,2688.9?127.9 pixels/mm~2).Thiamine re-administration reversed the declined hippocampal neurogenesis:the number of BrdU-positive cells was 23.6?1.9 and Dcx immunoreactivity was 2052.3?269.6 pixels/mm~2:the impaired learning ability was simultaneously restored,with the number of total training trial being 16.8?0.5.Conclusion The decreased hippocampal neurogenesis contributes to retarded learning ability at early pre-pathological lesion stage of TD.