OBJECTIVETo explore the protective mechanism of Fengshiqing Recipe (FR) against bone destruction in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.

METHODSRats were divided into four groups in the experiment,i.e., the blank control group, the model group, the MTX group (MTX, 1 mg/1 000 g), and the FR group (24 g crude FR/kg). The CIA model was prepared except the blank control group. Medication was started in the MTX group and the FR group from the 14th day after modeling to the 56th day. The toe volume was measured on every Tuesday and Friday. Expression levels of serum IL-17, RANKL, MIP-1alpha were detected after 3-and 6-week intervention. The bone scintigraphy with nuclide (SPECT), bone mineral density (BMD), and the pathological section were observed to assess the intervention of drugs of heat clearing blood activating actions in the bone destruction of CIA rats.

RESULTSFrom the 10th day of modeling, the volume of both toes started to swell and reached the peak at about 21 days. It was obviously shrunk at about 30 days. Of them, the swelling degree was milder in the MTX group and the FR group than in the model group. Compared with the model group at the same phase, the levels of IL-17 and RANKL decreased in the MTX group after 3 weeks of intervention (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The IL-17 level decreased in the FR group after three weeks of intervention (P < 0.05). The RANKL level decreased in the MTX group and the FR group after 6 weeks of intervention (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the model group and the MTX group, the overall BMD and ankle BMD increased in the FR group after 6 weeks of intervention (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The ankle ROI/mandible and the toe ROI/mandible were elevated in the FR group after 3 weeks of intervention (P < 0.05). Pathological results suggested that the joint lacunae was significantly widened, the hyperplasia of the synovial tissue was so severe, and the bone tissue was destroyed in the model group. Compared with the model group, the aforesaid conditions were significantly improved in the MTX group and the FR group. The cartilage structure was complete.

CONCLUSIONQR could inhibit decreased BMD, prevent bone destruction, which might be achieved by down-regulating expression levels of IL-17, RANKL, and MIP-1alpha through the osteo immunological Th/RANKL system,inhibiting maturation and differentiation of osteoclasts, thereby, inhibiting bone destruction.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Bone Density ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; pathology ; Chemokine CCL3 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; RANK Ligand ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect and safety of Jinhua Qinggan Granule (JHG) in treating influenza patients of wind-heat affecting Fei syndrome (WHAFS).

METHODSTotally 136 influenza patients of WHAFS were randomized by stratification into 3 groups, the high dose JHG group (44 cases, 10 g each time), the low dose JHG group (45 cases, 5 g JHG + 5 g placebo each time), and the placebo control group (47 cases, 10 g placebo each time). All medication was administered three times daily for 5 days. The fever disappearance time, the fever disappearance rate, efficacy of TCM syndrome, the disappearance rate of main symptoms and physical signs of flu, the negative rate of virus nucleic acid in the pharyngeal secretion, and safety indicators were assessed.

RESULTSThe median fever disappearance time was 32.8 h (95% CI: 22.5-41.0 h) in the high dose JHG group, 26.0 h (95% CI: 14.5-36.5 h) in the low dose JHG group, 39.5 h (95% CI: 29.0-46.0 h) in the placebo control group. There was statistical difference in the median fever disappearance time between the low dose JHG group and the placebo control group (P = 0.011). Three days after treatment, the markedly effective rate of TCM symptoms in the low dose JHG group was 66.7%, higher than that of the placebo control group (38.3%), and its effective rate was superior to that of the high dose JHG group (P = 0.043). Five days after treatment, the recovery rate of the low dose JHG group (42.2%) was higher than that of the high dose JHG group (25.0%, P = 0.026) and that of the placebo control group (14.9%, P = 0.002). The markedly effective rate of the low dose JHG group (86.7%) was higher than that of the placebo control group (55.3%, P = 0.001). Similar effects were obtained in the low dose JHG group and the high dose JHG group, but slightly poor in partial indicators of the high dose JHG group. There was no statistical difference in adverse reaction among these three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSJHG was effective and safe in treating influenza patients of WHAFS. Routinely low dose was the optimal dosage of JHG.

Adult ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Young Adult