OBJECTIVE: To help researchers learn and utilize drug target database for new drug research, and to provide important information for the management and construction of Drug Target Database.

OBJECTIVEIn this study, we aimed to investigate the expressions of adhesion molecules on human bronchial epithelial cells and neutrophils in co-culture system, assess the effects of puerarin on suppressing these adhesion molecules expressions, and explore the roles of two crucial signal-transduction elements p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in modulating adhesion molecules expressions.

METHODSNeutrophils and BEAS-2B cells (one human bronchial epithelial cell line) were co-cultured, and adhesion molecules expressions on cell surface were detected using flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of adhesion molecules were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR). Phosphorylated p38 MAPK and inhibitor κB were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTSIn co-culture system, adhesion molecules expressions on BEAS-2B cells and neutrophils were enhanced significantly (P<0.05). Correspondingly, the mRNA levels of adhesion molecules were also increased greatly. Moreover, the pretreatment of peurarin obviously suppressed adhesion molecules expressions on cell surface. Furthermore, phosphorylated p38 MAPK and inhibitor κB in BEAS-2B cells and neutrophils were elevated in co-culture system, but decreased significantly after upon the treatment of peurarin (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCoculture boosted the interactions between human bronchial epithelial cells and neutrophils mimicking airway inflflammation, whereas peurarin decreased the expression of adhesion molecules on cell surface by suppressing the activities of p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways, and exhibiting its anti-inflflammation activity.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bronchi ; cytology ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Cattle ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Coculture Techniques ; DNA Primers ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE To clarify out the network pharmacology mechanism of Polygala tenuifolia against Alzheimer disease(AD).METHODS Firstly,we collected the chemical constituents from Polyg-ala tenuifolia and key targets toward AD.Machine learning algorithms were applied to construct classifi-ers for predicting the effective constituents. Secondly, docking models were utilized for further evalua-tion.Finally,we built constituent-target,target-target network and target-biology pathway network.RE-SULTS 104 chemical constituents Polygala tenuifolia from were collected.Through prediction of blood-brain penetration and validation,36 chemical constituents were selected among 100 chemical constitu-ents,their action targets mainly focused on AChE,COX-2,TNF-α,insulin-degrading enzyme and APP. Their main structure types include Polygala saponins, Polygala glycosides, Polygala shrubby ketones, polygala xanthones and sterols,which acted on AchE,APP,M-TAU,GSK3β and 5HT1A with high fre-quency.Gene-Ontology and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the main pathways of these con-stituents involve in neurotransmitter release,synaptic conduction and synaptic plasticity,apoptosis reg-ulation,phosphorylation pathway,Ca2+signaling pathway,and so on.CONCLUSION This study uncov-ered a network mechanism of Polygala tenuifolia against Alzheimer disease,which may provide impor-tant information for the further study and new drug development.

OBJECTIVE Using bioinformatics methods, to establish Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction (XX-MD)"compound-vasoconstriction G Protein-Coupled Receptors(GPCR)targets"network,and analyze the vasoconstriction regulatory effective components and the potential targets of XXMD. METHODS Ac-cording to the XXMD herb sources,we retrieved the chemical structures from the national scientific da-ta sharing platform for population and health pharmaceutical information center,TCMSP database and the latest research literature.The chemical molecular library was established after class prediction and screening for medicinal and metabolic properties.Five kinds of vasoconstriction GPCR crystal structure including 5-HT receptors(5-HT1AR,5-HT1BR),AT1R,β2-AR,hUTR and ETB were retrieved from Bank Pro-tein Data Bank database or homology modeling using Discovery Studio 4.1 built-in modeling tools.After virtual screening by Libdock molecular docking,the highest rated 50 compounds of each target were col-lected and analyzed. The collected data were further used to construct and analyze the network. RE-SULTS 859 single compound structures information in XXMD were generalized following the screen-ing of obtained 2043 compounds.The complicated compound-vasoconstriction GPCR targets network of XXMD was then constructed and analyzed by molecular docking with the above five kinds of GPCR target receptors. Most of the chemical composition effects were associated with different vasoconstric-tion GPCR targets,while a few effective components can be applied to multiple GPCR targets at the same time,therefore forming synergies.CONCLUSION Vasorelaxant effects of XXMD may not only result from the collaborative interaction between a variety of active ingredients in Chinese medicine and multi-ple targets,but also from the interaction between some effective component and multiple targets.

OBJECTIVE To find a promising candidate for anti- Alzheimer disease (AD) with multiple targets in multiple pathways. METHODS A series of classifiers were constructed for predicting the active compounds against 51 key targets toward Alzheimer disease (AD) using the multitarget-quantitative structure- activity relationships (mt- QSAR) method. While drug screening assays were established to evaluate the predicted active molecules. In addition, various cellular models and animal models related with AD were set up to further study the effects of the active compounds. RESULTS A system for the discovery of Multitarget-Directed Ligands against AD was set up and applied, the predicted active compounds were validated by the drug screening assays, and several active compounds with multiple targets were discovered. Among them, DL0410 exerted high activity on H3R, α7nAChR, AChE and ERα, also displayed the most significant effect in improving the ability of memory and learning in several AD animal models. The study on its action mechanisms showed that it's effect may partially through increasing neurotransmitter, inhibiting oxidative emergency, inhibiting the expression of APP, and promoting long- term potentiation. Besides, DL0410 is of more safety than the first- line clinical medicines. CONCLUSION DL0410 is a promising candidate for further development for AD treatment.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of the monotherapy of 15 agents in treating essential hypertension.

METHODSAfter 2-week wash-out, a total of 370 patients with seated diastolic blood pressure 95-114 mmHg and seated systolic blood pressure < 180 mmHg were randomized to different therapeutic groups. 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed before medication and at the end of 8 weeks.

RESULTAll the agents significantly reduced the 24 hour mean blood pressures after treatment except doxazosin, terazosin, and torasemide.

CONCLUSIONThe result suggested that the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta-blockers and long-acting calcium antagonists were effective in treating essential hypertension, while the low-dose doxazosin, terazosin and torasemide can be used for combination therapy but not for monotherapy.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Antihypertensive Agents ; classification ; therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; therapeutic use ; Doxazosin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Prazosin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To determine the proportion of heroin use among patients who were involved in community-based methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program and to identify the risk factors associated with heroin use. Methods This study was conducted in 9 MMT clinics within 3 provinces. Thirteen hundred and one patients who met the study criteria were selected from each of the five groups with different dosages of methadone users. An administrative questionnaire was applied to explore the demographics,drug abuse-related behaviors and MMT services received by the clients,etc. The prevalence of depression and anxiety among the clients were also collected by SAS and SDS. Urine samples were collected as a biological marker to indicate if heroin had been used. Results Of the 1301 patients,76.2% were males. The mean age was (34.6±6.5) years while 71.7% had an education level of primary school or below. The average daily dosage of methadone was (48.1±29.4) mg and self-satisfied evaluation score on treatment was 8.6. On average,27.7% urine samples showed positive opiate evidence. Marital status,employment status,treatment retention,self-satisfied evaluation score on dosage and dropout history were found to be significantly associatedwith heroin use,while gender,education level and dosage had no significant association with heroin use. It seemed that risk factors that associated with heroin use were different from areas to areas. Conclusion High quality MMT clinic services,high self-satisfied score,longer treatment retention and low dropout rate seemed to have the effects of reducing the risk of ongoing heroin abuse under the methadone maintenance treatment program.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and outcome of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in southwest Hubei, China. METHODS: According to the Montreux definition of neonatal ARDS, a retrospective clinical epidemiological investigation was performed on the medical data of neonates with ARDS who were admitted to Department of Neonatology/Pediatrics in 17 level 2 or level 3 hospitals in southwest Hubei from January to December, 2017. RESULTS: A total of 7 150 neonates were admitted to the 17 hospitals in southwest Hubei during 2017 and 66 (0.92%) were diagnosed with ARDS. Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 23 (35%) had mild ARDS, 28 (42%) had moderate ARDS, and 15 (23%) had severe ARDS. The main primary diseases for neonatal ARDS were perinatal asphyxia in 23 neonates (35%), pneumonia in 18 neonates (27%), sepsis in 12 neonates (18%), and meconium aspiration syndrome in 10 neonates (15%). Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 10 neonates (15%) were born to the mothers with an age of ≥35 years, 30 neonates (45%) suffered from intrauterine distress, 32 neonates (49%) had a 1-minute Apgar score of 0 to 7 points, 24 neonates (36%) had abnormal fetal heart monitoring results, and 21 neonates (32%) experienced meconium staining of amniotic fluid. Intraventricular hemorrhage was the most common comorbidity (12 neonates), followed by neonatal shock (9 neonates) and patent ductus arteriosus (8 neonates). All 66 neonates with ARDS were treated with mechanical ventilation in addition to the treatment for primary diseases. Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 10 died, with a mortality rate of 15% (10/66), and 56 neonates were improved or cured, with a survival rate of 85% (56/66). CONCLUSIONS Neonatal ARDS in southwest Hubei is mostly mild or moderate. Perinatal asphyxia and infection may be the main causes of neonatal ARDS in this area. Intraventricular hemorrhage is the most common comorbidity. Neonates with ARDS tend to have a high survival rate after multimodality treatment.
China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that seriously threatens the life of the elderly and there is no effective therapy to treat or delay the onset of this disease. Due to the multifactorial etiology of this disease, the multi-target-directed ligand (MTDL) approach is an innovative and promising method in search for new drugs against AD. In order to find potential multi-target anti-AD drugs through reposition of current drugs, the database of global drugs on market were mined by an anti-AD multi-target prediction platform established in our laboratory. As a result, inositol nicotinate, cyproheptadine, curcumin, rosiglitazone, demecarium, oxybenzone, agomelatine, codeine, imipramine, dyclonine, melatonin, perospirone, and bufexamac were predicted to act on at least one anti-AD drug target yet act against AD through various mechanisms. The compound-target network was built using the Cytoscape. The prediction was validated by molecular docking between agomelatine and its multiple targets, including ADORA2A, ACHE, BACE1, PTGS2, MAOB, SIGMAR1 and ESR1. Agomelatine was shown to be able to act on all the targets above. In conclusion, the potential drugs for anti-AD therapy in the database for global drugs on market was partially uncovered using machine learning, network pharmacology, and molecular docking methods. This study provides important information for drug reposition in anti-AD therapy.

This study aims to investigate the network pharmacology of Chinese medicinal formulae for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Machine learning algorithms were applied to construct classifiers in predicting the active molecules against 25 key targets toward Alzheimer's disease (AD). By extensive data profiling, we compiled 13 classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas with clinical efficacy for AD. There were 7 Chinese herbs with a frequency of 5 or higher in our study. Based on the predicted results, we built constituent-target, and further construct target-target interaction network by STRING (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins) and target-disease network by DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery) and gene disease database to study the synergistic mechanism of the herbal constituents in the Chinese traditional patent medicine. By prediction of blood-brain penetration and validation by TCMsp (traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology) and Drugbank, we found 7 typical multi-target constituents which have diverse structure. The mechanism uncovered by this study may offer a deep insight into the action mechanism of TCMs for AD. The predicted inhibitors for the AD-related targets may provide a good source of new lead constituents against AD.