In traditional oral practice, the presystemic interactions with gut microbiota is an important mechanism underlying the holistic health benefits of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), making the study of CHMs distinct from the research of Western medicines of which the systemic exposure (level in blood) is the starting point and the core. Gut microbial metabolism complements host metabolism in maintaining metabolic homeostasis of many biologically important endogenous molecules and the disposition of numerous exogenous compounds. Among them, the widely distributed gut bacterial β-glucuronidases (BGUSs) coordinate with host UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) to play a role in the occurrence and intervention of diseases by affecting the glucuronidation homeostasis and altering the intestinal local and/or systemic exposure of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. On one hand, many ingredients of CHMs undergo enterohepatic circulation; On the other hand, CHMs can act on BGUSs directly or indirectly change the distribution and function of BGUSs through reprogramming gut microbiome. The multiple interactions between BGUSs and CHMs may play an important role in the overall therapeutic benefits of CHMs. This work firstly summarizes the latest research progress on BGUSs; then the physiological, pathological and pharmacological significance of BGUSs are exemplified with representative endogenous and exogenous compounds from the aspects of nutrient utilization, metabolic homeostasis, and therapeutic response based on the varied substrate spectra of BGUSs; finally, the scattered data in literature were integrated to summarize the multiple interactions between BGUSs and CHMs, highlighting the important role of BGUSs in the holistic actions of CHMs.

OBJECTIVETo apply needle-knife to treat lumber disc herniation (LDH) and surface electromyography were used to analyze biomechanical characteristic of patient's lumber muscle to make a comprehensive evaluation on its efficacy.

METHODSThirty patients who met the inclusive criteria were selected and treated with needle-knife, once a week for 2 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS), ASLR and JOA score before and after treatment were observed. Surface electromyography was applied to test the surface electromyography signals. AEMG, MFs and MPF were calculated before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, VAS was significantly reduced, ASLR, JOA, AEMG and MPF were obviously increased, and the absolute value of MFs was lowed (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe needle-knife could significantly relieve lumbar muscle strength, muscle tone and muscle fatigue, improve in the imbalance of lumbar extensor muscle group, leading to the recovery of biomechanical characteristic, and the clinical efficacy is superior.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Thoracic Injuries ; complications

Two Pseudomonas strains, K80 - B and K80 - A, can use hydrocarbon as carbon source by two different mechanisms. Different effects can be observed when they are applied to 69-8 oil of Dagan Oil Field. The strain K80-B producing both hydrocarbon pseudosolubilizing factor and hydrocarbon emulsifying factor can decrease the viscosity and solidifying point of the 69-8 oil 51.6% and 2℃ respectively. Whereas the other can only decrease 43.5% and 3℃ respectively. When the two strains are mixed, synergistic effect on crude oil is obvious.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of intracerebral transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) derived from human umbilical cord blood(UCB) on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD) in neonatal rat.Methods Twenty samples of human UCB were collected from healthy full-term newborns.MSCs were isolated from human UCB by density gradient centrifugation and purified by adhere cell selection method.For transplantation,P3 human UCB-derived MSCs were labeled by the 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU).Thirty SD rats of 7 d were built for neonatal HIBD model.One rat died and others were divided into transplant group(n=18) and control group(n=11).At the third day after building models,human UCB-derived MSCs were injected into left cortex in transplant group,while PBS of the same volume was injected into the same site in control group at the same time.The seventh day after transplantation,6 rats of transplant group were sacrificed to prepare brain tissue sections.The survival,migration and differentiation of the transplanted cells were investigated by brain tissue immunohistochemical analysis,and nervous function of 2 groups were evaluated by modified neurological severity score(mNSS) on the first,7th,14th,21th and 28th day after transplantation.Results MSCs were isolated from 5 of 20 human UCB samples.Immunocytochemical analysis of brain tissue showed that the transplanted human UCB-derived MSCs could survive and migrate around by the center of transplant site.There were (12.67?2.73)% of MSCs differentiated into astrocyte-like cells.mNSS showed that the score of transplant group was lower than that of control group on the first,7th,14th,21th and 28th day,and the differences of score points between 2 groups on the 14th,21th and 28thday were statistically significant(Pa

Objective To investigate the clinical usefulness and safety of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) combined with probiotics in treating elderly patients with antibiotic associated diarrhea(AAD).Methods A total of 88 hospitalized elderly patients (≥65 years old) treated with antibiotics during August 2014 to August 2016 were included in this study. Patients were divided into control group(26 cases),probiotics group(30 cases)and combined group(32 cases).The control group was given maltodextrin as placebo intervention, the probiotics group was given the same dose of probiotics only, and the combined group was given SDF and probiotics treatment. The treatment was observed for 14 d. The incidence and the recurrence rate of ADD, the results of fecal culture and the incidence of adverse reactions were monitored in the three groups. Results The incidence of ADD was obviously lower in the combined group and the probiotics group than that of control group(6.25% vs.26.92%,6.67% vs.26.92%,P<0.05).The disease duration of diarrhea was shorter in the combined group than that of probiotic group[(3.53 ± 0.62)d vs.(4.39 ± 1.01)d,P<0.05],but no difference was found when compared with that of control group [(3.55 ± 0.65) d]. After 7-day intervention, Enterococcus counts was significantly deceased in probiotic group(P<0.05).There were no significant changes in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts in probiotic group after 14-day intervention. In the combined group, after 7-day intervention, Enterococcus counts decreased (P<0.05), and then started increasing until the 14-day(P<0.05).Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts increased with the time passed (P<0.05).The incidence rates of total adverse reactions were 6.25%,10.00% and 23.07% for combined group,probiotics group and control group,and with no significant differences between them.Conclusion The probiotics combined with SDF has a good clinical effect on preventing the occurrence of antibiotic associated diarrhea and shortening the course of diarrhea in the elderly.It has high safety and it can regulate the intestinal flore with high safety.

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the effects and mechanisms of Huangkui capsule (HKC) on renal fibrosis in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODRats were randomly divided into 5 groups, the sham-operated group (Sham group, n = 5), the vehicle-given group (Vehicle group, n = 7), the low dose of HKC-treated group (L-HKC group, n = 7), the high dose of HKC-treated group (H-HKC group, n = 7) and the lipoic acid (LA)-treated group (LA group, n = 7). DN models were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ,35 mg x kg(-1)) twice and unilateral nephrectomy. After models were successfully established, the rats in HKC and LA groups were daily administrated with HKC suspensions (0.75, 2 g x kg(-1)) or LA suspensions (60 mg x kg(-1)) respectively, and at the same time, the rats in Vehicle group were daily administrated with distilled water (2 mL) for 8 weeks. All rats were sacrificed at the end of week 8 to collect blood and renal tissues. UAlb, renal function, renal fibrotic morphologic characteristics, as well as oxidative stress (OS)-related markers, the protein expressions of the key signaling molecules in p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signaling pathway, fibrogenic cytokines and inflammatory factors were examined respectively.

RESULTHKC, similar to LA, improved the general state of health, body weight, UAlb, BUN, UA and Alb in DN model rats. Of note, renal fibrosis was ameliorated in HKC groups,especially in H-HKC group which was better than that in LA group. In addition, HKC not only improved the main indexes of OS in the kidney like LA, but also down-regulated the protein expressions of phosphorylated-p38MAPK (p-p38MAPK), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in the kidney, whereas, LA only decreased the protein expression of TNF-α in the kidney in DN model rats.

CONCLUSIONHKC, similar to LA, has the actions of anti-OS in vivo. Moreover, HKC could attenuate renal fibrosis by suppressing the activation of p38MAPK signaling pathway and the protein expressions of fibrogenic cytokines and inflammatory factors in the kidney in DN model rats, which is different from LA.

Abelmoschus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Capsules ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors

In the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN), reactive oxygen specie (ROS) over much in vivo leads to oxidative stress(OS)-related renal injuries, which are characterized by the structural and functional changes in glomerular and renal tubular cells in morphology. The regulative approaches of OS involve the several signaling pathways, in which, both p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway play the important roles as the target of anti-oxidants. The interventional actions of Chinese herbal compound prescriptions and the extracts of single Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on OS in the kidney in DN include regulating the balance between ROS and antioxidants, reducing the production of AGEs, inhibiting the expression of growth factors and intervening the activity of signaling pathways.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo determine the concentration of schisandrin in Shengmaiyin with HPLC.

METHODThe sample was extracted with ethyl acetate through supersonic wave. The solution was filtrated and evaporated. The residue was resolved with methanol and determined by HPLC using PHENOMENEX C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microns) chromatographic column, methanol-acetonitrile-water (15:15:10) as mobile phase. The wavelength for detection was 254 nm.

RESULTThe peak of schizandrin appears on about 7.10 minutes. The standard curves of schizandrin were linear in the concentration range of 0.2-2.0 micrograms, r = 0.9996. The average recovery of schizandrin were 100.5% (RSD 2.84%).

CONCLUSIONThis method was found to be sensitive, quick and accurate for the measurement of schizandrin concentrations in Shengmaiyin.

Administration, Oral ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cyclooctanes ; analysis ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lignans ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polycyclic Compounds ; analysis ; Schisandra ; chemistry

BACKGROUND:The intestine is not only the main target attacked by sepsis but also the vital organ which mediated sepsis. The recovery of the damaged intestinal barrier structure and function is related to the occurrence and outcome of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). How to protect and reduce the damage of the intestinal mucosa and how to promote the reconstruction of the intestinal mucosa have been the important topics in sepsis for many years. This study aimed to investigate the influential factors of intestinal mucosal reconstruction after intestinal epithelial injuryin vivo in a mouse model of sepsis.METHODS:Mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) for induction of sepsis to assess intestinal mucosal damage, epithelial cell apoptosis, and transformed number of goblet cells, and to detect the concentration of TNF-α, IL-1 and TGF-β1 and TFF3 (trefoil factor 3) expression in the small intestinal mucosa. All above were performed by HE staining, western blot, ELISA and immunohistochemistry respectively. The experimental animals were divided into a sepsis group and a sham-operation group. The animals with sepsis were separately killed at 6 (7 animals), 24 (7 animals) and 48 hours (7 animals) after CLP.RESULTS:Injured intestinal mucosa was observed in the 3 groups under a light microscope, in which damage scores in the 24-hour and 48-hour groups were higher than in the 6-hour group and no difference was found between the two groups. Moreover, less of goblet cells or other epithelial cells adjacent to the injured surface migrated into the wound to cover the denuded area. The number of goblet cells was substantially decreased in the three CLP groups compared with the sham-operation group. Protein levels of IL-1 and TNF-α were significantly increased by 3-4 fold at all time points when compared with the sham-operation group, and cleaved caspase-3 by 4 fold. Although TFF3 expression was modestly increased for 6 hours after the onset of CLP, it appeared to decline at 24 hours and 48 hours as shown by Western blot. A similar tendency was observed upon TGF-β1, i.e. the protein level was not elevated at 24 hours and 48 hours, but increased modestly at 6 hours.CONCLUSIONS:Sepsis from CLP shows less restitution on the surface of injured intestinal mucosa. There is evidence that both constant inflammatory reaction and epithelial cell apoptosis may affect mucosal reestablishment of the intestine at the onset of sepsis. Mucosa after severe sepsis showed the state of high inflammation, and declined goblet cell function and mucosal reconstruction, which affected the repair of damaged intestinal barrier. Constant inflammatory reaction, and declined goblet cell function and mucosal reconstruction ability may affect the reestablishment of intestinal mucosa at the onset of sepsis.