Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BYHWD), as one of the classic formulas in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for the treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke(CIS), has demonstrated definite effects in clinical practice. However, the material basis and mechanism of treatment have not been systematically elucidated. This study employed network pharmacology and molecular docking to analyze the potential targets and mechanisms of blood-and brain-penetrating active components of BYHWD in reducing cell apoptosis in CIS. Cell experiments were then carried out to validate the prediction results. In the experiments, five active components including hydroxysafflor yellow A( HSYA), tetramethylpyrazine( TMP), astragaloside Ⅳ( AS-Ⅳ), amygdalin( AMY), and paeoniflorin(PF) were selected to explore the pharmacological effects of BYHWD. HT22 cells were treated with BYHWD, and the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) method was employed to examine the toxic and side effects of BYHWD. A cell model of oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation( OGD/R) was constructed, with apoptosis and pyroptosis as the main screening indicators. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and glutathione(GSH) were measured to assess the cell membrane integrity. Flow cytometry was employed to detect apoptosis, and the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-1 were measured to clarify the status of apoptosis and pyroptosis. ELISA was employed to determine the levels of interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-18 to confirm pyroptosis. HSYA and AMY were identified in this study as the active components regulating apoptosis and pyroptosis. TUNEL was employed to detect the apoptosis rate, and Western blot was employed to determine the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), and caspase-3, which confirmed that the anti-apoptotic effect of the combined component group was superior to that of the single component groups. The molecular docking results revealed strong binding affinity of HSYA and AMY with SDF-1α and CXCR4.AMD3100, a selective antagonist of CXCR4, was then used for intervention. The results of Western blot showed alterations in the expression levels of apoptosis-associated proteins, SDF-1α, and CXCR4. In conclusion, HSYA and AMY influence cellular apoptosis by modulating the SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling cascade.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Animals ; Neurons/cytology* ; Mice ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Cell Line ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Humans ; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology*

This study primarily investigates the effect of Liuwei Dihuang Pills on the activation and proliferation of female germline stem cells(FGSCs) in the ovaries and cortex of mice with premature ovarian failure(POF), and how it improves ovarian function. ICR mice were randomly divided into the control group, model group, Liuwei Dihuang Pills group, Liuwei Dihuang Pills double-dose group, and estradiol valerate group. A mouse model of POF was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide. After successful modeling, the mice were treated with Liuwei Dihuang Pills or estradiol valerate for 28 days. Vaginal smears were prepared to observe the estrous cycle and body weight. After the last administration, mice were sacrificed and sampled. Serum levels of estradiol(E_2), follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone(LH), and anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe ovarian morphology and to count follicles at all stages to evaluate ovarian function. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of mouse vasa homolog(MVH), a marker of ovarian FGSCs. Immunofluorescence staining, using co-labeling of MVH and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), was used to detect the expression and localization of specific markers of FGSCs. Western blot was employed to assess the protein expression of MVH, octamer-binding transcription factor 4(Oct4), and PCNA in the ovaries. The results showed that compared with the control group, the model group exhibited disordered estrous cycles, decreased ovarian index, increased atretic follicles, and a reduced number of follicles at all stages. FSH and LH levels were significantly elevated, while AMH and E_2 levels were significantly reduced, indicating the success of the model. After treatment with Liuwei Dihuang Pills or estradiol valerate, hormone levels improved, the number of atretic follicles decreased, and the number of follicles at all stages increased. MVH marker protein and PCNA proliferative protein expression in ovarian tissue also increased. These results suggest that Liuwei Dihuang Pills regulate estrous cycles and hormone disorders in POF mice, promote the proliferation of FGSCs, improve follicular development in POF mice, and enhance ovarian function.
Animals ; Female ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Ovary/cytology* ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency/genetics* ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/metabolism* ; Humans ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone/blood* ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects* ; Luteinizing Hormone/metabolism* ; Cyclophosphamide/adverse effects*

This study aims to explore the effects and action mechanisms of the active ingredients in Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BYHWD), namely tetramethylpyrazine(TMP) and hydroxy-safflor yellow A(HSYA), on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reglucose-reoxygenation(OGD/R)-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of microglia(MG). Network pharmacology was used to screen the effective monomer ingredients of BYHWD and determine the safe concentration range for each component. Inflammation and oxidative stress models were established to further screen the best ingredient combination and optimal concentration ratio with the most effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. OGD/R BV2 cell models were constructed, and BV2 cells in the logarithmic growth phase were divided into a normal group, a model group, an HSYA group, a TMP group, and an HSYA + TMP group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-6(IL-6). Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase(SOD), nitric oxide(NO), and malondialdehyde(MDA), were also measured. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of both inflammation-related pathway [Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)] and oxidative stress-related pathway [nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)]. Immunofluorescence was used to assess the expression of proteins such as inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and arginase-1(Arg-1). The most effective ingredients for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in BYHWD were TMP and HSYA. Compared to the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA, along with significantly higher protein expression of NF-κB, TLR4, Nrf2, and HO-1 and significantly lower SOD levels. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant. Compared to the model group, both the HSYA group and the TMP group showed significantly reduced levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA, lower expression of NF-κB and TLR4 proteins, higher levels of SOD, and significantly increased protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. Additionally, the expression of the M1-type MG marker iNOS was significantly reduced, while the expression of the M2-type MG marker Arg-1 was significantly increased. The results of the HSYA group and the TMP group had statistically significant differences from those of the model group. Compared to the HSYA group and the TMP group, the HSYA + TMP group showed further significant reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA levels, along with significant reductions in NF-κB and TLR4 protein expression, an increase in SOD levels, and elevated Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression. Additionally, the expression of the M1-type MG marker iNOS was reduced, while the M2-type MG marker Arg-1 expression increased significantly in the HSYA + TMP group compared to the TMP or HSYA group. The differences in the results were statistically significant between the HSYA + TMP group and the TMP or HSYA group. The findings indicated that the combined use of HSYA and TMP, the active ingredients of BYHWD, can effectively inhibit OGD/R-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of MG, showing superior effects compared to the individual use of either component.
Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Mice ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Inflammation/genetics* ; Oxygen/metabolism* ; Pyrazines/pharmacology* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/immunology* ; NF-kappa B/immunology* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/immunology* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between serum levels of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), heparanase (HPSE) and early renal impairment (RI) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 125 MM patients who were initially diagnosed in the Department of Hematology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology from June 2020 to June 2023. The patients were divided into RI group (>176.80 μmol/L) and non-RI group (≤176.80 μmol/L) based on their serum creatinine levels when diagnosed. The baseline data and laboratory indexes of the two groups were compared. The relationship between serum FGF-23, HPSE and early RI in MM patients was analyzed. RESULTS: Among 125 newly diagnosed MM patients, 33 cases developed early RI, accounting for 26.40%. The proportion of light chain type, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase, FGF-23, and HPSE levels in RI group were higher than those in non-RI group (all P <0.05). There was no statistical significant difference in other data between the two groups (P >0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that BUN, FGF-23 and HPSE were associated with early RI in MM patients (all P <0.05). The serum FGF-23 level was divided into Q1-Q4 groups by quartile, and the serum HPSE level was divided into q1-q4 groups. The correlation analysis showed that with the increase of serum FGF-23 and HPSE levels, the incidence of early RI increased (r =0.668, 0.592). Furthermore, logistic regression analysis showed that after controlling for confounding factors, elevated levels of serum FGF-23 and HPSE were still influencing factors for early RI in MM patients (OR>1, P <0.05). According to Pearson's linear correlation test, there was a positive correlation between serum FGF-23 level and HPSE level (r =0.373). CONCLUSION There is a certain correlation between serum levels of FGF-23, HPSE and early RI in MM patients, and the incidence of early RI is higher in patients with abnormally high levels of both.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/complications* ; Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 ; Retrospective Studies ; Fibroblast Growth Factors/blood* ; Glucuronidase/blood* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency/blood* ; Aged

Objective:To observe the genetic variation of SH2B3 in patients with myeloid neoplasms.Methods:The results of targeted DNA sequencing associated with myeloid neoplasms in the Department of Hematology,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University from November 2017 to November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed,and the patients with SH2B3 gene mutations were identified.The demographic and clinical data of these patients were collected,and characteristics of SH2B3 gene mutation,co-mutated genes and their correlations with diseases were analyzed.Results:The sequencing results were obtained from 1 005 patients,in which 19 patients were detected with SH2B3 gene mutation,including 18 missense mutations(94.74％),1 nonsense mutation(5.26％),and 10 patients with co-mutated genes(52.63％).Variant allele frequency(VAF)ranged from 0.03 to 0.66.The highest frequency mutation was p.Ile568Thr(5/19,26.32％),with an average VAF of 0.49,involving 1 case of MDS/MPN-RS(with SF3B1 mutation),1 case of MDS-U(with SF3B1 mutation),1 case of aplastic anemia with PNH clone(with PIGA and KMT2A mutations),2 cases of MDS-MLD(1 case with SETBP1 mutation).The other mutations included p.Ala567Thr in 2 cases(10.53％),p.Arg566Trp,p.Glu533Lys,p.Met437Arg,p.Arg425Cys,p.Glu314Lys,p.Arg308*,p.Gln294Glu,p.Arg282Gln,p.Arg175Gln,p.Gly86Cys,p.His55Asn and p.Gln54Pro in 1 case each.Conclusion:A wide distribution of genetic mutation sites and low recurrence of SH2B3 is observed in myeloid neoplasms,among of them,p.Ile568Thr mutation is detected with a higher incidence and often coexists with characteristic mutations of other diseases.

Background::A phase II trial on recombinant human tenecteplase tissue-type plasminogen activator (rhTNK-tPA) has previously shown its preliminary efficacy in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. This study was designed as a pivotal postmarketing trial to compare its efficacy and safety with rrecombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator alteplase (rt-PA) in Chinese patients with STEMI.Methods::In this multicenter, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial, patients with acute STEMI were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive an intravenous bolus of 16 mg rhTNK-tPA or an intravenous bolus of 8 mg rt-PA followed by an infusion of 42 mg in 90 min. The primary endpoint was recanalization defined by thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade 2 or 3. The secondary endpoint was clinically justified recanalization. Other endpoints included 30-day major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) and safety endpoints.Results::From July 2016 to September 2019, 767 eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive rhTNK-tPA ( n = 384) or rt-PA ( n = 383). Among them, 369 patients had coronary angiography data on TIMI flow, and 711 patients had data on clinically justified recanalization. Both used a –15% difference as the non-inferiority efficacy margin. In comparison to rt-PA, both the proportion of patients with TIMI grade 2 or 3 flow (78.3% [148/189] vs. 81.7% [147/180]; differences: –3.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: –11.5%, 4.8%) and clinically justified recanalization (85.4% [305/357] vs. 85.9% [304/354]; difference: –0.5%; 95% CI: –5.6%, 4.7%) in the rhTNK-tPA group were non-inferior. The occurrence of 30-day MACCEs (10.2% [39/384] vs. 11.0% [42/383]; hazard ratio: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.50) did not differ significantly between groups. No safety outcomes significantly differed between groups. Conclusion::rhTNK-tPA was non-inferior to rt-PA in the effect of improving recanalization of the infarct-related artery, a validated surrogate of clinical outcomes, among Chinese patients with acute STEMI.Trial registration::www.ClinicalTrials.gov (No. NCT02835534).

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis in children, which is defined in TCM terms as a syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung.Methods:This was a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial.From January 2022 to September 2023, 359 children aged 3 to 7 years old diagnosed as acute bronchitis (lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome) were enrolled from 21 participating hospitals and randomly assigned to the experimental group and placebo group in a 3︰1 ratio, and respectively treated with Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules and its matching placebo.Cough resolution/general resolution rate after 7 days of treatment was used as the primary efficacy outcome for both groups.Results:(1)On the seventh day of treatment, the rate of cough disappearance/basically disappearance in the experimental group and placebo group were 73.95% and 57.61% retrospectively, which had statistically significance ( P=0.001).(2)After 7 days of treatment, the median duration of cough disappearance/basic disappearance were 5 days and 6 days in the two groups , with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.006).The area under the curve of cough symptom severity time was 7.20 ± 3.79 in the experimental group and 8.20±4.42 in the placebo group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039).(3) After 7 days of treatment, the difference between TCM syndrome score and baseline was -16.0 (-20.0, -15.0) points in the experimental group and -15.0 (-18.0, -12.0) points in the placebo group, with significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.004).In the experimental group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 49.04%, 28.35%, 16.48% and 6.13% severally; and in the placebo group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 38.04%, 26.09%, 29.35%, and 6.52% separately, which had statistically significant ( P=0.014).(4) There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or adverse reactions during the trial between both groups.Moreover, while adverse reactions in the form of vomiting and diarrhea were occasionally reported, no serious drug-related adverse event or adverse reaction was reported.(5)The tested drug provided good treatment compliance, showing no statistically significant difference from the placebo in terms of compliance rate. Conclusions:Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules provides good safety, efficacy, and treatment compliance in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis, and lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome, in children.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Yiqi Huayu Decoction(mainly composed of Astragali Radix,Dioscoreae Rhizoma,Poria,fried Euryales Semen,Ecliptae Herba,Rosae Laevigatae Fructus,charred Crataegi Fructus,Ligustri Lucidi Fructus,Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,and Leonuri Herba)combined with Calcium Dobesilate in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy(DN)with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome,and to observe the effect of the therapy on vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1).Methods Ninety patients with DN of qi deficiency and blood stasis type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,with 45 patients in each group.All patients received basic hypoglycemic therapy and treatment for controlling blood pressure and regulating lipid metabolism disorders.Moreover,the patients in the control group were given Calcium Dobesilate orally,and the patients in the observation group were given Yiqi Huayu Decoction combined with Calcium Dobesilate.The course of treatment lasted for 3 months.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,renal function parameters and serum VEGF and IGF-1 levels in the two groups of patients were observed before and after the treatment,and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated after treatment.Results(1)After 3 months of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 91.11%(41/45),and that of the control group was 75.56%(34/45).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the therapeutic effect of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.05).(2)After one month and 3 months of treatment,the TCM syndrome scores of both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the scores after 3 months of treatment in the two groups were significantly lower than those after one month of treatment(P＜0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the reduction of TCM syndrome scores of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group after one month and 3 months of treatment(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the levels of renal function parameters such as serum creatinine(Scr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),and glomerular filtration rate(GFR)in the two groups of patients were significantly improved compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the observation group's effect on the improvement of all renal function parameters was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the serum VEGF and IGF-1 levels in the two groups of patients were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the observation group's effect on the decrease of serum VEGF and IGF-1 levels was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.01).(5)In the course of treatment,no significant adverse reactions occurred in the two groups of patients,with a high degree of safety.Conclusion Yiqi Huayu Decoction combined with Calcium Dobesilate exerts certain therapeutic effect in treating DN patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome.The combined therapy can effectively down-regulate the serum levels of VEGF and IGF-1,significantly improve the renal function,and alleviate the clinical symptoms of the patients,with a high degree of safety.

Jinqi Jiangtang Capsule (JQJTC) is clinically used for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes, but the contents of its main chemical components are not yet clear. In this study, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was established for the determination of 15 components in JQJTC, including new chlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, formononetin, ononin, calycosin, calycosin-7-glucoside, astragaloside IV, berberine, epiberberine, berberrubine, coptisine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine and magnoflorine. The method was used to determine the contents of 15 components in the capsule and then to investigate the influence of excipients on the contents of the components in JQJTC. The separation was performed on a ACQUITY UPLC BEH C₁₈ column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% acetic acid and 5 mmol·L^-1 ammonium acetate (A) and acetonitrile (B) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min^-1 and a column temperature at 40 ℃. Electron spray ionization was used for mass spectrometry in positive ion mode. The established method meets the requirements of methodology of content determination in Chinese pharmacopoeia. The contents of 15 components in JQJTC varied from high to low. The top 5 contents were berberine, chlorogenic acid, magnoflorine, coptisine, and cryptochlorogenic acid, accounting for 87.31% of the total content. The contents of 10 components, including the alkaloids of coptidis rhizoma (berberine, epiberberine, berberrubine, coptisine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine and magnoflorine) and the organic acids of honeysuckle (new chlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cryptochlorogenic acid) in the whole formula extract without excipients was significantly lower than that in the capsule. These components accounted for 99.20% of the determined component contents. In this experiment, an accurate, sensitive and efficient UHPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of multi-components in JQJTC was established, which stably and reliably detected the contents of 15 components in the capsule and could provide the basis for more comprehensive quality analysis. It was also found that excipients had an increasing effect on the contents of detected alkaloid and organic acid components, which may be beneficial to the effectiveness of the capsules.