Impaired angiogenesis is one of the crucial factors that impede the wound healing process in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). In this study, we found that 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), an aglycone of ginsenosides in Panax notoginseng, stimulated angiogenesis and benefited wound healing in genetically diabetic mice. In HUVECs, PPD promoted cell proliferation, tube formation and VEGF secretion accompanied by increased nuclear translocalization of HIF-1α, which led to elevated VEGF mRNA expression. PPD activated both PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathways in HUVECs, which were abrogated by LY294002 and PD98059. Furthermore, these two pathways had crosstalk through p70S6K, as LY294002, PD98059 and p70S6K siRNA abolished the angiogenic responses of PPD. In the excisional wound splinting model established in db/db diabetic mice, PPD (0.6, 6 and 60 mg ml−1) accelerated wound closure, which was reflected by a significantly reduced wound area and epithelial gaps, as well as elevated VEGF expression and capillary formation. In addition, PPD activated PI3K/Akt/ERK signaling pathways, as well as enhanced p70S6K activity and HIF-1α synthesis in the wounds. Overall, our results revealed that PPD stimulated angiogenesis via HIF-1α-mediated VEGF expression by activating p70S6K through PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascades, which suggests that the compound has potential use in wound healing therapy in patients suffering from DFUs.
Animals ; Capillaries ; Cell Proliferation ; Diabetic Foot ; Ginsenosides ; Humans ; Mice* ; Panax notoginseng ; Phosphotransferases* ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Splints ; Ulcer ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between inflammatory factors and two Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome types of qi stagnation and blood stasis (QSBS) and qi deficiency and blood stasis (QDBS) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODSSixty subjects with ACS, whose pathogenesis changes belongs to qi disturbance blood stasis syndrome, were divided into 2 groups: 30 in the QSBS group and 30 in the QDBS group. The comparative analysis on them was carried out through comparing general information, coronary angiography and inflammatory factors including intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2).

RESULTSCompared with the QSBS group, Lp-PLA2 and YKL-40 levels in the QDBS group showed no-significant difference (P>0.05); ICAM-1 was significantly higher in the QDBS group than in the QSBS group in the pathological processes of qi disturbance and blood stasis syndrome of ACS (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSInflammatory factor ICAM-1 may be an objective basis for syndrome typing of QSBS and QDBS, which provides a research direction for standardization research of CM syndrome types.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements based on three different region of interest (ROI) selection methods, and compare their diagnostic performance in differentiating benign from malignant orbital tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diffusion-weighted imaging data of sixty-four patients with orbital tumors (33 benign and 31 malignant) were retrospectively analyzed. Two readers independently measured the ADC values using three different ROIs selection methods including whole-tumor (WT), single-slice (SS), and reader-defined small sample (RDSS). The differences of ADC values (ADC-ROI(WT), ADC-ROI(SS), and ADC-ROI(RDSS)) between benign and malignant group were compared using unpaired t test. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine and compare their diagnostic ability. The ADC measurement time was compared using ANOVA analysis and the measurement reproducibility was assessed using Bland-Altman method and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: Malignant group showed significantly lower ADC-ROI(WT), ADC-ROI(SS), and ADC-ROI(RDSS) than benign group (all p < 0.05). The areas under the curve showed no significant difference when using ADC-ROI(WT), ADC-ROI(SS), and ADC-ROI(RDSS) as differentiating index, respectively (all p > 0.05). The ROI(SS) and ROI(RDSS) required comparable measurement time (p > 0.05), while significantly shorter than ROIWT (p < 0.05). The ROI(SS) showed the best reproducibility (mean difference ± limits of agreement between two readers were 0.022 [-0.080-0.123] × 10(-3) mm2/s; ICC, 0.997) among three ROI methods. CONCLUSION: Apparent diffusion coefficient values based on the three different ROI selection methods can help to differentiate benign from malignant orbital tumors. The results of measurement time, reproducibility and diagnostic ability suggest that the ROI(SS) method are potentially useful for clinical practice.
Diffusion* ; Humans ; Methods* ; Orbit* ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve

The certified reference materials (CRMs) of emodin in rhubarb and its alcohol extract, water extract were developed by using quantity transfer technology from single chemical composition to the complex systems. The CRM of emodin was used for quantity transfer, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to determine the contents of emodin in different matrix composition. By establishing mathematical model and calculating the parts of uncertainty, the uncertainty values were finally gotten. CRMs of emodin in rhubarb, alcohol extract and water extract were accomplished. The content values of emodin were 0.40% ±0.03%, 1.15%±0.18%, 0.16%±0.08% (k=2,P=0.95), respectively. The established method for quantity transfer has successfully solved the technical problems that the value of active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine can't be traced to SI units. The series of CRMs are assigned as grade primary reference materials, which are useful for quality control of the emodin content, also provide the accurate and reliable CRM, materials standard and standard methods.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome, also known as TCM ZHENG or TCM pattern, is an integral and essential part of TCM theory that helps to guide the design of individualized treatments. A TCM syndrome, in essence, is a characteristic profile of all clinical manifestations in one patient that can be readily identified by a TCM practitioner. In this article, the authors reviewed the presentations of TCM syndromes in seven common malignancies (liver, lung, gastric, breast, colorectal, pancreatic and esophageal cancers), the objectivity and the standardization of TCM syndrome differentiation, the evaluation of TCM syndrome modeling in cancer research, and syndrome differentiation-guided TCM treatment of cancers. A better understanding of TCM syndrome theory, as well as its potential biological basis, may contribute greatly to the clinical TCM diagnosis and the treatment of cancer.
Data Mining ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Precision Medicine

To investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of vina-ginsenoside R7 (R7) on the activation of rat C6 astrocytes cells induced by LPS/TNF-α, cells in logarithmic growth phase were cultured in DMEM medium without FBS for 24 h. After dissociated using 0.25% EDTA-trypsin, the cells were seeded into respective plates at the density of 1.5×10⁶ cells per mL and cultured overnight. The cells were divided into the following groups： control group (no treatment), model group (treated with LPS 1 μg•mL⁻¹ and TNF-α 10 μg•L⁻¹ treated for 24 h), R7 groups (pre-treated with 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 75 μmol•L⁻¹ R7, 4 μmol•L⁻¹ L-NMMA for 2 h and then stimulated with LPS 1 mg•L⁻¹ and TNF-α 10 μg•L⁻¹ for 24 h). Cell viability was analyzed by CCK-8 kit. Secretion of nitric oxide (NO) in the medium was measured by Greiss method. Concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were assayed by ELISA kits. Gene expressions of inflammatory factors were examined by quantitative-PCR analysis. Activation of NF-κB was detected by dual luciferase reporter gene assay kit. The results showed that R7 could significantly inhibit the secretion of NO from C6 cells in a dose-effect manner, with an IC₅₀ of 34 μmol•L⁻¹. And it could reduce cell proliferation induced by LPS/TNF-α stimulation. Furthermore, R7 at 50 μmol•L⁻¹ significantly down-regulated gene expressions of iNOS (P<0.001), TNF-α (P<0.001), IL-1β(P<0.05), and COX-2 (P<0.001), but could not change gene expression of IL-6. However, R7 reduced the secretion of TNF-α (P<0.001) and IL-6 (P<0.001). Further studies disclosed that, different concentrations of R7 (25, 50, 100 μmol•L⁻¹) could significantly inhibit the transcription activity of NF-κB(P<0.05, P<0.01, and P<0.001). In conclusion, R7 could inhibit inflammatory responses in C6 cells induced by LPS/TNF-α probably by inhibiting the transcription activity of NF-κB, which indicates its possible therapeutic effect in neurological diseases related to neuroinflammation.

OBJECTIVETo establish discriminant functions of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by studying it from quantitative diagnosis angle, hoping to reduce interference of subjective factors in diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

METHODSA Chinese medical clinical epidemiological survey was carried out in 439 IBS-D patients using Clinical Information Collection Table of IBS. Initial syndromes were obtained by cluster analysis. They were analyzed using step-by-step discrimination by taking information of four Chinese medical diagnostic methods and serum brain-gut peptides (BGP) as variables.

RESULTSClustering results were Gan stagnation Pi deficiency syndrome (GSPDS), Pi-Wei weakness syndrome (PWWS), Gan stagnation qi stasis syndrome (GSQSS), Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (PSYDS), Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome (PWDHS), cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome (CDDPS). Of them, GSPDS was mostly often seen with effective percentage of 34. 2%, while CDDPS was the least often seen with effective percentage of 5.5%. A total of 5 discriminant functions for GSPDS, PWWS, GSQSS, PSYDS, and PWDHS were obtained by step-by-step dis- crimination method. The retrospective misjudgment rate was 4.1% (16/390), while the cross-validation misjudgment rate was 15.4% (60/390).

CONCLUSIONThe establishment of discriminant functions is of value in objectively diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

Alarmins ; Brain ; Cluster Analysis ; Diarrhea ; classification ; diagnosis ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; classification ; diagnosis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Yang Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo realize quadratic formula optimization of Renshen Jianxin Capsule (RJC) by screening Chinese herbs with major anti-myocardial ischemia effect in RJC and optimize their optimal dosages.

METHODSBy following "uniform design-pharmacodynamic experiment-mathematical modeling-formula optimization", authors employed U10(10(8)) uniform design in the experiment. Eight Chinese herbs contained in RJC were taken as observatory factors. Electrocardiograph (ECG) changes of myocardial ischemia induced by isoproterenol were taken as pharmacodynamic indices. The mathematical model between herbal factors and pharmacodynamic indices was established using stepwise regression analysis to screen Chinese herbs with major anti-myocardial ischemia effect. Their optimal dosages were optimized using the grid algorithm.

RESULTSThe regression equation was y =1. 7889 -0. 3247 Ginseng xSalvia Miltiorrhiza -0. 0663 Astragalus membranaceus xOriental Waterplantain tuber. Forecasting factors included were Ginseng, Salvia Miltiorrhiza, Astragalus membranaceus, and Oriental Waterplantain tuber. The optimal formula dosage calculated by the grid algorithm was Ginseng 1. 62 g, Astragalus membranaceus 4. 62 g, Salvia Miltiorrhiza 2. 43 g, and Oriental Waterplantain tuber 1. 66 g.

CONCLUSIONUniform design combined with stepwise regression analysis and grid algorithm were able to realize quadratic formula optimization of RJC.

Astragalus membranaceus ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; standards ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Isoproterenol ; Myocardial Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Panax ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

In this paper, the RP-HPLC specific chromatography was adopted, with DIKMA-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm) as the chromatographic column, with a gradient elution compose of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acid at flow rate of 0.8 mL · min(-1), the detection wavelength was 220 nm. The difference of the HPLC specific chromatograms between the Lu Dangshen and other different base sources and different producing area of Codonopsis Radix was compared, involved in the similarities and differences of the number and the relative peak area of characteristic peaks in the HPLC specific chromatograms. The HPLC specific chromatograms of Lu Dangshen was established and the relative retention times of seven peaks was determined, and the peaks of codonopyrrolidium B, syringin, lobetyolin, tangshenoside I and atractylenoide III were identified; The HPLC specific chromatograms of Lu Dangshen provided a method for scientific evaluation and effective control the quality of Lu Dangshen from Shanxi famous-region.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Phenylpropionates ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Quality Control

A HPLC method has been developed in the current investigation for simultaneous determination of three chemical markers of by akangelicin, imperatorin and isoimperatorin in Radix Angelicae Dahuricae. Separation was performed at 30 degrees C. on achromatographic column of Platisil ODS C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was acetonitrile-water. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was 254 nm. The results showed that the three chemical markers could be well resolved and that in the selected linear range, all calibration curves of the three chemical markers showed good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.999 8). The recoveries of byakangelicin, imperatorin and isoimperatorin were 100.83%, 100.10% and 103.52%, respectively, and RSD were 1.7%, 0.77% and 0.41% (n = 6), respectively. The data suggested that the developed HPLC method had good reproducibility, robustness, and accuracy, which was suitable for the quality control of Radix Angelicae Dahuricae. Applications of this method showed that the three chemical markers had higher contents in the Bozhou Anhui and Changge Henan than others.
Angelica ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Furocoumarins ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Quality Control