Objective : To investigate the mechanism of puerarin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) by network pharmacology and animal experiments. Methods : Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmcolog Database(TCMSP) and SwissTargetPrediction database were used to collect puerarin targets, and the targets of RA were obtained from GeneCards database and OMIM database. The PPI network was established by Cytoscape 3.7.2 software. Gene ontology(GO) function and Kyotoencyclopedia of genes(KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed through the Metascape database. RA rat-collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) model was reproduced using type Ⅱ collagen emulsion, 49 Wistar rats were randomly assigned to seven groups: control group, CIA model group, low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose puerarin group, methotrexate group, Tripterysium Glycosides Tablets group. Except for the control group, the other groups were given continuous gavage for 28 days after the CIA in rats model were prepared. The redness and swelling of the joints and ankle joint pathological changes were observed in each group. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Glycogen synthase kinase3β(GSK-3β), beta-catenin(β-catenin) proteins in the synovium. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) was used to detect the expression of GSK-3β, β-catenin and c-Myc mRNA in the synovium. Results : Puerarin had 134 targets genes, RA had 5 821 target genes, and there were 102 overlapping target genes of puerarin and RA. It involved 184 signaling pathways, including JAK-STAT signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, et al. The results of animal experiments showed that after the intervention of M-puerarin and MTX, the symptoms of redness and swelling of the hind foot were alleviated, the inflammatory cell infiltration in the synovium of the joint was significantly reduced, and the damage of cartilage and bone tissue was reduced. Compared with CIA group, the expressions of GSK-3β, β-catenin protein and GSK-3β, β-catenin and c-Myc mRNA in synovial tissue of rats after M-puerarin intervention decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion Puerarin has the characteristic of multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathway intervention in RA. Puerarin may alleviate synovial hyperplasia, reduce articular cartilage erosion and bone destruction in CIA in rats by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Colon cancer-related anemia (CCRA) is mainly caused by systemic inflammation, intestinal bleeding, iron deficiency and chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in colon cancer. However, the best therapeutic schedule and related mechanism on CCRA were still uncertain. Studies on blood enrichment and anti-tumor effects of combined Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD), Fe and rhEPO based on CCRA and gut microbiota modulation were conducted in this paper. Here, CCRA model was successfully induced by subcutaneous inoculation of CT-26 and i.p. oxaliplatin, rhEPO + DBD high dosage + Fe (EDF) and rhEPO + DBD high dosage (ED) groups had the best blood enrichment effect. Attractively, EDF group also showed antitumor activity. The sequencing results of gut microbiota showed that compared to P group, the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae and opportunistic pathogen (Odoribacter) in ED and EDF groups were decreased. Interestingly, EDF also decreased the relative abundances of cancer-related bacteria (Helicobacter, Lactococcus, Alloprevotella) and imbalance-inducing bacteria (Escherichia-Shigella and Parabacteroides) and increased the relative abundances of butyrate-producing bacteria (Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014), however, ED showed the opposite effects to EDF, this might be the reason of the smaller tumor volume in EDF group. Our findings proposed the best treatment combination of DBD, rhEPO and Fe in CCRA and provided theoretical basis and literature reference for CCRA-induced intestinal flora disorder and the regulatory mechanism of EDF.

It is crucial to establish a complete set of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) quality traceability management process system, in order to stabilize the pricing order of TCM market and reconstruct the transmission path of TCM quality signals. In this study, we reviewed the mature experience of food and drug supervision at home and abroad, analyzed the quality characteristics of TCM, and put forward that the quality control of TCM products can learn from the hazard analysis and critical control point(HACCP) system in food safety quality control. This study points out that the HACCP system provides not only technical guidance for the traceability management of TCM, but also ideas for improving the quality of TCM products and the safety risk control of TCM. The application of the HACCP system in TCM quality control can help establish an international dialogue platform for TCM and help realize the modernization and internationalization of TCM industry.
Biological Products ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality Control

The combination of ginkgo ketoester tablet - donepezil (GD) is a popular combination commonly used in clinic for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. To evaluate the learning and memory improving ability of different proportions of the two drugs. We optimized the ratio of GD for treatment of dementia using a mouse model. Dementia was induced by multiple neuronal damages in mice. The experimental protocols were approved by the Animal Experimental Ethical Committee of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine and all the procedures were strictly conducted in accordance with ethical principle of animal use and care. Morris water maze, brain hematosylin-eosin staining and the changes of the neurotransmitters and related enzymes in the plasma or brain tissues were tested to determine the effect of GD on dementia mice. The results showed that the dementia mice were significantly different from the normal group in terms of behavior, pathological sections and related indicators. Compared to the dementia mice, partial administration groups could improve learning and memory ability as well as indexes in the blood and brain tissues. Both the principal component analysis and multi-attribute comprehensive index methods were used to comprehensively evaluate the total effect of GD on anti-dementia. The results showed that the combination of two drugs at the dose of 0.5 to 1 times was in a dose-effect relationship, and the dose of 1 (the clinical equivalent) had the best treatment effect. Then based on the optimal dose, GD 1∶1 had best effect, which was consistent with the clinical use of two drugs. This provides scientific basis for more effective application of the compatibility between ketoester tablet and donepezil for modern clinic medicine.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of total flavone of haw leaves (TFHL) on the expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor (Nrf2) and other related factors in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) rats induced by high-fat diet and then to further discuss the mechanism of TFHL's prevention against NASH.

METHODSHigh-fat diet was fed to 40 rats to establish the NASH model. Then model rats were intragastrically administrated with 40, 80, 160 mg/(kg•day) TFHL, respectively. The pathological changes of liver tissues in NASH rats were detected by oil red O and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stainings. The expression of Nrf2 in rat liver was examined through immunohistochemistry. The level of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α in serum was detected through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2 and other related factors in liver tissue were measured by real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction and western blot.

RESULTSLipid deposition, hepatic steatosis, focal necrosis in lobular inflammation and ballooning degeneration were emerged in livers of NASH rats. The 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α in the serum of NASH rats increased significantly compared with the control group (P<0.05). The mRNA of Nrf2, hemeoxyenase1 (HO-1) and the mRNA and protein levels of quinine oxidoreductase (NQO1) in NASH rats liver tissue showed a striking increase, while the mRNA levels of Keap1, r-glutamylcysteine synthethase (rGCS) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were significantly decreased compared with the control group (P<0.05). After TFHL treatment, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α level in serum significantly decreased, and Nrf2 mRNA and protein levels in hepatocytes nucleus enhanced compared with the model group (P<0.05 or 0.01). Meanwhile the Keap1 mRNA, the mRNA and protein levels of HO-1, NQO1 antibody, rGCS antibody, GST increased after TFHL treatment (P<0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNrf2 and other related factors were involved in development of NASH, and they also served as an important part in its occurrence. By regulating expression of Nrf2 and other related factors, TFHL may play a role in antioxidative stress and prevention of NASH.

Animals ; Cell Nucleus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Crataegus ; chemistry ; Dinoprost ; metabolism ; Flavones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIM:To explore the role of ginsenoside Rg1 in the growth of degenerative human lumbar nucleus pulposus cells(HNPCs).METHODS:Cultured HNPCs were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD)to mimic the micro-environment of degenerative HNPCs.The morphological changes of the cells in control group and OGD group were observed under optical microscope.The cells were treated with ginsenoside Rg 1 at concentrations of 25,50 and 100 μmol/L.The expression of collagen II and aggrecan at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real -time PCR and Western blot analysis.The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.The mRNA level of Ki67 was detected by real-time PCR.The apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The activity of caspase-3 was measured by a caspase-3 kit.The ex-pression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins was determined by Western blot.Furthermore,the expression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins,the cell viability and apoptosis,and the expression of extracellular matrix synthesis pro-teins were assessed after the cells were co-treated with LiCl and 100 μmol/L ginsenoside Rg1.RESULTS:Normal HNPCs attached on the cell culture plate faster, and were almost round with rich cytoplasm.However, the cell adherence was slower,and the cells were long fusiform with decreased cytoplasm after OGD treatment,indicating that the model of degen-erative HNPCs was successfully established.Compared with normal HNPCs,the expression of collagen II and aggrecan at mRNA and protein levels was decreased in OGD group(P<0.05),which was then increased after the cells were treated with ginsenoside Rg1 at 25,50 and 100 μmol/L(P<0.05).Compared with normal HNPCs,the cell viability and Ki67 expression were decreased in OGD group(P<0.05), which were increased after treatment with ginsenoside Rg 1(P<0.05).Meanwhile,the apoptotic rate and caspase-3 activity were significantly increased in OGD-treated cells(P<0.05), which were decreased after treatment with ginsenoside Rg 1(P<0.05).In addition,the activation of Wnt/β-catenin path-way was also inhibited by ginsenoside Rg 1 treatment at dose of 100 μmol/L(P<0.05).LiCl,a Wnt/β-catenin pathway agonist,obviously decreased the protective effects of ginenoside Rg 1 on OGD-induced cells(P<0.05),indicating that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was involved in the protective effects of ginenoside Rg 1 on degenerative HNPCs.CONCLUSION:Ginsenoside Rg1 promotes growth and extracellular matrix synthesis of degenerative HNPCs through inhibiting Wnt /β-cate-nin pathway.This study will provide a new idea for prevention and treatment of degenerative HNPCs.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence and anatomic distribution of venous thrombosis after total hip and knee arthroplasty by using the data of the patients with primary total hip and knee replacement.

METHODSFrom December 2013 to December 2014, total hip and knee arthroplasty were performed in 1 686 patients, of which 928 were THA and 758 were TKA. Before and after discharge, all patients were routinely performed double lower limb vein color Doppler ultrasound, the conventional use of anti fibrinolytic drugs, postoperative anticoagulation for 14 d. The types and distribution of thrombosis after operation were statistical analysis.

RESULTSAmong 928 cases of primary total hip arthroplasty, there were 30 cases of thrombosis, 27 cases of isolated muscle vein thrombosis, followed by the involvement of the anterior or posterior tibial vein thrombosis, no central thrombosis. Among 758 cases of primary total knee arthroplasty, there were 87 cases of thrombosis, 81 cases peripheral thrombosis, 4 cases of thrombus of center type, the remaining 2 cases for mixed thrombus;74 patients with thrombosis involving a single vein, 65 cases involved muscle vein, 4 cases of femoral vein, 3 cases of posterior tibial vein, 2 cases of superficial vein; 13 cases of thrombosis involving multiple veins, involving muscle vein, posterior tibial veins, the peroneal veins and popliteal vein in 2 or 3 branches. The comparison results showed that the incidence of thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty was higher, the difference was statistically significant (<0.001), and more prone to central thrombosis and multiple venous involvement.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of thrombosis in patients with primary hip and knee replacement is low, and the incidence and anatomic distribution of the patients with primary hip and knee replacement are different.

There is distinctive advantage of using male sterile lines to breed new cultivar and produce hybrids, when compared with general breeding method on yield and quality. In our previous work, near-isogenic lines (NILs) of male sterile and fertile Salvia miltiorrhiza have been obtained through continuous hybridization in many years. In this investigation, 378 primer combination were screened by using AFLP and BSA technique, in which 26 markers amplified from seven primers were found to tightly link to male sterile gene. Based on these markers, two linkage genetic maps were constructed. A 2 027,2 028 bp fragment was amplifed from NILs of fertile and sterile S. miltiorrhiza, respectively, using genome walking technique and previous E11/M4-208 marker as template. Four base mutations were found in intron when comparing both fragments. Among all different markers between NILs of male sterile and fertile S. miltiorrhiza, four was found to have 100% identities to chromosome 1, 3 and 5 of Arabidopsis, namely, E01/M09-418, E05/M13-308, E05/M04-750 and E01/M01-204. The E01/M09-418 marker was very close to male sterile gene of S. miltiorrhiza with distance of 2.1 cM, which also had 100% identities to male sterile gene MS2 in Arabidopsis. Both were distributed in chromosome 3 of Arabidopsis. The 2 028 bp fragment also had 100% identities to MS2 gene. Another E05/M04-750 marker that had 100% identities to chromosome 5 of Arabidopsis was found to have high identities to POP085-M05 gene of poplars and low affinity calcium antiporter CAX2 of Arabidopsis with very low E-value. The constructed genetic map and differential fragments with potential functions found in this study provide a solid foundation to lock male sterile genes in S. miltiorrhiza genome and to discover their functions.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of sitagliptin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes and its effect on glucose trans-porter-4 ( GLUT4).Methods Sixty four patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into two groups , and patients in the observation group (n=32) were given sitagliptin 100 mg qd orally, and those in the control group ( n=32 ) were given acarbose 50 mg tid within meals.The treatment lasted for 12 weeks.The data of the clinical efficacy of the two groups were compared before and after treatment.While 30 healthy controls were selected , only given health education.Data of the expre-ssion of GLUT4 in serum of three groups were detected.Results In ob-servation group , the data of fasting blood glucose ( FBG) , 2 h postprandi-al blood glucose(2 h PG)and glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c) were ob-viously better than those in the control group [(6.32 ±0.44 ),(8.76 ± 0.93),(6.85 ±0.37)mmol· L-1 vs(6.44 ±0.46),(9.15 ±0.94), (6.98 ±0.28)mmol· L-1],(P<0.05).The islet beta cell function index in observation group was improved significantly compared with the control group [(2.59 ±0.22),(66 ±18) vs(2.78 ±0.39),(62 ±13)], (P<0.05).The data of serum levels of GLUT4 in the observation group was significantly higher than that in control group [(6.07 ±0.59)vs(2.58 ±0.45)μg· L-1](P <0.05).Conclusion Sitagliptin can effectively control the level of blood sugar , improve islet beta cell function , and the effect may be related to the up -regulation of GLUT4 ex-pression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of STAT5 phosphorylation in CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) bone marrow cells of the patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and then evaluate the level of activation of STAT5 associated with cell proliferation in MDS clone cells.

METHODSThe bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) were extracted from 36 MDS patients and 14 normal controls. The mean fluorescence intensities (MFI) of phosphorylated STAT5(P-STAT5) in CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) and CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-)cells, with or without the stimulation of 10 U/ml EPO, were examined by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSWithout stimulation, the P-STAT5 MFI in CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) cells of low/high risk MDS patients was 113.71 ± 67.22/173.05 ± 102.78, which was significantly higher than that of CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells (58.84 ± 27.51/68.99 ± 50.42, P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the normal controls CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells (63.06 ± 21.06, P < 0.05), there was no significant difference between the CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells of MDS patients and the normal control CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells; With the EPO stimulation, the P-STAT5 MFI in CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) cells of low/high risk MDS patients was 144.04 ± 58.11/239.45 ± 152.05, which was significantly higher than that of CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells (68.41 ± 25, 10/64.21 ± 23.43, P < 0.01) and the normal controls CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells (75.21 ± 27.02, P < 0.01), there was no significant difference between the CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells of MDS patients and the normal control CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells; The P-STAT5 MFI in the CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) cells of low/high risk MDS patients with or without EPO stimulation were 21.80/28.86, which was significantly higher than that of CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells (7.42/5.50, P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the normal controls CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells (6.39, P < 0.05), there was no significant difference between the CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells of MDS patients and the normal controls CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells; There was no significant difference of P-STAT5 MFI with or without EPO stimulation and the increased P-STAT5 MFI between the CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) cells of low and high risk MDS.

CONCLUSIONSTAT5 associated with cell proliferation was activated in CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) bone marrow cells in MDS, which had more significant reactions to EPO than CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(-) cells, indicating that CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) bone marrow cells might be the real malignant MDS clone cells in MDS.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; metabolism