To maintain the precision and stability of the efficacy of classical formulas, this study compared the origins and specifications of Bupleuri Radix and revealed the precise application regularity of Bupleurum chinense(Beichaihu) and Bupleurum scorzonerifolium(Nanchaihu) in classical formulas. The efficacy and indications of formulas with Bupleuri Radix as the sovereign drug in the Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases(Shang Han Za Bing Lun) were investigated. The difference in the efficacy of Bupleuri Radix as well as the differences in the chemical composition, and liver-protecting and lipid-lowering effects of the decoctions of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu were analyzed with LC-MS technology based on the CCl_4-induced liver injury model in mice and sodium oleate-induced HepG2 hyperlipidemia cell model. The results showed that seven classical formulas with Bupleuri Radix as the sovereign drug in the Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases were mainly used in the treatment of digestive, metabolic, immune, circulatory, and other diseases. Bupleuri Radix mainly played the functions of protecting the liver, benefiting the gallbladder, and lowering the lipid, and had different focuses in different formulas. There were 14 differential components in the decoctions of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu, and the chemical structures of 11 components were identified, including 10 saponins and one flavonoid. The results of the liver-protecting efficacy experiment showed that compared with the Nanchaihu decoction, Beichaihu decoction could reduce the serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) activity in liver injury model mice(P<0.01). The results of the lipid-lowering efficacy experiment proved that Beichaihu and Nanchaihu decoctions both showed highly significant differences in lowering the total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceride(TG) content in HepG2 cells(P<0.01), and Nanchaihu decoction was superior to Beichaihu decoction in lowering the lipid. The results of this study preliminarily proved that there were differences in chemical composition, and liver-protecting and lipid-lowering effects of Beichaihu and Nanchaihu decoctions, indicating that it was necessary to determine the precise origin of Bupleuri Radix in the clinical formulation of traditional Chinese medicine. The study provides a scientific basis for both precise clinical medication and purpose-based accurate quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine in clinical application.
Animals ; Mice ; Liver ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bupleurum

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on intestinal flora in the rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) based on 16S rDNA technique. METHODS: Ten rats were randomized from 58 SPF-grade male SD rats to be the blank group. The remained 48 rats were prepared to be IBS-D models by the modified method of acetic acid enema combined with binding tail-clip stress. Forty successfully-modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group, an acupuncture group, a moxibustion group and a western medication group, with 10 rats in each one. In the acupuncture group, the needle was inserted at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and remained for 15 min in each rat. In the moxibustion group, the suspending moxibustion was delivered at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 15 min. The rats in the western medication group were given pinaverium bromide suspension (10 mL/kg) by intragastric administration. The above interventions were performed once daily for consecutive 14 days. The body mass and the score of fecal trait were compared before and after modeling, as well as after intervention in each group. Fecal water content, diarrhea index and colon transit time (CTT) were measured after modeling and intervention in the rats of each group separately. After intervention, the colonic morphology of rats in each group was observed, and using 16S rDNA technique, the intestinal flora was detected. RESULTS: After modeling, compared with the blank group, the body mass and CTT were reduced (P<0.01); fecal trait scores, fecal water contents and diarrhea index increased (P<0.01) in the other 4 groups. After intervention, the body mass and CTT of the rats decreased (P<0.01), and fecal trait score, fecal water content and diarrhea index increased (P<0.01) in the model group compared with those in the blank group. In the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group, when compared with the model group, the body mass and CTT were elevated (P<0.01), while fecal trait scores, fecal water contents and diarrhea index declined (P<0.01). Compared with the western medication group, fecal water content decreased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05), while CTT increased in the acupuncture group (P<0.01), the body mass increased and fecal trait score was dropped in the moxibustion group (P<0.05). The colonic mucosa structure was clear and complete, and there was no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration in the blank group. The mild interstitial edema of intestinal mucosa was presented with the infiltration of few inflammatory cells in the model group. There was the infiltration of few inflammatory cells in the mucosa of the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group. Compared with the blank group, the indexes of Richness, Chao1, ACE and Shannon decreased in the model group (P<0.05). Indexes of Richness, Chao1 and ACE increased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05), and the Richness index in the western medication group increased (P<0.05) when compared with those in the model group. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Prevotella increased (P<0.05), and that of Firmicutes and Muribaculaceae decreased (P<0.05) in the model group compared with those in the blank group. When compared with the model group, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Prevotella was reduced (P<0.05), while that of Firmicutes and Muribaculaceae increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group; and that of Actinobacteria and Bifidobacterium increased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the relative abundance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis was elevated (P<0.05), and that of folate biosynthesis, lipoic acid metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinone biosynthesis decreased (P<0.05) in the model group. The relative abundance of LPS biosynthesis was dropped (P<0.05), and that of folate biosynthesis, lipoic acid metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinone biosynthesis increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group compared with those of the model group. CONCLUSIONS Either acupuncture or moxibustion can relieve the symptoms of IBS-D and protect intestinal mucosa, which may be associated with regulating the structure of intestinal flora and promoting nutrient metabolism and biosynthesis.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/therapy* ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Thioctic Acid ; Ubiquinone ; Zeatin ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Diarrhea/therapy* ; Terpenes ; Water ; Folic Acid ; Acupuncture Points

Objective:High-throughput screening to obtain small molecular compounds against Gram-negative bacilli by targeting BamA outer membrane protein.Methods:The sybyl-X2.1 software was used to perform high-throughput virtual screening of small molecular compounds in Chemdiv compound library based on the molecular docking. The top 150 hits by high-throughput screening were re-screened through in vitro biological experiments. The top 4 small molecules with obvious antibacterial activity were selected for in-depth molecular docking analysis, and the small molecule 8308-0401 with the highest docking score was selected for further experiments. The antibacterial effect of 8308-0401 combined with rifampicin was tested by checkerboard assay. Finally, the affinity between 8308-0401 and BamA was tested by plasma surface resonance assay. Results:The docking score of the top 150 hits calculated by high-throughput virtual screening had a mean value of 5.63. In vitro biological experiments showed that small molecules 8308-0401, 8365-1335, C066-2507 and L582-0346 exhibited strong antibacterial activity. Among those molecules, 8308-0401 showed the highest molecular docking score, and synergistic antibacterial activity against both types of strains and clinical isolates when combined with rifampicin. 8308-0401 has a strong affinity to BamA with binding a constant of 182 μmol/L. Conclusion:The small molecule 8308-0401 exerts antibacterial activity against Gram negative bacilli by targeting the outer membrane protein BamA.

To develop antimicrobials against Staphylococcus aureus by high throughput screening of drug library. The type of this study is experimental research. The clinical isolates of S. aureus were collected from the sputum samples of respiratory inpatient department of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. The anti-planktonic cells growth inhibition activity of FDA-approved drugs library (including 1 573 molecules) was assessed by building a planktonic cells screening platform; The biofilm inhibitory effect of the FDA-approved drugs was detected by building a biofilm screening platform combined with crystal violet staining; Minimal inhibitory concentrations of the selected hits were determined by broth microdilution assay. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the selected hits was detected by CCK-8 assay. The results showed that 218 hits were exhibited effective growth inhibitory effects against S. aureus by setting the concentrations of the molecules in the FDA-approved library to 100 μmol/L. These selected molecules are mainly anti-infective drugs, accounting for 118 hits; Followed by anti-cancer drugs, anti-inflammatory/-immune drugs, neurological drugs, cardiovascular drugs, endocrine drugs, and metabolic disease drugs, which accounts for 40, 19, 12, 9, 8, and 3 hits; Other unclassified drugs accounts for 9 hits. The top 10 hits exhibiting anti-planktonic cells activity against S. aureus were mainly including antitumor drugs, followed by neurological drugs and unclassified drugs like vitamin K3 with the inhibition rate of 99.65%-100%. Similarly, the top 10 hits showing biofilm inhibitory effects against S. aureus were also mainly including antitumor drugs, followed by neurological drugs and anti-inflammatory/-immune drugs with the inhibition rate of 50.22%-92.95%. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the 51 hits by second round screening was determined by micro-dilution assay, which mainly include the antitumor drugs, cardiovascular drugs, endocrine drugs, anti-inflammatory/-immune drugs, metabolic disease drugs, neurological drugs and other unclassified drugs accounted for 22, 5, 3, 9, 2, 5 and 5 hits, respectively, with the MICs of 1.56-50 μmol/L, 6.25-25 μmol/L, 6.25-25 μmol/L, 0.2-50 μmol/L, 25-50 μmol/L, 1.56-50 μmol/L and 0.1-12.5 μmol/L, respectively. In conclusion, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of small molecules screened through high-throughput assay are at the level of micromolar with strong drug development potential and high modifiability. The high effective anti-planktonic cells and anti-biofilm activity by these molecules are expected to provide new ideas for the development of new antimicrobials against S. aureus.
Humans ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Staphylococcal Infections ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology* ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Biofilms ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Cardiovascular Agents/pharmacology* ; Metabolic Diseases

To develop antimicrobials against Staphylococcus aureus by high throughput screening of drug library. The type of this study is experimental research. The clinical isolates of S. aureus were collected from the sputum samples of respiratory inpatient department of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. The anti-planktonic cells growth inhibition activity of FDA-approved drugs library (including 1 573 molecules) was assessed by building a planktonic cells screening platform; The biofilm inhibitory effect of the FDA-approved drugs was detected by building a biofilm screening platform combined with crystal violet staining; Minimal inhibitory concentrations of the selected hits were determined by broth microdilution assay. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the selected hits was detected by CCK-8 assay. The results showed that 218 hits were exhibited effective growth inhibitory effects against S. aureus by setting the concentrations of the molecules in the FDA-approved library to 100 μmol/L. These selected molecules are mainly anti-infective drugs, accounting for 118 hits; Followed by anti-cancer drugs, anti-inflammatory/-immune drugs, neurological drugs, cardiovascular drugs, endocrine drugs, and metabolic disease drugs, which accounts for 40, 19, 12, 9, 8, and 3 hits; Other unclassified drugs accounts for 9 hits. The top 10 hits exhibiting anti-planktonic cells activity against S. aureus were mainly including antitumor drugs, followed by neurological drugs and unclassified drugs like vitamin K3 with the inhibition rate of 99.65%-100%. Similarly, the top 10 hits showing biofilm inhibitory effects against S. aureus were also mainly including antitumor drugs, followed by neurological drugs and anti-inflammatory/-immune drugs with the inhibition rate of 50.22%-92.95%. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the 51 hits by second round screening was determined by micro-dilution assay, which mainly include the antitumor drugs, cardiovascular drugs, endocrine drugs, anti-inflammatory/-immune drugs, metabolic disease drugs, neurological drugs and other unclassified drugs accounted for 22, 5, 3, 9, 2, 5 and 5 hits, respectively, with the MICs of 1.56-50 μmol/L, 6.25-25 μmol/L, 6.25-25 μmol/L, 0.2-50 μmol/L, 25-50 μmol/L, 1.56-50 μmol/L and 0.1-12.5 μmol/L, respectively. In conclusion, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of small molecules screened through high-throughput assay are at the level of micromolar with strong drug development potential and high modifiability. The high effective anti-planktonic cells and anti-biofilm activity by these molecules are expected to provide new ideas for the development of new antimicrobials against S. aureus.
Humans ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Staphylococcal Infections ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology* ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Biofilms ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Cardiovascular Agents/pharmacology* ; Metabolic Diseases

ObjectiveTo screen the risk factors of osteoporosis in perimenopausal women， and to provide direction for timely prevention and treatment. MethodsUsing multilevel stratified random sampling method， the perimenopausal women were investigated by questionnaire survey， and the determination of bone mineral density （BMD） and the levels of several important hormones. ResultsA total of 720 valid questionnaires were received. Among 720 perimenopausal women， 173 had osteoporosis and 547 had no osteoporosis. Univariate analysis of the influencing factors of osteoporosis showed that the levels of parathyroid hormone （PTH）， Estradiol （E₂）， body mass index （BMI）， age， time of last period and age of menopause were significantly different among perimenopausal women in the prevalence of osteoporosis（χ²=4.23， 4.86， 16.06， 21.04， 10.52， 13.02； P<0.05）.Logistic regression analysis showed that the increase of PTH （OR=2.70， P<0.05）and menopause （OR=1.76， P<0.05） were the risk factors of osteoporosis . Higher BMI（OR=0.65， P<0.05）， higher personal monthly income（OR=0.72， P<0.05）， longer sunshine time（OR=0.69， P<0.05）， were the protective factors against osteoporosis. ConclusionThe increase of PTH levels and menopause are the risk factors for osteoporosis in women. Perimenopausal women should be monitored for bone mineral density and appropriate intervention. Necessary treatment measures should be taken for the patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis.

To explore the biofilm inhibitory efficacy of perifosine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginos) and its mechanisms. Twenty-fourwell plate was used to form biofilms at the bottom and crystal violet staining was used to determine the biofilm inhibitory effects of perifosine against P. aeruginosa, the wells without perifosine was set as control group. Glass tubes combined with crystal violet staining was used to detect the gas-liqud interface related bioiflm inhibitory effects of perifosine, the wells without perifosine was set as control group. Time-growth curved was used to detect the effects of perifosine on the bacteial planktonic cells growth of P. aeruginosa, the wells without perifosine was set as control group. The interaction model between perifosine and PqsE was assessed by molecular docking assay. The inhibitory effects of perifosine on the catalytic activity of PqsE was determined by detection the production of thiols, the wells without perifosine was set as control group. Binding affinity between perifosine and PqsE was detected by plasma surface resonance. The biofims at the bottom of the microplates and air-liquid interface were effectively inhibited by perifosine at the concentration of 4-8 μg/ml. There was no influence of perifosine on the cells growth of P. aeruginosa. The resuts of molecular docking assay indicates that perifosine could interacted with PqsE with the docking score of -10.67 kcal/mol. Perifosine could inhibit the catalytic activity of PqsE in a dose-dependent manner. The binding affinity between perifosine and PqsE was comfirmed by plasma surface resonance with KD of 6.65×10^-5mol/L. Perifosine could inhibited the biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa by interacting with PqsE.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism* ; Biofilms ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Phosphorylcholine/analogs & derivatives* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/metabolism* ; Quorum Sensing

BACKGROUND: Recent cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) changed the therapeutic strategy of guidelines for type 2 diabetes. We compared the characteristics of patients from real-world hospital settings with those of participants in recent pragmatic randomized trials. METHODS: This electronic medical record (EMR)-based retrospective observational study investigated the data of patients with diabetes from inpatient and outpatient settings in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2019. We identified patients meeting the inclusion criteria of a pragmatic randomized trial (EMPA-REG OUTCOME) based on EMRs and compared their baseline characteristics with those of the trial participants. The cutoff for the clinical significance of each characteristic was set as its minimal clinically important difference based on expert consultation. RESULTS: We included 48,257 inpatients and 36,857 outpatients with diabetes and found that 8389 (17.4%) inpatients and 2646 (7.2%) outpatients met the inclusion criteria for the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial. Compared with the trial population, the real-world inpatients meeting the eligibility criteria of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME had similar age, blood pressure, and lipid profiles but comprised of fewer males, metformin users, anti-hypertensive drug users, and aspirin users, and had a lower body mass index. The group of outpatients meeting the eligibility criteria had fewer males, similar age, fewer metformin users, fewer insulin users, fewer anti-hypertensive drug users, and fewer aspirin users compared with the trial population. CONCLUSIONS The trial population in EMPA-REG OUTCOME represents only a small portion of patients with diabetes from the inpatient and outpatient departments of a Chinese tertiary medical center. Evidence localization in different clinical settings and validation are essential to enabling extrapolation of the results from CVOTs in patients with diabetes to Chinese clinical practice.
Benzhydryl Compounds ; Canagliflozin ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Glucosides ; Humans ; Male ; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors ; Tertiary Care Centers

Objective:To investigate the effect of small molecule antibacterial agent Halicin against Staphylococcus aureus. Methods:The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration of Halicin against S. aureus were detected by the microbroth dilution method. The time-kill assay of Halicin against S. aureus was detected by agar plate dilution method. Micro checkerboard dilution method was used to determine the synergistic antibacterial activity between Halicin and conventional antibiotics. Crystal violet staining method was used to assess the biofilm inhibitory and eradicating activity of Halicin. Hemolysis rate was used to detect the mammal cell toxicity of Halicin. Through the mouse skin abscess model, take the skin tissue around the abscess to grind and dilute the colony to detect the antibacterial effect of Halicin in vivo. Results:Halicin showed significant bacteriostasis effects against S. aureus with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 2-4 mg/L. Halicin could significantly reduce the average CFU counts of S. aureus about 5.5×10 6 CFU/ml in a concentration-dependent manner after 8 h treatment at the concentration of 16 mg/L. The fractional inhibitory concentration value between Halicin and ampicillin was 0.5, showing a synergistic antibacterial efficacy. Halicin effectively inhibited the formation of biofilms at the concentration of 4 × MIC, reducing the total biofilm biomass ( A570) from (2.89±0.09) to (1.35±0.17) ( t=11.12, P<0.05). However, there was no eradication effect against preformed biofilms. In addition, Halicin had almost no hemolytic activity on red blood cells even at the concentration up to 128 mg/L. It showed that 20 mg/kg Halicin reduced bacterial burden about 3.0×10 7 CFU/ml in vivo. Conclusion:Halicin had a strong antimicrobial activity against S. aureus with no hemolytic activity.

Objective:To investigate the antitumor effect and the mechanism of Dunhuang Pingweiwan and its decomposed recipes based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） signaling pathway in SCG-7901 gastric cancer-mice. Method:The subcutaneous tumor bearing model of SCG-7901 gastric cancer in mice was established， and the the mice were randomized into model group， Dunhuang Pingweiwan group （14.04 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， Huoxue Jiedu group （6.50 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， Wenzhong Sanhan group （3.64 g·kg^-1·d^-1） and cisplatin group （2 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 8 mice in each group. From the 8^th day of inoculation， the mice were administered for 10 consecutive days. The mice were weighed and the general conditions were observed every other day. On the next day of the last administration， the mice were sacrificed， and the tumor was removed and weighed to calculate the anti-tumor rate. The histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the mRNA and protein expressions of PI3K， Akt， and mTOR in tumor tissues were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） and immunohistochemistry （IHC）， respectively. Result:From the 10^th day of inoculation， the mice in cisplatin group were generally in poor condition and their body mass decreased. The mice in model group， Dunhuang Pingweiwan group， Huoxue Jiedu group and Wenzhong Sanhan group were generally fair， and their body mass increased without significant difference among groups. The tumor inhibition rates of Dunhuang Pingweiwan， Huoxue Jiedu， Wenzhong Sanhan and cisplatin groups were 30.74%， 24.80%， 4.19% and 63.84%， respectively. Except for Wenzhong Sanhan group， tumor weight of the other treatment groups was significantly lower than that of the model group （P<0.01）， and there was no significant difference between the Dunhuang Pingweiwan and Huoxue Jiedu group. Dunhuang Pingweiwan and Huoxue Jiedu group could significantly reduce tumor cell density and cause tumor cell necrosis. Compared with the model group， the expressions of PI3K， Akt， and mTOR mRNA and protein in the Dunhuang Pingweiwan， Huoxue Jiedu and cisplatin groups significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and there was no significant difference between the Dunhuang Pingweiwan group and Huoxue Jiedu group. Conclusion:Dunhuang Pingweiwan and its decomposed recipes （Huoxue Jiedu） have a certain anti-tumor effect on the SCG-7901 gastric cancer-mice， and the mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of key molecules in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.