OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the changes in natural killer （NK） cell activity, pulse rate, and pain intensity among older adults before and after acupuncture treatment. METHODS: Fifty-six individuals （16 males and 40 females）, aged 60 to 82 years （mean age 72.4 ± 5.0）, who were experiencing pain in the shoulder, low back, or knee, participated in the study. NK cell activity, leukocyte differentiation （granulocytes and lymphocytes）, pulse rate, and blood pressure values were obtained. Pain intensity was evaluated by using the visual analog scale （VAS）. The Wilcoxon test was used to analyze NK cell activity, leukocytes （granulocyte counts and granulocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio）, and the VAS score in accordance with the location of pain complaints before and after acupuncture treatment. RESULTS: NK cell activity decreased after acupuncture treatment for pain in the shoulder-pain and knee-pain groups. Further, the lymphocyte and granulocyte counts increased after acupuncture treatment for the shoulder-pain group. Pulse rate decreased for the shoulder-pain, low-back-pain, and knee-pain groups after acupuncture treatment. The VAS score decreased after acupuncture treatment for the shoulder-pain, low-back-pain, and knee-pain groups. CONCLUSION: This study showed that in older adults, acupuncture treatment decreases pulse rate, relieves pain in the shoulder, low back, and knee, and reduces NK-cell activity.
OBJECTIVE:To develop a patient-reported outcome instrument for chronic gastrointestinal diseases and to select items by analyzing the data from clinical investigation. METHODS:The instrument was developed by establishing the item pool through reviewing the literature on subject of chronic gastrointestinal diseases, interviewing typical cases, focus group discussion and referring to related instruments, and then the processes of selecting and optimizing items, forming primary instrument and testing in a small sample pilot survey. A clinical investigation was conducted in 4 hospitals in Beijing. The data of 274 effective respondents with chronic gastrointestinal diseases were obtained and analyzed for selecting items using SPSS 16.0 software by applying methods such as Cronbach's α coefficient, correlation coefficient, t test, dispersion logistic regression and factor analysis. RESULTS:In the patient-reported outcome instrument, 35 items were selected from investigation. Among the 35 items, 2 items were deleted, and 6 items were modified for further investigation. CONCLUSION:The results of item selection provide a good reference for the primary instrument, which still needs further modification, and lots of work needed to be done, at the base of large sample size.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by comparing the therapeutic efficacy of methods for fortifying the spleen and replenishing qi, warming yang and fortifying the spleen and warming yang to move water.METHODS:Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal, model, Sijunzi Tang (SJZ), Lizhong Tang (LZ), Linggui Zhugan Tang (LGZG) and Shenzhuo Tang (SZ) groups. Rats in the normal group were fed with ordinary diet, while the rats in the other groups were fed with high fat diet including 88% ordinary food, 10% lard oil and 2% cholesterol. After four weeks of treatment, the weight of liver and epididymal fat was recorded respectively for calculating the indexes of liver (liver weight/body weight) and epididymal fat (weight of epididymal fat pads/body weight); the pathological changes in liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining; the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triacylglycerol (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and liver TAG concentration were analyzed by biochemical test.RESULTS:Body weight, liver and epididymal fat indexes and liver TAG level of rats all significantly increased in the model group as compared with the normal group (P<0.05). Hepatic fatty infiltration, TAG concentration and the levels of serum TAG and ALT were significantly decreased in the LGZG and SZ groups when compared to those in the model group (P<0.05). In addition, epididymal fat index and serum TC level also significantly decreased in the LGZG group as compared with the model group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant change in liver TAG concentration in LZ and model groups.CONCLUSION:Method of warming yang or moving water can promote the lipid metabolism. It may be an effective strategy in preventing and treating NAFL by treating with warming yang and moving water together.
BACKGROUND:Chinese patent medicines Compound Danshen Dripping Pills (DSP) and Di'ao Xinxuekang (DXK) capsules were both found effective in treating angina pectoris. However, there is no systematic review comparing their efficacy. OBJECTIVE:This systematic review aims to compare the efficacy of DSP and DXK in treating angina pectoris based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing their efficacy. SEARCH STRATEGY:RCT reports published between 1994 and 2011 were retrieved from databases including China Doctoral Dissertations Full-text Database, Chinese Journal Full-text Database, China Master's Theses Full-text Database, Wanfang Data, Cochrane Library, Excerpts Medica Database, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE (EBSCOhost) and PubMed. The last retrieval was performed on April 7, 2011. INCLUSION CRITERIA:RCT reports comparing the effects of DSP and DXK were included, regardless publishing language. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS:Included RCT reports were assessed for their study quality by using the Jadad scale and the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data including overall effect and electrocardiography (ECG) improvements were extracted from the included RCTs for meta-analysis. The effect sizes based on overall and ECG diagnosis were measured by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were also performed. RESULTS:Nine RCT reports with 926 participants were included. Eight were scored 2 and the other one was scored 4 by using the Jadad scale. The OR between DSP and DXK based on overall diagnosis was 2.06 (95% CI: 1.03-4.12; P(overall)=0.04). Six out of the nine included RCTs reported ECG data. The OR between DSP and DXK based on the ECG diagnosis was 1.92 (95% CI: 1.23-3.00; P(ECG)=0.004). The OR results were stable under subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSION:DSP was consistently more effective than DXK according to meta-analysis, which was verified by subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. However, more RCTs of higher quality are needed for further confirmation.
BACKGROUNDChinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been widely used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there is no systematic review to assess the efficacy and safety of CHM.OBJECTIVETo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM in the treatment of MS.SEARCH STRATEGYLiterature was searched from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, the Chinese Biomedical Database (SinoMed), the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Wanfang Data, PubMed and the Cochrane Library. The time limitation ran from the commencement of each database to March 15, 2011.INCLUSION CRITERIARandomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing CHM alone or in combination with Western medicine (WM) against WM or placebo used alone were included.DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSISTwo authors collected the data respectively. The assessment of methodological quality was based on the Cochrane Handbook and the data were analyzed by using RevMan 5.1.0 software. The efficacy measure was mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).RESULTSAfter screening of the search results, 16 eligible RCTs with 913 cases were included. The included trials were all of low quality. Thirteen studies adopted Kurtzke Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and two of them showed that EDSS in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group, and the MD and 95% CI were -0.88 (-1.26,-0.50). We performed descriptive analysis on the other eight studies which showed that EDSS of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group. Five studies adopted recurrent frequency and two of them showed that recurrent frequency in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group, and the MD and 95% CI were -0.34 (-0.52,-0.16). We performed descriptive analysis on the other three studies which showed that EDSS in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group. Analyses of secondary outcomes such as clinical symptom score, neurological sign score and immune indexes showed that integrated TCM and WM was more effective than WM treatment alone. The studies displayed that the number or range of magnetic resonance imaging lesion of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group, but there was no statistical significance. The reported adverse events in the CHM group were less than those in the control group.CONCLUSIONCHM could improve neurological signs, clinical symptoms and immune indexes, and reduce recurrent frequency. The reported adverse events in the CHM group were less than those in the control group. However, further well-designed research is needed to evaluate the beneficial effects of CHM.
Hepatic damage is a global metabolic and epidemic disease, affecting essential biochemical activities in almost every age group. Conventional drugs used in the treatment of liver disorders are often inadequate. Also, the spectrum of liver abnormalities caused by allopathic drugs is found to be broad. In view of severely undesirable side effects of synthetic agents, it is necessary to search for alternative drugs for the treatment of liver diseases to replace the currently used drugs, which are of doubtful efficacy and safety. Therefore, there is growing focus to follow systematic research methodology and to evaluate scientific basis for the traditional herbal medicines that are claimed to possess hepatoprotective activities. Use of herbal drugs in the treatment of liver diseases has a long tradition, especially in Eastern medicine and can be traced back as far as 2100 B.C. in ancient China (Xia Dynasty) and India (Vedic period), but evidence for efficacy is sparse. The current study is aimed at providing an overview of clinical and experimental studies carried out on the most effective and commonly used hepatoprotective plants and their beneficial aspects.
BACKGROUNDIt is important to detect and prevent Alzheimer disease (AD) at its early stage. Constituting the early stage sign of AD, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) has drawn much attention. Studies have shown that donepezil could reduce the AD assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) score in MCI patients and improve the patient's attention and speed of response; however, it also has many side effects. Therefore, the authors aim to explore the effects of Chinese herbal medicine for treating aMCI.OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine for tonifying the kidney, and resolving phlegm and blood stasis in the treatment of aMCI.DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONSThis clinical trial used randomized, double-blind, double-dummy and parallel-controlled design. According to the randomized, double-blind principle, some aMCI patients were randomly divided into Chinese medicine group and donepezil group. Other patients who did not receive any treatment were enrolled as the control. Patients in the Chinese medicine group received oral administration of Chinese medicine, 1 bag/dose, two doses per day, while patients in the donepezil group received donepezil hydrochloride, 5mg/day. Twelve weeks were allocated as the trial period.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESAfter 12 weeks, the Chinese medicine group patients, the donepezil group patients and those patients who did not receive any treatment were accessed using the scores of ADAS-Cog and mini-mental status examination (MMSE).RESULTSThe ADAS-Cog and MMSE scores of the Chinese medicine group and the donepezil group were both improved from baseline (P=0.001, P=0.000), but the non-treatment group showed no change from baseline (P=0.151, P=0.125); furthermore, there was no significant difference between the Chinese medicine group and the donepezil group. The attention function of the Chinese medicine group was better than baseline (P=0.015), but no change was seen in the donepezil group (P=0.085) at the 12th week. Safety data showed that the occurrence of insomnia, nausea and diarrhea was greater in the donepezil group than in the Chinese medicine group (P=0.002, P=0.005, P=0.000), and both treatments had no influence in participants' vital signs and laboratory examination results.CONCLUSIONBoth Chinese medicine and donepezil can improve global cognition in patients with aMCI after 12 weeks of treatment. Chinese medicine can also improve attention function and some clinical symptoms in patients with aMCI. Furthermore, Chinese medicine is safe for aMCI patients. Further study is necessary to explore the long-term effect of Chinese medicine for aMCI.
To elucidate the connection between the origin of certain cancers and stem cells, cancer stem cells, the stem cell niche and the tumor microenvironment, and to examine the ability of traditional Chinese herbal medicines and isolates in treating these types of cancers, the existing literature was examined and eight studies regarding Chinese herbal medicines and the prevention of cancer recurrence were critically analyzed and evaluated. Tumor stem cells may be the final target of traditional Chinese medicine. Soy flavones, ginsenoside Rg3, parthenolide, berbamine and curcumin are several examples of Chinese herbal medicines, which have been shown to be effective in the treatment of cancer, and seem to act by targeting cancer stem cells and associated pathways resulting in tumorigenesis. The treatment approaches combined with an overall treatment protocol for the tumor microenvironment and chronic systemic inflammation are likely to provide a more successful outcome than a single tactical approach. As shown in numerous studies in the literature, using complementary disciplines with orthodox treatments may enhance treatment outcomes.
OBJECTIVE Acupuncture is widely used in clinics to suppress chronic visceral pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, the exact neurobiological mechanisms for its therapeutic effects need further exploration. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of spinal neurons in the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) in relieving chronic visceral hyperalgesia in a rat model of IBS. METHODS Colon mechanical irritation was applied to male neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats to establish the IBS model. Behavioral test of the abdominal withdraw reflex (AWR) response to colorectal distention stimuli was conducted to judge the degree of colorectal sensitivity. EA at acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Shangjuxu (ST37) was applied bilaterally in a total of four times every other day, while sham-EA at similar acupoints was done by inserting needles without electrical stimulation. Immunohistochemical methods were used to display the expression of proto-oncogene protein c-fos in the spinal dorsal horn. RESULTS It was found that AWR scores were significantly increased in the IBS model rats (P<0.01), accompanied with significant increase in the expression of c-fos protein in the superficial laminae (SDH, laminae I and II) and nucleus proprius (NP, laminae III and IV), the neck of the dorsal horn (NECK, laminae V and VI) at lumbosacral (L6-S2) spinal level, and in NECK at thoracolumbar (T13-L2) spinal level, when compared with normal rats (P<0.05). After EA treatment, AWR scores and the expression of c-fos protein in SDH, NP and NECK at similar spinal levels were significantly decreased in the IBS model rats (P<0.05). No such effects on either AWR scores or the expression of c-fos protein were observed in IBS model rats after sham-EA treatment. CONCLUSION The abnormally high neuronal excitability in the spinal dorsal horn may be an important reason underlying the visceral hyperalgesia in IBS model rats. EA treatment can relieve the chronic visceral hyperalgesia in IBS rats by suppressing the abnormal neuronal excitability in the spinal dorsal horn.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the pathological changes of vascular aging in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and the effects of extracts from Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng (Burk.) and Ligusticum chuanxiong on vascular aging.METHODS:Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from thoracic aorta of Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and SHRs were primarily cultured and divided into WKY group, SHR group, valsartan group, low-dose extract group and high-dose extract group. Aging situation of VSMCs was detected by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining; the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry; mRNA and protein expressions of p16, cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and retinoblastoma protein (Rb) were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting.RESULTS:SA-β-gal stain showed that compared with the WKY group, number of SA-β-gal-positive cells in the SHR group was increased significantly (P<0.01); extracts from Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng (Burk.) and Ligusticum chuanxiong reduced the number of SA-β-gal-positive cells in the SHR group (P<0.01). Flow cytometry analysis showed that the number of VSMCs in G1 phase was reduced and in S phase was increased significantly (P<0.05) in the SHR group compared with the WKY group, and the number of VSMCs in G(1) phase was increased and in S phase was reduced significantly in the extracts groups (P<0.05). PCR result showed that compared with the WKY group, the mRNA expressions of p16 and Rb in the SHR group were reduced and those of cyclin D1 and CDK4 were increased significantly, the mRNA expressions of p16 and Rb in the extracts group were increased and mRNA expressions of cyclin D1 and CDK4 were reduced significantly. Western blotting result showed that compared with the WKY group, the protein expression of p16 in the SHR group was reduced and the protein expressions of cyclin D1, CDK4 and phospho-Rb were increased significantly (P<0.05), while the protein expression of p16 in the extracts group was increased and the protein expressions of cyclin D1, CDK4 and phospho-Rb were reduced significantly (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The extracts from Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng (Burk.) and Ligusticum chuanxiong can delay vascular aging of SHRs, which works by p16-cyclin D/CDK-RB pathways to inhibit VSMC proliferation.
BACKGROUND Effects of traditional Chinese medicine salvianolate combined with alprostadil and reduced glutathione on delay of progression in patients with acute kidney injury has been confirmed, but the role of this combination therapy on the progression of chronic renal failure is uncertain. OBJECTIVE To investigate the long-term effects of regular administration of salvianolate combined with Western medicine on the progression of chronic renal failure in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS The study was performed at the ward of the Nephrology Department, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University from August 2004 to October 2010. Thirty patients with CKDs at stage 2 to 4 and impaired renal function were recruited and randomly assigned to a treatment group or a control group, which consisted of 15 patients in each. Based on conventional therapy with the same oral medicines in the control group, patients in the treatment group were treated with salvianolate combined with alprostadil and reduced glutathione liquid intravenously for 7 to 10 d. Patients in the control group did not receive this combination therapy. The therapy was repeated monthly in patients in the treatment group. The follow-up time was an average of four years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Assessment of renal function, count of white blood cells, and test of serum hemoglobin, electrolytes and albumin were performed before and every year after treatment. Study endpoints were the serum creatinine level doubled from baseline or receiving replacement therapy. Number of remaining patients in each group was calculated at the end of every year. RESULTS White blood cell count, serum albumin and electrocyte levels changed little in two groups after four years (P>0.05). Average serum hemoglobin levels in patients in the treatment group was elevated markedly compared with that in the control group after being treated for two years (P<0.01). The percentage of patients reaching the study termination in the treatment group (40%) decreased significantly compared with that (93%) in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The regular integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine can effectively delay the deterioration of renal function in patients with CKDs over a period of four years.
Few popular songs arc titled a doctor's name and even fewer are sung directly by the doctor's patients.However,the song Dr.Wu might be the exception.After sung by Steely Dan[1],a well-known American jazz-rock band,Dr.Wu has been loved by many Americans for over 35 years.The beautiful,moving,and meditative song was written in 1975 after Steely Dan had abandoned touring and reconvened in Los Angles,the United State[2].
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Neiguan (PC6) and Xinshu (BL15) on the nerve electrical activity in spinal dorsal root and norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) concentrations in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in rats with acute myocardial ischemia (AMI).METHODS:A total of 100 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operation, model, EA at PC6, EA at BL15 and EA at both PC6 and BL15 groups with 20 rats in each group. The nerve electrical activity in spinal dorsal roots was recorded by bipolar electrodes. NE and DA concentrations in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography.RESULTS:When compared with the sham-operation group, the nerve electrical activity in spinal dorsal roots was significantly increased while the NE and DA concentrations in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus were decreased in the model group (P<0.01). The nerve electrical activity in spinal dorsal roots was decreased and the NE and DA concentrations were increased in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in the EA at PC6 group, the EA at BL15 group and the EA at both PC6 and BL15 group in comparison to those in the model group (P<0.01). The nerve electrical activity in spinal dorsal roots and the NE and DA concentrations in paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus of the EA at both PC6 and BL15 group were significantly improved when compared to those of the EA at PC6 and EA at BL15 groups (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:EA at both PC6 and BL15 acupoints exhibits the synergistic protective effects against AMI. The possible mechanism is related to regulating the nerve electrical activity in spinal dorsal roots and the concentrations of NE and DA in paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.
OBJECTIVE:The Khandesh region of Jalgaon district, India has a dense forest with plenty of medicinal plants which have been used as folklore medicines by the local people for many years. They use different parts of Ficus species to treat and cure diarrhea. Depending on the traditional use of some plants as antidiarrheal by local people of that region, the authors have selected three plants (specific parts) to evaluate their antidiarrheal activities in different animal models.METHODS:Wistar albino rats weighing 180 to 200 g of either sex were used in this study. There were eight groups for each individual study with 10 animals in each group. The antidiarrheal profile of the ethanolic extracts of the bark of Ficus bengalensis and the leaves of Ficus racemosa and Ficus carica from the region of Khandesh in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, India were evaluated by different experimental models, namely, castor oil-induced diarrhea, gastrointestinal motility test, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂)-induced enteropooling in Wistar albino rats.RESULTS:The extracts of F. bengalensis (bark), F. racemosa (leaves) and F. carica (leaves) showed significant inhibitory activities against castor oil-induced diarrhea and PGE2-induced enteropooling in rats. The ethanolic extracts at 400 and 600 mg/kg significantly inhibited diarrhea. There was a significant dose-dependent decrease in diarrhea produced by all the three models in rats as compared to that of the standard drug group (P<0.01). Based on the results in experimental rat models, the ethanolic extract of Ficus species demonstrated significant reductions in faecal output and frequency of droppings when compared to the castor oil-treated rats (P<0.01). All plant extracts also significantly retarded the propulsion of charcoal meal and significantly inhibited PGE(2)-induced enteropooling.CONCLUSION:All these plant materials can be claimed as potential antidiarrheal agents. The underlying mechanism appears to be spasmolytic and an anti-enteropooling property by which the different plant extracts produced relief in diarrhea. Tannins and flavonoids present in the plant extracts may be responsible for the antidiarrheal activity.
With advances in complex network theory, the thinking and methods regarding complex systems have changed revolutionarily. Network biology and network pharmacology were built by applying network-based approaches in biomedical research. The cardiovascular system may be regarded as a complex network, and cardiovascular diseases may be taken as the damage of structure and function of the cardiovascular network. Although Chinese medicine (CM) is effective in treating cardiovascular diseases, its mechanisms are still unclear. With the guidance of complex network theory, network biology and network pharmacology, network-based approaches could be used in the study of CM in preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases. A new discipline-network cardiovasology of CM was, therefore, developed. In this paper, complex network theory, network biology and network pharmacology were introduced and the connotation of "disease-syndrome-formula-herb" was illustrated from the network angle. Network biology could be used to analyze cardiovascular diseases and syndromes and network pharmacology could be used to analyze CM formulas and herbs. The "network-network"-based approaches could provide a new view for elucidating the mechanisms of CM treatment.
OBJECTIVE To establish a rat model of ulcerative colitis with syndrome of spleen deficiency and dampness stagnancy. METHODS Sixty rats were divided into normal control group, ulcerative colitis group, ulcerative colitis with syndrome of spleen deficiency and dampness stagnancy group (model group) and strengthening spleen for resolving dampness group. Ulcerative colitis in rats was induced by enema containing trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) and ethanol. The rats in the model group were suffered from standing in water, limiting sleeping time and abnormal diet based on administration of TNBS and ethanol. The rats in the spleen strengthening and dampness resolving group were gastrically administered with Shenlin Baizhu Powder, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Symptoms, signs and pathological changes in colon tissue of rats were observed after modeling. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum of rats were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS The rats in the model group showed lethargy, poor appetite, loss of energy, diarrhea and bloody stool. Their body weight decreased significantly compared with the normal control group, and similar changes were found in the comparison of food intake, drinking amount, urine amount, stool wet weight and assay of spontaneous activity (P<0.05). When observed under a light microscope, the colon tissues of rats in the model group showed mucosal edema, congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration and ulceration. The degree of colon injury and IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α levels were significantly increased (P<0.05) as compared to those in the normal control group. The changes mentioned above were improved by Shenlin Baizhu Powder (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The rat model of ulcerative colitis with syndrome of spleen deficiency and dampness stagnancy is successfully induced and has the characteristics of ulcerative colitis of humans both in pathological changes and in syndrome.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism of binding of human serum albumin (HSA) with potential sensitinogen, including chlorogenic acid and two isochlorogenic acids (3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid).METHODS:By using the docking algorithm of computer-aided molecular design and the Molegro Virtual Docker, the crystal structures of HSA with warfarin and diazepam (Protein Data Bank ID: 2BXD and 2BXF) were selected as molecular docking receptors of HSA sites I and II. According to docking scores, key residues and H-bond, the molecular docking mode was selected and confirmed. The molecular docking of chlorogenic acid and two isochlorogenic acids on sites I and II was compared based on the above design.RESULTS:The results from molecular docking indicated that chlorogenic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid could bind to HSA site I by high affinity scores of -112.3, -155.3 and -153.1, respectively. They could bind to site II on HSA by high affinity scores of -101.7, -138.5 and -133.4, respectively. In site I, two isochlorogenic acids interacted with the key apolar side-chains of Leu238 and Ala291 by higher affinity scores than chlorogenic acid. Furthermore, the H-bonds of isochlorogenic acids with polar residues inside the pocket and at the entrance of the pocket were different from chlorogenic acid. Moreover, the second coffee acyl of isochlorogenic acid occupied the right-hand apolar compartment in the pocket of HSA site I. In site I, the second coffee acyl of isochlorogenic acid formed the H-bonds with polar side-chains, which contributed isochlorogenic acid to binding with site II of HSA.CONCLUSION:The isochlorogenic acids with two coffee acyls have higher binding abilities with HSA than chlorogenic acid with one coffee acyl, suggesting that isochlorogenic acids binding with HSA may be sensitinogen.
BACKGROUNDCervical spondylotic radiculopathy is a commonly encountered and frequently occurring disease. Traditional Chinese osteopathic manipulations may have better therapeutic efficacy than that of other methods in treating patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects of cervical fixed-point traction manipulation in treating patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONSA prospective, randomized controlled trial was adopted. Eighty-four patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were randomly divided into treatment group (n=42) and control group (n=42). All patients were enrolled from the outpatient service of Department of Rehabilitation of Chinese PLA General Hospital of China. Patients received oral and written information about clinical procedures before giving their written informed consent. The patients were treated with cervical fixed-point traction manipulation (treatment group) or cervical computer traction (control group). Cervical fixed-point traction was performed once every other day for a total of seven treatment periods and cervical computer traction was performed 30 min, once per day for 14 d.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESBefore and after treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) score and temperature of upper limb skin (normal limb and abnormal limb) detected by infrared thermal imaging system were contrastively analyzed.RESULTSFive patients were lost to follow-up, one patient in the treatment group and four patients in the control group. There were significant differences in VAS score and temperature difference between the normal and abnormal upper limbs of infrared thermal imaging in the treatment group (t=28.652, P<0.01; t=64.214, P<0.01) or in the control group (t=14.484, P<0.05; t=84.425, P<0.05) compared between before and after treatment. After treatment, the changes in VAS score and temperature difference of normal and abnormal upper limbs in the treatment group were more obvious compared with the control group (t=7.494, P<0.01; t=5.321, P<0.01).CONCLUSIONCervical fixed-point traction manipulation has better efficacy than cervical computer traction in treating patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.
OBJECTIVE:The research aimed to evaluate the anti-Shigella and antacid activities of the methanolic extract of Limnophila indica.METHODS:The whole plant of L. indica was extracted using methanol and then subjected to preliminary chemical screening. The in vitro antibacterial screening on two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria as well as three Shigella species of which two bacteria were antibiotic-resistant were evaluated by disc diffusion method. Castor oil-induced diarrhoea on Wistar albino rats was performed by using loperamide as a standard control. The in vitro antacid activity was tested by artificial stomach model. The neutralization efficiency, capacity, volume and hydrogen ions consumed were also evaluated.RESULTS:The preliminary chemical screening on methanolic extract of L.indica showed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, fats and oils. It was proved to be a potent antibacterial agent against the four bacterial strains. Screening against Shigella species revealed that it was a powerful antibacterial agent towards antibiotic-resistant Shigella species. In the case of in vivo antidiarrheal activity, the plant has shown a dose-dependent activity and the lowest dose at 100 mg/kg gave a much better result than loperamide (P<0.01). The in vitro antacid study showed a mild activity.CONCLUSION:As the plant L. indica has been proved to be a competent antibacterial as well as a compelling antidiarrheal agent with mild antacid activity, this plant can be very well suggested to be an eminent substitute for the various synthetic anti-dysentery and antidiarrheal agents available in the market.
