Experimental Study on Observation of Hemorheologic Parameters of Hydrocortisone Caused Shen-Yang Deficiency in Rat Models

Objective:To explore the relationship between Shen deficiency and blood stasis. Methods: Using consecutive intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone to build Shen-yang deficiency model rats, and detect their hemorheological and biochemical parameters. Results: Comparison between the model group and control group showed that the in vitro thrombus significantly lengthened in the model group (P<0.05), the dry weight increased (P<0.01), hematocrit and whole blood viscosity under high sheared change lowered (P<0.05), blood glucose elevated (P<0.01), and RBC infiltration index, aggregation index increased (P close to 0.05). Conclusion: Under the condition of Shen-yang deficiency, although blood does not show such properties of blood stasis as being 'viscous, concentrated, coagulated and aggregated', partial change of hemorheology occurs, and it is liable to form thrombus, which proves that the Shen deficiency status is accompanied with the tendency of blood stasis.

Liuwei Dihuang Pill(六味地黄丸)Treats Postmenopausal Osteoporosis with Shen(Kidney) Yin Deficiency via Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Signal Pathway by Up-regulating Cardiotrophin-Like Cytokine Factor 1 Expression

Objectives： To investigate the mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pill （六味地黄丸, LDP） in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMOP） with Shen （Kidney） yin deficiency. Methods： In this study, 205 cases of PMOP were divided into the PMOP Shen-yin deficiency group （Group A）, PMOP Shen-yang deficiency group （Group B）, PMOP without Shen deficiency group （Group C）, and control group （Group N）. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and Western blot techniques were used to observe the effects of LDP treatment on the cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 （CLCF1）, ankyrin repeat and SOCS box containing 1 （ASB1）, and proldneticin 2 （PROK2） genes and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK/STAT） signaling pathway. Results： The mRNA （P〈0.05） and protein （P〈0.01） expression levels of the CLCF1 gone in Group A were significantly lower than the corresponding levels in Group N. After LDP treatment for 3 months, the mRNA expression levels of the CLCF1 gone were obviously up-regulated （P〈0.01）. After 6-month treatment, the expression levels of CLCF1 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated （both P〈0.01）, and the average bone density of the top femur had significantly increased （P〈0.05）. In vitro, CLCF1 overexpression resulted in a significant increase in the total protein and phosphorylated protein levels of JAK2 and STAT3. Conclusions： The CLCF1 gone is an important gone associated with PMOP Shen-yin deficiency and the therapeutic effects of LDP may be mediated by up-regulation of CLCF1 gone expression and activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra of the Key Organs Derived from Kidney(Shen)-Yang Deficiency Syndrome Mice

Objective：To explore an approach to rapidly and accurately identify the compounds as biomarkers of Chinese medicine（CM）syndromes.Method：The Fourier transform infrared（FT-IR）spectrometry was applied to investigate the characteristic components of a mice model of Kidney（Shen）-yang deficiency syndrome（KDS）,and the remedial effect of a typical CM formula Shenqi Pill（肾气丸）.Thirty-six females and 18 males of Balb/c mice were randomly divided into KDS,Shenqi or control group.The females and males of the same group freely were mated for 96 h,and the males were taken out and only the female mice were raised.Females of the KDS group were threatened by a ferocious cat every other day for 14 d.After delivery,the KDS,or gestational threatened,offspring were raised at standard condition for 11 weeks.Then 10 male offspring were randomly selected,anaesthetized and their representative organs,i.e.testes,kidneys,lungs and feet were collected,for the FT-IR scan.Mice of the Shenqi group were intragastric administered Shenqi Pill;while mice in the KDS and control groups were given the same volume of saline.Results：The attenuated birth outcomes of the KDS group were displayed.The remarkable FT-IR differences of all organs between KDS mice and healthy control were mainly at 1,735-1,745 cm-1（indicating the increased levels of lipids）and at 1,640-1,647 cm-1and 1,539-1,544 cm-1（displaying the decreased proteins）.No statistic FT-IR difference between Shenqi and control mice was observed.Conclusion：In accordance with major traits of KDS,prenatal stress extensively impaired the building up of proteins and resulting in the excessive lipid storage,and FT-IR could effectively identify the biomarkers of KDS.

Shen(Kidney)-Tonifying Principle for Primary Osteoporosis:to Treat Both the Disease and the Chinese Medicine Syndrome

Primary osteoporosis （POP） is one of the most common diseases in the elderly people resulting in high risk of fracture and poor quality of life. In addition to the pathological changes in bone mass, most of the POP patients also suffer from Chinese medicine （CM） syndromes of Shen （Kidney） essence deficiency. Shen essences are highly related to bone. Shen essence deficiency plays an important part in the development of POP and a better diagnosis of POP could be made by combining CM syndromes with Western medicine risk factors. Treatments of POP should aim at both increasing the bone mass and relieving the syndromes of Shen essence deficiency. Clinical study confirmed that treating POP patients with Shen-tonifying herbs could increase the bone mass and relieve the CM syndromes of POP patients. Basic researches clarified the mechanism by which Shen-tonifying herbs increased bone mass in animal models. The mechanisms by which Shentonifying herbs relieve the CM syndromes are still in investigation.

Efficacy and Safety of Guilingji Capsules(龟龄集胶囊)for Treating Mild-to-Moderate Cognitive Impairment:Study Protocol for A Randomized,Double-Blind,Positive-Controlled,Multicenter and Noninferiority Trial

Background:The incidence of cognitive impairment(CI)is gradually increasing,which has attracted more attention from medical researchers worldwide.Definitive mechanisms of pathogenesis remain elusive,and there are few medications that have been proven effective for CI.The utilization of Chinese herbal medicine has shown positive therapeutic effects for a broad spectrum of diseases,including CI.Objective:The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Guilingji Capsules(GLJC,龟龄集胶囊)in treating mild-to-moderate CI with Shen(Kidney)and marrow deficiency syndrome.Methods:This is a randomized,double-blind,positive-controlled,multicenter clinical trial with a noninferiority design that included 348 participants randomly divided into an experimental arm and an active comparator arm.Individuals in the experimental arm(174 cases)took 0.6 g of GLJC once a day and 19.2 mg of Gingko biloba extract mimetic 3 times a day.Individuals in the active comparator arm(174 cases)took 0.6 g of GLJC mimetic once a day and 19.2 mg of Gingko biloba extract in tablet form 3 times a day.The intervention period included two sessions over 24 weeks.The primary outcome be the effectiveness of GLJC on cognitive improvement after 24 weeks of treatment,which was defined as an increase in the Mini Mental State Examination(MMSE)and Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)Scale.The secondary outcomes were improvement in independence,daily living ability,and Chinese medicine(CM)syndrome,which were measured with the Alzheimer’s disease Rating Scale-Cognitive Project(ADAS-Cog),Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR)Total Score,Activities of Daily Living(ADL)Total Score and the Chinese Medicine Symptom Scale(CM-SS),respectively.Serum acetylcholine,acetylcholinesterase,bax and bcl-2 were monitored to explore the mechanism of GLJC on CI.In addition,safety measures,including vital signs,electrocardiography,laboratory indicators(full blood count,kidney and liver function tests,routine urine test and routine stool test)and adverse events,were also recorded.Discussion:The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of GLJC in patients with mild-to-moderate CI with kidney and marrow deficiency syndrome.If successful,the results would provide a viable treatment for patients with mild-to-moderate CI.