Multidisciplinary strategies to enhance therapeutic effects of flavonoids from Epimedii Folium:Integration of herbal medicine,enzyme engineering,and nanotechnology

Flavonoids such as baohuoside I and icaritin are the major active compounds in Epimedii Folium(EF)and possess excellent therapeutic effects on various diseases.Encouragingly,in 2022,icaritin soft capsules were approved to reach the market for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)by National Medical Products Administration(NMPA)of China.Moreover,recent studies demonstrate that icaritin can serve as immune-modulating agent to exert anti-tumor effects.Nonetheless,both production efficiency and clinical applications of epimedium flavonoids have been restrained because of their low content,poor bioavailability,and unfavorable in vivo delivery efficiency.Recently,various strategies,including enzyme engineering and nanotechnology,have been developed to increase productivity and activity,improve delivery efficiency,and enhance therapeutic effects of epimedium flavonoids.In this review,the structure-activity relationship of epimedium flavonoids is described.Then,enzymatic engineering strategies for increasing the productivity of highly active baohuoside I and icaritin are discussed.The nanomedicines for overcoming in vivo delivery barriers and improving therapeutic effects of various diseases are summarized.Finally,the challenges and an outlook on clinical translation of epimedium flavonoids are proposed.

Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of New Fungicides on Rice Blast

[Objectives]The paper was to identify the characteristics and the potency of new fungicides to rice blast disease,and study their preventive and therapeutic effects on the disease.[Methods]Six new and conventional fungicides with different mechanisms of action were selected to compare their preventive and therapeutic effects on rice seedling blast in greenhouse.[Results]The agents which showed to be highly efficacious in blast prevention(greater than 90%)were 25%pyraclostrobin EC,20%fenoxanil SC,75%tricyclazole WP and 50%prochloraz-manganese WP sprayed at the dosages of 112.5-150,180-360,270-450 and 450-600 g/ha,respectively.The therapeutic effect of new fungicides 25%pyraclostrobin EC and 50%prochloraz-manganese WP on rice blast were above 90%when the dosages were 90-150 and 360-600 g/ha,respectively.The therapeutic effect of the conventional fungicide 40%isoprothiolane EC on rice blast was 69.04%when the dosage was 480 g/ha,while those of other fungicides were worse.[Conclusions]Both 25%pyraclostrobin EC and 50%prochloraz-manganese WP have good preventive and therapeutic effects on rice blast,which will provide a reference for the use of these fungicides in the field.

Mechanism of Action and Therapeutic Effect of Modified Qiwei Baishu Powder in Diabetes

Objective:To study the mechanism of action and therapeutic effect of modified Qiwei Baishu powder in diabetic patients.Methods:From January 2021 to January 2022,80 diabetic patients were recruited in our study and divided into two groups by the random number table method.Group A was treated with modified Qiwei Baishu powder,whereas group B was treated with western medicine.The therapeutic effect,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome score,blood sugar level,and incidence of adverse reaction were compared between the two groups.Result:The therapeutic effect in group A was significantly higher than that in group B(P<0.05);the TCM syndrome scores of group A were significantly lower than those of group B(P<0.05);the fasting blood glucose(FBG),2 hour-postprandial blood glucose(PBG),and glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)levels of group A were significantly lower than those of group B(P<0.05);the incidence of adverse reaction in group A was significantly lower than that in group B(P<0.05).Conclusion:On the basis of western medicine,the addition of modified Qiwei Baishu powder can maintain stable blood sugar levels in patients and alleviate diabetic symptoms;thus,it is not only effective,but also safe for clinical use in diabetes.

Observation on the Therapeutical Effect of Adjuvant Arthritis in Rats with Medicinal Indirect Moxibustion

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Efficacy of intramuscular matrine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, a glo- bal public health problem, is the leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. There are more than 350 million HBV carriers in the world and up to one million die annually due to hepatitis B associated liv- er disease. So far no optimal treatment is available for pa- tients with chronic hepatitis B. In the paper we investigated the efficacy of intramuscular matrine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly divided into matrine treatment group (n =60) and control group (n =60). The patients of the matrine group were given intramuscularly with matrine (an alkaloid extracted from a traditional Chinese herb Radix Sophorae Flavescentis by Guangzhou Ming Xing Pharmaceu cal Factory, Guangzhou, China) of 100 mg daily for 90 days in addition to conventional liver-protective drugs in- cluding glucurone, inosine, compound vitamin B and caryophyllin. The control group received conventional liv- er-protective drugs alone. Clinical manifestations and labo- ratory parameters including liver biochemistry and serum hepatitis B virus markers were monitored before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: Significant differences were seen between the two groups in terms of improvement of clinical symptoms and signs, recovery of liver functions, and serum conver- sion from hepatitis Be antigen to HBe antibody and from positive to negative serum HBV DNA (P <0.05-0.01). The result of the matrine group was more marked than that of the control group. Serious side-effects were not observed except mild pain at the site of injection of matrine in a few patients. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that intramuscular matrine may be an economical, efficacious, safe drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

MDCT angiography to evaluate the therapeutic effect of PTVE for esophageal varices

Abstract AIM:To evaluate the role of multi-detector row computed tomography(MDCT) angiography for assessing the therapeutic effects of percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization(PTVE) for esophageal varices(EVs).METHODS:The subjects of this prospective study were 156 patients who underwent PTVE with cyanoacrylate for EVs.Patients were divided into three groups according to the filling range of cyanoacrylate in EVs and their feeding vessels:(1) group A,complete obliteration,with at least 3 cm of the lower EVs and peri-/EVs,as well as the adventitial plexus of the gastric cardia and fundus filled with cyanoacrylate;(2) group B,partial obliteration of varices surrounding the gastric cardia and fundus,with their feeding vessels being obliterated with cyanoacrylate,but without reaching lower EVs;and(3) group C,trunk obliteration,with the main branch of the left gastric vein being filled with cyanoacrylate,but without reaching varices surrounding the gastric cardia or fundus.We performed chart reviews and a prospective follow-up using MDCT images,angiography,and gastrointestinal endoscopy.RESULTS:The median follow-up period was 34 mo.The rate of eradication of varices for all patients was 56.4%(88/156) and the rate of relapse was 31.3%(41/131).The rates of variceal eradication at 1,3,and 5 years after PTVE were 90.2%,84.1% and 81.7%,respectively,for the complete group;61.2%,49% and 42.9%,respectively,for the partial group;with no varices disappearing in the trunk group.The relapsefree rates at 1,3 and 5 years after PTVE were 91.5%,86.6% and 81.7%,respectively,for the complete group;71.1%,55.6% and 51.1%,respectively,for the partial group;and all EVs recurred in the trunk group.Kaplan-Meier analysis showed P values of 0.000 and 0.000,and odds ratios of 3.824 and 3.603 for the rates of variceal eradication and relapse free rates,respectively.Cyanoacrylate in EVs disappeared with time,but those in the EVs and other feeding vessels remained permanently in the vessels without a decrease with time,which is important for the continued obliteration of the feeding vessels and prevention of EV relapse.CONCLUSION:MDCT provides excellent visualization of cyanoacrylate obliteration in EV and their feeding veins after PTVE.It confirms that PTVE is effective for treating EVs.

Boosting of the enhanced permeability and retention effect with nanocapsules improves the therapeutic effects of cetuximab

Objective:The introduction of therapeutic antibodies(tAbs)into clinical practice has revolutionized tumor treatment strategies,but their tumor therapy efficiency is still far below expectations because of the rapid degradation and limited tumor accumulation of tAbs.Methods:We developed a nanocapsule-based delivery system to induce the self-augmentation of the enhanced permeability and retention(EPR)effect.This system constantly penetrated across the blood-tumor barrier into the tumor while avoiding the attack of tAbs by the immune system.The biodistribution and therapeutic effect were tested with single dose administration of nanocapsule-tAbs in vivo.Results:The accumulation of Nano(cetuximab)within subcutaneous PC9 tumors was gradually enhanced over 6 days after single dose administration,which was contrary to the biodistribution of native cetuximab.Nano(cetuximab)accumulated in tumor tissues via the EPR effect and released cetuximab.The released cetuximab acted on vascular endothelial cells to destroy the blood-tumor barrier and induce self-augmentation of the EPR effect,which in turn contributed to further tumor accumulation of long-circulating Nano(cetuximab).Compared with single dose administration of native cetuximab,Nano(cetuximab)showed an effective tumor suppressive effect for 3 weeks.Conclusions:The nanocapsule-based delivery system efficiently delivered tAbs to tum or tissues and released them to boost the EPR effect,which facilitated further tumor accumulation of the tAbs.This novel self-augmentation of the EPR effect facilitated by the biological characteristics of tAbs and nanotechnology contributed to the improvement of the therapeutic effect of tAbs,and stimulated new ideas for antibody-based tumor therapy.

Observation on the Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture for 60 Cases of Simple Obesity

Simple obesity refers to a disease characterized by body overweight due to excessive calorie intake and over accumulation of adipose tissue in the body. With the improvement of life conditions, obesity has become a factor that impairs the health of the people. From 1997 to 1998, the author had treated 60 cases of simple obesity with acupuncture and obtained satisfactory results. The results of treatment are reported as follows.

Therapeutic Actions of the Chinese Herbal Formulae with Cold and Heat Properties and Their Effects on Ultrastructures of Synoviocytes in Rats of the Collagen-Induced Arthritis

The therapeutic actions of Qing Luo Yin (QLY清络饮) with heat property and Wen Luo Yin (WLY温络饮) with cold property on pain, swelling of the ankle, arthritis index and ultrastructures of synoviocytes were compared in rats of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), with tripterygium glycosidorum (TG) used as control. The results indicated that both QLY and WLY could reduce pain, swelling of the ankle and the arthritis index of CIA, and QLY had better effects in reducing the swelling of the ankle and controlling the secondary pathological lesions as compared with WLY. Investigation on the ultrastructures of synoviocytes indicated that both QLY and WLY could reduce the number of Golgi apparatus, rough surface endoplasmic reticulum, dense bodies, matrix filaments and vacuoles so as to suppress the excessive secretion of synoviocytes in rats of CIA.

Bioactive compounds of sea cucumbers and their therapeutic effects

Sea cucumbers belong to the Class Holothuroidea of marine invertebrates.They are commercially valuable and prized as a food and folk medicine in Asia.Nutritionally,sea cucumbers have an impressive profile of valuable nutrients such as vitamins,minerals and amino acids.A number of unique biological and pharmacological activities/properties,including anticancer,anticoagulant/antithrombotic,antimicrobial,antioxidant,antihyperlipidemic,antihyperglycemic,anti-inflammatory,antihypertension and radioprotective,have been ascribed to various compounds isolated from sea cucumbers.The therapeutic properties and medicinal benefits of sea cucumbers can be linked to the presence of a wide array of bioactives,especially triterpene glycosides,acid mucopolysaccharide,sphingoid bases,glycolipids,fucosylated chondroitin sulfate,polysaccharides,phospholipids,cerebrosides,phosphatidylcholines,and other extracts and hydrolysates.This review highlights the valuable bioactive components as wellas the multiple therapeutic properties of sea cucumbers with a view to exploring their potential uses as functional foods and a natural source of new multifunctional drugs.

Therapeutic effect of curcumin on experimental colitis mediated by inhibiting CD8^+ CD11c^+ cells

AIM To verify whether curcumin(Cur) can treat inflammatory bowel disease by regulating CD8+CD11c+ cells. METHODS We evaluated the suppressive effect of Cur on CD8+CD11c+ cells in spleen and Peyer's patches(PPs) in colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Mice with colitis were treated by 200 mg/kg Cur for 7 d. On day 8, the therapeutic effect of Cur was evaluated by visual assessment and histological examination, while co-stimulatory molecules of CD8+CD11c+ cells in the spleen and PPs were measured by flow cytometry. The levels of interleukin(IL)-10, interferon(IFN)-γ and transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 in spleen and colonic mucosa were determined by ELISA.RESULTS The disease activity index, colon weight, weight index of colon and histological score of experimental colitis were obviously decreased after Cur treatment, while the body weight and colon length recovered. After treatment with Cur, CD8+CD11c+ cells were decreased in the spleen and PPs, and the expression of major histocompatibility complex Ⅱ, CD205, CD40, CD40 L and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was inhibited. IL-10, IFN-γ and TGF-β1 levels were increased compared with those in mice with untreated colitis.CONCLUSION Cur can effectively treat experimental colitis, which is realized by inhibiting CD8+CD11c+ cells.

OBSERVATION ON THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF 123 CASES OF SCAPULOHUMERAL PERIARTHRITIS

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of Qinglong Bai Wei Zhen Fa (Green Dragon Shaking Tail Needling) in the treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis. Methods: A total of 231 cases of scapulohumeral periarthritis patients were randomized into treatment group (n=123) and control group (n=108). In treatment and control groups, Jianyu (LI 15), Jianqian and Jianhou were used as the main acupoints and stimulated with Green Dragon Shaking Tail Needling and conventional needling separately. Additionally, in control group, Waiguan (TE 5) and Binao (LI 14) were supplemented. The treatment was given once daily, with 10 days being a therapeutic course, 2 courses altogether. Results: After the first course of treatment, in treatment and control groups, the cured, the markedly improved, the effective and ineffective cases were 49 and 12, 61 and 33, 11 and 40, 2 and 23, with the total effective rates being 98.4% and 78.7% respectively. There was a marked difference between two groups in the therapeutic effect (P<0.05). Following 2 courses of treatment, the cured, the markedly improved, the effective and ineffective cases were 66 and 21, 47 and 41, 10 and 39, 0 and 7, with the total effective rates being 100% and 93.5% separately. No significant difference between two groups in the total effective rates, but the cure rate of treatment group was strikingly higher than that of control group. Conclusion: Green Dragon Shaking Tail Needling is significantly superior to that of conventional needling in the treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENTIN 96 CASES OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

96 cases of trigeminal neuralgia were treated by acupuncture. As a result, 82 cases were cured accounting for 85. 1 %, 12 cases improved accounting for 12. 5 % and 2 cases were ineffective accounting for 2. 08%. The total effective rate was 97. 9%. The method of treatment is effective for trigeminal neuralgia. It is convenient, takes analgesic effect guickly and does not have any side-effect.

Therapeutic Effect of Shenfu Injection (参附注射液) on Secondary Aplastic Anemia of Tumor Patients after Chemotherapy

Objective: To explore the effect of Shenfu Injection (参府注射液, SFI) on the secondary aplastic anemia (AA) of tumor patients after chemotherapy (CT). Methods: The 15 cases of SFI treated group, 10 cases of control group, 25 cases of SFI + granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) treated group and the group of 23 GM-CSF-treated tumor cases of secondary AA after CT were compared, with their increasing rate and the rebound speed of neutrophil, platelet, bone marrow nucleated RBC, granulocyte, and megakaryocyte all being investigated. Results: The increasing rate and rebound speed of granulocyte, platelet, and the increasing rate of bone marrow nucleated RBC, granulocyte, megakaryocyte were obviously higher than those of the control, and the clinical manifestations were also obviously improved. The increasing rate of platelet, bone marrow nucleated RBC, megakaryocyte of the SFI + GM-CSF group were higher than those of the group which used GM-CSF alone, while the increasing rate of granulocyte in blood and bone marrow in both groups was similar. Conclusion: Significant efficacy was shown in SFI for the treatment of secondary AA of tumor patients after CT.

Observation of Therapeutic Effect with Hand Treating the Spine Relative Disease

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Analysis of the therapeutic effect of transhepatic arterial embolization combined with microwave ablation for hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Objective:To analyze the imaging results of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma(HEHE)and the effect of transhepatic arterial embolization(TAE)combined with microwave ablation(MWA)in the treatment of HEHE.Methods:A retrospective analysis of four patients with HEHE diagnosed by pathological diagnosis of liver biopsy was performed.

Therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells from different sources in the treatment of liver diseases

Hepatitis B Virus(HBV)is still one of the important problems threatening the health and safety of human life.If the virus can not be effectively controlled,it will gradually evolve into chronic hepatitis.Chronic hepatitis will not be treated for a long time,and will gradually develop into liver fibrosis,cirrhosis,liver cancer or even liver failure and other diseases with poor prognosis.However,there is no specific western medicine treatment for liver fibrosis,cirrhosis and other liver diseases.The main treatment methods are symptomatic treatment,internal medicine comprehensive treatment and prevention of complications.In recent years,the medical technology has been continuously developed and improved,scholars at home and abroad have focused on the effective ways to prevent and treat liver diseases.More and more studies have confirmed the mesenchymal stem cells Cell(MSC)plays an important role in the treatment of liver diseases.The author will describe the therapeutic effect of MSC from different sources on liver diseases.

Neuregulin 1 isoforms could be an effective therapeutic candidate to promote peripheral nerve regeneration

Traumatic injuries of peripheral nerves represent common casualties and their social impact is considerably high. Although peripheral nerves retain a good regeneration potential, the clinical outcome after nerve lesion is far from being satisfactory and functional recovery is almost never complete, especially in the case of large nerve defects, that result in loss or diminished sensitivity and/or motor activity of the innervated target organs. Therefore, to improve the outcome after nerve damage, or in peripheral neuropathies, there is a need for further research in nerve repair and regeneration to identify factors that promote axonal regrowth, remvelination and target reinnervation.

Therapeutic Effects of Tongxinluo Capsule(通心络胶囊) on Patients with Acute Small Oerebral Infarction and Its Influence on SPECT Brain Periusion Image

Objective: To investigate the influence of Tongxinluo capsule (TXL,通心络胶囊) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with 99mTc-ECD single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain perfusion imaging, and to observe the therapeutic effects of TXL on acute small cerebral infarction (ASCI). Methods: Thirty-four patients with ASCI were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups: the control group (n = 17) was treated with the conventional treatment, i.e. 1. Og of Citicoline added into 300 ml normal saline for intravenous dripping daily for 2 weeks and 0. 8 g of Piracetam taken three times a day orally for 4 weeks, and the treatment group (n = 17) was treated additionally with 4 TXL capsules three times a day for 4 weeks besides the conventional treatment. The 99mTc-ECD SPECT brain perfusion imaging was performed before and after treatment to observe the change of rCBF, and the neurological deficit was evaluated by Edinburgh-Scandinavia stroke scale (SSS) scores and Barthel index (Bl) at the same time. Results: After treatment, the rCBF in the treatment group was significantly improved (P<0. 01), while that in the control group remained unchanged, with the comparison of the rCBF in the two groups after treatment showing significant difference (P<0.01). In addition, the SSS score was significantly lower and Bl significantly higher in the treatment group than those in the control group respectively after treatment. Conclusion: TXL could effectively improve rCBF and lessen the neurological deficit symptoms in patients with ASCI.

Potential therapeutic effects of thymoquinone on treatment of amphetamine abuse

Dear Editor,The prevalence of drug abuse has diverted from traditional drugs such as opioid and cannabis to modern,synthetic and psychoactive drugs such as amphetamine groups,the amphetamine(AT)and methamphetamine[1].Amphetamine is used medically to treat several disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,narcolepsy,depression and minor obesity[2].However,AT has also gained