Hepatoprotective effect of Cichorium intybus L.,a traditional Uighur medicine,against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats

AIM:To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of a Cichorium intybus L.extract(CIE)on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.METHODS:Seventy-two male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into six groups of twelve rats each.The normal control group was allowed free access to food and water.Liver injury was performed in the remaining five groups with an i.p.injection of a 1.0mL/kg CCl4 and olive oil(2:3 v/v)mixture,twice weekly for 8 weeks.All rats,with the exception of the injury model group,were intragastrically(i.g.,)administered quantum satis(q.s.)dosages[CIE group:6,18,and 54 mg/kg,respectively;Fu Fang Bie Jia Ruan Gan Pian(FFBJRGP)group:780 mg/kg].The oral administration of different drugs was performed on the day before CCl4 administration and subsequently once per day for8 wk.The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),hexadecenoic acid(HA),laminin(LN),hydroxyproline(Hyp),and glutathione(GSH),malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)in the rat livers were measured.Histopathological changes in the liver were assessed for each group using HE staining and a Masson Trichrome examination.The expression of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)andα-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)was examined by immunohistochemical analysis.RESULTS:CIE at oral doses of 6,18,and 54 g/kg per day showed a significant hepatoprotective effect,especially at a dose of 54 g/kg per day.CIE doses reduced the levels of AST(149.04±34.44,P<0.01),ALT(100.72±27.19,P<0.01),HA(548.50±65.09,P<0.01),LN(28.69±3.32,P<0.01)and Hyp(263.33±75.82,P<0.01).With regards to hepatoprotective activity,the CIE dose of 54 g/kg per day produced the largest significant effect by increasing GSH(3.11±0.81),SOD(269.98±33.77,P<0.01)and reducing MDA(2.76±0.51,P<0.01)levels in the liver.The expressions of TGF-β1 andα-SMA were measured by immunohistology and found to be significantly reduced by CIE in a dose-dependent manner.

Chinese and Uighur medicine diagnostic criteria of the evaluation of the Modern drug treatment side-effects in bronchial asthma patients

We studied Chinese and Uighur medicines and create an automated computer diagnostics system according to principals of Uighur medicine for evaluation of bronchial asthma patient′s state.498 patients with bronchial asthma were enrolled the automated computer diagnostic program.304 patients were evaluated in the process of drug and non-drug treatment.Savda asthma type of Uighur medicine do not corresponds with any of the defined clinico-pathogenetic variants of the disease.Thus,prevailing of atopic bronchial asthma with probability of 0.7 is defined with Savda categories with such as 'Lungs energy deficiency','Spleen energy deficiency' and 'Kidneys Yin deficiency'(P<0.01) variants in Chinese Medicine.The combination of infectious-dependent variant of bronchial asthma Abnormal Savda syndrome with atopy with a probability of 0.8 is accompanied by the categories of 'Hot and Full' asthma with such variants as 'Lungs energy deficiency' 'Spleen energy deficiency','Kidneys Yin deficiency'(P<0.01).Patients with an easier case of Abnormal Savda syndrome bronchial asthma in 71% of cases have prevailing diagnostic categories of 'External,Full and Cold' asthma.Patients with a harder case of Abnormal Savda in 74% of cases belongs to the categories of 'Internal,Empty and Hot' asthma.So,hormone dependency of the disease in 69% of cases is accompanied by the 'Kidneys Yin deficiency' variant and,if there is an aspirin component in the pathogenesis of mixed asthma,in 83% of cases 'Kidneys Yin deficiency' and 'Kidneys Yang deficiency' variants are defined.

Associations between IL-1RN variable number of tandem repeat, IL-1β (-511) and IL-1β (+3954) gene polymorphisms and urolithiasis in Uighur children of China

Objective:Interleukin-1(IL-1)is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which may be related to urolithiasis.Genetic polymorphisms of the interleukin-1beta(IL-1β)have been proposed as markers for urolithiasis in some areas.Due to the high incidence of urolithiasis in Uighur children(Xinjiang,China)and existence of ethnic difference,our aim is to explore the potential of IL-1 gene polymorphisms and urolithiasis among these children.Methods:Genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood of 115 patients and 98 controls were used for genotype polymorphisms analyses.IL-1 receptor antagonist(IL-1RN)gene variable number of tandem repeat(VNTR)gene polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR method.PCR-based restriction analysis was done for the IL-1β(-511)and IL-1β(+3954)gene polymorphisms by endonucleases Ava I and Taq I,respectively.The genotype distribution,allele frequencies,carriage rate,and haplotype frequencies were statistically analyzed.Results:No significant differences were observed in genotypic frequencies between pediatric urolithiasis patients and control group for IL-1RN gene(χ^(2)=1.906,p=0.605),IL-1β(-511)gene(χ^(2)=0.105,p=0.949),or IL-1β(+3954)gene(χ^(2)=3.635,p=0.169).There were yet no significant differences of the allele frequencies of IL-1RN VNTR gene(p=0.779),IL-1β(-511)gene(p=0.941),and IL-1β(+3954)gene(p=0.418)in the case and control groups,as well as the carriage rate and haplotype of them(all p>0.05).Conclusions:The associations between IL-1RN VNTR,IL-1β(-511)and IL-1β(+3954)genes polymorphisms and urolithiasis were not significant in Uighur children.The results need to be confirmed in studies with larger population sample size,as well as in other ethnic groups.

Comparison on Detection Results of Pathogen Nucleic Acids for Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Lung Infection Infants Between Uighur Nationality and Han Nationality

Objective:To analyze the detection results of pathogen nucleic acids for bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)of lung infection infants from Uighur nationality and Han nationality.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the 318 infants with lung infection who were admitted to the hospital from April 2018 to April 2019.According to their nationality,they were divided into Uighur nationality group(190 cases)and Han nationality group(128 cases).The BALF specimens were collected to test pathogen nucleic acid.The distribution and positive rates of[respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),adenovirus(ADV),influenza virus A(IFA),influenza virus B(IFB),parainfluenza virus type 1(PIV I),parainfluenza virus type 2(PIV II),parainfluenza virus type 3(PIV III)],bacteria(Streptococcus pneumoniae,Haemophilus influenzae,staphylococcus aureus,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,klebsiella pneumoniae),Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)and Chlamydia pneumoniae(CP)in both groups were observed and compared.Results:The virus detection for RSV,ADV and PIV III were on the top three in BALF from the children in both groups.The total positive rate of virus examination in Uighur nationality group was higher than that in Han nationality group(P<0.05).BALF in both groups was mainly on Streptococcus pneumoniae.The total positive rate of bacteria,MP and detection rate of chlamydia were higher in Uighur nationality group were higher than those in Han nationality group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The pathogen nucleic acid examination for bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in infants with lung viral infection is in the majority,mainly on RSV virus infection.The positive rates of virus,bacteria,MP and CP of children in Uighur nationality are high than those in Han nationality.

Abnormal Savda Syndrome:Long-Term Consequences of Emotional and Physical Stress on Endocrine and Immune Activities in An Animal Model

Objective： To investigate the relationship between emotional status, cold-dry environment and long-term immune responses to the stressors, and the potential pathological mechanisms between causative factors of abnormal Savda syndrome （ASS） and the susceptibility to disease; thus to clarify the ASS, and secondly to identify the optimal ASS animal model for further studies on traditional Uighur therapeutical formulations. Methods： Sixty mice were randomly and equally divided into 4 groups： control and 3 stress groups. The cold-dry environment was applied by keeping the mice in a climatic chamber. The emotional stress was induced by the application of the repeated electric foot-shocks in the electric foot-shock apparatus. The mice of the combined stress group underwent the repeated electric foot-shock treatment before being housed in the climatic chamber. The experimental routine was repeated for 21 days. In order to look into endocrine and immune stress responses, ELISA was used to determine the serum levels of the hormones corticotropin- releasing hormone （CRH）, adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH）, Beta-endorphin （13-END） and corticosterone （CORT）, of the cytokines interleukin 2 （IL-2）, interleukin 6 （IL-6）, interferon-gamma （INF- ~/） and tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-or）, and of the immunoglobulins immunoglobulin A （IgA）, immunoglobulin M （IgM） and immunoglobulin G （IgG）. Lymphocyte subsets were analyzed in duplicate in order to determine differences in the T cell ratio. Results： In the cold-dry environment group, the serum levels of CRH, ACTH and CORT were significantly higher than those of the control group, whereas serum 13 -END was not found significantly different. In both the repeated electric foot-shock group as well as in the combined stress group the serum levels of CRH, ACTH, 13 -END and CORT were significantly higher. Compared to the control animals, the serum concentration of INF-,y was significantly lower in all three different stress groups. The serum level of IL-2 was decreased in the combined stress group whereas the serum TNF-~x level was significantly higher. The serum IgG level was significantly higher in all three stress groups, whereas the IgA level was lower in both chronic electric foot-shock group and combined stress group. The IgM level was found significantly higher in the combined stress group only. The percentage of CD4＋ cells in peripheral blood was dramatically decreased in mice exposed to cold- dry environment, chronic electric foot-shock and combined stress, whereas the percentage of the CD8＊ subset was not significantly different. The CD4＊/CD8~ ratios were markedly lower in both cold-dry environment group and combined stress group. （Conclusions： Combined stress can cause hyperactivity of the HPA axis, and an imbalance in the Thl/Th2 cell subset may contribute to illustrate the partial pathological mechanisms of ASS. This study identified this animal model of a combination of physical and emotional stress as an optimal model for further studies on ASS and relative therapies.

Commonalities and characteristics of aqueous extracts from three Uighur medicines were analyzed by using three-stage infrared spectroscopy combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectra

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method to analyze the commonalities and characteristics of the aqueous extracts from three Uighur medicines.METHODS: In this study, a combination method of three-stage infrared spectroscopy and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectra(UPLC-TOF-MS) method was used to analyze the commonalities and characteristics of the aqueous extracts from Hezi(Fructus Chebulae),Maohezi(Terminalia Belliricae Fructus) and Xiqingguo(Chebulae Fructus Immaturus).RESULTS: In Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy spectra, all three samples showed the characteristic absorption peaks of tannins similarly. According to UPLC-TOF-MS data analysis, the difference of the position and intensity of the peaks at 1713-1707 cm^(-1) in the three samples were related to the difference in the relative content of tannin and pentacyclic triterpenoids. In second derivative infrared spectroscopy spectra, further analysis of the differences in the infrared spectra of the three samples was performed by increasing the apparent resolution. In combination with UPLC-TOF-MS data, some features infrared absorption peaks were assigned.The absorption peaks at 1032-1030 cm^(-1) assigned to the stretching vibration of C-O-C(ether bond)groups of tannins; 1164-1163, 1063-1062, 1009-1005, 904 cm^(-1) attributed to the stretching vibration of C-O(ether bond) and C-O-C groups of glycosidic compounds. 1385-1383 cm^(-1) attributed to the bending vibration of C-H(alkyl hydrogen) of methoxyl group of pentacyclic triterpenoids. Peak 835 cm^(-1) was assigned to the characteristic absorption peak of bending vibration of = C-H groups of pentacyclic triterpenoids. The two dimensional correlation infrared spectroscopy could further quickly distinguish three samples through the dynamic structural information of their chemical components and discrepancy of auto-peaks and cross-peaks intuitively in the range of 1720-419 cm^(-1).CONCLUSION: By comparing the intensity of the infrared characteristic absorption peaks, the main chemical components were assigned, which significantly enriched and perfected the data analysis of the infrared spectra of three Uighur Medicines. It provided a rationale for the identification of medicinal materials with complex and similar chemical components using the three-stage infrared spectroscopy and UPLC-TOF-MS.

Analyses and identification of the chemical constituents of the Uighur formulation Baixuan Xiatare using three-stage infrared spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE:To identify,rapidly and accurately,the chemical composition of the traditional Uighur formulation Baixuan Xiatare(BXXTR-FU).METHODS:We investigated if application of three-stage infrared(IR)spectroscopy enabled identification of the main chemical constituents(and their origins)in BXXTR-FU.RESULTS:The characteristic peaks of herbal material(s)and BXXTR-FU were assigned.In Fourier transform-IR(FT-IR)spectroscopy of BXXTR-FU,peaks at1616 and 1605 cm-1 of BXXTR-FU were considered to denote anthraquinones and their derivatives;1066 cm-1 was regarded as the characteristic absorption peak of resin glycosides.In second-derivative IR(SD-IR)spectroscopy,the main carbonyl types of BXXTR-FU in the range 1743-1636 cm-1 were assigned:1651 cm-1 belonged to the carbonyl stretching vibrations of flavonoids and chromones;1717 cm-1 belonged to tannins;1699 cm-1 belonged to carboxylic acids;1636 cm-1 belonged to anthraquinones and their derivatives.SD-IR spectroscopy further confirmed that the characteristicabsorption peaks at 1636,1618 and 1603 cm-1 could be used as markers that BXXTR-FU contained anthraquinones and their derivatives.Synchronous2 D-IR correlation spectra of chemical groups further confirmed the results of FT-IR and SD-IR spectroscopy.CONCLUSION:Our study strongly supported the necessity and importance of three-stage IR spectroscopy owing to its rapid and accurate identification of herbal formulations.

莫高窟第310窟回鹘供养人画像阐释——兼论曹氏归义军的回鹘化

前言沙州回鹘是建立于沙州地区长达数十年的少数民族政权,传统的典籍文献对其记载较为缺乏,但是沙州回鹘时期绘制于敦煌石窟中的供养人画像为研究沙州回鹘的历史提供了可贵材料。第310窟初建于隋代,在沙州回鹘时期做了重修,是刘玉权所断定的23个沙州回鹘洞窟之一1。第310窟西龛、北壁、南壁下方绘有供养人画像,饶有兴味的是男性供养人全部着回鹘装,女性供养人全部着汉装。