Tilianin Promotes the Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density and mass. To examine the mechanism(s) underlying the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, we have used an in vitro model of osteoporosis induced by exposure to high glucose. Tilianin is a flavonoid glycoside isolated from Dracocephalum moldavica L. that has been reported to exhibit a variety of pharmacologic activities. However, the utility of tilianin in the treatment of osteoporosis remains unexplored. To this end, we have examined the effect of tilianin on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells exposed to high glucose. Our data revealed that tilianin suppressed apoptosis, promoted osteogenic differentiation, and survival of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the presence of high glucose. Our data therefore confirmed that tilianin could serve as a promising drug for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Shao-Yang-Xi-Bi-Fang Inhibits Chondrocyte Injury and Inflammation in a Rat Model of Osteoarthritis

In the present study, we have examined the protective role and mechanism of Shao-Yang-Xi-Bi-Fang on osteoarthritis induced chondrocyte injury. We observed (a) upregulation of the expression of miR-15a-5p that was positively associated with cell apoptosis and (b) downregulation of protein kinase B protein and mRNA expression in osteoarthritic tissues. Further studies showed that 3'-untranslated regions of the protein kinase B mRNA were the direct target of the miR-15a-5p. The downregulation of the miR-15a-5p led to upregulation of the protein kinase B and mammalian target of rapamycin expression. The Shao-Yang-Xi-Bi-Fang improved the morphological changes, inhibited cell apoptosis, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β in knee osteoarthritis rat model by inducing cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Taken together, the Shao-Yang-Xi-Bi-Fang inhibited chondrocyte injury and inflammation in a rat model of osteoarthritis via targeting the miR-15a-5p/protein kinase B pathway, providing a new possible therapeutic regimen to osteoarthritis.

Senkyunolide I Relieves Neuropathic Pain Induced by Chronic Constriction Injury by Inhibiting Activation of Microglia

As an alternative to the use of narcotics, generally refractory to long-term effectiveness, for the management of neuropathic pain, we have explored the utility of senkyunolide I. Senkyunolide I is one of the bioactive components isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort known to exhibit multiple biological activities. In this study, we report senkyunolide I inhibition of chronic constriction injury induced neuropathic pain. Mechanistically, senkyunolide I inhibited chronic constriction injury induced apoptosis and the activity of microglia via extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway. We therefore suggest that senkyunolide I could serve as a promising drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Diagnostic Significance of β-Collagen Degradation Products and Osteocalcin in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Complicated with Osteoporosis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a pulmonary dysfunction common to the middle-aged and elderly population. About 20–60% of patients with moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease suffer from different degrees of osteoporosis. A strong relationship between β-collagen degradation products and osteocalcin has been shown in several bone diseases, but their roles in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remain to be investigated. This study was designed to explore such a relationship in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with osteoporosis. The β-collagen degradation products were the highest in the serum of patients diagnosed with both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and osteoporosis followed by those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease only and osteoporosis only. According to the receiver operating characteristic analysis curves, both β-collagen degradation products and osteocalcin had favorable predictive values for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis or both. In addition, β-collagen degradation products were negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s and bone mineral density, while osteocalcin was positively correlated with them. β-collagen degradation products increase, and osteocalcin decreases in patients with both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and osteoporosis.

Clinical Efficacy of Amlodipine Besylate Combined with Ligusticum on Patients with Both Hypertension and Heart Failure and Their Prognosis and Life Quality

Heart failure, a frequent complication of hypertension, is the primary risk factor of myocardial infarction. Therefore, it is important to find newer and effective treatments for hypertension comorbid with heart failure. A combination of amlodipine besylate and ligusticum, both known antihypertensives, was evaluated in hypertension complicated with heart failure with the goal of providing improved treatment. To this end, 172 hypertensive patients with heart failure received a conventional therapy or amlodipine besylate combined with ligusticum. Following treatment, all subjects were evaluated for clinical efficacy, safety, blood pressure, cardiac function, vascular endothelial function, and heart failure markers. The two groups were followed up for 1 year, and their prognosis and life quality were investigated. The treatment resulted in improvement in all markers, a higher total effectiveness rate with similar incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, amlodipine besylate combined with ligusticum may be an effective and safe treatment for hypertension complicated with heart failure.

Improvement of the Chemosensitivity of Gastric Carcinoma Cells by Celastrus orbiculatus Extracts

Gastric carcinoma is one of the most prevalent malignancies with high morbidity and mortality. While chemotherapy is the major means for the management gastric carcinoma, tumors gradually exhibit drug resistance. Therefore, there is a need for agents capable of enhancing the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy. Herein, we have examined the effect of Celastrus orbiculatus extracts on chemosensitivity of drug resistant gastric carcinoma cells. Human gastric carcinoma cells (MGC-803 and SGC-7901) were cultured in the presence of cisplatin for the selection of drug resistant gastric cells. Next, the effect of C. orbiculatus extracts on multiplication capacity of drug resistant MGC-803 and SGC-7901 cells was examined by a variety of measures. Following C. orbiculatus extract treatment, the multiplication and invasiveness of drug resistant MGC-803 and SGC-7901 cells declined remarkably, with increased apoptosis and decreased levels of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1 proteins, protein markers critical to cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In summary, C. orbiculatus extract can effectively improve the sensitivity of cisplatin resistant gastric carcinoma cells to cisplatin and promote the apoptosis of tumor cells through the inhibition of the expression of proteins associated with the Wnt/β-catenin axis.

A Combination of Nursing Intervention and External Asiaticoside on Postoperative Scar Recovery and Mental State of Patients with Breast Cancer

We have evaluated the effect of a combination of nursing intervention and external asiaticoside on postoperative scar recovery and mental state of patients with breast cancer. To this end, 98 patients with breast cancer whose stitches had been removed 15 days after modified radical mastectomy and completely healed incisions were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The control patients received the conventional nursing intervention, while those in the experimental group also received external asiaticoside. Compared with the control group, the incidence rate of postoperative complications in the experimental group was significantly lower with respect to their functional recovery status, psychological status, and daily living ability. In conclusion, the use of scar care exercises in combination with topical application of asiaticoside can greatly improve patients’ mobility and reduce the occurrence of complications, thus improving the patients’ ability to take care of themselves and enabling them to better integrate into the society.

Dihydromyricetin Prevents Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Human Osteoarthritis Chondrocytes

Osteoarthritis is characterized by inflammation and joint cartilage degradation. Dihydromyricetin, a natural flavonoid in rattan tea, exhibits several pharmacological properties including antitumor, cardioprotection, antidiabetes, neuroprotection, hepatoprotection, and dermatoprotection. Herein, we have investigated in vitro the effects of dihydromyricetin on osteoarthritis progression using an interleukin-1β-induced cell model. Our data show that dihydromyricetin markedly improved the viability of interleukin-1β-treated chondrocytes. Furthermore, dihydromyricetin markedly downregulated the expression of nitric oxide, prostaglandin-E2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6, and ameliorated cartilage destruction in interleukin- 1β-treated chondrocytes, as well as inhibited the interleukin-1β-induced oxidative stress via the nuclear factor kappa B axis. In summary, our results demonstrate therapeutic potential of dihydromyricetin in osteoarthritis through modulation of the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway.

Lycopsamine Attenuates Diabetes Mellitus via The Nuclear Factor Kappa B-Induced 5′ Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase Signal Pathway

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by inflammation, abnormal glycolipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to hyperglycemia. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the efficacy of lycopsamine in a rat model of diabetes mellitus to understand its mechanism. Lycopsamine treatment markedly lowered the level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, nonesterified fatty acids, and low-density lipoprotein in diabetic rats. There was also a reduction in interleukin-6, interleukin-10, C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels. Lycopsamine treatment normalized the metabolism of lipid and glucose, insulin resistance, and body weight of diabetic rats. Findings of immunohistochemical analyses exhibited rise in precipitation of immunocytes in renal cells. Results potentially demonstrated that lycopsamine treatment remarkably reduced the nuclear factor-kappa B level and enhanced the 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase expression. Altogether, administration of lycopsamine suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines and attenuated the metabolic symptoms in diabetes mellitus experimental rats.

Gambogic Acid Relieves Neuropathic Pain in Rats by Regulating CXCR4-TXNIP/NLRP3 Pathway

Neuropathic pain is caused by abnormal sensory processing in the central nervous system (CNS). The immune response of the CNS is related to the function of glial cells and is critical in neuropathic pain. Agents based on cytokines and glial cells in the CNS have potential for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Gambogic acid (GA) is one of the main components of Garcinia cambogia, which has anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and analgesic effects. However, the effect of GA on neuropathic pain and related mechanisms are still unclear. Previous studies indicated that GA could reduce CXCR4 expression in neuropathic pain. In this study, we found that GA could alleviate nerve pain behavior in rats by measuring the incubation period of heat shrinkage and mechanical pain threshold. Also, GA reduced inflammation in chronic constriction injury rats. We further found GA reduced the apoptosis of spinal cord nerve cells in chronic constriction injury rats. Mechanically, we noticed GA relieved neuropathic pain in rats via regulating CXCR4-TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway. Our data confirmed that GA could serve as a promising drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain.