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Journal of Ovarian Research Jul 2023Cangfu Daotan Wan (CFDTW) has been widely used for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients in the type of stagnation of phlegm and dampness. In this study, we aimed to...
BACKGROUND/AIM
Cangfu Daotan Wan (CFDTW) has been widely used for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients in the type of stagnation of phlegm and dampness. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of CFDTW on PCOS with phlegm-dampness syndrome (PDS).
METHODS
In silico analysis was adopted to identify CFDTW potential targets and the downstream pathways in the treatment of PCOS. Expression of PKP3 was examined in the ovarian granulosa cells from PCOS patients with PDS and rat PCOS models induced by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). PKP3/ERCC1 was overexpressed or underexpressed or combined with CFDTW treatment in ovarian granulosa cells to assay the effect of CFDTW on ovarian granulosa cell functions via the PKP3/MAPK/ERCC1 axis.
RESULTS
Clinical samples and ovarian granulosa cells of rat models were characterized by hypomethylated PKP3 promoter and upregulated PKP3 expression. CFDTW reduced PKP3 expression by enhancing the methylation of PKP3 promoter, leading to proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells, increasing S and G2/M phase-arrested cells, and arresting their apoptosis. PKP3 augmented ERCC1 expression by activating the MAPK pathway. In addition, CFDTW facilitated the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells and repressed their apoptosis by regulating PKP3/MAPK/ERCC1 axis.
CONCLUSION
Taken together, this study illuminates how CFDTW confers therapeutic effects on PCOS patients with PDS, which may offer a novel theranostic marker in PCOS.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Rats; Apoptosis; DNA-Binding Proteins; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Endonucleases; Granulosa Cells; Plakophilins; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
PubMed: 37420272
DOI: 10.1186/s13048-023-01200-7 -
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases... May 2014Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with biomass smoke inhalation tend to be women born in rural areas with lifelong exposure to... (Review)
Review
Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with biomass smoke inhalation tend to be women born in rural areas with lifelong exposure to open fires while cooking, but can also include persons with prenatal and childhood exposure. Compared with individuals with COPD due to tobacco smoking, individuals exposed to biomass smoke uncommonly have severe airflow obstruction, low diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) or emphysema in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) but cough, phlegm and airway thickening and air trapping are very common. Autopsies of patients with COPD from biomass smoke exposure show increased pulmonary artery small vessel intimal thickening which may explain pulmonary hypertension, in addition to emphysema and airway disease. Research on similarities and differences in lung damage produced by exposure to biomass fuel smoke while cooking vs. smoking tobacco may provide new insights on COPD. As a public health problem, COPD caused by inhalation of smoke from burning solid fuel is as relevant as COPD caused by smoking tobacco but mainly affects women and children from disadvantaged areas and countries and requires an organized effort for its control. Improved vented biomass stoves are currently the most feasible intervention, but even more efficient stoves are necessary to reduce the biomass smoke exposure and reduce incidence of COPD among this population.
PubMed: 28848808
DOI: 10.15326/jcopdf.1.1.2013.0004 -
Environment International Jan 2019Respiratory symptoms are important indicators of respiratory diseases. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to respiratory symptoms development but less is...
Respiratory symptoms are important indicators of respiratory diseases. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to respiratory symptoms development but less is known about gene-environment interactions. We aimed to assess interactions between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and occupational exposures on respiratory symptoms cough, dyspnea and phlegm. As identification cohort LifeLines I (n = 7976 subjects) was used. Job-specific exposure was estimated using the ALOHA + job exposure matrix. SNP-by-occupational exposure interactions on respiratory symptoms were tested using logistic regression adjusted for gender, age, and current smoking. SNP-by-exposure interactions with a p-value <10 were tested for replication in two independent cohorts: LifeLines II (n = 5260) and the Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen cohort (n = 1529). The interaction estimates of the replication cohorts were meta-analyzed using PLINK. Replication was achieved when the meta-analysis p-value was <0.05 and the interaction effect had the same direction as in the identification cohort. Additionally, we assessed whether replicated SNPs associated with gene expression by analyzing if they were cis-acting expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) in lung tissue. In the replication meta-analysis, sixteen out of 477 identified SNP-by-occupational exposure interactions had a p-value <0.05 and 9 of these interactions had the same direction as in the identification cohort. Several identified loci were plausible candidates for respiratory symptoms, such as TMPRSS9, SERPINH1, TOX3, and ARHGAP18. Three replicated SNPs were cis-eQTLs for FCER1A, CHN1, and TIMM13 in lung tissue. Taken together, this genome-wide SNP-by-occupational exposure interaction study in relation to cough, dyspnea, and phlegm identified several suggestive susceptibility genes. Further research should determine if these genes are true susceptibility loci for respiratory symptoms in relation to occupational exposures.
Topics: Cohort Studies; Genome-Wide Association Study; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Respiratory Tract Diseases
PubMed: 30449631
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.017 -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Jun 2014To explore the relationships between different lifestyle-behavioral factors and phlegm-wetness type of Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution, so as to provide health...
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationships between different lifestyle-behavioral factors and phlegm-wetness type of Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution, so as to provide health management strategies for phlegm-wetness constitution.
METHODS
A case-control study was conducted with the cases selected from the database of Chinese constitution survey in 9 provinces or municipalities of China. 1380 cases met the diagnostic criteria of phlegm-wetness type were taken as the case group, and 1380 cases were randomly selected from gentleness type as the control group. Using Chi-square test to compare the differences of lifestyle-behavior composition in each group; single factor and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to compare the relationships of lifestyle-behavioral factors and phlegm-wetness type.
RESULTS
There were statistically significant differences between phlegm-wetness type group and gentleness type group in lifestyle behaviors (dietary habits, tobacco and liquor consumptions, exercise habits, sleeping habits). The results of single factor logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the risk of phlegm-wetness constitution decreased significantly in light diet (odds ratio, OR = 0.68); The risk factors of phlegm-wetness type were fatty food intake (OR = 2.36), sleeping early and getting up late (OR = 1.87), tobacco smoking (OR = 1.83), barbecued food intake (OR = 1.68), alcohol drinking (OR = 1.63), salty food intake (OR = 1.44), sleeping erratically (OR = 1.43), less physical activities (OR = 1.42), sweet food intake (OR = 1.29), sleeping and getting up late (OR = 1.26), and pungent food intake (OR = 1.21), respectively. Regardless of the interaction among lifestyle-behavioral factors, the results of the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors of phlegm-wetness type were sleeping early and getting up late (OR = 1.94), fatty food intake (OR = 1.80), tobacco smoking (OR = 1.50), sleeping erratically (OR = 1.50), barbecued food intake (OR = 1.40), sleeping and getting up late (OR = 1.40), less physical activities (OR = 1.31), sleeping late and getting up early (OR = 1.27), and sweet food intake (OR = 1.27, respectively, and the risk of phlegm-wetness type still decreased significantly in light food intake (OR = 0.79).
CONCLUSION
Light diet can decrease the risk of being phlegm-wetness constitution, and bad lifestyle behaviors such as sleeping early and getting up late, sleeping erratically, fatty food, barbecued food or sweet food intake, tobacco and liquor consumptions, and less physical activities can increase the risks of becoming phlegm-wetness constitution.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; China; Humans; Life Style; Male; Middle Aged; Qi; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sputum; Young Adult
PubMed: 24992755
DOI: 10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60092-3 -
Phytomedicine : International Journal... Jul 2023Erchen decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine formula, can reduce the level of oxidative stress for the treatment of dyslipidemia phlegm-dampness retention syndrome...
Erchen decoction to reduce oxidative stress in dyslipidemia phlegm-dampness retention syndrome mice: In vivo mechanism revealed by metabolomics (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry).
OBJECTIVE
Erchen decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine formula, can reduce the level of oxidative stress for the treatment of dyslipidemia phlegm-dampness retention syndrome (DPDRS); however, studies have not elucidated the mechanism underlying its metabolic action. Here, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomic techniques were utilized to characterize the in vivo effects of Erchen decoction in achieving reduction of oxidative stress levels and understand the potential metabolic mechanisms of action.
METHODS
We constructed a DPDRS animal model using a multifactorial composite modeling approach, and Erchen decoction was administered by gavage. We employed LC-MS-based metabolomic techniques in combination with serum-associated factors, gene transcription, methylation detection, and hematoxylin and eosin staining.
RESULTS
In this study, the constructed animal model of DPDRS had satisfactory quality. Erchen decoction treatment reduced the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, t total cholesterol and riglyceride; it improved the endothelial structure, increased levels of serum β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and glutathione concentrations, increased aortic phosphoserine aminotransferase and phosphoserine phosphatase gene expression levels, and decreased aortic phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase methylation level. A total of 64 differential metabolites were obtained using LC-MS assay, and 34 differential metabolic pathways were obtained after enrichment.
CONCLUSIONS
Erchen decoction treatment of DPDRS mice reversed lipid indexes, improved vascular endothelial structure, increased serum and aortic anti-oxidative stress factor concentration and expression levels, and decreased methylation levels, thereby reducing oxidative stress and protecting vascular endothelium. Tricarboxylic acid cycle and metabolic pathways of serum glutamine, serine, tryptophan, pyrimidine, and pyruvate were the most relevant metabolic pathways involved in reducing oxidative stress levels by Erchen decoction during DPDRS treatment; especially, mitochondrial redox homeostasis maintenance in endothelial cells may be crucial. In this work, the therapeutic potential of Erchen decoction for reducing the oxidative stress level in DPDRS was demonstrated; however, its in-depth mechanism is worth further exploration.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Endothelial Cells; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Metabolomics; Chromatography, Liquid; Mass Spectrometry; Cholesterol, LDL; Dyslipidemias; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 37087794
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154808 -
Molecular and Cellular Probes Apr 2023Due to the limitations of traditional microbiological detection techniques in evaluating complicated infections in ICU patients, it is necessary to explore novel and...
BACKGROUND
Due to the limitations of traditional microbiological detection techniques in evaluating complicated infections in ICU patients, it is necessary to explore novel and effective methods to improve the clinical detection of ICU patients' infections.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency and specificity of mNGS in screening pathogens in the blood, deep phlegm, urine, and other sample types of ICU patients exploring an effective method for infection detection.
METHODS
A total of 56 ICU patients with 131 samples were included in this study. The sample types included blood, deep phlegm, urine, drainage, anal swabs, and other types. Samples were analyzed by both conventional detection method and mNGS tests. The diagnosis efficiency and consistency of the two methods were compared. The distribution of the identified pathogens was analyzed. Moreover, the clinical features of patients with mNGS-positive or mNGS-negative results were compared.
RESULTS
The positive rate of mNGS was 81.7% (107/131) including 3.1% (4/131) weakly positive, while the positive rate of traditional detection was only 30.5%, including 29 strong positive results and 11 weak positive results. Additionally, there were 41 patients chose to adjust anti-infection strategies according to the results of mNGS, which significantly saved treatment costs. The mNGS-positive patients showed a shorter ICU hospitalization and higher intention to adjust anti-infection strategies than the mNGS-negative patients.
CONCLUSION
mNGS is of great potential for the pathogen detection of ICU patients, and has a higher detection rate than traditional detection methods. Further clinical application investigations can be carried out to expand the application of mNGS.
Topics: Humans; Body Fluids; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Metagenome; Intensive Care Units; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 36764622
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2023.101898 -
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders Mar 2022Isoproterenol (ISO), a synthetic on selective β-adrenergic agonist, provides a simple and non-invasive method for inducing myocardial injury with lower mortality and...
BACKGROUND
Isoproterenol (ISO), a synthetic on selective β-adrenergic agonist, provides a simple and non-invasive method for inducing myocardial injury with lower mortality and higher reproducibility. Phlegm-damp syndrome, as known as "Tanshi" in Chinese, is one of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation, which plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown.
METHODS
In our present study, a myocardial injury mouse model was introduced by ISO administration combined with high temperature and high humidity and high-fat diet to simulate phlegm-damp syndrome. Nontargeted metabolomics with LC-MS/MS was adopted to reveal serum metabolism profile for elucidating the possible molecular mechanism.
RESULTS
The results of our study showed that phlegm-damp syndrome promoted ISO-induced myocardial injury by aggravating left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis, and increasing cardiac index. Our study also confirmed the presence of specific metabolites and disturbed metabolic pathways by comparing ISO mice and Tanshi mice, mainly including glycerophospholipid metabolism, arginine-proline metabolism, and sphingolipid signaling pathway. The lysoPCs, PCs, SMs, Sphingosine, and L-Arginine were the main metabolites that showed a difference between ISO and Tanshi mice, which might be the result of the underlying mechanism in the promotion of ISO-induced myocardial injury in mice with high temperature and high humidity and high-fat diet.
CONCLUSION
Our current study provides new insights into contribution of metabolism disorder in promotion of ISO-induced myocardial injury in mice with high temperature and high humidity and high-fat diet, and new targets for clinical diagnosis and pharmacologic treatment of cardiovascular disease with phlegm-damp syndrome.
Topics: Animals; Chromatography, Liquid; Diet, High-Fat; Humans; Humidity; Isoproterenol; Mice; Reproducibility of Results; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Temperature
PubMed: 35350989
DOI: 10.1186/s12872-022-02583-z -
BMC Pulmonary Medicine Jun 2022Oscillometry is an emerging technique that offers some advantages over spirometry as it does not require forced exhalation and may detect early changes in respiratory... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Lung disease burden assessment by oscillometry in a systematically disadvantaged urban population experiencing homelessness or at-risk for homelessness in Ottawa, Canada from a prospective observational study.
RATIONALE
Oscillometry is an emerging technique that offers some advantages over spirometry as it does not require forced exhalation and may detect early changes in respiratory pathology. Obstructive lung disease disproportionately impacts people experiencing homelessness with a high symptoms burden, yet oscillometry is not studied in this population.
OBJECTIVES
To assess lung disease and symptom burden using oscillometry in people experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness using a community-based participatory action research approach (The Bridge Model™).
METHODS
Of 80 recruited, 55 completed baseline oscillometry, 64 completed spirometry, and all completed patient-reported outcomes with demographics, health, and respiratory symptom related questionnaires in the Participatory Research in Ottawa: Management and Point-of-Care for Tobacco Dependence project. Using a two-tail t-test, we compared mean oscillometry values for airway resistance (R), reactance area under the curve (A) and reactance at 5 Hz (X) amongst individuals with fixed-ratio method (FEV/FVC ratio < 0.70) and LLN (FEV/FVC ratio ≤ LLN) spirometry diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We compared mean oscillometry parameters based on participants' COPD assessment test (CAT) scores using ANOVA test.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the pre- and post- bronchodilator values of R and A for the fixed ratio method (p = 0.63 and 0.43) and the LLN method (p = 0.45 and 0.36). There was a significant difference in all three of the oscillometry parameters, R, A and X, based on CAT score (p = 0.009, 0.007 and 0.05, respectively). There was a significant difference in R and A based on the presence of phlegm (p = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively) and the presence of wheeze (p = 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). Oscillometry data did not correlate with spirometry data, but it was associated with CAT scores and correlated with the presence of self-reported symptoms of phlegm and wheeze in this population.
CONCLUSIONS
Oscillometry is associated with respiratory symptom burden and highlights the need for future studies to generate more robust data regarding the use of oscillometry in systematically disadvantaged populations where disease burden is disproportionately higher than the general population.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrails.gov-NCT03626064, Retrospective registered: August 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03626064.
Topics: Cost of Illness; Forced Expiratory Volume; Ill-Housed Persons; Humans; Lung; Oscillometry; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Retrospective Studies; Spirometry; Urban Population; Vulnerable Populations
PubMed: 35710334
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-022-02030-x -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Sep 2012This study screened serum tumor biomarkers by surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) to establish a subset which...
OBJECTIVE
This study screened serum tumor biomarkers by surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) to establish a subset which could be used for the prediction of Qi deficiency syndrome and phlegm and blood stasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer; and as diagnostic model of Chinese medicine.
METHODS
Serum samples from 63 lung cancer patients with Qi deficiency syndrome and phlegm and blood stasis, and 28 lung cancer patients with non-Qi deficiency syndrome and phlegm and blood stasis were analyzed using SELDI-TOF-MS with a PBS II-C protein chip reader. Protein profiles were generated using immobilized metal affinity capture (IMAC3) protein chips. Differentially-expressed proteins were screened. Protein peak clustering and classification analyses were performed using Biomarker Wizard and Biomarker Pattern software packages, respectively.
RESULTS
A total of 268 effective protein peaks were detected in the 1,000-10,000 Da molecular range for the 15 serum proteins screened (P<0.05). The decision tree model was M 2284.97, with a sensitivity of 96.2% and a specificity of 66.7%.
CONCLUSION
SELDI-TOF-MS techniques, combined with a decision tree model, can help identify serum proteomic biomarkers related to Qi deficiency syndrome and phlegm and blood stasis in lung cancer patients; and the predictive model can be used to discriminate between Chinese medicine diagnostic models of disease.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor; Blood Proteins; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mucus; Proteomics; Qi
PubMed: 23297554
DOI: 10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60036-9 -
BioMed Research International 2022Phlegm-dampness constitution as one of nine constitutions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been a high risk factor for glucolipid metabolic disorders (GLMD)....
BACKGROUND
Phlegm-dampness constitution as one of nine constitutions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been a high risk factor for glucolipid metabolic disorders (GLMD). Based on our previous findings, Hua Tan Qu Shi recipe (HTQSR) could effectively improve metabolic indicators of GLMD by targeting on phlegm-dampness constitution. However, the proteomic mechanisms of GLMD with the treatment of HTQSR targeting on phlegm-dampness constitution remain unknown.
METHODS
Clinical participants from phlegm-dampness constitution with the prediabetic state (T), phlegm-dampness constitution with marginally elevated blood lipids (Z), and phlegm-dampness constitution before sickness (W) were included in this study, who orally took HTQSR for 12 weeks and, respectively, marked AT, AZ, and AW. Data-independent acquisition (DIA) and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) were performed to identify the differential proteins; then, Venn analysis was used to investigate coexpressed and coregulated proteins. In addition, ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) software was utilized to explore the related pathways and diseases and biofunctions.
RESULTS
LXR/RXR activation, acute phase response signaling, and production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in macrophages were obviously activated between the T and AT groups, as well as the Z and AZ groups. In contrast, these three pathways were inhibited between the W and AW groups. Importantly, one coexpressed and coregulated differential protein, B2MG, was validated by PRM among all groups.
CONCLUSIONS
This work firstly reported the underlying proteomic mechanisms of GLMD with the treatment of HTQSR targeting on phlegm-dampness constitution, indicating that intervention of phlegm-dampness constitution might be a novel strategy for the preventive treatment of GLMD.
Topics: Humans; Proteomics; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Metabolic Diseases; Risk Factors
PubMed: 36588532
DOI: 10.1155/2022/6464431