Therapeutic Effects of Chinese Medicine Herb Pair, Huzhang and Guizhi, on Monosodium Urate Crystal-Induced Gouty Arthritis in Rats Revealed by Anti-Inflammatory Assessments and NMR-Based Metabonomics

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Huzhang-Guizhi herb pair (HG), firstly included in Hu-Zhang Power documented in Taiping Shenghui Fang, on monosodium urate (MSU) crystals-induced gouty arthritis in rats. We found that pretreatment with HG in rats with gouty arthritis could significantly attenuate the ankle joint swelling, and this beneficial antigout effect might be mediated, at least in part, by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) production in synovial fluid as well as nuclear transcription factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) protein expression in synovial tissue. Moreover, metabonomic analysis demonstrated that 5 and 6 potential biomarkers associated with gouty arthritis in plasma and urine, respectively, which were mainly involved in energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and gut microbe metabolism, were identified. HG could reverse the pathological process of MSU-induced gouty arthritis through regulating the disturbed metabolic pathways. These results provided important mechanistic insights into the protective effects of HG against MSU-induced gouty arthritis in rats

Analysis and study of water resources management system at home and abroad

In order to enhance the effectiveness of China’s water resources management, China has implemented the most stringent policies in recent years, such as the most stringent water resources management system, the full implementation of the “River Administrator” system, and the “Lake Administrator” system. In this article, we studied the water management systems of six foreign countries, including United States, Canada, Japan, the United of Kingdom, France, and Australia, with exploring and analyzing the operating modes of their management system, to summarize their distinct advantages and common problems, provide reference for the development and perfection of China’s water resources management system, and to better support the sustainable management of China’s water resources and water environment to support the sustainable economic development of the basin and strict water resources management systems and water Implementation of pollution prevention action plans

Analysis and study of water resources management system at home and abroad

In order to enhance the effectiveness of China’s water resources management, China has implemented the most stringent policies in recent years, such as the most stringent water resources management system, the full implementation of the “River Administrator” system, and the “Lake Administrator” system. In this article, we studied the water management systems of six foreign countries, including United States, Canada, Japan, the United of Kingdom, France, and Australia, with exploring and analyzing the operating modes of their management system, to summarize their distinct advantages and common problems, provide reference for the development and perfection of China’s water resources management system, and to better support the sustainable management of China’s water resources and water environment to support the sustainable economic development of the basin and strict water resources management systems and water Implementation of pollution prevention action plans

NMR-Based Metabonomic Study Reveals Intervention Effects of Polydatin on Potassium Oxonate-Induced Hyperuricemia in Rats

Previous studies have disclosed the antihyperuricemic effect of polydatin, a natural precursor of resveratrol; however, the mechanisms of action still remain elusive. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effects and the underlying mechanisms of polydatin on potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia in rats through metabonomic technology from a holistic view. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was applied to capture the metabolic changes in sera and urine collected from rats induced by hyperuricemia and polydatin treatment. With multivariate data analysis, significant metabolic perturbations were observed in hyperuricemic rats compared with the healthy controls. A total of eleven and six metabolites were identified as differential metabolites related to hyperuricemia in serum and urine of rats, respectively. The proposed pathways primarily included branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, purine metabolism, and intestinal microflora metabolism. Additionally, some metabolites indicated the risk of renal injury induced by hyperuricemia. Polydatin significantly lowered the levels of serum uric acid, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen and alleviated the abnormal metabolic status in hyperuricemic rats by partially restoring the balance of the perturbed metabolic pathways. Our findings shed light on the understanding of the pathophysiological process of hyperuricemia and provided a reference for revealing the metabolic mechanism produced by polydatin in the treatment of hyperuricemia

NMR-Based Metabonomic Studies on Stomach Heat and Cold Syndromes and Intervention Effects of the Corresponding Formulas

Zuojin Wan (ZJW) and Lizhong Wan (LZW) have been widely used in the treatment of Stomach heat and cold syndrome (SH and SC), respectively. In this study, a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) based metabonomic approach was developed to profile SH and SC-related metabolic perturbations in rat serum and to investigate the intervention effects of ZJW and LZW on the corresponding SH and SC. Compared to the conventional macroscopic and histopathological examinations, the metabonomic approach could enable discrimination between SH and SC based on serum metabolic profiles. Meanwhile, 17 and 15 potential biomarkers associated with SH and SC, respectively, which were mainly involved in gastric dysfunction and mucosal lesions, gut microbiotal activity, transmethylation, glucose and lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, were identified. Furthermore, taking the potential biomarkers as drug targets, it was revealed that administration of ZJW and LZW could exclusively reverse the pathological process of SH and SC, respectively, through partially regulating the disturbed metabolic pathways. This work showed biological basis related to SH and SC at metabolic level and offered a new paradigm for better understanding and explanation of “Fang Zheng Dui Ying” principle in traditional Chinese medicine from a systemic view

Verification of miRNAs in ginseng decoction by high-throughput sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is a precious traditional Chinese medicine that has been clinically used for over thousands of years. In general, ginseng needs to be prepared to ginseng decoction before taking it. MicroRNAs are a class of small (18–24 nt), single-stranded molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Considering that ginseng miRNAs may be bioactive compounds, we used Illumina high-throughput sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to validate the existence of miRNAs in fresh ginseng decoction which have been boiled at high temperature. Our previous studies have demonstrated that there are several miRNAs in fresh ginseng. The roots of fresh Panax ginseng were prepared according to routine methods, from which miRNAs were extracted and sequenced. A total of 43 miRNAs were identified from water decoction by Illumina high-throughput sequencing, belonging to 71 miRNA families. The target genes of these miRNAs were predicted by sequencing, and were annotated by GO, KEGG and Nr databases. The functions of these target genes mainly included plant hormone signal transduction, transcription regulation, macromolecular metabolism and auxin signaling. Nine highly expressed miRNAs (miR159, miR167, miR396, miR166, miR168, miR156, miR165, miR162 and miR394) were verified by qRT-PCR, and the results of Illumina high-throughput sequencing and qRT-PCR were consistent. Results from this study indicate that miRNAs remained stable in P. ginseng after high-temperature boiling. Additionally, Illumina high-throughput sequencing was superior in the acquisition of higher amount of small RNAs

Optimization of Maduramicin Ammonium-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Using Box–Behnken Design for Enhanced Anticoccidial Effect against <i>Eimeria tenella</i> in Broiler Chickens

Maduramicin ammonium (MAD) is one of the most frequently used anticoccidial agents in broiler chickens. However, the high toxicity and low solubility of MAD limit its clinical application. In this study, MAD-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (MAD–NLCs) were prepared to overcome the defects of MAD by using highly soluble nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). The formulation was optimized via a three-level, three-factor Box–Behnken response surface method. Then, the optimal MAD–NLCs were evaluated according to their hydrodynamic diameter (HD), zeta potential (ZP), crystal structure, encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), in vitro release, and anticoccidial effect. The optimal MAD–NLCs had an HD of 153.6 ± 3.044 nm and a ZP of −41.4 ± 1.10 mV. The X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results indicated that the MAD was encapsulated in the NLCs in an amorphous state. The EE and DL were 90.49 ± 1.05% and 2.34 ± 0.04%, respectively, which indicated that the MAD was efficiently encapsulated in the NLCs. In the in vitro study, the MAD–NLCs demonstrated a slow and sustained drug release behavior. Notably, MAD–NLCs had an excellent anticoccidial effect against Eimeria tenella in broiler chickens. In summary, MAD–NLCs have huge potential to form a new preparation administered via drinking water with a powerful anticoccidial effect