Genome-wide association study on susceptibility genes associated with yang-deficiency constitution: A small sample case-control study

Association of traditional Chinese medicine body constitution and cold syndrome with leukocyte mitochondrial functions: An observational study

Body constitution in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) refers to the holistic and relatively durable state of an individual, based on the qi and blood assessment, and TCM syndrome is defined as the theoretical abstraction of disease-symptom profiles. The biological basis as related to mitochondria, which produce most of the cellular energy, has not been well studied. This study aimed to elucidate the association of mitochondrial function with TCM body constitution and cold syndrome. Body constitution and cold syndrome in TCM were assessed using the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ). The mitochondrial function of peripheral leukocytes was evaluated based on oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and enzyme activity; OCR reflects mitochondrial activity and the capacity to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Cellular adenosine nucleotides and malondialdehyde levels were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography to assess the potential bioenergetic mechanisms. A total of 283 adults participated in this study. Leukocytes from subjects with a balanced constitution had higher OCRs than those with unbalanced constitutions. Yang deficiency and cold syndrome also demonstrated lower energy metabolism, as indicated by reduced basal metabolic rate and cellular levels of ATP and malondialdehyde. Decreased mitochondrial enzyme activity has been observed in individuals with the cold syndrome. Unbalanced body constitutions in TCM impair mitochondrial function in leukocytes, which may contribute to the high disease susceptibility. Cold syndrome is characterized by reduced mitochondrial mass, which may explain its symptoms of low-energy metabolism and cold intolerance.

Population-based associations between progression of normal-tension glaucoma and Yang-deficient constitution among Chinese persons

PURPOSE

To explore the association between constitution types as defined by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and risk for normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study.

METHODS

Persons were identified in a population cohort aged ≥30 years with NTG, defined as having an untreated mean intraocular pressure measurement ≤21 mm Hg over six separate occasions, with no single reading >24 mm Hg (as in the Collaborative Normal Tension Glaucoma Study). The Body Constitution in Traditional Chinese Medicine Questionnaire was used to assess each participant's TCM constitution types. The association between various constitutions and visual field progression according to Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial criteria was assessed using Cox regression HR models.

RESULTS

Among 142 participants (245 eyes), 23 persons (17.6%) and 25 eyes (10.2%) progressed, over a mean (SD) follow-up duration of 3.49 (0.99) years. Progression rates were highest in participants with Yang-deficient constitution (n=19, 13.4%), among whom 7 (36.8%) exhibited worsening fields. After adjusting for sex, age, central corneal thickness, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and mean deviation on visual field testing, Yang-deficient constitution (HR 4.63, 95% CI 1.77 to 12.1, p=0.002) and higher mean intraocular pressure during follow-up (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.56, p=0.044) were associated with field progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Yang-deficient constitution and higher intraocular pressure are risk factors for visual field progression in NTG patients. Yang deficiency is characterised by abnormal vasoregulation, and these results may be consistent with prior studies linking NTG progression to Raynaud's phenomenon and migraine.

Components and Pharmacodynamical Mechanism of Yinfupian Based on Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Analyses

Objective: According to the treatment records of Yang deficiency syndrome (YDS) with characteristic decoction pieces of lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii—Yinfupian (YF) in traditional Chinese medicine prepare school, known as “Jianchangbang”. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the composition and therapeutic mechanism of the unprocessed lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii (ULRA) and its processed product (YF).

Methods: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis method were used to determine and screen the main components of ULRA and YF. Changes in the histological structure and morphology of gonads in rats were observed using hematoxylin-eosin. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the contents of serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate in YDS rats treated with ULRA and YF. Tandem mass tag proteomics analysis was used to identify the differentially expressed proteins in YDS rats treated with ULRA and YF.

Results: Both ULRA and YF exerted certain therapeutic effects on rats with YDS. They improved the gonadal morphology and increased the contents of serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate. After processing of ULRA into YF, the content of C19-diester-diterpenoid alkaloids decreased (converted into C19-monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids and C19-alkylol amine-diterpenoid alkaloids), whereas that of C20-diterpene alkaloids increased. Proteomics analysis showed that cytochrome P450 and aldehyde oxidase 3 (AOX3) were downregulated, whereas cathepsin G (CTSG) was upregulated in rats with YDS. Treatment with ULRA mainly downregulated the expression of α-actinin, fast skeletal troponin, creatine kinase, and myosin. Treatment with YF mainly upregulated the expression of mitochondrial ribosomal protein and mitochondrial inner membrane protein.

Conclusion: ULRA and YF exerted good therapeutic effects on YDS; the main difference in components between these preparations was in C19-diterpenoid alkaloids. ULRA mainly acts on the muscle contraction-related proteins and is closely related to inflammation and myocardial injury. YF mainly acts on the mitochondrial proteins and is closely related to adenosine triphosphate energy metabolism.

Studies on the Mechanism of Gegen Qinlian Decoction in Treating Diabetes Mellitus Based on Network Pharmacology

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that is very common and seriously threatens patient health. Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD) has long been applied clinically, but its mechanism in pharmacology has not been extensively and systematically studied. A GQD protein interaction network and diabetes protein interaction network were constructed based on the methods of system biology. Functional module analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were carried out on the 2 networks. The hub nodes were filtered by comparative analysis. The topological parameters, interactions, and biological functions of the 2 networks were analyzed in multiple ways. By applying GEO-based external datasets to verify the results of our analysis that the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) displayed metabolic pathways in which hub genes played roles in regulating different expression states. Molecular docking is used to verify the effective components that can be combined with hub nodes. By comparing the 2 networks, 24 hub targets were filtered. There were 7 complex relationships between the networks. The results showed 4 topological parameters of the 24 selected hub targets that were much higher than the median values, suggesting that these hub targets show specific involvement in the network. The hub genes were verified in the GEO database, and these genes were closely related to the biological processes involved in glucose metabolism. Molecular docking results showed that 5,7,2', 6'-tetrahydroxyflavone, magnograndiolide, gancaonin I, isoglycyrol, gancaonin A, worenine, and glyzaglabrin produced the strongest binding effect with 10 hub nodes. This compound–target mode of interaction may be the main mechanism of action of GQD. This study reflected the synergistic characteristics of multiple targets and multiple pathways of traditional Chinese medicine and discussed the mechanism of GQD in the treatment of DM at the molecular pharmacological level.

The Analysis of Constitutions of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Relation to Cerebral Infarction in a Chinese Sample

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationships between the constitutions of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and patients with cerebral infarction (CI) in a Chinese sample.

METHODS

A total of 3748 participants with complete data were available for data analysis. All study subjects underwent complete clinical baseline characteristics' evaluation, including a physical examination and response to a structured, nurse-assisted, self-administrated questionnaire. A population of 2010 neutral participants were used as the control group. Multiple variable regression (MLR) were employed to estimate the relationship between constitutions of TCM and the outcome.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the association of body constitution of TCM and CI.

SETTINGS/LOCATION

Communications and healthcare centers in Shanghai.

SUBJECTS

A total of 3748 participants with complete data were available for data analysis.

OUTCOME MEASURES

All study subjects underwent complete clinical baseline characteristics' evaluation, including a physical examination and response to a structured, nurse-assisted, self-administrated questionnaire. A population of 2010 neutral participants were used as the control group. MLR were employed to estimate the relationship between constitutions of TCM and the outcome.

RESULT

The prevalence of CI was 2.84% and 4.66% in neutral participants and yang-deficient participants (p = 0.012), respectively. Univariate analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between yang deficiency and CI. After adjustment for relevant potential confounding factors, the MLR detected significant associations between yang deficiency and CI (odds ratio = 1.44, p = 0.093).

CONCLUSION

A yang-deficient constitution was significantly and independently associated with CI. A higher prevalence of CI was found in yang-deficient participants as compared with neutral participants.