Antiviral properties of traditional chinese medicine against coronavirus: Research clues for coronavirus disease-2019

A novel nonreversible heat-induced low-molecular-weight gel based on naturally-occurring self-assembled fupenzic acid for tumor therapy

Herein, a nonreversible heat-induced supramolecular gel based on natural products was reported for the first time. This natural triterpenoid, fupenzic acid (FA), isolated from the roots of Rosa laevigata, was discovered to be capable of forming supramolecular gel spontaneously in 50 % ethanol-water solution induced by heating. Distinguished from the common thermosensitive gels, the FA-gel showed a distinctive nonreversible phase transition from the liquid to gel state upon heating. In this work, the entire gelation process of FA-gel induced by heating was recorded digitally by microrheology monitor. And a unique heat-induced gelation mechanism based on self-assembled FA has been proposed by using various experimental methods and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Its excellent injectability and stability were also demonstrated. Furthermore, the FA-gel had been evaluated to exhibit better anti-tumor activity and higher biosafety comparing with its equivalent free-drug, which opened up a new possibility to reinforce antitumor efficacy by using natural product gelator originated from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) without any complicated chemical modifications.

Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation in Patients with Viral Pneumonia-Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: An Observational Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVES

Appropriate mechanical ventilation may change the prognosis of patients with viral pneumonia-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the success of noninvasive ventilation in the management of patients with ARDS secondary to respiratory viral infection.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, all patients with viral pneumonia-associated ARDS were divided into the noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) success group and the NIV failure group. The demographic and clinical data of all patients were collected. The factors associated with the success of noninvasive ventilation were identified by the logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among this cohort, 24 patients with an average age of 57.9 ± 17.0 years received successful NIVs, and NIV failure occurred in 21 patients with an average age of 54.1 ± 14.0 years. The independent influencing factors for the success of the NIV were the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score (odds ratio (OR): 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-3.03) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (OR: 1.011, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02). When the oxygenation index (OI) is <95 mmHg, APACHE II > 19, and LDH > 498 U/L, the sensitivity and specificity of predicting a failed NIV were (66.6% (95% CI: 43.0%-85.4%) and 87.5% (95% CI: 67.6%-97.3%)); (85.7% (95% CI: 63.7%-97.0%) and 79.1% (95% CI: 57.8%-92.9%)); (90.4% (95% CI: 69.6%-98.8%) and 62.5% (95% CI: 40.6%-81.2%)), respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the OI, APACHE II scores, and LDH were 0.85, which was lower than the AUC of the OI combined with LDH and the APACHE II score (OLA) of 0.97 (P=0.0247).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, patients with viral pneumonia-associated ARDS receiving successful NIV have lower mortality rates than those for whom NIV failed. In patients with influenza A-associated ARDS, the OI may not be the only indicator of whether NIV can be used; a new indicator of NIV success may be the OLA.

Divergent impacts on the gut microbiome and host metabolism induced by traditional Chinese Medicine with Cold or Hot properties in mice

BACKGROUND

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced and developed in China over thousands of years under the guidance of a series of complicated traditional theories. Herbs within TCM usually are classified according to their different properties ranging from cold, cool, warm to hot, which are simplified as Cold and Hot properties. TCM with either Cold or Hot properties are used in various formulae designed for the purpose of restoring the balance of patients. Emerging evidence has highlighted that an altered gut microbiota or host metabolism are critically involved in affecting the healing properties of TCM. However, at present the exact influences and crosstalk on the gut microbiota and host metabolism remain poorly understood.

METHODS

In the present study, the divergent impacts of six TCMs with either Cold or Hot properties on gut microbiome and host metabolism during short- or long-term intervention in mice were investigated. Six typical TCMs with Hot or Cold properties including Cinnamomi Cortex (rougui, RG), Zingiberis Rhizoma (ganjiang, GJ), Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (fuzi, FZ), Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (dahuang, DH), Scutellariae Radix (huangqin, HQ), and Copitdis Rhizoma (huanglian, HL) were selected and orally administered to male C57BL/6J mice for a short- or a long-term (7 or 35 days). At the end of experiments, serum and cecal contents were collected for metabolomic and gut microbiome analyses using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (16S rDNA) sequencing.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the gut microbiome underwent divergent changes both in its composition and functions after short-term intervention with TCM possessing either Cold or Hot properties. Interestingly, the number of changed genus and bacteria pathways was reduced in Hot_LT, but was increased in Cold_LT, especially in the HL group. Increased α diversity and a reduced F/B ratio revealed the changes in Hot_ST, but a reduced Shannon index and increased altered bacteria function was evident in Cold_LT. The serum metabolic profile showed that the influence of TCM on host metabolism was gradually reduced over time. Glycolipid metabolism related pathways were specifically regulated by Hot_ST, but also surprisingly by Cold_LT. Reduced lactic acid in Cold_ST, increased tryptophan concentrations and decreased proline and threonine concentrations in Cold_LT perhaps highlighting the difference between the two natures influence on serum metabolism. These metabolites were closely correlated with altered gut microbiota shown by further correlation analyses.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that TCM properties could be, at least partially characterized by an alteration in the gut microbiota and metabolic profile, implying that the divergent responses of gut microbiome and host metabolism are involved in different responses to TCM.

Analysis of prescription medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine for bradyarrhythmia treatment based on data mining

BACKGROUND

Multiple studies have revealed that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) prescriptions can provide protective effect on the cardiovascular system, increase the heart rate and relieve the symptoms of patients with bradyarrhythmia. In China, the TCM treatment of bradyarrhythmia is very common, which is also an effective complementary therapy. In order to further understand the application of Chinese medicines in bradyarrhythmia, we analyzed the medication rules of TCM prescriptions for bradyarrhythmia by data mining methods based on previous clinical studies.

METHODS

We searched studies reporting the clinical effect of TCM on bradyarrhythmia in the PubMed and Chinese databases China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, and estimated publication bias by risk of bias tools ROB 2. Descriptive analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis and association rule analysis based on Apriori algorithm were carried out by Microsoft Excel, SPSS Modeler, SPSS Statistics and Rstidio, respectively. Association rules, co-occurrence and clustering among Chinese medicines were found.

RESULTS

A total of 48 studies were included in our study. Among the total 99 kinds of Chinese medicines, 22 high-frequency herbs were included. Four new prescriptions were obtained by hierarchical cluster analysis. 81 association rules were found based on association rule analysis, and a core prescription was intuitively based on the grouping matrix of the top 15 association rules (based on confidence level), of which Guizhi, Zhigancao, Wuweizi, Chuanxiong, Danshen, Danggui, Huangqi, Maidong, Dangshen, Rougui were the most strongly correlated herbs and in the core position.

CONCLUSION

In this study, data mining strategy was applied to explore the TCM prescription for the treatment of bradyarrhythmia, and high-frequency herbs and core prescription were found. The core prescription was in line with the treatment ideas of TCM for bradyarrhythmia, which could intervene the disease from different aspects and adjust the patient's Qi, blood, Yin and Yang, so as to achieve the purpose of treatment.

Molecular Docking and Dynamics of Phytochemicals From Chinese Herbs With SARS-CoV-2 RdRp

The novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Ancient Chinese herbal formulas are effective for diseases caused by viral infection, and their effects on COVID-19 are currently being examined. To directly evaluate the role of Chinese herbs in inhibiting replication of SARS-CoV-2, we investigated how the phytochemicals from Chinese herbs interact with the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). Total 1025 compounds were screened, and then 181compounds were selected for molecular docking analysis. Four phytochemicals licorice glycoside E, diisooctyl phthalate, (-)-medicocarpin, and glycyroside showed good binding affinity with RdRp. The best complex licorice glycoside E/RdRp forms 3 hydrogen bonds, 4 hydrophobic interactions, 1 pair of Pi-cation/stacking, and 4 salt bridges. Furthermore, docking complexes licorice glycoside E/RdRp and diisooctyl phthalate/RdRp were optimized by molecular dynamics simulation to obtain the stable conformation. These studies indicate that they are promising as antivirals against SARS-CoV-2.

Synthesis, crystal structure, potential drug properties for Coronavirus of Co(II) and Zn(II) 2-chlorobenzoate with 3-cyanopyridine complexes

Two new complexes of Co(II) and Zn(II) 2-chlorobenzoate (2-ClBA) with 3-cyanopyridine (CNP) of the general formula [Co(2-ClBA)₂(CNP)₂(H₂O)₂] and [Zn(2-ClBA)₂(CNP)₂(H₂O)₂] were synthesized. The structures of the complexes were characterized by single crystal XRD and FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) methods. Mononuclear complexes exhibit octahedral coordination. In addition, Hirshfeld surface analysis was performed to determine non-covalent interactions in crystal packing. The geometry optimization of the molecules was carried out using the LANL2DZ level of theory of the DFT method and the obtained findings were confirmed by comparing with the data obtained from the single crystal X-ray diffraction method. The theoretical and experimental bond angles and lengths are very close to each other. The effectiveness of the complexes against SARS-CoV-2 enzymes was investigated in silico using the molecular docking method, and a binding score of -8.0 kcal/mol on NSP16 of complex 1 as an inhibitor was obtained. To investigate the drug potential of the complexes, their pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic properties were estimated by ADMET calculations.

Differences in Clinical and Imaging Features between Asymptomatic and Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients

OBJECTIVES

The clinical and imaging features of asymptomatic carriers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and symptomatic COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

The clinical and chest computed tomography imaging data of 47 asymptomatic carriers and 36 symptomatic COVID-19 patients were derived. All patients underwent 4-6 CT scans over a period of 2-5 days.

RESULTS

The bulk of asymptomatic carriers who developed symptoms and most of the COVID-19 patients were older than 18 years of age with a decreased lymphocyte count, abnormal hepatic and renal function, and increased D-dimer and C-reactive protein. In the early stage, the pulmonary lesion involved mostly 1-2 lobes at the peripheral area in asymptomatic carriers but more than three lobes at both the central and peripheral areas in COVID-19 patients. In the progression stage, the lesion of asymptomatic carriers extended from the peripheral to the central area, and no significant difference was found in the lesion range compared with the symptomatic control group. In early improvement stage, the lesion was rapidly absorbed, and lesions were located primarily at the peripheral area in asymptomatic carriers; contrastingly, lesions were primarily located at both the central and peripheral areas in symptomatic patients. Asymptomatic carriers reflected a significantly shorter duration from disease onset to peak progression stage compared with the symptomatic.

CONCLUSIONS

Asymptomatic carriers are a potential source of transmission and may become symptomatic COVID-19 patients despite indicating less severe pulmonary damage, earlier improvement, and better prognosis. Early isolation and intervention can eliminate such carriers as potential sources of transmission and improve their prognosis.