Puerarin is a predominant component of Radix Puerarin. Despite its anti-tumor and anti-virus effects and efficacy in improving cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases and preventing osteoporosis, it has been shown to protect against diabetes and its complications. This review summarizes the current knowledge on Puerarin in diabetes and related complications, aiming to provide an overview of antidiabetic mechanisms of Puerarin and new targets for treatment.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen. This bacterial strain can generate Shiga-like toxins (SLTs), which can cause serious sickness and even death. Thus, it is important to develop effective and sensitive methods that can be used to rapidly identify the presence of SLTs from complex samples. Pigeon egg white (PEW) contains abundant glycoproteins, including pigeon ovalbumin (POA) (∼60%). POA possesses Gal-α(1→4)-Gal-β(1→4)-GlcNAc termini, which can recognize the B subunits in SLT type 1 (SLT-1B). Thus, POA is a suitable probe for trapping SLT-1B. In this work, we used PEW proteins as starting materials to react with aqueous tetrachloroauric acid for generation of PEW-protein-immobilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs@PEW) via one-pot reactions. We demonstrated that the generated AuNPs@PEW were mainly dominated by POA-immobilized Au NPs. The as-prepared AuNPs@PEW were used as affinity probes to selectively probe SLT-1B from complex cell lysates derived from E. coli O157:H7. The selective trapping step can be completed within ∼90 s under microwave heating (power = 450 W) to enrich sufficient SLT-1B for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometric analysis. Furthermore, this approach can be used to detect SLT-1B at a concentration as low as ∼40 pM. The feasibility of using the proposed method to selectively detect SLT-1B from ham contaminated by E. coli O157:H7 was also demonstrated.

Objective. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy of tonifying kidney and activating blood circulation (TKABC) based on the theory of “kidney deficiency and blood stasis” for the treatment of immune infertility. Methods. Six electronic databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and VIP information database, were searched from inception to January 2021 to identify eligible studies of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome measurements were the total effective rate and pregnancy rate, and the secondary outcome measurements included the negative conversion rate of serum antibodies and the incidence of adverse effects. The quantitative synthesis was performed using the Review Manager 5.3 software. The chi-square statistic and I2 statistic were employed to investigate statistical heterogeneity. The fixed-effects model was used for a low heterogeneity (I2 < 50%), and the random-effects model was applied if heterogeneity was moderate (50% < I2 < 75%). Funnel plots were used to evaluate potential reporting bias when more than ten eligible studies were included. Results. Thirteen RCTs involving 1298 patients with immune infertility of kidney deficiency and blood stasis were included. Compared with conventional group, TCM TKABC therapy showed a significant improvement on the total effective rate (RR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.30,1.47; and I2 = 0%), pregnancy rate (RR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.73, 2.40; and I2 = 30%), negative conversion rates of AsAb (RR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.12,1.79; and I2 = 62%), AEmAb rates (RR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.04,1.41; and I2 = 0%), and AhCGAb with less adverse effects (RR: 0.24; 95% CI: 1.73, 2.40; and I2 = 55%). However, the negative conversion rate of AoAb and ACAb showed no significant statistical difference. Conclusions. Our review suggests that TCM TKABC therapy based on the theory of kidney deficiency and blood stasis appears to be an effective and safe approach for patients with immune infertility. However, the methodological quality of included RCTs was unsatisfactory, and it is necessary to verify its effectiveness with more well-designed and high-quality multicenter RCTs.

Background: The biological process of aging is brought on by a variety of variables and mechanisms, among which, the most comprehensive is the aging process caused by oxidative stress. The theory of the “homology of medicine and food”, originated from the thinking of traditional Chinese medicine, has gained popularity in recent years, and is believed to be utilized as a dietary therapy to ease the symptoms of aging. Purpose: We searched the recent 10-year literature on the “homology of medicine and food” traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate aging and prolong life, and summarized its anti-aging mechanism under the influence of oxidative stress. Experimental approach: Six electronic databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, were searched from June 2012 to June 2022 for identifying eligible studies. Key Results: The “homology of medicine and food” traditional Chinese medicine mainly scavenges free radicals, alleviates mitochondrial DNA damage, regulates telomeres and telomerase, regulates nutrient and energy sensing signaling, up-regulates sirtuins signaling pathway, and activates the Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway mechanisms delay aging and prolong lifespan, and expect to find microcirculation mechanisms and new targets. Conclusions & Implications: The “homology of medicine and food” traditional Chinese medicine relieves the aging of the body and cells under oxidative stress through 6 pathways and is expected to find the correlation between the microcirculation formation mechanisms and identify new research targets and factors, which will provide new opportunities for life extension, prevention, and treatment of age-related diseases.

Review question / Objective: Meta Analysis of the effectiveness of Randomized controlled Trials of traditional Chinese Medicine based on the Theory of "Kidney deficiency and Blood stasis" in the INPLASY 1 International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols INPLASY PROTOCOL Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of immune infertility based on the theory of "kidney deficiency and blood stasis": systematic review and meta