Understanding traditional Chinese medicine via statistical learning of expert-specific Electronic Medical Records

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been attracting lots of attentions from various disciplines recently. However, TCM is still mysterious because of its unique philosophy and theoretical thinking. Due to the lack of high quality data, understanding TCM thoroughly faces critical challenges. In this study, we introduce the Zhou Archive, a large-scale database of expert-specific Electronic Medical Records containing information about 73,000+ visits to one TCM doctor for over 35 years. Covering the full spectrum of diagnosis-treatment model behind TCM practice, the archive provides an opportunity to understand TCM from the data-driven perspective. Methods: Processing the text data in the archive via a series of data processing steps, we transformed the semi-structured EMRs in the archive to a well-structured feature table. Based on the structured feature table obtained, a series of statistical analyses are implemented to learn principles of TCM clinical practice from the archive, including correlation analysis, enrichment analysis, embedding analysis and association pattern discovery. Results: A structured feature table of 14,000+ features is generated at the end of the proposed data processing procedure, with a feature codebook, a term dictionary and a term-feature map as byproducts. Statistical analysis of the feature table reveals underlying principles about the diagnosis-treatment model of TCM, helping us better understand the TDM practice from a data-driven perspective. Conclusion: Expert-specific EMRs provide opportunities to understand TCM from the data-driven perspective. Taking advantage of recent progresses on NLP for Chinese, we can process a large number of TCM EMRs efficiently to gain insights via statistical analysis.     

Analysis of maturation of murine dendritic cells (DCs) induced by purified Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs)

To investigate and analyze induction of phenotypic and functional maturation of murine DCs by GLP. Both phenotypic and functional activities were assessed with use of conventional scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) for the morphology of the DCs, transmitted electron microscopy (TEM) for intracellular lysosomes inside the DC, cellular immunohistochemistry for phagocytosis by the DCs, flow cytometry (FCM) for the changes in key surface molecules, bio-assay for the activity of acid phosphatases (ACP), and ELISA for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-12. It was found that GLP induced phenotypic maturation, as evidenced by increased expression of CD86, CD40, and MHC II. Functional experiments showed the down-regulation of ACP inside the DCs, which occurs when phagocytosis of DCs decreased, and antigen presentation increased with maturation. Finally, GLP increased the production of IL-12.These data reveals that GLP promotes effective activation of murine DCs. This adjuvant-like activity may have therapeutic applications in clinical settings that require a boosting of the immune response. Therefore concluded that GLP can exert positive induction to murine DCs at the used concentration.     

Haemonchus contortus: New data on its genetic constitution

Studies on the genetic constitution of single smooth-bodied females, appearing from time to time in the homozygous (aa) linguiform strain “C,” revealed that these worms have the constitution of the linguiform (aa) morph but the character “flap” in them has failed to develop because of the undetermined effect of some additional factors. Experiments were also performed to check the dominance to recessiveness ratios of the characters “flap,” “knob,” and “smooth.” With the Haemonchus types present in Bulgaria these ratios have persisted over seven or eight years. It is stated that they are the same in populations whose morphologic types in female specimens show different percentage distributions.     

Antigenic Analysis of Virulent and Avirulent Strains of Trichomonas gallinae by Gel Diffusion Methods*

SYNOPSIS. Antigenic constitution of 5 Trichomonas gallinae strains and substrains was analyzed by gel diffusion technics. Fresh isolates of the very virulent JB and of an avirulent SG strain as well as avirulent substrains JBC and SGC, derived from JB and SG respectively by prolonged in vitro cultivation, were used in the experiments. An originally avirulent AG strain that was attenuated still further and lost its infectivity for pigeons during many years of serial transfers in nonliving media also was analyzed. Two major groups of antigens, A and B, were differentiated on the basis of precipitin line patterns formed in gel diffusion reactions involving the 5 strains and substrains and antisera prepared in rabbits against each of these trichomonad stocks. Group A was subdivided further into subgroups [A] and (A). JB, JBC, AG, and SGC trichomonads appeared to share all or nearly all antigens of both these subgroups, but AG strain contained some unique [A] and (A) antigens in addition to those which it had in common with the remaining 4 strains and substrains. Group B antigens were divided into 5 subgroups, B₁ to B₅. The complete B₁ antigenic complex was found in JB and JBC trichomonads and part of this complex was present also in SG strain and SGC substrain. In all instances, subgroup B₁ antigens stimulated production of specific antibodies in rabbits and combined with these antibodies present in immune sera. The complete B₂ antigenic complex was found only in JBC substrain. Some subgroup B₂ antigens were present also in JB trichomonads. Very few of these, however, were capable of stimulating antibody production in rabbits. The more numerous B₂ elements of JB strain that did not stimulate immunologic responses in rabbits, might be in the form of incomplete hapten-like antigens. All subgroup B₂ antigens found in JB strain represented only a portion of the B₂ complex associated with JBC substrain. Subgroup B₂ was characteristic of SG and SGC trichomonads, the latter substrain differing from the parental SG strain in the levels of both B₂ and B₁ antigens; these differences, however, were purely quantitative. JB strain reacted with some of subgroup B₃ antibodies present in SG and SGC antisera, but failed to stimulate antibody formation against any of these antigens in rabbits. The B₃ elements of JB trichomonads might be incomplete antigens. AG strain was characterized by having B₄ and B₅ antigenic complexes. The very small part of subgroup B₄, represented by a weak precipitin line in reactions between JB strain or JBC substrain and anti-AG serum, suggested the presence of some incomplete B₄ antigens in these trichomonads. Irrespective of whether freshly isolated avirulent strains or substrains attenuated by prolonged in vitro cultivation are examined by gel diffusion, such organisms are found richer in subgroup B antigens than the fully virulent JB trichomonads. All the results suggest that there may be a direct relationship between antigenic constitution and virulence of T. gallinae strains.     

Recent Clinical Trials on Natural Products and Traditional Chinese Medicine Combating the COVID-19

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing potentially fatal coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), with a significant health and economic burden around the globe. Currently many clinical studies are undergoing but still there is no any specific approved therapy or drug established for effective treatment of COVID-19. This review aimed to analyses various clinical studies which have been registered in www.clinicaltrials.gov and http://www.chictr.org.cn were registered with natural plant-based medicines and Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for discovering effective treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Total 46 and 64 natural drug and TCM interventions were identified which mainly determined the preventive strategies and possible treatments for COVID-19 infection. We identified that most of the clinical trial undergoing on natural compound like heparin and vitamin C as therapeutic agents and immune boosters for against COVID-19. Traditional Chinese medicines and herbal medicines can be effectively used as a preventive therapy against COVID-19 and after successful clinical trials and these potential therapies can be promoted by countries around the world. Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1007/s12088-020-00919-x).