Objective: To evaluate the effects and related mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated into normal, model, and EA groups. Experimental IBS mice models were established by exposure to water avoidance stress (WAS). Mice in the EA group were treated with EA at bilateral Tianshu (ST 25) and Zusanli (ST 36) for 7 consecutive days, 15 min each day. Abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) tests and intestinal motility tests were performed to evaluate visceral sensitivity and intestinal motility of mice. Expression levels of tight junction proteins (TJPs) and inflammatory cytokines in colon tissues were determined through immunofluorescence, real-time polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and Western blot assays.
Results: EA alleviated visceral hypersensitivity and intestinal hypermotility in WAS-induced IBS mice. Moreover, EA promoted the expression of zonula occludens (ZO)-1, claudin-1, and occludin while suppressing the expression of interleukin (IL)-8, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-αin water avoidance stress (WAS)-induced irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) mice.
Conclusion: EA alleviated WAS-induced IBS in mice by promoting intestinal barrier functions and suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokines.
Objective: To observe and explore the effect of Fuling () in alleviating the spleen deficiency symptom pattern (SDSP).
Methods: We established an animal model of SDS in Sprague-Dawley () rats by treating them with deficiency-inducing factors, including irregular feeding and tail clamping. Mice were administered Fuling () and its extracts (raw/cooked powder, aqueous/alcohol extract) by gavage once a day for 21 d. The body weight, rectal temperature, and spleen and thymus organ coefficients were calculated. The levels of motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), aquaporin 2 (AQP2), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the serum and the level of AQP2 in the kidneys were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Fuling () and its extracts did not change the body weight, rectal temperature, and organ coefficients of the spleen and thymus. However, it reduced the levels of MTL and GAS and increased the levels of IL-2 and AQP2. In addition, the levels of IL-4 and 5-HT showed no significant alteration.
Conclusions: These results suggested the crucial function of () in SDSP, especially promoting digestive function and water metabolism.
Objective: To explore the possible mechanism of Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture combined with Xiaoxuming decoction (, XXMD) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD).
Methods: C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into eight groups ( 12), including blank group, model group, medication group, acupuncture group, high-dose XXMD group (XXMD-H), low-dose XXMD group (XXMD-L), acupuncture combined with high-dose XXMD group (A+H), and acupuncture combined with low-dose XXMD group (A+L). After treatment for 6 weeks, dopamine (DA) neurons and the pathological changes of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells were observed. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the content of DA and the level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The mRNA level of PINK1 and Parkin and the protein expression of Nix, PINK1 and Parkin in the substantia nigra were also detected.
Results: Combination treatment effectively ameliorated the symptoms of PD. Compared with model group, combined treatment significantly up-regulated the protein expression of Nix, Parkin and PINK1 and the mRNA levels of PINK1 and Parkin in the substantia nigra (<0.0001, <0.001, <0.01 or <0.05). Furthermore, the levels of pro-inflammation cytokines were obviously decreased after combination therapy, while IL-10 content was increased remarkably (<0.01).
Conclusion: Compared with each treatment alone, combination therapy improved the pathological damage of DA neurons of PD mice more effectively. The possible mechanism may be attributed to the up-regulated level of mitochondrial autophagy and improved mitochondrial function. These results provide fresh insight into the mechanism of co-treatment with Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture and XXMD for PD.
Objective: To explored the mechanism of Buzhong Yigi decoction ( BZYQD) in inhibiting prostatic cell proliferation effect.
Methods: The compounds of BZYQD consisted with eight herbs were searched in TCMSP databases and the putative targets of BZYQD were collected in Drugbank database. Then, "Benign prostatic hyperplasia" (BPH) was used to find the targets based on the GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD) databases, and they were further used to collect further collect the intersection targets between BZYQD and BPH by counter-selection. Next, Herb-Compound-Target-Disease network was constructed by Cytoscape software and protein interaction network was built by Search tool for recurring instances of neighbouring genes (STRING) database. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were analyzed by Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database to predict the mechanism of the intersection targets. Mitogen activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and quercetin were chosen to perform molecular docking. Then 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was to detect the bility of BPH-1 (BPH epithelial cell line) by treated with quercetin at the concentrations of 15, 30, 60, 120 μM for 12, 24, 48, 72 h. The production of IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β and were mRNA expression detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was used to detect the expression of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-P38) and matrix metalloprotein-9 (MMP-9).
Results: A total 151 chemical ingredients of 8 herbs and 1756 targets in BZYQD, 105 common targets of BZYQD and BPH which mainly involving with MAPK8, IL-6, and so on. GO enrichment analysis got 352 GO entries (0.05) which included 208 entries of biological process, 64 entries of cell component and 80 entries of molecular function. KEGG pathway Enrichment analyses got 20 significant pathways which mainly involved with MAPK signaling way. MTT assay indicated quercetin inhibited the viability of BPH-1 cells by time-and dose-dependent manner. Quercetin decreased the IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β production and mRNA expression, and the expression of p-P38 and MMP-9 were also obviously reduced after treated with quercetin.
Conclusions: BZYQD inhibited BPH through suppressing inflammatory response which might involving with regulating the MAPK signaling way.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for managing renal fibrosis (RF) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Methods: We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from eight databases.
Results: Sixteen eligible studies with 1,356 participants were included in this study. Compared to treatment with Western Medicine (WM) alone, the combined treatment with activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis in terms of TCM (ARTCM) and WM to manage RF in patients with CKD significantly ameliorated type Ⅳ collagen (CⅣ) (: 2.17, 95% : 3.01 to 1.34), type Ⅲ procollagen (PCⅢ) (: 1.08, 95% : 1.64 to 0.53), laminin (LN) (: 1.28, 95% : 1.65 to 0.90), transforming growth factor β 1 (TGFβ1) (: 0.65, 95% : 1.18 to 0.12), serum creatinine (Scr) (: 1.36, 95% : 1.85 to 0.87), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (: 1.51, 95% : 2.59 to 0.43), and 24 h urine protein (24hUpro) (: 1.23; 95% : 1.96 to 0.50). The level of hyaluronic acid (HA) was similar in both types of treatment (: 0.74, 95% : 1.91 to 0.44). The subgroup analysis showed that the duration of 8 weeks might affect the concentration of C-Ⅳ, PC-Ⅲ, and LN (<0.05). The effectiveness of the longer duration to C-Ⅳ, PC-Ⅲ, and LN was not certain. However, the result should be interpreted in care. The safety of the treatment using ARTCM and WM could not be evaluated because a few studies had reported adverse effects. The results of the Metaanalysis were not stable enough. There was publication bias for the reports on Scr ( 0.001), C-Ⅳ ( 0.001), PC-Ⅲ ( 0.026), and LN ( 0.030) and no publication bias for the reports on BUN ( 0.293). The quality of evidence varied from low to very low.
Conclusions: The combined treatment using ARTCM and WM to manage RF in patients with CKD has some advantages over treatment with WM alone. Highquality RCTs need to be conducted for the strong support.
Implantable cervical vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS) is a representative and promising neuromodulation. However, the invasive nature restricts its application. Traditional auricular acupuncture treatment has a long history. The auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) is a branch on the surface of the ear. Some studies demonstrates that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) would achieve similar effects as iVNS. TaVNS and iVNS share a common anatomical basis and acting mechanism. In this article, we made a comparison between iVNS and taVNS in indications and efficacy. The recent studies have revealed similar clinical efficacy of taVNS, taVNS would expand the indication of iVNS. High-quality clinical evidences are needed before taVNS become be an alternative of iVNS.
Objective: To examine, dissect, and understand the molecular mechanisms and combinatorial effects of Zuogui (, ZGP) and Yougui pills (, YGP) in 4-vinyl cyclohexene diepoxide (4-VCD)-induced Perimenopausal syndrome (PMS).
Methods: Using the 4-VCD-induced PMS mouse model, uterine and ovary index were measured, and serum sex steroidal hormone levels were evaluated after treatment with ZGP, YGP, ZGP + YGP, estradiol valerate (EV), and Gengnian An (gengnianan, GNA). Histopathological examinations, ingredient-target network predictions, western blotting, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analyses were performed to ascertain the possible pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of ZYP and YGP.
Results: Treatment with ZGP and YGP remarkably improves estrous cyclicity and prevents pathological damage to the uterus. Also, altered sex hormones, including AMH, E2, FSH, LH, P, and T, were restored to normal levels after ZGP and YGP administration. Ingredient-target network analysis showed that the 5 ingredients common to the ZGP and YGP formula modulate 53 targets shared with PMS. Pathway-enrichment analysis further predicted that ZGY and YGP likely regulate of apoptosis and other essential pathways during PMS. In-vivo studies showed that ZGP and YGP suppress PMS modulating apoptosis through decreasing Caspase-3 and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) levels and increasing B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Bax and Bcl-2 levels. Importantly, ZGP + YGP treatment modulation effects were somewhat or significantly better compared to ZGP or YGP alone treatment.
Conclusion: ZGP and YGP represent novel anti-PMS agents whose effects involve restoring altered hormonal levels, protecting the uterus, and regulating apoptosis.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of needling Baihui (GV20), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7) and Taichong (LR3) on cerebral cortical blood oxygen level in rats with insomnia identified as liver- stagnation pattern in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group ( 10), the rest of the rats were clamped tail as stimulation combined with injected intraperitoneally p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) to establish sleep deprivation model. After the successful replication of the model, they were randomly divided into model group, grabbing group, Western Medicine group, acupuncture group and sham acupuncture group, with 10 rats in each group. The model group was given normal saline; The grasping group was grasped in the same way as the two treatment groups; Western medicine group was given estazolam solution; The acupuncture group was treated with the acupuncture method of "soothing the liver and regulating mind" needling Baihui (GV20), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7) and Taichong (LR3); The sham acupuncture group were needled with four non-acupoint sites. After 7 d of treatment of rats in each group, sodium pentobarbital sleep experiment was used to evaluate the sleep latency (SL) and sleep time (ST). The percentage of rats entering the open arm (OE%) and the percentage of time entering the open arm (OT%) in each group were monitored by elevated cross maze, and the vertical score, horizontal crossing times, central grid score and modification times were monitored by open field test, functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRs) was used to monitor the changes of oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb), deoxyhemoglobin (Deoxy-Hb) and total hemoglobin (Total-Hb) in the cerebral cortex of rats in each group under light stimulation and dark stimulation, the statistically significant channel combinations were selected from 8 light sources and 12 detectors (S-D). According to the position of the light source detector covering the cerebral cortex, Preliminarily determine the key brain areas of insomnia (the preliminary experiment found that 6S-8D and 7S-9D were the key channels of insomnia under light stimulation, and the corresponding brain areas were prefrontal lobe and occipital lobe respectively; 7S-7D channel under dark stimulation, and the corresponding brain area was occipital lobe); The hemodynamic map of cerebral cortex was constructed through the absolute value of whole brain blood oxygen level. Further identify key brain regions for insomnia.
Results: Compared with the blank group, ST, OE%, OT%, the vertical score, horizontal crossing times, central grid score, the concentration of Deoxy-Hb in prefrontal and occipital lobes were decreased significantly (<0.01), and the concentrations of SL, modification times, Oxy-Hb and Total-Hb were increased significantly (<0.01); There was no difference in the above indexes between the model group and the gra
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