Qiangji Decoction Alleviates Neurodegenerative Changes and Hippocampal Neuron Apoptosis Induced by D-Galactose via Regulating AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Qiangji Decoction (QJD), a classic formula, has been widely used to treat brain aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying QJD's improvement in cognitive impairment of neurodegenerative diseases remain unclear. In this study, we employed D-galactose to establish the model of brain aging by long-term D-galactose subcutaneous injection. Next, we investigated QJD's effect on cognitive function of the model of brain aging and the mechanisms that QJD suppressing neuroinflammation as well as improving neurodegenerative changes and hippocampal neuron apoptosis. The mice of brain aging were treated with three different dosages of QJD (12.48, 24.96, and 49.92 g/kg/d, respectively) for 4 weeks. Morris water maze was used to determine the learning and memory ability of the mice. HE staining and FJB staining were used to detect the neurodegenerative changes. Nissl staining and TUNEL staining were employed to detect the hippocampal neuron apoptosis. The contents of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in the hippocampus were detected by using ELISA. Meanwhile, we employed immunofluorescence staining to examine the levels of GFAP and IBA1 in the hippocampus. Besides, the protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, AMPKα, p-AMPKα-Thr172, SIRT1, IκBα, NF-κB p65, p-IκBα-Ser32, and p-NF-κB p65-Ser536 in the hippocampus of different groups were detected by Western blot (WB). Our findings showed that the QJD-treated groups, especially the M-QJD group, mitigated learning and memory impairments of the model of brain aging as well as the improvement of neurodegenerative changes and hippocampal neuron apoptosis. Moreover, the M-QJD markedly attenuated the neuroinflammation by regulating the AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway. Taken together, QJD alleviated neurodegenerative changes and hippocampal neuron apoptosis in the model of brain aging via regulating the AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

A New Measure for Assessing the Intensity of Addiction Memory in Illicit Drug Users: The Addiction Memory Intensity Scale.

Disrupting the process of memory reconsolidation could be a promising treatment for addiction. However, its application may be constrained by the intensity of addiction memory. This study aimed to develop and initially validate a new measure, the Addiction Memory Intensity Scale (AMIS), for assessing the intensity of addiction memory in illicit drug users. Two studies were conducted in China for item analysis (n = 345) and initial validation (n = 1550) of the AMIS. The nine-item AMIS was found to have two factors (labelled Visual Clarity and Other Sensory Intensity), which accounted for 64.11% of the total variance. The two-factor structure provided a reasonable fit for sample data and was invariant across groups of different genders and different primary drugs of use. Significant correlations were found between scores on the AMIS and the measures of craving. The AMIS and its factors showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.72⁻0.89) and test-retest reliability (r: 0.72⁻0.80). These results suggest that the AMIS, which demonstrates an advantage as it is brief and easy to administer, is a reliable and valid tool for measuring the intensity of addiction memory in illicit drug users, and has the potential to be useful in future clinical research.