Duodenal microbiota makes an important impact in functional dyspepsia.

Duodenal microbiota may have impact in Functional Dyspepsia. The aim of this study was to explore the difference of microbiota on duodenal mucosa between patients with Functional Dyspepsia and normal subjects. The duodenal mucosa of the subjects were collected under upper gastrointestinal endoscope and the contents of the descending duodenal intestine were extracted with cell brushes in 20 patients with Functional Dyspepsia and 5 healthy subjects. The microbiome on duodenal was studied by 16SrDNA gene sequencing. The differences of duodenal flora were analyzed and compared by LEfSe, FAPROTAX, SPSS and other software. There were significant differences in ACE index, shannon index and observedspecies index between patients with functional dyspepsia and healthy people (P < 0.05). PCoA analysis of the structure of bacteria between two groups found that the duodenal microbiome showed a separate trend. In further study, Amova analysis showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). We found that the there are obvious differences in the composition of duodenal microbiome in functional dyspepsia and healthy people. At the genus level, there were significant differences in Alloprevotella, Peptostreptococcus,Sutterella, Corynebacteriurn,Catonella, Faecalibacterium,Staphylococcus,Eubacteriumnodatumgro-up, Lachnoclostridiurn and Lautropia between the two groups (P < 0.05). The prediction results of Microflora function from FAPROTAX showed that the urea decomposing (ureolysis) and fumaric acid respiratory (fumaraterespiration) function of duodenal bacteria in patients with functional dyspepsia were significantly different from those in healthy people (P < 0.05). In conclusion, there is a significant difference in mucosal microflora of duodenum between patients with functional dyspepsia and healthy groups. It includes greater microflora diversity, different microflora structure, different microflora composition, specific taxa and specific microbiome function. The disorder of duodenal microecology may be the formation mechanism of functional dyspepsia.

[Analysis of Animal Modeling Methods for Functional Dyspepsia].

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disease in clinics. It is necessary to establish suitable animal models for clarifying the pathogenesis of FD. FD belongs to "Piman" (abdominal disten- sion) , "Weiwantong" (epigastric pain) , "Caoza" (epigastric upset) in Chinese medicine (CM). It is inor- ganic disease but functional disease. There is no unified standard for FD animal models. Pi deficiency syndrome model is often used as FD animal model now, but they are not completely the same thing. Au- thors summarized and analyzed common methods for FD modeling.

D-galacturonic acid ameliorates the intestinal mucosal permeability and inflammation of functional dyspepsia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a gastrointestinal disease caused by imbalanced gastrointestinal function. Traditional treatments are deemed to be limited, and new therapeutic drugs are required. New study suggested that duodenal low-grade inflammation and increased intestinal permeability play an important role in the pathogenesis of FD. Previous studies have shown that polysaccharides containing D-galacturonic acid (GA) could modulate intestinal immune activity in vitro and in animal models. However, the ability of GA monomer to improve intestinal mucosal permeability and inflammation in FD has not been clearly elucidated. METHODS: A FD rat model was established using iodoacetamide (IA). FD Rats were administrated different doses of GA. Subsequently, the body weight and behavioral sensitivity of the rats were measured and evaluated; the permeability of the intestinal barrier was measured by determining D-lactose, lactulose/mannitol ratio (LMR), and permeability-related genes [desmocollin-2 (DSC2), TJP1, and OCLN] in FD rats. Also, inflammatory cells [cluster of differentiation (CD)3+ cells and mast cells] were assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the levels of immune-related factors, such as the Toll-like receptor-nuclear factor kappa B (TLR/NF-κB) pathway, were monitored by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) or western blot assays. RESULTS: Our results suggested that GA could markedly increase the body weight and attenuate the behavioral sensitivity of FD rats. Moreover, GA also has an obvious ameliorating effect on the intestinal mucosal permeability and inflammatory response of FD rats. Furthermore, we found that GA could markedly downregulate TLR2, TLR4, and NF-κB in FD rats. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that GA could significantly attenuate the intestinal mucosal permeability and inflammation FD rats. The effect of GA was partially mediated by the TLR/NF-κB signaling pathway.

A case report of a post-polypectomy syndrome with severe sepsis and organ dysfunction.

Post-polypectomy syndrome (PPS) results from electrocoagulation injury to the bowel wall that induces a transmural burn and localized peritonitis. It has a good prognosis; however, there are exceptions when complications are observed. We here report a case of a 50-year-old man who developed lumbosacral pain and high fever with chills four days after colonoscopy, during which polypectomy was performed by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and argon plasma coagulation (APC). Both the plain abdominal film and abdominal CT scan showed no free air, and lumbar CT showed no apparent lesions, which satisfied the diagnosis of PPS. However, the patient was in a critical condition as he developed septic shock caused by bacteremia. Following active treatment, the patient's condition rapidly improved. Therefore, we suggest that clinicians should consider the severity of PPS with sepsis and colon transmural burn. Patients with a diagnosis of PPS should be admitted to the hospital for observation and treatment to avoid adverse consequences.

Efficacy and safety of Xiangsha Liujunzi granules for functional dyspepsia: A multi-center randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study.

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of a Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), Xiangsha Liujunzi granules, in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with patients from three centers. Two hundred and sixteen subjects diagnosed with FD according to ROME III criteria and confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and spleen-deficiency and Qi-stagnation syndrome were selected to receive Xiangsha Liujunzi granules or placebo for 4 wk in a 2:1 ratio by blocked randomization. The subjects also received follow-up after the 4-wk intervention. Herbal or placebo granules were dissolved in 300 mL of water. Participants in both groups were administered 130 mL (45 °C) three times a day. Participants were evaluated prior to and following 4 wk of the intervention in terms of changes in the postprandial discomfort severity scale (PDSS) score, clinical global impression (CGI) scale score, hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) score, traditional Chinese medicine symptoms score (SS), scores of various domains of the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), gastric emptying (GE) and any observed adverse effects. RESULTS: Compared with the placebo group, patients in the CHM group showed significant improvements in the scores of PDSS, HADS, SS, SF-36 and CGI scale (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). They also showed the amelioration in the GE rates of the proximal stomach and distal stomach (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Xiangsha Liujunzi granules offered significant symptomatic improvement in patients with FD.

[Primary exploration on immune associated genome of patients with Pi-Qi deficiency syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the abnormal change of immune function in patients with Pi-Qi deficiency Syndrome, and to explore the genomic mechanism of its genesis by cDNA chip techniques. METHODS: The cross probe was made by extracting and microamplifying the total RNA and mRNA of peripheral white blood cells (WBC) in healthy subjects and patients with chronic gastritis and ulcerative colitis, which were labeled by Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. Then equal quantity of the two labeled probes were mixed and hybridized with cDNA chip, fluorescent signal of the chips were scanned with scanner. Data obtained were analyzed for comparing the difference of the expressive levels of immune associated genome in peripheral WBC in healthy subjects with those in patients. RESULTS: Expressions of CD9, CD164, PF4 and RARB gene in WBC of patients, both gastritis and colitis, were down-regulated while those of IGKC, DEFA1 and GNLY were up-regulated. CONCLUSION: The genesis of Pi-Qi deficiency syndrome has its immune associated genomic basis, and the immune functions are disordered in patients with that syndrome.

Efficacy of Gastrosis No.1 compound on functional dyspepsia of spleen and stomach deficiency-cold syndrome: a multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of Gastrosis No.1 compound in the treatment of functional dyspepsia with Spleen (Pi) and Stomach (Wei) deficiency-cold syndrome. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 5 centers. Patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) of Spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome (162 cases) were randomly assigned to groups given Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) Gastrosis No.1 compound or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. This trial included a 4-week treatment period and a 4-week follow-up period. The outcomes were the dyspepsia symptom scores (measured by total dyspepsia symptom scale and single dyspepsia symptom scale) and syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine score (measured by traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale). The outcomes were noted at weeks 0, 4 and 8. RESULTS: Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the CHM group showed significant improvement in the dyspepsia symptom scores as rated by patients and investigators (P <0.01), and also showed improvement in syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine score (P <0.01). No serious adverse event was reported. Safety tests obtained after 4 weeks of treatment showed no abnormal values. CONCLUSION: CHM Gastrosis No.1 compound was effective and safe in the treatment of functional dyspepsia with Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold syndrome.

Effect of the ginsenoside Rb1 on the spontaneous contraction of intestinal smooth muscle in mice.

AIM: To investigate the effect and the possible mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1 on small intestinal smooth muscle motility in mice. METHODS: Intestinal smooth muscle strips were isolated from male ICR mice (5 wk old), and the effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on spontaneous contraction was recorded with an electrophysiolograph. The effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on ion channel currents, including the voltage-gated K⁺ channel current (IK(V)), calcium-activated potassium channel currents (IK(Ca)), spontaneous transient outward currents and ATP-sensitive potassium channel current (IK(ATP)), was recorded on freshly isolated single cells using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. RESULTS: Ginsenoside Rb1 dose-dependently inhibited the spontaneous contraction of intestinal smooth muscle by 21.15% ± 3.31%, 42.03% ± 8.23% and 67.23% ± 5.63% at concentrations of 25 µmol/L, 50 µmol/L and 100 µmol/L, respectively (n = 5, P < 0.05). The inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on spontaneous contraction was significantly but incompletely blocked by 10 mmol/L tetraethylammonium or 0.5 mmol/L 4-aminopyridine, respectively (n = 5, P < 0.05). However, the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on spontaneous contraction was not affected by 10 µmol/L glibenclamide or 0.4 µmol/L tetrodotoxin. At the cell level, ginsenoside Rb1 increased outward potassium currents, and IK(V) was enhanced from 1137.71 ± 171.62 pA to 1449.73 ± 162.39 pA by 50 µmol/L Rb1 at +60 mV (n = 6, P < 0.05). Ginsenoside Rb1 increased IK(Ca) and enhanced the amplitudes of spontaneous transient outward currents from 582.77 ± 179.09 mV to 788.12 ± 278.34 mV (n = 5, P < 0.05). However, ginsenoside Rb1 (50 µmol/L) had no significant effect on IK(ATP) (n = 3, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ginsenoside Rb1 has an inhibitory effect on the spontaneous contraction of mouse intestinal smooth muscle mediated by the activation of IK(V) and IK(Ca), but the K(ATP) channel was not involved in this effect.

Bioinformatics research on chronic superficial gastritis of Pi-deficiency syndrome by gene arrays.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the bioinformatical characteristics of differential gene expression in patients with chronic superficial gastritis (CSG) with the Pi-deficiency syndrome (PDS) and those of the non-Pi-deficiency syndrome (non-PDS), i.e. patients of CSG with Pi-Wei dampnese-heat syndrome and healthy persons. METHODS: With the BRB-Array Tools software package, original data collection and bioinformatic: analysis of gene arrays were conducted in 6 CSG patients of PDS (CSG-PDS), 6 CSG patients of non-PDS (CSG-nPDS), and 6 healthy volunteers (Normal). RESULTS: Compared with non-PDS, the gene expressions: in PDS with regards to protein synthesis, energy metabolism, immune reaction and ionic transport tended to be down-regulated, while those concerning secretion, cytoskeleton and ubiquitinization were up-regulated dominantly. CONCLUSIONS: The two kinds of samples, CSG-PDS/Normal and CSG-PDS/CSG-nPDS, have their respective gene expression profiles with different characteristics. Gene expression profile has certain referential significance in syndrome classification.