Rutaecarpine Ameliorates Murine N-Methyl-N'-Nitro-N-Nitrosoguanidine-Induced Chronic Atrophic Gastritis by Sonic Hedgehog Pathway.

CAG is a burdensome and progressive disease. Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of RUT in digestive system diseases. The therapeutic effects of RUT on MNNG-induced CAG and the potential mechanisms were probed. MNNG administration was employed to establish a CAG model. The HE and ELISA methods were applied to detect the treatment effects. WB, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL, and GES-1 cell flow cytometry approaches were employed to probe the mechanisms. The CAG model was successfully established. The ELISA and HE staining data showed that the RUT treatment effects on CAG rats were reflected by the amelioration of histological damage. The qRT-PCR and WB analyses indicated that the protective effect of RUT is related to the upregulation of the SHH pathway and downregulation of the downstream of apoptosis to improve gastric cellular survival. Our data suggest that RUT induces a gastroprotective effect by upregulating the SHH signaling pathway and stimulating anti-apoptosis downstream.

In Vitro Selection of DNA Aptamers that Binds Geniposide.

Geniposide is a key iridoid glycoside from Gardenia jasminoides fructus widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. However, detection of this small molecule represents a significant challenge mostly due to the lack of specific molecular recognition elements. In this study, we have performed in vitro selection experiments to isolate DNA aptamers that can specifically bind geniposide. Using a stringent selection procedure, we have isolated DNA aptamers that can distinguish geniposide from genipin and glucose, two structural analogs of geniposide. Two top aptamers exhibit low micromolar binding affinity towards geniposide, but show significantly reduced affinity to genipin and glucose. These aptamers have the potential to be further developed into analytical tools for the detection of geniposide.

The prescriptions from Shenghui soup enhanced neurite growth and GAP-43 expression level in PC12 cells.

BACKGROUND: Shenghui soup is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used in clinic for the treatment of forgetfulness. In order to understanding the prescription principle, the effects of "tonifying qi and strengthening spleen" group (TQSS) including Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf. and Panax ginseng C.A.Mey and "eliminating phlegm and strengthening intelligence" group (EPSI) composed of Polygala tenuifolia Willd., Acorus calamus L. and Sinapis alba L from the herb complex on neurite growth in PC12 cells, two disassembled prescriptions derived from Shenghui soup and their molecular mechanisms were investigated. METHODS: Firstly, CCK-8 kit was used to detect the impact of the two prescriptions on PC12 cell viability; and Flow cytometry was performed to measure the cell apoptosis when PC12 cells were treated with these drugs. Secondly, the effect of the two prescriptions on the differentiation of PC12 cells was observed. Finally, the mRNA and protein expression levels of GAP-43 were analyzed by RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. RESULTS: "Tonifying qi and strengthening spleen" prescription decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, but had no significant effect on cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, it could improve neurite growth and elevate the mRNA and protein expression level of GAP-43. "Eliminating phlegm and strengthening intelligence" prescription also exerted the similar effects on cell viability and apoptosis. Furthermore, it could also enhance cell neurite growth, with a higher expression level of GAP-43 mRNA and protein. CONCLUSION: "Tonifying qi and strengthening spleen" and "eliminating phlegm and strengthening intelligence" prescriptions from Shenghui soup have a positive effect on neurite growth. Their effects are related to the up-regulating expression of GAP-43.

Treatment of Chronic Gastritis with Traditional Chinese Medicine: Pharmacological Activities and Mechanisms.

Chronic gastritis (CG) is a common clinical digestive system disease, which is not easyily cured and is prone to recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a significant role in the treatment of CG and has attracted increasing attention for clinical applications. In recent years, a large number of reports have shown that TCM has good therapeutic effect on CG. The aim of this paper is to investigate the pharmacological activities and mechanism of action of TCM in the treatment of CAG. Therefore, by searching the databases of Pubmed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Baidu academic databases, this paper has summarized the molecular mechanisms of TCM in improving CG. The results show that the improvement of GC by TCM is closely related to a variety of molecular mechanisms, including the inhibition of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, alleviation of oxidative stress, improvement of gastric function, repair of gastric mucosa, inhibition of inflammatory response, and apoptosis. More importantly, IRF8-IFN-γ, IL-4-STAT6, Hedgehog, pERK1/2, MAPK, PI3K-Akt, NF-κB, TNFR-c-Src-ERK1/2-c-Fos, Nrf2/HO-1, and HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathways are considered as important molecular targets for TCM in the treatment of GC. These important findings will provide a direction and a basis for further exploring the pathogenesis of GC and tapping the potential of TCM in clinical treatment. This review also puts forward a bright prospect for future research of TCM in the treatment of CG.

Metabolomics Profiles Reveal the Efficacy of Wuzhuyu Decoction on Patients with Chronic Non-Atrophic Gastritis.

Objective: Chronic non-atrophic gastritis (CNAG) is a common clinical gastrointestinal disease with a long and recurrent course. In China, Wuzhuyu decoction (WZYD) has been used for centuries to treat gastrointestinal disorders. To unravel the efficacy and mechanism of WZYD for CNAG, a clinical study was conducted. And metabolomics was used to explore the mechanism of WZYD for CNAG patients. Methods: Twenty patients in total were recruited in this study (Nos. ChiCTR2200062296) and the protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee (Approval number: KY-2022-2-6-1) and complied with the Declaration of Helsinki. The formula granule of WZYD were assessed by UHPLC-QQQ-TOF to discern the main potential active compounds. The endoscopy evaluation and histopathological changes were detected as effective indicators. Serum samples from patients were used for metabolomics. Inflammatory factors in patients' serum were determined by ELISA. Metabolomics revealed a series of differential metabolites and signaling pathways. Results: WZYD was capable to prevent CNAG by ameliorating score of endoscopy evaluation including erosion, hemorrhage, as well as chronic inflammation and active chronic inflammation score after treatment were decreased. The results indicated that 10 core metabolic components were associated with the treatment of WZYD. Moreover, these metabolic components proved that pyrimidine metabolism and thiamine metabolism were critically responsible for CNAG. In addition, WZYD treatment effectively reduced serum levels of TNF-α, IL-10, and COX-2. Conclusion: Altogether, WZYD can effectively alleviate CNAG by inhibiting inflammation and regulating related metabolic processes, which might be the molecular mechanism of WZYD treatment of CNAG. More studies are warranted to be conducted in this area. Trial Registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR2200062296. Registered 1 August 2022, https://www.chictr.org.cn/com/25/showprojen.aspx?proj=174027.

Impact of Smoking on Anal Abscess and Anal Fistula Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have investigated the association between smoking and anal abscess and anal fistula (AA/F) diseases. However, the relationship between cigarette smoking and AA/F remains unclear. This study sought to assess the role of smoking in anorectal male patients in a Chinese population. METHODS: In this retrospective study, a questionnaire, including smoking history, was completed over a 3-month period by male inpatients in the Proctology Department of China-Japan Friendship Hospital. "Cases" were patients who had AA/F, and "controls" were patients with other anorectal complaints. Mann-Whitney U-test and Chi-square test were carried out to examine differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression was used to explore any related factors. RESULTS: A total of 977 patients aged from 18 to 80 years were included, excluding those diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease or diabetes mellitus. Out of this total, 805 patients (82.4%) completed the entire questionnaire. Among the 805 patients, 334 (41.5%) were cases and 471 (58.5%) were controls. Results showed significant differences between cases and controls (χ2 = 205.2, P < 0.001), with smoking found to be associated with the development of AA/F diseases (odds ratio: 12.331, 95% confidence interval: 8.364-18.179, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested smoking to be a potential risk factor for the development of AA/F diseases in a Chinese population. Consequently, current smoking patients should be informed of this relationship, and further research should be conducted to explore and investigate this further.