Xiaoyao San, a Chinese herbal formula, ameliorates depression-like behavior in mice through the AdipoR1/AMPK/ACC pathway in hypothalamus / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Depression and metabolic disorders have overlapping psychosocial and pathophysiological causes. Current research is focused on the possible role of adiponectin in regulating common biological mechanisms. Xiaoyao San (XYS), a classic Chinese medicine compound, has been widely used in the treatment of depression and can alleviate metabolic disorders such as lipid or glucose metabolism disorders. However, the ability of XYS to ameliorate depression-like behavior as well as metabolic dysfunction in mice and the underlying mechanisms are unclear.@*METHODS@#An in vivo animal model of depression was established by chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). XYS and fluoxetine were administered by gavage to the drug intervention group. Depression-like behaviors were analyzed by the social interaction test, open field test, forced swim test, and elevated plus maze test. Glucose levels were measured using the oral glucose tolerance test. The involvement of certain molecules was validated by immunofluorescence, histopathology, and Western blotting. In vitro, hypothalamic primary neurons were exposed to high glucose to induce neuronal damage, and the neuroprotective effect of XYS was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 assay. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to evaluate the influences of XYS on adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1), adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) and other related proteins.@*RESULTS@#XYS ameliorated CSDS-induced depression-like behaviors and glucose tolerance impairment in mice and increased the level of serum adiponectin. XYS also restored Nissl bodies in hypothalamic neurons in mice that exhibited depression-like behaviors and decreased the degree of neuronal morphological damage. In vivo and in vitro studies indicated that XYS increased the expression of AdipoR1 in hypothalamic neurons.@*CONCLUSION@#Adiponectin may be a key regulator linking depression and metabolic disorders; regulation of the hypothalamic AdipoR1/AMPK/ACC pathway plays an important role in treatment of depression by XYS.

Progress of the Mechanism of Acupuncture to Promote Repair of Facial Nerve Injury / 针刺研究

Facial nerve injury results in facial muscle movement disorders that interferes with patient's life. Acupuncture is an effective therapy for facial nerve injury, but its mechanism has not been clarified. The evidence supports that acupuncture can accelerate the repair of facial nerve injury by adjusting the electric wave of patient's facial muscle, improving facial blood circulation, and promoting the expression of cell and protein molecule.

Effects of Different Stimulation of Electroacupuncture on Protein Expressions of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in Rabbits with Acute Facial Nerve Injury / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of different stimulation of electroacupuncture on the protein expressions of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in rabbits with acute facial nerve injury; To determine the better stimulation. Methods New Zealand rabbits were treated with special hemostatic forceps for 5 min, and the length of the lesion was about 2.5 cm. The model of facial nerve injury was induced. The experiment was divided into blank group, sham-operation group, model group, and electoracupuncture weak-, medium-, and strong-stimulation group. The model group received no intervention after surgery. After treatment, the damaged facial nerve of each group was intercepted. The protein expressions of SOCS1 and SOCS3 mediated by negative feedback regulation of JAK-STAT were detected by ABC-ELISA. Results Compared with the blank group, the protein expressions of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in the model group increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the protein expressions of SOCS1 and SOCS3 protein in electroacupuncture weak- stimulation group decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can make SOCS1, SOCS3 protein expressions normal for acute facial nerve injury, and acupuncture treatment effect does not increase with the increase of stimulation.

Analysis of point-selection pattern in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of amblyopia / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To analyze and summarize the characteristics and pattern in the selection of points and meridians by searching the clinical research literature about acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of amblyopia in the recent 17 years.Methods:By searching Chinese and English databases,such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI),PubMed,etc.,the points in 52 articles in conformity with the requirements were analyzed by frequency statistics by the order of meridians,major points,and adjunct points to summarize the rules and characteristics of the point selection.Results:In 52 articles,there were 21 articles on ear acupuncture and 31 articles on acupuncture-moxibustion treatment.Ten meridians were involved in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of amblyopia,and the leading 3 meridians were the Bladder,Stomach and Gallbladder Meridians.There were 34 points,10 extraordinary points and 37 ear points were used in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of amblyopia.The top 10 major points were Jingming (BL 1),Taiyang (EX-HN 5),Cuanzhu (BL 2),Fengchi (GB 20),Baihui (GV 20),Hegu (LI 4),Guangming (GB 37),Sibai (ST 2),Chengqi (ST 1) and Sizhukong (TE 23).The top 5 adjunct points were Zusanli (ST 36),Shenshu (BL 23),Ganshu (BL 18),Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3).Conclusion:Acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of amblyopia is characterized by the selection of the points mainly from yang meridians,based upon syndromes differentiation plus personal experience,and the points mainly around the eyes and by stressed use of ear points.

Point-selection Rules Analysis in Acupuncture-moxibustion Treatment of Asthma Based on the Evaluation of Pulmonary Function / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To discuss and summarize the point-selection rules in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of asthma,by arranging and analyzing the relevant clinical studies with pulmonary function as the evaluation index.Method A total of 264 eligible articles of clinical trials about acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of asthma published in the last 10 years were analyzed by using frequency statistical method.Result and Conclusion In acupuncturemoxibustion treatment of asthma,acupoints frequently used majorly included Feishu (BL 13),Dingchuan (EX-B 1),Danzhong (CV 17),Pishu (BL 20),and Shenshu (BL 23),mainly distributed in the Bladder Meridian,Conception Vessel,Governor Vessel,Stomach Meridian,and extra points;syndrome differentiation,symptomatic analysis,and empiric selection were predominant in the point-selection rules.Acupuncture-moxibustion at the above points can effectively improve pulmonary function indexes and attenuate asthma symptoms,thus worth promoting in clinic.

The mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase 1 gene GhmMDH1 is involved in plant and root growth under phosphorus deficiency conditions in cotton.

Cotton, an important commercial crop, is cultivated for its natural fibers, and requires an adequate supply of soil nutrients, including phosphorus, for its growth. Soil phosporus exists primarily in insoluble forms. We isolated a mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (MDH) gene, designated as GhmMDH1, from Gossypium hirsutum L. to assess its effect in enhancing P availability and absorption. An enzyme kinetic assay showed that the recombinant GhmMDH1 possesses the capacity to catalyze the interconversion of oxaloacetate and malate. The malate contents in the roots, leaves and root exudates was significantly higher in GhmMDH1-overexpressing plants and lower in knockdown plants compared with the wild-type control. Knockdown of GhmMDH1 gene resulted in increased respiration rate and reduced biomass whilst overexpression of GhmMDH1 gave rise to decreased respiration rate and higher biomass in the transgenic plants. When cultured in medium containing only insoluble phosphorus, Al-phosphorus, Fe-phosphorus, or Ca-phosphorus, GhmMDH1-overexpressing plants produced significantly longer roots and had a higher biomass and P content than WT plants, however, knockdown plants showed the opposite results for these traits. Collectively, our results show that GhmMDH1 is involved in plant and root growth under phosphorus deficiency conditions in cotton, owing to its functions in leaf respiration and P acquisition.

Identification of Salvia shandongensis new species based on sequences of the plastid psbA-trnH intergenic region / 药学学报

To identify Salvia shandongensis and its relatives at molecular level, the psbA-trnH intergenic region of three species including Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were amplified and sequenced. Sequences were assembled with CodonCode Aligner. The K2P genetic distances between Salvia shandongensis and its relatives were calculated and UPGMA tree was performed by MEGA5.0. The results indicated that the lengths of psbA-trnH regions of Salvia shandongensis were about 391 bp, while the lengths of psbA-trnH regions of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were about 386 bp. The psbA-trnH sequences showed considerable variations between species and thus were revealed as a promising candidate for barcoding of Salvia shandongensis and its relatives. The intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia shandongensis were 0, while the intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were 0.002 and 0.001 respectively. Additionally, the genetic distance of Salvia shandongensis and Salvia miltiorrhiza ranged from 0.034 to 0.04, and the genetic distance of Salvia shandongensis and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba ranged from 0.005 to 0.008, the intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia shandongensis were much smaller than that of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba; clustering results showed that there were obvious differences between Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba, which was consistent with morphological characteristics. This study not only firstly provides the scientific basis for establishing the taxonomy position in molecular level and revealing their genetic relationships of S. shandongensis, S. miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba; but also provides DNA molecular identification scientific basis for the development of new medicinal plant resources of Salvia shandongensis. Our results suggest that the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region can be used as a barcoding to identify Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba.

The effect of sinomenine on cyclooxygenase activity and the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA in human peripheral monocytes / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe in vitro the effect of Sinomenine, a pure alkaloid extracted from the chinese medical plant Sinomenium acutum on the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) and the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Mononuclear leukocytes were obtained from healthy adults. Isolated mononuclear leucocytes from human peripheral blood (PBMC) were incubated (1 x 10(6).mL-1) with or without sinomenine (or indomethacin), after incubated for 24 hours at 37 degrees C with 5% CO2; the media were assayed for the PGE2 by radioimmunoassay (RIA). LPS was used to stimulate the monocytes at a concentration of 5 micrograms.mL-1. And by RT-PCR, both COX-1 and COX-2 mRNAs were detected in Mononuclear leukocytes after incubation for different hours with drug (sinomenine or indomethacin) or not.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>LPS (stimulated) induced the production of PGE2 in PBMC increasing with high expression of COX-2 mRNA; sinomenine reduced PGE2 production in LPS stimulated human monocytes more than in non-stimulated human monocytes. In comparative experiments, indomethacin, a non selective COX inhibitor, reduced the production of PGE2 equally in both states. Meanwhile, neither sinomenine(0.1-1 mmol.L-1) nor indomethacin(0.5-10 mumol.L-1) inhibited the expression of both COX-1 and COX-2 mRNAs by RT-PCR with beta-actin as reference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In contrast with indomethacin, Sinomenine shows a preferential inhibitory effect on COX-2 over COX-1, These results suggest that Sinomenine is a selective COX-2 inhibitor, which may be directly related to suppressing cyclooxygenase activity.</p>