Chinese herbal medicine combined with cognitive-behavioural therapy for avoidant paruresis: a controlled trial.

Background: Avoidant paruresis is a common clinical condition in urology and psychosomatic medicine. However, it has limited treatment options that are safe and effective with few side effects. Aims: Our study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of the Chinese herbal Yangxin Tongquan decoction combined with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for avoidant paruresis. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with avoidant paruresis were divided into a treatment group (33 patients) and a control group (35 patients). The control group was assigned 10 weeks of CBT and systematic desensitisation. In addition to CBT and systematic desensitisation, the treatment group was given the Chinese herbal Yangxin Tongquan decoction during the 10-week study. The Shy Bladder Syndrome Scale (SBS) and the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were administered before and after treatment to measure any change. Results: The overall efficacy in the treatment group (n=30) was 80.0% vs 62.5% in the control group (n=33). Comparing pretreatment and post-treatment measures, both groups showed improvement in SBS scores and SAS scores (treatment group: t(SBS) =8.397, p(SBS) <0.001, t(SAS) =8.216, p(SAS)<0.001; control group: t(SBS) =6.802, p(SBS) <0.001, t(SAS)=5.171, p(SAS) <0.001). Moreover, both groups' SBS and SAS scores changed significantly over time (SBS scores: Ftime =118.299, p<0.001; SAS scores: Ftime =92.114, p<0.001). However, the treatment group performed better than the control group (SBS scores: Ftime*group =5.709, p=0.020; SAS scores: Ftime*group =7.235, p=0.009). Conclusions: The Chinese herbal Yangxin Tongquan decoction combined with cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy positively affects the treatment of avoidant paruresis without significant adverse effects.

Case report: One child with an autism spectrum disorder who had chronically elevated serum levels of CK and CK-MB.

Some patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit elevated serum creatine kinase levels, which are believed to be associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Although a few articles have reported this situation in the past and the increase mostly ranges from 100 to 300 U/L, there is a paucity of previous study focusing on the serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme. This article discusses a 5-year-old girl with ASD, whose serum creatine kinase and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme have been rising for nearly 2 years, fluctuating at 584-993 and 111-625 U/L respectively. Except for behavioral and language symptoms associated with ASD, the child appears normal in other aspects. The child's laboratory tests showed no abnormality, except that the serum levels of lactic acid was slightly higher than normal (1.89 mmol/L, normal 1.33-1.78 mmol/L). The child was prescribed with a traditional Chinese medicine during the process and the serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme level decreased dramatically to 111 U/L after the treatment. This study firstly recorded the serum creatine kinase levels and the MB isoenzyme in patients with autism spectrum disorder for nearly 2 years, indicating that patients with ASD may experience long-term increases in serum creatine kinase and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme, and that the traditional Chinese medicine decoction Xinfukang can temporarily reduce the serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme level in patients. Nevertheless, the effect is not sustained. Therefore, it is of great importance to conduct long-term longitudinal studies so as to elucidate the potential mechanism responsible for long-term elevation of serum creatine kinase level.

Cardamonin inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory responses and prevents acute lung injury by targeting myeloid differentiation factor 2.

BACKGROUND: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a systemic inflammatory process, which has no pharmacological therapy in clinic. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that natural compounds from herbs have potent anti-inflammatory efficacy in several disease models, which could be the potential candidates for the treatment of ALI. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: Anti-inflammatory screening from natural product bank may provide new anti-inflammatory compounds for therapeutic target discovery and ALI treatment. METHODS: 165 natural compounds were screened for their anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated macrophages. PCR array, SPR and ELISA were used to determine the potential target of the most active compound, Cardamonin (CAR). The pharmacological effect of CAR was further evaluated in both LPS-stimulated macrophages and ALI mice model. RESULTS: Out of the screened 165 compounds, CAR significantly inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine secretion in macrophages. We further showed that CAR significantly inhibited NF-κB and JNK signaling activation, and thereby inflammatory cytokine production via directly interacting with MD2 in vitro. In vivo, our data show that CAR treatment inhibited LPS-induced lung damage, systemic inflammatory cytokine production, and reduced macrophage infiltration in the lungs, accompanied with reduced TLR4/MD2 complex in lung tissues, Treatment with CAR also dose-dependently increased survival in the septic mice induced by DH5α bacterial infection. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that a natural product, CAR, attenuates LPS-induced lung injury and sepsis by inhibiting inflammation via interacting with MD2, leading to the inactivation of the TLR4/MD2-MyD88-MAPK/NF-κB pathway.

Acupuncture for treating tic disorders in children: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tic disorders (TDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, while pharmacotherapy is often associated with various side effects and has limited clinical effects for some patients, thus significantly affecting patients' quality of life. Studies have found acupuncture shows certain advantages in the treatment of TDs. However, there is no high level of evidence evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for children with TDs. METHODS: Each data of acupuncture for treating TDs will be searched. We will search for related English and Chinese databases. The time is limited from inception until November 2020. The primary outcome is the reduction rate (amount) of tic severity using related scales or methods, and the secondary outcomes include recurrence rate and adverse events. The risk of bias will be assessed, and the RevMan5.3 and Stata14.0 will be performed for meta-analysis. Finally, we will assess the level of the resulting evidence. RESULTS: The results of the study will synthesize the current evidence and be published in peer-reviewed journals. CONCLUSIONS: This research aims to provide convincing evidence of the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for treating TDs in children. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2020110050.

Diffusion tensor imaging in the evaluation of the long-term efficacy of HBO2 therapy in rats after traumatic spinal cord injury.

Objective: This study explored the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the evaluation of the long-term efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy in rats after traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) with different degrees of injury. Method: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats (total n = 60) were randomly separated into three groups of mild, moderate and severe TSCI (20 rats per group). Each group was then randomly divided into TSCI and TSCI+HBO2 subgroups (10 rats per subgroup). Basso Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scores and DTI parameters including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean apparent diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD) and axial diffusivity (AD) were collected at pre-TSCI and at 0, six and 24 hours, and three, seven, 14, 21, 28 and 56 days post-TSCI. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used for comparison between the TSCI and TSCI+HBO2 subgroups over time in the mild, moderate and severe TSCI groups. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to analyze the correlations between BBB scores and DTI parameters. Results: BBB scores, FA, MD and RD values showed significant differences between the TSCI and TSCI+HBO2 subgroups over time in the mild, moderate and severe TSCI groups (all p<0.01). FA, MD and RD values were positively correlated with BBB scores in all TSCI and TSCI+HBO2 subgroups (all p<0.05). Conclusions: DTI parameters, especially MD, could quantifiably assess the long-term efficacy of HBO2 therapy and reflect the functional recovery in rats after TSCI with different degrees of injury.

Study on the combination of brief psychodynamic psychotherapy with Viagra in the treatment of non-organic ED.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) has gradually become an important issue that seriously affects the quality of life of Chinese men. In addition to classic oral medications, psychotherapeutic interventions are increasingly being used in the treatment of ED. AIM: This study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy of brief psychodynamic psychotherapy (BPP) plus Viagra in the treatment of non-organic ED. METHODS: We initiated this study via a controlled, prospective experimental design with initial optimal efficiency standard greater than 10%. On the standard, 63 patients were enrolled who were assigned to control or treatment group. The control group (including 33 cases) received Viagra treatment for 2 months, and the treatment group (including 30 cases) was cured with BPP plus Viagra. After the treatments, the clinical efficacy was assessed using the International Erectile Function Index (IIEF-5) score, the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Sexual Satisfaction (SS) score and Erection Hardness Score (EHS). RESULTS: In the comparison of efficacy, pretreatment and post-treatment within each group, the two groups showed improvements in IIEF, SAS scores, SS, and EHS (treatment group: PIIEF<0.001, PSAS<0.001, PSS<0.001, PEHS<0.001; control group: PIIEF<0.001, PSAS<0.001, PSS<0.001, PEHS<0.001). Furthermore, the treatment group presented better performances in IIEF (p=0.040), SAS (p=0.006), SS scores (p=0.045) and EHS (p=0.041) than the control group. CONCLUSION: The combination of BPP with Viagra has positive effect on the treatment of non-organic ED.

Impact of phosphorus fertilizer level on the yield and metabolome of goji fruit.

Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) is a highly medicinal value tree species. The yield and nutritional contents of goji fruit are significant affected by fertilizer level. In this study, we analyzed the yield and nutritional contents change of goji fruit, which planted in pot (vermiculite:perlite, 1:2, v:v) in growth chamber under P0 (32.5 g/per tree), P1 (65 g/per tree), and P2 (97.5 g/per tree). Meanwhile, we utilized an integrated Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) to analysis of the response of the metabolome in goji fruit to phosphorus level. The results show that the yield of goji fruits had strongly negative correlation with phosphorus level, especially in the third harvest time. The amino acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and betaine contents of goji fruits in the first harvest time had obvious correlated with the level of phosphorus level. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment results indicated that the impact of different phosphorus fertilizer levels on each group mainly involved the biosynthesis of flavonoids. The results provide new insights into the theoretical basis of the relationship between the nutritional contents of goji fruits and phosphorus fertilizer level.

Effects of guanidinoacetic acid on growth performance, creatine metabolism and plasma amino acid profile in broilers.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on growth performance, creatine deposition and blood amino acid (AA) profile on broiler chickens. In Exp. 1, a total of 540 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers (average initial body weight, 45.23 ± 0.35 g) were divided randomly into five treatments with six replicates of 18 chicks each. Broilers were fed corn-soybean meal-basal diets supplemented with 0, 600, 800, 1,000 or 1,200 mg/kg GAA for 42 days respectively. Results showed that dietary GAA inclusion increased average daily gain (ADG) and improved gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) from 1 to 42 days (p < 0.01). However, average daily feed intake was unaffected by dietary supplementation of GAA. As GAA inclusion increased, the contents of creatine in plasma and kidney were increased (linear, p < 0.01), while the contents of GAA and creatine in liver were decreased (linear, p < 0.01). Similarly, GAA supplementation was inversely related to concentrations of most essential AA in plasma. In Exp. 2, a total of 432 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers (average initial body weight, 39.78 ± 0.58 g) were divided randomly into four treatments with six replicates of 18 chicks each. Birds were fed a corn-soybean meal-basal diet supplemented with 0, 200, 400 or 600 mg/kg GAA for 42 days respectively. Dietary inclusion of 600 mg/kg GAA significantly increased ADG and G:F of broilers (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 600-1,200 mg/kg GAA can effectively improve the growth performance in broiler chickens by affecting creatine metabolism and utilization efficiency of essential AA, and 600 mg/kg GAA is the minimum dose for improving performance.

Evaluation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for spinal cord injury in rats with different treatment course using diffusion tensor imaging.

STUDY DESIGN: Animal study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats with different treatment course using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). SETTING: Hospital in Fuzhou, China. METHODS: Fifty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped as: (A) sham-operated group (n = 10); (B) SCI without HBO therapy group (n = 10); (C) SCI with HBO therapy for 2 weeks (SCI+HBO2W) group (n = 10); (D) SCI with HBO therapy for 4 weeks (SCI+HBO4W) group (n = 10); (E) SCI with HBO therapy for 6 weeks (SCI+HBO6W) group (n = 10). Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) scores and diffusion tensor imaging parameters including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusion (RD), and axial diffusion (AD) values in the injury epicenter, as well as 2 mm rostral and caudal to the injury epicenter were collected and analyzed 6 weeks post-injury. RESULTS: Higher BBB score and FA values were found in the SCI+HBO4W group than in the SCI and SCI+HBO2W groups (all P < 0.05), whereas no significant differences of these metrics were observed between the SCI+HBO4W and SCI+HBO6W groups. MD and RD values of the SCI+HBO4W group were significantly lower than those of the SCI group (all P < 0.01). FA values were positively correlated with BBB scores. MD and RD values were negatively correlated with BBB scores. CONCLUSION: DTI parameters, especially FA, could non-invasively and quantifiably evaluate the efficacy of HBO treatment for rats with SCI and 4 weeks may be the more appropriate treatment course.

Outdoor cultures of Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the effluent of anaerobically digested activated sludge: The effects of pH and free ammonia.

A freshwater algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa was cultured outdoors using anaerobically digested activated sludge effluent. The effects of pH variations were evaluated. The coupled pH variations and free ammonia toxicity significantly affected the algal growth, lipids accumulation and contamination control during every season. The free ammonia toxicity at high pH levels actually inhibited the algal growth. Compared to an optimal algal growth at a pH of 5.7-6.5, biomass productivity at a high pH of 8.3-8.8 was reduced by 67.15±6.98%, 54.39±6.42% and 83.63±5.71% in the spring, fall and summer, respectively. When the pH rose above 9.1-9.6, algae were unable to grow in the wastewater. However, high pH levels reduced contamination (e.g., bacteria and microalgae grazers) and triggered lipids accumulation in algal cells. These findings suggest that pH control strategies are essential for this type of algal wastewater system, where ammonia is the dominant nitrogen source.

Rocaglamide-A Potentiates Osteoblast Differentiation by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to bone and cartilage erosion. The inhibition of osteoblast differentiation by the inflammatory factor TNF-α is critical for the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. To modulate TNF-α mediated inhibition of osteoblast differentiation is required to improve therapeutic efficacy of rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we explored the potential role of rocaglamide-A, a component of Aglaia plant, in osteoblast differentiation. Rocaglamide-A prevented TNF-α mediated inhibition of osteoblast differentiation, and promoted osteoblast differentiation directly, in both C2C12 and primary mesenchymal stromal cells. Mechanistically, Rocaglamide-A inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB component p65 protein and the accumulation of p65 in nucleus, which resulted in the diminished NF-κB responsible transcriptional activity. Oppositely, overexpression of p65 reversed rocaglamide-A's protective effects on osteoblast differentiation. Collectively, rocaglamide-A protected and stimulated osteoblast differentiation via blocking NF-κB pathway. It suggests that rocaglamide-A may be a good candidate to develop as therapeutic drug for rheumatoid arthritis associated bone loss diseases.

Clinical curative effect observation of therapy of Chinese drug iontophoresis in treatment of degenerative osteoarthropathy.

Degenerative osteoarthropathy is a kind of arthrosis induced by various factors, with main pathological feature of articular cartilage and syndesmophyte formation. In recent years, its morbidity increases year by year and tend to appear more among young people. Its curative effect has yet to be improved. This paper mainly discussed the clinical curative effect of therapy of Chinese drug iontophoresis in degenerative osteoarthropathy. A total of 296 cases of degenerative osteoarthropathy was randomly divided into two groups (with no consideration on gender): Chinese drug iontophoresis group: joint was treated by therapy of Chinese drug iontophoresis and MTZ-F experiment; frequency electrotherapy group: joint was only treated by medium frequency electrotherapy. Two groups were both treated for 30 min for one time, 1 time for a day, total for 4 weeks. Result of the study found that, total effective rate of medium frequency electrotherapy group was 74.3%, Chinese medicine iontophoresis group was 93.2%; curative effect of Chinese medicine iontophoresis group was superior to electrotherapy group. It indicates that, Chinese medicine iontophoresis has good clinical effect in the treatment of osteoarthropathy and deserves to be popularized and applied.

Nutrients removal and lipids production by Chlorella pyrenoidosa cultivation using anaerobic digested starch wastewater and alcohol wastewater.

The cultivation of microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) using anaerobic digested starch wastewater (ADSW) and alcohol wastewater (AW) was evaluated in this study. Different proportions of mixed wastewater (AW/ADSW=0.176:1, 0.053:1, 0.026:1, v/v) and pure ADSW, AW were used for C. pyrenoidosa cultivation. The different proportions between ADSW and AW significantly influenced biomass growth, lipids production and pollutants removal. The best performance was achieved using mixed wastewater (AW/ADSW=0.053:1, v/v), leading to a maximal total biomass of 3.01±0.15 g/L (dry weight), lipids productivity of 127.71±6.31 mg/L/d and pollutants removal of COD=75.78±3.76%, TN=91.64±4.58% and TP=90.74±4.62%.

Apple polysaccharide reduces NF-Kb mediated colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis.

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is an important molecule in mediating inflammatory colitis, which can lead to colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemopreventive efficacy of apple polysaccharide extract (AP) in inhibiting NF-κB-mediated inflammation pathways in CRC. We evaluated AP in vitro in HT-29 and SW620 human CRC cells. We also used the azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulphate (AOM/DSS) model to induce colon carcinogenesis in vivo. The chemoprotective effects of AP were assessed using Western blot, immunofluorescence assay, real-time PCR, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and flow cytometry. AP reduced AOM/DSS-associated toxicities, prevented carcinogenesis, and decreased the expression of TLR4, MD2, MyD88, TRAM, TRIF-related adapter molecule, interferon-ß, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6. The protective effects of AP may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/MD2-mediated signaling, including MyD88 and TRIF, as well as the inhibition of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory signaling pathways. Therefore, AP could be used in combination therapy for the prevention of colitis-associated colon cancer.

Cycloartane triterpenoids from the stems of Schisandra glaucescens and their bioactivity.

Five new cycloartane triterpenoids, schiglausins K-O (1-5), including one hexanortriterpenoid (1) and one octanortriterpenoid (2), as well as two known compounds (6-7), were isolated from the stems of Schisandra glaucescens Diels. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including extensive NMR spectra. Compounds 2-7 were tested for their FXR agonistic and antagonistic effects. Compound 7 exhibited significant antagonistic effect against FXR with IC(50) of 1.50 µM.

Lignans from Kadsura angustifolia and Kadsura coccinea.

Further phytochemical investigation of Kadsura angustifolia and Kadsura coccinea led to the isolation of six lignans and one flavonoid, including two new lignans named kadangustin L(1) and kadcoccilignan (2). The structures and stereochemistry of 1 and 2 were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data.

Lanostane triterpenoids from the stems of Schisandra glaucescens.

Ten new triterpenoids, schiglausins A-J (1-10), as well as four known compounds, were isolated from the stems of Schisandra glaucescens. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including extensive NMR spectra and CD experiment. Compound 8 was determined to be a norlanostane triterpenoid. The crystal structure of compound 1 has been determined using single-crystal X-ray analysis while its absolute configuration was assigned on the basis of the CD spectrum. All isolates were tested for their FXR agonistic and antagonistic effects.

19-oxygenated ent-kaurane diterpenoids from Isodon pharicus.

Eight new 19-oxygenated ENT-kaurane diterpenoids were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon pharicus. Their structures were determined by means of extensive spectroscopic techniques including interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Selected compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against NB4, A549, PC-3, MCF-7, and SH-SY5Y cell lines.

Cytotoxic ent-kaurane diterpenoids from Isodon sinuolata.

Five (1-5) ent-kaurane diterpenoids and 17 other known ones, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Isodon sinuolata. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against a small panel of cell lines. Some compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity.

ent-Kaurane diterpenoids from Isodon pharicus.

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Isodon pharicus led to the isolation of 13 new ent-kaurane diterpenoids, compounds 1-13, together with 12 known analogues (14-25). The structures of the new compounds were determined by means of extensive spectroscopic techniques including interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Selected compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against NB4, A549, PC-3, MCF-7, and SH-SY5Y cell lines.