Glycyrrhizae radix et Rhizoma-Derived Carbon Dots and Their Effect on Menopause Syndrome in Ovariectomized Mice.

With the extension of the human life span and the increasing pressure of women's work and life, menopause syndrome (MPS) refers to a problem that puzzles almost all women worldwide. Hormone replacement treatment (HRT) can effectively mitigate the symptoms but can also exert adverse effects to a certain extent. Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizome (GRR) is commonly made into a charcoal processed product, termed GRR Carbonisatas (GRRC), for use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). GRRC is widely used to treat MPS and other gynecological diseases. In this study, GRRC was prepared through pyrolysis. Subsequently, GRR-derived carbon dots (GRR-CDs) were purified through dialysis and characterized using transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared, ultraviolet, fluorescence, X-ray photoelectron microscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The effects of GRR-CDs on MPS were examined and confirmed using ovariectomized female mice models. The GRR-CDs ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 nm in diameter and with multiple surface chemical groups, as indicated by the results. GRR-CDs can elevate the estradiol (E2) level of healthy female mice. Moreover, GRR-CDs can alleviate MPS using the typical ovariectomized mice model, as confirmed by elevating the estradiol (E2) level and reducing the degree of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and raising the degree of uterine atrophy. The results of this study suggested that GRR-CDs may be a potential clinical candidate for the treatment of MPS, which also provides a possibility for nanodrugs to treat hormonal diseases.

Carbon Dots Derived from Os Draconis and Their Anxiolytic Effect.

Background: At present, people are susceptible to developing depression and anxiety disorders in response to stress. However, there is no specific medicine for anxiety. Os Draconis (OD, named "Long gu" in Chinese) are fossilized bones that have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat neurological diseases for thousands of years. Thus, we conducted this study to determine the biological basis for the anxiolytic effect of OD. Methods: In this study, novel carbon dots (OD-CDs) from OD decoctions were discovered and separated. OD-CDs were anatomized using nanomaterials characterization methods to characterize the morphological structure, optical properties, and functional group properties. Four behavioural tests were conducted to observe the behavioural activities of mice, including the open field test (OFT), light/dark box test (LDT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), to determine its anxiolytic effects. Moreover, we assessed the possible mechanisms of the OD-CDs by detecting hormones associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Results: OD-CDs were spherical and monodispersed with a narrow size distribution between 1 and 5 nm and had a yield of 3.67%. OD-CDs increased the activity time of mice in the central zone in the OFT. The mice in the experimental group showed more frequent activity in the light compartment and the open arms, in LDT and EPMT, respectively. In addition, OD-CDs shortened the feeding latency in the NSFT. Furthermore, the results after OD-CDs intervention showed a significant increase in serum serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE). In addition, the concentrations of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH), and corticosterone (CORT) were decreased. Conclusion: These results demonstrate a definite anxiolytic effect of OD-CDs and reveal the possible mechanism of action of OD-CDs' anxiolytic effect, which supports the research of OD for neurological disorders and a promising new trend of therapeutic approach and drug development.

Combination of Astragalus membranaceous and Angelica sinensis Ameliorates Vascular Endothelial Cell Dysfunction by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress.

Vascular endothelial dysfunction is an essential and early sign of diabetic macroangiopathy, a primary complication of diabetes mellitus. Astragalus membranaceous-Angelica sinensis is a classic medical combination applied in China to treat diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the granule form of the extract produced from the dried root of Astragalus membranaceous (AM) combination with the granule form of the extract produced from the dried Angelica sinensis (AS) on diabetic macroangiopathy and its underlying mechanism. Herein, rats were treated by AM-AS at a ratio of 3 : 2 via intragastric administration. High glucose-induced human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were then treated with drug-containing serum collected from the rats. In high glucose-treated HUVECs, AM-AS combination increased cell viability (P < 0.05), decreased the percentage of apoptotic cells (P < 0.05) and the expression of the proapoptosis protein caspase 3 (P < 0.05), reduced the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase (P < 0.05), decreased reactive oxygen species level (P < 0.05), enhanced cell migration and invasion (P < 0.05), and reduced the level of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha. These results indicate that AM-AS combination at the ratio of 3 : 2 ameliorated HUVEC dysfunction by regulating apoptosis, cell migration, and invasion, which might be mediated by their regulatory effect on reactive oxygen species production. The current study provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of diabetic macroangiopathy using AM-AS.

Application and Perceived Effectiveness of Complementary and Alternative Intervention Strategies for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Relationships with Affiliate Stigma.

This cross-sectional questionnaire survey study was designed to examine the complementary and alternative intervention strategies (CAIS) employed by caregivers for their children's attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the associations of affiliate stigma with the employment and rated effectiveness of these strategies in Taiwan. A total of 400 caregivers of children with ADHD participated. CAIS that the caregivers employed and their effectiveness rated by the caregivers were surveyed. Associations of affiliate stigma with the application and rated effectiveness of the strategies were determined using logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that sensory integration (30.3%), exercise training (29.3%), sugar restriction (20.5%), and omega fatty acid supplementation (11.3%) were the most common CAIS that the caregivers employed. Caregivers with stronger affiliate stigma were more likely to employ sensory integration, exercise training, and omega fatty acid supplementation but also rated them as ineffective in treating their children's ADHD. Various CAIS were employed by the caregivers to manage their children's ADHD. Affiliate stigma was significantly associated with the application and rated ineffectiveness of several CAIS.

Crude caffeine reduces memory impairment and amyloid ß(1-42) levels in an Alzheimer's mouse model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a chronic neurodegenerative disorder associated with the abnormal accumulations of amyloid ß (Aß) peptide and oxidative stress in the brain, is the most common form of dementia among the elderly. Crude caffeine (CC), a major by-product of the decaffeination of coffee, has potent hydrophilic antioxidant activity and may reduce inflammatory processes. Here, we showed that CC and pure caffeine intake had beneficial effects in a mouse model of AD. Administration of CC or pure caffeine for 2months partially prevented memory impairment in AD mice, with CC having greater effects than pure caffeine. Furthermore, consumption of CC, but not pure caffeine, reduced the Aß(1-42) levels and the number of amyloid plaques in the hippocampus. Moreover, CC and caffeine protected primary neurons from Aß-induced cell death and suppressed Aß-induced caspase-3 activity. Our data indicate that CC may contain prophylactic agents against the cell death and the memory impairment in AD.

[Efficacy observation of chronic pelvic inflammation of different differentiated patterns/syndromes treated with acupoint embedding therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy on chronic pelvic inflammation between the acupoint embedding therapy and acupuncture, and to compare the efficacy of different patterns/syndroms in differentiation treated with acupoint embedding therapy. METHODS: Two hundred and eighteen cases were randomized into an embedding therapy group (115 cases) and an acupuncture group (103 cases). In both groups, Shenshu (BL 23), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Qihai (CV 6) were selected as the main points. For qi and blood stagnation pattern/syndrome, Zhongdu (LR 6), Diji (SP 8) and the others were added; for cold and damp stagnation pattern/syndrome, Diji (SP 8) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were added; for stasis and phlegm pattern/syndrome due to spleen deficiency, Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) were added. In the embedding therapy group, the catgut was embedded at 7 - 13 acupoints each time, once every 10 days. In the acupuncture group, the conventional acupuncture therapy was applied, once a day. The symptom scores were assessed in the aspects of the lower abdominal pain severity and attack frequency, lumbosacral soreness and distention, abnormality of vaginal discharge and the others. The efficacy was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 93.0% (107/115) in the embedding therapy group, which was better than 83.5% (86/103) in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The symptom scores were all reduced after treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.05). In the embedding therapy group, the efficacies were not significantly different among different patterns/syndromes (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The acupoint embedding therapy achieves the definite efficacy on chronic pelvic inflammation and obtains the similar efficacies among the different differentiated patterns/syndromes of the disease.

[In vitro study for detecting the effects of Bazhen decoction on proliferation and activation of T lymphocytes].

This study was designed to detect the effects of Bazhen decoction on the proliferation and activation of T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes were isolated. The effects of Bazhen decoction on the prolifertion and activation of T lymphocytes, and on the secretion of IFN-gamma IL-2 from T lymphocytes, were detected by MTT, Flow cytometry and ELISA. Results showed that proliferation of T lymphocytes was promoted significantly by different concentration of Bazhen decoction; and after different time, the relationships of "the longer the time, the higher the concentration, and the more enhanced the proliferation" came to be apparent. After 72h, T lymphocytes were activated with different concentration of Bazhen decoction, the rate of CD69+ T cells increased signficantly, the secretion of IFN-gamma and IL-2 increased signficicantly, and the effect exhibited a dose-dependent manner. The results of this epxeriment indicated that Bazhen decoction could promote the proliferation and activation of T lymphocytes.

Roasted coffees high in lipophilic antioxidants and chlorogenic acid lactones are more neuroprotective than green coffees.

Oxidative stress is involved in many neurodegenerative processes leading to age-related cognitive decline. Coffee, a widely consumed beverage, is rich in many bioactive components, including polyphenols with antioxidant potential. In this study, regular and decaffeinated samples of both roasted and green coffee all showed high hydrophilic antioxidant activity in vitro, whereas lipophilic antioxidant activities were on average 30-fold higher in roasted than in green coffee samples. In primary neuronal cell culture, pretreatment with green and roasted coffees (regular and decaffeinated) protected against subsequent H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress and improved neuronal cell survival (green coffees increased neuron survival by 78%, compared to 203% by roasted coffees). All coffee extracts inhibited ERK1/2 activation, indicating a potential attenuating effect in stress-induced neuronal cell death. Interestingly, only roasted coffee extracts inhibited JNK activation, evidencing a distinctive neuroprotective benefit. Analysis of coffee phenolic compounds revealed that roasted coffees contained high levels of chlorogenic acid lactones (CGLs); a significant correlation between CGLs and neuroprotective efficacy was observed (R(2) = 0.98). In conclusion, this study showed that roasted coffees are high in lipophilic antioxidants and CGLs, can protect neuronal cells against oxidative stress, and may do so by modulation of the ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathways.

Interactions between SIRT1 and AP-1 reveal a mechanistic insight into the growth promoting properties of alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles in mouse skin epithelial cells.

The physicochemical properties of nanomaterials differ from those of the bulk material of the same composition. However, little is known about the underlying effects of these particles in carcinogenesis. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanisms involved in the carcinogenic properties of nanoparticles using aluminum oxide (Al(2)O(3)/alumina) nanoparticles as the prototype. Well-established mouse epithelial JB6 cells, sensitive to neoplastic transformation, were used as the experimental model. We demonstrate that alumina was internalized and maintained its physicochemical composition inside the cells. Alumina increased cell proliferation (53%), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) levels, cell viability and growth in soft agar. The level of manganese superoxide dismutase, a key mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme, was elevated, suggesting a redox signaling event. In addition, the levels of reactive oxygen species and the activities of the redox sensitive transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1) and a longevity-related protein, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), were increased. SIRT1 knockdown reduces DNA synthesis, cell viability, PCNA levels, AP-1 transcriptional activity and protein levels of its targets, JunD, c-Jun and BcL-xl, more than controls do. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed that SIRT1 interacts with the AP-1 components c-Jun and JunD but not with c-Fos. The results identify SIRT1 as an AP-1 modulator and suggest a novel mechanism by which alumina nanoparticles may function as a potential carcinogen.