Effects of Xiaoyao San on exercise capacity and liver mitochondrial metabolomics in rat depression model.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Xiaoyao San (XYS), a herbal medicine formula, on exercise capacity and liver mitochondrial metabolomics in a rat model of depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Methods: A total of 24 male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group (C), CUMS control group (M), Venlafaxine positive treatment group (V), and XYS treatment group (X). Depressive behaviour and exercise capacity of rats were assessed by body weight, sugar-water preference test, open field test, pole test, and rotarod test. The liver mitochondria metabolomics were analyzed by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. TCMSP database and GeneCards database were used to screen XYS for potential targets for depression, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed. Results: Compared with C group, rats in M group showed significantly lower body weight, sugar water preference rate, number of crossing and rearing in the open field test, climbing down time in the pole test, and retention time on the rotarod test (P < 0.01). The above behaviors and exercise capacity indices were significantly modulated in rats in V and X groups compared with M group (P < 0.05, 0.01). Compared with C group, a total of 18 different metabolites were changed in the liver mitochondria of rats in M group. Nine different metabolites and six metabolic pathways were regulated in the liver mitochondria of rats in X group compared with M group. The results of network pharmacology showed that 88 intersecting targets for depression and XYS were obtained, among which 15 key targets such as IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF were predicted to be the main differential targets for the treatment of depression. Additionally, a total of 1 553 GO signaling pathways and 181 KEGG signaling pathways were identified, and the main biological pathways were AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. Conclusion: XYS treatment could improve depressive symptoms, enhance exercise capacity, positively regulate the changes of mitochondrial metabolites and improve energy metabolism in the liver of depressed rats. These findings suggest that XYS exerts antidepressant effects through multi-target and multi-pathway.

A unique insight for Xiaoyao San exerts antidepressant effects by modulating hippocampal glucose catabolism using stable isotope-resolved metabolomics.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, depression is an emotional disease, which is thought to be related to stagnation of liver qi and dysfunction of the spleen in transport. Xiaoyao San (XYS) is considered to have the effects of soothing liver-qi stagnation and invigorating the spleen. The spleen has the function to transport and transform nutrients. The liver has also termed the center of energy metabolism in the body. Therefore, exploring the antidepressant effects of XYS from the perspective of energy metabolism may reveal new findings. AIM OF THE STUDY: Glucose catabolism is an important part of energy metabolism. In recent years, several researchers have found that XYS can exert antidepressant effects by modulating abnormalities in glucose catabolism-related metabolites. The previous research of our research group found that the hippocampus glucose catabolism was disordered in depression. However, the antidepressant potential of XYS through modulating the disorders of hippocampal glucose catabolism and the specific metabolic pathways and targets of XYS action were still unknown. The aim of this study was to address the above scientific questions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this research, the CUMS (chronic unpredictable mild stress) model was used as the animal model of depression. The antidepressant effect of XYS was evaluated by behavioral indicators. The specific pathways and targets of XYS modulating the disorders of glucose catabolism in the hippocampus of CUMS rats were obtained by stable isotope-resolved metabolomics. Further, the isotope tracing results were also verified by molecular biology and electron transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that XYS pretreatment could significantly improve the depressive symptoms induced by CUMS. More importantly, it was found that XYS could modulate the disorders of glucose catabolism in the hippocampus of CUMS rats. Stable isotope-resolved metabolomics and enzyme activity tests showed that Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Pyruvate carboxylase (PC), and Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) were targets of XYS for modulating the disorders of glucose catabolism in the hippocampus of CUMS rats. The Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex V (MRCC-Ⅴ) were targets of XYS to improve abnormal mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the hippocampus of CUMS rats. XYS was also found to have the ability to improve the structural damage of mitochondria and nuclei in the hippocampal caused by CUMS. CONCLUSIONS: This study was to explore the antidepressant effect of XYS from the perspective of glucose catabolism based on a strategy combining stable isotope tracing, molecular biology techniques, and transmission electron microscopy. We not only obtained the specific pathways and targets of XYS to improve the disorders of glucose catabolism in the hippocampus of CUMS rats, but also revealed the specific targets of the pathways of XYS compared with VLF.

Analysis of Pulse Signals Based on Array Pulse Volume / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To collect and analyze multi-dimensional pulse diagram features with the array sensor of a pressure profile system (PPS) and study the characteristic parameters of the new multi-dimensional pulse diagram by pulse diagram analysis technology.@*METHODS@#The pulse signals at the Guan position of left wrist were acquired from 105 volunteers at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We obtained the pulse data using an array sensor with 3×4 channels. Three dimensional pulse diagrams were constructed for the validated pulse data, and the array pulse volume (APV) parameter was computed by a linear interpolation algorithm. The APV differences among normal pulse (NP), wiry pulse (WP) and slippery pulse (SP) were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The coefficients of variation (CV) were calculated for WP, SP and NP.@*RESULTS@#The APV difference between WP and NP in the 105 volunteers was statistically significant (6.26±0.28 vs. 6.04±0.36, P=0.048), as well as the difference between WP and SP (6.26±0.28 vs. 6.07±0.46, P=0.049). However, no statistically significant difference was found between NP and SP (P=0.75). WP showed a similar CV (4.47%) to those of NP (5.96%) and SP (7.58%).@*CONCLUSION@#The new parameter APV could differentiate between NP or SP and WP. Accordingly, APV could be considered an useful parameter for the analysis of array pulse diagrams in Chinese medicine.

Diagnosis and treatment technologies of traditional Chinese medicine: Application and prospect in context of artificial intelligence / 第二军医大学学报

The modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis and treatment technology relies on the development of modern science and technology. Based on the TCM theory of syndrome differentiation and treatment, supported by modern diagnostic technology of TCM, the data-based TCM diagnosis and treatment are informationized and intelligentized with the aid of artificial intelligence technology. Meanwhile, through the research on the diagnosis, treatment, and efficacy evaluation of TCM syndromes and disease, by combining the disease with TCM syndrome on diagnosis-treatment and by exchanging the data of TCM and western medicine, modern diagnostic technology and intelligent diagnosis-treatment system with the characteristics of TCM can be established, which can maximize the advantages of human-computer cooperation. Finally, an intelligent TCM diagnosis and treatment decision-making system with the connotation of syndrome differentiation is established to provide intelligent decision for TCM in clinic and to explore the innovative diagnosis-treatment mode of TCM diseases and syndromes. At the same time, the research of intelligent TCM diagnosis and treatment technology will also promote the rule of TCM diagnosis and treatment, accelerate the leap-forward development of TCM diagnosis and treatment technology, solve the main problems of the modernization of TCM diagnosis and treatment, and promote the modernization of TCM. In this paper, we summarized the current status and trends of the combination of TCM diagnosis and treatment and artificial intelligence technology.

Summary and prospect of medicinal plant active substances in regulation of p65 nuclear translocation / 中国中药杂志

As the most important nuclear transcription factors in the cells, NF-κB is involved in many intracellular signaling pathways and transcription and regulation of genetic information. The signal transduction pathways mainly include the activation of IκB kinase, degradation of IκB protein and the nuclear translocation of p65. p65 trans-nuclear binding with DNA is the key for NF-κB to play a role. Abnormal activation of NF-κB is a major factor in the induction of oxidative stress, inflammation, cancer and so on. Therefore, maintaining the balance of NF-κB activity and regulating the nuclear translocation of p65 have great significance for further research on related subjects. In this paper, the regulation effects of the main active substances of medicinal plants (such as polyphenols, saponins, and alkaloids) on p65 nuclear translocation and the upstream pathway of NF-κB were discussed, expecting to provide reference for the development of natural active substances for functional food.

New perspectives on chinese herbal medicine (zhong-yao) research and development.

Synthetic chemical drugs, while being efficacious in the clinical management of many diseases, are often associated with undesirable side effects in patients. It is now clear that the need of therapeutic intervention in many clinical conditions cannot be satisfactorily met by synthetic chemical drugs. Since the research and development of new chemical drugs remain time-consuming, capital-intensive and risky, much effort has been put in the search for alternative routes for drug discovery in China. This narrative review illustrates various approaches to the research and drug discovery in Chinese herbal medicine. Although this article focuses on Chinese traditional drugs, it is also conducive to the development of other traditional remedies and innovative drug discovery.

[Status analysis of nutrients and eutrophication assessment in Shenzhen coastal waters].

Based on the field data of Shenzhen coastal water quality in 2002-2007, variation characteristics of nutrients including NH4+ -N, NO3- -N, NO2- -N, PO4(3-) -P and DIN were presented. And the correlationships between nutrients and pH, salinity were also investigated. Furthermore, eutrophication index (E), organic pollution index (A) and potential eutrophication were employed to assess the eutrophication degree of Shenzhen coastal waters. Results show that the nutrient levels of east coast are higher than that of west coast. And the peak year of nutrients are 2002 and 2006. The average concentrations of PO4(3-) -P and DIN are 0.007 mg/L and 0.078 mg/L for Shenzhen east coast while 0.090 mg/L and 1.544 mg/L for west coast. Nutrients in Shenzhen coastal waters have negative correlations with pH and salinity. The N/P ratios are all far more than 16 indicating that Shenzhen coast belongs to seriously P-limiting water. Eutrophication degree of Shenzhen east coast is far lower than that of west coast, and the average eutrophication index of east coast is 0.11 while 42.15 for west coast. Furthermore, west coast is classified as P-limiting moderate level potential eutrophication area and even as P-limiting potential eutrophication level.

[Sediment record of phosphorus and the primary study of its bioavailability in Jiaozhou Bay sediments].

The geochemical characteristics of phosphorus forms in different grain size sediments, the influencing factors as well as the bioavailability of phosphorus in Jiaozhou Bay were investigated employing the sequential extraction method. The results showed that inorganic phosphorus was the dominant form of total phosphorus and organic phosphorus was only the minor part. The detrital carbonate-bound phosphorus was the largest part of total phosphorus. The grain size, organic carbon, temperature, pH and etc. are the main controlling factors of phosphorus in sediments. Except for Ca-P, most of other phosphorus forms contents increased as the grain size decreased. The bioavailability research showed that the bioavailable phosphorus was mainly the exchangeable phosphorus, phosphorus bound to Al and Fe and organic phosphorus. Moreover, the potential bioavailable phosphorus proportion in total phosphorus increased as the grain size decreased. The bioavailable phosphorus in different grain size sediments has positive correlationship with phytoplankton abundance and phosphate in overlying water.

[Phosphorus and its environmental marker function in Jiaozhou Bay sediments].

Phosphorus is a key biogenic element and plays an essential role in global biogeochemical cycles. The geochemical characteristics of phosphorus as well as the controlling factors and the environmental marker function in Jiaozhou Bay sediments were presented. The different forms of sedimentary phosphorus were studied in three sediment cores, which are forms of inorganic phosphorus, exchangeable phosphorus, phosphorus bound to Al-Fe, and calcium, occluded phosphorus as well as total phosphorus and organic phosphorus, respectively. The vertical profiles of various forms of phosphorus in response to 210Pb chronological studies of sediment cores were investigated in order to reveal sedimentary environment changes. The results showed that inorganic phosphorus was the dominant form of total phosphorus and organic phosphorus was only the minor part. The detrital carbonate-bound phosphorus was the largest part of total phosphorus. The concentrations and burial fluxes of phosphorus were controlled by source and environmental factors including pH, salinity, temperature and grain size of sediments etc. Moreover, the analysis of OC/OP ratios suggested that the terrestrial inputs were the dominant source of Jiaozhou Bay sediments. The sedimentation fluxes of phosphorus increased in the past two decades, as a result, the pollution was still serious from the 1980 to 2000. But the state has greatly improved since 2000. The Fe-P, Al-P and Oc-P have close relationships with the degree of pollution and may act as good indicators for environment pollution in Jiaozhou Bay.