Mechanism study of Si Miao Formula on alleviating insulin resistance by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila in mice / 药学学报

In our previous study, we found that Si Miao Formula (SMF) had the effect of improving the disorder of glucose metabolism caused by high fat and high sucrose diet, and significantly altered the composition of gut microbiota, especially increasing the level of Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila). However, it is unclear that the role of intestinal flora and A. muciniphila play in SMF improving blood glucose homeostasis, and the mechanism of how SMF increases the level of A. muciniphila. Therefore, this study will explore the correlation between SMF improving the insulin resistance and increasing the level of A. muciniphila, as well as the mechanism of SMF-induced growth of A. muciniphila using the in vitro and in vivo experiments. We explored the effect of intestinal flora and A. muciniphila on SMF-improved insulin resistance through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and antibiotic intervention. In order to study the mechanisms underlying SMF on elevating A. muciniphila, we disassembled SMF to find the key component which can particularly elevate the number of A. muciniphila. Using the in vitro anaerobic culture system combined with cell and animal experiments, we explored the mechanism of the key component in elevating A. muciniphila. The research was approved by the Animal Ethical and Welfare Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Our results showed that the gut microbiota altered by SMF can improve high fat and sucrose diet induced insulin resistance in recipient mice, and the improvement was closely related to the abundance of A. muciniphila. Cortex Phellodendri played the most important role in regulating the composition of intestinal flora and increasing the number of A. muciniphila, of which, berberine was the key component of Cortex Phellodendri which up regulated A. muciniphila. We have found that berberine cannot directly promote the growth of A. muciniphila in vitro, but it can stimulate the expression of mucin, which, in turn, promote the growth of A. muciniphila. The above results show that the improved insulin sensitiviy by SMF depends on the increased level of A. muciniphila. The effect of SMF on elevating the amount of A. muciniphila might be correlated with the increased expression of mucin stimulated by berberine.

Botanical characteristics, phytochemistry and related biological activities of Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit, and its potential use in functional foods: a review.

Due to the growing global population, reduction in arable land and effects of climate change, incongruity between food supply and demand has become increasingly severe. Nowadays, with awareness of the elementary nutrients required for human growth, increasing attention is being paid to the health and medical functions of food. Along with increased food production achieved by modern agricultural techniques, underutilised functional foods are an important strategy for solving food security problems and maintaining the nutritional quality of the human diet. Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT) is a natural fruit that contains unique functional and nutritional constituents, which are characterised by a high anti-oxidant potential. This review summarises the biological characteristics, chemical composition, health-promoting properties and development status of RRT products to inspire investigations on the use of RRT fruit as a functional food, dietary supplement and pharmaceutical additive. The nutrients and functional ingredients of RRT fruit are described in detail to provide more reference information for nutritionists and pharmacists.

Effect of Body Axis Rotation Combined with Rhythmic Breathing Training on Lower Limbs Hemiplegia after Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To investigate the effect of body axis rotation combined with rhythmic breathing training on lower limb motor function and balance ability of stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods:From June, 2018 to June, 2020, 50 patients with hemiplegia after stroke from Physical Therapy Department of Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were divided into control group (n = 25) and experimental group (n = 25). Both groups accepted routine rehabilitation, while the experimental group accepted body axis rotation and rhythmic breathing training for core muscle strength in addition, for six weeks. The total training time was the same for both groups. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremities (FMA-LE), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed 'Up & Go' Test (TUGT) and 10-meter walking speed (10MWS) before and after treatment. Results:The scores of FMA-LE and BBS, and 10MWS increased in both groups after treatment (|Z| > 4.375, P < 0.001), and increased more in the experimental group than in the control group (|Z| > 3.415, P < 0.01); while the time of TUGT decreased in both groups (Z = -4.372, P < 0.001), and decreased more in the experimental group than in the control group (Z = -2.804, P < 0.01). Conclusion:Body axis rotation combined with rhythmic breathing training for core muscle strength may promote the recovery of lower limb motor function and balance ability for stroke patients with hemiplegia.

Effect and mechanism of dingzhixiao wan on scopolamine-induced learning-memory impairment in mice / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Dingzhixiao Wan (DZXW), a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula consisting of Acorus tatarinowii, Polygala tenuifolia, Poria cocos and Panax ginseng in a proportion of 2: 2: 3: 3, on learning-memory impairment induced by scopolamine and its possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The mice were randomly divided into six groups: the control group, the model group, the positive huperzine A (0.05 mg x kg(-1)) group, DZXW 700 mg x kg(-1), 350 mg x kg(-1) and 175 mg kg(-1) groups. DZXW extracts were orally administrated to the mice for 7 days. Scopolamine (1.5 mg x kg(-1), ip) was injected to establish the learning and memory impairment model in mice. Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess the learning and memory ability of each group. After the test, the activities of glutamic acid (Glu), gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), acetylcholine (Ach) and acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) in brain tissue were measured.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The praxiology test showed that DZXW significantly decreased the average latency of model mice in the place navigation test, and enhanced the frequency for passing through the platform in the spatial probe test, the percentage between target quadrant swimming distance and time. Moreover, DZXW could significantly increase the contents of Glu and 5-HT, DA and Ach, while reducing the levels of GABA and AchE in mice brain.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DZXW could significantly ameliorate the scopolamine-induced learning-memory impairment in mice and improve their learning-memory capacity, which may be related to its effect on adjusting Glu/GABA system and increasing Ach and monoamine neurotransmitter contents in mice brain.</p>

Systematic review on randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture therapy for neurovascular headache / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for neurovascular headache and to analyze the current situation related to acupuncture treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PubMed database (1966-2010), EMBASE database (1986-2010), Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2010), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (1979-2010), China HowNet Knowledge Database (1979-2010), VIP Journals Database (1989-2010), and Wanfang database (1998-2010) were retrieved. Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled studies were included. The priority was given to high-quality randomized, controlled trials. Statistical outcome indicators were measured using RevMan 5.0.20 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 16 articles and 1 535 cases were included. Meta-analysis showed a significant difference between the acupuncture therapy and Western medicine therapy [combined RR (random efficacy model)=1.46, 95% CI (1.21, 1.75), Z=3.96, P<0.0001], indicating an obvious superior effect of the acupuncture therapy; significant difference also existed between the comprehensive acupuncture therapy and acupuncture therapy alone [combined RR (fixed efficacy model)=3.35, 95% CI (1.92, 5.82), Z=4.28, P<0.0001], indicating that acupuncture combined with other therapies, such as points injection, scalp acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, etc., were superior to the conventional body acupuncture therapy alone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The inclusion of limited clinical studies had verified the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of neurovascular headache. Although acupuncture or its combined therapies provides certain advantages, most clinical studies are of small sample sizes. Large sample size, randomized, controlled trials are needed in the future for more definitive results.</p>

Experimental study on anti-influenza virus infection with yinqiao-decoction by orthogonal design / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate composition principle of Yinqiao-decoction through experiment of anti-influenza.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The effects of different compositions of Yinqiao-decoction on the index of hemagglutinin titre of virus in the lung tissue of mice infected with virus from nose were investigated by orthogonal design.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to the hemagglutinin titre of virus in the lung tissue of mice, the necessary effective drugs of Yinqiao-decoction are forsythia suspense, flos lonicerae, fructus arctii, schizonepeta tenuifolia, folium phyllostach lophatheri, glycyrrhiza uralensis, platycodon grandiflorum and mentha haplocalyx, and semen sojae preparatum isn't necessary. There is interaction between forsythia suspense and flos lonicerae, forsythia suspense and fructus arctii, forsythia suspense and schizonepeta tenuifolia, fructus arctii and mentha haplocalyx, schizonepeta tenuifolia and platycodon grandiflorum.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The optimal combination of Yinqiao-decoction is flos lonicerae, forsythia suspense, fructus arctii, folium phyllostach lophatheri, glycyrrhiza uralensis, mentha haplocalyx of the second level and schizonepeta tenuifolia, platycodon grandiflorum, semen sojae preparatum of the first level.</p>