Spinosin protects Neuro-2a/APP695 cells from oxidative stress damage by inactivating p38.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective mechanism of spinosin (SPI) on Alzheimer's disease (AD) model cells, Neuro-2a/APP695 (N2a/APP695), against HO-induced oxidative stress damage, to reflect the influence of oxidative stress on the development of AD, and to provide a valuable basis for the research and development of therapeutic drug for AD. METHODS: N2a/APP695 cells were exposed to HO and then treated with spinosin. Firstly, the secretion level of amyloid ß (Aß) and the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits. Secondly, the oligomerization degree of Aß was performed by Thioflavin T staining. Thirdly, the expression levels of p-Tau (Ser199/202/396), synaptophysin (SYP), postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family-related proteins were detected by Western blot analysis. In addition, FITC-labeled phalloidin was used in cytoskeleton staining to reflect synaptic function. RESULTS: This study showed that HO stimulated N2a/APP695 cells to produce excessive MDA and LDH and secrete a large amount of Aß, promoted the aggregation of Aß, induced Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, and led to synaptic dysfunction. Spinosin reversed these changes caused by HO by inactivating p38, which was verified by treatment with the p38 inhibitor BIRB796. CONCLUSION: Spinosin protects N2a/APP695 cells from oxidative stress damage caused by HO through inactivating p38.

A novel biological sources consistency evaluation method reveals high level of biodiversity within wild natural medicine: A case study of Amynthas earthworms as "Guang Dilong"

For wild natural medicine, unanticipated biodiversity as species or varieties with similar morphological characteristics and sympatric distribution may co-exist in a single batch of medical materials, which affects the efficacy and safety of clinical medication. DNA barcoding as an effective species identification tool is limited by its low sample throughput nature. In this study, combining DNA mini-barcode, DNA metabarcoding and species delimitation method, a novel biological sources consistency evaluation strategy was proposed, and high level of interspecific and intraspecific variations were observed and validated among 5376 Amynthas samples from 19 sampling points regarded as "Guang Dilong" and 25 batches of proprietary Chinese medicines. Besides Amynthas aspergillum as the authentic source, 8 other Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) were elucidated. Significantly, even the subgroups within A. aspergillum revealed here differ significantly on chemical compositions and biological activity. Fortunately, this biodiversity could be controlled when the collection was limited to designated areas, as proved by 2796 "decoction pieces" samples. This batch biological identification method should be introduced as a novel concept regarding natural medicine quality control, and to offer guidelines for in-situ conservation and breeding bases construction of wild natural medicine.

Sodium butyrate activates HMGCS2 to promote ketone body production through SIRT5-mediated desuccinylation / 医学前沿

Ketone bodies have beneficial metabolic activities, and the induction of plasma ketone bodies is a health promotion strategy. Dietary supplementation of sodium butyrate (SB) is an effective approach in the induction of plasma ketone bodies. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms are unknown. In this study, SB was found to enhance the catalytic activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), a rate-limiting enzyme in ketogenesis, to promote ketone body production in hepatocytes. SB administrated by gavage or intraperitoneal injection significantly induced blood ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in mice. BHB production was induced in the primary hepatocytes by SB. Protein succinylation was altered by SB in the liver tissues with down-regulation in 58 proteins and up-regulation in 26 proteins in the proteomics analysis. However, the alteration was mostly observed in mitochondrial proteins with 41% down- and 65% up-regulation, respectively. Succinylation status of HMGCS2 protein was altered by a reduction at two sites (K221 and K358) without a change in the protein level. The SB effect was significantly reduced by a SIRT5 inhibitor and in Sirt5-KO mice. The data suggests that SB activated HMGCS2 through SIRT5-mediated desuccinylation for ketone body production by the liver. The effect was not associated with an elevation in NAD+/NADH ratio according to our metabolomics analysis. The data provide a novel molecular mechanism for SB activity in the induction of ketone body production.

Effect of music therapy on depression and anxiety in patients with maintenance hemodialysis: a randomized controlled study / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of music therapy on depression and anxiety status in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Methods:The study was a single-center, open, and randomized controlled trial. The patients with regular hemodialysis of more than 3 months and the Beck depression inventory (BDI) scores ≥10 in China Rehabilitation Research Center from March 1 to April 24, 2021 were selected. Random envelope method was used to divide the enrolled patients into music group and control group. The music therapist selected the treatment music and established the preset repertoire library in the music therapy programs, and the total duration of music was about 2 hours. The music group received listening music therapy of 1.0 to 1.5 hours 3 times a week during routine hemodialysis treatment, while the control group only received routine hemodialysis treatment. All the enrolled patients completed treatment of 8 weeks. The BDI and state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) were used to assess the psychological status of MHD patients before and after treatment.Results:A total of 64 MHD patients were enrolled, aged (59.19±11.61) years old, among whom 38 patients (59.38%) were males. There were 32 patients in the music group and 32 patients in the control group. BDI scores [2 weeks (9.81±6.25) scores, 8 weeks (8.30±8.49) scores, F=49.75, P<0.001] and STAI scores [2 weeks (49.30±7.27) scores, 8 weeks (47.07±7.39) scores, F=13.09, P<0.001] in the music group decreased significantly after 2 weeks of treatment and remained stable for 8 weeks. After treatment, the BDI scores in the music group were significantly lower than those in the control group [2 weeks (9.81±6.25) scores vs (14.13±7.33) scores, t=-2.53, P=0.014; 8 weeks (8.30±8.49) scores vs (12.56±5.67) scores, t=-2.34, P=0.023], and STAI scores in the music group were significantly lower than those in the control group [2 weeks (49.30±7.27) scores vs (54.00±8.36) scores, t=-2.06, P=0.043; 8 weeks (47.07±7.39) scores vs (51.34±8.87) scores, t=-2.06, P=0.044]. Conclusion:Music therapy can improve depression and anxiety of MHD patients quickly and effectively.

Regulation of microbiota-GLP1 axis by sennoside A in diet-induced obese mice

Sennoside A (SA) is a bioactive component of Chinese herbal medicines with an activity of irritant laxative, which is often used in the treatment of constipation and obesity. However, its activity remains unknown in the regulation of insulin sensitivity. In this study, the impact of SA on insulin sensitivity was tested in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice through dietary supplementation. At a dosage of 30 mg/kg/day, SA improved insulin sensitivity in the mice after 8-week treatment as indicated by HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance) and glucose tolerance test (GTT). SA restored plasma level of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) by 90% and mRNA expression of by 80% in the large intestine of HFD mice. In the mechanism, SA restored the gut microbiota profile, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and mucosal structure in the colon. A mitochondrial stress was observed in the enterocytes of HFD mice with ATP elevation, structural damage, and complex dysfunction. The mitochondrial response was induced in enterocytes by the dietary fat as the same responses were induced by palmitic acid in the cell culture. The mitochondrial response was inhibited in HFD mice by SA treatment. These data suggest that SA may restore the function of microbiota-GLP1 axis to improve glucose metabolism in the obese mice.

Research Progress of Music Therapy for Patients with Disorders of Consciousness after Brain Injury (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

@#The recovery of disorders of consciousness after brain injury is very difficult, music therapy is one of the important ways to promote the awakening. The effects of music therapy are various among individuals, the vegetative state and the minimally conscious state, and the pieces of music. The default mode network is one of the most important networks to maintain awareness, which many other networks participate in. The brain regions affected by music involve in many networks, including hearing, cognition, emotion, and so on.

Clinical Observation of Cutaneous Scraping and Cupping Therapy for Treatment of Hyperplasia of Mammary Glands / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of cutaneous scraping and cupping therapy for the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands. Methods Eighty patients with hyperplasia of mammary glands were randomized into test group(42 cases) and control group(38 cases). Both groups were given conventional basic treatment including psychological counseling and oral use of Chinese patent medicine, and the test group additionally received cutaneous scraping and cupping therapy on acupoints of Xuanji(CV21), Danzho ng (CV17), Jianjing(GB21), Kufang(ST14) , Tianzhong(SI11), Dazhui(GV14), and Ashi(focus of mammary mass and pain). The scores of pain visual analog scale(VAS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version(WHOQOL-BREF) were observed, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated. Results (1) The total effective rate of the test group was 88.10%, and that of the control group was 65.79%, the inter-group difference being statistically significant (P0.05). Test group had better effect on improving VAS scores than the control group(P0.05). The control group showed no obvious changes in the scores of each dimension of WHOQOL-BREF before and after treatment(P>0.05). The inter-group comparison showed that the test group had better effect on improving the scores in physiological dimension of WHOQOL-BREF (P<0 . 05). Conclusion Cutaneous scraping and cupping therapy is effective on relieving pain and improving QOL of patients with hyperplasia of mammary glands.