Lateral septum adenosine A2A receptors control stress-induced depressive-like behaviors via signaling to the hypothalamus and habenula.

Major depressive disorder ranks as a major burden of disease worldwide, yet the current antidepressant medications are limited by frequent non-responsiveness and significant side effects. The lateral septum (LS) is thought to control of depression, however, the cellular and circuit substrates are largely unknown. Here, we identified a subpopulation of LS GABAergic adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR)-positive neurons mediating depressive symptoms via direct projects to the lateral habenula (LHb) and the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH). Activation of A2AR in the LS augmented the spiking frequency of A2AR-positive neurons leading to a decreased activation of surrounding neurons and the bi-directional manipulation of LS-A2AR activity demonstrated that LS-A2ARs are necessary and sufficient to trigger depressive phenotypes. Thus, the optogenetic modulation (stimulation or inhibition) of LS-A2AR-positive neuronal activity or LS-A2AR-positive neurons projection terminals to the LHb or DMH, phenocopied depressive behaviors. Moreover, A2AR are upregulated in the LS in two male mouse models of repeated stress-induced depression. This identification that aberrantly increased A2AR signaling in the LS is a critical upstream regulator of repeated stress-induced depressive-like behaviors provides a neurophysiological and circuit-based justification of the antidepressant potential of A2AR antagonists, prompting their clinical translation.

Protocol for a bandit-based response adaptive trial to evaluate the effectiveness of brief self-guided digital interventions for reducing psychological distress in university students: the Vibe Up study.

INTRODUCTION: Meta-analytical evidence confirms a range of interventions, including mindfulness, physical activity and sleep hygiene, can reduce psychological distress in university students. However, it is unclear which intervention is most effective. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven adaptive trials may be an efficient method to determine what works best and for whom. The primary purpose of the study is to rank the effectiveness of mindfulness, physical activity, sleep hygiene and an active control on reducing distress, using a multiarm contextual bandit-based AI-adaptive trial method. Furthermore, the study will explore which interventions have the largest effect for students with different levels of baseline distress severity. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Vibe Up study is a pragmatically oriented, decentralised AI-adaptive group sequential randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of one of three brief, 2-week digital self-guided interventions (mindfulness, physical activity or sleep hygiene) or active control (ecological momentary assessment) in reducing self-reported psychological distress in Australian university students. The adaptive trial methodology involves up to 12 sequential mini-trials that allow for the optimisation of allocation ratios. The primary outcome is change in psychological distress (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, 21-item version, DASS-21 total score) from preintervention to postintervention. Secondary outcomes include change in physical activity, sleep quality and mindfulness from preintervention to postintervention. Planned contrasts will compare the four groups (ie, the three intervention and control) using self-reported psychological distress at prespecified time points for interim analyses. The study aims to determine the best performing intervention, as well as ranking of other interventions. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was sought and obtained from the UNSW Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC A, HC200466). A trial protocol adhering to the requirements of the Guideline for Good Clinical Practice was prepared for and approved by the Sponsor, UNSW Sydney (Protocol number: HC200466_CTP). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12621001223820.

The Impact of Electroacupuncture Early Intervention on the Brain Lipidome in a Mouse Model of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

The neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment has been well studied; growing evidence suggests that changes in lipid composition may be involved in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may be a target for treatment. However, the influence of early EA intervention on brain lipid composition in patients with PTSD has never been investigated. Using a modified single prolonged stress (mSPS) model in mice, we assessed the anti-PTSD-like effects of early intervention using EA and evaluated changes in lipid composition in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) using a mass spectrometry-based lipidomic approach. mSPS induced changes in lipid composition in the hippocampus, notably in the content of sphingolipids, glycerolipids, and fatty acyls. These lipid changes were more robust than those observed in the PFC. Early intervention with EA after mSPS ameliorated PTSD-like behaviors and partly normalized mSPS-induced lipid changes, notably in the hippocampus. Cumulatively, our data suggest that EA may reverse mSPS-induced PTSD-like behaviors due to region-specific regulation of the brain lipidome, providing new insights into the therapeutic mechanism of EA.

A parallel-group study of near-infrared spectroscopy-neurofeedback in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) real-time neurofeedback (NF) vs. atomoxetine (AT) in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A parallel-group study was conducted to enroll children with ADHD between 8 and 12 years of age. Participants were assigned into the NIRS group and AT group as their wish. Subjects in the NIRS group received 12 sessions of NF training within 6 weeks, and subjects in the AT group were given oral medication. Changes in Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham-V rating scales (SNAP-IV), and performance of Go/No-Go and N-back working memory tasks at week 3, 6 and 8 were evaluated. Forty-nine patients completed the study, including 18 ADHD in the NIRS group and 31 in the AT group. Total scores of SNAP-IV significantly decreased from baseline to week 3, week 6, and week 8 in both groups. Patients in the NIRS group showed significant lower scores on the inattention subscale of SNAP-IV at week 3 and week 6, compared to the AT group. NIRS group had a shorter reaction time during the Go/No-Go task at week 6 and fewer errors during 2-back than the AT group at week 3. The findings revealed that NIRS real-time NF is more efficacious relative to AT in improving behavioral performance, highlighting its potential role and advantages in treating patients with ADHD.

Adenosine A2A receptor blockade improves neuroprosthetic learning by volitional control of population calcium signal in M1 cortical neurons.

Volitional control is at the core of brain-machine interfaces (BMI) adaptation and neuroprosthetic-driven learning to restore motor function for disabled patients, but neuroplasticity changes and neuromodulation underlying volitional control of neuroprosthetic learning are largely unexplored. To better study volitional control at annotated neural population, we have developed an operant neuroprosthetic task with closed-loop feedback system by volitional conditioning of population calcium signal in the M1 cortex using fiber photometry recording. Importantly, volitional conditioning of the population calcium signal in M1 neurons did not improve within-session adaptation, but specifically enhanced across-session neuroprosthetic skill learning with reduced time-to-target and the time to complete 50 successful trials. With brain-behavior causality of the neuroprosthetic paradigm, we revealed that proficiency of neuroprosthetic learning by volitional conditioning of calcium signal was associated with the stable representational (plasticity) mapping in M1 neurons with the reduced calcium peak. Furthermore, pharmacological blockade of adenosine A2A receptors facilitated volitional conditioning of neuroprosthetic learning and converted an ineffective volitional conditioning protocol to be the effective for neuroprosthetic learning. These findings may help to harness neuroplasticity for better volitional control of neuroprosthetic training and suggest a novel pharmacological strategy to improve neuroprosthetic learning in BMI adaptation by targeting striatal A2A receptors.

Clinical study on intradermal needle therapy in treating urinary retention after cervical cancer surgery / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of intradermal needle therapy for urinary retention after cervical cancer surgery. Methods: A total of 100 patients with urinary retention after cervical cancer surgery were randomized into a control group and an observation group, with 50 cases in each group. The control group was treated with basic nursing only, and the observation group was treated with additional intradermal needle therapy. Both groups were treated for 2 courses of treatment. The main symptom scores and residual urine volume of the two groups were observed before and after treatment, and the inpatient time, catheter indwelling time and the clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups. Results: The total effective rate was 96.0％ in the observation group and 88.0％ in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the main symptom scores and residual urine volume in both groups decreased significantly (all P<0.05), and the scores and residual urine volume in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The inpatient time and catheter indwelling time in the observation group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Intradermal needle therapy has an obvious effect in improving symptoms of urinary retention after cervical cancer surgery, and the effect is significantly more persistent than that of simple basic nursing.

Electroacupuncture Pretreatment Ameliorates PTSD-Like Behaviors in Rats by Enhancing Hippocampal Neurogenesis via the Keap1/Nrf2 Antioxidant Signaling Pathway.

Electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment is a clinically useful therapy for several brain disorders. However, whether and via which exact molecular mechanisms it ameliorates post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains unclear. In the present study, rats received EA stimulation for seven consecutive days before exposure to enhanced single prolonged stress (ESPS). Anxiety-like and fear learning behaviors; hippocampal neurogenesis; the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (keap1), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1); and the activity of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) were evaluated at 14 days after ESPS. EA pretreatment improved hippocampal neurogenesis and ameliorated anxiety-like behaviors in ESPS-treated rats. EA pretreatment also increased the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 and the activity of AMPK. Furthermore, Nrf2 knockdown by a short hairpin RNA affected anxiety-like behaviors and expression of neuroprotective markers (BDNF, DCX) in a manner similar to ESPS alone and dampened the neuroprotective effects of EA pretreatment. In contrast, Keap1 knockdown increased the expression of HO-1, improved hippocampal neurogenesis, and alleviated PTSD-like behaviors. Altogether, our results suggest that EA pretreatment ameliorates ESPS-induced anxiety-like behaviors and prevents hippocampal neurogenesis disruption in a rat model of PTSD possibly through regulation of the keap1/Nrf2 antioxidant defense pathway.

Early intervention with electroacupuncture prevents PTSD-like behaviors in rats through enhancing hippocampal endocannabinoid signaling.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a clinically useful physiological therapy that has been recently adopted to treat several brain disorders. However, the potential role of early EA intervention in the prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as its potential cellular and molecular mechanism has never been investigated previously. In the present study, we used an enhanced single prolonged stress (ESPS) model to access the effects of early EA intervention on the prevention of anxiety-like and fear learning behaviors, as well as the influence of the expression of post-synaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), synaptophysin (Syn), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), diacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGLα) and cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) in the hippocampus with or without DAGLα or CB1R knockdown by a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in the hippocampus. Moreover, the effects of electrical stimulation with different parameters on the expression of DAGLα and CB1R in the hippocampal astrocytes were also observed. The results showed that Early EA intervention improved hippocampal synaptic plasticity and ameliorated PTSD-like behaviors and also increased expression of BDNF, DAGLα and CB1R. However, either DAGLα or CB1R knockdown by a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) eliminated the neuroprotective effects of early EA intervention. Furthermore, electrical stimulation with 2/15 Hz 1 mA elevated the expression of DAGLα and CB1R. Altogether, our findings provide new insights regarding the possibility of using early EA intervention in the prevention of PTSD, and the protective effects of EA is involving the activation of DAGLα and CB1R.

Clinical study of TIP technique combined with acupuncture and oral administration of Chinese medicine on chronic insomnia with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the efficacy of low resistance thought induction psychotherapy (TIP) technique combined with acupuncture and oral Chinese medicine in treating chronic insomnia elderly patients with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance.@*Methods@#One hundred sixty-four chronic insomnia patients with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance were randomly divided into four groups with 41 cases in each group. The control group was treated with family doctor contract, sleep health education and Tianwang-Buxin decoction as the basic treatment, the group A was treated with acupuncture and the basic treatment, the group B was treated with TIP technique and the basic treatment, the group C was treated with the combination of acupuncture and TIP on the basic treatment. After one month' treatment, scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were used to evaluate sleep quality, sleep efficiency, and the clinical efficacy.@*Results@#After treatment, scores of sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep time, sleep disturbance, daytime function of the group A, B, and C were significantly lower than those in the control group (F value were 44.322, 92.808, 107.131, 79.467, 98.638 respectively, all Ps<0.001), and the group C were significantly lower than those of the test group A and B (P<0.01). Scores of upset, dizziness, tinnitus, hot flashes, and night sweats, hand foot and heart fever, forgetfulness, sores on the tongue and dry stool of the group A, B, and C were significantly lower than those of the control group (F value were 103.32, 135.91, 93.35, 77.61, 57.514, 92.283, 126.097, 53.217, respectively, all Ps<0.001), and the group C were significantly lower than those of the test group A and B (P<0.01). The total clinical efficacy of TCM syndrome and insomnia in group A,B and C was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=16.169, P<0.01), and the group C was significantly higher than the group A and B (χ2=8.504, P<0.01). The total clinical efficacy of sleep efficiency in group A, B and C was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=14.078, P<0.01), and the group C was significantly higher than the group A and B (χ2=8.856, P<0.01).@*Conclusions@#TIP technique combined with acupuncture and oral Chinese medicine can improve sleep quality of chronic insomnia elderly patients with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance.

Efficacy of assisted treatment of thumb-tack acupuncture with surrounding needling method for herpes zoster of stagnated heat in liver meridian / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the efficacy difference between thumb-tack acupuncture with surrounding needling method plus medication and medication alone for herpes zoster (HZ) of stagnated heat in liver meridian type.@*METHODS@#According to random number table method, 60 patients with HZ of stagnated heat in liver meridian type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. All the patients were treated with oral valaciclovir hydrochloride dispersible tablets (0.3 g per time, twice per day), mecobalamin tablets (0.5 mg per time, three times a day) and vitamin B (10 mg per time, three times a day) for 15 days. In addition, the patients in the observation group were treated with thumb-tack acupuncture at area 1 cm outside the herpes, with an interval of 3 cm between thumb-tack needles. The thumb-tack acupuncture was given once every 3 days, retained for 48 h, with an interval of 1 day between treatments, and totally 5 treatments were given. The index of herpetic evaluation (stopping time of herpes, scarring time, decrustation time), visual analogue scale (VAS), serum immune-related factors (IgG, IgM, IgA) and serum inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-β1) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the stopping time of herpes, scarring time, decrustation time in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group (all 0.05), but the difference before and after treatment in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (<0.05). Compared before treatment, the levels of serum immune-related factors IgG, IgM, IgA were increased in the two groups after treatment (all <0.05), and the levels in the observation group after treatment were higher than those in the control group (all <0.05). Compared before treatment, the levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-4, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-β1 were reduced in the two groups after treatment (all <0.05), and the levels in the observation group after treatment were lower than those in the control group (all <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The thumb-tack acupuncture with surrounding needling method plus medication have the advantages of rapid onset and analgesic effect for HZ of stagnated heat in liver meridian type, which could also improve serum immune-related factors and reduce inflammatory reaction.

Clinical study of TIP technique combined with acupuncture and oral administration of Chinese medicine on chronic insomnia with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of low resistance thought induction psychotherapy (TIP) technique combined with acupuncture and oral Chinese medicine in treating chronic insomnia elderly patients with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance. Methods One hundred sixty-four chronic insomnia patients with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance were randomly divided into four groups with 41 cases in each group. The control group was treated with family doctor contract, sleep health education and Tianwang-Buxin decoction as the basic treatment, the group A was treated with acupuncture and the basic treatment, the group B was treated with TIP technique and the basic treatment, the group C was treated with the combination of acupuncture and TIP on the basic treatment. After one month' treatment, scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were used to evaluate sleep quality, sleep efficiency, and the clinical efficacy. Results After treatment, scores of sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep time, sleep disturbance, daytime function of the group A, B, and C were significantly lower than those in the control group (F value were 44.322, 92.808, 107.131, 79.467, 98.638 respectively, all Ps<0.001), and the group C were significantly lower than those of the test group A and B (P<0.01). Scores of upset, dizziness, tinnitus, hot flashes, and night sweats, hand foot and heart fever, forgetfulness, sores on the tongue and dry stool of the group A, B, and C were significantly lower than those of the control group (F value were 103.32, 135.91, 93.35, 77.61, 57.514, 92.283, 126.097, 53.217, respectively, all Ps<0.001), and the group C were significantly lower than those of the test group A and B (P<0.01). The total clinical efficacy of TCM syndrome and insomnia in group A,B and C was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=16.169, P<0.01), and the group C was significantly higher than the group A and B (χ2=8.504, P<0.01). The total clinical efficacy of sleep efficiency in group A, B and C was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=14.078, P<0.01), and the group C was significantly higher than the group A and B (χ2=8.856, P<0.01). Conclusions TIP technique combined with acupuncture and oral Chinese medicine can improve sleep quality of chronic insomnia elderly patients with syndrome of heart-kidney imbalance.

Sirt1 mediates improvement of isoflurane-induced memory impairment following hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning in middle-aged mice.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) preconditioning (PC) has been suggested as a feasible method to provide neuroprotection from postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). However, whether HBO-PC can ameliorate cognitive deficits induced by isoflurane, and the possible mechanism by which it may exert its effect, has not yet been clarified. In the present study, middle-aged mice were exposed to isoflurane anesthesia (1.5 minimal alveolar concentration [MAC]) for 2 h to establish a POCD model. After HBO preconditioning, cognitive function and expression of hippocampal sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) were evaluated 24 h following isoflurane treatment, in the presence or absence of Sirt1 knockdown by short hairpin RNA (shRNA). HBO preconditioning increased the expression of Sirt1, Nrf2, and HO-1 and ameliorated memory dysfunction. Meanwhile, Sirt1 knockdown inhibited the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 and attenuated the HBO preconditioning-associated memory improvement. Our results suggest that the application of HBO preconditioning is a useful treatment for POCD, and that Sirt1 may be a potential molecular target for POCD therapy.

Observations on the Efficacy of Sheng's Six-meridian Diagnosis and Treatment-based Acupuncture in Treating Cervical Spondylotic Arteriopathy / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Sheng's six-meridian diagnosis and treatment-based acupuncture in treating cervical spondylotic arteriopathy.Method Seventy patients with cervical spondylotic arteriopathy were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 35 cases each. The treatment group received Sheng's six-meridian diagnosis and treatment-based acupuncture and the control group, conventional acupuncture. Doppler-detected vertebral artery blood flow velocity was measured, and the clinical symptom and sign score and the cervical vertigo symptom and functional assessment scale score were recorded in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Result The total efficacy rate was 85.7% in the treatment group and 62.9% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in Doppler-detected vertebral artery blood flow velocity, the clinical symptom and sign score and the cervical vertigo symptom and functional assessment scale score in the two groups (P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Sheng's six-meridian diagnosis and treatment-based acupuncture is an effective way to treat cervical spondylotic arteriopathy.

Observations on the Efficacy of Sheng's Six-meridian Diagnosis and Treatment-based Acupuncture in Treating Cervical Spondylotic Arteriopathy / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Sheng's six-meridian diagnosis and treatment-based acupuncture in treating cervical spondylotic arteriopathy.Method Seventy patients with cervical spondylotic arteriopathy were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 35 cases each. The treatment group received Sheng's six-meridian diagnosis and treatment-based acupuncture and the control group, conventional acupuncture. Doppler-detected vertebral artery blood flow velocity was measured, and the clinical symptom and sign score and the cervical vertigo symptom and functional assessment scale score were recorded in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Result The total efficacy rate was 85.7% in the treatment group and 62.9% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in Doppler-detected vertebral artery blood flow velocity, the clinical symptom and sign score and the cervical vertigo symptom and functional assessment scale score in the two groups (P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Sheng's six-meridian diagnosis and treatment-based acupuncture is an effective way to treat cervical spondylotic arteriopathy.

Nrf2/antioxidant defense pathway is involved in the neuroprotective effects of Sirt1 against focal cerebral ischemia in rats after hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning.

Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) is a class III histone deacetylase involved in neuroprotection induced by hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBO-PC) in animal models of ischemia. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be illustrated. In the present study, rats exposed to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were used to establish an ischemic stroke model. The infarct volume ratio, neurobehavioral score, and expressions of Sirt1, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) were evaluated at 7 days after reperfusion, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was used to assess oxidative stress. HBO-PC increased the expression of Sirt1 and reduced infarct volume ratio and neurobehavioral deficit in MCAO rats. Meanwhile, HBO-PC also increased expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and SOD1 and decreased MDA content. Furthermore, either Sirt1 or Nrf2 knockdown by short interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and SOD1 and eliminated the neuroprotective effects of HBO-PC. Taken together, the results suggest that the Nrf2/antioxidant defense pathway is involved in the long lasting neuroprotective effects of Sirt1 induced by HBO-PC against transient focal cerebral ischemia.

Therapeutic Observation of Acupuncture in Treating Angioneurotic Headache Based on the Diagnostic Technique of Electric Meridian Detection / 上海针灸杂志

Objective Based on the diagnostic technique of electric meridian detection, to observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treating angioneurotic headache.Method Totally 106 patients with angioneurotic headache were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 53 cases in each group. The treatment group received acupuncture based on the electric meridian detection, while the control group received medication treatment. The hemorheology indexes [plasma viscosity (PV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)] and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) [Pain Rating Index (PRI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Present Pain Intensity (PPI)] were observed before and after intervention, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Result The total effective rate was 88.7% in the treatment group versus 71.7% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After intervention, the hemorheology indexes and MPQ scores were significantly changed in both groups (P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture based on electric meridian detection is an effective method in treating angioneurotic headache.

Effect of Kanli Granule on Myocardial Mechanics in Pressure Overload Induced Diastolic Heart Failure Rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Kanli Granule (KG) on myocardial mechanics in pressure overload induced diastolic heart failure (DHF) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 60 male Wistar rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, the KG group, and the Valsartan group according to random digit table, 15 in each group. The pressure overload induced DHF model was established in all groups except the sham-operation group using abdominal aortic constriction surgery. Totally 7 rats died after modeling (with the mortality of 10. 67%) , and the rest 53 finished the following test. Rats in the KG group were administered with KG extract (calculated as 6. 75 g crude drug/kg) by gastrogavage. Rats in the Valsartan group were administered with Valsartan (7.2 µg/g) by gastrogavage. Equal volume of double distilled water was administered to rats in the model group and the sham-operation group by gastrogavage. All rats were intervened for 32 weeks. The response of isolated heart papillary muscle tonus to isoprenaline (ISO) and adenylate cyclase (Forskolin) was respectively observed. The enhancement phenomenon after resting development force (DF) of isolated heart papillary muscle tonus, and changes of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) In the ISO response test: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplifications of DF, ±df/dt, -df/dt were obviously elevated in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the amplifications of DF and ±df/dt were obviously lowered in the KG group (P < 0.01), and the amplification of ±df/dt was also reduced in the Valsartan group (P < 0.01). (2) In the Forskolin response test: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplifications of DF and ±df/dt obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the amplifications of DF and ±df/dt were obviously reduced in the KG group (P < 0.01), and the amplification of DF was also reduced in the Valsartan group (P < 0.05). (3) In post-resting DF enhancement test: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplification of DF showed gradually decreasing tendency along with prolonged resting time in the model group, and they were obviously lowered at all time points (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the amplification of DF was gradually increasing along with prolonged resting time in the KG group. The amplification of DF at post-resting 240 s was obviously larger in the KG group than in the model group (P < 0.05). The amplification of post-resting DF still showed gradually decreasing tendency along with prolonged resting time in the Valsartan group, with increased amplifications of DF at post-resting 60 s and 120 s (P < 0. 05) (4) The amplifications of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplifications of DF were significantly elevated in different Ca²⁺ concentrations (1.75, 3.5, 7.0 mmol/L ) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, there was no statistical difference in amplification of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations in the KG group (P > 0.05). The amplifications of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations were significantly reduced in the Valsartan group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The ISO response and the Forskolin response were enhanced in isolated heart papillary muscle tonus of pressure overload induced DHF rats; enhanced post-resting DF was reduced; DF in different supra-physiologic levels of Ca²⁺ was still enhanced. KG could significantly improve excessive enhancement of pressure overload induced DHF rats in ISO response and Forskolin response, and improve enhancement of post-resting myocardium.</p>

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ameliorates anxiety-like behavior and impaired sensorimotor gating in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been employed for decades as a non-pharmacologic treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although a link has been suggested between PTSD and impaired sensorimotor gating (SG), studies assessing the effects of rTMS against PTSD or PTSD with impaired SG are scarce. AIM: To assess the benefit of rTMS in a rat model of PTSD. METHODS: Using a modified single prolonged stress (SPS&S) rat model of PTSD, behavioral parameters were acquired using open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and prepulse inhibition trial (PPI), with or without 7 days of high frequency (10Hz) rTMS treatment of SPS&S rats. RESULTS: Anxiety-like behavior, impaired SG and increased plasma level of cortisol were observed in SPS&S animals after stress for a prolonged time. Interestingly, rTMS administered immediately after stress prevented those impairment. CONCLUSION: Stress-induced anxiety-like behavior, increased plasma level of cortisol and impaired PPI occur after stress and high-frequency rTMS has the potential to ameliorate this behavior, suggesting that high frequency rTMS should be further evaluated for its use as a method for preventing PTSD.

Pharmacodynamics and potential synergistic effects of Mai-Luo-Ning injection on cardiovascular protection, based on molecular docking / 中国天然药物

As a computer-assisted approach, molecular docking has been universally applied in drug research and development and plays an important role in the investigation and evaluation of herbal medicines. Herein, the method was used to estimate the pharmacodynamics of Mai-Luo-Ning injection, a traditional Chinese compound herbal prescription. Through investigating the interactions between several important proteins in cardiovascular system and characteristic components of the formula, its effect on cardiovascular protection was evaluated. Results showed the differences in the interactions between each component and the selected target proteins and revealed the possible mechanisms for synergistic effects of various characteristic components on cardiovascular protection. The study provided scientific evidence supporting the mechanistic study of the interactions among multi-components and targets, offering a general approach to investigating the pharmacodynamics of complicated materials in compound herbal prescriptions.

Symptom clustering in chronic gastritis based on spectral clustering.

OBJECTIVE: Apply spectral clustering to analyze the patterns of symptoms in patients with chronic gastritis (CG). METHODS: Based on 919 CG subjects, we applied mutual information feature selection to choose the positively correlated symptoms with each pattern. Then, we used the Shi and Malik spectral clustering algorithm to select the top 20 correlated symptoms. RESULTS: We ascertained the results of six patterns. There were three categories for the pattern of accumulation of damp heat in the spleen-stomach (0.00332). There were six categories for the pattern of dampness obstructing the spleen-stomach (0.02466). There were two categories for the pattern of spleen-stomach Qi deficiency (0.013 89). There were three categories for the pattern of spleen-stomach deficiency cold (0.009 15). There were five categories for the pattern of liver-Qi stagnation (0.01910). There were four categories for the pattern of stagnant heat in the liver-stomach (0.00585). CONCLUSION: Most of the spectral clustering results of the symptoms of CG patterns were in accordance with clinical experience and Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. Most categories suggested the nature and/or location of the disease.