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Clinical trials and meta-analyses are considered high-level medical evidence with solid credibility. However, such clinical evidence for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is scattered, requiring a unified entrance to navigate all available evaluations on TCM therapies under modern standards. Besides, novel experimental evidence has continuously accumulated for TCM since the publication of HERB 1.0. Therefore, we updated the HERB database to integrate four types of evidence for TCM: (i) we curated 8558 clinical trials and 8032 meta-analyses information for TCM and extracted clear clinical conclusions for 1941 clinical trials and 593 meta-analyses with companion supporting papers. (ii) we updated experimental evidence for TCM, increased the number of high-throughput experiments to 2231, and curated references to 6 644. We newly added high-throughput experiments for 376 diseases and evaluated all pairwise similarities among TCM herbs/ingredients/formulae, modern drugs and diseases. (iii) we provide an automatic analyzing interface for users to upload their gene expression profiles and map them to our curated datasets. (iv) we built knowledge graph representations of HERB entities and relationships to retrieve TCM knowledge better. In summary, HERB 2.0 represents rich data type, content, utilization, and visualization improvements to support TCM research and guide modern drug discovery. It is accessible through http://herb.ac.cn/v2 or http://47.92.70.12.
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Medicamentos Herbarios Chinos , Medicina Tradicional China , Humanos , Medicamentos Herbarios Chinos/uso terapéutico , Medicamentos Herbarios Chinos/química , Ensayos Clínicos como Asunto , Metaanálisis como Asunto , Bases de Datos Factuales , Interfaz Usuario-ComputadorRESUMEN
Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine and metabolic disorder that impacts 8-13% of women in their reproductive years. However, the drugs commonly used to treat PCOS are often prescribed off-label and may carry potential side effects. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of curcumin in a PCOS rat model. Materials and methods: A PCOS rat model was established through daily subcutaneous injection of 60 mg/kg body weight of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for 21 days. The PCOS rats received a daily intragastric dose of 50 mg/kg body weight of curcumin for another 21 days. Ovarian morphological changes, estrous cycle changes, and hormone level changes were measured to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of curcumin in PCOS rats. Oxidative stress markers in the ovaries were analyzed to explore the mechanisms of curcumin in PCOS rats. Results: This study demonstrated that curcumin alleviated insulin resistance and significantly reduced serum levels of estradiol (p = 0.02), luteinizing hormone (p = 0.009), testosterone (p = 0.003), and the LH/FSH ratio (p = 0.008) in PCOS rats. Curcumin also restored normal ovarian morphology and the estrous cycle in these rats. Furthermore, curcumin treatment significantly decreased levels of oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (p = 0.004) and reactive oxygen species (p = 0.005), while increasing antioxidant levels such as superoxide dismutase (p = 0.04), glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.002), and glutathione (p = 0.02) in ovarian tissues. Additionally, curcumin significantly upregulated PPAR-γ in the ovarian tissues of PCOS rats. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that curcumin effectively restores ovarian morphology, hormone levels, and estrous cycles in PCOS rats. These effects may be linked to its ability to reduce oxidative stress in ovaries via the upregulation of PPAR-γ. Curcumin shows promise as a potential drug for the treatment of PCOS.
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Curcumina , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Estrés Oxidativo , PPAR gamma , Síndrome del Ovario Poliquístico , Regulación hacia Arriba , Animales , Síndrome del Ovario Poliquístico/tratamiento farmacológico , Síndrome del Ovario Poliquístico/metabolismo , Síndrome del Ovario Poliquístico/patología , Femenino , Curcumina/farmacología , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , PPAR gamma/metabolismo , Ratas , Regulación hacia Arriba/efectos de los fármacos , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Resistencia a la Insulina , Ovario/efectos de los fármacos , Ovario/metabolismo , Ovario/patología , Ciclo Estral/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential effects and mechanisms of Liang-Ge-San (LGS) for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) through network pharmacology analysis and to verify LGS activity through biological experiments. METHODS: The key ingredients of LGS and related targets were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform. ARDS-related targets were selected from GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed using the Metascape Database. Molecular docking analysis was used to confirm the binding affinity of the core compounds with key therapeutic targets. Finally, the effects of LGS on key signaling pathways and biological processes were determined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS: A total of LGS-related targets and 496 ARDS-related targets were obtained from the databases. Network pharmacological analysis suggested that LGS could treat ARDS based on the following information: LGS ingredients luteolin, wogonin, and baicalein may be potential candidate agents. Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), recombinant V-Rel reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (RELA), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) may be potential therapeutic targets. Reactive oxygen species metabolic process and the apoptotic signaling pathway were the main biological processes. The p38MAPK/NF-κ B signaling pathway might be the key signaling pathway activated by LGS against ARDS. Moreover, molecular docking demonstrated that luteolin, wogonin, and baicalein had a good binding affinity with MAPK14, RELA, and TNF α. In vitro experiments, LGS inhibited the expression and entry of p38 and p65 into the nucleation in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE) cells induced by LPS, inhibited the inflammatory response and oxidative stress response, and inhibited HBE cell apoptosis (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In vivo experiments, LGS improved lung injury caused by ligation and puncture, reduced inflammatory responses, and inhibited the activation of p38MAPK and p65 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: LGS could reduce reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokine production by inhibiting p38MAPK/NF-κ B signaling pathway, thus reducing apoptosis and attenuating ARDS.
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Background: At present, there is no effective drug to remove residual stones. Total flavonoids of desmodium styracifolium (TFDS) is an innovative traditional Chinese medicine listed in 2022, which can be used to treat ureteral calculi. This study was to explore the effectiveness and economic value of TFDS in the treatment of residual stones after flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (FURL). Methods: A total of 161 patients who underwent unilateral ureteroscopic lithotripsy for urinary calculi by the same surgeon in our center from May 2022 to February 2024 were retrospectively included. According to the use of stone-removal drugs after operation, patients were divided into TFDS group and Control group. The residual stones showed by x-ray plain film when the double J tube was removed were compared between the two groups, and the economic benefits of TFDS were analyzed by cost-benefit analysis. Results: The data of 161 patients were collected, including 80 cases in TFDS group and 81 cases in Control group. The SFR rates at the endpoint of follow-up in TFDS group and Control group were 98.75% and 88.88%, respectively. In the subgroup analysis of post-operative residual stones, the stone clearance rate of TFDS was higher (47.62% vs. 18.18%). No obvious adverse events were reported in two groups. The cost/benefit ratio of TFDS was lower (20.43 vs. 32.57). Cost of TFDS was increased by ¥12.97 for each additional unit of total effective rate. Conclusion: The combination of dusting FURL and TFDS can effectively remove the urolithiasis when compared to only FURL, which showed highly economic benefits.
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Background: Stroke is a neurological condition characterized by high rates of disability and mortality. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used to examine the mechanisms of acupuncture in stroke treatment. Purpose: This review provides neuroimaging evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture in treating stroke using MRI. Method: We conducted a comprehensive search of databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang Data, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (CBM), and Chonqing VIP (CQVIP), from inception to April 2024. Relevant neuroimaging studies on acupuncture for stroke were included, and the research findings were presented through charts and textual analyses. Results: A total of 158 studies were included, and the overall methodological quality of the included studies was moderate to high. The results were divided into three categories: basic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and quality assessment of the included literature. Conclusion: We elucidated the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture on stroke; however, the evidence remains preliminary. There is a need for large-scale, well-designed, multimodal neuroimaging trials. This review represents the first active use of an evidence map to systematically review and illustrate the current state of neuroimaging research on the acupuncture treatment of stroke, thereby providing a valuable reference for future research.
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Myelin damage is frequently associated with central nervous system (CNS) diseases and is a critical factor influencing neurological function and disease prognosis. Nevertheless, the majority of current treatments for the CNS concentrate on gray matter injury and repair strategies, while clinical interventions specifically targeting myelin repair remain unavailable. In recent years, natural products and herbal medicine have achieved considerable progress in the domain of myelin repair, given their remarkable curative effect and low toxic side effects, demonstrating significant therapeutic potential. In this review, we present a rather comprehensive account of the mechanisms underlying myelin formation, injury, and repair, with a particular emphasis on the interactions between oligodendrocytes and other glial cells. Furthermore, we summarize the natural products and herbal medicine currently employed in remyelination along with their mechanisms of action, highlighting the potential and challenges of certain natural compounds to enhance myelin repair. This review aims to facilitate the expedited development of innovative therapeutics derived from natural products and herbal medicine and furnish novel insights into myelin repair in the CNS.
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Productos Biológicos , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso Central , Vaina de Mielina , Remielinización , Humanos , Animales , Remielinización/efectos de los fármacos , Productos Biológicos/uso terapéutico , Productos Biológicos/farmacología , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso Central/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso Central/metabolismo , Vaina de Mielina/metabolismo , Vaina de Mielina/efectos de los fármacos , Medicina de Hierbas/métodos , Oligodendroglía/efectos de los fármacos , Oligodendroglía/metabolismoRESUMEN
To investigate the genetic factors underlying marketed body size traits in Chinese local geese, we conducted a comprehensive study involving nine body size traits in 251 samples at 10â¯weeks of age from five local breeds: Taihu goose (TH), Sichuan goose (SC), Guangfeng goose (GF), Xupu goose (XP), and Youjiang goose (YJ). Genotyping data were obtained through whole-genome re-sequencing, followed by a genome-wide association analysis utilizing the fixed and random model circulating probability unification (FarmCPU) approach. Our findings revealed 88 significant SNPs associated with body size traits, with 16 SNPs surpassing the genome-wide significance threshold (pâ¯=â¯3.98E-09) and 72 SNPs exceeding the suggestive significance threshold (pâ¯=â¯5E-07). Subsequent gene annotation identified these SNPs to be located within exonic regions of 86 candidate genes, including THADA, ATP5A1, ZNF462, PRDM8, and GH14523. Notably, functional enrichment analysis employing Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways highlighted 37 significantly enriched pathways, among which the "negative regulation of transforming growth factor beta receptor signaling pathway" (GO:0030512) emerged as relevant to goose skeletal development and the phenotypic expression of body size in geese. The identification of these novel SNPs and candidate genes associated with 10-week-old body size traits in geese presents valuable insights for future molecular breeding endeavors and the elucidation of underlying mechanisms governing body size trait formation in goose.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is recognized as a highly malignant tumor. Targeted combination immunotherapy, the initially approved regimen, is compromised by adverse side effects and low response rates during clinical treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine and its derived natural compounds, known for their anticancer effects, offer advantages of low toxicity and cost. In this study, we performed high-throughput phenotypic screening in vitro to identify promising anti-HCC drugs. Among 1,444 bioactive compounds, digoxigenin (DIG) was found to significantly impede HCC cell progression. We validated DIG's therapeutic effects through assays such as cell counting by CCK8, lactate dehydrogenase, and colony formation. Analyses including transmission electron microscopy, western blotting, and immunofluorescence demonstrated that DIG inhibits HCC cell proliferation via autophagy. Network pharmacology and molecular docking studies suggest that DIG targets the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Comparative treatments of Hep3B and Huh7 cells with DIG or mTOR inhibitors revealed similar inhibitory impacts, indicating that DIG induces autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. In vivo studies confirmed that DIG halts the growth of subcutaneous xenograft tumors. In conclusion, DIG represents a potential HCC treatment by modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to induce autophagy. This research, via phenotypic screening, accelerates drug discovery and the development of novel therapies targeting the underlying mechanisms of liver cancer.
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Depression is underpinned by a complex pathogenesis that involves the hippocampus and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of the central nervous system. Although electroacupuncture (EA) is proven to be safe and effective for alleviating depression symptoms and causes minimal side effects, its underlying therapeutic mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we performed targeted metabolomics to identify metabolite alterations in the hippocampus and DRN of Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats and elucidate the role and potential mechanism of action of EA. Our results indicated that 3 weeks of consecutive EA significantly ameliorated depression-like behaviors in WKY rats. Targeted metabolomics revealed 42 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in the hippocampus and 97 DEMs in the DRN between Wistar and WKY rats. In addition, we observed 19 hippocampal DEMs and 41 DRN DEMs between WKY and EA-treated rats. Subsequent pathway analyses indicated that these DEMs were primarily enriched in amino acid-related metabolic pathways. Moreover, six DEMs were found to be significantly associated with at least one depression-like behavior, indicating their involvement in the pathogenesis of depression. EA intervention modulated the levels of 1-methylhistidine, 3-methylhistidine, carnosine, and riboflavin in depressed rats. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that disturbances in cerebral metabolites, especially amino acids, may be one of the causes underlying depression in WKY rats, and the therapeutic effect of EA is potentially mediated through the modulation of the levels of these metabolites.
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This study aimed to enhance humification and cadmium (Cd) remediation in compost by investigating the effects of three post-treatments: ultrapure water, citric acid, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium (EDTA). The results revealed that the EDTA post-treatment significantly enhanced humification by facilitating an EDTA-Fenton-like system within compost comprising rice straw and river sediment to remediate Cd-contaminated sediment. EDTA post-treatment not only promoted humic substances and humic acid concentrations of up to 66.30 g/kg and 30.40 g/kg, respectively, but also led to a reduction in the Cd content and bioavailability factor by 75.02 % and 9.76 %, respectively. In addition, parallel factor analysis revealed two distinct components, while two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy showed that the polysaccharides and carboxyl groups in humic acid were preferentially bound to Cd. Overall, this study proposes a promising approach for enhancing humification and Cd remediation in compost by the EDTA post-treatment.
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BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) presents a significant challenge due to its intricate pathogenesis. NSD2, a histone methyltransferase responsible for dimethylating histone 3 at lysine 36, is associated with transcriptional activation. NSD2 expression is decreased in both the intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) of IBD patients and the IBD mouse model. However, the precise role of NSD2 in IBD remains unexplored. METHODS: Colon tissues from IBD mice, SW620 cells and MC38 cells, were used as research subjects. Clinical databases of IBD patients were analysed to investigate whether NSD2 expression is reduced in the occurrence of IBD. NSD2-knockout mice were generated to further investigate the role of NSD2 in IBD. The IECs were isolated for RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing to identify molecular signalling pathways and key molecules leading to IBD in mice. Molecular and cellular experiments were conducted to analyse and validate the role of NSD2 in the development of IBD. Finally, rescue experiments were performed to confirm the molecular mechanism of NSD2 in the development of IBD. RESULTS: Deficiency of NSD2 in mouse IECs aggravated epithelial barrier disruption and inflammatory response in IBD. Mechanistically, NSD2 loss led to downregulation of H3K36me2 and flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) (taurine-synthesis enzyme) mRNA, resulting in decreased taurine biosynthesis in IECs. Significantly, supplementation with taurine markedly alleviated the symptoms of NSD2 deficiency-induced IBD. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that NSD2 plays a pivotal role in maintaining FMO-mediated taurine biosynthesis to prevent intestinal inflammation. Our findings also underscore the importance of NSD2-H3K36me2-mediated taurine biosynthesis in maintaining intestinal mucosal barrier homeostasis. KEY POINTS: In this study, we investigated the role of the histone methyltransferase NSD2 in preventing intestinal barrier disruption by sustaining taurine biosynthesis. NSD2 levels were reduced in both human specimens and mouse models of IBD. We demonstrate that NSD2 loss hinders the process of taurine synthesis in intestinal cells, leading to increased intestinal inflammation. Supplementation with taurine significantly relieved the symptoms caused by NSD2 deficiency. These data suggest that maintenance of NSD2-mediated taurine biosynthesis is vital for preserving the intestinal barrier and attenuating inflammation.
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N-Metiltransferasa de Histona-Lisina , Taurina , Animales , Ratones , N-Metiltransferasa de Histona-Lisina/metabolismo , N-Metiltransferasa de Histona-Lisina/genética , Taurina/metabolismo , Mucosa Intestinal/metabolismo , Ratones Noqueados , Humanos , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Enfermedades Inflamatorias del Intestino/metabolismo , Enfermedades Inflamatorias del Intestino/genética , Enfermedades Inflamatorias del Intestino/patologíaRESUMEN
Portulaca oleracea L. (POL) has a long history of medicinal use worldwide, and numerous clinical and experimental studies demonstrated the therapeutic effects of POL and its active ingredients in the treatment of Ulcerative colitis (UC). In this review, we summarized the underlying mechanisms and roles of POL in UC treatment based on experimental and clinical studies. The research articles cited in this study were obtained by employing specific keywords, such as "purslane", "IBD", "UC", "inflammation", "gut microbiota", and "intestinal barrier", in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Clinical studies found that both POL monotherapy and POL traditional Chinese medicine compound are effective in treating UC. Meanwhile, experimental studies found that POL intervenes in UC by regulating intestinal flora, repairing mucosal barrier, and regulating immune response. Increasing evidence suggests the therapeutic potential of POL in UC treatment.
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Colitis Ulcerosa , Portulaca , Colitis Ulcerosa/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Portulaca/química , Animales , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/efectos de los fármacos , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Extractos Vegetales/químicaRESUMEN
Schizophrenia is a kind of neurodevelopmental mental disorder in which patients begin to experience changes early in their development, typically manifesting around or after puberty and has a fluctuating course. Environmental disturbances during adolescence may be a risk factor for schizophrenia-like deficits. As a better treatment option, preventive intervention prior to schizophrenia may be more beneficial than direct treatment. More effective stress-relieving interventions during the critical puberty period may prevent schizophrenia-like neuronal changes and the transition to schizophrenia in adulthood. Pyridoxine deficiency alters the function of NMDA (n-methyl-D-aspartic acid) receptors and plays a key role in learning and memory. In this study, we prepared a progeny model of schizophrenia by exposing pregnant rats to methoxymethanol acetate (MAM) on gestational day 17. The offspring rats were injected intraperitoneally with pyridoxine daily from birth to prepuberty PND12-PND21), and behavioral changes in the offspring rats were observed in adulthood. Cannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1 (CNRIP1) and cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1R), which regulate memory, cognitive and motor activity, were detected in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus of the offspring rats, and the cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) was also observed. The results showed that the MAM rats spent less time the open arm in the elevated plus maze test, decreased discrimination coefficient in novel object recognition test, and decreased prepulse inhibition, while the MAM rats supplemented with pyridoxine in prepuberty did not show any of the above abnormal behavioral changes in adulthood. By examining related proteins in the PFC and hippocampus, we found that only CB1R protein expression was downregulated in the PFC, whereas CNRIP1 expression was not only elevated in the hippocampus, but also significantly increased in pyridoxine- supplemented MAM rats. Meanwhile, pyridoxine supplementation alleviated the reduction of doublecortin (DCX)-positive cells and Ki67-positive cells in MAM rats. These results indicate that prepuberty pyridoxine supplementation has a positive effect on the prevention of cognitive deficits and sensorimotor gating impairment in MAM-induced schizophrenia-like rats, accompanied by changes in the CB1R and CNRIP1 expression in PFC and hippocampus, as well as the regeneration of neurons in the DG region.
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Proteína Doblecortina , Acetato de Metilazoximetanol , Piridoxina , Filtrado Sensorial , Animales , Piridoxina/farmacología , Ratas , Femenino , Acetato de Metilazoximetanol/análogos & derivados , Acetato de Metilazoximetanol/toxicidad , Embarazo , Filtrado Sensorial/efectos de los fármacos , Masculino , Efectos Tardíos de la Exposición Prenatal/metabolismo , Esquizofrenia/metabolismo , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Hipocampo/efectos de los fármacos , Suplementos Dietéticos , Disfunción Cognitiva/prevención & control , Corteza Prefrontal/efectos de los fármacos , Corteza Prefrontal/metabolismo , Maduración Sexual/efectos de los fármacos , Maduración Sexual/fisiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of eye-acupuncture on the antioxidant function axisï¼System xc(-)-glutathione-glutathione peroxidase 4 (System xcï¼»-ï¼½-GSH-GPX4) in the cortical tissue of ischemic penumbra of acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) rats, so as to explore its underlying mechanism in improvement of CIRI by ameliorating the ferroptosis of neurons via antioxidant function axis. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, eye-acupuncture and GPX4-inhibitor groups, with 15 rats in each group. The CIRI model was replicated by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and reperfusion for 24 h. For rats of the eye acupuncture group and inhibitor group, manual acupuncture stimulation was applied to bilateral eye-acupuncture-points "Gan"(Liver), "Shangjiao"(Upper-energizer), "Shen"(Kidney) and "Xiajiao"(Lower-energizer) of both eyes, 30 min, 12 h and 24 h after modeling, 3 times altogether. For rats of the inhibitor group, intraperitoneal injection of GPX4 inhibitor RSL3 (an activator of ferroptosis) 10 mg/kg (dissolved in 5% DMSO) was conducted 30 min before every acupuncture stimulation. The neurological function was assessed by using Garcia JH scoring method. The brain infarct size was detected after triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The ischemic penumbral cortex tissue of the brain was taken for observing morphological changes after H.E. staining, and for observing ultrastructural changes of the mitochondria by using transmission electron microscope. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and GSH were detected by using photocolorimetric method, the content of ferrous ions (Fe2+) detected using spectrophotometry, and the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) assayed by ELISA. The expression levels of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2) and GPX4 proteins of the ischemic penumbral cortex were detected by Western blot, and those of SLC7A11 and GPX4 mRNAs were detected using real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the Garcia JH neurological deficit score, GSH content, and expression levels of SLC7A11, SLC3A2 and GPX4 proteins, and GPX4 and SLC7A11 mRNAs were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the contents of Fe2+ and MDA, and ROS activity considerably increased (P<0.01) in the model group. In contrast to the model group, the decreased and increased levels of the above mentioned indexes were reversed in the eye-acupuncture group (P<0.01, P<0.05) but not in the inhibitor group. The therapeutic effects of eye-acupuncture were reduced by GPX4 inhibitor in increasing the levels of Garcia JH neurological deficit score, GSH content, and expression levels of SLC7A11, SLC3A2, and GPX4 proteins, and GPX4 and SLC7A11 mRNAs, as well as in lowering the contents of Fe2+ and MDA and ROS activity(P<0.05, P<0.01). Results of TTC staining displayed that the brain tissue on the right side showed obvious gray infarct loci in the model group, which was evidently smaller in the eye-acupuncture group, but not in the inhibitor group. H.E. staining displayed disordered arrangement of cells, with shriveled or broken nucleus, and interstitial edema and vacuolation, and a number of large area typical cerebral infarction, and net-like necrotic loci with blurred necrotic lesion boundaries in the model group, which was apparently milder in the eye-acupuncture group. In the inhibitor group, an increased number of cerebral infarction foci, and disordered arrangement and severe injury of cells were found. CONCLUSIONS: Eye-acupuncture can ameliorate ferroptosis in neurons of CIRI rats by modulating System xc(-)-GSH-GPX4 antioxidant function axis.
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Terapia por Acupuntura , Isquemia Encefálica , Ferroptosis , Glutatión , Neuronas , Fosfolípido Hidroperóxido Glutatión Peroxidasa , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Daño por Reperfusión , Animales , Ratas , Fosfolípido Hidroperóxido Glutatión Peroxidasa/metabolismo , Fosfolípido Hidroperóxido Glutatión Peroxidasa/genética , Ferroptosis/genética , Masculino , Isquemia Encefálica/metabolismo , Isquemia Encefálica/genética , Isquemia Encefálica/terapia , Neuronas/metabolismo , Humanos , Daño por Reperfusión/metabolismo , Daño por Reperfusión/genética , Daño por Reperfusión/terapia , Glutatión/metabolismo , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Encéfalo/metabolismoRESUMEN
Background: Hypoxia is not uncommon in elderly patients during painless gastrointestinal endoscopy. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in reducing the occurrence of hypoxia symptoms in elderly patients. Methods: Patients were randomly and equally grouped into sham control (n = 109) or TEAS group (n = 109) by using the random number table method. Patients in the TEAS group received electrical stimulation at the bilateral ST36 points 30 min before the examination until the end of the painless gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients in the control group only had electrodes attached to bilateral nonacupoints in a similar pattern as the TEAS group without electrical stimulation. The primary endpoints measured were the incidence of hypoxia and severe hypoxia. The secondary endpoints included propofol dosage, sedation-related adverse events, hemodynamic parameters, surgical duration, patient recovery time, pain score, patient satisfaction, anesthesiologist satisfaction, and endoscopist satisfaction. Results: Of the 251 patients who participated in this study, 218 patients ended up completing the final study. The primary outcome was that, compared with group control, the incidence of hypoxia in group TEAS was reduced by 11% (19.3% vs. 8.3%, p=0.018) and the incidence of severe hypoxia did not show a significant change (7.3% vs. 2.8%, p=0.122). And there was a significant decrease in the occurrence of patients requiring emergency airway assistance (increased oxygen flow: 16.5% vs. 6.4%, p=0.019, jaw thrust: 11.0% vs. 3.7%, p=0.038, mask-assisted ventilation: 5.5% vs. 1.8%, p=0.015). Conclusion: TEAS can reduce the incidence of hypoxia in elderly patients undergoing painless gastrointestinal endoscopy. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2200059465.
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Puntos de Acupuntura , Endoscopía Gastrointestinal , Hipoxia , Estimulación Eléctrica Transcutánea del Nervio , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Anciano , Hipoxia/epidemiología , Hipoxia/etiología , Estimulación Eléctrica Transcutánea del Nervio/métodos , Incidencia , Endoscopía Gastrointestinal/métodos , Endoscopía Gastrointestinal/efectos adversos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano de 80 o más AñosRESUMEN
Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory intestinal disease, categoried under "dysentery" and "intestinal bleeding" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Jianpi Qingchang decoction (JPQC) is a combination formula specifically designed for the treatment of UC. The primary objective of this study is to examine the clinical efficacy of JPQC in individuals diagnosed with UC who exhibit both spleen deficiency and dampness-heat syndrome, along with the presence of fatigue. The investigation will focus on assessing the impact of JPQC on the gut microbiota and metabolites in these patients, aiming to elucidate the regulatory mechanism that JPQC exerts on the gut microbiota and metabolites in the context of UC-related fatigue. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 140 subjects diagnosed with UC will be recruited and randomized into two groups. They will receive either JPQC combined with mesalazine or mesalazine alone for 12 weeks. Follow-up visits will be conducted every four weeks, with a post-treatment visit scheduled at 6 months. The primary outcome measures include the Inflammatory bowel disease fatigue scale(IBD-F). Secondary efficacy indicators comprise the assessment of TCM syndrome and individual syndrome efficacy before and after treatment, Modified Mayo score, Simple clinical colitis activity index (SCCAI), as well as the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) for each group. The other outcomes are the Intestinal microbial diversity and non-targeted metabonomics, which will be measured at baseline and 12 weeks after randomization. Discussion: If effective, JPQC will provide substantial clinical evidence concerning the effectiveness and safety in the treatment of patients with UC experiencing spleen deficiency and dampness-heat syndrome accompanied by fatigue. Trial registration: ChiCTR2300068348.
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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc has significant neuroprotective activity and has been widely studied for its potential to improve cognitive function. Our team's previous research has found that loganin isolated from Cornus officinalis has an antidepressant effect. Depression is a mental disorder accompanied by dysfunction of Connexin43 (Cx43)-formed astrocytic gap junctions. However, the precise mechanisms of loganin involved remain uncertain. AIM OF THE STUDY: We aimed to examine the mechanism by which loganin produces its antidepressant properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model of depression in rats, the study evaluated the behavioral responses to treatment with loganin, fluoxetine, and their combination. Biochemical analyses were conducted to measure the expression and phosphorylation status of Cx43, ß-catenin, GSK-3ß in the brain. In vitro experiments were also performed how loganin protects the gap junctions in astrocytes that have been exposed to corticosterone. RESULTS: After four weeks of loganin treatment, rats exposed to CUS showed a decrease in depressive-like behaviors. When combined with fluoxetine, the antidepressant-like effects were observed faster than with either treatment alone. Loganin significantly increased Cx43 expression in the prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus, reversed Cx43 mimetic peptide Gap26-induced depressive-like behaviors, decreased Cx43 phosphorylation at Ser368, increased ß-catenin levels, and promoted GSK-3ß phosphorylation at Ser9. In vitro, loganin prevented corticosterone-induced damage to gap junctions between astrocytes, an effect that was negated by XAV-939 (ß-catenin inhibitor). CONCLUSION: These results implied that loganin could exert antidepressant-like effects by improving the gap junctions of astrocytes in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, acting through the GSK-3ß/ß-catenin signaling pathway. The combination of loganin with fluoxetine may provide a faster onset of antidepressant action compared to either treatment alone, highlighting the potential of loganin as a natural adjunct therapy for depression.
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BACKGROUND: The role of dietary and nutritional factors in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains poorly understood, necessitating further investigation. This study aims to explore the association between nutrient intake and the risk of IBD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2009-2010 NHANES cycle, focusing on individuals with complete 24-hour dietary intake records and clinically assessed IBD information. Nutrient intake was assessed through dietary recalls and supplement data. Associations between nutrient intake and IBD risk were analyzed by propensity score matching (PSM) with balanced baseline characteristics and logistic regression. Dose-response relationships were examined by restricted cubic splines (RCS). Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05, and analyses were conducted using R software. RESULTS: The study included 4,072 participants with clinically assessed IBD and complete nutrient intake data. In adjusted analyses, lower intake of vitamin B3, copper, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and protein below the recommended dietary allowance may increase the risk of developing IBD. Similarly, reduced intake of vitamin B6, vitamin E, and total PUFA is associated with elevated susceptibility to IBD. CONCLUSION: This study elucidates the intricate relationship between nutrient intake and the onset of IBD, underscoring the importance of maintaining a balanced diet for gastrointestinal health. These findings emphasize the significance of informed dietary choices in promoting intestinal wellness and potentially reducing the risk of IBD development.
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Traditional Chinese medicines must be processed into decoction pieces before they can be used medicinally, and decoctions are the most common dosage form in TCM. Recent studies have shown that these decoctions are complex multiphase disperse systems containing supramolecular aggregates. These aggregates form through self-assembly interactions among chemical components du-ring the decocting process, in which hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, van der Waals' forces, and hydrophobic interactions playing crucial roles. Exploring supramolecular aggregates in traditional Chinese medicine decoctions can help address the limitations of a single-component perspective in understanding the medicinal substances, thus becoming a research hotspot. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the methods for the separation and purification, structure characterization, and self-assembly mechanism revealing of these aggregates and summarizes the self-assembly mechanisms and chemical components of these aggregates. By examining several examples of supramolecular aggregates in traditional Chinese medicine decoctions and assessing processing adjuvants, this paper proposes a new idea of analyzing the processing mechanism based on the formation of supramolecular aggregates. This idea combines the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine processing with medicine compatibility principles to improve the understanding about the scientific connotation of processing with adjuvants.
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Medicamentos Herbarios Chinos , Medicina Tradicional China , Medicamentos Herbarios Chinos/análisis , Medicamentos Herbarios Chinos/química , Enlace de Hidrógeno , Interacciones Hidrofóbicas e HidrofílicasRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: With the increasing risk of nuclear exposure, more attention has been paid to the prevention and treatment of acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Although amino acids are key nutrients involved in hematopoietic regulation, the impacts of amino acids on bone marrow hematopoiesis following irradiation and the associated mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Hence, it is of paramount importance to study the changes in amino acid metabolism after irradiation and their effects on hematopoiesis as well as the related mechanisms. METHODS: The content of serum amino acids was analyzed using metabolomic sequencing. The survival rate and body weight of the irradiated mice were detected after altering the methionine content in the diet. Extracellular matrix (ECM) protein analysis was performed via proteomics analysis. Inflammatory factors were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Flow cytometry, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence were employed to determine the mechanism by which S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) regulates macrophage polarization. RESULTS: The survival time of irradiated mice was significantly associated with alterations in multiple amino acids, particularly methionine. A high methionine diet promoted irradiation tolerance, especially in the recovery of bone marrow hematopoiesis, yet with dose limitations. Folate metabolism could partially alleviate the dose bottleneck by reducing the accumulation of homocysteine. Mechanistically, high methionine levels maintained the abundance of ECM components, including collagens and glycoproteins, in the bone marrow post-irradiation, among which the level of S100A4 was significantly changed. S100A4 regulated macrophage polarization via the STAT3 pathway, inhibited bone marrow inflammation and facilitated the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that an appropriate elevation in dietary methionine enhances irradiation tolerance in mice and explains the mechanism by which methionine regulates bone marrow hematopoiesis after irradiation.