Sophoridine exerts anti-arthritic effects on fibroblast-like synoviocytes and collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

The discovery of alternative medicines with fewer adverse effects is urgently needed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sophoridine (SR), the naturally occurring quinolizidine alkaloid isolated from the leguminous sophora species, has been demonstrated to possess a wide range of pharmacological activities. However, the effect of SR on RA remains unknown. In this study, the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-induced fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) were utilized to investigate the inhibitory effect of SR on RA. The anti-arthritic effect of SR was evaluated using the CIA rat model in vivo and TNFα-stimulated FLSs in vitro. Mechanistically, potential therapeutic targets and pathways of SR in RA were analyzed through drug target databases and disease databases, and validation was carried out through immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. The in vivo results revealed that SR treatment effectively ameliorated synovial inflammation and bone erosion in rats with CIA. The in vitro studies showed that SR could significantly suppress the proliferation and migration in TNFα-induced arthritic FLSs. Mechanistically, SR treatment efficiently inhibited the activation of MAPKs (JNK and p38) and NF-κB pathways in TNFα-induced arthritic FLSs. These findings were further substantiated by Immunohistochemistry results in the CIA rat. SR exerts an anti-arthritic effect in CIA rats through inhibition of the pathogenic characteristic of arthritic FLSs via suppressing NF-κB and MAPKs (JNK and p38) signaling pathways. SR may have a great potential for development as a novel therapeutic agent for RA treatment.

[Comparative study on therapeutic effect between acupuncture at special acupoints and non-specific acupoints in foot yangming meridian for functional dyspepsia].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy differences among acupuncture at special acupoints, nonspecific acupoints and non acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian for functional dyspepsia (FD) at different time points. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen FD patients were randomly divided into a special acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian group (group A, n = 36), a non-specific acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian group (group B, n 39) and a non acupoints group (group C, n = 41). Group A was treated with acupuncture at Chongyang (ST 42), Fenglong (ST 40), Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangqiu (ST 34), and group B was treated with acupuncture at Tiaokou (ST 38), Yinshi (ST 33), Futu (ST 32) and Dubi (ST 35), and the assisted acupoints were setting up at 2 mm apart from selected acupoints in meridian of proximal part. Group C was treated with 4 non acupoints: (1) medial elbow, middle point on the line between olecranon and armpit; (2) middle point on the line between condylus medialis humeri and wrist of elbow-bone; (3) the junction of deltoid and biceps inside the arm; (4) 1-2 cm horizontally away from Zusanli (ST 36), lateral border of shin bone, and the assisted acupoints were setting up at 2 mm away from selected non acupoints along limb longitudinal axis of proximal part. All acupoints and assisted acupoints were connected to the HANS nerve stimulator and they were all treated for 4 courses. The FD Symptom Index (FDI) and MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) after treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment were observed and the clinical efficacy was assessed. RESULTS: After treatment, the total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal, early satiation, upper abdominal pain and upper abdominal burning sensation were 84.8% (28/33), 67.7% (21/31), 76.9% (20/26) and 56.3% (9/16), respectively, in group A, and 45.9% (17/37), 38.7% (12/31), 42.9% (12/28) and 38.5% (5/13), respectively, in group B, and 15.8% (6/38), 18.4% (7/38), 46.1% (12/26) and 16.7% (4/24), respectively, in group C. The total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal, early satiation and upper abdominal pain in group A were superior to those in group B (all P < 0.05), and the total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal, early satiation, upper abdominal pain and upper abdominal burning sensation in group A were all superior to those in group C (all P < 0.05), and the total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal in group B was superior to that in group C (P < 0.05). The score of FDI and SF-36 after treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment in all the groups were better than those before treatment (all P < 0.05), and above indices in group A were the most significant (all P < 0.05), and the scores of FDI and SF-36 after treatment in group B were better than those in group C (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: All the treatment of acupuncture at special acupoints, non-specific acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian and non acupoints have therapeutic effect on FD, but acupuncture at special acupoints has better short and long term therapeutic effects, which confirm the existence of acupoints specificity.

[Observation on therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) on silent myocardial ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) on silent myocardial ischemia (SMI). METHODS: Forty patients with SMI were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group and a medicine group, 20 cases in each group. The Electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture and Neiguan (PC 6) was selected as the main acupoint, and the other acupoints were selected by syndrome differentiation. The medicine group was treated with oral administration of compound Danshen dripping pill. The total effective rate, heart rate, blood pressure and dynamic electrocardiogram in 24 h were compared. RESULTS: The total effective rate of 95.0% (19/20) in the electroacupuncture group was better than that of 75.0% (15/20) in the medicine group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the two groups were decreased significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the electroacupuncture group was superior to the medicine group (all P < 0.05). The SMI duration and the number of ST segment depression were decreased significantly in both groups after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the electroacupuncture group was superior to the medicine group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) has a good therapeutic effect on SMI. It can decrease the heart rate and blood pressure, reduce the afterload in left ventricular and is superior to that of compound Danshen dripping pill.

[Effect of electroacupuncture of "Neiguan" (PC 6) on Na+-K+-ATPase activity and its gene expression in cardiocyte membrane in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Neiguan" and other acupoints on Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity and its gene expression in ischemic myocrardial cell membrane in rats. METHODS: A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into pseudo-operation (control), model, Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7) and Hegu (LI4) groups, with 10 rats in each group. Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model was duplicated by occlusion of the descending anterior branch of the left coronary artery and reperfusion. EA (30/100 Hz, 2-4 mA) was applied to the above-mentioned acupoints for 20 min respectively. Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity was determined by inorganic phosphorus colorimetry, and Na+ -K+ -ATPase gene expression was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase in model, PC6, HT7 and LI4 groups decreased significantly after myocardial I/R (P<0.05, 0.01); while in comparison with model, the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase in PC6 group increased considerably (P<0.01). Regarding the expression of Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA, compared with control group, it was down-regulated significantly in model, HT7 and LI4 groups (P<0.01); while in PC6 group, Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA expression was up-regulated markedly compared with model group (P<0.05); The activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and the expression of Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA in HT7 and LI4 groups were significantly lower than those in PC6 group (P<0.01, 0.05). No significant differences were found between HT7 and LI4 groups in the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and the expression of Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA of "Neiguan" (PC6) may potentiate the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and up-regulate Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA expression, which may contribute to its protective effect on ischemic cardiocytes.