[Treatment of Simple Obesity Patients with Phlegm Dampness Stagnation Syndrome with Warming Needle Moxibustion].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of warming needle moxibustion stimulation of Hegu (LI 4), Tianshu (ST 25), Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. for simple obesity patients with phlegm dampness stagnation syndrome (PDSS)．. METHODS: A total of 60 simple obesity patients with PDSS were equally randomized into control group (13 men and 17 women, 18－53 years in age) and treatment group (14 men and 16 women, 19－45 years in age). All the patients of both groups were treated by diet control (trying their best to reduce high fat, high glucose and high salt foods, supplementing proteins). Patients of the treatment group received additional treatment of warming needle moxibustion, i．e., the inserted acupuncture needles in bilateral Hegu (LI 4), Tianshu (ST 25), Zhongwan (CV 12), and Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), etc., were manipulated for a while with reducing technique after "deqi"， followed by attachment of ignited moxa-cones at each of the needle handles for 30 min. The treatment was conducted once every other day for 8 weeks. The therapeutic effect was assessed according to the "Criteria for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Evaluation of Simple Obesity" (1998). Before and after the treatment, body fat percentage (F%), body adiposity index (BAI), and body mass index (BMI) were calculated, serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (CHO), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were detected using a biochemical analyzer. RESULTS: Following the treatment, of the two 30 cases of obesity patients in the control and treatment groups, 0 (0.0%) and 1 (3.3%) was under control, 11(36.7%) and 16 (53.3%) had a marked improvement, 8(26.7%) and 10 (33.3%) were effective, and 11 (36.7%) and 3 (10.0%) failed in the treatment, with the effective rates being 63.3% and 90.0%, respectively. The effective rate of the warming needle moxibustion plus diet control was significantly superior to that of the simple diet control (P<0.01). After the treatment, the BMI, F%, serum CHO and TG levels and BAI in the treatment group were significantly decreased in comparison with its own pre-treatment in treatment group (P<0.05, P<0.01), while serum HDL-C of the treatment group was obviously increased compared with its own pre-treatment (P<0.01). The decreased F%, CHO and TG levels were markedly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05，P<0.01)．. CONCLUSION: Warming needle moxibustion has a positive effect for simple obesity patients with PDSS in controlling their symptoms.

Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide attenuates cecal ligation and puncture sepsis via circuiting regulatory T cells in mice.

BACKGROUND: Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide (CPPS) isolated from one of the Chinese herbs is known to have a variety of immunomodulatory activities. However, it is not clear whether CPPS can exert an effect on the immune functions of regulatory T cells (Tregs). This study was carried out to investigate the effect of CPPS on the immune function of peripheral blood Tregs in sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: sham group, CLP group, CLP with CPPS (40, 100, and 250 mg/kg) treatment group, and they were killed on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 after CLP, respectively, with eight animals at each time point. Magnetic microbeads were used to isolate peripheral blood Tregs and CD4 T cells. Phenotypes of Tregs, such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and Foxp3, were analyzed by flow cytometry, and coculture medium cytokines levels were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of TLR4 and the expression of Foxp3 in the Treg from CLP group were markedly increased in comparison to the sham group. Administration of CPPS could significantly decrease the TLR4 level and inhibited the expression of Foxp3 on Tregs in sepsis mice. At the same time, proliferative activity and expression of interleukin 2 and interleukin 2Rα on CD4 T cells were restored. In contrast, anti-TLR4 antibody could block the effect of CPPS on Treg immune function. CONCLUSIONS: Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide might suppress excessive Tregs, at least in part, via TLR4 signaling on Tregs and trigger a shift of TH2 to TH1 with activation of CD4 T cells in sepsis induced by CLP.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil from green huajiao (Zanthoxylum schinifolium) against selected foodborne pathogens.

Green huajiao, which is the ripe pericarp of the fruit of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc, is widely consumed in Asia as a spice. In this work, the chemical composition of the essential oil from green huajiao was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (MS), and the majority of components were identified. Linalool (28.2%), limonene (13.2%), and sabinene (12.1%) were found to be the major components. The antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the essential oil were evaluated against selected bacteria, including food-borne pathogens. The results showed that the sensitivities to the essential oil were different for different bacteria tested, and the susceptibility of Gram-positive bacteria tested was observed to be greater than that of Gram-negative bacteria. The antibacterial activity of the essential oil was particularly strong against Staphylococcus epidermidis , with MIC and MBC values of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/mL, respectively. A postcontact effect assay also confirmed the essential oil had a significant effect on the growth rate of surviving S. epidermidis . The antibacterial activity of the essential oil from green huajiao may be due to the increase in permeability of cell membranes, and the leakage of intracellular constituents, on the basis of the cell constituents' release assay and electron microscopy observations.