Novel Antidepressant Mechanism of Ginsenoside Rg1 in Regulating the Dysfunction of the Glutamatergic System in Astrocytes.

Ginsenoside Rg1, a traditional Chinese medicine monomer, has been shown to have antidepressant effects. We previously found that Rg1 exerts antidepressant effects by improving the gap junction channels (GJCs) dysfunction; however, the downstream mechanisms through which Rg1 ameliorates GJC dysfunction remain unclear. Since hemichannels directly release glutamate, GJC dysfunction decreases the expression levels of glutamate transporters in astrocytes, and glutamatergic system dysfunction plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of depression. The glutamatergic system may be a potential downstream target of Rg1 that exerts antidepressant effects. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the downstream mechanisms by which Rg1 ameliorated GJC dysfunction and exerted its antidepressant effects. Corticosterone (CORT) is used to mimic high glucocorticoid levels in patients with depression in vitro. Primary cortical astrocytes were isolated and phosphorylation of connexin43 (Cx43) as well as the functions of hemichannels, GJCs, and the glutamatergic system were evaluated after drug treatment. Rg1 pretreatment reversed the anomalous activation of Cx43 phosphorylation as well as the dysfunction of hemichannels, GJCs, and the glutamatergic system induced by CORT. These results suggest that Rg1 can ameliorate CORT-induced dysfunction of the glutamatergic system in astrocytes by potentially reducing Cx43 phosphorylation and inhibiting opening of hemichannels, thereby improving GJC dysfunction.

Effects of dietary counselling on micronutrient intakes in pregnant women in Finland.

The intake of some micronutrients is still a public health challenge for pregnant women in Finland. This study examined the effects of dietary counselling on micronutrient intakes among pregnant women at increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in Finland. This study utilised data from was a cluster-randomised controlled trial (n = 399), which aimed to prevent gestational diabetes. In the intervention group, the dietary counselling was carried out at four routine visits to maternity care and focused on dietary fat, fibre and saccharose intake. A validated 181-item food frequency questionnaire was used for evaluating the participants' food consumption and nutrient intakes. The differences in changes in micronutrient intakes from baseline (pre-pregnancy) to 36-37 weeks' gestation were compared between the intervention and the usual care groups using multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models, adjusted for confounders. Based on the multiple-adjusted model, the counselling increased the intake of niacin equivalent (coefficient 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03-0.97), vitamin D (0.24, CI 0.05-0.43), vitamin E (0.46, CI 0.26-0.66) and magnesium (5.05, CI 0.39-9.70) and maintained the intake of folate (6.50, CI 1.44-11.56), from early pregnancy to 36 to 37 weeks' gestation. Except for folate and vitamin D, the mean intake of the micronutrients from food was adequate in both groups at baseline and the follow-up. In conclusion, the dietary counselling improved the intake of several vitamins and minerals from food during pregnancy. Supplementation on folate and vitamin D is still needed during pregnancy.

Analysis of 30 patients with acupuncture-induced primary inoculation tuberculosis.

Primary inoculation tuberculosis is a skin condition that develops at the site of inoculation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in tuberculosis-free individuals. This report describes the diagnosis, treatment and >1 year follow-up of 30 patients presenting with acupuncture-induced primary inoculation tuberculosis. Our data provide a deeper insight into this rare route of infection of tuberculosis. We also review effective treatment options.

[Effects of sowthistle-leaf Ixeris seedling injection on survival of random skin flap in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Ixeri sonhifolia injection on random skin flap survival in rats. METHODS: Dorsal full-thickness skin flap model were harvested from 24 Sprague-Dawley rats in 2 to 3 months old. Twelve rats in experimental group were injected intraperitoneally with 5 ml/kg Ixeri sonhifolia injection immediately after the operation, the other rats in control group with an equal volume of saline. The rats were killed by cervical dislocation after 7 days' Ixeri sonhifolia injection. The area ratio of the survival tissue was measured at the 7th day,the tissue samples from proximal, middle, and distal portions were stained by HE and sectioned for histological and image analysis. VEGF was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Seven days later, there was statistical significance between the percentage of the survival area of the flap between the experimental group (70.432 +/- 3.867)% and the control group (50.498 +/- 2.346)% (P < 0.05). In the middle portion, edema and infiltration of tissue in the experimental group were reduced than those of the control group, and new blood vessels increased in the experimental group (P < 0.05). A statistical significance of the expression of VEGF was detected between experimental group (4867.31 +/- 452.36) and control group (2387.45 +/- 768.46) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ixeri sonhifolia injection can promote the survival of random skin flap by increasing the quantity of capillary, reducing inflammatory infiltration of Europhiles and increasing the expression of VEGF, which promote a new approaching for the transpanting of the random flap research.