Manual acupuncture versus sham acupuncture and usual care for prophylaxis of episodic migraine without aura: multicentre, randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of manual acupuncture as prophylactic treatment for acupuncture naive patients with episodic migraine without aura. DESIGN: Multicentre, randomised, controlled clinical trial with blinded participants, outcome assessment, and statistician. SETTING: Seven hospitals in China, 5 June 2016 to 15 November 2018. PARTICIPANTS: 150 acupuncture naive patients with episodic migraine without aura. INTERVENTIONS: 20 sessions of manual acupuncture at true acupuncture points plus usual care, 20 sessions of non-penetrating sham acupuncture at heterosegmental non-acupuncture points plus usual care, or usual care alone over 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in migraine days and migraine attacks per four weeks during weeks 1-20 after randomisation compared with baseline (four weeks before randomisation). RESULTS: Among 150 randomised patients (mean age 36.5 (SD 11.4) years; 123 (82%) women), 147 were included in the full analysis set. Compared with sham acupuncture, manual acupuncture resulted in a significantly greater reduction in migraine days at weeks 13 to 20 and a significantly greater reduction in migraine attacks at weeks 17 to 20. The reduction in mean number of migraine days was 3.5 (SD 2.5) for manual versus 2.4 (3.4) for sham (adjusted difference -1.4, 95% confidence interval -2.4 to -0.3; P=0.005) at weeks 13 to 16 and 3.9 (3.0) for manual versus 2.2 (3.2) for sham (adjusted difference -2.1, -2.9 to -1.2; P<0.001) at weeks 17 to 20. At weeks 17 to 20, the reduction in mean number of attacks was 2.3 (1.7) for manual versus 1.6 (2.5) for sham (adjusted difference -1.0, -1.5 to -0.5; P<0.001). No severe adverse events were reported. No significant difference was seen in the proportion of patients perceiving needle penetration between manual acupuncture and sham acupuncture (79% v 75%; P=0.891). CONCLUSIONS: Twenty sessions of manual acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture and usual care for the prophylaxis of episodic migraine without aura. These results support the use of manual acupuncture in patients who are reluctant to use prophylactic drugs or when prophylactic drugs are ineffective, and it should be considered in future guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02765581.

Inhibition of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) Activity by constituents of Schisandra chinensis.

Structure-activity relationship for the inhibition of Schisandra chinensis's ingredients toward (Uridine-Diphosphate) UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) activity was performed in the present study. In vitro incubation system was employed to screen the inhibition capability of S. chinensis's ingredients, and in silico molecular docking method was carried out to explain possible mechanisms. At 100 µM of compounds, the activity of UGTs was inhibited by less than 90% by schisandrol A, schisandrol B, schisandrin, schisandrin C, schisantherin A, gomisin D, and gomisin G. Schisandrin A exerted strong inhibition toward UGT1A1 and UGT1A3, with the residual activity to be 7.9% and 0% of control activity. Schisanhenol exhibited strong inhibition toward UGT2B7, with the residual activity to be 7.9% of control activity. Gomisin J of 100 µM inhibited 91.8% and 93.1% of activity of UGT1A1 and UGT1A9, respectively. Molecular docking prediction indicated different hydrogen bonds interaction resulted in the different inhibition potential induced by subtle structure alteration among schisandrin A, schisandrin, and schisandrin C toward UGT1A1 and UGT1A3: schisandrin A > schisandrin > schisandrin C. The detailed inhibition kinetic evaluation showed the strong inhibition of gomisin J toward UGT1A9 with the inhibition kinetic parameter (Ki ) to be 0.7 µM. Based on the concentrations of gomisin J in the plasma of the rats given with S. chinensis, high herb-drug interaction existed between S. chinensis and drugs mainly undergoing UGT1A9-mediated metabolism. In conclusion, in silico-in vitro method was used to give the inhibition information and possible inhibition mechanism for S. chinensis's components toward UGTs, which guide the clinical application of S. chinensis.

Characterization and functional analysis of a B3 domain factor from Zea mays.

In this study, we isolated a full-length cDNA and named ZmBDF from zea mays. ZmBDF encoded a protein of 356 amino acids and phylogenetic analysis showed that it belongs to a closely related subgroup with B3 domain factors in plants. The transcript level of ZmBDF could be induced by ABA, MeJA, salt or drought treatments. To further investigated the function of ZmBDF, ZmBDF over-expression transgenic lines were got by transforming it into Arabidopsis thaliana. ZmBDF over-expression transgenic plants in Arabidopsis could increase drought and salt tolerant in germination assay. Under drought condition, net photosynthetic rates (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), and internal leaf CO2 concentration (Ci) were less affected in transgenic plants compared with wild type. Besides, the chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b (chl a/chl b) ratio decreased in WT plants than the transgenic plants and total carotenoid content show opposite trends. Moreover, transgenic plants could also reduce the stomatal density and changed the stomatal shape. Taken together, our data suggested that ZmBDF could improve stress tolerance to drought and salt in maize.

Neuroprotective effects of safranal in a rat model of traumatic injury to the spinal cord by anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and edema-attenuating.

Studies on the pathology of spinal cord injury (SCI) have focused on inflammation-associated neuronal apoptosis. The traditional Chinese medicine safranal has been studied extensively and found to have various beneficial health effects. However, study of its potential role in neuroprotection and the underlying mechanism of action in SCI models has been limited. We investigated the effect of safranal on neurologic functions and histopathologic changes after SCI and the mechanism underlying its neuroprotective effects. First, the most effective safranal dose for SCI was evaluated with the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale and H&E staining: 100mg/kg was the most effective dose of safranal for SCI. Histopathologic changes were evaluated by performing Nissl staining, which indicated an increased number of neurons after safranal administration. In terms of the mechanism of action, anti-apoptotic effect, downregulation of inflammation, and edema-attenuating effects were detected. TUNEL staining and electron microscopy revealed that safranal treatment inhibited injury-induced apoptosis, and affected the expression of the apoptosis-related genes Bax and Bcl-2, which indicated an anti-apoptotic role after SCI. Safranal treatment suppressed immunoreactivity and expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, TNF-α, and p38 MAPK, and increased expression of IL-10 after SCI, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect. Safranal treatment suppressed expression of AQP-4, which is related to spinal-cord edema, suggesting an edema-attenuating effect. These data suggest that safranal promotes the recovery of neuronal function after SCI in rats, and that this effect is related to its anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and edema-attenuating effects.

Alkaloids from Lycoris aurea and their cytotoxicities against the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Phytochemical investigation of the 80% EtOH extract of the bulbs of Lycoris aurea led to the isolation of six new alkaloids, 2-demethyl-isocorydione (1), 8-demethyl-dehydrocrebanine (2), 1-hydroxy-anhydrolycorin-7-one (3), (+)-1,2-dihydroxy-anhydrolycorine N-oxide (4), 5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-2-hydroxyphenanthridine (5), and (+)-8-hydroxy-homolycorine-α-N-oxide (6), and together with two known compounds, isocorydione (7) and anhydrolycorin-7-one (8). Structural elucidation of all the compounds was performed by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. All the alkaloids were in vitro evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against seven tumor cell lines of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and anti-inflammatory activities. Compounds 1, 2, 6, and 7 exhibited significant cytotoxicities against all the tested cell lines. Moreover, alkaloids 1, 2, and 7 possessed selective inhibition of Cox-2 (>85%).

Correlation between Antistress and Hepatoprotective Effects of Schisandra Lignans Was Related with Its Antioxidative Actions in Liver Cells.

The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the anti-stress and hepato-protective effects of Schisandra Lignans Extract (SLE) on stress-induced liver damage. Seven weeks old male mice were fixed in a restraint tube for 18 h to induce liver damage. SLE was orally administered to animals for 5 days at dosages of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day before exposed to restraint stress. Oral administration of SLE significantly reduced restraint-induced liver damage in experimental animal. SLE was further found to significantly alleviate the provocation of corticosterone in stressed mice. SLE also significantly decreased oxidative damage and increased anti-oxidative capability of liver cells by preventing the over production and accumulation of free radicals. In conclusion, the protective effects of SLE on stress-induced liver damage were confirmed, and the correlation between hepatoprotective and anti-stress effects of schisandra lignans was possible related to its alleviation on the malignant effects of stressors for bio-homeostasis, such as balance of oxidation and reduction in cells.

[Arnebia root oil promotes histological change and up-regulates bFGF and it's mRNA expression in the raw surface of the rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular biological mechanism of arnebia root oil in promoting wound surface healing by observing histological change and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) mRNA expression in the wound surface tissues of 2 groups, as well as the wound surface healing rate. METHOD: Experimental model of incised-wound was produced on the back of 18 New Zealand albino rabbits. The wound surfaces were randomly divided into two groups, namely, experimental group and control group. The wound surfaces in the experimental group were treated by arnebia root oil and those in control group were treated by petrolatum gauze. Then raw surfaces were evaluated by the techniques of histology, histochemistry and electron microscope and the healing rates of the raw surfaces were compared between the two groups. Content of bFGF and it's mRNA expression in wound surface tissue was also measured by means of Western-blot and RT-PCR. RESULT: The wound surface healing rate in experimental group was higher than that in control group( P < 0.05). The fibroblast, collagen and blood capillaries were comparatively richer in experimental group as compared with those in control group, and similarly, the expression of bFGF mRNA was also significantly enhanced in the experimental group as compared with control group during the various periods of treatment. In addition, the changes in the expressions of bFGF and it's mRNA paralleled the changes of healing rates in the two groups. CONCLUSION: the present results showed that amebia root oil significantly can promote the healing of raw surfaces, which may be mediated by up-regulation of bFGF expression.

[Arnebia root oil promotes wound healing and expression of basic fibroblast growth factor on the wound surface in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the promoting effect of arnebia root oils on expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in skin wound of rabbits and the histomorphological changes in the wound surface, and to discuss its mechanism. METHODS: Bilateral round skin wounds were made on the back of 15 rabbits. The three wounds on one side of the back of each rabbit were treated with arnebia root oils, while the three wounds on the other side were treated with vaseline in order to promote the wound healing. The histomorphology and ultrastructure under electron microscopy of the wounds, and the rate of wound healing were examined at different time. Western blotting assay was used to detect the expression of bFGF in the wound surface. RESULTS: The healing rate of the arnebia root oils-treated wounds was evidently higher than that of the vaseline-treated wounds (P<0.05). The quantities of fibroblast, collagen and capillary in the arnebia root oils-treated wounds were much more than those in the vaseline-treated wounds, and the expression of endogenous bFGF in the arnebia root oils-treated wounds was enhanced obviously as compared with that in the vaseline-treated wounds in different period of wound healing. There existed a parallel correlation between the expression level of bFGF and the rate of wound healing. CONCLUSION: The promoting effect of arnebia root oils on wound healing may be related to increasing the expression level of basic fibroblast growth factor in the skin wound.