Multi-omic analysis revealed the therapeutic mechanisms of Alpinia oxyphylla fructus water extract against bladder overactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: Alpinia oxyphylla fructus without impurities and shells is called "Yi-Zhi-Ren" (YZR) in Chinese, and traditionally used to alleviate enuresis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of YZR in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a vascular disorder-related OAB model. METHODS: A 3-week administration of YZR water extract (p.o.) was done, followed by urodynamics to measure bladder parameters. Changes in bladder structure were observed through H&E staining and Masson's staining. An integrated approach involving network pharmacology, transcriptomics and metabolomics was employed to elucidate the potential mechanisms of YZR, and the key proteins involved in the mechanisms were validated by Western blotting. Additionally, network pharmacology was used to predict the relationship between YZR's active components and validated proteins. RESULTS: YZR treatment significantly improved the bladder storage parameters, tightened the detrusor layer, reduced inflammatory infiltration, and decreased collagen proportion in the SHR bladder. These results indicated that YZR water extract can alleviate OAB symptoms and improve bladder structure. Integrated analysis suggested that YZR may affect extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and calcium signaling pathway. Western blotting results further confirmed that the reduction in key proteins, such as TGFß1, p-SMAD3, collagen III, Gq and PLCß1, involved in collagen synthesis and calcium signaling pathways after YZR treatment. Network pharmacology predicted that sitosterol, chrysin, and nootkatone were potential components responsible for YZR's therapeutic effect on OAB. CONCLUSION: YZR's mechanisms of action in treating OAB involved the TGFß1-SMAD3 signaling pathway-related collagen synthesis and Gq-PLCß1 calcium signaling pathway, which are associated with detrusor contraction frequency and strength, respectively.

Berberine: A Promising Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Berberine, as a natural alkaloid compound, is characterized by a diversity of pharmacological effects. In recent years, many researches focused on the role of berberine in central nervous system diseases. Among them, the effect of berberine on neurodegenerative diseases has received widespread attention, for example Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and so on. Recent evidence suggests that berberine inhibits the production of neuroinflammation, oxidative, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. These effects can further reduce neuron damage and apoptosis. Although the current research has made some progress, its specific mechanism still needs to be further explored. This review provides an overview of berberine in neurodegenerative diseases and its related mechanisms, and also provides new ideas for future research on berberine.

Neuropharmacological effects of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata.

Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi in Chinese), which are the lateral roots of Aconitum Carmichaelii Debx, is widely used in China to treat many neurological diseases. Fuzi, in its various forms, has many neuropharmacological effects. It can act as an analgesic and help with depression, epilepsy, and dementia. However, the neuropharmacological effects of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata are seldom comprehensively reviewed. In this review, the neuropharmacological activities of some components contained in Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata are considered. These include aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, total alkaloid, polysaccharide-1, benzoylmesaconine, fuziline, songorine, and napelline. We also specifically discuss the antidepressant effects of total alkaloids and polysaccharide-1. This review may provide a theoretical basis for further utilization of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata for diseases that affect the central nervous system.

Surveillance and correlation of antibiotic consumption and resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii complex in a tertiary care hospital in northeast China, 2003-2011.

This study investigated the changes in resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii complex and the association of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii complex (CRAB) infection and hospital antimicrobial usage from 2003 to 2011 in a tertiary care hospital in northeast China. In vitro susceptibilities were determined by disk diffusion test and susceptibility profiles were determined using zone diameter interpretive criteria, as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Data on consumption of various antimicrobial agents, expressed as defined daily dose/1,000 patients/day, were collected retrospectively from hospital pharmacy computer database. Most of 2,485 strains of A. baumannii complex were collected from respiratory samples (1,618 isolates, 65.1%), secretions and pus (465, 18.7%) over the years. The rates of antimicrobial resistance in A. baumannii complex increased significantly over the years. The rates of CRAB were between 11.3% and 59.1% over the years. The quarterly use of anti-pseudomonal carbapenems, but not other classes of antibiotics, was strongly correlated with the increase of quarterly CRAB (ß = 1.661; p < 0.001). Dedicated use of anti-pseudomonal carbapenems would be an important intervention to control the increase of CRAB.

A novel zinc finger transcription factor resembles krox-20 in structure and in expression pattern in zebrafish.

Krx-20, a zinc finger protein, plays an essential role in hindbrain segmentation of vertebrates. Zebrafish gene frb35 encodes a novel zinc finger protein that shares a high homology with Krx-20. The expression domains of frb35 overlap those of krx-20. The expression of frb35 first occurs in the 3rd rhombomere primordium at the onset of segmentation, which is soon followed by expression in the 5th rhombomere. From mid-segmentation onward, the 5th rhombomere has a higher frb35 expression level than the 3rd rhombomere. Unlike krx20, frb35 expression persists in the 5th rhombomere until the end of pharyngula period.