Bioactive Components and Potential Mechanism Prediction of Kui Jie Kang against Ulcerative Colitis via Systematic Pharmacology and UPLC-QE-MS Analysis.

Kui Jie Kang (KJK)-a traditional Chinese medicine-has demonstrated clinical therapeutic efficacy against ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the active compounds and their underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully characterized. Therefore, the current study sought to identify the volatile compounds in KJK responsible for eliciting the therapeutic effect against UC, while also analyzing key targets and potential mechanisms. To this end, systematic network pharmacology analysis was employed to obtain UC targets by using GeneCards, DisGeNET, OMIM, among others. A total of 145 candidate ingredients, 412 potential targets of KJK (12 herbs), and 1605 UC targets were identified. Of these KJK and UC targets, 205 intersected and further identified AKT1, JUN, MAPK, ESR, and TNF as the core targets and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway as the top enriched pathway. Moreover, molecular docking and ultra-performance liquid chromatography Q Exactive-mass spectrometry analysis identified quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, wogonin, and nobiletin as the core effective compounds of KJK. In vivo murine studies revealed that KJK exposure increases the body weight and colon length, while reducing colonic epithelial injury, and the expression of inflammatory factors in colitis tissues such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß. Furthermore, KJK treatment downregulates the expression of pi3k and akt genes, as well as p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT proteins. Collectively, these findings describe the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of KJK in UC and highlight KJK as a potentially valuable therapeutic option for UC via modulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thus providing a theoretical reference for the broader application of KJK in the clinical management of UC.

The Impact of Electroacupuncture Early Intervention on the Brain Lipidome in a Mouse Model of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

The neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment has been well studied; growing evidence suggests that changes in lipid composition may be involved in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may be a target for treatment. However, the influence of early EA intervention on brain lipid composition in patients with PTSD has never been investigated. Using a modified single prolonged stress (mSPS) model in mice, we assessed the anti-PTSD-like effects of early intervention using EA and evaluated changes in lipid composition in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) using a mass spectrometry-based lipidomic approach. mSPS induced changes in lipid composition in the hippocampus, notably in the content of sphingolipids, glycerolipids, and fatty acyls. These lipid changes were more robust than those observed in the PFC. Early intervention with EA after mSPS ameliorated PTSD-like behaviors and partly normalized mSPS-induced lipid changes, notably in the hippocampus. Cumulatively, our data suggest that EA may reverse mSPS-induced PTSD-like behaviors due to region-specific regulation of the brain lipidome, providing new insights into the therapeutic mechanism of EA.

A parallel-group study of near-infrared spectroscopy-neurofeedback in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) real-time neurofeedback (NF) vs. atomoxetine (AT) in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A parallel-group study was conducted to enroll children with ADHD between 8 and 12 years of age. Participants were assigned into the NIRS group and AT group as their wish. Subjects in the NIRS group received 12 sessions of NF training within 6 weeks, and subjects in the AT group were given oral medication. Changes in Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham-V rating scales (SNAP-IV), and performance of Go/No-Go and N-back working memory tasks at week 3, 6 and 8 were evaluated. Forty-nine patients completed the study, including 18 ADHD in the NIRS group and 31 in the AT group. Total scores of SNAP-IV significantly decreased from baseline to week 3, week 6, and week 8 in both groups. Patients in the NIRS group showed significant lower scores on the inattention subscale of SNAP-IV at week 3 and week 6, compared to the AT group. NIRS group had a shorter reaction time during the Go/No-Go task at week 6 and fewer errors during 2-back than the AT group at week 3. The findings revealed that NIRS real-time NF is more efficacious relative to AT in improving behavioral performance, highlighting its potential role and advantages in treating patients with ADHD.

Distinct Basal Brain Functional Activity and Connectivity in the Emotional-Arousal Network and Thalamus in Patients With Functional Constipation Associated With Anxiety and/or Depressive Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Functional constipation (FC) is a common gastrointestinal disorder. Anxiety and/or depressive disorders are common in patients with FC (FCAD). Brain dysfunction may play a role in FC, but the contribution of comorbid anxiety and/or depression in patients with FC is poorly understood. METHODS: Sixty-five FC patients and 42 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited, and a hierarchical clustering algorithm was used to classify FC patients into FCAD and patients without anxiety/depressive status (FCNAD) based on neuropsychological assessment. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging measures including fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and functional connectivity were used to investigate brain functional differences. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were classified as FCAD, and 28 patients were classified as FCNAD; as compared with HC, both groups showed decreased activity (fALFF) in the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC), dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC), and precuneus; enhanced precentral gyrus-thalamus connectivity and attenuated precuneus-thalamus connectivity in FCAD/FCNAD highlighted the thalamus as a critical connectivity node in the brain network (pFWE < .05). In comparison with FCNAD/HC, the FCAD group also had decreased fALFF in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and thalamus, and increased OFC-hippocampus connectivity. In the FCNAD group, brain activities (pACC/DMPFC) and connection (precuneus-thalamus) had correlations only with symptoms; in the FCAD group, brain activities (OFC, pACC/DMPFC) and connectivities (OFC-hippocampus/precentral gyrus-thalamus) showed correlations with both constipation symptoms and anxiety/depressive status ratings. Mediation analysis indicated that the relationship between abdominal distension and OFC activity was completely mediated by anxiety in FCAD. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence of differences in brain activity and functional connectivity between FCAD and FCNAD, potentially providing important clues for improving treatment strategies.

Functional constipation is associated with alterations in thalamo-limbic/parietal structural connectivity.

BACKGROUND: Functional constipation (FCon) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) with a high prevalence in clinical practice. Previous studies have identified that FCon is associated with functional and structural alterations in the primary brain regions involved in emotional arousal processing, sensory processing, somatic/motor-control, and self-referential processing. However, whether FCon is associated with abnormal structural connectivity (SC) among these brain regions remains unclear. METHODS: We selected the brain regions with functional and structural abnormalities as seed regions and employed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with probabilistic tractography to investigate SC changes in 29 patients with FCon and 31 healthy controls (HC). KEY RESULTS: Results showed lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the fibers connecting the thalamus, a region involved in sensory processing, with the amygdala (AMY), hippocampal gyrus (HIPP), precentral (PreCen) and postcentral gyrus (PostCen), supplementary motor area (SMA) and precuneus in patients with FCon compared with HC. FCon had higher mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) in the thalamus connected to the AMY and HIPP. In addition, FCon had significantly increased RD of the thalamus-SMA tract. Sensation of incomplete evacuation was negatively correlated with FA of the thalamus-PostCen and thalamus-HIPP tracts, and there was a negative correlation between difficulty of defecation and FA of the thalamus-SMA tract. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: These findings reflected that FCon is associated with alterations in SC between the thalamus and limbic/parietal cortex, highlighting the integrative role of the thalamus in brain structural network.

Abnormalities in the thalamo-cortical network in patients with functional constipation.

Functional constipation (FCon) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID); neuroimaging studies have shown brain functional abnormalities in thalamo-cortical regions in patients with FGID. However, association between FCon and topological characteristics of brain networks remains largely unknown. We employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) and graph theory approach to investigate functional brain topological organization in 42 patients with FCon and 41 healthy controls (HC) from perspectives of global, regional and modular levels. Results showed patients with FCon had a significantly lower normalized clustering coefficient and small-worldness, implying decreased brain functional connectivity. Regions showed altered nodal degree and efficiency mainly located in the thalamus, rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), and supplementary motor area (SMA), which are involved in somatic/sensory, emotional processing and motor-control. For the modular analysis, thalamus, rACC and SMA had an aberrant within-module nodal degree and nodal efficiency, and thalamus-related network exhibited abnormal interaction with the limbic network (amygdala and hippocampal gyrus). Nodal degree in the thalamus was negatively correlated with difficulty of defecation, and nodal degree in the rACC was negatively correlated with sensation of incomplete evacuation. These findings indicated that FCon was associated with abnormalities in the thalamo-cortical network.

Codonopis bulleynana Forest ex Diels (cbFeD) effectively attenuates hepatic fibrosis in CCl4-induced fibrotic mice model.

The root of Codonopis bulleynana Forest ex Diels (cbFeD), a tonic food widely used in Yunnan Province of China, was found to have a wide range of pharmacological effects. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-fibrotic effect of water extracts of cbFeD in chronic liver injury mice model induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and to explore its underlying mechanisms. Phytochemical analysis revealed multiple components were present in the water extract of cbFeD and the compounds were mostly enriched in organic acid and its derivatives, flavone, amino acid derivatives, nucleotide and its derivatives, carbohydrates etc. Treatment with cbFeD significantly attenuated liver injury and fibrosis in CCl4-administered mice evidenced by improved liver histology, ameliorated apoptosis of hepatocytes, and decreased transaminase levels in the serum. Decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were markedly reversed upon treatment with cbFeD while levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were significantly restored towards normal values. cbFeD also suppressed intrahepatic inflammatory cell infiltration and Kupffer cell activation. Furthermore, our study revealed an inhibitory effect of cbFeD on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, cbFeD could exert a protective role against liver fibrosis in mice model induced by CCl4 that is comparable to the positive control silymarin and might be developed into a promising anti-fibrotic drug.

A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study of cranial electrotherapy stimulation as an add-on treatment for tic disorders in children and adolescents.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) as an add-on treatment for TD. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial was conducted at an outpatient, single-center academic setting. A total of 62 patients aged 6-17 years with TD and lack of clinical response to 4 weeks' pharmacotherapy were enrolled. Patients were divided randomly into 2 groups and given 4 weeks' treatment, including 30 min sessions of active CES (500 µA-2 mA) or sham CES (lower than 100 µA) per day for 40 d on weekdays. Change in Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), Clinical Global Impression-severity of illness-severity (CGI-S) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale-14 items (HAMA-14) were performed at baseline, week 2, week 4. Adverse events (AEs) were also evaluated. RESULTS: 53 patients (34 males and 9 females) completed the trial, including 29 in the active CES group and 24 in the sham CES group. Both groups showed clinical improvement in tic severities compared to baseline respectively at week 4. Participants receiving active CES showed a reduction of 31.66 % in YGTSS score, compared with 23.96 % in participants in sham CES group, resulting in no significant difference between the two groups (t = 1.54, p = 0.13). CONCLUSION: Four-week's treatment of CES for children and adolescents with TD is effective and safe, but the improvement for tic severity may be related to placebo effect.

Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture and Electroconvulsive Therapy as Additional Treatment in Hospitalized Patients With Schizophrenia: A Retrospective Controlled Study.

Electroacupuncture (EA) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are often used in the management of schizophrenia. This study sought to determine whether additional EA and ECT could augment antipsychotic response and reduce related side effects. In this retrospective controlled study, 287 hospitalized schizophrenic patients who received antipsychotics (controls, n = 50) alone or combined with EA (n = 101), ECT (n = 55) or both (EA + ECT, n = 81) were identified. EA and ECT were conducted for 5 and 3 sessions per week, respectively, with a maximum of 12 sessions for ECT during hospitalization. The Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) and Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) were used to assess the severity of psychotic symptoms. Clinical response on SAPS and SANS, weight gain, and adverse events were compared. Survival analysis revealed that the ECT and EA + ECT groups had markedly greater clinical response rate than controls on SAPS [72.7 and 90.1% vs. 64.0%; relative risk (RR), 1.974 and 2.628, respectively, P ≤ 0.004] and on SANS (67.3 and 70.4% vs. 42.0%; RR, 1.951 and 2.009, respectively, P ≤ 0.015). A significantly greater response rate on SANS than controls was also observed in the EA group (64.4% vs. 42.0%; RR = 1.938, P = 0.008). EA-containing regimens remarkably reduced weight gain and incidences of headache, insomnia, dry mouth, and electrocardiographic abnormalities. These results suggest that EA and ECT can serve as additional treatment for enhancing antipsychotic response and reduce the side effects in hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=38901, identifier ChiCTR1900023563.

Electroacupuncture Pretreatment Ameliorates PTSD-Like Behaviors in Rats by Enhancing Hippocampal Neurogenesis via the Keap1/Nrf2 Antioxidant Signaling Pathway.

Electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment is a clinically useful therapy for several brain disorders. However, whether and via which exact molecular mechanisms it ameliorates post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains unclear. In the present study, rats received EA stimulation for seven consecutive days before exposure to enhanced single prolonged stress (ESPS). Anxiety-like and fear learning behaviors; hippocampal neurogenesis; the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (keap1), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1); and the activity of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) were evaluated at 14 days after ESPS. EA pretreatment improved hippocampal neurogenesis and ameliorated anxiety-like behaviors in ESPS-treated rats. EA pretreatment also increased the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 and the activity of AMPK. Furthermore, Nrf2 knockdown by a short hairpin RNA affected anxiety-like behaviors and expression of neuroprotective markers (BDNF, DCX) in a manner similar to ESPS alone and dampened the neuroprotective effects of EA pretreatment. In contrast, Keap1 knockdown increased the expression of HO-1, improved hippocampal neurogenesis, and alleviated PTSD-like behaviors. Altogether, our results suggest that EA pretreatment ameliorates ESPS-induced anxiety-like behaviors and prevents hippocampal neurogenesis disruption in a rat model of PTSD possibly through regulation of the keap1/Nrf2 antioxidant defense pathway.

Aqueous extract of lily bulb ameliorates menopause-like behavior in ovariectomized mice with novel brain-uterus mechanisms distinct from estrogen therapy.

BACKGROUND: Lily bulb is often used as a dietary supplement for menopause. This study was aimed to investigate the ameliorative effects of aqueous extract of lily bulb (AELB) on the menopause-associated psychiatric disorders and the underlying mechanisms in comparison with estrogen therapy. METHODS: Ovariectomized (OVX) mice were treated with 1.8 g/kg AELB or 0.3 mg/kg estradiol for 5 weeks. Animals were tested in multiple behavioral paradigms. Serum, uterus, and brain tissues were collected for the measurement of neurotransmitters and their related biomarkers, neurotrophins, and estrogen receptor α (ERα) and ß (ERß). RESULTS: AELB and estradiol had similar anxiolytic, antidepressant, and cognition-improving effects. While estradiol limited OVX-induced weight gains and prevented uterine shrinkage and the drop of serum estrogen level, AELB had minor and even no effects on these indices. AELB, but not estradiol, reversed OVX-induced decreases in the expression levels of hippocampal nerve growth factor (NGF) and prefrontal glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). In addition to hypothalamic and prefrontal ERα, AELB enhanced uterine and brain regional ERß expression levels without affecting uterine ERα, NGF, and GDNF. Conversely, estradiol completely restored the expression levels of estrogen receptors and neurotrophins in uterus. CONCLUSIONS: While AELB is comparable to estradiol in alleviating menopause-like behavior, it has distinct brain-uterus mechanisms in association with the predominant protection of catecholamine synthesis, neurotrophins, and ERß receptors in brain, but with minor effects on uterus. AELB and its constituents may be novel treatments for menopause.

Early intervention with electroacupuncture prevents PTSD-like behaviors in rats through enhancing hippocampal endocannabinoid signaling.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a clinically useful physiological therapy that has been recently adopted to treat several brain disorders. However, the potential role of early EA intervention in the prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as its potential cellular and molecular mechanism has never been investigated previously. In the present study, we used an enhanced single prolonged stress (ESPS) model to access the effects of early EA intervention on the prevention of anxiety-like and fear learning behaviors, as well as the influence of the expression of post-synaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), synaptophysin (Syn), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), diacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGLα) and cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) in the hippocampus with or without DAGLα or CB1R knockdown by a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in the hippocampus. Moreover, the effects of electrical stimulation with different parameters on the expression of DAGLα and CB1R in the hippocampal astrocytes were also observed. The results showed that Early EA intervention improved hippocampal synaptic plasticity and ameliorated PTSD-like behaviors and also increased expression of BDNF, DAGLα and CB1R. However, either DAGLα or CB1R knockdown by a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) eliminated the neuroprotective effects of early EA intervention. Furthermore, electrical stimulation with 2/15 Hz 1 mA elevated the expression of DAGLα and CB1R. Altogether, our findings provide new insights regarding the possibility of using early EA intervention in the prevention of PTSD, and the protective effects of EA is involving the activation of DAGLα and CB1R.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for post-traumatic stress disorder: Assessor-blinded, randomized controlled study.

AIM: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) has the potential to alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether adding TEAS to sertraline or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could improve the anti-PTSD efficacy. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 240 PTSD patients (60 in each group) were assigned to receive simulated TEAS combined with sertraline (group A) or with CBT (group B), active TEAS combined with CBT (group C), or active TEAS combined with CBT plus sertraline (group D) for 12 weeks. The outcomes were measured using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, PTSD Check List-Civilian Version, and 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. RESULTS: While PTSD symptoms reduced over time in all patients, groups C and D had markedly greater improvement in both PTSD and depressive measures than groups A and B in all post-baseline measurement points, with moderate to very large effect sizes of 0.484-2.244. Groups C and D also had a significantly higher rate than groups A and B on clinical response (85.0% and 95.0% vs 63.3% and 60.0%, P < 0.001) and on remission (15.0% and 25.0% vs 3.3% and 1.7%, P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse events was similar between groups A and D and between groups B and C. CONCLUSIONS: Additional TEAS augments the anti-PTSD and antidepressant efficacy of antidepressants or CBT, without increasing the incidence of adverse effects. TEAS could serve as an effective intervention for PTSD and comorbid depression. This trial was registered with www.chictr.org (no.: ChiCTR1800017255).

Abnormal Effective Connectivity in the Brain is Involved in Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia.

Information flow among auditory and language processing-related regions implicated in the pathophysiology of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) in schizophrenia (SZ) remains unclear. In this study, we used stochastic dynamic causal modeling (sDCM) to quantify connections among the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (inner speech monitoring), auditory cortex (auditory processing), hippocampus (memory retrieval), thalamus (information filtering), and Broca's area (language production) in 17 first-episode drug-naïve SZ patients with AVHs, 15 without AVHs, and 19 healthy controls using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Finally, we performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and correlation analysis between image measures and symptoms. sDCM revealed an increased sensitivity of auditory cortex to its thalamic afferents and a decrease in hippocampal sensitivity to auditory inputs in SZ patients with AVHs. The area under the ROC curve showed the diagnostic value of these two connections to distinguish SZ patients with AVHs from those without AVHs. Furthermore, we found a positive correlation between the strength of the connectivity from Broca's area to the auditory cortex and the severity of AVHs. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, augmented AVH-specific excitatory afferents from the thalamus to the auditory cortex in SZ patients, resulting in auditory perception without external auditory stimuli. Our results provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying AVHs in SZ. This thalamic-auditory cortical-hippocampal dysconnectivity may also serve as a diagnostic biomarker of AVHs in SZ and a therapeutic target based on direct in vivo evidence.

Peony-Glycyrrhiza Decoction for Antipsychotic-Related Hyperprolactinemia in Women With Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: An herbal preparation called peony-glycyrrhiza decoction (PGD) may have the potential in reducing antipsychotic-related hyperprolactinemia (hyperPRL). This double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study aimed to reevaluate the efficacy of PGD against antipsychotic-related hyperPRL. METHODS: Ninety-nine schizophrenic women who were under antipsychotic therapy and had symptomatic hyperPRL were randomly assigned to additional treatment with placebo (n = 50) or PGD (n = 49, 45 g/d) for 16 weeks. The severity of hyperPRL, psychosis, and abnormal involuntary movements was assessed at baseline and weeks 8 and 16 using standard instruments including the Prolactin Related Adverse Event Questionnaire. Blood levels of prolactin (PRL) and related pituitary and sex hormones were measured at the same time points. RESULTS: Peony-glycyrrhiza decoction treatment produced a significantly greater reduction of the Prolactin Related Adverse Event Questionnaire score at weeks 8 and 16 and a greater improvement on abnormal involuntary movements at end point compared with placebo, without altering the severity of psychosis. The group treated with PGD showed significantly higher proportion of having overall improvement on hyperPRL symptoms (χ = 4.010, P = 0.045) and menstrual resumption (χ = 4.549, P = 0.033) at week 8 than placebo. Serum PRL levels were similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Peony-glycyrrhiza decoction is effective in reducing antipsychotic-related hyperPRL and abnormal involuntary movement symptoms, but no reduction in blood PRL concentrations was observed. The underlying mechanisms of PGD's effects need further investigation (trial registration of NCT01852331 at www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Clozapine in Concomitant Use of Radix Rehmanniae, Fructus Schisandrae, Radix Bupleuri, or Fructus Gardeniae in Rats.

Radix Rehmanniae, Fructus Schisandrae, Radix Bupleuri, and Fructus Gardeniae are often used alongside with clozapine (CLZ) for schizophrenia patients in order to reduce side effects and enhance therapeutic efficacy. However, worse outcomes were observed raising concern about a critical issue, herb-drug interactions, which were rarely reported when antipsychotics were included. This study aims to determine whether the concomitant use of these herbal medicines affects the pharmacokinetic characteristics of CLZ in rat models. Rats were given a single or multiple intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg CLZ, either alone or with individual herbal water extracts administered orally. CLZ and its two inactive metabolites, norclozapine and clozapine N-oxide, were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. In the acute treatment, the formation of both metabolites was reduced, while no significant change was observed in the CLZ pharmacokinetics for any of the herbal extracts. In the chronic treatment, none of the four herbal extracts significantly influenced the pharmacokinetic parameters of CLZ and its metabolites. Renal and liver functions stayed normal after the 11-day combined use of herbal medicines. Overall, the four herbs had limited interaction effect on CLZ pharmacokinetics in the acute and chronic treatment. Herb-drug interaction includes both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic mechanisms. This result gives us a hint that pharmacodynamic herb-drug interaction, instead of pharmacokinetic types, may exist and need further confirmation.

Putamen-related regional and network functional deficits in first-episode schizophrenia with auditory verbal hallucinations.

OBJECTIVE: Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are one of the cardinal symptoms of schizophrenia (SZ). Cerebral dysfunction may represent pathophysiological underpinnings behind AVHs in SZ. However, regional and network functional deficits for AVHs in SZ remain to be identified. METHODS: Seventeen medication-naïve first-episode SZ patients with AVHs, 15 without AVHs, and 19 healthy controls (HCs) were studied using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We compared the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) among these subjects. Areas with both ALFF and ReHo alterations were used as seeds in functional connectivity (FC) analysis. Then we performed correlation analysis between image measures and symptoms and receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: One-way analysis of variance showed significant differences of ALFF and ReHo in the bilateral putamen, thereby being used as seeds. SZ patients with AVHs showed decreased ALFF in the left putamen, increased ReHo in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and increased right putamen-seeded FC with the left DLPFC and Broca's area relative to those without AVHs. Furthermore, the increased strength of the connectivity between the right putamen and left Broca's area correlated with the severity of SZ symptoms. Both patient groups demonstrated hypoconnectivity within frontal/parietal/temporal cortico-striatal-cerebellar networks compared with HCs. CONCLUSION: AVHs in SZ may be caused by abnormal regional function in the putamen and prefrontal cortex, as well as hyperconnectivity between them. The putamen-related regional and network functional deficits may reflect imbalance in neuromodulation of AVHs in SZ. Furthermore, dysconnectivity within cortico-striatal-cerebellar networks might subserve the pathogenesis of SZ.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ameliorates anxiety-like behavior and impaired sensorimotor gating in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been employed for decades as a non-pharmacologic treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although a link has been suggested between PTSD and impaired sensorimotor gating (SG), studies assessing the effects of rTMS against PTSD or PTSD with impaired SG are scarce. AIM: To assess the benefit of rTMS in a rat model of PTSD. METHODS: Using a modified single prolonged stress (SPS&S) rat model of PTSD, behavioral parameters were acquired using open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and prepulse inhibition trial (PPI), with or without 7 days of high frequency (10Hz) rTMS treatment of SPS&S rats. RESULTS: Anxiety-like behavior, impaired SG and increased plasma level of cortisol were observed in SPS&S animals after stress for a prolonged time. Interestingly, rTMS administered immediately after stress prevented those impairment. CONCLUSION: Stress-induced anxiety-like behavior, increased plasma level of cortisol and impaired PPI occur after stress and high-frequency rTMS has the potential to ameliorate this behavior, suggesting that high frequency rTMS should be further evaluated for its use as a method for preventing PTSD.

Gastrodin ameliorates depression-like behaviors and up-regulates proliferation of hippocampal-derived neural stem cells in rats: involvement of its anti-inflammatory action.

Gastrodin (GAS), an active constituent of the Chinese herbal medicine tianma, has antidepressant-like activity in animals but no specific molecular mechanisms have been identified. In the present study, chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) was used to establish a rat depression model; The sucrose preference test, forced swim test and Morris water maze test were used to assess depression-like behaviors (anhedonia, behavioral despair, motor retardation, and poor spatial memory), and the proliferation of hippocampal stem cells was tested by BrdU immunohistochemistry. The stress and inflammatory responses were assayed by measuring IL-RA, NF-κB, and p-iκB expression by Western blot and IL-1ß production by ELISA. Direct and indirect effects of GAS on NSC viable cell number were examined in vitro by WST-1 and BrdU assays. It was found that GAS (200 mg/kg daily) reversed all tested depression-like behaviors in CUS model rats and up-regulated NSCs proliferation in the hippocampus. Enhanced expression of p-iκB, NF-κB, and IL-1ß by CUS was also reversed by GAS. Moreover, in vitro experiments revealed that GAS alone did not increase the viability of NSCs but protected them from IL-1ß-induced damage. These results support the antidepressant and neuroprotective effects of GAS, and GAS may reduce depression-like behaviors by protecting hippocampal NSCs against the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1ß.

Rosmarinic acid ameliorates PTSD-like symptoms in a rat model and promotes cell proliferation in the hippocampus.

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is an important component of Chinese herbal medicine treatments and has been demonstrated to exert therapeutic effects in mood disorders. The present study was designed to assess the effects of RA on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms, hippocampal cell proliferation and phosphorylation extracellular regulated protein kinases (pERK1/2) expression. We found that administration of RA (10mg/kg) alleviated PTSD-like symptoms in rats exposed to an enhanced single prolonged stress (ESPS) paradigm and restored hippocampal proliferation and pERK1/2 expression. Interestingly, the effects of RA were inhibited by the blockage of the ERK signaling. These data support the use of RA for treating PTSD and indicate that the ERK1/2 signaling cascade may play a critical role in the therapeutic efficacy of RA in treating such conditions.