Vitamin C, vitamin E, ß-carotene and risk of Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the relationship between the intake of vitamin C, vitamin E and ß-carotene, and the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane library, CNKI, and WanFang databases were searched from inception to 29 August 2022 for observational studies reporting the odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks (RRs) or hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of PD by Vitamin C/Vitamin E/ß-carotene intake. Random-effects models, publication bias assessment, subgroup, sensitivity and dose-response analyses were performed, using.Stata version 12.0. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies were included. There was no significant association between high-dose vitamin C intake and the risk of PD compared with low-dose vitamin C intake (RR = 0.98, 95%CI:0.89,1.08). Compared with low-dose intake, high-dose intake of vitamin E can prevent the risk of PD (RR = 0.87, 95%CI:0.77,0.99). Compared with lower ß-carotene intake, there was a borderline non-significant correlation between higher intake and PD risk (RR = 0.91, 95%CI:0.82,1.01), and high dose ß-carotene intake was found to be associated with a lower risk of PD in women (RR = 0.78, 95%CI:0.64,0.96). CONCLUSION: This study shows that vitamin E intake can reduce the risk of PD and play a preventive role.

Application of digital-intelligence technology in the processing of Chinese materia medica.

Processing of Chinese Materia Medica (PCMM) is the concentrated embodiment, which is the core of Chinese unique traditional pharmaceutical technology. The processing includes the preparation steps such as cleansing, cutting and stir-frying, to make certain impacts on the quality and efficacy of Chinese botanical drugs. The rapid development of new computer digital technologies, such as big data analysis, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain and cloud computing artificial intelligence, has promoted the rapid development of traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing industry with digitalization and intellectualization. In this review, the application of digital intelligence technology in the PCMM was analyzed and discussed, which hopefully promoted the standardization of the process and secured the quality of botanical drugs decoction pieces. Through the intellectualization and the digitization of production, safety and effectiveness of clinical use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction pieces were ensured. This review also provided a theoretical basis for further technical upgrading and high-quality development of TCM industry.

Mechanism and Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Against Obesity: Prevention and Treatment Strategies.

In the last few decades, the incidences of obesity and related metabolic disorders worldwide have increased dramatically. Major pathophysiology of obesity is termed "lipotoxicity" in modern western medicine (MWM) or "dampness-heat" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). "Dampness-heat" is a very common and critically important syndrome to guild clinical treatment in TCM. However, the pathogenesis of obesity in TCM is not fully clarified, especially by MWM theories compared to TCM. In this review, the mechanism underlying the action of TCM in the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders was thoroughly discussed, and prevention and treatment strategies were proposed accordingly. Hypoxia and inflammation caused by lipotoxicity exist in obesity and are key pathophysiological characteristics of "dampness-heat" syndrome in TCM. "Dampness-heat" is prevalent in chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, prone to insulin resistance (IR), and causes variant metabolic disorders. In particular, the MWM theories of hypoxia and inflammation were applied to explain the "dampness-heat" syndrome of TCM, and we summarized and proposed the pathological path of obesity: lipotoxicity, hypoxia or chronic low-grade inflammation, IR, and metabolic disorders. This provides significant enrichment to the scientific connotation of TCM theories and promotes the modernization of TCM.

[Screening and identification of GABA-producing microbes in fermentation process of Sojae Semen Praeparatum].

A high-content GABA was found in Sojae Semen Praeparatum(SSP), which is a famous traditional Chinese medicine and officially listed in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. To screen out and identify GABA-producing microbes from samples at different time points during the fermenting process of SSP, traditional microbiological methods combined with molecular biological methods were used to study the predominant GABA-producing microorganisms existing in the fermenting process of SSP. This study would lay a foundation for further studying the processing mechanism of SSP. The fermenting process of SSP was based on Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2010 edition), and samples were taken at different time points during the fermenting process of SSP. The bacteria and fungi from samples at different time points in the fermenting process of SSP were cultured, isolated and purified by selective medium, and dominant strains were selected. The dominant bacteria were cultured in the designated liquid medium to prepare the fermentation broths, and GABA in the fermentation broth was qualitatively screened out by thin-layer chromatography. The microbial fermentation broth with GABA spots in the primary screening was quantitatively detected by online pre-column derivatization and high performance liquid chromatography established in our laboratory. GABA-producing microorganisms were screened out from predominant strains, and their GABA contents in fermentation broth were determined. The DNA sequences of GABA-producing bacteria and fungi were amplified using 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA sequences by PCR respectively. The amplified products were sequenced, and the sequencing results were identified through NCBI homology comparison. Molecular biological identification was made by phylogenetic tree constructed by MEGA 7.0 software. Through the homology comparison of NCBI and the construction of phylogenetic tree by MEGA 7.0 software, nine GABA-producing microorganisms were screened out and identified in this study. They were Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium, E. avium, Aspergillus tamarii, A. flavus, A. niger, Cladosporium tenuissimum, Penicillium citrinum and Phanerochaete sordida respectively. For the first time, nine GABA-producing microorganisms were screened out and identified in the samples at different time points during the fermenting process of SSP in this study. The results indicated that multiple predominant GABA-producing microorganisms exist in the fermenting process of SSP and may play an important role in the formation of GABA.

[Effect of hawthorn flavanone on blood-fat and expression of lipogenesis and lipolysis genes of hyperlipidemia model mouse].

OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate the possible mechanism of its function to degrade lipid, we detect the effects of hawthorn flavanone to the influence on blood-fat levels and adipogenesis genes transcription expression in fat and muscle tissue of hyperlipoidemia mouse. METHOD: In this experiment, a total of 48 mouse were randomised to four groups and irrigated with two different concentrations (1.5 g kg(-1) body weight and 3.0 g kg(-1) body weight) of hawthorn flavanone, and killed in 0 h, 1 h, 2 h and 4 h. To estimate the content of TC, TG and HCL-C in blood: Total RNA was isolated from adipose and muscle, Real-time RT-PCR was used to analyze expression changes of adipogenesis genes (SREBP-1c, FAS, HSL and TGH) with time series; to analyze the correlation between TG in blood and some kinds of adipogenesis genes and the ratio of FAS/HARMEAN (HSL, TGH) mRNA in adipose. RESULT: Hawthorn flavanone was able to cut down the level ofTC, TG and HDL significantly in blood and achieved the lowest level at 1 h. In adipose tissue, hawthorn flavanone up-regulated FAS, HSL and TGH, and achieved the level of significance (P<0.05), the expression level of FAS and TGH was ascend after 1 h, but HSL descend. The expression level of SREBP-1c was descend rapidly and achieved the level of significance after treating with hawthorn flavanone at 1 h (P<0.05), after that it rise again to even higher than the level of before treatment. After treating with hawthorn flavanone, the ratio of FAS/HARMEAN (HSL, TGH) in adipose was significantly descend and achieved the lowest level at 1 h (P<0.01), but it was descendsubsequently. In muscle tissue, hawthorn flavanone was able to significantly up-regulated the expression of FAS and HSL and lower dose group showed greater increasing, the change of SREBP-1c was similar in adipose tissue except the more heavily upgrade. CONCLUSION: Hawthorn flavanone had the function of depressing the concentration of blood-fat, it co-adjusted lipid metabolism of animal by regulating the transcription expression of FAS, HSL, TGH and SREBP-1c especially HSL and SREBP-1c transcription level.

Regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion by cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids (CBs) exert untoward effects on reproduction by reducing LH secretion and suppressing gonadal function. Recent evidence suggests these effects are due primarily to hypothalamic dysfunction; however, the mechanism is obscure. Using immortalized hypothalamic GnRH neurons, we find these cells produce and secrete at least two different endocannabinoids. After release, 2-arachidonyl monoacylglycerol and anandamide are rapidly transported into GnRH neurons and are degraded to other lipids by fatty-acid amide hydrolase. The immortalized GnRH neurons also possess CB1 and CB2 receptors that are coupled to Gi/Go proteins whose activation leads to inhibition of GnRH secretion. In perifusion experiments, CBs block pulsatile release of GnRH. When a CB receptor agonist is delivered into the third ventricle of adult female mice, estrous cycles are prolonged by at least 2 d. Although in situ hybridization experiments suggest either that GnRH neurons in vivo do not possess CB1 receptors or that they are very low, transcripts are localized in close proximity to these neurons. Inasmuch as GnRH neurons in vivo possess G protein receptors that are coupled to phospholipase C and increased intracellular Ca2+, these same neurons should also be able to synthesize endocannabinoids. These lipids, in turn, could bind to CB receptors on neighboring cells, and perhaps GnRH neurons, to exert feedback control over GnRH function. This network could serve as a novel mechanism for regulating GnRH secretion where reproductive functions as diverse as the onset of puberty, timing of ovulation, duration of lactational infertility, and initiation/persistence of menopause may be affected.