Effects of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) on factors related to metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to explore whether the supplement of sea buckthorn affects the factors related to metabolic syndrome. The related RCTs from five databases were systematically searched and comprehensively random effects model was used to calculate SMD and 95% CI. The Cochrane deviation risk tool was used to evaluate the deviation risk. Fifteen studies were involved in the meta-analysis. First, sea buckthorn supplementation reduced triglycerides [-0.722 (-1.129, -0.316); p < .001], total cholesterol [-0.345 (-0.639, -0.051); p = .021], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [-0.396 (-0.755, -0.037); p = .031], and increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol [0.370 (0.056, 0.684); p = .021] in overall subjects. Second, subgroup analysis showed that sea buckthorn supplementation reduced lipids only in people with abnormal lipid metabolism. Third, sea buckthorn had no effect on blood sugar, blood pressure, and BMI of the overall subjects. Sea buckthorn may affect the lipid metabolism in circulation, but it cannot affect blood glucose, blood pressure, and BMI. These indicators are closely associated with metabolic syndrome. This study may contribute to the development and utilization of sea buckthorn, and may provide a new and safer way for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. The limitation of this study is high heterogeneity, even if subgroup analysis is used. However, more clinical studies are needed to determine the real effect of sea buckthorn on metabolic syndrome.

Polysaccharides from Hemp Seed Protect against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Intestinal Oxidative Damage via Nrf2-Keap1 Signaling Pathway in Mice.

Hemp seed has been used as a traditional oriental medicine and health food in China for centuries. Polysaccharides from hemp seed (HSP) exhibit important properties of intestinal protection, but there are limited data on the specific underlying mechanism. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of HSP on intestinal oxidative damage induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy) in mice. The results showed that pretreatment with HSP significantly increased the average daily gain, thymus index, spleen index, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in serum and ileal homogenate and significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content in ileal homogenate. In addition, the expression levels of SOD, GSH-Px, Nrf2, heme oxidase-1 (HO-1), and quinoneoxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) mRNA in ileal homogenate were significantly increased. Western blot results showed that HSP significantly upregulated the expression of Nrf2 protein and downregulated the expression of Keap1 protein in the ileum. Collectively, our findings indicated that HSP had protective effects on intestinal oxidative damage induced by Cy in mice, and its mechanism might be related to the activation of Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone 1 receptor antagonism attenuates chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depressive-like behaviors in rats.

Hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and impairment of the central corticotropin-releasing factor system are factors in the pathogenesis of depression. Though several antagonists of the corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor were effective in the recognized behavioral tests for antidepressant activity, there is still little information on the potential interactions between corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor inhibitors and conventional antidepressant therapy. The aim of our study was to assess the influence of CP154526, a corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor blocker, which presented some signs of depression. Our results revealed that CP154526 (5 and 10 mg/kg) or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) treatment notably improved the sucrose consumption, produced anti-depressive-like behavior in open-field test, as well as immobility time in forced swimming test. The levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α, and corticotropin-releasing hormone concentration in the serum were inhibited effectively by CP154526 or fluoxetine administration. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analysis showed the upregulated levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) in the hypothalamus of the rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), while different degrees of downregulation in their expression were detected after CP154526 (5 and 10 mg/kg) or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) treatment, respectively. Thus, our data demonstrated that CP154526 exhibited antidepressant effect in CUMS rats, which might be mediated by decreasing the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and GAP43 expression in the hypothalamus.

Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depressive-like effect via regulating NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in rats.

Ginsenoside (GS Rg1), which has neuroprotection and anti-inflammation activities, is the main active ingredient of Radix Ginseng. However, its antidepressant-like effect in rats remains unclear. Our study was conducted to investigate whether GS Rg1 confers an antidepressant effect in rats exposed to a chronic unpredictable mild stress model of depression and to explore its possible mechanisms. Our results revealed that GS Rg1 treatments for 3 weeks alleviated the depression-related behaviors of chronic unpredictable mild stress-exposed rats, as indicated by increasing sucrose preference, improving locomotor activity and shortening immobile time in both the forced swimming tests and tail suspension tests. And these ameliorative effects of GS Rg1 treatment were involved with regulating chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin beta (IL-1ß) related neuro-inflammation. In addition, we further found that GS Rg1 reversed chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced IL-1ß elevation, possibly by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa B pathway activation and regulating nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome expression. In short, our results suggested that GS Rg1 exerted a potential antidepressant-like effect in chronic unpredictable mild stress rat model of depression, which may provide an insight into the potential of GS Rg1 in therapeutic implications for depression.

Purified Phlorizin from DocynIa Indica (Wall.) Decne by HSCCC, Compared with Whole Extract, Phlorizin and Non-Phlorizin Fragment Ameliorate Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Improves Intestinal Barrier Function in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice.

Natural products generally contain complex and multiple bioactive compounds that are responsible for the effects on health through complicated synergistic and/or suppressive actions. As an important raw material of local ethnic minority tea, ethnomedicines and food supplements in southwestern areas of China, Docynia indica (Wall.) Decne (DID) mainly consists of phlorizin (PHZ), which is the main active component. In this study, the holistic activities and the interactions of components of PHZ, non-phlorizin (NP) in the DID extract (DIDE) were evaluated. A rapid and effective high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was performed to knock out PHZ from DIDE and the purity of PHZ was 96.01% determined by HPLC, with a recovery rate of 96.76%. After 13 weeks of treatment course in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice model, the results revealed that the DIDE and PHZ significantly decreased weight gain, blood lipid levels, hyperplasia of adipocytes and alleviated inflammation (p < 0.05). Both DIDE and PHZ improves insulin resistance (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, the intestinal barrier function was improved compared to HFD group, through the determination of serum lipopolysaccharides (LPS), glucagon-likepeptide-2 (GLP-2) and hematoxylin-eosin staining of jejunum. Interestingly, after NP treatment, the metabolic syndrome of the HFD-induced obesity appeared to have a similar improvement. All the experiments showed that there is a synergistic weakening phenomenon when PHZ and NP interact with each other in the mixed state. In conclusion, for the PHZ and NP showing a good effect on anti-obesity, anti-inflammation, and intestinal barrier function, DIDE could be a good source of functional food to prevent obesity.

The assessment of multipotent cell transplantation in acute-on-chronic liver failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a serious life-threatening disease with high prevalence. Liver transplantation is the only efficient clinical treatment for ACLF. Because of the rapid progression and lack of liver donors, it is urgent to find an effective and safe therapeutic approach to ACLF. Recent studies showed that multipotent cell transplantation could improve the patients' liver function and enhance their preoperative condition. Cells such as mesenchymal stem cells, bone marrow mononuclear cells and autologous peripheral blood stem cells, which addressed in this study have all been used in multipotent cell transplantation for liver diseases. However, its clinical efficiency is still debatable. This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the clinical efficiency of multipotent cell transplantation as a therapeutic approach for patients with ACLF. A detailed search of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and Embase databases was conducted from inception to November 2017. The outcome measures were serum albumin, prothrombin time, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, platelets, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and survival time. The quality of evidence was assessed using GRADEpro and Jaded scores. A literature search resulted in 537 citations. Of these, 9 articles met the inclusion criteria. It was found that multipotent cell transplantation was able to alleviate liver damage and improve liver function. Multipotent cell transplantation can also enhance the short-term and medium-term survival rates of ACLF. All 9 research articles included in this analysis reported no statistically significant adverse events, side effects, or complications. In conclusions, this study suggested that multipotent cell transplantation could be recommended as a potential therapeutic supplementary tool in clinical practice. However, clinical trials in large-volume centers still needed.

[Encephalopathy therapeutic tongue acupoint apparatus (ETTAA) for 42 cases of autism].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of encephalopathy therapeutic tongue acupoint apparatus (ETTAA) in the treatment of autism. METHODS: Eighty-four children of autism were randomly divided into a tongue acupuncture group (group A) and a conventional training group (group B), 42 cases in each group. The behavior training and sensory integration training were carried out in group B and the ETTAA was added in group A. The apparatus was switched on for 20 min every time and 3 times a day. Treatment of two months were carried out in both groups. The score of childhood autism rating scale (CARS) and clinical efficacy in both groups were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the CARS in both groups were significantly reduced (42.39 +/- 6.86 vs 32.15 +/- 5.12, P < 0.001; 44.58 +/- 6.76 vs 39.72 +/- 7.11, P < 0.05), which was more significant in group A (P < 0.01). The totally effective rate in group A [90.5% (38/42)] was superior to that in group B [66.7% (28/42), P < 0.01]. CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy in tongue acupuncture group is apparently superior to that in conventional training group, ETTAA combined with conventional training have a better curative effect in the treatment of autism.

Encephalopathy therapeutic tongue acupoint apparatus (ETTAA) for 42 cases of autism / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy of encephalopathy therapeutic tongue acupoint apparatus (ETTAA) in the treatment of autism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-four children of autism were randomly divided into a tongue acupuncture group (group A) and a conventional training group (group B), 42 cases in each group. The behavior training and sensory integration training were carried out in group B and the ETTAA was added in group A. The apparatus was switched on for 20 min every time and 3 times a day. Treatment of two months were carried out in both groups. The score of childhood autism rating scale (CARS) and clinical efficacy in both groups were observed before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the CARS in both groups were significantly reduced (42.39 +/- 6.86 vs 32.15 +/- 5.12, P < 0.001; 44.58 +/- 6.76 vs 39.72 +/- 7.11, P < 0.05), which was more significant in group A (P < 0.01). The totally effective rate in group A [90.5% (38/42)] was superior to that in group B [66.7% (28/42), P < 0.01].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical efficacy in tongue acupuncture group is apparently superior to that in conventional training group, ETTAA combined with conventional training have a better curative effect in the treatment of autism.</p>

[Tongue acupuncture].

Tongue acupuncture is originated from the theory of TCM through scientific research. Forty points on the tongue are discovered that correspond to organs and certain parts of the body. The findings indicate that the patient with encephalopathy is accompanied by the pathological swelling sublingual fold. The sublingual fold is correlated with spinal and limbs lesions. Tongue acupuncture provides new approaches to treat many diseases. This paper introduces the determined points, manipulation skills and the theory of tongue acupuncture. The applications of PET, fMRI and VEP in tongue acupuncture are covered in this paper.

Tongue acupuncture / 中国针灸

Tongue acupuncture is originated from the theory of TCM through scientific research. Forty points on the tongue are discovered that correspond to organs and certain parts of the body. The findings indicate that the patient with encephalopathy is accompanied by the pathological swelling sublingual fold. The sublingual fold is correlated with spinal and limbs lesions. Tongue acupuncture provides new approaches to treat many diseases. This paper introduces the determined points, manipulation skills and the theory of tongue acupuncture. The applications of PET, fMRI and VEP in tongue acupuncture are covered in this paper.