Anti-osteoporotic effects of Yi Mai Jian on bone metabolism of ovariectomized rats.

Yi Mai Jian herbal formula (YMJ) is formulated with Eucommiae Folium, Astragali Radix, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, and Elaeagnus Fructus to improve bone function in traditional Chinese medicine. The anti-osteoporotic effects of YMJ in bone metabolism were evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The skeletal structure of the femur and vertebrae was analyzed after treating OVX rats with YMJ for 114 days. The results showed that YMJ significantly increased the bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular number (Tb. N) of the femur and 5th lumbar vertebrae and reduced trabecular separation (Tb. Sp). Moreover, trabecular bone volume/total tissue volume (BV/TV), bone stiffness, and maximum femur load were significantly increased. The serum concentrations of NTX1 and PYD were significantly decreased. According to these results, YMJ could ameliorate osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. Eucommiae Folium and Elaeagnus Fructus inhibited osteoclast differentiation, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus inhibited calcium reabsorption, Astragali Radix stimulated osteoblast proliferation, and Astragali Radix and Eucommiae Folium stimulated mineralization. Therefore, the combination of the four herbs into one formula, YMJ, could alleviate bone remodeling caused by low estrogen levels. We suggest that YMJ could be a healthy food candidate for preventing post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Self-Guided DMT: Exploring a Novel Paradigm of Dance Movement Therapy in Mixed Reality for Children with ASD.

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often exhibit motor disorders. Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) has shown great potential for improving the motor control ability of children with ASD. However, traditional DMT methods often lack vividness and are difficult to implement effectively. To address this issue, we propose a Mixed Reality DMT approach, utilizing interactive virtual agents. This approach offers immersive training content and multi-sensory feedback. To improve the training performance of children with ASD, we introduce a novel training paradigm featuring a self-guided mode. This paradigm enables the rapid creation of a virtual twin agent of the child with ASD using a single photo to embody oneself, which can then guide oneself during training. We conducted an experiment with the participation of 24 children diagnosed with ASD (or ASD propensity), recording their training performance under various experimental conditions. Through expert rating, behavior coding of training sessions, and statistical analysis, our findings revealed that the use of the twin agent for self-guidance resulted in noticeable improvements in the training performance of children with ASD. These improvements were particularly evident in terms of enhancing movement quality and refining overall target-related responses. Our study holds clinical potential in the field of medical treatment and rehabilitation for children with ASD.

Molecular and evolutionary mechanisms of self-incompatibility in angiosperms.

As an intraspecific outcrossing mechanism, self-incompatibility (SI) widely adopted by hermaphroditic plants is usually controlled by a polymorphic multi-allelic S locus. Typically, six molecular types of SI have been found, including type-I controlled by the pistil S S-RNase and pollen S SLFs commonly spread in Plantaginaceae, Solanaceae, Rosaceae and Rutaceae, type-II by SRK and SCR in Brassicaceae, type-III by PrsS and PrpS in Papaveraceae, type-IV by CYP-GLO2-KFB-CCM-PUM in Primulaceae, type-V by TsSPH1-TsYUC6-TsBAHD in Turneraceae and type-VI by HPS10-S and DUF247I-S in Poaceae, with type-I characterized as a non-self recognition system but types-II, -III and -VI self ones. Furthermore, remarkable progresses have been made in their origin and evolutionary mechanisms recently. Among them, type-I SI possessed a single origin in the most recent common ancestor of eudicots and types II-V dynamically evolved following its losses, while type-VI SI exclusively existed in monocot Poaceae may be regained after the loss of the ancient type-I. Here, we mainly review the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms of angiosperm SI systems, thus providing a helpful reference for their theoretical research and breeding application.

FDA Approval Summary: Tremelimumab in Combination with Durvalumab for the Treatment of Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

On October 21, 2022, the FDA approved tremelimumab (Imjudo) in combination with durvalumab for adult patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. The approval was based on the results from the HIMALAYA study, in which patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who were naïve to previous systemic treatment were randomly assigned to receive one of three study arms: tremelimumab in combination with durvalumab (n = 393), durvalumab (n = 389), or sorafenib (n = 389). The primary objective of improvement in overall survival (OS) for tremelimumab in combination with durvalumab compared with sorafenib met statistical significance with a stratified HR of 0.78 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.66-0.92; P = 0.0035]. The median OS was 16.4 months (95% CI, 14.2-19.6) with tremelimumab in combination with durvalumab and 13.8 months (95% CI, 12.3-16.1) with sorafenib. Adverse reactions occurring in ≥20% of patients receiving tremelimumab in combination with durvalumab were rash, fatigue, diarrhea, pruritus, musculoskeletal pain, and abdominal pain. The recommended tremelimumab dose for patients weighing 30 kg or more is 300 mg, i.v., as a single dose in combination with durvalumab 1,500 mg at cycle 1/day 1, followed by durvalumab 1,500 mg, i.v., every 4 weeks. For those weighing less than 30 kg, the recommended tremelimumab dose is 4 mg/kg, i.v., as a single dose in combination with durvalumab 20 mg/kg, i.v., followed by durvalumab 20 mg/kg, i.v., every 4 weeks.

Moxibustion intervention improves synovitis by down-regulating NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1ß signaling of synovial tissue in rats with adjuvant arthritis. / 基于NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1ßä¿¡å·é€šè·¯æŽ¢è®¨è‰¾ç¸æ”¹å–„ä½å‰‚æ€§å ³èŠ‚ç‚Žå¤§é¼ æ»‘è†œç‚Žçš„æœºåˆ¶.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of moxibustion on activities of NOD-like receptor family protein 3 (NLRP3)/cysteine aspartic acid specific protease-1 (Caspase-1)/interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) signaling pathway in rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Me-thods Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control, AA model and moxibustion groups, with 10 rats in each group. The AA model was replicated by raising in wind, cold and damp environment combined with complete Freund's adjuvant injection. In the moxibustion group, moxibustion was applied to bilateral "Shenshu" (BL23) and "Zusanli"(ST36) for 20 min each time, once daily for 21 days. Changes of joint swelling degree (JSD) and arthritis index (AI) in each group were observed. The ultrastructural changes of synovial cells in each group were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The protein expression levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), Caspase-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1ß in the synovial tissues of the knee joint were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, JSD, AI and the protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, TNF-α and IL-1ß in the synovial tissues were significantly increased (P<0.01) in the model group. In comparison with the model group, JSD, AI and the protein expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, TNF-α and IL-1ß were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the moxibustion group. Results of transmission electron microscope showed an irregular and vague nuclear membrane of synovial cells, and unclear mitochondrial membrane boundary with sparse, swelling crests in the model group, which was relatively milder in the damage degree in the moxibustion group. CONCLUSIONS: Moxibustion can relieve the inflammatory response in the synovial membrane of AA rats, which may be related to its function in down-regulating synovial NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1ß inflammatory signaling.

Bioinformatic Analysis of Key Biomarkers and Infiltrating Immune Cells in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Context: The liver is both the largest metabolic and the largest immune organ and is closely related to the mechanisms of disease development. Clarifying the immune environment of the NAFLD liver to determine its interactions with biomarkers would be beneficial in exploring the mechanisms of disease development. Objective: The study aimed to identify biomarkers and immune cells associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to analyze the correlation between key genes and immune cells in NAFLD, to improve the understanding of the mechanisms underlying NAFLD and provide potential therapeutic targets. Design: The research team performed a genetic study. Setting: The study took place at Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Outcome Measures: The research team: (1) obtained the NAFLD-related datasets GSE63067, GSE48452, and GSE89632 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database; (2) analyzed immune-cell infiltrates using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) to determine the hub immune cells; (3) selected the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the NAFLD and normal samples and screened them to identify the hub genes; (4) evaluated the efficiency of the hub genes using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves; and (5) analyzed the correlations between hub genes and immune cells. Results: The research team: (1) found 28 differential immune cells; (2) identified monocytes as the hub immune cells; (3) identified 55 DEGs; (4) comparing the top 10 genes, identified five hub genes: S100 calcium binding proteins A12 (S100A12), S100A9, S100A8, selectin L (SELL), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG); (5) for all five, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was greater than 0.6-training set: AUCSA00A12 = 0.699, AUCSELL = 0.743, AUCS100A9 = 0.735, AUCSHBG = 0.752, and AUCS100A8 = 0.703; and validation set: AUCSA00A12 = 0.852, AUCSELL = 0.905, AUCS100A9 = 0.819, AUCSHBG = 0.830, and AUCS100A8 = 0.822; (6) negatively correlated SHBG with immune cells (P > .05, r=-0.09); and (7) positively correlated S100A12, S100A9, S100A8, and SELL with immune cells-rS100A8 = 0.40, rS100A9 = 0.50, rS100A12 = 0.38, and rSELL = 0.42, respectively. Conclusions: Based on bioinformatic analyses, the progression of NAFLD may involve monocytes through promotion of liver inflammation. The hub genes S100A12, S100A9, S100A8, SELL, and SHBG are potential biomarkers that may be useful as diagnostic tools or therapeutic targets for NAFLD.

Electroacupuncture may alleviate diabetic neuropathic pain by inhibiting the microglia P2X4R and neuroinflammation.

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a common and destructive complication of diabetes mellitus. The discovery of effective therapeutic methods for DNP is vitally imperative because of the lack of effective treatments. Although 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) was a successful approach for relieving DNP, the mechanism underlying the effect of EA on DNP is still poorly understood. Here, we established a rat model of DNP that was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection. P2X4R was upregulated in the spinal cord after STZ-injection. The upregulation of P2X4R was mainly expressed on activated microglia. Intrathecal injection of a P2X4R antagonist or microglia inhibitor attenuated STZ-induced nociceptive thermal hyperalgesia and reduced the overexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the spinal cord. We also assessed the effects of EA treatment on the pain hypersensitivities of DNP rats, and further investigated the possible mechanism underlying the analgesic effect of EA. EA relieved the hyperalgesia of DNP. In terms of mechanism, EA reduced the upregulation of P2X4R on activated microglia and decreased BDNF, IL-1ß and TNF-α in the spinal cord. Mechanistic research of EA's analgesic impact would be beneficial in ensuring its prospective therapeutic effect on DNP as well as in extending EA's applicability.

[Mechanism of action and exogenous supplementation of vitamin D in Crohn's disease]. / ç»´ç”Ÿç´ Dåœ¨å ‹ç½—æ©ç— ä¸­çš„ä½œç”¨æœºåˆ¶åŠå¤–æºæ€§è¡¥å 作用.

Vitamin D can not only regulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism, but also exert an immunoregulatory effect. Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Studies have shown that vitamin D is associated with CD and other autoimmune diseases and can improve the condition of patients with CD and promote their recovery by regulating intestinal immunity, repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier, inhibiting intestinal fibrosis, enhancing the response to infliximab, and regulating intestinal microbiota. Exogenous vitamin D supplementation can induce disease remission while increasing the serum level of vitamin D. However, only a few randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trials have investigated the therapeutic effect of vitamin D in CD, and the optimal form of vitamin D supplementation, the specific dosage of vitamin D supplementation, and the optimal serum maintenance concentration of vitamin D remain to be clarified. This article mainly discusses the mechanism of action of vitamin D in CD and the beneficial effect of exogenous vitamin D supplementation on CD.

Follicular development and ovary aging: single-cell studies.

Follicular development is a critical process in reproductive biology that determines the number of oocytes and interacts with various cells within the follicle (such as oocytes, granulosa cells, cumulus cells and theca cells, etc.), and plays a vital role in fertility and reproductive health due to the dogma of a limited number of oogonia. Dysregulation of follicular development can lead to infertility problems and other reproductive disorders. To explore the physiological and pathological mechanisms of follicular development, immunology-based methods, microarrays, and next-generation sequencing have traditionally been used for characterization at the tissue level. However, with the proliferation of single-cell sequencing techniques, research has uncovered unique molecular mechanisms in individual cells that have been masked by previous holistic analyses. In this review, we briefly summarize the achievements and limitations of traditional methods in the study of follicular development. Simultaneously, we focus on how to understand the physiological process of follicular development at the single-cell level and reveal the relevant mechanisms leading to the pathology of follicular development and intervention targets. Moreover, we also summarize the limitations and application prospects of single cell sequencing in follicular development research.

[The anti-inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture in mice with spinal cord injury and molecular mechanism based on transcriptome sequencing technology].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on neural function and spinal cord pathological morphology in spinal cord injury(SCI) mice and investigate the anti-inflammatory molecular mechanism of EA on SCI mice from the aspects of gene by using bioinformatics. METHODS: Seventy-two female C57BL/6 mice were randomized into sham operation, model and EA groups, with 24 mice in each group. The SCI model was established by clamping the spinal cord with a serrefine after laminectomy at the 1st lumbar vertebra(L1). EA(1.5 Hz/7.5 Hz, 1.0 mA) was applied to bilateral "Jiaji"(EX-B2) and "Zusanli"(ST36) for 10 min, once a day for 14 consecutive days. Basso Mouse Scale(BMS) score was used to assess the hindlimb locomotor function of mice. Histopathological changes of the injured area of the spinal cord were determined by HE staining. The spinal cord RNA was sequenced by using RNA-Seq technology. The bioinformatic analysis was then performed to detect the diffe-rential genes between groups, and the function classification and the involved pathways were enriched. The mRNA and protein expressions of differential genes were detected and verified by using qRT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, BMS score of the model group was significantly decreased(P<0.05), while that of EA group was increased relevant to the model group (P<0.05). HE staining showed loose and disordered structure and arrangement, cavitation, more inflammatory infiltration, nucleus pycnosis, and neuronal necrosis in the model group, which was alleviated in the EA group. Compared with the sham operation group, 565 differential genes were detected in the model group, including 545 up-regulated and 20 down-regulated, while 41 were detected between the EA and the model group, including 2 up-regulated and 39 down-regulated in the EA group. Fifteen genes that were all up-regulated after modeling and down-regulated after EA intervention were detected by using Venn plot, which are Retn, Adipoq, Myh1, Actn2, Pck1, Klhl41, Fabp4, Hspb7, Myot, Ankrd2, Hrc, Cox6a2, Obscn, Col2a1, Mybpc1, and 3 inflammation-related genes(Fabp4, Adipoq and Pck1) were finally acquired. The 15 differential genes were annotated into main biological processes, cell composition and molecular function in the GO function classification analysis. The 15 differential genes were then enriched into different KEGG pathways, including the peroxisome proliferatorsactivated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway, Adipocytokine signaling pathway. The mRNA and protein expressions of Fabp4, Adipoq and Pck1 in spinal cord detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.001, P<0.01), while these were significantly decreased in the EA group relevant to the model group(P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can promote the repair of nerve function and improve inflammatory infiltration in SCI mice. The mechanism may be closely related to the down-regulation of inflammatory factors Fabp4, Adipoq and Pck1 expression, and the regulation of PPAR and Adipocytokine signaling pathways.

Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Polysaccharide alleviates depression in CUMS mice by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 signaling pathway and affecting the composition of their intestinal flora.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (PL) has been commonly used to de-stressing the liver and relieve depression in traditional Chinese medicine for over a thousand years. Recently, it has been widely used in studies on anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory and regulation of intestinal flora. However, the polysaccharide component has received less attention than the saponin component of PL. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of Paeonia lactiflora polysaccharide (PLP) on depressive behavior in mice in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model and its possible action mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A model of chronic depression induced by the CUMS approach. Behavioral experiments were used to assess the success of the CUMS model and the therapeutic impact of PLP. Then the extent of damage to the colonic mucosa was assessed by H&E staining; the extent of neuronal damage was assessed by Nissler staining. Inflammatory factor expression was assessed at different sites in the mouse by enzyme-linked immunoassay (Elisa). The alterations of faecal microflora were detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In the colonic tissues, NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 mRNA and protein levels detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot(WB). RUSULTS: PLP can improve depressive behavior in CUMS mice, and colonic mucosal and neuronal damage. Elisa assay showed that PLP could reduce interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels, and increase 5-Hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) levels in CUMS mice. 16S sequencing analysis showed that PLP could regulate the intestinal flora of CUMS mice and increase their species richness. In addition, PLP significantly inhibited NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 signalling pathways activation in the colonic tissues of CUMS mice. CONCLUSIONS: PLP modulates depression-related intestinal ecological dysregulation, increases species richness, and inhibits inflammatory factors levels and NLRP3 inflammasome activation to reduce colonic mucosal and neurons damage, thereby improving depression-like behavior and neurotransmitter release in CUMS mice.

[Observation of the long-term clinical efficacy of "Fuyang Guben" acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on perennial allergic rhinitis and its effects on the total IgE and IL-4 in the serum].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term clinical efficacy and safety of "Fuyang Guben" (supporting yang and consolidating root) acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), and to explore its functioning mechanism. METHODS: The patients with PAR were randomly divided into acupuncture + western medicine group (n=30) and western medicine group (n=30). In the western medicine group, fluticasone propionate nasal spray was administered, one spray in each nostril in one treatment, once a day, for 6 weeks. On the basis of the western medicine group, fuyangguben acupuncture-moxibustion therapy was supplemented. Acupuncture was applied to Shangxing (GV23), Yintang (GV24+), and bilateral Yingxiang (LI20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN8), Sibai (ST2), Hegu (LI4) and Chize (LU5); warm needling was applied at Dazhui (GV14). The patients of this group received 30 min of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy 3 times weekly during the first 4 weeks and twice a week in the last 2 weeks, totally for 6 weeks. Before treatment, after treatment, in week 10, 18 and 30 of follow-up visits, the reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS), the total non-nasal symptom score (TNNSS), the total ophthalmic symptom score (TOSS), and the score of the rhinitis quality of life (RQLQ) scale were compared in the patients of the two groups separately. Using ELISA, the serum concentrations of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were detected before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the rTNSS, TNNSS, TOSS, as well as RQLQ score were lower in comparison with those before treatment in each group (P<0.05).The rTNSS, TNNSS, TOSS and the score of RQLQ in the week 10, 18 and 30 of follow-up visits were reduced when compared with those before treatment in each group (P<0.05), and these scores in the acupuncture + western medicine group were remarkably lower than those of the western medicine group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum contents of total IgE and IL-4 were significantly decreased when compared with those before treatment in the acupuncture + western medicine group (P<0.05), and these indicators in the acupuncture + western medicine group were lower than those of the western medicine group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: On the base of treatment with fluticasone propionate nasal spray, "Fuyang Guben" acupuncture-moxibustion therapy is safe and effective on PAR, presenting a remarkably long-term efficacy. The functioning mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of total IgE and IL-4 in serum.

Identification of glycogen phosphorylase L as a potential target for lung cancer.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used for cancer treatment. Identification of anti-cancer targets of TCM is the first and principal step in discovering molecular mechanisms of TCM as well as obtaining novel targets for cancer therapy. In this study, glycogen phosphorylase L (PYGL) was identified as one of the targeted proteins for several TCMs and was upregulated in various cancer types. The expression level of PYGL was positively correlated with the stage of lung cancer and the poor prognosis of patients. Meanwhile, knockdown of PYGL significantly inhibited proliferation and migration in lung cancer cells. In addition, PYGL was associated with spindle, kinetochore, and microtubule, the cellular components that are closely related to mitosis, in lung cancer. Moreover, PYGL was more susceptible to be upregulated by 144 mutated genes. Taken together, PYGL is a potential target for lung cancer treatment and its molecular mechanism probably influences the mitotic function of cells by regulating energy metabolism.

Structural and functional improvement of amygdala sub-regions in postpartum depression after acupuncture.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the changes in structure and function in amygdala sub-regions in patients with postpartum depression (PPD) before and after acupuncture. Methods: A total of 52 patients with PPD (All-PPD group) were included in this trial, 22 of which completed 8 weeks of acupuncture treatment (Acu-PPD group). An age-matched control group of 24 healthy postpartum women (HPW) from the hospital and community were also included. Results from the 17-Hamilton Depression Scale (17-HAMD) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were evaluated, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans were performed at baseline and after the acupuncture treatment. Sub-regions of the amygdala were used as seed regions to measure gray matter volume (GMV) and analyzed for resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) values separately. Finally, correlation analyses were performed on all patients with PPD to evaluate association values between the clinical scale scores, GMV, and RSFC values, while controlling for age and education. Pearson's correlation analyses were conducted to investigate the relevance between GMV and RSFC values of brain regions that differed before and after acupuncture treatment and clinical scale scores in Acu-PPD patients. Results: The HAMD scores for Acu-PPD were reduced after acupuncture treatment (P < 0.05), suggesting the positive effects of acupuncture on depression symptoms. Structurally, the All-PPD group showed significantly decreased GMV in the left lateral part of the amygdala (lAMG.L) and the right lateral part of the amygdala (lAMG.R) compared to the HPW group (P < 0.05). In addition, the GMV of lAMG.R was marginally increased in the Acu-PPD group after acupuncture (P < 0.05). Functionally, the Acu-PPD group showed a significantly enhanced RSFC between the left medial part of the amygdala (mAMG.L) and the left vermis_6, an increased RSFC between the right medial part of the amygdala (mAMG.R) and left vermis_6, and an increased RSFC between the lAMG.R and left cerebelum_crus1 (P < 0.05). Moreover, correlation studies revealed that the GMV in the lAMG.R was significantly related to the EPDS scores in the All-PPD group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that the structure of amygdala sub-regions is impaired in patients with PPD. Acupuncture may improve depressive symptoms in patients with PPD, and the mechanism may be attributed to changes in the amygdala sub-region structure and the functional connections of brain areas linked to the processing of negative emotions. The fMRI-based technique can provide comprehensive neuroimaging evidence to visualize the central mechanism of action of acupuncture in PPD.

Reabsorption of intervertebral disc prolapse after conservative treatment with traditional Chinese medicine: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Conservative treatments have been reported to diminish or resolve clinical symptoms of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH) within a few weeks. CASE SUMMARY: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar region of a 25-year-old male diagnosed with LIDH showed prolapse of the L5/S2 disc. The disc extended 1.0 cm beyond the vertebral edge and hung along the posterior vertebral edge. The patient elected a conservative treatment regimen that included traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture, and massage. During a follow-up period of more than 12 mo, good improvement in pain was reported without complications. MRI of the lumbar region after 12 mo showed obvious reabsorption of the herniation. CONCLUSION: A conservative treatment regimen of TCM, acupuncture, and massage promoted reabsorption of a prolapsed disc.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging providing the brain effect mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for depression.

The efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of depression has been fully recognized internationally. However, its central mechanism is still not developed into a unified standard, and it is generally believed that the central mechanism is regulation of the cortical striatum thalamic neural pathway of the limbic system. In recent years, some scholars have applied functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the central mechanism and the associated brain effects of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for depression. This study reviews the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of depression from two aspects: (1) fMRI study of the brain function related to the acupuncture treatment of depression: different acupuncture and moxibustion methods are summarized, the fMRI technique is elaborately explained, and the results of fMRI study of the effects of acupuncture are analyzed in detail, and (2) fMRI associated "brain functional network" effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on depression, including the effects on the hippocampus, the amygdala, the cingulate gyrus, the frontal lobe, the temporal lobe, and other brain regions. The study of the effects of acupuncture on brain imaging is not adequately developed and still needs further improvement and development. The brain function networks associated with the acupuncture treatment of depression have not yet been adequately developed to provide a scientific and standardized mechanism of the effects of acupuncture. For this purpose, this study analyzes in-depth the clinical studies on the treatment of anxiety and depression by acupuncture and moxibustion, by depicting how the employment of fMRI technology provides significant imaging changes in the brain regions. Therefore, the study also provides a reference for future clinical research on the treatment of anxiety and depression.

An overview of traditional Chinese medicine affecting gut microbiota in obesity.

Obesity, a chronic metabolic disease with a complex pathophysiology, is caused by several variables. High-fat diets lead to the disruption of the gut microbiota and impaired gut barrier function in obese people. The dysbiosis and its metabolites through the intestinal barrier lead to an imbalance in energy metabolism and inflammatory response, which eventually contributes to the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Current medicines are therapeutic to obesity in the short term; however, they may bring significant physical and emotional problems to patients as major side effects. Therefore, it is urgent to explore new therapeutic methods that have definite efficacy, can be taken for a long time, and have mild adverse effects. Numerous studies have demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can control the gut microbiota in a multi-targeted and comprehensive manner, thereby restoring flora homeostasis, repairing damaged intestinal mucosal barriers, and eventually curbing the development of obesity. The active ingredients and compounds of TCM can restore the normal physiological function of the intestinal mucosal barrier by regulating gut microbiota to regulate energy metabolism, inhibit fat accumulation, affect food appetite, and reduce intestinal mucosal inflammatory response, thereby effectively promoting weight loss and providing new strategies for obesity prevention and treatment. Although there are some studies on the regulation of gut microbiota by TCM to prevent and treat obesity, all of them have the disadvantage of being systematic and comprehensive. Therefore, this work comprehensively describes the molecular mechanism of obesity mediated by gut microbiota based on the research state of obesity, gut microbiota, and TCM. A comprehensive and systematic summary of TCM targeting the regulation of gut microbiota for the treatment of obesity should be conducted in order to provide new strategies and ideas for the treatment of obesity.

Pharmacodynamic structure of deer antler base protein and its mammary gland hyperplasia inhibition mechanism by mediating Raf-1/MEK/ERK signaling pathway activation.

Mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH) is a common mammary disease whose main pathogenesis is the disruption of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) secretion, thereby causing overproliferation of mammary epithelial cells and mammary gland tissue hyperplasia. Deer antler base is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for many years to treat MGH. However, its pharmacological mechanism and pharmacodynamic material basis are unclear. In this study, we for the first time used the graded salting method to classify deer antler base protein (CNCP) as CNCP-A, CNCP-B, and CNCP-C and explored the pharmacological mechanism of the anti-MGH properties of CNCP. We found that CNCP could regulate the hormonal levels of E2, P, and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and improve the histopathological condition. The potential mechanism might be related to the recombinant C-Raf proto oncogene serine/threonine protein kinase/mitogen-activated protein/extracellular regulated protein kinase (Raf-1/MEK/ERK) signaling pathway. By upregulating the protein expression of the follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein kinase A (PKA) inhibited the activation of the downstream Raf-1/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, which in turn inhibited the proliferation of mammary epithelial cells. We analyzed the physicochemical properties of CNCP-A, CNCP-B, and CNCP-C and obtained CNCP-C-I by column chromatographic purification of the best pharmacophore protein CNCP. Using high-performance liquid gel filtration chromatography (HPGFC), we determined the molecular weight of CNCP-C-I and identified it by high-performance liquid tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to obtain the first match for a high confidence protein KRT1. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of effective traditional Chinese medicines with low toxicity levels for the prevention and treatment of mammary gland diseases.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for postpartum hypogalactia: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Breast milk is recognised as the best natural food for neonates, but many women experience postpartum hypogalactia (PH). Randomised trials have found that acupuncture exert therapeutic effect on women with PH. However, systematic reviews on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture are still lacking; therefore, this systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PH. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Six English databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science) and four Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan-Fang, Chinese Biomedical Literature and Chinese Scientific Journal) will be systematically searched from their establishment to 1 September 2022. Randomised controlled trials of the efficacy of acupuncture for PH will be reviewed. The study selection, data extraction and research quality evaluation will be conducted independently by two reviewers. The primary outcome is the change in serum prolactin level from baseline to the end of treatment. Secondary results include milk secretion volume, total effectiveness rate, degree of mammary fullness, rate of exclusive breast feeding, and adverse events. A meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan V.5.4 statistical software. Otherwise, a descriptive analysis will be conducted. The risk of bias will be assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review protocol does not require ethical approval because it does not include private information/data of the participants. This article will be published in peer-reviewed journals. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022351849.

Effects of Ipratropium Bromide Combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention on the Pulmonary Function and Psychological Status of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Recently, most scholars have advocated multidisciplinary comprehensive intervention measures for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to improve lung function, relieve symptoms of dyspnea, and improve quality of life. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has rich experience in the treatment of various respiratory system diseases and the rehabilitation of their syndrome differentiation. In this study, total 68 patients with COPD from November 2019 to November 2021 in the hospitals were divided into the control group, ipratropium bromide (IB)-treated group, and IB + TCM-treated group for clinical efficacy observation and to explore the effect of IB combined with TCM on the pulmonary function and psychological status of COPD patients. Patients in the control group were subjected to routine oxygen inhalation, cough and expectorant, and antiviral treatments, while the patients in the IB-treated group were treated with IB and those received in the control group. Patients in the IB + TCM-treated group were treated with IB and TCM intervention. All patients were treated for a month. The results showed that after different interventions, the levels of FEV1, FEV1% pred, FVC, and PEF (P < 0.05) were significantly increased in all the groups, while levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and CRP in serum as well as Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression scores were significantly decreased. Compared with the control group and IB-treated group, the IB + TCM-treated group presented the greatest changes on all abovementioned indicators and the lowest total incidence of adverse reactions, indicating the biggest improvement of IB + TCM on the symptoms of COPD patients. Therefore, the combination of IB and TCM intervention effectively improved the pulmonary function and psychological status of COPD patients and could be used as an important adjunct for COPD treatment.