[Clinical characteristics of five traditional Chinese medicine injections in treating heart failure based on Meta-analysis literature].

In this article, we analyze the clinical characteristics of five kinds of traditional Chinese medicine injections in treating heart failure based on Meta-analysis. A total of 24 Meta-analysis papers were included, which involved Shenfu Injection, Shenmai Injection, Shengmai Injection, Danhong Injection and Huangqi Injection. The numbers of literatures of Shenfu Injection, Shenmai Injection and Shengmai Injection are high than the other two injections. The efficiencies of these injections combined with Western medicine are higher than the Western medicine used alone. They can improve 6 minute walk test result, ejection fraction, the level of brain peptide sodium and so on. Shenfu Injection can also improve the living quality of patients' life, heart rate and other indicators. Shenfu Injection can be used for patients with Yin deficiency, while Shenmai Injection can be used for patients with Yin deficiency and Shengmai Injection can be used for patients with Qi and Yin deficiency. From this information, we can see that Western medicine combined with traditional Chinese medicine injections can significantly improve the clinical efficiency. These injections need to be used according to patients' symptom. In the present, as the quality of clinical research literature of traditional Chinese medicine injections is low, the efficiency and safety evaluation of Chinese medicine injections still requires higher level of clinical evidence.

Xiaoyaosan decoction, a traditional chinese medicine, inhibits oxidative-stress-induced hippocampus neuron apoptosis in vitro.

Xiaoyaosan (XYS) decoction is a famous prescription for the treatment of mental disorders in China. In this experiment, we explored the way in which XYS decoction-reverse hippocampus neuron apoptosis in vitro. We used XYS decoction-containing serum to treat oxidative-stress-induced hippocampus neuron apoptosis and used immunofluorescence to determine the concentration of free calcium, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptotic rate of neuron. Results showed that 3-hour oxidative stress decrease mitochondrial membrane potential, increase the concentration of free calcium and apoptotic rate of neuron via triggering pathological changes of nucleus such as karyorrhexis, karyopyknosis. Low, medium, high dose of XYS-decoction-containing serum could reverse these phenomenon, and the effect of low-dose XYS-decoction-containing serum was significant in improving mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptotic rate of neuron. These findings suggest that XYS decoction may be helpful in reducing oxidative-stress-induced hippocampus neuron apoptosis.

Norcantharidin Induces HL-60 Cells Apoptosis In Vitro.

Norcantharidin (NCTD) is the demethylated form of cantharidin, which is the active substance of mylabris, and is known to have anticancer potentials. The aim of this paper was to assess the apoptosis-inducing effect of NCTD on HL-60 cells. Methods. The effects of NCTD were detected by flow cytometer on the cell toxicity, cell cycle, and apoptosis of HL-60 cells cultured in vitro. Results. After 48-hour treatment with NCTD, the growth of HL-60 cells was inhibited significantly. The summit of apoptosis appeared after 24 hours. The percentage of the cells in G(1) phase decreased and then increased in S and G(2)+ M phase, while the S and G(2)+ M phases were blocked after treatment with 5, 10, and 50 µmol/L NCTD for 24 hours. Conclusions. NCTD can induce the apoptosis of HL-60 cells and inhibit the fissiparism, and the domino effect was obviously correlated with the time and dosage.

Xiaoyaosan decoction regulates changes in neuropeptide y and leptin receptor in the rat arcuate nucleus after chronic immobilization stress.

The arcuate nucleus (ARC) in the basal of hypothalamus plays an important role in appetite regulation and energy balance. We sought to investigate the central neuroendocrine mechanism of appetite decrease and weight loss under chronic stress by observing the regulatory effects of Xiaoyaosan decoction in the expression of leptin receptor (ob-R) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the ARC. Our results showed that bodyweight and food intake of rats in the 21-day stress group increased slower than those of the normal group. Higher contents of Leptin and ob-R were noted in the 21-day stress group compared with control rats, while NPY expression was not statistically different. Xiaoyaosan powder can significantly downregulate the contents of leptin and ob-R in the hypothalamus of stressed rats. These findings suggest that increase of ob-R expression in the ARC is possibly one key central neuroendocrine change for the somatic discomfort. Weight loss and decreased food intake in rats caused by the binding of leptin to ob-R in hypothalamus do not appear to utilize the NPY pathway. This study also suggests that ob-R in the ARC may act as the target of Xiaoyaosan in regulating the symptoms such as appetite decrease and bodyweight loss under chronic stress.

[Metabonomic study on the regulatory effect of xiaoyao powder on chronic immobilization stressed rats].

OBJECTIVE: To provide a scientific basis for systematic research on the mechanism of chronic immobilization stress (CIS) induced metabolic network change in rats, through detecting the changes of endogenous metabolites in rats with CIS, treated or un-treated with Xiaoyao Powder (XYP), for determining the small molecule marker compound that closely associated with the metabonomical specificity of CIS and acting mechanism of XYP. METHODS: Thirty-six experimental male SD rats were divided into 3 groups, the normal control group, the model group and the XYP group. And all the three groups were subdivided into two subgroups respectively on day 7 and day 21 of the experiment. The stress rat model of CIS was made by chronic restraining method for 3 h every day. Starting from the first day of modeling, XYP 3.854 g/kg in volume of 1 mL/100 g body weight was administered 1 h before restraining via gastrogavage to rats in the XYP group, while equal volume of distilled water was given to rats in the other two groups instead. Blood samples were collected on the 8 th day and 22 th day for detection in the following procedure: at 27 degrees C, 300 microL supernate of blood plasma was taken, calling the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) and longitudinal eddy-delay (LED) sequence respectively on a Fourier variable nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, pre-saturated inhibition of the water peak was performed; free induction decay (FID) signals were transferred via 32 k Fourier transformation to gain one-dimensional NMR spectrogram; by taking TSP as the chemical migration reference peak, the segmental integral calculus (0.04 ppm per segment) was performed from 4.5 - 0.5 ppm (CPMG) and 6.0 - 0 ppm (LED) within the peak ranges in 1H spectra using the VNMR software; after normalization, centering and scaling were conducted on data, then used for pattern recognition of principal component analysis (PCA) using the SIMCA-P 10.0 software, or if necessary, the partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) was performed. RESULTS: (1) The metabolites in the model group were significantly different from those in the control group, suggesting that the animal model was successfully established with the metabolic network different to that of control. The model group and the XYP group could be differentiated from the control group by the differences of metabolites and metabolic networks between groups; XYP could intervene the metabolites or the metabolic path to cause changes in final metabolites. (2) The serum contents of lactic acid (1.4, 4.16), choline (3.24), N-acetylgalactosamine (NAC) and saturated fatty acids (1-3) increased, but unsaturated fatty acids (1.99,4-5), blood sugar (34), HDL (0.83), etc. reduced in the CIS rats. XYP showed obvious regulatory effects on final metabolites, causing decrease of lactic acid, choline, NAC, saturated fatty acids and blood sugar, and increase of unsaturated fatty acids, blood sugar, HDL, 3.44 ppm compound, etc. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolic phenotype in CIS rats includes the increase of lactic acid, choline, NAC, saturated fatty acid, and the decrease of blood sugar contents, unsaturated fatty acid, HDL, 3.44 ppm compound, etc., these may be the markers of the metabolites. The final metabolites changes induced by CIS are primarily the lipid substances. XYP markedly regulates the contents of final metabolites, showing the regulatory effects on final metabolites, but what is the metabolite or metabolic pathways it interferes to alter the final metabolites should be confirmed by further studies.

[Changes of central AMPA receptor subunits and related protein mRNA expression in immobilization stressed rats and effect of Xiaoyaosan on them].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunit and related regulatory protein mRNA expression in the hippocampus and amygdala in immobilization stressed rats and effect of Xiaoyaosan (XYS) on them. METHODS: Immobilization model rats were established by binding for 3 h per day and intervened with XYS, the expression of AMPA receptor subunit (GluR1-4), N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) and protein interacting with C-kinase 1 (PICK1) mRNA expression in model rats' CA1 and CA3 regions of hippocampus, dentate gyrus and amygdala were detected on day 7 and day 21 after modeling. RESULTS: On day 7, expression of GluR1 mRNA was significantly decreased in CA1 region (P < 0.05) and increased in CA3 region and amygdala (all P < 0.05); expression of GluR2 and GluR3 mRNA in amygdala (all P < 0.05) and GluR4 mRNA in CA1 region (P < 0.01) significantly increased, but the expression of NSF and PICK1 mRNA in amygdala only showed an increasing trend. XYS showed effective regulation on GluR4 mRNA in CA1 region (P < 0.01) and GluR1-3 mRNA expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in amygdala. On day 21, the expression of GluR4 mRNA in CA1 region (P < 0.05) and GluR2 mRNA in dentate gyrus (P < 0.05) markedly lowered and expression of GluR1 mRNA in amygdala increased (P < 0.01); XYS significantly regulated the expression of GluR1 and GluR4 mRNA in CA1 region (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Repeated stress in a short time shows effect on expression of AMPA receptor subunit mRNA stronger than chronic stress. The regulation of XYS to AMPA receptor subunit mRNA expression were obvious in hippocampal CA1 region and amygdala.

[Metabonomic study of syndrome of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes of the plasma metabolic phenotype in rats with chronic restraint stress (rats with syndrome of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency), so as to reveal the biological features of the syndrome of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency, and to examine potential application of metabonomic analysis in studies of syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A, 7 d normal control group; group B, 21 d normal control group; group C, 7 d stress group; and group D, 21 d stress group, with 6 rats in each group. Chronic restraint was used to induce stress in rats. Blood was collected from the cardio-ventricle under anesthesia on the 8th (groups A and C) or 22nd day (groups B and D) and detected by using the Fourier variable superconducting nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer (Varian UnityInova 600 M). Free induction decay signals were transferred into one-dimensional NMR spectrogram via 32 k Fourier transformation. Segmental integral calculus (0.04 ppm per segment) was performed from 4.5-0.5 ppm (Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill, CPMG) or 6.0-0 ppm (longitudinal eddy-delay, LED) as defaulted 1H spectra values by using the VNMR software. Data were saved as text or excel files after normalization and then used for pattern recognition analyses. All the data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) using the SIMCA-P 10.0 software (Umetrics AB, Umea, Sweden). RESULTS: The PCA analysis of rat plasma (1)H NMR spectra revealed different metabolic spectra between stress and control groups, which were consistent with alterations of in vivo metabolisms in rats under stress stimuli. Compared with the normal control group, rats with repeated stress displayed significant changes in spectral peak shapes of acetate, lactate, tyrosine, low-density lipoprotein, and unknown compounds (3.44 ppm). These altered metabolites can be used as biomarkers of syndrome of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency for further studies. CONCLUSION: The (1)H NMR spectra of metabolites in the rat blood are differentially changed after chronic stress. Specific, characteristic metabolic products can be identified by analyses of metabonomics, which lead to interpretation of biological feature of Chinese medicine syndromes. Therefore, metabonomic analysis is an approach with good development prospects to studies of TCM syndromes.

Changes of mRNA expression of enkephalin and prodynorphin in hippocampus of rats with chronic immobilization stress.

AIM: To observe the changes of enkephalin mRNA and prodynorphin mRNA in hippocampus of rats induced by chronic immobilization stress. METHODS: Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups of 10 each: the normal control group (group A), the group induced by chronic immobilization stress for 7 d (group B) and the group induced by chronic immobilization stress for 21 d (group C). The changes of the enkephalin mRNA and prodynorphin mRNA in the rat hippocampus were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Expression levels of enkephalin mRNA and prodynorphin mRNA in rat hippocampus were significantly increased under chronic immobilization stress, and the expression of prodynorphin mRNA in the rat hippocampus in group C was remarkably higher than that in group B (0.624 +/- 0.026; n = 5; P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The increased enkephalin mRNA and prodynorphin mRNA gene expressions in rat hippocampus were involved in chronic stress.

The teacher-disciple tradition and secret teaching in Chinese medicine.

The ancient teacher-disciple tradition is regarded as one of the most celebrated practices within the Chinese medicine world. Such traditions of secrecy, private wisdom and honor are deeply rooted in the theories of Confucianism. This paper only explores the surface of this ancient culture, by investigating relevant popular ancient texts and common Chinese proverbs, as well as utilizing personal experiences, in order to reflect on how the ancient Chinese perceived such practices within their own society and how secret teaching was passed on from teacher to student, including the revelation of secret formulas and their importance and how that tradition differs from our modern-day perspectives. Various rare manuscripts from the author's personal library are employed in order to provide relative examples of the importance of secret knowledge, and how these secrets applied in the traditional healing.

Effects of the chinese traditional prescription xiaoyaosan decoction on chronic immobilization stress-induced changes in behavior and ultrastructure in rat hippocampus.

Xiaoyaosan (XYS) decoction has been widely used as a traditional medicine for treating stress and depression-related disorders in China for thousands of years. Aim of the Study. To observe the potential mechanism of XYS decoction's antidepressant-like effect in α -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors related to synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus rats induced by chronic immobilization stress (CIS). Materials and Methods. Animals were randomly divided into five groups: (1) control group; (2) sham-operated group; (3) CIS group, in which rats were conducted CIS for 21 days; (4) XYS decoction treatment group; (5) 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) positive group, in which the amygdala of CIS rats was unilaterally microinjected with a competitive glutamate receptor antagonist, CNQX. After CIS for 21 days, the open field test (OPT) and elevated plus-maze test (EPM) were measured, the ultrastructure of hippocampus CA1 subregion was observed by the electron microscopy; both the GluR1 and GluR2 mRNA level of AMPA receptor subunits in hippocampus CA1 subregion were detected by real-time qPCR. Results. Rats subjected to CIS exhibited increases in time in central zone and decreases in total distance traveled in the OPT. In the EPM, they also showed decreases in center zone time and entries, open arm time and entries, and an increase in close arm time. Ultrastructural damage in the hippocampus CA1 was also observed. XYS decoction and CNQX showed significant improvement behavioral changes and the ultrastructural damage of the hippocampus CA1; XYS decoction also reversed CIS-induced decreases in GluR2 mRNA and increases in GluR1 mRNA in the hippocampus CA1 as well as CNQX. Conclusions. XYS decoction may effectively produce an antidepressant-like effect, which appears to be involved AMPA receptors related synaptic plasticity of hippocampus.

Comparative study on effects of Xiaoyao Powder and its modified prescription on plasma metabolomics of rats with chronic immobilization stress.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in the levels of endogenous metabolites in rats with chronic immobilization stress (CIS) taking Xiaoyao Powder (XYP) and its modified prescription version, which lacks the volatile oils extracted from Herba Menthae. METHODS: Twenty-four experimental male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each: control, model, XYP-1 (containing volatile oils from Herba Menthae), and XYP-2 (lacking volatile oils). All rats except control group rats were subjected to CIS 3 h per day for 21 consecutive days. Groups XYP-1 and XYP-2 were given the extracted XYS with or without volatile oils (3.854 g/kg; suspended in distilled water) via gavage 1 h before CIS each day for 21 days. Rats were anesthetized using intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital sodium (40 mg/kg) on the 22nd day. Observations were made using a Varian INOVA 600 MHz NMR spectrometer at 27 °C. Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) and longitudinal eddy-delay (LED) were applied, resulting in spectra showing only the signals from micro- and macro-metabolites. RESULTS: Compared to controls, rats subjected to CIS showed increased levels of plasma metabolites, such as acetic acid, choline, N-glycoprotein (NAC), saturated fatty acid, and blood sugars. Levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and unsaturated fatty acids were decreased. The biochemical effects of XYS were characterized by elevated levels of VLDL, LDL, threonine, methionine, and glutamic acid in plasma. CONCLUSION: Some common and characteristic metabolites on the anti-CIS of XYP and its modified prescription were obtained. The metabolomics technology is a valuable tool and may be used to identify the specific metabolites and potential biomarkers of therapeutic effect of Chinese medicinal prescriptions.

Gene expression profile of the hippocampus of rats subjected to chronic immobilization stress.

OBJECTIVE: This study systematically investigated the effect of chronic stress on the hippocampus and its damage mechanism at the whole genome level. METHODS: The rat whole genome expression chips (Illumina) were used to detect gene expression differences in the hippocampus of rats subjected to chronic immobilization stress (daily immobilization stress for 3 h, for 7 or 21 days). The hippocampus gene expression profile was studied through gene ontology and signal pathway analyses using bioinformatics. A differentially expressed transcription regulation network was also established. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to verify the microarray results and determine expression of the Gabra1, Fadd, Crhr2, and Cdk6 genes in the hippocampal tissues. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, 602 differentially expressed genes were detected in the hippocampus of rats subjected to stress for 7 days, while 566 differentially expressed genes were expressed in the animals experiencing stress for 21 days. The stress significantly inhibited the primary immune system functions of the hippocampus in animals subjected to stress for both 7 and 21 days. Immobilization activated the extracellular matrix receptor interaction pathway after 7 day exposure to stress and the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway. The enhanced collagen synthesis capacity of the hippocampal tissue was the core molecular event of the stress regulation network in the 7-day group, while the inhibition of hippocampal cell growth was the core molecular event in the 21-day group. For the Gabra1, Fadd, Crhr2, and Cdk6 genes, RT-PCR results were nearly in line with gene chip assay results. CONCLUSION: During the 7-day and 21-day stress processes, the combined action of polygenic, multilevel, and multi-signal pathways leads to the disorder of the immunologic functions of the hippocampus, hippocampal apoptosis, and proliferation disequilibrium.

[Expression of AMPA receptors and related protein in immobilization stressed rats and effect of Xiaoyaosan].

AIM: To observe protein expression changes of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor and related regulatory protein in the hippocampus and amygdala in chronic immobilization stressed rat and Xiaoyaosan's regulatory effect. METHODS: Rats were tied 3 h per day to establish immobilization stress condition and treatment with Xiaoyaosan. After 7 days and 21 days stress, the protein expression of AMPA receptor subunit (GluR2/3), N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) and protein interacting with C-kinase 1 (PICK1) in hippocampus and amygdala were detected by using Western blot techniques. RESULTS: The expression of GluR2/3, NSF in dentate gyrus (DG) and amygdala were markedly attenuated (P < 0.05) and PICK1 in CA1 region were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in 7 d immobilization stressed rats while 7 days xiaoyaosan treatment showed an effective regulatory result to PICK1's changes. Under 21 days immobilization stressed condition, the expression of GluR2/3, NSF in CA1 region showed an increasing trend, and GluR2/3 showed a markedly increase (P < 0.01), but showed an significantly decreased trend in amygdala, Xiaoyaosan showed an effective result to such changes above (P < 0.05). The expression of PICK1 showed increasing trend in amygdala and xiaoyaosan could lower its expression (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There are different trends of the expression of AMPA receptor in repeat short-term stress versus chronic immobilization stress, and in hippocampal CA1 region versus amygdala. Xiaoyaosan has better regulation effect on the expression of AMPA receptors in the condition of chronic immobilization stress than those of repeat shortterm stress.

Influence of acute and chronic treadmill exercise on rat plasma lactate and brain NPY, L-ENK, DYN A1-13.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of acute and chronic high-intensity treadmill exercise on changes in plasma lactate and brain neuropeptide (NPY), leucine-enkephalin (L-ENK), and dynorphin A(1-13) (DYN A(1-13)). Avidin-biotin complex (ABC) immunohistochemistry and image pattern analysis were used to observe the effect of chronic (total 7 weeks) and acute treadmill exercise (an initial speed of 15 m min(-1) gradually increased to 35 m min(-1) with 0 degrees, 20-25 min per day duration) on the changes of NPY, L-ENK, and DYN A(1-13) in different areas of rat brain. Plasma lactate was also measured in response to such exercise. Compared with preexercise control (P < 0.01), plasma lactate concentration significantly increased in the immediate postexercise; but it returned to the normal level soon after the 30 min postexercise. The content of NPY in paraventricular (PVN), dorsomedial (DMN), and ventromedial (VMN) hypothalamic nuclei continued to increase in 0, 30, and 180 min postexercise compared with preexercise control (P < 0.01). The content of L-ENK in caudate-putamen (CPu) significantly increased in the immediate postexercise compared with preexercise control (P < 0.01), but it gradually returned to the normal level after the 180 min postexercise. However, the content of DYN A(1-13) in PVN rose substantially only in 30 min postexercise in comparison with the preexercise control (P < 0.01). Thus, different changes of NPY, L-ENK, and DYN A(1-13) in response to such high-intensity exercise depend on the brain region and the time examined, especially, the contents of NPY in different brain regions continuously remain at a high level after such high-intensity exercise. And this high level might reduce energy expenditure and thus contribute to the stimulation of brain NPY neurons.

[Effects of Chinese herbs on glucocorticoid receptor in rat brain regions with chronic immobilization stress].

AIM: To investigate the changes of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in rat brain regions with chronic immobilization stress and the influence of Chinese herbs. METHODS: We copied the rat model of chronic immobilization stress (180 min daily, repeated 7 days or 21 days), and characterized the changes of GR in hippocampus CA1, cortex, dentate gyrus via immunohistochemistry integrated image analysis. RESULTS: The contents of glucocorticoid receptors in hippocampus CA1 , cortex, dentate gyrus were increased and the intensity of immunity reaction was significantly stronger in the model group of 7 days than that in the normal control group (P < 0.05). The contents of GR were significantly decreased and the intensity of immunity reaction was weaken in the model group of 21 days (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with the model group of 21 days, the contents of GR were significantly increased and immunity reaction was intensified in three groups of treatment with Chinese herbs (P < 0.05), in which the group treated with soothing-liver herbs Xiaoyaopowder was the best.