Integrated 'omics analysis for the gut microbiota response to moxibustion in a rat model of chronic fatigue syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of moxibustion in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and explore the effects on gut microbiota and metabolic profiles. METHODS: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control group (Con), CFS model group (Mod, established by multiple chronic stress for 35 d), MoxA group (CFS model with moxibustion Shenque (CV8) and Guanyuan (CV4), 10 min/d, 28 d) and MoxB group (CFS model with moxibustion Zusanli (ST36), 10 min/d, 28 d). Open-field test (OFT) and Morris-water-maze test (MWMT) were determined for assessment the CFS model and the therapeutic effects of moxibustion.16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis based gut microbiota integrated untargeted liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) based fecal metabolomics were executed, as well as Spearman correlation analysis, was utilized to uncover the functional relevance between the potential metabolites and gut microbiota. RESULTS: The results of our behavioral tests showed that moxibustion improved the performance of CFS rats in the OFT and the MWMT. Microbiome profiling analysis revealed that the gut microbiomes of CFS rats were less diverse with altered composition, including increases in pro-inflammatory species (such as Proteobacteria) and decreases in anti-inflammatory species (such as Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, and Prevotella). Moxibustion partially normalized these changes in the gut microbiota. Furthermore, CFS was associated with metabolic disorders, which were effectively ameliorated by moxibustion. This was demonstrated by the normalization of 33 microbiota-related metabolites, including mannose (P = 0.001), aspartic acid (P = 0.009), alanine (P = 0.007), serine (P = 0.000), threonine (P = 0.027), methionine (P = 0.023), 5-hydroxytryptamine (P = 0.008), alpha-linolenic acid (P = 0.003), eicosapentaenoic acid (P = 0.006), hypoxanthine (P = 0.000), vitamin B6 (P = 0.000), cholic acid (P = 0.013), and taurocholate (P = 0.002). Correlation analysis showed a significant association between the perturbed fecal microbiota and metabolite levels, with a notable negative relationship between LCA and Bacteroides. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we demonstrated that moxibustion has an antifatigue-like effect. The results from the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics analysis suggest that the therapeutic effects of moxibustion on CFS are related to the regulation of gut microorganisms and their metabolites. The increase in Bacteroides and decrease in LCA may be key targets for the moxibustion treatment of CFS.

Excessive expression of adenosine kinase in brain tissue of patients with refractory epilepsy / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To observe the expression of adenosine kinase (ADK) in the hippocampus of patients with refractory epilepsy, and to explore the role of ADK in the pathogenesis of refractory epilepsy.Methods:Thirteen patients with intractable epilepsy who underwent surgical resection of hippocampal tissue at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were collected as the epilepsy group; At the same time, 4 cases of relatively normal temporal lobe brain tissue from patients with traumatic brain injury undergoing debridement surgery (without previous history of epileptic seizures) were collected, and these 4 patients served as the control group. The expression of ADK in two groups of specimens was detected at the tissue, gene, and protein levels using methods such as dual fluorescence immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT Real time PCR), and Western blotting.Results:In the human brain, ADK was mainly expressed in the nucleus of astrocytes. Through histological observation, ADK was weakly expressed in normal brain tissue, while there is significant proliferation of glial cells and excessive expression of ADK in the brain tissue of patients with refractory epilepsy. The percentage of ADK positive glial cells in the epilepsy group was (53.90±17.59)%, and the control group was (23.82±4.18)%, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.01). At the genetic level, using RT Real time PCR, it was found that the expression level of ADK mRNA in the epilepsy group was higher than that in the control group, with a 2 -△△Cp of 13.36, which was 13.36 times higher than that in the control group. At the protein level, the expression of ADK protein in the epilepsy group was found to be higher than that in the control group using protein immunoblotting ( P<0.01). Conclusions:ADK is weakly expressed in the nucleus of astrocytes in normal human brain tissue. In the brain tissue of patients with refractory epilepsy, astrocytes significantly proliferate and there is excessive expression of ADK. ADK may play an important role in the occurrence and development of refractory epilepsy in humans.

Research progress in the treatment of sleep disorder in chronic fatigue syndrome with external therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine / 国际中医中药杂志

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) external therapy for sleep disorder of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has good anti-fatigue effect and can improve sleep quality of patients. The treatment for sleep disorders of CFS with TCM external treatment mainly adopts acupuncture, moxibustion, massage, TCM bath, transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation and auricular point sticking, etc., or alone, or comprehensive application, or combined with oral Chinese materia medica. The appropriate treatment method can be selected according to the patients' condition and compliance, which reflects the unique advantages of TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment and the treatment according to people and time. The existing research still needs to further form a standardized and recognized diagnosis and treatment system, so as to better guide clinical popularization and application.

Clinical application and mechanism of moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome / 国际中医中药杂志

The treatment rules of point selection and treatment principles for treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) can be divided into three categories: regulating and replenishing, invigorating original yang and regulating zang-fu organs. The mechanism of moxibustion includes improving gut microbiota imbalance, regulating immune cell imbalance and correcting endocrine dysfunction. The moxibustion methods include ginger-partitioned moxibustion, thunder-fire moxibustion, warm acupuncture, and governor moxibustion. Acupuncture points such as Shenque (RN8), Guanyuan (RN4), Qihai (RN6), Zusanli (ST36), Baihui (DU20), Yongquan (KI1) and back-shu points are often selected to exert anti-chronic fatigue effects.

Effect of Shuganjieyu capsules on neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal CA3 area and the expression of caspase-3 in the brain of rat depression model / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the effect of "Shuganjieyu" (SGJY) capsules on neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal CA3 area and the expression of caspase-3 in the brain of rat depression model, and to investigate its pharmacological mechanisms in depression treatment.@*METHODS@#Adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control, a model, a SGJY and a fluoxetine group. The rat depression model was established under chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and separate feeding. The behaviors were measured by open-field test, sucrose consumption and forced swimming test. We observed the neuronal morphology structure and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal CA3 area. We detected the rat caspase-3 expression level of medial prefrontal cortex ( mPFC) and hippocampal CA3 area by Western blot.@*RESULTS@#After 21-day stress, compared with the model group, spontaneous activity and sucrose consumption and preference percentage of the rats in the SGJY group significantly increased, while the immobility time in forced swimming test, the number of apoptotic cells and the protein levels of caspase-3 significantly reduced (P0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#SGJY capsules can reduce the depression symptoms of CUMS and help to increase hippocampal neuron generation, survival and neogenesis, reduce the protein levels of caspase-3, and reverse neurocyte apoptosis in the rat depression model with the same efficacy as fluoxetine.