Anti-fatigue property of the oyster polypeptide fraction and its effect on gut microbiota in mice.

We aimed to evaluate the anti-fatigue effects of the oyster polypeptide (OP) fraction and its regulatory effect on the gut microbiota in mice. Our exhaustive swimming experiment showed that the swimming time of the low-, middle- and high-dose groups of the OP fraction was increased by 1.82, 2.18 and 2.44 times compared with the control group, respectively. Besides, the liver glycogen levels of the three groups were increased by 19.3%, 42.02% and 65.07%, while the lactate levels were decreased by 18.85%, 21.18% and 28.74%, respectively. Moreover, administration of the OP fraction upregulated the expressions of PEPCK and AMPK, but downregulated the TNF-α expression. Correlation analysis between the gut microbiota and fatigue-related biochemical indicators showed that Faecalibacterium, Desulfovibri and Intestinibacter were negatively correlated with the swimming time, blood lactate, blood urea nitrogen, liver glycogen and muscle glycogen, while Yaniella and Romboutsia were positively correlated. Therefore, the OP fraction had anti-fatigue effects, and could regulate the abundance of gut microbiota and maintain its balance.

Effect of debranching and temperature-cycled crystallization on the physicochemical properties of kudzu (Pueraria lobata) resistant starch.

Resistant starch from Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) was prepared by debranching and subsequent recrystallization under isothermal and cycled temperature conditions. The granule morphology of the resistant starch was irregular in shape and size with rough surface. All the resistant starch samples exhibited B + V-type crystalline structure. The peripheral regions of native starch were better organized than that of the resistant starch samples. The solubility and swelling degree of native starch and resistant starch samples increased with the increase of temperature. The water holding capacity of native starch was much higher in comparison with resistant starch when the temperature was above 80 °C. The resistant starch showed better transmittance and freeze-thaw stability than that of native starch. These results suggest that kudzu starch is a potential resource for resistant starch preparation.

[Professor YANG Yun-kuan's experience on treatment of dermopathy with cotton-sheet moxibustion].

Professor YANG Yun-kuan summarizes rich experiences on treatment of dermopathy with acupuncture and moxibustion in clinical and teaching practice of over 30 years. Here his unique therapy of cotton-sheet moxibustion is introduced. Different dermal diseases are treated with combination of cotton-sheet moxibustion with body acupuncture or skin needle, achieving good clinical effects. Cotton-sheet moxibustion has the characteristics of common materials and convenient manipulation. This is a safe, economic therapy with obvious therapeutic effect and it provides an effective way for treatment of dermopathy.

[Effects of moxibustion on erectile function and NO-cGMP pathway in diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and the mechanism of moxibustion for treatment of diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: Diabetes mellitus (DM) rat model was induced by streptozotozin (STZ) and then penis erectile experiment of apomorphine (APO) was used to select diabetic ED rats model, which were divided into 2 groups: a model group and a moxibustion group, with another normal control group set up. The moxibustion group were treated with moxibustion at "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) with small moxa cone about the size of a wheat grain. The effects on penis erectile, blood sugar and total NOS, cNOS, iNOS, and cGMP were investigated. RESULTS: Moxibustion had a certain improving action on blood sugar, improved significantly erectile function, and more significantly increased NOS, cNOS, iNOS activities and cGMP contents in the penis. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion has a certain action on the erectile function in the diabetic ED rats, which is related with improvement of blood sugar and promoting NO-cGMP pathway.