Bear Bile Powder Improves Ulcerative Colitis by Protecting the Intestinal Mechanical Barrier and Regulating Intestinal Flora.

Background: Bear Bile Powder (BBP) is a traditional Chinese medicine. It has been widely used in clinical practices and has shown a good anti-inflammatory effect. However, its effectiveness in treating Ulcerative Colitis (UC) has not yet been studied.

Electroacupuncture alleviates ventilator-induced lung injury in mice by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective: This study was aimed to explore the protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at Zusanli point (ST36) on ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI) and its potential anti-inflammatory mechanism.

Methods: High tidal volume ventilation was used to induce the VILI in mice, and EA pretreatment at ST36 was given for 7 consecutive days. The wet/dry ratio and pathological injury score of lung tissue, and total protein content of pulmonary alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected after 4 h of mechanical ventilation (MV).

Peptide mediated therapy in fibrosis: Mechanisms, advances and prospects.

Fibrosis, a disease characterized by an excess accumulation of extracellular matrix components, could lead to organ failure and death, and is to blame for up to 45 % of all fatalities in developed nations. These disorders all share the common trait of an unchecked and increasing accumulation of fibrotic tissue in the affected organs, which leads to their malfunction and eventual failure, even if their underlying causes are highly diverse and, in some cases, remain unclear. Numerous studies have identified activated myofibroblasts as the common cellular elements ultimately responsible for the replacement of normal tissues with nonfunctional fibrotic tissue.

Application of response surface methodology (RSM) for optimization of the supercritical CO extract of oil from pericarp: Yield, composition and gastric protective effect.

Supercritical carbon-dioxide (SC-CO) is a promising two-phase technology for flavor components (volatile oil and alkylamides) extract from pericarp. However, the gastric protective effect of SC-CO extract from (SZB) have not been systematically investigated. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the yield of SZB, and the average yield of 11.

Effects of Musk Volatile Compounds on Attenuated Nerve Injury and Improving Post-cerebral Ischemic Exercise Functions.

Background: Reperfusion Injury Acute ischemic stroke is increasing in people recently and Musk, as a commonly used Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been suggested as a potential agent against acute ischemic stroke, but the efficacies and underlying mechanisms of it remain unknown.

Objective: This study was aimed to test the hypotheses that volatile compounds of musk could attenuate nerve injury and identify the bioactive compounds and potential mechanisms of Musk.

Methods: Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in vivo in Sprague-Dawley rats (SD rats) was used to test this hypothesis.

Identification of Active Compounds and Mechanism of Huangtu Decoction for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis by Network Pharmacology Combined with Experimental Verification.

Introduction: Huangtu decoction (HTD) has been widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcerative colitis (UC) and gastrointestinal tumors in China, but its active compounds and mechanism are still not clear yet. The present research aimed to identify the active compounds and mechanism of HTD for the treatment of UC.

Methods: Firstly, the chemical compounds of HTD were qualitatively identified based on Q Exactive Orbitrap LC-MS/MS, and their potential targets were predicted through SwissTargetPrediction.

Research progress regarding potential effects of traditional Chinese medicine on postoperative intestinal obstruction.

Objectives: Postoperative intestinal obstruction is a common postoperative complication with typical symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distension and constipation. The principal aim of this paper is to provide a full-scale review on the categories and characteristics of postoperative intestinal obstruction, pathophysiology, effects and detailed mechanisms of compounds and monomers from traditional Chinese medicine for treating postoperative intestinal obstruction. Moreover, the possible development and perspectives for future research are also analyzed.

The Volatile Oil of Pericarp Improved the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Gut Microbiota to Attenuate Chronic Unpredictable Stress-Induced Anxiety Behavior in Rats.

Background: Anxiety disorders (ADs) are the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. Stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and dysbiosis of gut microbiota seem to contribute to the onset of ADs. This study was designed to investigate the ameliorative effect of volatile oil of (VOZB) on chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) induced anxiety behavior, as well as the altered HPA axis and gut microbiota.

Gut Microbiota Regulate Astrocytic Functions in the Brain: Possible Therapeutic Consequences.

Astrocytes are essential for maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytic dysfunction has been implicated in the progression of several neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases; however, a multitude of factors and signals influencing astrocytic activity have not been entirely elucidated. Astrocytes respond to local signals from the brain, but are also indirectly modulated by gut microbiota.

Improvement of intestinal flora: accompany with the antihypertensive effect of electroacupuncture on stage 1 hypertension.

Background: Increasing evidence have indicated the relationship between intestinal dysbiosis and hypertension. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the electroacupuncture (EA) on intestinal microbiota in patients with stage 1 hypertension.

Methods: 93 hypertensive patients and 15 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.

Hydroxy-α-sanshool isolated from Zanthoxylum bungeanum attenuates learning and memory impairments in scopolamine-treated mice.

Learning and memory impairments are common symptoms of dementia in neurodegenerative disorders. Occasionally, we found that Zanthoxylum bungeanum pericarps (ZBP) significantly activated the spontaneous activity of the hippocampus (HIPP) and paraHIPP (P < 0.001, uncorrected), implying the potential ability of ZBP to improve cognitive impairments.

Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction possesses anti-arthritic effects on type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats via suppression of inflammatory reactions, inhibition of invasion & migration and induction of apoptosis in synovial fibroblasts.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a known intractable chronic inflammatory disease of synovial joints characterized by hyperplasia and consecutive inflammation with a high prevalence.Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu (GSZD) is the first choice for clinical treatment of RA in Chinese traditional medicine. This study is aimed to explore the possible pharmacological mechanisms of anti-arthritic effect of GSZD.

Antiobesity, Regulation of Lipid Metabolism, and Attenuation of Liver Oxidative Stress Effects of Hydroxy--sanshool Isolated from on High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats.

is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to relieve pain, dispel dampness, stop diarrhea, and prevent itching. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects of hydroxy--sanshool (HAS) isolated from on hyperlipidemic rats. Wistar rats ( = 48) were randomly divided into six groups: (1) normal diet rats (ND), (2) high-fat diet- (HFD-) treated rats, (3) HFD+fenofibrate-treated rats (HFD+FNB), (4) HFD+low dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+LD, 9 mg/kg), (5) HFD+middle dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+MD, 18 mg/kg), and (6) HFD+high dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+HD, 36 mg/kg).

Gut Microbiota: A New Strategy to Study the Mechanism of Electroacupuncture and Moxibustion in Treating Ulcerative Colitis.

Previous studies have confirmed that acupuncture and moxibustion is an effective way for treating ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the exact mechanism is unclear yet. In this study, DSS-induced UC mice were treated by electroacupuncture and moxibustion, and the genome of intestinal flora was subsequently detected by high-throughput sequencing in order to explore the detailed mechanism in terms of intestinal flora.

Electroacupuncture and Moxibustion Improved Anxiety Behavior in DSS-Induced Colitis Mice.

Background And Aims: Psychological disorders are prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to study whether electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion (MB) can improve anxiety behavior in DSS-induced colitis mice and to investigate whether this effect is related to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis.

Methods: The colitis model was established by drinking 2.

In silico drug design of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase subunit beta inhibitors from 2-acylamino-3-aminothienopyridines based on quantitative structure-activity relationships and molecular docking.

Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase subunit beta (IKK-β), a specific regulator of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), is considered a valid target to design novel candidate drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis and various cancers. In the present study, quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) and molecular docking techniques were used to screen for new IKK-β inhibitors from a series of 2-acylamino-3-aminothienopyridine analogs. During the two-dimensional QSAR phase, the statistical model partial least square was selected from among two alternatives (r = 0.

[Electroacupuncture Intervention Regulates Circadian Rhythms by Down-regulating Per Gene Expression in Hypothalamic Suprachiasmatic Nucleus of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Mice].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the rhythm of running-wheel activity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mice and the expression of and (circadian rhythm genes) in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), so as to investigate its mechanism underlying regulating circadian rhythm.

Methods: A total of 108 male C 57 BL / 6 J mice were randomly divided into control, HCC model and EA groups which were further assigned to six zeitbeger (environmental light-dark cycle) time (ZT) point (ZT 0, ZT 4, ZT 8, ZT 12, ZT 16 and ZT 20) subgroups. The HCC model was established by injection of H 22 cancer cell (abdominal 3 generation, 10 µL) suspension into the larger live lobe.

Efficient Approach for the Extraction and Identification of Red Pigment from Maxim and Its Antioxidant Activity.

Red pigment (RP) was extracted from the peels of Maxim (PZB) by ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) in this work. Box⁻Behnken design⁻response surface methodology (BBD-RSM) was employed to research the efficiency of the RP extraction. Based on the optimization of RSM, results showed that the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: liquid⁻solid ratio of 31 mL/g, extraction time of 41 min, and extraction temperature of 27 °C, and under these conditions, the actual absorbance value was 0.

[Effects of acupuncture on ANP and CNP in adrenal gland and CORT in plasma in rats with chronic emotional stress anxiety].

Objective: To analyze the effects of acupuncture on the level of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in adrenal gland and the content of corticosterone (CORT) in plasma in rats withchronic emotional stress anxiety, and to explore the partial action mechanism of acupuncture on anxiety disorder.

Methods: Thirty-two healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, after 7 days of feeding and domestication, were randomly divided into a blank group (10 rats), a model group (11 rats) and an acupuncture group (11 rats). The rats inthe model group and acupuncture group were treated with unpredictable chronic emotional stress (CES) method toestablish the model of anxiety.

[Effect of Acupuncture on Histology of Thymus and Expressions of ANP and NPR-A in Anxiety Rats].

Objective: To explore possible mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) for regulating immune function in anxiety disorder (AD) rats by observing the effect of acupuncture on the histology of thymus and expressions of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and natriuretic peptide receptor type A (NPR- A) in thymus.

Methods: Totally 34 SD healthy rats were randomly divided into the blank control group (n = 10), the model group (n = 12), the EA group (n = 12). Anxiety model was established in rats of the model group and the EA group by using chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) stimulation.

[Effects of Acupuncture Intervention on Levels of T Lymphocyte Subsets in Plasma and Thymus in Stress-induced Anxiety Rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on the levels of CD 4+ and CD 8+ lymphocytes in the plasma and thymus in anxiety disorder rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying favorable regulation of immune function.

Methods: Thirty-four SD rats were randomly divided into control (n = 10) , model (n = 12) and EA (n = 12) groups. The anxiety model was established by using chronic unpredictable emotional stress stimulation (fasting, water-deprivation, shaking, tail-clamping, forced warm- and cool-water swimming, electrical shock stimulation, etc.