Mechanism of Acupuncture and Moxibustion on Promoting Mucosal Healing in Ulcerative Colitis.

The latest guideline about ulcerative colitis (UC) clinical practice stresses that mucosal healing, rather than anti-inflammation, is the main target in UC clinical management. Current mucosal dysfunction mainly closely relates to the endoscopic intestinal wall (mechanical barrier) injury with the imbalance between intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) regeneration and death, as well as tight junction (TJ) dysfunction. It is suggested that biological barrier (gut microbiota), chemical barrier (mucus protein layer, MUC) and immune barrier (immune cells) all take part in the imbalance, leading to mechanical barrier injury.

A Review of Bile Acid Metabolism and Signaling in Cognitive Dysfunction-Related Diseases.

Bile acids are commonly known as one of the vital metabolites derived from cholesterol. The role of bile acids in glycolipid metabolism and their mechanisms in liver and cholestatic diseases have been well studied. In addition, bile acids also serve as ligands of signal molecules such as FXR, TGR5, and S1PR2 to regulate some physiological processes in vivo.

[Shenling Baizhu Powder alleviates chronic inflammation to prevent type 2 diabetes of ZDF rats via intestinal flora].

This study explored the mechanism of Shenling Baizhu Powder(SLBZP) in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes from the perspective of flora disorder and chronic inflammation. Fifty rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group, low-dose SLBZP group, medium-dose SLBZP group, and high-dose SLBZP group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats of 5 weeks old were administrated by gavage with ultrapure water and different doses of SLBZP decoction.

The nonneuronal cholinergic system in the colon: A comprehensive review.

Acetylcholine (ACh) is found not only in cholinergic nerve termini but also in the nonneuronal cholinergic system (NNCS). ACh is released from cholinergic nerves by vesicular ACh transporter (VAChT), but ACh release from the NNCS is mediated by organic cation transporter (OCT). Recent studies have suggested that components of the NNCS are located in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), crypt-villus organoids, immune cells, intestinal stem cells (ISCs), and vascular endothelial cells (VECs).

Neuroprotective Effects of ZiBuPiYin Recipe on db/db Mice via PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway by Activating Grb2.

Background: Diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD) is one of the nervous system dysfunctions induced by diabetes mellitus with cognitive impairment as the major symptom. In a previous preliminary proteomic study, we found that endoplasmic reticulum processing and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway might be impaired in DACD pathogenesis. In addition, growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 might be a crucial protein as a molecular target of the neuroprotective effects of ZiBuPiYin recipe (ZBPYR).

Protective effect of baicalin on the regulation of Treg/Th17 balance, gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in rats with ulcerative colitis.

Baicalin is reported as an effective drug for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, its effect on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of baicalin on Th17/Treg balance, gut microbiota community, and SCFAs levels in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced UC rat model.

Circulating miRNAs as biomarkers for severe acute pancreatitis associated with acute lung injury.

Aim: To identify circulating micro (mi)RNAs as biological markers for prediction of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with acute lung injury (ALI).

Methods: Twenty-four serum samples were respectively collected and classified as SAP associated with ALI and SAP without ALI, and the miRNA expression profiles were determined by microarray analysis. These miRNAs were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and their putative targets were predicted by the online software TargetScan, miRanda and PicTar database.

Dai-Huang-Fu-Zi-Tang alleviates pulmonary and intestinal injury with severe acute pancreatitis via regulating aquaporins in rats.

Background: Dai-Huang-Fu-Zi-Tang (DHFZT) is a famous traditional Chinese prescription with intestinal obstruction, acute pancreatitis and cholecystalgia for thousands of years. Our previous work found that DHFZT could act against pulmonary and intestinal pathological injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). But the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated.

Wedelolactone enhances osteoblastogenesis by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway but suppresses osteoclastogenesis by NF-κB/c-fos/NFATc1 pathway.

Bone homeostasis is maintained by formation and destruction of bone, which are two processes tightly coupled and controlled. Targeting both stimulation on bone formation and suppression on bone resorption becomes a promising strategy for treating osteoporosis. In this study, we examined the effect of wedelolactone, a natural product from Ecliptae herba, on osteoblastogenesis as well as osteoclastogenesis.

Establishment of a Rat Adjuvant Arthritis-Interstitial Lung Disease Model.

Introduction: Development of an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis-interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) and improved knowledge of the pathogenesis of RA-ILD may facilitate earlier diagnosis and the development of more effective targeted therapies.

Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were studied in an adjuvant arthritis (AA) model induced by the injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). Rats were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after FCA injection.

Extracts and compounds with anti-diabetic complications and anti-cancer activity from Castanea mollissina Blume (Chinese chestnut).

Background: Castanea mollissima Blume (Chinese chestnut), as a food product is known for its various nutrients and functional values to the human health. The present study was carried out to analyze the anti-diabetic complications and anti-cancer activities of the bioactive compounds present in C. mollissima.

Inhibitory effect of Ecliptae herba extract and its component wedelolactone on pre-osteoclastic proliferation and differentiation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ecliptae herba, also known as "Mo-Han-Lian", has long been used in China to nourish Kidney and thereafter strengthen bones. Accumulating evidence indicates that extracts of Ecliptae herba have antiosteoporotic effect. However, the effective compounds and cellular mode of action are still unclear.

Biotransformation of resibufogenin by Actinomucor elegans.

Resibufogenin (RB), a major bioactive bufadienolide, has the potential anticancer activity. In the present work, biotransformation of RB by Actinomucor elegans AS 3.2778 yielded five products, namely 3-oxo-resibufogenin (1), 3-epi-resibufogenin (2), 3-epi-12-oxo-hydroxylresibufogenin (3), 3α-acetoxy-15α-hydroxylbufalin (4), and 3-epi-12α-hydroxylresibufogenin (5), respectively.

[Effects of zibu piyin recipe on the insulin resistance in the hippocampus of pi-yin deficiency diabetic rats].

Objective: To study the protection of Zibu Piyin Recipe (ZBPYR) on the insulin signal pathway in the hippocampus of Pi-yin deficiency diabetic encephalopathy rats and to explore its possible mechanisms.

Methods: The type 2 diabetic model was established using high fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of small dose streptozotocin (STZ). The Pi-yin deficiency model was established referring to classic compound factors.

[Clinical research of Dahuang Fuzi decoction in auxiliary treatment of severe acute pancreatitis: a multi-center observation in 206 patients].

Objective: To observe the efficacy of Dahuang Fuzi decoction in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), and to provide valuable medical evidences for a treatment of SAP with combined traditional Chinese and western medicine.

Methods: A prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial was designed. Two hundred and six adult patients with SAP admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) in three tertiary university teaching hospitals in Dalian from January 2007 to February 2010 were randomly divided into two groups: soapsuds enema control group (control group, n=101) and Dahuang Fuzi decoction enema study group (study group, n=105).

Decreased expression of spine-associated Rap guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein (SPAR) in glutamate-treated primary hippocampal neurons.

Spine-associated Rap guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein (SPAR) is an important regulator of activity-dependent remodeling of synapses. It is also critically involved in both mature dendritic spine formation and the maintenance of spine maturity. Glutamate is a major neurotransmitter of the brain, and is involved in all aspects of cognitive function, as it is the primary transmitter utilized by the cortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons.

Protective effect of spleen-yin-nourishing recipe on amyloid beta-peptide-induced damage of primarily cultured rat hippocampal neurons and its mechanism.

Objective: To observe the relationship among amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta)-induced neurotoxicity, serum-inducible kinase (SNK)-spine-associated Rap guanosine triphosphatase activating protein (SPAR) pathway and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), and to explore the mechanism of the protective effect of spleen-yin nourishing recipe (Zibu Piyin Recipe, ZBPYR) in hippocampal neurons against Abeta-induced neurotoxicity.

Methods: The Abeta(1-40) powder was dissolved in 1 x PBS and incubated at 37 degrees centigrade, and then aggregated fibrillar Abeta(1-40) was obtained 72 h later. We used rat primary hippocampal neurons as cell model.

Microbial transformation of bufotalin by Alternaria alternata AS 3.4578.

The microbial transformation of a cytotoxic bufadienolide, bufotalin (1), was carried out. Three transformed products from 1 by Alternaria alternata were isolated. Their structures were characterized as 3-keto-bufotalin (2), 12 beta-hydroxyl-bufotalin (3), and 3-keto-12 beta-hydroxyl-bufotalin (4) based on the extensive NMR studies.

Effects of Zibu Piyin recipe on SNK-SPAR pathway in neuron injury induced by glutamate.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the excitotoxicity and serum-inducible kinase (SNK) and spine-associated Rap GTPase-activating protein (SPAR) pathway in primary hippocampal neuron injury induced by glutamate and furthermore, to explore the molecular mechanism of neuroprotection of Zibu Piyin Recipe (ZBPYR) and the relationship between ZBPYR and the morphological regulation of dendritic spines.

Methods: The serum containing ZBPYR was prepared by seropharmacology. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of mRNA for SNK, SPAR, postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits (NR1, NR2A and NR2B) in primary rat hippocampal neuron cultures after pretreatment with 10 micromol/L glutamate and ZBPYR serum.

[Protective effects of nourishing spleen yin recipe on endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced neuronal cell damage and its mechanism].

Objective: To determine the protective effects of nourishing spleen yin recipe (Zibu Piyin Recipe, ZBPYR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in neuronal cells responding to the stress by using sero-pharmacological method.

Methods: The mouse neuroblastoma cell line Neuro2a cells were treated with tunicamycin (Tm, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation). The ZBPYR-treated cell group was established by incubating cells with ZBPYR serum for one hour and treated with Tm.

Inhibition of growth and metastasis of human gastric cancer implanted in nude mice by d-limonene.

Aim: To investigate the effects and mechanism of d-limonene on the growth and metastasis of gastric cancer in vivo.

Methods: Metastatic model simulating human gastric cancer was established by orthotopic implantation of histologically intact human tumor tissue into gastric wall of nude mice. One percent d-limonene was orally administered at dose of 15 ml/kg every other day for seven weeks.

[D-limonene induces apoptosis of gastric cancer cells].

Objective: To investigate the apoptosis effect induced by D-limonene on BGC-823 gastric cancer cells.

Methods: The expression of p53, bc1-2 in BGC-823 cells and qualitative, quantitative index of cell apoptosis were detected with MTT, electron microscopy, flow cytometry and immunohistochemical method.

Results: D-limonene could induce the formation of apoptotic bodies in a dose- and time-dependent manner.