FX5, a non-steroidal glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, ameliorates diabetic cognitive impairment in mice.

Diabetic cognitive impairment (DCI) is a common diabetic complication characterized by learning and memory deficits. In diabetic patients, hyperactivated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis leads to abnormal increase of glucocorticoids (GCs), which causes the damage of hippocampal neurons and cognitive impairment. In this study we investigated the cognition-improving effects of a non-steroidal glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist 5-chloro-N-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl]thiophene-2-sulfonamide (FX5) in diabetic mice.

Patchouli alcohol as a selective estrogen receptor β agonist ameliorates AD-like pathology of APP/PS1 model mice.

Clinical evidence shows that postmenpausal women are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) as men of the same age, and estrogen is closely related to the occurrence of AD. Estrogen receptor (ER) α is mainly expressed in the mammary gland and other reproductive organs like uterus while ERβ is largely distributed in the hippocampus and cardiovascular system, suggesting that ERβ selective agonist is a valuable drug against neurodegenerative diseases with low tendency in inducing cancers of breast and other reproductive organs. In this study we identified a natural product patchouli alcohol (PTA) as a selective ERβ agonist which improved the cognitive defects in female APP/PS1 mice, and explore the underlying mechanisms.

[Innovative application of Yingxiang (LI 20) and Neiyingxiang (EX-HN 9) in acupuncture verses].

The ancient discussion and modern clinical application regarding Yingxiang (LI 20) and Neiyingxiang (EX-HN 9) in acupuncture verses are explored. Acupuncture verses are the summary of clinical experiences of acupuncture scholars in the past dynasties, of which the records on application of Yingxiang (LI 20) and Neiyingxiang (EX-HN 9) mainly focused on nasal, facial and head-eye diseases, which is characterized with overall summarization, brilliant exposition, simple language, and distinctive characteristics. Nowadays, based on the ancient usage, the clinical application about these two acupoints is continuously developing.