Efficacy and Safety of a Formulated Herbal Granula, Jiu Wei Zhen Xin, for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: The traditional Chinese medicine formula Jiu Wei Zhen Xin Granula (JWZXG) is prescribed to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in China. This study was to assess the efficacy and safety of JWZXG in patients with GAD.

Method: Data were pooled from 14 randomized controlled trials involving the assessment of mean changes of Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) total scores, response rates, adverse event rates, quality, publication bias, and risk of bias.

Changes in regional cerebral blood flow with Chaihu-Shugan-San in the treatment of major depression.

Background: Chaihu-Shugan-San (CHSGS) is a well-known Chinese traditional prescription used for depression.

Objective: To observe the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) changes in patients with major depression and to investigate rCBF and clinical response to CHSGS.

Materials And Methods: A total of 33 unmedicated patients with major depression and 12 healthy comparison subjects underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging.

Antidepressant-like effects of Chaihu-Shugan-San via SAPK/JNK signal transduction in rat models of depression.

Background: Chaihu-Shugan-San (CHSGS), a traditional Chinese medicinal herbal formula, registered in Jingyue Quanshu, has been indicated that oral administration of the extract from it can remit depressive disorder. C-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK/SAPK) signal transduction plays a key role in the apoptosis of nerve cells, be reported closely correlated with depression. This study was designed to investigate CHSGS antidepressant-like effects in rat models of depression and probe its possible mechanism.

The effect of Chaihu-Shugan-San and its components on the expression of ERK5 in the hippocampus of depressed rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Chaihu-Shugan-San (CSS) is a well-known, Chinese traditional medicine used to treat depression. Little is known about the antidepressant mechanism of CSS. The main aims of the this study were to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of CSS and its components and further explore the CSS׳s effect upon signal transduction of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) expressions in the hippocampus of rats with depression induced by chronic unpredicted mild stress.

Meranzin hydrate exhibits anti-depressive and prokinetic-like effects through regulation of the shared α2-adrenoceptor in the brain-gut axis of rats in the forced swimming test.

Background: In recent years, the brain-gut axis theory has received increasing attention in studies of depression. However, most studies separately address potential antidepressant and prokinetic treatments. Investigations of drugs that could potentially treat comorbid depression and gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction via a common mechanism of action have not yet been performed in detail.

The involvement of AMPA-ERK1/2-BDNF pathway in the mechanism of new antidepressant action of prokinetic meranzin hydrate.

It was recently discovered that ketamine can relieve depression in a matter of hours through an action on α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors. This is much more rapid than the several weeks required for the available antidepressants to show therapeutic efficacy. However, ketamine has negative side effects.

[Relationship between symptom stratification and syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine for depressive episode].

On the basis of medical literature review and clinical research experience, the authors analyzed the reasons for low recognition rate of depression and poor progress of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) differentiation of depression in this paper and put forward that depressive episode symptoms and the corresponding common terminology classification of Chinese and Western medicine should be the breakthrough points. Through symptom stratification and combination, as well as distinguishing between primary and secondary symptoms, the comprehensive integrative medicine clinical assessment of depression was explored so as to further obtain expert consensus and provide a methodology reference for the TCM differentiation of depression and the research of etiology and pathogenesis.

[Effects of Chaihu Shugan San on behavior and plasma levels of corticotropin releasing hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone of rats with chronic mild unpredicted stress depression].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Chaihu Shugan San (CHSGS), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on behavior and plasma levels of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) of rats with chronic mild unpredicted stress depression.

Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group, untreated group, fluoxetine group and CHSGS group. Except the normal control group, rats were singly housed and exposed to an unpredicted sequence of mild stressor for continuous 4 weeks to induce depression.

[Mechanism and protective effect of glossy ganoderma decoction on the activities of RNA polymerase in hepatocyte of rabbits with Amanita mushroom poisoning].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of glossy ganoderma decoction in Amanita mushroom poisoning.

Methods: Twenty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, including a normal control, a model poison group, and 2 treatment groups (different doses of glossy ganoderma decoction). The activities of hepatocyte RNA polymerase were measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometry and liver function were measured.

Study on the interrelationship between 5-HTTLPR/G-protein beta3 subunit (C825T) polymorphisms and depressive disorder.

Objective: To assess whether the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and G-protein beta3-subunit (GNbeta3 C825T) polymorphisms are associated with depressive disorder and explore the genetic mechanism concerning the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Methods: The genotypes were determined with polymerase chain reaction and allele-specific restriction enzyme analysis. Patients suffering from depression (n=184) and sex and age-matched controls (n=158) were compared in this study.

Clinical experience in treatment of Amanita mushroom poisoning with Glossy Ganoderma Decoction and routine Western medicines.

Objective: To assess the effects of treatment of Amanita mushroom poisoning with Glossy anoderma Decoction (, GGD).

Methods: Twelve patients with acute Amanita mushroom poisoning received conventional treatment (penicillin and reduced glutathione) combined with oral administration of GGD (treated group), which was prepared out of 200 g Glossy ganoderma decocted in water to 600 mL, and 200 ml was given once, three times a day for 7 successive days; while conventional treatment alone was given to the other 11 patients assigned to the control group. The therapeutic efficacy and changes in serum levels of total bilirubin (TBil), bile acids (BA), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities in the two groups were compared.

[Effect of chronic stress on PKA and P-CREB expression in hippocampus of rats and the antagonism of antidepressors].

Objective: To observe the effect of chronic unpredicted sequence of mild stress on the expression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A(PKA) and phosphorylated cAMP-responsive element binding protein (P-CREB) in hippocampus of rats and the antagonism of antidepressors (fluoxetine).

Methods: Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly and equally allocated to 3 groups: A normal control group, a model group, and a fluoxetine group. All rats except the control group were singly housed and exposed to an unpredicted sequence of mild stressors.

[Effect of BST on synapse protein SYT and SYN in the hippocampus of chronic stress depression in rats].

Objective: To explore the effects of Baisong tablets (BST) on synapse protein synatotagmin (SYT) and synaptophysin (SYN) of hippocampus in chronic stress depression in rats.

Methods: Twenty eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups: a normal control group,a model group,a fluoxetine (FXT) group and a BST group. The normal control rats were fed in a natural environment.

[Anti-tumor effect and mechanism of Paeonol on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7404].

Objective: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of Paeonol (Pae) on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7404 and its molecular mechanisms.

Methods: Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7404 was treated by Pae in various concentrations and different time points respectively; and then the cell proliferation was assayed by light microscope, MTT method. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and TUNEL were used to detect the apoptosis.

[Anti-depressive effect of Baisong tablets on the chronic mild unpredicted stress depression in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Baisong tablets on the nerve-biochemistry and neuroendocrine of chronic mild unpredicted stress depression in rats.

Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups: a normal control (NC), a model control (MC), a fluoxetine control (FC) and a Baisong tablet treatment group (BST). All rats except the control group were singly housed and exposed to an unpredicted sequence of mild stressor.

[Comparative study on two methods of back propagation network test in TCM syndrome typing of depression].

Objective: To compare the effect of the two methods of back propagation network (BPN) test on TCM syndrome typing of depression.

Methods: Test was carried out by two methods as following: (1) Cross train-test method: 1731 patients with depression typed to 5 syndrome types were randomly divided into 2 groups, and they were trained and tested in turn; (2) Round-Robin method: Test was conducted in an altered cycle mode, that is, in a cycle, one out of the 1731 patients were selected to be tested, while the others were trained, the next cycle started when the test on the selected patient was finished and another one for test was selected. In this way, one cycle after the other, until all patients had been tested.

[Effects of baisong tablets on the behavior and levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain of stress rats].

Objective: To explore the effects of baisong tablets on the behavior and contents of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain of stress rats.

Methods: Forty adult Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, the depression model group, the baisong tablet group and the fluoxetine group. The depression model was replicated by chronic unpredictable mild stress and single house in 21 days.

Serotonin transporter and tryptophan hydroxylase gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

Background: The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene are important candidate genes for the psychiatric disorders. Many studies of patients with anxiety disorders have found abnormalities of serotonin metabolism and dysfunction of regulation in the transporter itself. In this study, we hypothesize that genetic variation in the 5-HTT and TPH gene may have an effect on the etiology of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

[Thinking on the assessment of clinical therapeutic effectiveness of TCM].

How to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of TCM is the focus of this paper, the trend of study on standard for therapeutic effectiveness assessment and application of standard for disease combined with symptom diagnosis and treatment were described. Taking the study on standard for TCM syndrome of Gan as an example, the basic principle and existing problem in standard formulation were pointed out. The possibility in establishing the therapeutic effectiveness assessment system of TCM by using the quantified scale for therapeutic effectiveness assessment as a tool, i.

[The effects of Baisong tablet on the behaviors and CRHmRNA expression in the brain of rats following chronic stress].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Baisong tablet on the behaviors and CRHmRNA expression in the chronic stress rats.

Method: Rats were exposed to different ways of chronic stress. Body weight and behaviors were investigated during the whole procedure, the CRHmRNA expressions in the hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex were semiquantified by the RT-PCR method.

[Effect of tianlong xifeng granule on gan-yang-hua-feng zheng in cerebral arteriosclerosis].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of Tianlong Xifeng granule (TXG) in the treatment of ceroarterosclerosis (CAS) with Gan-yang-hua-feng Zheng(GYHFZ).

Methods: Patients with CAS were randomly divided into 2 groups: 122 patients in the treatment group were given TXG, while 60 patients in the control group were treated with Ginkgo Biloba capsule. Clinical symptom, blood lipid and transcranial doppler ultrasound were observed before and after the treatment.

[Analysis of the first questionnaires on common TCM syndromes of depression].

Objective: To investigate common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes of depression.

Methods: According to references and results of experiments, questionnaires on common TCM syndromes of depression were designed and distributed to 102 experts throughout the country.

Results: Five syndromes were confirmed by more than 50 percent of the 92 responding questionnaires.

[Further study on the indexes of auxiliary laboratory diagnosis in the syndrome of hyperactivity of liver-yang].

The indexes of auxiliary laboratory diagnosis, including plasma norepinephine (NE) levels, plasma epinephrine (E) levels, mean blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery (MCA-Vm) and systolic blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery (MCA-Vs), were observed in patients with the syndrome of hyperactivity liver-yang. The results indicated that the levels of the 4 indexes were significantly higher in the patients with the syndrome of hyperactivity liver-yang than those in the controls. In hypertension patients with the syndrome of hyperactivity liver-yang, there was a positive correlation between symptomatic scores of the syndrome of hyperactivity liver-yang and diastolic pressure (Pd), plasma NE and E levels.