AQP4 is upregulated in schizophrenia and Its inhibition attenuates MK-801-induced schizophrenia-like behaviors in mice.

Background: The pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of schizophrenia (SCZ) remain unclear, and the effective treatment resources are still limited. The goal of this study is to identify the expression of AQP4 in SCZ patients and explore whether AQP4 inhibition could ameliorate schizophrenia-like behaviors and its mechanisms.

Methods: Microarray datasets of PFC compared with healthy control were searched in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed with the GEO2R online tool.

The effect of ginsenosides on liver injury in preclinical studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Liver injury is a severe liver lesion caused by various etiologies and is one of the main areas of medical research. C.A.

[Virtual screening and antiepileptic activity evaluation of COX-2 inhibitory components in Trachelospermi Caulisetfolium].

This study investigated the potential active components against cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) from Trachelospermi Caulisetfolium and explored the pharmacodynamic material basis.A pharmacophore-based virtual screening method was adopted to establish a COX-2 ligands-based HipHop pharmacophore model on the basis of the information on compounds with COX-2 inhibitory activity reported in published research articles.The reported components in Trachelospermi Caulisetfolium were collected to establish the compound library and matched with the pharmacophores.

Spatial Heterojunction in Nanostructured TiO and Its Cascade Effect for Efficient Photocatalysis.

A highly efficient photoenergy conversion is strongly dependent on the cumulative cascade efficiency of the photogenerated carriers. Spatial heterojunctions are critical to directed charge transfer and, thus, attractive but still a challenge. Here, a spatially ternary titanium-defected TiO@carbon quantum dots@reduced graphene oxide (denoted as @CQDs@rGO) in one system is shown to demonstrate a cascade effect of charges and significant performances regarding the photocurrent, the apparent quantum yield, and photocatalysis such as H production from water splitting and CO reduction.

Interfacial co-existence of oxygen and titanium vacancies in nanostructured TiO for enhancement of carrier transport.

The interfacial co-existence of oxygen and metal vacancies in metal oxide semiconductors and their highly efficient carrier transport have rarely been reported. This work reports on the co-existence of oxygen and titanium vacancies at the interface between TiO and rGO via a simple two-step calcination treatment. Experimental measurements show that the oxygen and titanium vacancies are formed under 550 °C/Ar and 350 °C/air calcination conditions, respectively.

[Electroacupuncture improves intestinal function by down-regulating expression of 5-HTR and c-fos proteins in the hypothalamus and colon tissues via brain-gut axis in rats with functional diarrhea].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on expression of 5-HT receptor (5-HTR) and c-fos proteins in the hypothalamus and colon tissues in functional diarrhea (FD) rats so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in improving intestinal function via brain-gut axis.

Methods: A total of 40 SD rats were randomized into blank control, model, EA Tianshu (ST25)-Dachangshu (BL25, ST25-BL25) and EA Quchi (LI11)- Shangjuxu (ST37, LI11-ST37) groups. The FD model was established by gavage of Folium Sennae (10 mg/kg) and constraint immobilization once daily for 29 days.

Hippocampal gene expression profiling in a rat model of functional constipation reveals abnormal expression genes associated with cognitive function.

Disease progress and pathological proceeding of functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) are considered to be closely related to disordered brain-gut interaction, but only a few researches reported the relationship of functional constipation (FC) and disordered brain-gut interaction. It has been found that FC has a great correlation with emotional problems in clinical patients, but its related mechanisms have not been clearly clarified. In order to explore the molecular pathogenesis of FC related to emotional problem, BGI-500 sequencing technology was used for the first time to study the transcriptomics changes of hippocampus in a rat model.

[Effect of "Xiusanzhen" on hippocampal muscarinic cholinergic receptor activity in Alzheimer disease rats].

Objective: To explore the effect of "Xiusanzhen" [electroacupuncture (EA) of bilateral "Yingxiang" (LI 20) and "Yintang" (EX-HN 3)] on activities of hippocampal muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAChR) and the involved neural path in Alzheimer Disease(AD)rats.

Methods: Forty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, olfactory nerve severing (ONS)-EA of "Xiusanzhen" (ONS-EA) and EA of "Xiusanzhen" (EA) groups. AD model was established by intra-hippocampal injection (AP: 3.

Study on perfume stimulating olfaction with volatile oil of Acorus gramineus for treatment of the Alzheimer's disease rat.

Objective: To probe into the therapeutic effect of perfume stimulating olfaction with volatile oil of Acorus Gramineus on the Alzheimer's disease (AD) rat.

Methods: Totally 50 adult SD rats, male,weighing 300 +/- 10 g, were randomly divided into 5 groups, normal group (group A), olfactory nerve severing model group (group B), AD model group (group C), AD model plus perfume stimulation group (group D), AD model olfactory nerve severing plus perfume stimulation group (group E), 10 rats in each group. After perfume stimulation, Morris maze test was conducted for valuating the learning and memory ability; Malondaldehyde (MDA) content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in the brain, and the brain weight were detected.

[Effect of "Xiusanzhen" on learning-memory ability and hippocampal somatostatin and arginine vesopressin contents in vascular dementia rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Xiusanzhen" [bilateral "Yingxiang" (LI 20) + "Yintang" (GV 29)] on learning-memory ability and hippocampal somatostatin (SS) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) contents in vascular dementia (VD) rats.

Methods: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into control, VD model, VD plus olfactory bulb lesion (OBL, destroyed by electro-coagulation) and EA groups, with 10 cases in each. VD model was established by 4-vessel occlusion.

[Effect of "Xiusanzhen" on learning-memory ability and hippocampal ChAT and AChE activity in Alzheimer disease rats].

Objective: To explore the effect of "Xiusanzhen" [bilateral "Yingxiang" (LI 20) + "Yintang" (EX-HN 3)] on learning-memory ability and choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity of hippocampus tissue in Alzheimer Disease (AD) rats.

Methods: A total of 40 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, AD model, AD + olfactory-bulb lesion (OBL, induced by electrocoagulation method) + EA and "Xiusanzhen" (AD + EA) groups. AD model was established by 4-vessel occlusion.

[Clinical investigation on electroacupuncture treatment of vascular dementia with "Xiusanzhen"].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of vascular dementia (VD) so as to explore an effective therapy for it.

Methods: Sixty cases of VD were randomly divided into acupuncture group and medication (Duxil, 40 mg/time, 2 times/d for 10 weeks) group, with 30 cases in each group. "Xiusanzhen" means that two acupuncture needles were penetrated subcutaneously from bilateral Yingxiang (LI 20) to Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8) respectively, and the 3rd needle was penetrated from the midpoint between two Yangbai (GB 14) through Yintang (EX-HN 3) to the nasal root, followed by applying EA stimulation to the acupoints.

[Effects of different manipulation methods of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) on signal transduction pathway of STAT5 in human PBMC].

Objective: To study on effects of different manipulation methods of acupuncture on the binding ability of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT5) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with DNA.

Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers were randomly divided into 3 groups; reinforcing method group, reducing method group, normal control group, 10 cases in each group. The expression of STAT5 mRNA and the activation of STAT5 in the human PBMC were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).