Study on the Regulation of ROS by Acupuncture and Moxibustion to Relieve Inflammation in the Treatment of Sciatica

Objective: To observe the analgesic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on chronic constriction injury (CCI) pain model rats, and to investigate the mechanism of constriction constriction injury. Methods: 32 SPF SD rats were divided into Control Group, Sham Surgery Group, Model Group and Acupuncture and moxibustion Group, with 8 rats in each group. The Model Group, Acupuncture and moxibustion Group and sciatic nerve ligation were used to establish the CCI pain rat model. The sham operation group only separated the nerve, and the control group did not do any treatment. After modeling, the Acupuncture and moxibustion Group was given acupuncture treatment, while the control group and the Model Group did not do any intervention. 7 days for 1 course of treatment, continuous treatment for 3 courses of sampling and detection. Paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) and Paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) were observed. Biochemical detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH);Serum, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were detected by ELISA. Results: Compared with the control group, PWMT and PWTL in the Model Group were decreased (P α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels or contents were increased (P α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels or contents were decreased (P Conclusion: Acupuncture and moxibustion can reduce the ROS level, enhance the antioxidant capacity of the body, reduce the damage of sciatic nerve caused by inflammation, and relieve sciatic pain.

Chloroplast genomic diversity in Bulbophyllum section Macrocaulia(Orchidaceae,Epidendroideae,Malaxideae):Insights into species divergence and adaptive evolution

Bulbophyllum is the largest genus in Orchidaceae with a pan tropical distribution.Due to highly significant diversifications,it is considered to be one of the most taxonomically and phylogenetically complex taxa.The diversification pattern and evolutionary adaptation of chloroplast genomes are poorly understood in this species-rich genus,and suitable molecular markers are necessary for species determination and phylogenetic analysis.A natural Asian section Macrocaulia was selected to estimate the interspecific divergence of chloroplast genomes in this study.Here,we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of four Bulbophyllum species,including three species from section Macrocaulia.The four chloroplast genomes had a typical quadripartite structure with a genome size ranged from 156,182 to 158,524 bp.The chloroplast genomes included 113 unique genes encoding 79 proteins,30 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs.Comparison of the four chloroplast genomes showed that the three species from section Macrocaulia had similar structure and gene contents,and shared a number of indels,which mainly contribute to its monophyly.In addition,interspecific divergence level was also great.Several exclusive indels and polymorphism SSR loci might be used for taxonomical identification and determining interspecific polymorphisms.A total of 20 intergenic regions and three coding genes of the most variable hotspot regions were proposed as candidate effective molecular markers for future phylogenetic relationships at different taxonomical levels and species divergence in Bulbophyllum.All of chloroplast genes in four Bulbophyllum species were under purifying selection,while 13 sites within six genes exhibited sitespecific selection.A whole chloroplast genome phylogenetic analysis based on Maximum Likelihood,Bayesian and Parsimony methods all supported the monophyly of section Macrocaulia and the genus of Bulbophyllum.Our findings provide valuable molecular markers to use in accurately identifying species,clarifying taxonomy,and resolving the phylogeny and evolution of the genus Bulbophyllum.The molecular markers developed in this study will also contribute to further research of conservation of Bulbophyllum species.

Zhuangtongyin Ameliorates Cardiomyocyte Pyroptosis in Rats with Coronary Heart Disease by Regulating Caspase-1

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that pyroptosis has an important impact on the pathological process of many cardiovascular diseases, and inhibiting this process can significantly reduce pathological damage. At the same time, some studies have proved that Zhuangtongy in (ZTY) has a certain protective effect on the myocardium of rats with coronary heart disease. Therefore, the aim of this study is to observe and explore the effects of ZTY on cardiomyocytes and its mechanism of action in rats with coronary heart disease based on the Caspase-1 mediated cellular pyroptosis pathway. Methods: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, sham-operation group, model group, ZTY group and cysteinyl aspartate specific protease (Caspase-1) inhibitor group. The blank group did not receive any treatment, and the other groups established a rat model of coronary artery disease by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery, but the sham-operation group was only threaded without ligation. After that, the sham-operated and model groups were gavaged with 0.1 ml/kg distilled water, the ZTY group was gavaged with 13.6 g/kg ZTY decoction based on the previous study, and the Caspase-1 inhibitor group was injected intraperitoneally with 3 mg/kg Ac-YVAD-cmk solvent once a day for four consecutive weeks. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes, HE staining was used to observe the morphology of cardiac tissue, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) was used to detect serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the rats. In addition, fluorescent probe was used to detect serum Reactive oxygen species (ROS). Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of mRNAs of ASC, Nlrp3, Caspase-1 and gasdermin-D (GSDMD), and the protein expression of Caspase-1 and GSDMD was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: There was no significant difference between the results of the blank and sham-operated groups. Compared with the blank group, the transmission electron microscopy results showed swollen and ruptured cardiomyocyte membranes in the model group, with pore formation, severe mitochondrial swelling, membrane lysis, and cristae breakage. The staining results showed myofibril breakage, severe intercellular oedema and vacuolation in the model group. The inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-18, CRP and ROS were significantly elevated (P β, IL-18, CRP, ROS and the expression of ASC, Nlrp3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD mRNA were significantly elevated (P Conclusion: ZTY can reduce myocardial injury by lowering the expression of ROS and other inflammatory factors, inhibiting Caspase-1 mediated cellular pyroptosis, thus reducing myocardial inflammation and protecting cardiomyocytes.