Effects of Wen Dan Tang on insomnia-related anxiety and levels of the brain-gut peptide Ghrelin

Ghrelin, a brain-gut peptide that induces anxiety and other abnormal emotions, contributes to the effects of insomnia on emotional behavior. In contrast, the traditional Chinese Medi- cine remedy Wen Dan Tang reduces insomnia-related anxiety, which may perhaps correspond to changes in the brain-gut axis. This suggests a possible relationship between Wen Dan Tan^s pharmacological mechanism and the brain-gut axis. Based on this hypothesis, a sleep-deprived rat model was induced and Wen Dan Tang was administered using oral gavage during model es- tablishment. Wen Dan Tang significantly reduced insomnia-related anxiety and prevented Ghrelin level decreases following sleep deprivation, especially in the hypothalamus. Increased expression of Ghrelin receptor mRNA in the hypothalamus was also observed, suggesting that reduced anxi- ety may be a result of Wen Dan Tan＇s regulation of Ghrelin-Ghrelin receptors.

Current views of the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and Henoch-Schonlein purpura in children

Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) is one of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal diseases and may play a potential role in certain extraintestinal diseases. H. pylori infection are mainly acquired during childhood, and it has been reported that in endemic areas of China the infection rates are extraordinarily higher in HSP children, particular those with abdominal manifestations. Furthermore, eradication therapy may ameliorate Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) manifestations and decrease the recurrence of HSP. Therefore, results suggested that detection of H. pylori infection by appropriate method ought to be applied in HSP children. Current evidences indicate that local injury of gastric mucosa and immunological events induced by H. pylori infection are involved in the development of HSP. Increased serum Ig A, cryoglobulins, C3 levels, autoimmunity, proinflammatory substances and molecular mimicry inducing immune complex and cross-reactive antibodies caused by H. pylori infection might play their roles in the course of HSP. However, there are no investigations confirming the causality between H. pylori infection and HSP, and the pathogenesis mechanism is still unclear. More bench and clinical studies need to be executed to elaborate the complex association between H. pylori and HSP.

Influence of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha on neuronal apoptosis in a rat model of hypoxia-or hypoxia-ischemia-induced brain injury

BACKGROUND： In addition to neuroprotective genes, the targeted genes of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α （HIF-1α） include pro-apoptotic genes. However, the influence of HIF-1α on neuronal apoptosis in hypoxia-ischemia remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the relationship between HIF-1α expression and neuronal apoptosis in hypoxia or hypoxia-ischemia brain injury and to determine the role of HIF-1α in regulating neuronal apoptosis. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled animal experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Children Neurology of Sichuan University between May 2006 and May 2007. MATERIALS： In situ cell death detected kit was provided by Roche, USA; rabbit anti-mouse HIF-1α polyclonal antibody was purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnologies, USA; rabbit anti-mouse cleaved caspase-3 polyclonal antibody was purchased from Chemicon, USA. METHODS： A total of 36 Sprague Dawley rats aged 10 days were randomly assigned to 3 groups： sham-surgery, hypoxia, and hypoxia-ischemia, with 12 rats per group. The rats were treated at 3 time points： 4, 8, and 24 hours, with 4 rats per time point. In the hypoxia-ischemia group, the right common carotid artery was exposed and permanently ligated through a midline cervical incision. A 2.5-hour exposure to hypoxia （8% O2/92% N2） was used to induce hypoxia-ischemia injury. In the hypoxia group, rats were exposed to hypoxia without ligation of the common carotid artery. In the sham-surgery group, the common carotid artery was exposed without ligation or hypoxia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Histopathological changes, HIF-1α and activated caspase-3 protein expression, integrated optical density of positive cells, and apoptosis-positive cells. RESULTS： Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that neuronal degeneration and edema was most prominent at 24 hours after hypoxia-ischemia. HIF-1α protein expression was significantly upregulated at 4 hours, peaked at 8 hours, and decreased at 24 hours after hypoxia or hypoxia-ischemia. HIF-1α protein expression was significant greater in the hypoxia and hypoxia-ischemia groups compared with the sham-surgery group （P 〈 0.01）. Activated caspase-3 protein expression began to increase at 4 and 8 hours following hypoxia or hypoxia-ischemia and was significantly upregulated at 24 hours. Activated caspase-3 protein expression remained at low levels in the sham controls compared with the hypoxia and hypoxia-ischemia groups （P〈 0.01）. TUNEL staining showed that the number of apoptotic cells significantly increased at 24 hours after hypoxia or hypoxia-ischemia. In addition, HIF-1α protein expression was greater in the hypoxia group compared with the hypoxia-ischemia group at the same time point （P 〈 0.05）. However, activated caspase-3 expression and the number of TUNEL-positive cells were less in the hypoxia group compared with the hypoxia-ischemia group at the same time point （P〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： HIF-1α played a neuroprotective role following hypoxia-ischemia brain injury.

Tissue plasminogen activator-independent roles of neuroserpin in the central nervous system

A number of studies have confirmed the existence of tissue-type plasminogen activator-independent roles of neuroserpin, a member of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily. In this review article, we aim to clarify this role. These unique roles of neuroserpin are involved in its neuroprotective effect during ischemic brain injury, its regulation of tumorigenesis, and the mediation of emotion and cognition through the inhibition of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and fibrinolysin, modification of Th cells, reducing plaque formation, promoting process growth and intracellular adhesion, and alterina the expression of cadherin and nuclear factor kaooa B.

恒河猴自发性盆腔器官脱垂作为研究人盆腔器官脱垂理想模型的综合评价

盆腔器官脱垂严重影响女性的生活质量且其治疗的并发症严重.开发新疗法须在临床前研究中对其免疫反应和安全性进行评估.但多数四足动物的解剖结构和病理变化与人相差较大,目前缺乏合适的动物模型.本研究对72只老年恒河猴进行了体格检查,发现恒河猴自发性盆腔器官脱垂的发生率与人相似.作者选取了5只正常恒河猴和4只脱垂恒河猴的阴道组织进行进一步分析.Verhoeff-van Gieson染色表明,与正常恒河猴相比,恒河猴脱垂阴道的弹力纤维含量明显降低.免疫组化结果表明,恒河猴脱垂阴道的平滑肌束紊乱,大平滑肌束的数量明显低于正常恒河猴.天狼星红染色提示恒河猴脱垂阴道中Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型?原蛋白的比值明显降低.恒河猴脱垂阴道的组织学形态和生化改变与人脱垂相似.作者进一步构建了恒河猴脱垂后阴道的单细胞转录组图谱,对比分析显示人和恒河猴的阴道具有相似的细胞组成.差异基因分析提示细胞外基质失调和免疫紊乱是保守的分子机制.成纤维细胞和巨噬细胞的相互作用可能在人和恒河猴脱垂中都起到重要作用.综上,该研究对恒河猴自发性脱垂进行了综合评估并表明其是盆腔器官脱垂研究的合适动物模型.

The Psychosomatic Thought of Tibetan Medicine and its Treatment Methods

Objectives:Call on people to treat the causes of physical diseases is to take into account the causes of psychological factors as well as external causes.Materials and Methods:The analysis was conducted by combining the classical medical books of Tibetan medicine,as well as the traditional culture and living habits of Tibetan people,with modern research results.Results:Many of the theories mentioned in Tibetan medicine related to mind-body medicine have been confirmed by modern research.Mental and physical treatment related to psychosomatic diseases should be administered simultaneously.First,when a person is healthy,he should cultivate his mind to build a solid psychological defense against diseases.Developing both the mind and body contributes to creating a stable physical protection barrier against diseases.When a person is ill,he should realign his mind and help his body adjust and promote its early recovery with the help of medications.Conclusions:Treating related psychosomatic diseases should treat the mind and body simultaneously.And the mind and body should be cultivated before diseases to reinforce the psychological and physical defense against diseases.

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in China:A Nationwide Multi-center Population-based Study Among Children Aged 6 to 12 Years

This study aimed to obtain the first national estimate of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder(ASD) in Chinese children.We targeted the population of 6 to 12-year-old children for this prevalence study by multistage convenient cluster sampling.The Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale was used for the screening process.Of the target population of 142,086 children,88.5%(n=125,806) participated in the study.A total of 363 children were confirmed as having ASD.The observed ASD prevalence rate was 0.29%(95% CI:0.26%-0.32%) for the overall population.After adjustment for response rates,the estimated number of ASD cases was867 in the target population sample,thereby achieving an estimated prevalence of 0.70%(95% CI:0.64%-0.74%).The prevalence was significantly higher in boys than in girls(0.95%;95% CI:0.87%-1.02% versus 0.30%;95%CI:0.26%-0.34%;P <0.001).Of the 363 confirmed ASD cases,43.3% were newly diagnosed,and most of those(90.4%) were attending regular schools,and 68.8% of the children with ASD had at least one neuropsychiatric comorbidity.Our findings provide reliable data on the estimated ASD prevalence and comorbidities in Chinese children.

The data and characteristics of the human milk banks in China's Mainland

Background Human milk banks (HMB) have been established for over 100 years in North America and Europe.This study aimed to describe and summarize the operation and characteristics of the HMBs in China's Mainland since the first nonprofit HMB operated in 2013.Methods Operation of HMB in China's Mainland is based on the standards and guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America and some countries in Europe and was modified to meet the needs and circumstances in China such as donation only in the local HMB by medical staff.We reviewed the descriptive data of these 14 HMBs and the clinical characteristics of recipients,the eligible milk donors and the donor milk retrospectively.Results In China's Mainland,from March 2013 to December 2016,14 nonprofit HMBs were developed and operational in public hospitals except one and located in the south,east,north and northwest of China's Mainland.In total,2680 eligible donors donated 4608.2 L of breast milk.The mean age of these donors was 29.4 years with 60.6% receiving college education and 90.6% term delivery.A total of 4678 recipients including preterm infants (n =2990,63.9%),feeding intolerance (n =711,15.2%),maternal illness (n =345,7.4%),serious infection (n =314,6.7%),necrotising enterocolitis (n =244,5.2%),post-surgery (n =38,0.8%) and others (n =36,0.8%).The rate of discarded raw milk was only 4.4% because of hepatitis B and C or cytomegalovirus positivity.Conclusions HMB has been developing rapidly in China's Mainland.Donor human milk was used not only for preterm infants but also for other ill children.But the sustainability of milk banking needs proper management and more financial support by relative health authorities and the government.

LAMC1, LAMA2 and LAMA3 gene polymorphisms and the risk for severe pelvic organ prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is the descent of the pelvic organs,including bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum, resulting in pelvic discomfort, urinary and fecal incontinence and sexual dysfunction(1)The prevalence of symptomatic POP in China is 9.56%according to a cross-sectional study involving 54,000 adult women in six provinces in the mainland of China (unpublished data). The etiology of this disorder is multifactorial, including race, age, body mass index(BMI), parity and menopause (1)The loss of the integrity of vaginal connective tissue has been demonstrated to weaken the pelvic floor support and promote the development of POP.

Vγ9Vδ2-T lymphocytes have impaired antiviral function in small-for-gestational-age and preterm neonates

Preterm and small-for-gestational-age （SGA） neonates are vulnerable groups that are susceptible to various microbial infections. Vγ9Vδ2-T cells are critical components of the host immune system and have been demonstrated to play an important role in the defense against viral infection in adults. However, the characteristics of Vγ9Vδ2-T cells in children, especially the preterm and SGA populations, are poorly understood. Here, we examined the frequency and antiviral function of Vγ9Vδ2-T cells in neonates, including preterm, SGA and full-term babies. When compared to adults, neonates had a significantly lower percentage of Vγ9Vδ2-T cells in the blood. Upon influenza virus stimulation, neonatalVγ9Vδ2-T cells, especially from preterm and SGA babies, showed markedly decreased and delayed antiviral cytokine responses than those of adults. In addition, the antiviral responses of neonatal Vγ9Vδ2-T cells were positively correlated with gestational age and birth weight. Finally, a weaker expansion ofVγ9Vδ2-T cells by isopentenyl pyrophosphate （IPP） was shown in neonates than the expansion in adults. Our data suggest that the depressed antiviral activity and decreased frequency of Vγ9Vδ2-T cells may likely account for the high susceptibility to microbial infection in neonates, particularly in preterm and SGA babies. Improving Vγ9Vδ2-T -cell function of neonates may provide a new way to defend against virus infection.

mpaired NK cell antiviral cytokine response against nfluenza virus in small-for-gestational-age neonates

The neonates, particularly small-for-gestational-age （SGA） ones, are susceptible to various microbial infections. Natural killer （NK） cells are critical components of host innate immunity system and the main source of the inflammatory cytokines, which provide critical protection during the early phase of viral infections before the development of an appropriate adaptive immune response. However, little is known about the antiviral effects of NK cells in neonates especially the SGA population. Herein, a prospective descriptive study was performed to determine the differences of NK cell immunity among adults, appropriate-for gestational-age （AGA） and SGA neonates. Adults have much higher NK cell number in peripheral blood than that in cord blood from neonates. In response to influenza virus stimulation, neonatal NK cells, especially SGA baby cells, expressed significantly lower antiviral cytokines including perforin, interferon （IFN）-7 and tumor-necrosis factor （TNF）-α responses than adult NK cells. In addition, the antiviral cytokine responses of NK cells were positively correlated with neonatal birth weight. Our data suggested that the depressed antiviral activity and less frequency of NK cells are likely to be responsible for the high susceptibility to microbial infection in neonates, at least in part. Improving the function of innate immunity may provide a new way to defend virus infection.

Theoretical Characteristics of Tibetan Medicine

Similar to traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),Tibetan medicine emphasizes the concepts of holism,balance,and etiology.With the individual as the nexus of macro-and micro-ecologies,multi-layered systemic etiologies,inform therapeutic pharmacologies for cultivating network effects to induce the healing response.Tibetan medicine approaches health and healing through perspectives that frame the balance achieved in the internal world as inextricably linked to balance in the external world,and vice versa,that includes expressions of mind and consciousness.The external world refers to the broader context of the natural world as comprised of matter and energy expressed through five elemental dynamics(Chi.Tu,Shui,Huo,Feng and Kong;Tib.Sa,Chu,Mé,r Lung and Kha)describing principles of solidity,cohesion,heat,motility,and interactive space,or earth,water,fire,wind and space,respectively.The internal world refers to the local context of the physical mass and biochemical cascades of energy transfers comprising the human body,its behaviors and functions,including cognitive factors,as also expressed through the five elemental dynamics.The external and internal systems merge as a unified whole,where the five elemental dynamics characterize materio-energetic exchanges between the broader and local ecologies of individual body and natural world,as well as social relations,mental affects,and contextual conditions.The interdependence,opposition,restriction and transformation among three physiological systems known as nyépa(Three Causal Factors)-r Lung,Tripa and Béken(pronounced lōōng,trīpa,baekan,respectively)-are used to discuss the balance of the whole.The causal origins of disease are explained through disturbances to these systems as a combination of afflictive mental factors,physiologic imbalances,and disturbing conditions from the natural world,such as environmental toxins,pathogens,and exposures.Of the three causal origins,afflictive mental factors are particularly emphasized as important etiological conditioning influences.Initiation and progression of disease is divided into four stages:baseline stage,initiating stage,developing stage,and maturing stage.Each stage has an explicit therapeutic paradigm for treatment,recovery,and health maintenance demonstrating the distinct theoretical framework for disease treatment in Tibetan medicine as specific to individual body,particular disease etiology,and constitutionally-directed unique compound metabolism pharmacodynamically.