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.

Effects of Xiangsha Liujunzi decoction drug serum on gastric antrum smooth muscle cells from rats with functional dyspepsia by regulating gastrointestinal hormones

Objective:To observe the effect and mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi decoction(XSLJZD)drug serum on gastric antrum smooth muscle cells(SMCs)in rats with functional dyspepsia(FD).Methods:Gastric antrum SMCs from rats with FD were isolated,cultured,and then divided into six groups as follows:control,model,domperidone,low-dose XSLJZD(LXSLJZD),medium-dose XSLJZD(MXSLJZD),and high-dose XSLJZD(HXSLJZD).Each group was administered the corresponding drug serum for intervention.Drug serum intervention conditions and proliferative activity of SMCs were tested by cholecystokinin octapeptide.Ghrelin,gastrin,somatostatin,and substance P(SP)levels were measured by ELISA.Somatostatin and SP mRNA expression was measured by real-time PCR.Results:A concentration of 10%drug serum for 24 h was decided to be the best intervention condition for later study.The mean optical density value in the model group was lower than that in the control group(P紏.001).Optical density values in the domperidone and HXSLJZD groups were higher than those in the model group(P?.025,P?.032,respectively).Gastrin,SP,and ghrelin levels in the model group were lower(P?.007,P?.037,P?.005,respectively),but somatostatin levels were higher,compared with those in the control group(P?.031).Gastrin,SP,and ghrelin levels in the domperidone,MXSLJZD,and HXSLJZD groups were higher than those in the model group(all P<.05).Somatostatin levels in the four drug-treated groups were lower than those in the model group(P?.002,P?.007,P?.001,P?.009,respectively).SP mRNA levels in the model group were lower than those in the control,domperidone,MXSLJZD,and HXSLJZD groups(P?.037 P?.016,P?.025,P?.002,respectively).Somatostatin mRNA levels in the model group were higher than those in the control and MXSLJZD groups(P紏.042,P紏.035).Conclusions:XSLJZD and domperidone drug serum effectively promote proliferative activity of gastric antrum SMCs in an FD model.The mechanism of this activity may be regulated by gastrointestinal hormones.

Correlation of gut microbiota and neurotransmitters in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder

Objective:To determine the effect of gut microbiota on a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)and explore the correlation of gut microbiota with behavior and neurotransmitters.Methods:We established a single prolonged stress(SPS)model to examine the pathogenesis of PTSD on rat behavior,gut microbiota,and neurotransmitter levels.Rats were separated into control and model groups,and neurotransmitter levels were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Then,16 S rRNA sequencing was used to compare the gut microbiota between the control and model groups.Results:Compared with those in the control group,freezing time significantly increased,while number of standing upright,crossing frequency,time spent in the central arena,and total distance traveled were significantly reduced in the model group after exposure to SPS(all P<.05).Meanwhile,serotonin,or 5-hydroxytryptamine,levels in the brain in the model group were significantly lower than those the control group(P紏.0332).In addition,changes were observed in the gut microbiota diversity and relative abundances of bacterial phyla,orders,families,and genera in the model group.Especially,changes in Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,Cyanobacteria,and Proteobacteria levels were most pronounced after SPS exposure.Correlation analysis showed that the strongest positive correlation was found between Bacteroidaceae and 5-HT(P?.0009).Moreover,RF32 abundance was the most negatively related to 5-HT(P?.0009),crossing frequency(P?.0007),and total distance(P?.0003).Conclusion:Our results suggest that SPS model rats showed differences in behavior,neurotransmitter levels,and gut microbiota with control rats.Moreover,Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,Cyanobacteria,and Proteobacteria were most relevant to the exhibited fear-like and anxiety-like behaviors and significant serotonin content reduction in SPS model rats.

Fu's subcutaneous needling for orthostatic hypotension due to Guillain-Barré syndrome: A case report

A 28-year-old female developed symptoms of frequent dizziness and occasional syncope while standing up,accompanied by paresthesia in her extremities and occasional constipation.She was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome(GBS).Her upright blood pressure was undetectable,and cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed protein-leukocyte separation.A nerve conduction study showed that the sensory nerves of her lower limbs had been injured,but the motor nerves were almost normal.She was treated with immunotherapy and hormonotherapy,which partially relieved her paresthesia and constipation.However,her orthostatic hypotension(OH) persisted after two months of treatment.After three courses of treatment consisting of Fu’s subcutaneous needling,OH significantly improved,with a much less pronounced decrease(<20 mmHg) in systolic blood pressure in the upright position than observed be fore treatment.She was sympto m-free and able to stand and walk for short distances after 3 months of follow-up.This case indicates that Fu’s subcutaneous needling treatment is effective for OH caused by GBS,and it may be a suitable alternative when conventional treatment does not produce ideal results.

Interspecific plant interaction via root exudates structures the disease suppressiveness of rhizosphere microbiomes

Terrestrial plants can affect the growth and health of adjacent plants via interspecific interaction.Here,we studied the mechanism by which plant root exudates affect the recruitment of the rhizosphere microbiome in adjacent plants—with implications for plant protection—using a tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)–potatoonion(Allium cepa var.agrogatum)intercropping system.First,we showed that the intercropping system results in a disease-suppressive rhizosphere microbiome that protects tomato plants against Verticillium wilt disease caused by the soilborne pathogen Verticillium dahliae.Second,16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that intercropping with potatoonion altered the composition of the tomato rhizosphere microbiome by promoting the colonization of specific Bacillus sp.This taxon was isolated and shown to inhibit V.dahliae growth and induce systemic resistance in tomato plants.Third,a belowground segregation experiment found that root exudates mediated the interspecific interaction between potatoonion and tomato.Moreover,experiments using split-root tomato plants found that root exudates from potatoonion,especially taxifolin—a flavonoid compound—stimulate tomato plants to recruit plant-beneficial bacteria,such as Bacillus sp.Lastly,ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis found that taxifolin alters tomato root exudate chemistry;thus,this compound acts indirectly in modulating root colonization by Bacillus sp.Our results revealed that this intercropping system can improve tomato plant fitness by changing rhizosphere microbiome recruitment via the use of signaling chemicals released by root exudates of potatoonion.This study revealed a novel mechanism by which interspecific plant interaction modulates the establishment of a disease-suppressive microbiome,thus opening up new avenues of research for precision plant microbiome manipulations.