The multiple beneficial effects on human health of the short-chain fatty acid butyrate,synthesized from nonabsorbed carbohydrate by colonic microbiota,are well documented.At the intestinal level,butyrate plays a regul...The multiple beneficial effects on human health of the short-chain fatty acid butyrate,synthesized from nonabsorbed carbohydrate by colonic microbiota,are well documented.At the intestinal level,butyrate plays a regulatory role on the transepithelial fluid transport,ameliorates mucosal inflammation and oxidative status,reinforces the epithelial defense barrier,and modulates visceral sensitivity and intestinal motility.In addition,a growing number of studies have stressed the role of butyrate in the prevention and inhibition of colorectal cancer.At the extraintestinal level,butyrate exerts potentially useful effects on many conditions,including hemoglobinopathies,genetic metabolic diseases,hypercholesterolemia,insulin resistance,and ischemic stroke.The mechanisms of action of butyrate are different;many of these are related to its potent regulatory effects on gene expression.These data suggest a wide spectrum of positive effects exerted by butyrate,with a high potential for a therapeutic use in human medicine.展开更多
It has since long been known, from everyday experience as well as from animal and human studies, that psychological processes-both affective and cognitive- exert an influence on gastrointestinal sensorimotor function....It has since long been known, from everyday experience as well as from animal and human studies, that psychological processes-both affective and cognitive- exert an influence on gastrointestinal sensorimotor function. More specifically, a link between psychological factors and visceral hypersensitivity has been suggested, mainly based on research in functional gastrointestinal disorder patients. However, until recently, the exact nature of this putative relationship remained unclear, mainly due to a lack of non-invasive methods to study the （neurobiological） mechanisms underlying this relationship in non-sleeping humans. As functional brain imaging, introduced in visceral sensory neuroscience some 10 years ago, does provide a method for in vivo study of brain-gut interactions, insight into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying visceral sensation in general and the influence of psychological factors more particularly, has rapidly grown. In this article, an overview of brain imaging evidence on gastrointestinal sensation will be given, with special emphasis on the brain mechanisms underlying the interaction between affective ＆ cognitive processes and visceral sensation. First, the reciprocal neural pathways between the brain and the gut （brain- gut axis） will be briefly outlined, including brain imaging evidence in healthy volunteers. Second, functional brain imaging studies assessing the influence of psychological factors on brain processing of visceral sensation in healthy humans will be discussed in more detail. Finally, brain imaging work investigating differences in brain responses to visceral distension between healthy volunteers and functional gastrointestinal disorder patients will be highlighted.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the effect of suspended moxibustion(SM) on rectal sensory thresholds and to analyze the possible mechanisms involved in SM treatment of chronic visceral hypersensitivity(CVH) in rats.METHODS:SM was adm...AIM:To evaluate the effect of suspended moxibustion(SM) on rectal sensory thresholds and to analyze the possible mechanisms involved in SM treatment of chronic visceral hypersensitivity(CVH) in rats.METHODS:SM was administered once daily to 37-dold CVH rats for 7 d.The two pairs of acupoints(ST25 and ST37,bilateral) were simultaneously treated with SM.Each treatment lasted for 30 min.Rats undergoing treatment with SM were not anesthetized.Untreated CVH rats and normal rats were used as controls.The abdominal withdrawal reflex was determined 30-90 min after the seven treatments.The hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH) mRNA level was measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction.RESULTS:We found that SM treatment significantly decreased visceral sensitivity to colorectal distention in this rat model.In treated animals,SM also decreased the relative hypothalamic CRH mRNA expression level to control levels.CONCLUSION:Lower hypothalamic CRH levels may mediate the beneficial effects of SM in this rat irritable bowel syndrome model.展开更多
AIM To investigate the effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion(HPM) on phosphorylation of mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(MEK)1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)1/2 and c AMP response...AIM To investigate the effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion(HPM) on phosphorylation of mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(MEK)1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)1/2 and c AMP response element binding protein(CREB) in spinal cord of rats with chronic inflammatory visceral pain(CIVP), and to explore the central mechanism of HPM in treating CIVP.METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into normal, model, HPM, sham-HPM, MEK-inhibitor and dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) groups. The CIVP model was established using an enema mixture of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and ethanol. HPM was applied at bilateral Tianshu(ST25) and Qihai(CV6) acupoints in the HPM group, while in the sham-HPM group, moxa cones and herb cakes were only placed on the same points but not ignited. The MEK-inhibitor and DMSO groups received L5-L6 intrathecal injection of U0126 and 30% DMSO, respectively. Abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR), mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency(TWL) were applied for the assessment of pain behavior. The colonic tissue was observed under an optical microscope after hematoxylin-eosin staining. Expression of phosphor(p)MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB in rat spinal cord was detected using Western blotting. The levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Compared with the normal group, the AWR scores were increased significantly(P < 0.01) and the MWT and TWL scores were decreased significantly(P < 0.05) in the model, sham-HPM and DMSO groups. Compared with the model group, the AWR scores were decreased significantly(P < 0.01) and the MWT and TWL scores were increased significantly in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups(P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-HPM and DMSO groups, the AWR scores were decreased significantly(P < 0.01) and the MWT and TWL scores were increased significantly(P < 0.05) in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups. Compared with the normal group, the expression of p MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB proteins and the levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were increased significantly in the model, sham-HPM and DMSO groups(P < 0.01 or < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of p MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB proteins and the levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were reduced significantly in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups(P < 0.01 or < 0.05). Compared with the sham-HPM and DMSO groups, expression of p MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB proteins and the levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were reduced significantly in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups(P < 0.01 or < 0.05). CONCLUSION HPM down-regulates protein phosphorylation of MEK1, ERK1/2 and CREB, and m RNA expression of MEK, ERK and CREB, inhibiting activation of the MEK/ERK/CREB signaling pathway in the spinal cord of CIVP rats, which is possibly a critical central mechanism of the analgesic effect of HPM.展开更多
It is commonly accepted that females and males differ in their experience of pain. Gender differences have been found in the prevalence and severity of pain in both clinical and animal studies. Sex-related hormones ar...It is commonly accepted that females and males differ in their experience of pain. Gender differences have been found in the prevalence and severity of pain in both clinical and animal studies. Sex-related hormones are found to be involved in pain transmission and have critical effects on visceral pain sensitivity. Studies have pointed out the idea that serum estrogen is closely related to visceral nociceptive sensitivity. This review aims to summarize the literature relating to the role of estrogen in modulating visceral pain with emphasis on deciphering the potential central and peripheral mechanisms.展开更多
基金Supported by A Grant from Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco(AIFA) grant code FARM6FJ728
文摘The multiple beneficial effects on human health of the short-chain fatty acid butyrate,synthesized from nonabsorbed carbohydrate by colonic microbiota,are well documented.At the intestinal level,butyrate plays a regulatory role on the transepithelial fluid transport,ameliorates mucosal inflammation and oxidative status,reinforces the epithelial defense barrier,and modulates visceral sensitivity and intestinal motility.In addition,a growing number of studies have stressed the role of butyrate in the prevention and inhibition of colorectal cancer.At the extraintestinal level,butyrate exerts potentially useful effects on many conditions,including hemoglobinopathies,genetic metabolic diseases,hypercholesterolemia,insulin resistance,and ischemic stroke.The mechanisms of action of butyrate are different;many of these are related to its potent regulatory effects on gene expression.These data suggest a wide spectrum of positive effects exerted by butyrate,with a high potential for a therapeutic use in human medicine.
文摘It has since long been known, from everyday experience as well as from animal and human studies, that psychological processes-both affective and cognitive- exert an influence on gastrointestinal sensorimotor function. More specifically, a link between psychological factors and visceral hypersensitivity has been suggested, mainly based on research in functional gastrointestinal disorder patients. However, until recently, the exact nature of this putative relationship remained unclear, mainly due to a lack of non-invasive methods to study the （neurobiological） mechanisms underlying this relationship in non-sleeping humans. As functional brain imaging, introduced in visceral sensory neuroscience some 10 years ago, does provide a method for in vivo study of brain-gut interactions, insight into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying visceral sensation in general and the influence of psychological factors more particularly, has rapidly grown. In this article, an overview of brain imaging evidence on gastrointestinal sensation will be given, with special emphasis on the brain mechanisms underlying the interaction between affective ＆ cognitive processes and visceral sensation. First, the reciprocal neural pathways between the brain and the gut （brain- gut axis） will be briefly outlined, including brain imaging evidence in healthy volunteers. Second, functional brain imaging studies assessing the influence of psychological factors on brain processing of visceral sensation in healthy humans will be discussed in more detail. Finally, brain imaging work investigating differences in brain responses to visceral distension between healthy volunteers and functional gastrointestinal disorder patients will be highlighted.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the effect of suspended moxibustion(SM) on rectal sensory thresholds and to analyze the possible mechanisms involved in SM treatment of chronic visceral hypersensitivity(CVH) in rats.METHODS:SM was administered once daily to 37-dold CVH rats for 7 d.The two pairs of acupoints(ST25 and ST37,bilateral) were simultaneously treated with SM.Each treatment lasted for 30 min.Rats undergoing treatment with SM were not anesthetized.Untreated CVH rats and normal rats were used as controls.The abdominal withdrawal reflex was determined 30-90 min after the seven treatments.The hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH) mRNA level was measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction.RESULTS:We found that SM treatment significantly decreased visceral sensitivity to colorectal distention in this rat model.In treated animals,SM also decreased the relative hypothalamic CRH mRNA expression level to control levels.CONCLUSION:Lower hypothalamic CRH levels may mediate the beneficial effects of SM in this rat irritable bowel syndrome model.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81273843 and No.81674073National Key Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)+1 种基金No.2015CB554501Project of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning,No.20144Y0153 and No.2017BR047
文摘AIM To investigate the effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion(HPM) on phosphorylation of mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(MEK)1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)1/2 and c AMP response element binding protein(CREB) in spinal cord of rats with chronic inflammatory visceral pain(CIVP), and to explore the central mechanism of HPM in treating CIVP.METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into normal, model, HPM, sham-HPM, MEK-inhibitor and dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) groups. The CIVP model was established using an enema mixture of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and ethanol. HPM was applied at bilateral Tianshu(ST25) and Qihai(CV6) acupoints in the HPM group, while in the sham-HPM group, moxa cones and herb cakes were only placed on the same points but not ignited. The MEK-inhibitor and DMSO groups received L5-L6 intrathecal injection of U0126 and 30% DMSO, respectively. Abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR), mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency(TWL) were applied for the assessment of pain behavior. The colonic tissue was observed under an optical microscope after hematoxylin-eosin staining. Expression of phosphor(p)MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB in rat spinal cord was detected using Western blotting. The levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Compared with the normal group, the AWR scores were increased significantly(P < 0.01) and the MWT and TWL scores were decreased significantly(P < 0.05) in the model, sham-HPM and DMSO groups. Compared with the model group, the AWR scores were decreased significantly(P < 0.01) and the MWT and TWL scores were increased significantly in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups(P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-HPM and DMSO groups, the AWR scores were decreased significantly(P < 0.01) and the MWT and TWL scores were increased significantly(P < 0.05) in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups. Compared with the normal group, the expression of p MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB proteins and the levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were increased significantly in the model, sham-HPM and DMSO groups(P < 0.01 or < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of p MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB proteins and the levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were reduced significantly in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups(P < 0.01 or < 0.05). Compared with the sham-HPM and DMSO groups, expression of p MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB proteins and the levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were reduced significantly in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups(P < 0.01 or < 0.05). CONCLUSION HPM down-regulates protein phosphorylation of MEK1, ERK1/2 and CREB, and m RNA expression of MEK, ERK and CREB, inhibiting activation of the MEK/ERK/CREB signaling pathway in the spinal cord of CIVP rats, which is possibly a critical central mechanism of the analgesic effect of HPM.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81471126)
文摘It is commonly accepted that females and males differ in their experience of pain. Gender differences have been found in the prevalence and severity of pain in both clinical and animal studies. Sex-related hormones are found to be involved in pain transmission and have critical effects on visceral pain sensitivity. Studies have pointed out the idea that serum estrogen is closely related to visceral nociceptive sensitivity. This review aims to summarize the literature relating to the role of estrogen in modulating visceral pain with emphasis on deciphering the potential central and peripheral mechanisms.
