Discussion on Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Liver-Depression-Spleen-Deficiency Type Insomnia Based on the State-Target Theory and the Regulation of Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis

Insomnia has become an urgent clinical problem in modern society.Current research has found that the gut flora-gut-brain axis plays an important role in regulating insomnia.The state-target theory is a product of the combination of traditional Chinese medicine and modern molecular biology technology.This paper clarifies the correlation between the state-target theory,the intestinal flora-gut-brain axis,and liver-depression-spleen-deficiency insomnia.The use of traditional Chinese medicine to regulate the structure and abundance of intestinal flora was also explored,aiming to integrate traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine for the prevention and treatment of liver-depression-spleen-deficiency insomnia.

Differentially Expressed Proteins in Rat Hippocampus after Chronic Immobilization Stress and Intervention Using Xiao Yao San Decoction

Objective To identify differentially expressed proteins in the hippocampus of rats after chronic immobilization stress(CIS)using a proteomics approach,and to study the effect of the Xiao Yao San(XYS)decoction on differentially expressed proteins.Methods Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups of equal body weight:control(non-stress),7-day stress,21-day stress and21-day stress+XYS treatment groups.Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE)was used to detect differences in protein expression in rat hippocampus.One differentially expressed protein was measured and verified by western blotting.Results Seventeen proteins showed differential expression.Among these,eight could be identified:glial fibrillary acidic protein-2(GFAP-2),tubulin alpha-1c,cytoplasmic muscle actin2,14-3-3protein,β-2a tubulin,phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein,synucleinαsyn3,and a low molecular weight(18kD)protein.Six of these proteins exhibited increased expression,one showed decreased expression,and the other protein,which comprised five subtypes,were either increased or decreased.These proteins are known to be involved in immunity,signal transduction,cell cycle control,apoptosis,regulation of enzyme activity,cytoskeleton structure,and synaptic plasticity.GFAP-2was further analyzed,and its differential expression confirmed by western blotting.Conclusion Some proteins are differentially expressed in the hippocampus of rats under chronic stress.The biological functions of these differentially expressed proteins are varied.Finally,the XYS decoction can significantly up-or down-regulate these protein expression levels.

Meta-analysis of Tonifying-Kindney and Soothing-Liver traditional Chinese medicine method in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome

Background:To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of Tonifying-Kindney and Soothing-Liver method in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods:The literatures of randomized controlled trials(RCTs)on the treatment of PCOS with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)published at home and abroad until March 2020 were retrieved,and RCTs on the treatment of PCOS with Tonifying-Kindney and Soothing-Liver method were collected.According to the systematic evaluation method of the Cochrane Collaboration Network,RevMan5.3 software was used to perform quality evaluation and data extraction for meta-analysis of tests that met the inclusion criteria.Results:A total of 30 eligible RCTs were included,including 2244 patients.Meta-analysis results show that the method of tonifying the kidney and Soothing-Liver has certain advantages in the treatment of PCOS.Compared with Western medicine alone group,tonifying the kidney and Soothing-Liver TCM method alone or combined with Western medicine could improve the total effective rate[OR=3.52,95%CI(2.67,4.63),I2=0%,P<0.00001].It is superior to the control group in improving ovulation rate[OR=2.01,95%CI(1.46,2.78),I2=0%,P<0.0001],pregnancy rate[OR=2.82,95%CI(2.28,3.49),I2=0%,P<0.00001],reducing LH[MD=-2.65,95%CI(-3.43,-1.88),I2=92%,P<0.00001]and ovarian stimulating hormone levels[MD=-0.52,95%CI(-0.85,-0.18),I2=94%,P=0.002].There was no statistical difference in reducing serum testosterone levels[SMD=-0.56,95%CI(-1.22,0.09),I2=96%,P=0.09]and improving TCM symptoms[MD=-0.09,95%CI(-4.75,4.56),I2=97%,P=0.97].Conclusion:The method of tonifying the kidney and Soothing-Liver has a certain effect in treating polycystic ovary syndrome,but the evidence is still very limited,and a large sample of high-quality randomized controlled studies is still needed in order to make a more rigorous evaluation.