STUDY ON PATHOGENIC MECHANISM OF EMOTIONS IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE—An Observation of Hydrogen Peroxide Releasing Function of Celiac Macrophages in Rats Under Stress State

The hydrogen peroxide releasing function of macrophages in rats under the stress state wasobserved with the animal model of“excessive anger impairing the liver”.The resultsshowed that the volume of hydrogen peroxide released from the macrophages in rats wasdecreased,while the corticosterone level in plasma increased after stress.It indicates thatstimulation of harmful emotions could cause inhibition of immunoreaction of the organism,which might be related to the enhancement in excitability of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and hypersecretion of glucocorticoid hormone.

Effects of Yishendaluo decoction on axonal degeneration,inflammatory reaction,and neurological function in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

BACKGROUND： Yishendaluo decoction reduces production of inflammatory mediators, relieves damage due to inflammatory reactions, and improves neural functions during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of Yishendaluo decoction on a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The randomized, controlled, neuropathological, and molecular biological animal study was performed at the Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Center for Neuroinformatics, General Hospital of Chinese PLA from 2005 to 2006. MATERIALS： Yishendaluo decoction pieces consisting of prepared rehmannia root, colla comus cervi, cape jasmine fruit, and grassleaf sweetflag rhizome were purchased from the Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Rabbit anti-mouse β-amyloid precursor protein and p38 polyclonal antibody （Zhongshan Goldenbridge Biotechnology, China）, as well interferon-y and interleukin-4 ELISA kit （Boster, China）, were used in this study. METHODS： A total of 96 healthy, female, SJL/J mice, aged 8 12 weeks, were equally and randomly assigned to normal, model, hormone, and Chinese medicine groups. A total of 0.2 mL antigen preparation, supplemented with 150 μg PLP 139-151 and 400 μg H37RA, was subcutaneously injected into the upper abdomen of mice from the model, hormone, and Chinese medicine groups. Mouse models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis were established by intravenous injection of 0.1 mL Bordetella pertussis solution containing 0.6 × 10^6 Bordetella pertussis at days 1 and 3. Mice from the model, Chinese medicine, and hormone groups were respectively subjected to 0.2 mL saline, 2 g/kg Yishendaluo decoction, and 0.078 mg/kg prednisone acetate, once daily for 14 consecutive days. Mice from the normal group were left intact. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Pathological changes were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining and Luxol fast blue staining. Expression of β-amyloid precursor protein and p38 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry. Levels of interferon-y and interleukin-4 were detected by ELISA. Behavioral changes were assessed in mice according to scores of neurological function. RESULTS： A few inflammatory cell infiltration, nerve fiber breakage and slight demyelination were detected in the central nervous system of mice from the Chinese medicine and hormone groups compared with the model group. Expression of β-amyloid precursor protein and p38 protein was significantly diminished in the central nervous system of mice from the Chinese medicine and hormone groups compared with the model group （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01）, and the decrease was greatest in the Chinese medicine group. The decrease in mouse weight was not significant, and neurological function scores were less in the Chinese medicine and hormone groups compared with the model group （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01）. Interferon-y levels were significantly reduced （P 〈 0.01）, and interleukin-4 levels were significantly increased （P 〈 0.01） in the brains of the Chinese medicine and hormone groups, compared with the model group. CONCLUSION： Yishendaluo decoction improved neurological function in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by downregulating β-amyloid precursor protein expression, resistingaxonal degeneration, and relieving inflammatory reaction. The anti-inflammatory mechanism was regulated by inhibition of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathway.

Antidepressant mechanism of Jieyu No.1 decoction in a rat model of depression

Rats were subjected to unpredictable chronic stress and isolation-induced depression, and were then intragastrically perfused with Jieyu No.1 decoction or amitriptyline water solution for 21 consecutive days. Open-field test showed that Jieyu No.1 decoction and amitriptyline water solution significantly improved the abnormal behaviors of the depressed rats; it reduced plasma surfactant protein, corticosterone, and corticotropin releasing hormone levels, increased neuropeptide Y and somatostatin levels, and upregulated interleukin-ll3, -2, -6 protein expression in the hippocampal CA3 region. Somatostatin and interleukin-l[3 protein expression were negatively correlated with corticosterone level, and interleukin-113 protein expression was negatively correlated with corticotropin releasing hormone level. Results demonstrated that Jieyu No.1 decoction improved abnormal behaviors of depressed animals by regulating the function of the neuroimmunoendocrine system.

The Clinical Characteristics and Incidence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis of 7632 HIV Patients in Yunnan Province from 2005 to 2017

Objective:To analyze the age and gender distribution characteristics of 7,632 HIV/AIDS patients at the onset of HIV infection-related high-risk intravenous drug abuse and sexual contact in Yunnan province.Methods:Data were collected from the database of Chinese Medicine Treatment of AIDS Pilot Project in Yunnan province.Gender,age and demographics of HIV/AIDS patients were analyzed.Results:The patients were almost in relatively high educational background.The number of male intravenous drug users(12.90%)was more than female,and the earliest average age was 10-14 years.The percentages of men in 10-19 years and 35-59 years were more than that of women.No obvious difference was found in heterosexual sexual contact in both men(48.11%)and women(51.89%),and the earliest ages was 15-19 years in males and 10-14 years in females.The percentage of males at 10-34 years old was less than that of females,just opposite to the age of 35-85 years.Homosexual contact was more in males(92.73%)than that in females(7.27%).The earliest homosexual sexual contact associated with HIV infection was 15-19 years in males and 25-29 years in females.Among 128 AIDS patients with pulmonary tuberculosis infection,intravenous drug abuse accounted for the highest proportion(76.56%)of the three high-risk behaviors related to HIV infection.Conclusions:Reducing risk behaviors and preventing intravenous drug abuse could be effective in preventing AIDS.Compared with other high-risk behaviors,patients with intravenous drug use and AIDS are at greater risk of contracting tuberculosis.