Hetong decoction(和通汤)relieves loperamide-induced constipation in rats by regulating expression of aquaporins

OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether Hetong decoction(和通汤,HTT)alleviates constipation via regulating AQPs expression.METHODS:Constipation in rats was induced by loperamide,and rats were randomly assigned into model(saline),HHT-low(95 g/kg),HTT-medium(190 g/kg),HTT-high(380 g/kg)and positive control(mosapride)groups.Then the defecation function,the concentration of serum arginine vasopressin(AVP)and cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP),and the expression of AQP3 and AQP8 in colon tissues were assessed.NCM460 colon cells with AQP3 and AQP8 knockdown or overexpression were exposed to serum from rats that received low or high dose of HTT,followed by detection of AQP3 and AQP8 expression.RESULTS:The model group showed lower fecal weight and water content,weaker intestinal transit,higher serum concentration of AVP and cAMP,increased proximal and distal AQP8 expression,increased proximal but decreased distal AQP3 expression.However,these trends were reversed in both the HTT group(low,medium and high dose)and the positive control group.In NCM460 cells,HTT dose-dependently stabilized AQP3 and AQP8 expression under AQP3/8 plasmid interference or overexpression.CONCLUSIONS:HTT relieves constipation in rats through regulating AQP3 and AQP8 expression.

Clinical study on Jin's three-needle therapy for post-stroke cognitive impairment

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Jin's three-needle therapy on post-stroke cognitive impairment(PSCI)and the effect on neuroelectrophysiology(event-related potentials).Methods:A total of 60 PSCI patients were selected and divided into a treatment group and a control group according to the method of random number table,with 30 cases in each group.The patients in the control group received routine treatment while the patients in the treatment group received additional Jin's three-needle therapy.The treatment for both groups lasted four weeks.Mini-mental state examination(MMSE)and Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA)scores as well as amplitude and latency of potential 300(P300)were adopted to compare the between-group results before and after treatment.Results:Before treatment,there were no significant differences(all P>0.05)in MMSE and MoCA scores,P300 latency and P300 amplitude between the two groups.After 4 weeks of treatment,the MMSE and MoCA scores and P300 amplitudes were improved in both groups,and the P300 latencies became shorter.The results showed significant intra-group and between-group differences(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Based on the routine treatment,Jin's three-needle therapy is effective for PSCI.The mechanism is probably through its regulation on the patients'neuroelectrophysiology.