Genome-wide analysis of hippocampal transfer RNA-derived small RNAs identifies new potential therapeutic targets of Bushen Tiansui formula against Alzheimer's disease / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Bushen Tiansui formula (BSTSF), a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, has been widely used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying its effects remain largely unknown. In this study, a rat AD model was used to study the effects of BSTSF on cognitive performance and expression of transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) in the hippocampus, to determine whether treatment of AD with BSTSF could regulate the expression of tsRNAs, a novel small non-coding RNA.@*METHODS@#To generate a validated AD model, oligomeric amyloid-β@*RESULTS@#The learning and memory deficits of Aβ@*CONCLUSION@#This study identified a previously uncharacterized mechanism underlying the effects of BSTSF in alleviating the learning and memory deficits in Aβ

Screening of specific microRNA in hippocampus of depression model rats and intervention effect of Chaihu Shugan San / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen microRNAs with specific expression of in hippocampus of rats with chronic stress induced depression model, and observe the effect of traditional Chinese medicine Chaihu Shugan San on the expression of microRNA in hippocampus.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the normal control group, the model control group and the Chaihu Shugan San group. The depression model was replicated by unpredictable chronic mild stress combined with separation. Behavioral changes of the rats were observed by Open-field test and sucrose solution consumption test, and the expression of microRNAs in hippocampus was assayed by microRNA micro-array.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the normal control group, there were 13 specific miRNAs in hippocampus in the model control group with the expression difference of more than 2 times. Among them, down-regulating miRNAs included miR298, miR-130b, miR-135a, miR-323, miR-503, miR-15b, miR-532, and miR-125a, and the up-regulation miRNAs included miR7a, miR-212, miR-124, miR-139, and miR-182. Among the 13 specific miRNAs, miR-125a and miR-182 recovered to normal after intervention with Chaihu Shugan San in the Chaihu Shugan San group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study preliminarily found that 13 specific miRNAs in hippocampus are related to depression. Among them, miR-125a and miR-182 recover to normal after intervention with Chaihu Shugan San, which may be the target points of the antidepressant effect of Chaihu Shugan San. We shall further analyze the target genes and their mechanisms.</p>

Effects of chaihu shugan powder on the behavior and expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus, amygdala, and the frontal lobe in rat model of depression / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Chaihu Shugan Powder (CHSGP) on the behavior and the expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tyrosine kinase receptors B (TrkB) in the hippocampus, amygdala, and the frontal lobe of depression model rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i. e., the normal control group (NC), the model control group (MC), the CHSGP group, the disassembly 1 group (CI), the disassembly 2 group (CII), and the Fluoxetine control group (FC), 10 in each group. Except those in the NC, the rest rats were singly housed and exposed on an unpredicted sequence of mild stressor. From the fifteenth day, all rats were administered with equal volume of normal saline (to the NC group and the MC group) and of corresponding medicinal liquid (5.9 g/kg to the CHSGP group, 3.3 g/kg to the CI group, 2.6 g/kg to the CII group, and 1.8 mg/kg to the FC group) by gastrogavage for 2 successive weeks. The rats' body weight, sucrose consumption volume in the sucrose preference test, and times of grooming in the open field test were detected on the 0, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th day, respectively. The mRNA expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus, amygdala, and the frontal lobe were detected by immunohistochemical assay and Real-time fluorescent quantitation PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the NC group, the rats' body weight was put up slowly in the MC group. The scores in the open field test decreased. The times of grooming and sucrose consumption volume were both reduced. The time of staying in central square was postponed. The mRNA expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus, amygdala, and the frontal lobe decreased with statistical significance (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the MC group, the behavior indices of rats in the CHSGP, CI, CII, and FC groups were significantly improved. The mRNA expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus, amygdala, and the frontal lobe were obviously enhanced with statistical significance (P<0.05, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CHSGP could obviously improve the depressive state of the model rats. Its mechanism might be correlated with increasing the mRNA expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus, amygdala, and the frontal lobe.</p>

Clinical experience in treatment of Amanita mushroom poisoning with Glossy Ganoderma Decoction and routine Western medicines / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effects of treatment of Amanita mushroom poisoning with Glossy anoderma Decoction (, GGD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve patients with acute Amanita mushroom poisoning received conventional treatment (penicillin and reduced glutathione) combined with oral administration of GGD (treated group), which was prepared out of 200 g Glossy ganoderma decocted in water to 600 mL, and 200 ml was given once, three times a day for 7 successive days; while conventional treatment alone was given to the other 11 patients assigned to the control group. The therapeutic efficacy and changes in serum levels of total bilirubin (TBil), bile acids (BA), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities in the two groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured-markedly effective rate in the treated group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.01). Elevation in TBil, BA, ALT, and AST activities were observed in both groups 3 days after poisoning, which progressively increased thereafter in the control group. In the treated group, they reached their peak on the 3rd day and then declined gradually. The differences between pre-treatment and post-treatment in both groups were obviously significant (P<0.01), so were the differences between the two groups at corresponding time points (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GGD shows excellent clinical efficacy in the treatment of acute Amanita mushroom poisoning and can reduce mortality significantly.</p>

Mechanism and protective effect of glossy ganoderma decoction on the activities of RNA polymerase in hepatocyte of rabbits with Amanita mushroom poisoning / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the mechanism of glossy ganoderma decoction in Amanita mushroom poisoning.@*METHODS@#Twenty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, including a normal control, a model poison group, and 2 treatment groups (different doses of glossy ganoderma decoction). The activities of hepatocyte RNA polymerase were measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometry and liver function were measured.@*RESULTS@#The activities of hepatocyte RNA polymerase of the model group significantly decreased, and those of the 2 treatment groups were significantly higher than those of the model group. There was a dose-dependent manner between the 2 treatment groups ( all Ps<0.01), and the differences of liver function test including total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DB), total bile acid (TBA), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the 4 groups were significant (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Glossy ganoderma decoction may protect the liver from Amanita mushroom poisoning. Its mechanism may be related to the increase of the activities of hepatocyte RNA polymerase.

Anti-depressive effect of Baisong tablets on the chronic mild unpredicted stress depression in rats / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of Baisong tablets on the nerve-biochemistry and neuroendocrine of chronic mild unpredicted stress depression in rats.@*METHODS@#Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups: a normal control (NC), a model control (MC), a fluoxetine control (FC) and a Baisong tablet treatment group (BST). All rats except the control group were singly housed and exposed to an unpredicted sequence of mild stressor. The levels of serotonin (5-HT), glutamate (Glu) and gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) of the hippocampus were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The concentration of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT) in the plasma of the rats were detected by radio-immunity. The CRHmRNA expressions in the hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex were semiquantified by RT-PCR method. The differences of BDNF and TrkB protein expression in CA1 and CA3 pyramidal and dentate gyrus granule cells layers of hippocampus were investigated with immunohistochemistry technique.@*RESULTS@#In comparison with NC group, the levels of 5-HT, and GABA of the hippocampus in MC rats reduced significantly (P<0.01), and the concentration of CRH, ACTH, and CORT of the plasma and the level of Glu of the hippocampus and CRH mRNA expression in the brain increased significantly. Fluoxetine or Baisong could significantly regulate the abnormal changes of all the above.@*CONCLUSION@#Chronic mild unpredicted stress can affect neuroendoerine and cause depression, and Baisong tablet has antagonism against it.

Anti-tumor effect and mechanism of Paeonol on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7404 / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the anti-tumor effect of Paeonol (Pae) on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7404 and its molecular mechanisms.@*METHODS@#Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7404 was treated by Pae in various concentrations and different time points respectively; and then the cell proliferation was assayed by light microscope, MTT method. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and TUNEL were used to detect the apoptosis. The expression of PTEN and Akt were examined by RT-PCR and immunocytochemical ABC method.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control groups Pae obviously increased the inhibitory and apoptosis rate of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7404. It also showed a typical apoptotic morphology and DNA depicted a ladder pattern characteristic of the apoptosis, indicating the presence of DNA fragmentation. RT-PCR and immunocytochemical ABC assay showed that Pae could increase the expression of PTEN and decrease the expression of Akt.@*CONCLUSION@#Pae can increase the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect, and its mechanism may be the increase of apoptosis-inducing effect which is regulated by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase.

The effects of Baisong tablet on the behaviors and CRHmRNA expression in the brain of rats following chronic stress / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Baisong tablet on the behaviors and CRHmRNA expression in the chronic stress rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rats were exposed to different ways of chronic stress. Body weight and behaviors were investigated during the whole procedure, the CRHmRNA expressions in the hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex were semiquantified by the RT-PCR method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In comparision with the normal group, rats exposed to chronic stress showed decreased body weight and a significant reduction of consumption of sucrose solution, and the duration of immobility during the forced swimming test was increased significantly. The chronic stress rats was in depression of behavior. CRHmRNA expression in the brain of the chronic stress rats was upregulated significantly, while it was downregulated in the groups of Baisong tablet and the group of fluoxetin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Baisong tablet has the effect of antidepressant, and it may be related to the effect of the downregulated CRHmRNA expression in brain.</p>