Association between microRNA-137 Gene Polymorphisms and Ischemic Post-stroke Depression / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To analyze the relationship between microRNA-137 gene polymorphisms and ischemic post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods:January, 2017 to January, 2019, the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of rs1625579 in microRNA-137 was genotyped in 250 ischemic PSD patients and 250 healthy controls with SNaPshot. The expression of microRNA-137 was measured with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in the mononuclear cells, and the association of the SNP rs1625579 with microRNA-137 expression was analyzed. Results:The allele T was more in the patients than in the controls (OR = 2.033, 95%CI 1.255 to 3.294, P = 0.003), as well as the genotype TT (OR = 2.139, 95%CI 1.272~3.595, P = 0.004). The microRNA-137 expression was less in the patients than in the controls (t = 28.23, P < 0.001). For the controls, the microRNA-137 expression was also less in those with genotype of TT than with GT and GG (t = 3.764, P < 0.001). Conclusion:The genotype TT of SNP rs1625579 in microRNA-137 is a risk factor of susceptibility to ischemic PSD, which may associate with the decrease of expression of microRNA-137.

Mechanism of geniposide in improving free fatty acid metabolism in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease / 中国中药杂志

To observe the effect of geniposide on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and discuss the mechanism of geniposide for NAFLD from the aspect of free fatty acid, forty healthy Wistar male rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, geniposide and Xuezhikang group. The rats in normal group were fed with normal diets, and the rats in other 3 groups were given with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce the NAFLD models. From the week 5 to end of week 8, the rats in geniposide and Xuezhikang group were intervened with corresponding medicines. The body weight, liver wet weight, and fat weight of the rats were recorded. Visual and pathological changes in hepatic tissues were observed with HE staining. The contents of TG, FFA, FAS, AMPK, ACCase and Malonyl-CoA in hepatic tissue, contents of CHO and LDL-C in serum and activities of AST and ALT in serum were detected by using corresponding methods. The results showed that the body weight, liver wet weight, and fat weight of the rats, CHO, LDL-C, ALT and AST levels in serum, TG, FFA, FAS, ACCase and Malonyl-CoA levels in hepatic tissues of the rats in model group were significantly higher than those in normal group (P<0.01), while AMPK activity was significantly lower than that of the normal group (P<0.01), with obvious visual and pathological steatosis in hepatic tissues, and inflammatory injury occurred in model group. Compared with the model group, body weight of the rat, fat weight, levels of FFA in hepatic tissues, ALT and AST activities in serum, liver wet weight, TG, FAS, ACCase and Malonyl-CoA levels were significantly decreased in geniposide group (P<0.01), while the AMPK activity in hepatic tissues was significantly increased (P<0.05),with improvement in visual and pathological performance. Compared with the model group, liver wet weight, fat weight, TG and FFA levels in hepatic tissues, and LDL-C level in serum were significantly decreased in Xuezhikang group (P<0.05). Compared with Xuezhikang group, the body weight of rat, fat weight and FFA level in hepatic tissues were significantly lower in geniposide group (P<0.01), but with no significant difference in other aspects. These findings indicated that geniposide was highly effective in improving the pharmacological effect of NAFLD induced by high-fat diet, and the mechanism was achieved through AMPK-ACCase-Malonyl-CoA-FFA axis.

Multiple pharmacological actions of Yiqi Huatan Decoction in a model of depression in rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of Yiqi Huatan Decoction (, YHD) on a model of depression in rats under different pathological conditions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 8: normal, model, YHD, and maprotiline. The model group, YHD group and maprotiline group used separate feeding and rats were exposed to chronic and unpredictable stress to build the depression model. From day 2, the YHD group and maprotiline group were respectively given YHD (7 g/kg) and maprotiline (10 mg/kg) by gastrogavage once daily. The normal and model groups were given the same volume of drinking water. The medication duration were 21 days. At the end of the experiment, the serum levels of copper and zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy, plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (COR) were detected by radioimmunoassay, and levels of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the hypothalamus were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography-eletricochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the content of copper and zinc in the serum of rats in the normal group, serum copper levels in model rats were significantly increased and zinc content was significantly reduced (both P<0.05). Plasma concentrations of ACTH and COR in the model group were significantly increased compared with those in the normal group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The contents of NE, DA, and 5-HT in the hypothalamus of rats in the model group were significantly reduced compared with those of the normal group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with those in the model group, the serum copper content and plasma concentrations of ACTH and COR were significantly decreased (all P<0.05); meanwhile, serum zinc content and hypothalamic contents of NE, DA, and 5-HT were significantly increased in rats of the YHD group (all P<0.05). The same effects were also shown in the maprotiline group except for 5-HT (all P<0.05)</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pharmacological actions of YHD for depression might be related to improving trace-element anomalies, reversing endocrine dysfunction, and modulating the disorders of monoaminergic neurotransmitters.</p>

Effects of electroacupuncture on behavior, plasma COR and expressions of PKA and PKC in hippocampus of the depression model rat / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into the mechanism of acupuncture for treatment of depression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two healthy SD male rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, an electroacupuncture (EA) group and a Maprotiline group. The depression rat model was made in the latter three groups, and from the second day of the experiment EA was given at Baihui (GV 20), "Yintang" (EX-HN 1), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) in the EA group, once every other day; the rats in the Maprotiline group were treated with oral administration of Maprotiline hydrochroride, once each day. After treatment of 3 weeks, changes of behaviors, plasma cortisol (COR) level and expressions of protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) in hippocampus were observed in the rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the depression model rats, the body weight increased slowly, and horizontal and vertical activities and consumption of sugar liquid significantly decreased; plasma cortisol content significantly increased; expressions of PKA and PKC in the hippocampus significantly reduced. In the rats of EA group, the score of behaviors, the consumption of sugar liquid and the increase of body weight were not significantly different to those in the model group, but the plasma cortisol level significantly decreased and closed to the normal level, and positive expressions of PKA and PKC in the hippocampus could be effectively reversed. In the Maprotiline group, the consumption of sugar liquid significantly increased and plasma cortisol level significantly decreased, and expressions of PKA and PKC in the hippocampus increased as compared with those in the model group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The depression model rat has dysfunction of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) and EA can regulate functions of HPAA. The mechanism is possibly carried out by regulating functions of relative enzymes in the signal transduction pathway in hippocampal cells.</p>