MicroRNA-200a Targets Cannabinoid Receptor 1 and Serotonin Transporter to Increase Visceral Hyperalgesia in Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were reported to be responsible for intestinal permeability in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) rats in our previous study. However, whether and how miRNAs regulate visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D remains largely unknown. METHODS: We established the IBS-D rat model and evaluated it using the nociceptive visceral hypersensitivity test, myeloperoxidase activity assay, restraint stress-induced defecation, and electromyographic (EMG) activity. The distal colon was subjected to miRNA microarray analysis followed by isolation and culture of colonic epithelial cells (CECs). Bioinformatic analysis and further experiments, including dual luciferase assays, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, were used to detect the expression of miRNAs and how it regulates visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D rats. RESULTS: The IBS-D rat model was successfully established. A total of 24 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the distal colon of IBS-D rats; 9 were upregulated and 15 were downregulated. Among them, the most significant upregulation was miR-200a, accompanied by downregulation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) and serotonin transporter (SERT). MiR-200a mimic markedly inhibited the expression of CNR1/SERT. Bioinformatic analysis and luciferase assay confirmed that CNR1/SERT are direct targets of miR-200a. Rescue experiments that overexpressed CNR1/SERT significantly abolished the inhibitory effect of miR-200a on the IBS-D rats CECs. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that miR-200a could induce visceral hyperalgesia by targeting the downregulation of CNR1 and SERT, aggravating or leading to the development and progression of IBS-D. MiR-200a may be a regulator of visceral hypersensitivity, which provides potential targets for the treatment of IBS-D.

Analysis of Medication Principles of Professor Liu Fengbin for Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome / 广州中医药大学学报

In this study,we collected the prescriptions of Professor Liu Fengbin used for the out-patients with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS),counted the usage frequency of the herbs and core-combination herbs in the prescriptions,analyzed the medication principles of Professor Liu Fengbin,and mined the new recipes for IBS by the methods of association rule mining and complex system entropy clustering presented in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System.The results showed that Professor Liu is experienced in treating IBS based on liver-spleen differentiation,mainly applying the therapies of invigorating spleen and replenishing qi,soothing liver and regulating qi,also using the methods of resolving dampness,alleviating depression,relieving pain and activating blood,and prescribing the basic recipe of Chai Shao Sijunzi Decoction.The medication principles of Professor Liu Fengbin for the treatment of IBS will be beneficial to the further exploration of the syndrome pattern distribution of IBS and new recipes for IBS.

Nickel-titanium memory-shape compression anastomosis clip for gastrointestinal anastomosis: a Meta-analysis and sequential analysis / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Nickel-titanium memory-shape compression anastomosis clip (Ni-Ti CAC) has been used in gastrointestinal anastomosis, but its efficacy and safety still remain controversial.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ni-Ti CAC in gastrointestinal anastomosis.METHODS:A computer-based online research of PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, and VIP databases was performed for articles published before January 15th, 2017 using the keywords of nickel-titanium, compression anastomosis clip, anastomosis, gastric, jejunum, ileum, small intestine, colon, rectum, and large intestine in English and Chinese, respectively. The randomized controled trials about Ni-Ti CACversus conventional methods for gastrointestinal anastomosis were included. Meta-analysis of the anastomosis time, time of exsufflation, and hospitalization time was performed, and sequential analysis was conducted on TSA v0.9 software.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 18 eligible randomized controlled trials were enroled, involving 1860 patients. Ni-Ti CAC could reduce the anastomosis time [MD=-3.83, 95%CI(-6.48,-1.19),P=0.004] and time of exsufflation [MD=-0.14, 95%CI(-0.22,-0.05),P=0.002], but there was no significant difference in the hospitalization time [MD=-0.83, 95%CI(-1.82, 0.16), P=0.10]. The quality was ranked as low level based on GRADE system. The time of exsufflation of Ni-Ti CAC was superior to that of conventional method, which was confirmed by sequential analysis. One case of death was reported and incision infection was the most common adverse effects; additionaly, pulmonary embolism and abdominal pain occurred. To conclude, Ni-Ti CAC can facilitate gastrointestinal anastomosis, accelerate the time of exsufflation, and holds a good safety. However, more multicenter and high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed.

Literature review and analysis of the application of health outcome assessment instruments in Chinese medicine / 中西医结合学报

To evaluate the application of health assessment instruments in Chinese medicine.

On the necessity of developing quality of life instruments in traditional Chinese medicine / 中西医结合学报

The development of health-related quality of life (HRQL) instrument in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is increasing rapidly in China, but few studies focus on their necessity. This study explores the necessity of the development of TCM instruments from both theoretical and practice perspectives, and aims to explain whether the adoption of the cross-medical style is valid. Through theoretical analysis, both TCM and Western medicine instruments show the same objectives, whereas TCM instruments are more suitable for the Chinese social behavior, customs and expectations. In practical analysis, 47 TCM instruments were identified, among which 17 had 18 corresponding Western medical instruments. In the domains layer, except for physiological, psychological and social factors, TCM instruments focus more on the harmony between body and spirit, humanity and nature or human and society and the constitution, etc. In the facts layer, TCM instruments focus on the emotions, initiative social intercourse, TCM symptoms, diet, sleep, taste, feces and urine, etc. In addition, significant differences existed in the methods of information selection. There is no need to modify cross-medical style research except when TCM characteristic terms exist, but attention must be paid to the influence of culture in different areas. Therefore, the TCM instruments can resolve the limitations of the application of Western medical instruments to the Chinese setting, while also having remarkable abilities of information coverage and detection. Both forms of instruments have the capacity and requirement to inter-communicate with each other in order to serve the whole Chinese cultural system. Generally speaking, there is no need to modify the instruments in cross-medical style research. But this point requires further demonstration in the rigorous designed clinical trials.