Potential relationship between Tourette syndrome and gut microbiome

Abstract Objective: In this article, the author aims to discuss and review the relationship between gut microbiota and Tourette syndrome, and whether the change in gut microbiota can affect the severity of Tourette syndrome. Sources: Literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure was mainly reviewed. Both original studies and review articles were discussed. The articles were required to be published as of May 2022. Summary of the findings: Current studies on the gut microbiome have found that the gut microbiome and brain seem to interact. It is named the brain-gut-axis. The relationship between the brain-gut axis and neurological and psychiatric disorders has been a topic of intense interest. Tourette syndrome is a chronic neurological disease that seriously affects the quality of life of children, and there appears to be an increase in Ruminococcaceae and Bacteroides in the gut of patients with Tourette syndrome. After clinical observation and animal experiments, there appear to be particular gut microbiota changes in Tourette syndrome. It provides a new possible idea for the treatment of Tourette syndrome. Probiotics and fecal microbial transplantation have been tried to treat Tourette syndrome, especially Tourette syndrome which is not sensitive to drugs, and some results have been achieved. Conclusions: The relationship between gut microbiota and Tourette syndrome and how to alleviate Tourette syndrome by improving gut microbiota are new topics, more in-depth and larger sample size research is still needed.

Brief review of pathophysiological disorders as consequence of psychological stress / Breve revisión de los trastornos fisiopatológicos como consecuencia del estrés psicológico

Background: Psychological stress is a reaction to an unexpected situation that favours adaptation and response to the event. However, when psychological stress is chronic or very intense, it can induce changes in various systems and tissues, causing diseases or aggravating existing ones. Objective: To briefly analyse the pathophysiological conditions caused by psychological stress. Method: A narrative review of the scientific literature on pathophysiological conditions as a consequence of psychological stress was performed. Results: Psychological stress can induce various conditions at the gastrointestinal, immune and cardiovascular levels. This is mainly due to the neurobiological and endocrine response because when faced with a stressful stimulus, a deregulated release of glucocorticoids and catecholamines is generated, altering the normal physiology of the organism. Gastrointestinal disorders are mainly due to goblet cell dysfunction, resulting in intestinal hyperpermeability, inflammation and infection. Changes at the immune level lead to an increase in inflammatory responses but a decrease in the protective activities of the immune system. Finally, cardiovascular conditions include atherosclerosis, increased blood pressure and stroke. Conclusion: Psychological stress can induce real physiological pathologies and, in some cases, fatal ones. Some of the molecular mechanisms involved in these pathologies have already been studied and identified. Knowledge of these molecular mechanisms can help clinicians and therapists to improve the treatment and therapy of patients.

Introducción: El estrés psicológico es una respuesta a una situación inesperada que favorece la adaptación y la respuesta ante dicho evento. Sin embargo, cuando el estrés psicológico es crónico o muy intenso, se pueden desencadenar afecciones en diversos sistemas y tejidos, generando enfermedades o empeorando las ya existentes. Objetivo: Analizar brevemente las afecciones fisiopatológicas causadas por el estrés psicológico. Método: Se realizó una revisión narrativa con la literatura científica sobre las afecciones fisiopatológicas debidas al estrés psicológico. Resultados: El estrés psicológico puede desencadenar diversas afecciones a nivel gastrointestinal, inmunitario y cardiovascular. Esto se debe principalmente a la respuesta neurobiológica y endócrina, ya que ante estímulos estresores, se genera una liberación desregulada de glucocorticoides y catecolaminas que alteran la fisiología normal del organismo. Las afecciones a nivel gastrointestinal se deben principalmente a la disfunción de las células caliciformes, dando como consecuencia hiperpermeabilidad intestinal, inflamación e infecciones. Las alteraciones a nivel inmunitario generan un aumento en las respuestas inflamatorias pero una reducción en las actividades protectoras del sistema inmune. Por último, las afecciones cardiovasculares incluyen ateroesclerosis, aumento de la presión arterial y derrames cerebrales, entre otros. Conclusión: El estrés psicológico puede causar patologías fisiológicas reales y, en algunos casos, mortales. Algunos de los mecanismos moleculares implicados en estas patologías ya han sido estudiados y establecidos. Conocer estos mecanismos moleculares puede ayudar a los médicos y terapeutas a mejorar el tratamiento y la terapia del paciente.

Effects of Xixin Decoction （洗心汤） on the Diversity of Intestinal Flora and Levels of Aβ1-42，LPS，SAA，and ACH in Brain and Intestinal Tissues of Rapidly Aging Model Mice / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the possible mechanism of Xixin Decoction （洗心汤， XXD） in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer 's disease（AD）. MethodsFifty rapid aging model mice （SAMP8） were randomly divided into model group， probiotic group， high-， moderate- and low-dose group of XXD， with 10 mice in each group. Another 10 homologous anti-rapid aging mice （SAMR1） were set as control group. After 10 weeks of feeding， the control group and the model group were given 10 ml·kg-1·d-1 of distilled water by gavage， while the probiotic group （0.39 g·kg-1·d-1）， the high-dose group of XXD （5.08 g·kg-1·d-1）， the moderate-dose group of XXD （2.54 g·kg-1·d-1）， and the low-dose group of XXD （1.27 g·kg-1·d-1） were given corresponding drugs or decoctions by gavage， once a day in all groups. After 10 weeks of intragastric administration， Morris water maze was used to detect the spatial learning and memory ability of mice in each group. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of hippocampal CA3 region and colon. The levels of β-amyloid 1-42 （Aβ1-42）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， serum amyloid A （SAA） and acetylcholine （ACH） in hippocampus and colon were detected by ELISA.The diversity of intestinal flora in mouse feces was detected by 16S rRNA sequencing. ResultsCompared to those in the control group， the levels of Aβ1-42，LPS， SAA increased， while the level of ACH decreased in the model group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the model group， the escape latency period of the probiotic group was significantly shortened on the 2nd and 5th days， while the escape latency period was shortened， and the residence time in the target platform quadrant increased in the high-dose XXD group during the 2nd to 5th days； the escape latency period was shortened significantly in the moderate-dose XXD group on the 5th day （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the model group， the hippocampal neuron cells in the high- and moderate-dose XXD groups were arranged more closely， with decreased levels of SAA， Aβ1-42 and LPS， increased ACH level， Simpson and Shannon index （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the arrangement of hippocampal neuron cells in the probiotic group and the low-dose XXD group was relatively loose； the proportions of Bacteroidetes and Prevotella were significantly reduced in the probiotic group and the high-dose XXD group， while that of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the probiotic group and the high-dose XXD group， the number of goblet cells in the moderate-dose XXD group decreased， and the number of glands in the low-dose XXD group decreased with atrophy. The high-dose XXD group had decreased Aβ1-42 level in the hippocampus， increased ACH level in thehippocampus and colon tissue， and decreased SAA in the colon tissue than the moderate- and low-dose XXD groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； moreover， the SAA level in the hippocampus was significantly higher in the low-dose XXD group than the high- and moderate-dose groups （P＜0.01）. ConclusionXXD can improve the spatial learning and memory ability of SAMP8， reduce the production and deposition of LPS， SAA and Aβ1-42 in brain and intestine， and increase the content of ACH. The mechanism of its prevention and treatment of AD maybe related to regulating intestinal microecology， affecting flora diversity and improving inflammatory response.

Effects of heat stress on intestinal tract and cognitive function / 环境与职业医学

Heat stress refers to a series of stress reactions such as heat balance disturbance and physiological dysfunction when the body is exposed to the thermal environment for a long time. Studies have found that heat stress can damage intestinal morphology, such as length of intestinal villi, number of goblet cells, and depth of the crypt, affecting the digestion and absorption functions. It also can increase the permeability of the intestinal barrier by damaging the tight junction of the intestinal epithelium, which in turn allows endotoxin and bacteria to enter the blood circulation from the intestinal cavity to cause a systemic inflammatory response. At the same time, heat stress can disrupt the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota, increase pathogenic bacteria, and change downstream metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids. In addition, heat stress can inhibit the occurrence of hippocampal neurons and reduce the number of neurons; decrease the density of synapses; damage important organelles of neurons; induce inflammation of the central nervous system, and then lead to cognitive dysfunction. The brain-gut axis is a two-way signal axis between the intestine and the brain. Intestinal microorganisms and the intestinal barrier can participate in central nervous system regulation, and the brain can change the intestinal homeostatic function and affect the quality of the intestinal barrier through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). The interaction plays an essential role in the body's homeostasis. Therefore, this article reviewed current understandings on the impacts of heat stress on the gut and cognitive function, aiming to provide a reference for subsequent research.

The mechanism of necrotizing enterocolitis-associated brain injury in neonates / 国际儿科学杂志

Necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC)is a serious gastrointestinal disease in the neonatal period and one of the main causes of death in premature infants.In recent years, with the advancement of neonatal intensive care, the survival rate of children with NEC has been improved.However, the survivors are often accompanied by poor neurological prognoses, such as periventricular leukomalacia, intraventricular hemorrhage, neurodevelopmental disorders.The pathogenesis of NEC has not been fully elucidated.This review discusses the factors that may influence NEC related brain injury, such as hypoxia and ischemia, inflammatory response, nutrition, and brain-gut axis, in order to provide an overview on the pathogenesis of NEC.

The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: Clinical Applications in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

ABSTRACT Recent investigations highlight the importance of the gut microbiota and bacteria-derived metabolites as key components in obesity and metabolic health. The microbiota-gut-brain axis presents promising targets for future obesity treatments and prevention. However, the current state of evidence and existing clinical applications of the microbiota-gut-brain axis have yet to be summarized in a thorough review. Therefore, we sought to examine current evidence on the effect of lifestyle, dietary, pharmacological, and surgical interventions on the microbiota-gut-brain axis. In addition, this review highlights potential next steps in research toward characterizing the role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in metabolic health, along with possible interventions to address obesity.

Estrés, depresión, ansiedad y el hábito alimentario en personas con síndrome de intestino irritable / Stress, depression, anxiety, and eating habits in people with irritable bowel syndrome

Resumen El síndrome de intestino irritable (SII) es un trastorno caracterizado por cambios en el hábito intestinal y afecta al 30% de la población mundial. Aunque se ha encontrado una conexión entre el eje cerebro-microbiota intestinal, el desarrollo del SII y su asociación con la prevalencia de trastornos mentales, las posibles implicaciones que tienen en el hábito alimentario de las personas no son claras. Este artículo tuvo como objetivo explorar la relación entre el estrés, depresión, ansiedad, trastornos mentales y hábitos alimentarios en pacientes con SII. Se realizó una exploración bibliográfica en los motores de búsqueda PubMed, ScienceDirect y BVS. Se encontró que las personas con SII pueden presentar anormalidades en la microestructura cerebral y alteraciones en la red cerebro-intestino asociadas a una mayor duración de los síntomas gastrointestinales y el aumento de la comorbilidad afectiva. También se sugiere una relación en distintas vías entre el estrés, depresión y ansiedad, síntomas de SIII y cambios en los hábitos de alimentación. Todo lo anterior puede motivar prácticas de alimentación restrictivas, cambios en el apetito, subadecuación de nutrientes incluso en algunos casos por el mismo manejo nutricional y, en general, deterioro de la calidad de vida de las personas con SII. Se sugiere un manejo integral que no solo implique un manejo farmacológico para los síntomas de SII y los estados de ansiedad y depresión, sino que también incluya un manejo psicológico, manejo nutricional personalizado y recomendaciones de mejora de los estilos de vida como la práctica de actividad física y manejo del estrés.

Abstract Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder characterized by changes in bowel habits and affects 30% of the world's population. Although a connection has been found between the brain-gut microbiota axis, the development of IBS, and its association with the prevalence of mental disorders, the possible implications for people's eating habits are unclear. This article aimed to explore the relationship between stress, depression, anxiety, mental disorders, and eating habits in patients with IBS. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and VHL search engines. We found that people with IBS may have abnormalities in the brain microstructure and alterations in the brain-gut network associated with a longer duration of gastrointestinal symptoms and increased affective comorbidity. A relationship between stress, depression and anxiety, IBS symptoms, and changes in eating habits in different pathways is also suggested. All these may lead to restrictive eating practices, changes in appetite, nutrient inadequacy, even due to the same nutritional management in some cases, and, generally, deterioration in the quality of life of people with IBS. We recommend comprehensive management that involves not only pharmacological treatment for IBS symptoms and states of anxiety and depression but also psychological therapy, personalized nutrition, and improving lifestyles, such as physical activity and stress management.

Analysis on Antidepressant Mechanism of Verbascoside Based on RNA-Seq Technology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objetive： To investigate the mechanism of antidepressant effect of verbascoside based on high-throughput sequencing technology （RNA-Seq），and to explore the possible targets and signaling pathways. MethodsForty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group，model group，fluoxetine group and verbascoside group，10 mice in each group. Except for the control group，all the other three groups were constructed with chronic unpredictable mild stimulation （CUMS） combined with solitary feeding for four weeks. Control group，fluoxetine group and verbascoside group were administered by gavage once daily for three weeks during the second week of modeling. The mice were assessed by sugar-water preference test，forced swimming test，open field test，elevated cross maze test，and water maze test. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was performed to detect the levels of major neurotransmitters and inflammatory factors in mice serum，and mRNA high-throughput sequencing was performed in the nucleus accumben and colon to screen differentially expressed genes and perform pathway enrichment analysis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of Gad，Slc32a1（VGAT） and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF） in nucleus accumbens. ResultCompared with the control group，the anxiety and depression-like behaviors in the model group increased，while the learning and memory ability decreased significantly. The content of neurotransmitter in serum decreased significantly. The content of pro-inflammatory factors increased significantly. The mRNA expression of Gad and Slc32a1（VGAT） in nucleus accumbens decreased significantly，while that of BDNF increased significantly. Compared with the model group，the anxiety and depression-like behavior of mice in verbascoside group was significantly relieved. The neurotransmitter content increased significantly，and the pro-inflammatory factors decreased significantly. The mRNA expression of Gad and Slc32a1（VGAT） in nucleus accumbens increased significantly，while that of BDNF decreased significantly.A total of 48 differentially expressed genes in nucleus accumbens and 43 differentially expressed genes in colon were screened by high-throughput sequencing. Differential genes in nucleus accumbens mainly focus on neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction， γ-aminobutyric acid（GABA）ergic synapse，synaptic vesicle cycle and other pathways. Colonic differential genes are mainly concentrated in GABAergic synapses，synaptic vesicle circulation，cyclic adenosine monophosphate（cAMP） signal pathway and other signal pathways. Compared with the control group，the mRNA expression of Gad and Slc32a1（VGAT） in nucleus accumbens of model group decreased significantly，while the mRNA expression of BDNF increased significantly. ConclusionVerbascoside has significant antidepressant effects. Its antidepressant effect may be related to the increase of monoamine neurotransmitters，the decrease of pro-inflammatory factors and the restoration of neurotransmitter homeostasis by increasing GABA，and it mainly acts through the signaling pathways such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction，GABAergic synapses，synaptic vesicle cycle and cAMP signaling pathway.

Effect of Shunao Jieyu Decoction on Intestinal Flora in Patients with Post-stroke Depression / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Shunao Jieyu decoction on intestinal flora in patients with post-stroke depression. MethodSixty patients with post-stroke depression of Qi stagnation， blood stasis， and phlegm obstruction were selected and divided into a treatment group （30 cases， Shunao Jieyu decoction） and a control group （n=30， paroxetine hydrochloride tablets） according to the random number table. All patients were treated correspondingly for eight weeks. The scores of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） syndrome， Hamilton rating scale for depression（HAMD）， National Institutes of Health stroke scale（NIHSS）， and activities of daily living（ADL）before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the diversity of fecal flora and the distribution of taxonomical levels in two groups before and after treatment. ResultThe post-treatment TCM syndrome score， HAMD score， and NIHSS score were lower than those before treatment in the same group （P<0.05）， while the post-treatment ADL score was higher than that before treatment （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the treatment group showed decreased TCM syndrome score （P<0.05）. No significant difference was observed in the HAMD score， NIHSS score and ADL score between the two groups after treatment. The total effective rate of the treatment group was 90% （27/30）， which was superior to 66.3% （19/30） of the control group （χ2=5.863， P<0.05）. After treatment， the average values of Chao1 index， Observed species index， Shannon index， Simpson index， and Pielou's evenness index of intestinal flora diversity in the treatment group increased without significant difference， while the average value of the Good's Coverage index remained unchanged in the same group. At the phylum level， the abundance of Bacteroidetes increased. At the family level， the abundance of Bacteroidaceae increased. At the genus level， the abundance of Bacteroidetes increased. ConclusionShunao Jieyu decoction can effectively improve the clinical TCM symptoms of patients with post-stroke depression， relieve neurological impairment， improve the ability of daily living， and change the diversity and abundance of the intestinal flora of patients at different taxonomic levels.

Preliminary study on time-dependent changes of intestinal tract and brain-gut axis in mice model of Parkinson's disease induced by paraquat / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To observe the intestinal time-dependent changes in Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model constructed by intraperitoneal injection of paraquat (PQ) and to establish the brain-gut axis connection initially. Methods: In October 2019, 48 mice were randomly divided into treated group and control groups: treated 4-week (P-4) group, treated 6-week (P-6) group, treated 8-week (P-8) group, control 4-week (C-4) group, control 6-week (C-6) group, and control 8-week (C-8) group. The treated group was injected with 15 mg/kg PQ solution and the control group was injected with 0.9% saline (0.2 ml/20 g) by intraperitoneal injection twice a week. After the initial state (0 weeks) and the treatment at the end of 4, 6 and 8 weeks, the mood changes and motor functions of mice were assessed by neurobehavioral tests (open field test, pole climbing test, tail suspension test and elevated plus maze test) . And the number of fecal pellets for 1 h and water content were calculated to assess the functional status of the gastrointestinal tract. Western blotting experiments were performed to detect the expression levels of α-synuclein (α-syn) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the nigrostriatal region of the mouse brain, the tight junction markers zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, the inflammatory markers of integrin αM subunit (CD11b) , inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) , high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) , interleukin-1β (IL-1β) , and the neuronal markers βⅢ-tubulin and α-syn protein in the colon.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression levels of colonic tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Occludin. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the expression levels of TH in the substantia nigra region of the midbrain, and the co-localization of colonic intestine neuronal marker (βⅢ-tubulin) and Ser129 α-syn in the colonic. Results: Compared with the initial state (0 weeks) and C-8 group, mice in the P-8 group had significantly higher pole climbing test scores and resting time, and significantly lower total active distance, mean active speed, percentage of open arm entry and 1 h fecal instances (P<0.05) . After poisoning, the 1 h fecal water content of model mice first increased and then decreased, the P-4 and P-6 groups were significantly higher than the simultaneous point control group, and the P-8 groups were significantly lower than the initial state (P<0.05) . Compared with control, P-4 and P-6 groups, the expression levels of ZO-1 and Occludin in the P-8 group were significantly decreased (P<0.05) . Compared with control group, the expression levels of CD11b and IL-1β in the P-4 group were significantly increased (P<0.05) . Compared with control and P-4 group, the expression levels of CD11b, iNOS, HMGB1 and IL-1β in the P-6 and P-8 groups were significantly increased (P<0.05) . Compared with the control and P-4 groups, the expression levels of βⅢ-tubulin in the colon of mice in the P-8 group were significantly decreased, and the expression levels of α-syn and Ser129 α-syn were significantly increased (P<0.05) . The expression level of Ser129 α-syn in the colon of model mice was negatively correlated with the expression level of βⅢ-tubulin (r(s)=-0.9149, 95%CI: -0.9771--0.7085, P<0.001) . Ser129 α-syn and βⅢ-tubulin co-localization in the colonic intermuscular plexus region increased gradually with the time of exposure. Compared with the control, P-4 and P-6 groups, the expression level of TH in the nigrostriatal region of the brain was significantly decreased, and the expression levels of α-syn and Ser129 α-syn were significantly increased in the P-8 group (P<0.05) . Correlation analysis showed that the relative expression level of Ser129 α-syn in the nigrostriatal region of the brain was negatively correlated with the expression level of TH in the model mice (r(s)=-0.9716, 95% CI: -0.9925--0.8953, P<0.001) . Conclusion: The PD mouse model is successfully established by PQ, and the intestinal function of the model mice is reduced in a time-dependent manner. And on this basis, it is preliminary determined that the abnormal aggregation of α-syn may be an important substance connecting the brain-gut axis.

Effect of abdominal torsion movement on depression, constipation, motor symptoms and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To observe the effects of abdominal torsion movement on depression, constipation, motor symptoms and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods From March to October, 2021, 66 patients with Parkinson's disease hospitalized in Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were randomly divided into control group (n = 33) and experimental group (n = 33). Both groups were given conventional rehabilitation training and medication, and the experimental group was given abdominal torsion movement in addition, for eight weeks. They were assessed with Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Chronic Constipation Severity Scale (CSS), Timed "Up and Go" Test (TUGT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), and the movement track length and ellipse area of pressure center within 30 seconds were compared before and after treatment. Results Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the scores of HAMD, CSS, BBS and PDQ-39, and the time of TUGT, the movement track length of pressure center and movement ellipse area between two groups (P > 0.05). All the indexes significantly improved after treatment in both groups (t > 9.674, P < 0.001), and were better in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 3.120, P < 0.01). Conclusion Abdominal torsion movement could improve the symptoms of depression, constipation and motor, and quality of life in Parkinson's patients.

The effects and mechanisms of chronic stress on intestinal and liver injuries in rats / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effects and its mechanism of chronic unpredictable stress on intestine and liver injuries in rats, and explore the possibility of the existence of brain-gut-liver axis.Methods:Twenty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group and stress group (with 10 in each group). The rats in the stress group were stimulated by chronic unpredictable stress for 4 weeks to prepare the chronic stress model. The rats in the control group were fed normally without stress stimulation. After modeling, ten rats in the control group and seven rats in the stress group were included. The depressive behavior of the two groups was evaluated by sugar water preference experiment. Then the rats were sacrificed. The diversity of gut flora in intestinal feces was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. The pathological injuries of ileum and liver were detected by HE staining. The expressions of occludin in ileum and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in liver were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of TLR4 protein in liver tissue was detected by Western blot. The level of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rat portal vein serum was detected by AZO chromogenic limulus test and blood biochemical method was used to detect liver function.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0 software, and t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between the two groups. Using STAMP software, Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to analyze the difference in bacterial abundance between the two groups. Results:The consumption of sugar water ((7.86±0.90)ml) and the preference rate of sugar water ((43.06±5.65)%) in the stress group were lower than those in the control group ((15.10±1.51)ml, (76.81±6.44)%), and the difference were statistically significant ( t=11.33, 11.16, both P<0.01). Chronic stress caused pathological damage to rat ileum tissue. Compared with the control group, the ileum villi of rats in the chronic stress group were longer ((448.93±12.71)μm, (497.12±16.72)μm, t=-5.88, P<0.01) and thicker ((81.99±16.54)μm, (133.93±6.78)μm, t=-7.12, P<0.01), and the expression of occludin was significantly down-regulated ((0.236±0.011), (0.130±0.026), t=9.12 , P<0.01), the LPS level increased significantly ((18.83±2.62)EU/L, (38.64±2.51)EU/L, t=-5.79, P<0.01). The Beta diversity of rat intestinal flora changed under chronic stress, and the abundance of WPS-2 phylum in intestinal tract of rats in stress group was higher than that in control group ( t=2.76, P<0.05). Chronic stress caused pathological damage to the liver tissue of rats. Compared with the control group, the expression of TLR4 protein in the liver tissue of the chronic stress group increased ((0.169±0.014), (0.475±0.034), Z=-2.37, P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the ALT ((39.7±6.2)U/L, (82.9±43.1)U/L, Z=-2.35, P<0.05) and AST((130.9±28.9)U/L, (472.7±263.3)U/L, Z=-2.64, P<0.05) levels of the chronic stress group increased, especially in AST. Conclusion:Chronic stress cause synchronous damage to the intestine and liver in rats. The mechanism may be related to the results caused by chronic stress such as the changes of the diversity of intestinal flora, the increasing of intestinal permeability, the action of LPS translocated through portal vein blood on TLR4 in liver.

Relationship between chronic constipation and brain-gut microflora axis / 中华胃肠外科杂志

The role of the brain-gut microbiota axis in functional gastrointestinal diseases has been gradually recognized. According to the ROME IV diagnostic criteria, functional gastrointestinal diseases are classified as diseases caused by abnormal brain-gut interaction. This concept is of great significance to the change of diagnosis and treatment paradigm of functional gastrointestinal diseases. Chronic constipation is the most common functional gastrointestinal disease. The pathogenesis of chronic constipation is closely related to the imbalance of intestinal flora, the abnormality of enteric nervous system and neurotransmitter in brain. Therefore, in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic constipation, enough attention should be paid to the concept of integration of brain-gut microflora axis, but the clinical application of brain-gut microflora axis is still limited. This may be one of the factors for high incidence but poor treatment efficacy of chronic constipation. Based on the global research progress and our clinical experience, this article expounds the clinical significance of the brain-gut microbiota axis in chronic constipation.

Effect of acupuncture on intestinal flora in rats with stress gastric ulcer / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupuncture at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) on intestinal flora in rats with stress gastric ulcer (SGU) , and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture promoting SGU recovery.@*METHODS@#Thirty-one SPF SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (7 rats), a model control group (8 rats), an acupuncture group (8 rats) and a medication group (8 rats). The rats in the model group, acupuncture group and medication group were selected to applied the improved restraint water-immersion stress method to establish the SGU model. After modeling, the rats in the control group and model group were fixed and restrained for 20 min every day for a total of 5 days; the rats in the acupuncture group were intervented with acupuncture at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), once a day, 20 min each time, and twisting needle for 30 s every 5 min for a total of 5 days; the rats in the medication group were gavaged by solution of omeprazole enteric-coated tablet (200 mg/mL), 2 mL for each rat, once a day. Guth method was used to calculate the gastric mucosal damage index (GMDI), HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of gastric mucosa, and 16SrDNA identification was used to detect the structural abundance of intestinal flora.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the GMDI of rats in the model group was increased (<0.01), the gastric mucosal pathological changes were significant, and the intestinal flora richness index Chao1, Observed species and diversity index Shannon were all decreased (<0.05), the diversity index Simpson was increased (<0.05). Compared with the model group, the GMDI of rats in the acupuncture group and medication group was reduced (<0.01, <0.05), the gastric mucosal damage degree was reduced, and the intestinal flora richness index Chao1, Observed species and diversity index Shannon were all increased (<0.05) and the diversity index Simpson decreased (<0.05). Compared with the medication group, the GMDI of rats in the acupuncture group was reduced (<0.01), the recovery of gastric mucosal injury was better than that of the medication group.@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture can effectively improve gastric mucosal injury of SGU, and the mechanism may be related to increasing the diversity of intestinal flora and promoting the correction of the disordered intestinal flora.

Relationship Between Psychological Factors and Inflammatory Bowel Disease / 胃肠病学

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a non-specific intestinal inflammatory disease with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. It may be related to genetic susceptibility, intestinal flora, intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction, environment, diet and psychological factors. In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the role of psychological factors in the management of IBD. This article reviewed the relationship between psychological factors and IBD.

Study on Improvement Effects of Fuling Gancao Decoction on Functional Dyspepsia Model Rats / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To study improvement effects of Fuling gancao decoction on functional dyspepsia （FD） model rats. METHODS： Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， Fuling gancao decoction high-dose group （20 g/kg）， Fuling gancao decoction low-dose group （10 g/kg）， drug combination group （Fuling gancao decoction 10 g/kg+domperidone 0.004 g/kg）， domperidone group （0.004 g/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Except for normal group， other groups were givenicy dilute hydrochloric acid intragastrically to establish FD model.  After modeling， normal group and model group were given constant volume of distilled water at room temperature intragastrically， and other groups were given relevant drug solution （1 mL/100 g） intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 7 d. The amount of gastric residue was measured to evaluate the gastric emptying function. Immunohistochemistry SP method was used to detect the protein expression of AQP3， Ghrelin and Substance P in gastric mucosa tissue. The protein expression of Claudin-1， Occludin and VIP were detected by Western blot assay. RESULTS： Compared with normal group， the amount of gastric residue was increased significantly in model group （P＜0.01）； positive expression of AQP3 and Ghrelin protein in gastric mucosa tissue was decreased significantly， while the positive expression of Substance P protein tended to increase； the protein expression levels of AQP3， Ghrelin， Claudin-1 and Occludin were decreased significantly， while those of Substance P and VIP were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， the amount of gastric residue was decreased significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the positive expression of AQP3 and Ghrelin protein tended to increase， while less positive expression of Substance P was found； the protein expression levels of AQP3 and Occludin in gastric mucosa tissue were increased significantly in administration groups， while those of VIP were decreased significantly  （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the protein expression levels of Ghrelin and Claudin-1 in gastric mucosa tissue were increased significantly in Fuling gancao decoction high-dose group， Fuling gancao decoction low-dose group and drug combination group， while those of Substance P were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS： Fuling gancao decoction may improve the symptom of fluid retention in FD model rats by up-regulating the protein expression of AQP3， Ghrelin， Claudin-1 and Occludin and down-regulating the protein expression of Substance P and VIP in gastric mucosa tissue of rats.

Effect of Intestinal Microbiota in Regulating Visceral Hypersensitivity of IBS-D Based on Brain-gut Interacting Mechanism / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is not only a biological mental disorder, but also a kind of chronic functional bowel disease induced by many factors. The pathogenesis of IBS-D is related to visceral sensory abnormalities, intestinal dynamics abnormalities, intestinal mucosal micro-inflammatory reactions, heredity, dietary intolerance and other factors. The visceral hypersensitivity is one of the main pathophysiology, and refers to an unknown cause of intestinal hypersensitivity to cold, bad mood and other stimuli. However, its mechanism remains unclear. The pathogenesis of IBS-D is closely related to the disturbance of brain and intestinal interaction. IBS-D patients often suffer from anxiety, depression and other psychiatric symptoms due to repeated illness, but long-term chronic mental stress can induce and aggravate IBS-D visceral hypersensitivity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its high-affinity receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) are hotspots in studies about brain-gut axis. BDNF is a highly expressed cytokine in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, and can promote the development of the nervous system, maintain the normal function of mature nerve cells and regulate the gastrointestinal motility and visceral sensitivity. Intestinal microbiota is the key link of brain-gut interaction. Mental disorders are closely related to intestinal symptoms caused by changes in intestinal microbial environment. Repeated mental stimulation can lead to changes in intestinal flora; on the other hand, changes in intestinal flora structure are closely related to the development of the nervous system and the function of the brain. With intestinal microbiota as the study object, this article mainly discusses the effect of intestinal microbiota in regulating visceral hypersensitivity of IBS-D based on brain-gut axis (BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway).

Research progress on the correlation between psychological factors and functional dyspepsia / 中国医师进修杂志

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a world-wide commonly encountered disease. The etiology and pathogenesis of FD have not been fully understood. It may be related to gastrointestinal motility, visceral sensitivity, psychological factors, environment, diet, Helicobacter pylori , genetics and so on. Among the related factors, the role of psychological factors in the development of FD has gradually been valued .This article reviews the possible mechanisms of psychological factors that contribute to the development of functional dyspepsia.

Influence of Intestinal Microbiota on Brain-gut Axis and Functional Dyspepsia / 胃肠病学

Intestinal microbiota can act as a pathogenic factor for a variety of diseases of digestive system and nervous system. Studies have revealed the bidirectional connection between intestinal microbiota and brain-gut axis. And it is illustrated that the intestinal microbiota plays a significant role in the regulation of nervous system as well as gastrointestinal function. Functional dyspepsia (FD)is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder,and the pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. In recent years,studies have indicated that intestinal microbiota may influence the genesis of FD. This article reviewed the effects of intestinal microbiota on brain-gut axis and FD.

Research Progress on the Relationship between Liver-depression and Spleen-deficiency Syndrome and Brain-gut Peptide / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome is common in clinical practice. It has both the symptoms of uncomfortable liver depression and poor digestion of spleen deficiency. The brain-gut peptide not only regulates the gastrointestinal tract, but also participates in the regulation of mood, which is consistent with the mechanism of liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome. At present, there are more than 10 brain-gut peptides discovered. This paper reviews several of these brain-gut peptides that are most closely related to liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome to explore the relationship between brain-gut peptides and liver depression and spleen deficiency.