Establishment and Evaluation of Animal Models of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS） is a heterogeneous disease with dysfunction in multiple systems and multiple organs. Its etiology and pathogenesis have not been fully clarified， and its treatment also lacks specificity. The key to studying CFS is developing animal models that reflect the underlying mechanisms and etiology of CFS. The existing CFS modeling methods are complicated and not unified. By sorting out relevant literature，the present study evaluated the modeling methods，modeling standards，mechanisms， and clinical coincidence of the immune model，the stress model， and the disease-syndrome combination model in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. The immune model is mainly constructed from the perspective of pathophysiology， with easy operation and wide investigation， which can simulate the pathological characteristics of CFS to ensure pathogenesis research，but the experimental repeatability is general. Stress modeling is a common method for a variety of neuropsychiatric diseases，including CFS. Many different stressors can be employed to investigate the etiology of CFS， but their effects are unpredictable. Compared with the two western medicine models mentioned above，the TCM disease-syndrome combination model integrates modern medicine with TCM theory，with high clinical coincidence and great practical value. However，the TCM disease-syndrome combination model of CFS is still in the exploratory stage with a few types of models，which needs to be further improved， aiming to establish scientific，reasonable，simple， and efficient animal models to provide support for exploring the etiology，pathogenesis， and new treatment ideas of CFS.

Bamboo-based medicinal moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical efficacy of bamboo-based medicinal moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and to preliminarily explore its action mechanism.@*METHODS@#Sixty-four patients with CFS were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (32 cases, 1 case dropped off, 1 case excluded) and an acupuncture group (32 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the moxibustion group were treated with bamboo-based medicinal moxibustion, while the patients in the acupuncture group were treated with routine acupuncture. Both groups were treated once a day, 6 days as a course of treatment with 1 day interval, for a total of 2 courses of treatment. Before treatment, 1 and 2 courses into treatment and in the follow-up of 14 days after treatment, the fatigue scale-14 (FS-14) and somatic and psychological health report (SPHERE) scores were observed in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the contents of CD+3, CD+4, CD+8 of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets were measured and CD+4/CD+8 ratio was calculated; the clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the FS-14 and SPHERE scores in the two groups were decreased 1 and 2 courses into treatment and in the follow-up (P<0.01), and the FS-14 and SPHERE scores in the moxibustion group were lower than those in the acupuncture group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the contents of CD+3, CD+4 and CD+4/CD+8 ratio in the moxibustion group were increased after treatment (P<0.01). There was no significant difference of CD+3, CD+4, CD+8 and CD+4/CD+8 ratio between before and after treatment in the acupuncture group (P>0.05). After treatment, the contents of CD+3 and CD+4 in the moxibustion group were higher than those in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the moxibustion group, which was higher than 73.3% (22/30) in the acupuncture group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Bamboo-based medicinal moxibustion could improve the physical and mental fatigue symptoms and psychological status in patients with CFS. Its effect may be related to regulating the contents of CD+3, CD+4 of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and CD+4/CD+8 ratio.

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome from yangming meridian / 中国针灸

Based on the theory of "brain-gut communication" and "heart-stomach disease simultaneously", the thinking and method of treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) from yangming meridian were discussed. CFS is related to brain and heart. Based on the analysis of meridian circulation, zang-fu function and the indication characteristics of yangming meridian, the indications of yangming meridian are closely related to brain and heart, so it is proposed to start from yangming meridian and use Chinese herbs combined with acupuncture to treat CFS, including the four methods of clearing away heat and moisturizing dryness, cooling blood and removing blood stasis, promoting qi to clear the organs, and strengthening and replenishing deficiency. It has certain guiding and reference significance for clinical treatment of CFS.

Ginger-separated moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome and its effect on intestinal flora / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of ginger-separated moxibustion on fatigue state and intestinal flora in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).@*METHODS@#A total of 62 patients with CFS were randomly divided into an observation group (31 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (31 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with normal diet and moderate exercise; on the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with ginger-separated moxibustion at Zhongwan (CV 12), Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4), 30 min each time, once every other day, three times a week. Both groups were intervened for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the fatigue scale-14 (FS-14) was used to observe the improvement of fatigue state, and 16S rRNA detection technology was used to detect the distribution of intestinal flora.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the FS-14 score was reduced after treatment in the observation group (@*CONCLUSION@#The ginger-separated moxibustion could significantly improve the fatigue state in CFS patients, which may be related to the regulation of intestinal flora structure and the repair of intestinal barrier.

Antagonization of eplerenone on proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts induced by co-cultured Treg cells based on inhibition of Kv1.3 channel of Tregs / 中国药理学通报

Aim To establish a co-incubation system in cardiac fibroblasts of SD neonatal rats and spleen CD4+ CD25 + regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) of normal adult SD rats,and to investigate the effects of eplerenone(EPL) on the interaction of two cells and the relationship with the Kvl.3 channel on Tregs cell membrane.Methods The spleen Tregs of normal adult SD rats were sorted by immunomagnetic bead sorting,and the myocardial fibroblasts of SD rats were isolated by differential adherence method.The experiment was conducted in the following groups:CFs,CFs + Tregs,CFs + Tregs + EPL,Tregs.The proliferation of CFs was detected by CCK-8 method.The expression levels of type Ⅰ collagen,type m collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) secreted by CFs were detected by ELISA.The mRNA expression levels of Kv1.3,KCa3.1 on Tregs cell membrane and intracellular CRAC channel were detected by RT-qPCR technique.Tregs cell membrane Kvl.3 channel protein expression levels were determined by In-Cell Western blot.Results After 48 h incubation of the co-culture system,the cell proliferation was stable.CFs proliferation was marked(P ＜0.01),which could be inhibited by EPL(P ＜0.01).The type Ⅰ,type Ⅲ collagen and MMP-2 secreted by CFs increased (P ＜ 0.01).The expression levels of Kv1.3,KCa3.1 and CRAC channel mRNA in Tregs increased by 6.95,1.99 and 1.53 fold (CFs + Tregs vs Tregs,P ＜0.01),EPL decreased the mRNA level of each channel (CFs +Tregs + EPLvs CFs + Tregs,P＜0.01),and the decrease of Kv1.3 channel was the most significant (P ＜ 0.01).The Kv1.3 channel protein of Tregs increased by 67.9％ (CFs + Tregs vs Tregs,P ＜0.01),which could be inhibited by EPL(P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Tregs cultured with CFs after 48 h can significantly promote the proliferation of CFs,and EPL can down-regulate the Kv1.3 channel expression on the Tregs membrane and inhibit the activation/proliferation of Tregs,indirectly inhibiting myocardial fibrosis.

Efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion on chronic fatigue syndrome of spleen-kidneydeficiency syndrome and its effects on T lymphocyte subsets and activity of NK cell / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy differences between acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion and regular acupuncture on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) of spleen-kidneydeficiency syndrome, and to explore its effects on T lymphocyte subsets and activity of NK cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 60 patients with CFS of spleen-kidneydeficiency syndrome were randomly divided into a catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion (CECGP) group and a regular acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. The patients in the CECGP group were treated with acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion; the acupoint catgut embedding was applied at Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Pishu (BL 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Qihai (CV 6), once a week, while the ginger-partitioned moxibustion was applied at Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) and Zusanli (ST 36), once every three days for consecutive one month. The patients in the regular acupuncture group were treated with regular acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Pishu (BL 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Qihai (CV 6), once a day, 6 treatments per week (one day for rest) for consecutive one month. The clinical symptom scores, fatigue scale-14 (FS-14), fatigue assessment instrument (FAI), laboratory test results and total effective rate were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) After treatment, the clinical symptom scores, FS-14 and FAI were reduced in the two groups (all<0.05); after treatment, the clinical symptom scores, FS-14 and FAI in the CECGP group were significantly lower than those in the regular acupuncture group (all<0.05). (2) After treatment, the CD/CD, natural killer cell% (NK%), CD%, CD% were all increased in the two groups (all +4<0.05); the CD/CD, CD%, CD% in the CECGP group were significantly higher than those in the regular acupuncture group (all<0.05). (3) After treatment, the total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the CECGP group, which was similar to 93.3% (28/30) in the regular acupuncture group (>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion, which could effectively relieve the symptoms, regulate T lymphocyte subsets and the activity of NK cell, is an effective method for CFS of spleen-kidneydeficiency syndrome.</p>

Production and partial characterization of collagenase of Streptomyces exfoliatus CFS 1068 using poultry feather.

Streptomyces exfoliatus CFS 1068, an isolate of cultivated field soil, produced maximum collagenase activity (58.19 ± 0.83 U ml-1min-1) in 5 days when soybean meal and starch were used as nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively at pH 7 and 30°C in shake cultures (150 rpm). Production of collagenase was higher (40.43± 0.63 U ml-1min-1) when poultry feathers were used as nitrogen source. Thus, the strain was found to be of biotechnological importance. The purified enzyme showed 30.34 fold increase in collagenase activity and was stable at 70°C for 1h. The enzyme was found to be of serine type.

Predictors of Change Following Participation in Non-Pharmacologic Interventions for CFS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate predictors of change in physical function in individuals diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) following participation in nurse delivered, non-pharmacologic interventions. Participants diagnosed with CFS were randomly assigned to one of four, 6-month interventions including cognitive behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, anaerobic exercise, or a relaxation control group. Baseline measures including immune function, actigraphy, time logs, sleep status, and past psychiatric diagnosis significantly differentiated those participants who demonstrated positive change over time from those who did not. Understanding how patient subgroups differentially respond to non-pharmacologic interventions might provide insights into the pathophysiology of this illness.

Effect of Normalization on Detection of Differentially-Expressed Genes with Moderate Effects

The current existing literature offers little guidance on how to decide which method to use to analyze one-channel microarray measurements when dealing with large, grouped samples. Most previous methods have focused on two-channel data;therefore they can not be easily applied to one-channel microarray data. Thus, a more reliable method is required to determine an appropriate combination of individual basic processing steps for a given dataset in order to improve the validity of onechannel expression data analysis. We address key issues in evaluating the effectiveness of basic statistical processing steps of microarray data that can affect the final outcome of gene expression analysis without focusingon the intrinsic data underlying biological interpretation.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / 영남의대학술지

The chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (abbreviated CFIDS or CFS) is a disorder characterized by debilitating fatigue(over 6 months), along with cognitive, musculoskeletal, and sleep abnormalities. The etiology of this illness is unlikely to be a single agent. Findings to date suggest that physiological and psychological factors work together to predispose and perpetuate the illness. Diagnosis is made difficult by the nonspecific clinical findings and no available diagnostic testing. With no known cause or cure for the chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome, treatment is based on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life of affected patients. There is emerging evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome may be familial. In the future, studies will examine the extent to which genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of chronic fatigue syndrome. Most patients with CFS have psychiatric problems such as a generalized anxiety disorder, or major or minor depression, therefore, these mental health disorders may be correlated with the pathophysiology of the CFS. The treatment for CFS must be individualized, due to the heterogeneity of the CFS population. Also the treatment of CFS is built on a foundation of patient-physician relationship, respect and advocacy.