Effect of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on duodenal mast cells, NGF and NTRK1 in rats with functional dyspepsia / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on duodenal mast cells, nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1 (NTRK1), and to explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) on functional dyspepsia (FD).@*METHODS@#Sixty SPF-grade 10-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a ketotifen group and an EA group, 15 rats in each group. The FD model was prepared by iodoacetamide combined with rat tail clamping method in the model group, the ketotifen group and the EA group. The rats in the ketotifen group were injected intraperitoneally with ketotifen (1 mg•kg-1•d-1) for 7 days; the rats in the EA group were treated with EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36), with disperse-dense wave, frequency of 2 Hz/50 Hz and intensity of 0.5 mA, 20 min each time, once a day for 14 days. The gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate in each group were observed; the morphology of duodenal mucosa was observed by HE staining; the toluidine blue staining was used to observe the number and degranulation of mast cells in duodenal mucosa; the protein and mRNA expressions of NGF, NTRK1 in duodenum were detected by Western blot and real-time PCR; the level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in duodenum was measured by ELISA.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate in the model group were decreased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate in the ketotifen group and the EA group were increased (P<0.01); the small intestinal propulsion rate in the EA group was higher than that in the ketotifen group (P<0.01). In the model group, local defects in duodenal mucosa were observed with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration; no obvious abnormality was found in duodenal mucosa of the other groups. Compared with the normal group, the mast cells of duodenal mucosa in the model group were increased significantly with significant degranulation; compared with the model group, the mast cells of duodenal mucosa in the ketotifen group and the EA group were decreased significantly, and the degranulation was not obvious. Compared with the normal group, the protein and mRNA expressions of NGF, NTRK1 as well as the level of IL-1β in duodenum in the model group were increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the protein and mRNA expressions of NGF, NTRK1 as well as the levels of IL-1β in duodenum in the ketotifen group and the EA group were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); compared with the ketotifen group, the mRNA expression of NGF, as well as the protein and mRNA expressions of NTRK1 in duodenum in the EA group were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) could inhibit the activation of duodenal mast cells and regulate the expressions of NGF and its receptor to improve the low-grade inflammatory response of duodenum, resulting in treatment effect on FD.

Effect of Chaihu Shugansan on Mitochondrial Function and Mitophagy in Gastric Tissue of Rats with Functional Dyspepsia / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effects of Chaihu Shugansan on gastric motility and mitochondrial function and mitophagy in rats with functional dyspepsia （FD） and to preliminarily reveal its mechanism in preventing and treating FD. Method:Thirty-two SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， Chaihu Shugansan （4.8 g·kg^-1） group， and domperidone group （4.5 mg·kg^-1） after one week of adaptive feeding， with eight rats in each group. Rats in all groups except for the normal group were exposed to modified tail-clamping stimulation for inducing FD. Four weeks later， the semi-solid nutritive medium was used to observe the gastric emptying rate of FD rats， and the serum citrate synthase （CS）， motilin （MTL）， and gastrin （GAS） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The pathological changes in gastric tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， the mitochondrial characteristics by transmission electron microscopy， and the expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 （LC3） and voltage-dependent anion-selective channel 1 （VDAC1） by immunofluorescence co-localization. The mitochondria were extracted from fresh gastric tissue for measuring the reactive oxygen species （ROS）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， and superoxide dismutase （SOD） levels using the biochemical kits. The mitochondrial LC3， yeast Atg6 homologous（Beclin1）， and p62 protein expression was assayed by Western blot. Result:Compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited significantly reduced gastric emptying rate （<italic>P</italic><0.01） and serum CS， MTL， and GAS levels （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. HE staining showed no pathological changes like erosion or ulcer in the gastric tissue of rats in each group. However， the mitochondria in the gastric tissue were observed swollen and dilated under the transmission electron microscope， and vacuolar lesions appeared. The co-expression of LC3 with VDAC1 increased significantly （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The mitochondrial ROS and MDA levels were elevated significantly （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， while SOD content was significantly reduced （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The protein expression levels of LC3 and Beclin1 were significantly up-regulated （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， whereas p62 protein expression was down-regulated significantly （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， Chaihu Shugansan and domperidone elevated the gastric emptying rate （<italic>P</italic><0.05） and serum CS， MTL， and GAS levels （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. It was observed under the transmission electron microscope that the mitochondrial nuclear membrane of the gastric tissue was intact， with clear structure and high density of mitochondrial cristae， and mitochondrial fission and fusion were observed in some parts. The co-localization area of LC3 and VDAC1 was significantly reduced （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The mitochondrial ROS and MDA levels declined significantly （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， whereas SOD level rose （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The protein expression levels of LC3 and Beclin1 were significantly down-regulated （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， while that of p62 was obviously up-regulated （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:The mechanism of Chaihu Shugansan in preventing and treating FD may be related to the improvement of mitochondrial function and the inhibition of mitophagy in gastric tissue.

Role of hippocampus NMDAR subunits in electroacupuncture at "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Weishu" (BL 21) for gastric motility / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on gastric motility, protooncogene c-fos and hippocampus N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits in rats with functional dyspepsia (FD), and to discuss the molecular mechanism of hippocampal in EA at "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Weishu" (BL 21) for gastric motility.@*METHODS@#Eighty-four Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a Zhongwan group, a Weishu group, an acupoint combination group and a non-acupoint group, 14 rats in each one. Except for the normal group, FD model were established by moderate tail-clipping infuriation method and irregular feeding. The rats in the Zhongwan group, Weishu group, acupoint combination group and non-acupoint group were treated with EA at corresponding acupoints, 20 min per treatment, once a day for 7 days. The rats in the normal group and the model group received no treatment; grabbing and fixation were applied in the model group. The stress transducer was used to record gastric motion waveforms; immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of c-fos in hippocampus; Western blot method was used to detect the expression of NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A and NR2B in hippocampus.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, the gastric motility range was decreased (0.05). Compared with the model group, the gastric motility range was increased, the expression of hippocampus c-fos and expression of hippocampus NR2A was increased but expressions of NR1 and NR2B were reduced in the Weishu group, Zhongwan group and acupoint combination group (0.05). Compared with the Zhongwan group and the Weishu group, the gastric motility range was increased, the expression of hippocampus c-fos and NR2A was increased but the expression of NR1 and NR2B was reducedin the acupoint combination group (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#EA at "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Weishu" (BL 21) could increase gastric motility of FD rats, which is likely to be related with activating hippocampal neurons, upregulating the level of NR2A and downregulating NR1 and NR2B.

Effects of Shuwei Decoction on the expressions of Beclin-1, mTOR, Cx43 Protein and mRNA in gastrointestinal smooth muscle of rats with functional dyspepsia due to liver depression and spleen deficiency / 中成药

AIM To investigate the therapeutic action and mechanism of Shuwei Decoction (Bupleuri Radix,Cyperi Rhizoma,Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma,etc.) on functional dyspepsia (FD) from the perspectives of autophagy and intercellular gap junction pathway through its impact on the expressions of Beclin-1,mTOR,Cx43 protein and mRNA in gastric antrum pyloric smooth muscle cells of FD model rats.METHODS Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (blank) group,model group,mosapride group (1.37 mg/kg),low,medium and high dose Shuwei Decoction groups (7.67 g/kg,15.34 g/kg,30.68 g/kg,respectively).FD model rats were prepared according to compound etiological modeling method for 21 days.On the first day after modeling,the rats in each group were given the corresponding medicine for intragastric administration once a day for 14 days.Two hours after the last administration,we procured gastric antrum and pyloric tissues from the sacrificed rats.The expressions of Beclin-1,mTOR and Cx43 protein were detected by Western blot,and so were the expressions of Beclin-1,mTOR and Cx43 mRNA by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR).RESULTS We observed decreased expression of Beclin-1 protein in low,medium and high dose Shuwei Decoction groups (P ＜ 0.01),and an increased expression of Cx43 protein in high dose Shuwei Decoction group (P ＜ 0.05).In medium and high dose Shuwei Decoction groups,decreased expression of Beclin-1 mRNA (P ＜ 0.01),and increased expression of mTOR and Cx43 mRNA (P ＜ 0.01) were detected as well.CONCLUSION Shuwei Decoction can improve FD by suppressing cell autophagy and enhancing the function of gap junction through up-regulating the expression of mTOR mRNA and Cx43 protein and mRNA,and down-regulating the expression of Beclin-1 protein and mRNA.

Evaluation of Moxibustion with Monkshood Cake for Functional Dyspepsia on the Acupoints along Related Meridian: a Randomized and Controlled Clinical Trial / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of moxibustion with monkshood cake on the acupoints along related meridian for functional dyspepsia (FD) patients. Methods: Sixty patients suffering from functional dyspepsia who met with the inclusion criteria were enrolled in our randomized and controlled trial and randomly divided into two different groups, 30 and 28 patients have finished the treatment respectively. Patients of each group were given with moxibustion with monkshood cake on different acupoints, Group A chose acupoints along related meridian (ST 34, ST 36, ST 40 and ST42), while Group B chose acupoints along non-related meridian (GB 34, GB 36, GB 37 and GB 40) . Patients of each group received moxibustion treatment on alternate days, 3 times a week for a total of 12 times. The efficacy was evaluated using the Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) and the Somatic Self-rating Scale (SSS) before, 2 weeks after and 4 weeks after the treatment, respectively. Results: Considering the NDI scale, the result showed that improvement scores of Group A were higher than that of Group B with statistical significance (P ＜ 0.01) . Both groups had improved patients' quality of life after the treatment (P ＜ 0.05), but the improvements in Group A were significantly better than those in Group B (P ＜ 0.01) . Conclusion: The clinical efficacy of moxibusion with monkshood cake on the acupoints along related meridian was better than that of the non-related meridian.

Nutrient Intake and Dietary Behaviors of Patients with Functional Dyspepsia

As a disease that reduces quality of life, functional dyspepsia (FD) is associated with foods that may worsen its symptoms or cause it. The purpose of this study was to examine the nutritional status and dietary behaviors of FD patients. We investigated food intake, food intake frequency, and dietary habits of 45 FD subjects according to the Rome III Diagnosis Criteria. Average age and body mass index (BMI) were 47.7 years and 22.6 kg/m2 (males: 23.4 kg/m2, females: 22.1 kg/m2), respectively. Average energy intake was 77% of Korean Dietary Reference Intake (KDRI), and it was less than that of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES). Other nutrient intake levels were similar to the KNHANES. Energy intake proportion of carbohydrates:protein:fat was 56:18:26, and the ratio of fat intake was higher than that of the KNHANES. Beans, laver, tomato, and yogurt were consumed very frequently. In the results of meal regularity, dietary behaviors and composition of diet were relatively good. It is likely that the patient controlled their diet by eating cautiously and by reducing alcohol drinking and smoking. Our results indicate that FD patients' nutritional status by consumption of nutrients was at a level of normal healthy people and that dietary habits were better than normal adults. However, their fat intake levels were somewhat higher than normal people. Therefore, further research is required to identify the relationship between dietary intakes and FD.

Effect of Pingwei Xiaodao Capsule on Gastric Motility of Functional Dyspepsia Model Rats / 中医杂志

Objective To observe the effect and mechanism of Pingwei Xiaodao Capsule (Capsule for functional dyspepsia) on the gastric motility of functional dyspepsia (FD) model rats.Methods Totally 60 wistar rats were randomized into a blank control group (normal group),model group,domperidone group,Pingwei Xiaodao Capsule large,medium,and small dosage groups.Except for the normal group,the rats of all other groups were irritated by clamping tails for making FD models.Then,the treatment was given for 7 days.The comparative observation was carried out on the gastric interdigestive myoelectric complex (IMC),slow wave frequency variation coefficient,abnormal rhythm index,and gastric emptying rate of all groups.Results Compared with the model group,the IMC period of domperidone group and all Pingwei Xiaodao Capsule groups was shortened,phase Ⅲ prolonged,incidence of phase Ⅲ increased(P