Neuroprotective effects of Longxue Tongluo Capsule on ischemic stroke rats revealed by LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics approach / 中草药·英文版

OBJECTIVE@#The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect and explore the underlying mechanisms of Longxue Tongluo Capsule (LTC) on ischemic stroke rats.@*METHODS@#Twenty-six rats were randomly divided into four groups, including sham group, sham + LTC group, MCAO group, and MCAO + LTC group. Ischemic stroke rats were simulated by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and LTC treatment group were orally administrated with 300 mg/kg of LTC once daily for seven consecutive days. LTC therapy was validated in terms of neurobehavioral abnormality evaluation, cerebral infarct area, and histological assessments. The plasma metabolome comparisons amongst different groups were conducted by UHPLC-Q Exactive MS in combination with subsequent multivariate statistical analysis, aiming to finding the molecules in respond to the surgery or LTC treatment.@*RESULTS@#Intragastric administration of LTC significantly decreased not only the neurobehavioral abnormality scores but also the cerebral infarct area of MCAO rats. The interstitial edema, atrophy, and pyknosis of glial and neuronal cells occurred in the infarcted area, core area, and marginal area of cerebral cortex were improved after LTC treatment. A total of 13 potential biomarkers were observed, and Youden index of 11 biomarkers such as LysoPC, SM, and PE were more than 0.7, which were involved in neuroprotective process. The correlation and pathway analysis showed that LTC was beneficial to ischemic stroke rats via regulating glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism, together with nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Heatmap and ternary analysis indicated the synergistic effect of carbohydrates and lipids may be induced by flavonoid intake from LTC.@*CONCLUSION@#The present study could provide evidence that metabolomics, as systematic approach, revealed its capacity to evaluate the holistic efficacy of TCM, and investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the clinical treatment of LTC on ischemic stroke.

Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and symptomatic carotid stenosis in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease / 国际脑血管病杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between obstructive sleep apneahypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and carotid stenosis in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) and to provide reference for developing the intervention strategy of carotid stenosis. Methods Eighty-seven patients with ICVD were screened from Nanjing Stroke Registry Program. The patients were divided into without (n=21), mild(n=24), moderate (n=27) and severe (n = 11) OSAHS groups according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI); in addition, the patients were divided into with (n =34) and without carotid stenosis (n=49) groups according to the results of digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The effects of the risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases and OSAHS on carotid stenosis in patients with ICDV were analyzed.Results There were significant differences in the proportions of alcohol consumption (χ2=8.56, P =0. 036), hypertension (χ2 = 13.20, P =0. 004) and carotid stenosis (χ2 =22.97, P =0. 006) between the no OSAHS and the mild, moderate and severe OSAHS groups. The univariate analysis showed that age (OR = 1. 066, 95% CI 1. 023- 1.112; P = 0. 003),hypertension (OR =3.587, 95% CI 1. 294- 9. 949; P =0. 014), alcohol consumption (OR =5.275,95% CI 1.855-15.001; P= 0.002) and OSAHS (OR= 1.073, 95% CI 1.033-1.115; P = 0. 000) were the risk factors for carotid stenosis. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR = 1. 113, 95% CI 1. 047-1. 182; P =0. 001), OSAHS (OR = 1. 096, 95% CI 1. 034-1. 160; P = 0. 000), and alcohol consumption (OR = 4. 292,95% CI 1. 217-15. 139; P = 0. 024) were the independent risk factors for carotid stenosis.Spearman rank correlation analysis suggested that the AHI levels were positively correlated with the degree of carotid stenosis (r = 0. 435, P = 0. 000). There were significant differences among the without stenosis (n =34), unilateral stenosis (n =22), and bilateral stenosis (n=27)groups (12.97 ± 10.04 vs. 21.40 ± 16.38 vs. 29.33 ± 13.81, F= 11.64, P<0.01).Conclusions OSAHS is an independent risk factor for carotid stenosis and it was positively correlated with the severity of carotid stenosis. AHI may reflect the degree of carotid stenosis and the range of neck vascular involvement to some extent.

Phage display and immunological identification of efficient T- and B-combined antigenic epitopes in Helicobacter pylori adhesin A / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To analyze and determine the efficient T- and B-combined (T/B) antigenic epitopes in Helicobacter pylori adhesin A. Methods Recombinant HpaA (rHpaA) was expressed for immunizing rabbit to generate antiserum. T- and B-cell epitopes in HpaA molecule were predicted by using bioinformatic technique. The segments to encode T/B combined epitope peptides were amplified by PCR and the phage display systems of T/B combined epitopes were subsequently constructed. PEG/NaCl precipitation method was applied to extract the recombinant phage PⅢ (rPⅢ) that displayed T/B combined epitopes. By using either commercial IgG against whole-cell of Helicobacter pylori or rHpaA antiserum as the primary antibody, the T/B combined epitopes displayed in rP Ⅲ s were screened and identified by Western blot and ELISA. MTT was applied to determine the proliferation of rHpaA-immunized mouse splenocytes after stimulation of the different recombinant rPⅢ proteins. Results In the HpaA molecule there were five T/B combined epitopes: HpaA10, HpaA37, HpaA79, HpaA116 and HpaA143. All the T/B combined epitopes were successfully displayed on the surface of PⅢ protein of phage M13. The results of Western blot, ELISA and MTT confirmed that HpaA116 was the predominant antigenic epitope, both HpaA37 and HpaA79 were the efficient antigenic epitopes. However, HpaA10 and HpaA143 were identified as ineffective antigenic epitopes. Conclusion The phage display systems of T/B combined epitope peptides of H. pylori adhesin A have been successfully generated in this study. HpaA37 and HpaA79, especially HpaA116 are the efficient T/B combined antigenic epitopes in HpaA of H. pylori.

Clinical Observation of Individual Deglutition Training on Dysphagia after Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

@# Objective To evaluate the method and result of individual deglutition training on dysphagia after Stroke. Methods 36 patients with dysphagia after stroke were randomized into observation group (20 patients receiving individual deglutition training and routine therapy of neurology) and control group (16 patients receiving basal deglutition training and routine therapy of neurology).Results After treatment for 4 weeks, the score of dysphagia in observation group were higher than in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Individual deglutition training could significantly improve the swallowing function of the patients with dysphagia after stroke.

Protective Effect of Kidney-tonifying Herbal Medicine on the Changes of Female Rat Genital System Induced by Tripterygium wilfordii Hook / 中药新药与临床药理

Objective To observe the effect of kidney-tonifying herbal medicine (KTHM) on the changes of female rat genital system induced by Tripterygium wilfordii Hook(TWH).Methods Thirty female rats with normal oestrus cycle were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group,TWH group and TWH+KTHM group. The changes of genital system in all rats were examined after 90-day feeding. Results Compared with the TWH group,oestrus cycle was normal, estrogen and progestogen level and the weight of reproductive organs increased, the ovary was big,follicle grew well with more corpus luteum and good blood supplying, endometrium was thick with hyperplastic uterine gland,and vaginal epithelium became thick and cornificated in TWH+KTHM group. Conclusion Kidney-tonifying herbal medicine can antagonize the toxic and side effects of Tripterygium Wilfordii on the genital system of female rat.