Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Huoxue Rongluo Particles combined with acupuncture in the eight confluent points of spastic cerebral infarction paralysis and its effects on Glu and Asp levels of serum. Methods Totally 60 patients were divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. Both groups received basic Western medicine treatment, and the experimental group received Huoxue Rongluo Particles additionally, one dose a day for two times orally taken; Acupuncture was on eight confluent acupoint, every two days. 15 d is a treatment course, with 6 courses in total. Clinical spasticity index (CSI) and TCM symptom scores before treatment and the treatment of half month, 1 month, 3 months were observed. The levels of Glu and ASP in serum were detected, and TCM clinical efficacy was observed. Results The CSI score, levels of Glu and Asp in serum and TCM symptom scores of the patients after half-month, one-month, and three-month treatment were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistical significance in CSI score after half month treatment between the two groups (t=0.329, P=0.743). The CSI score in the experimental group after one-month and three-month treatment was lower than the control group (t=-2.636, P=0.024; t=-4.213, P=0.021). There was statistical significance in the levels of Glu and Asp between the two groups after half-month and one-month treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistical significance in the levels of Glu and Asp in the two groups after three-month treatment (P>0.05). The TCM symptom scores in experimental group was lower than the control group after half-month, one-month and three-month treatment (P<0.05). The total TCM effective rate was 86.67% (26/30) in experimental group, and 80.00% (24/30) in the control group, with the experimental group better than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Huoxue Rongluo Particles combined with acupuncture eight confluence acupoints in the treatment of spastic cerebral infarction paralyzed patients can relieve spasm degree, improve TCM clinical symptoms, which mechanism may be related to reducing serum excitatory neurotransmitters.

Objective To observe the influence of needling the Eight Confluent Points plus Huo Xue Rong Luo granules on the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine (Gly) in patients with spastic paralysis after cerebral infarction. Method Sixty patients with spastic paralysis after cerebral infarction were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 3 0 cases each. The control group was intervened by basic treatment, while the treatment group was by Huo Xue Rong Luo granules plus acupuncture at the Eight Confluent Points in addition to the basic treatment, for 6 treatment courses in total. Before the treatment, and after half-a-month, 1-month, and 3-month treatments, the Chinese Stroke Scale (CSS) and activities of daily living (ADL) were evaluated, the levels of GABA and Gly were detected by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the therapeutic efficacies were compared. Result After half-a-month treatment, the CSS score dropped significantly in both groups (P<0.01), and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01);the ADL score (Barthel Index score) increased markedly in both groups (P<0.01), and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01); the level of serum GABA increased significantly in both groups (P<0.05), and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05);the level of serum Gly rose up significantly in both groups (P<0.01), and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After 1-month treatment, the CSS score dropped significantly in both groups compared to that before treatment (P<0.01), and the inter-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01);the ADL score increased significantly in both groups compared to that before treatment (P<0.01), and the inter-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01);the levels of serum GABA and Gly increased markedly in both groups compared to that before treatment (P<0.01), and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). After 3-month treatment, the CSS score dropped significantly in both groups compared to that before treatment (P<0.01), and the inter-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01);the ADL score increased significantly in both groups compared to that before treatment (P<0.01), and the inter-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01); the levels of serum GABA and Gly increased markedly in both groups compared to that before treatment (P<0.05), approaching the normal levels, and the inter-group differences were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion Needling the Eight Confluent Points plus Huo Xue Rong Luo granules is effective in treating spastic paralysis after cerebral infarction, which is plausibly associated with the up-regulation of inhibitory neurotransmitters (GABA and Gly).

Alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2) is reported to participate in the progression of tumors and metabolic diseases. It is also considered to play a crucial role in the glutamate-glutamine shuttle of neuroglial network. However, it remains unclear the involvement of ASCT2 in neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we demonstrated that high expression of ASCT2 in the plasma samples of PD patients and the midbrain of MPTP mouse models is positively correlated with dyskinesia. We further illustrated that ASCT2 expressed in astrocytes rather than neurons significantly upregulated in response to either MPP⁺ or LPS/ATP challenge. Genetic ablation of astrocytic ASCT2 alleviated the neuroinflammation and rescued dopaminergic (DA) neuron damage in PD models in vitro and in vivo. Notably, the binding of ASCT2 to NLRP3 aggravates astrocytic inflammasome-triggered neuroinflammation. Then a panel of 2513 FDA-approved drugs were performed via virtual molecular screening based on the target ASCT2 and we succeed in getting the drug talniflumate. It is validated talniflumate impedes astrocytic inflammation and prevents degeneration of DA neurons in PD models. Collectively, these findings reveal the role of astrocytic ASCT2 in the pathogenesis of PD, broaden the therapeutic strategy and provide a promising candidate drug for PD treatment.