1.Yokukansan Suppresses Gastric Hypersensitivity and Eosinophil-associated Microinflammation in Rats With Functional Dyspepsia
Shaoqi DUAN ; Nobuko IMAMURA ; Takashi KONDO ; Hirosato KANDA ; Yoko KOGURE ; Takuya OKUGAWA ; Masashi FUKUSHIMA ; Toshihiko TOMITA ; Tadayuki OSHIMA ; Hirokazu FUKUI ; Koichi NOGUCHI ; Yi DAI ; Hiroto MIWA
Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility 2022;28(2):255-264
Background/Aims:
Herbal medicine is an important complementary therapy for functional dyspepsia (FD). However, its effect against gastric hypersensitivity in patients with FD has rarely been evaluated. Yokukansan (YKS), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, is effective against neuropathic and inflammatory pain. This study aims to use a maternal separation (MS) stress-induced FD model to investigate the effects of YKS against gastric hypersensitivity, gastric motility, and duodenal micro-inflammation.
Methods:
The MS stress model was established by separating newborn Sprague-Dawley rats from their mothers for 2 hours a day from postnatal days 1 to 10. At the age of 7-8 weeks, the rats were treated with YKS at a dose of 5 mL/kg (1 g/kg) for 7 consecutive days. AfterYKS treatment, electromyographic activity in the acromiotrapezius muscle by gastric distention and the gastric-emptying rate were assessed. Immunohistochemical analysis of eosinophils in the duodenum and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(p-ERK) 1/2 in the spinal cord was performed.
Results:
YKS treatment suppressed MS stress-induced gastric hypersensitivity and decreased the elevated levels of p-ERK1/2 in the spinal cord.In the gastroduodenal tract, YKS inhibited eosinophil-associated micro-inflammation but did not improve gastric dysmotility.
Conclusions
YKS treatment improved gastric hypersensitivity by alleviating eosinophil-associated micro-inflammation in the gastroduodenal tract.This treatment may be considered an effective therapeutic option for epigastric pain and micro-inflammation in patients with FD.
2.Paleo-polyploidization in Lycophytes.
Jinpeng WANG ; Jigao YU ; Pengchuan SUN ; Chao LI ; Xiaoming SONG ; Tianyu LEI ; Yuxian LI ; Jiaqing YUAN ; Sangrong SUN ; Hongling DING ; Xueqian DUAN ; Shaoqi SHEN ; Yanshuang SHEN ; Jing LI ; Fanbo MENG ; Yangqin XIE ; Jianyu WANG ; Yue HOU ; Jin ZHANG ; Xianchun ZHANG ; Xiu-Qing LI ; Andrew H PATERSON ; Xiyin WANG
Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics 2020;18(3):333-340
Lycophytes and seed plants constitute the typical vascular plants. Lycophytes have been thought to have no paleo-polyploidization although the event is known to be critical for the fast expansion of seed plants. Here, genomic analyses including the homologous gene dot plot analysis detected multiple paleo-polyploidization events, with one occurring approximately 13-15 million years ago (MYA) and another about 125-142 MYA, during the evolution of the genome of Selaginella moellendorffii, a model lycophyte. In addition, comparative analysis of reconstructed ancestral genomes of lycophytes and angiosperms suggested that lycophytes were affected by more paleo-polyploidization events than seed plants. Results from the present genomic analyses indicate that paleo-polyploidization has contributed to the successful establishment of both lineages-lycophytes and seed plants-of vascular plants.
Evolution, Molecular
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Genome, Plant
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Genomics
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Phylogeny
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Polyploidy
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Selaginellaceae/genetics*