Exosome is a kind of extracellular vesicles secreted by cells to the outside. Biogenesis mainly involves two invaginations of the cytoplasmic membrane, the formation of multivesicular bodies, and the release of exosomes. Exosomes have abundant and diverse inclusions—including landmark membrane proteins, soluble proteins, various RNA molecules and DNA fragments, etc. Cells can achieve intercellular signal communication by secreting and receiving exosomes. Through interaction of ligand molecules on the exosome membrane with receptors on the surface of other cytoplasmic membranes, exosomes can activate cell signal transduction or fuse with the cell membrane to release its contents into the cytoplasm to exert regulatory functions. In the central nervous system, exosomes secreted by neurons and various glial cells can mediate wired synaptic signal transmission, but mainly play a role similar to neuromodulator by way of volume transmission. In this paper, the biogenesis of exosomes and important functional components are described in detail, and the characteristics of neural exosomes in the biogenesis, content sorting and controlled release are compared with those of synaptic vesicles. We further review the research progress on the physiological functions of neural exosomes on the central nervous system and their roles in the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases and major depressive disorder. We also prospect the application of exosomes in the early diagnosis and targeted therapy of nervous system diseases.

The concept of "Quality by design" indicates that good design for the whole life cycle of pharmaceutical production enables the drug to meet the expected quality requirements. Aiming at the existing problems of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry, the TCM standardization system was put forward in this paper from the national strategic level, under the guidance by the idea of quality control in international manufacturing industry and with considerations of TCM industry's own characteristics and development status. The connotation of this strategy was to establish five interrelated systems: multi-indicators system based on tri-indicators system, quality standard and specification system of TCM herbal materials and decoction pieces, quality traceability system, data monitoring system based on whole-process quality control, and whole-process quality management system of TCM, and achieve the whole process systematic and scientific study in TCM industry through "top-level design-implement in steps-system integration" workflow. This article analyzed the correlation between the quality standards of all links, established standard operating procedures of each link and whole process, and constructed a high standard overall quality management system for TCM industry chains, in order to provide a demonstration for the establishment of TCM whole-process quality control system and provide systematic reference and basis for standardization strategy in TCM industry.

Aim To investigate the effects of combined administration of loganin and berberine on bone structure and metabolism in diabetic mice and its potential mechanism.Methods The diabetic ICR mouse model was induced by high fat diet(HFD).After 10 weeks of combined intervention, the effects of loganin and berberine on body weight, body fat rate, blood glucose, blood lipid and serum oxidative stress levels were observed.Bone microstructure was scanned by micro-CT.Biomechanical characteristics of bone were measured by three-point bending test, and material properties were detected by fourier transform infrared(FTIR).The pathological changes were observed by HE and TRAP staining.Protein expressions involved in advanced glycation end products(AGEs)and their receptors(RAGE)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The combined administration of loganin and berberine could significantly inhibit the weight gain, reduce the levels of blood glucose, blood lipid and oxidative stress, as well as improve glucose tolerance.In addition, combined intervention also decreased the expression levels of the proteins involved in AGEs/RAGE/NF-κB signaling pathway, and improved bone microstructure, finally contributing to increasing bone quality in diabetic mice.Conclusions The combination of loganin and berberine could improve bone metabolism in diabetic mice, which may be related to AGEs/RAGE/NF-κB signaling pathway.

BACKGROUNDShensong Yangxin (SSYX), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has long been used clinically to treat arrhythmias in China. However, the mechanism of SSYX on atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the effect of SSYX on the progression of paroxysmal AF is correlated with the regulation of autonomic nerve activity.

METHODSEighteen mongrel dogs were randomly divided into control group (n = 6), pacing group (n = 6), and pacing + SSYX group (n = 6). The control group was implanted with pacemakers without pacing; the pacing group was implanted with pacemakers with long-term intermittent atrial pacing; the pacing + SSYX group underwent long-term intermittent atrial pacing and SSYX oral administration.

RESULTSCompared to the pacing group, the parameters of heart rate variability were lower after 8 weeks in the pacing + SSYX group (low-frequency [LF] component: 20.85 ± 3.14 vs. 15.3 ± 1.89 ms 2 , P = 0.004; LF component/high-frequency component: 1.34 ± 0.33 vs. 0.77 ± 0.15, P < 0.001). The atrial effective refractory period (AERP) was shorter and the dispersion of the AERP was higher after 8 weeks in the pacing group, while the changes were suppressed by SSYX intake. The dogs in the pacing group had more episodes and longer durations of AF than that in the pacing + SSYX group. SSYX markedly inhibited the increase in sympathetic nerves and upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 expression in the pacing + SSYX group. Furthermore, SSYX suppressed the decrease of acetylcholine and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor protein induced by long-term intermittent atrial pacing.

CONCLUSIONSSSYX substantially prevents atrial electrical remodeling and the progression of AF. These effects of SSYX may have association with regulating the imbalance of autonomic nerve activity and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

Acetylcholine ; blood ; Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Autonomic Pathways ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Dogs ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electrophysiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Models, Animal ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor ; blood