This study explored the mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction(XSLJZD) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia(FD) based on inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1)/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) pathway-mediated autophagy in interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC). Forty-eight SPF-grade male SD suckling rats were randomly divided into a blank group and a modeling group, and the integrated modeling method(iodoacetamide gavage + disturbance of hunger and satiety + swimming exhaustion) was used to replicate the FD rat model. After the model replications were successfully completed, the rats were divided into a model group, high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose groups of XSLJZD(12, 6, and 3 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a positive drug group(mosapride of 1.35 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and the intervention lasted for 14 days. The gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of rats in each group were measured. The histopathological changes in the gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The ultrastructure of ICC was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The immunofluorescence double staining technique was used to detect the protein expression of phospho-IRE1(p-IRE1), TNF receptor associated factors 2(TRAF2), phospho-ASK1(p-ASK1), phospho-JNK(p-JNK), p62, and Beclin1 in ICC of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Western blot was used to detect the related protein expression of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Compared with those in the blank group, the rats in the model group showed decreased body weight, gastric emptying rate, and intestinal propulsion rate, and transmission electron microscopy revealed damage to the endoplasmic reticulum structure and increased autophagosomes in ICC. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the ICC of gastric sinus tissue showed a significant elevation of p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins and a significant reduction of p62 protein. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. Compared with the model group, the body weight of rats in the high-dose and medium-dose groups of XSLJZD was increased, and the gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were increased. Transmission electron microscopy observed amelioration of structural damage to the endoplasmic reticulum of ICC and reduction of autophagosomes, and the p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins in the ICC of gastric sinus tissue were significantly decreased. The p62 protein was significantly increased. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. XSLJZD can effectively treat FD, and its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the expression of molecules related to the endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1/ASK1/JNK pathway in ICC and the improvement of autophagy to promote gastric motility in ICC.
Animals ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal/metabolism* ; Dyspepsia/physiopathology* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Humans ; Endoribonucleases/genetics* ; Multienzyme Complexes

By retrieving the clinical research literature of treatment functional dyspepsia by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from January 2004 to December 2014 based on China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), we would establish a TCM decoction database for treating functional dyspepsia in this study. One hundred and sixty-four literature were included, involving 159 prescriptions, 377 medicines, in a total of 1 990 herbs. These herbs can be divided into 18 categories according to the effectiveness; and qi-regulating herbs, blood circulation herbs, and antipyretic herbs ranked top three ones according to the frequency of usage of the herbs, whose medicine usage frequency accounted for 51.81%. Usage frequency of 16 herbs was over 30, and Atractylodes, Radix, Poriaranked top three according to the usage frequency. Medicinal properties were divided into 9 kinds according to the frequency statistics, and the top three were warm, flat, and cold. Taste frequency statistics were classifiedinto 9 kinds, and the top three were acrid, sweet, and bitter. In frequency statistics of the meridian tropism of herbs, it was classifiedinto 11 kinds, and the top three were spleen, stomach, lung. The analysis can provide a reference for treatment and study of TCM of functional dyspepsia.
China ; Databases, Bibliographic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Internet ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Stomach ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The major causes of functional dyspepsia (FD) are motility dysfunction and visceral hypersensitivity. Despite the large number of diagnostic tests, there are no convenient methods for evaluation of gastric functions. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the relationship between the degree of dyspepsia and gastric accommodation, emptying, and sensitivity. METHODS: A total of 120 FD patients that met the Rome III criteria and 30 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. The mean cross-sectional area of the fornix was measured to investigate fundic accommodation and gastric emptying during and after water intake. During the test, abdominal symptoms were evaluated using the 4-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The water-drinking ultrasonography combined test revealed impairment of gastric accommodation in FD after 1,000 mL of water intake, delayed emptying after 5 min of water intake and statistically significant hyperesthesia after 400 mL of water intake in the FD group compared with healthy controls (p<0.05). Postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and overlap syndrome were independently associated with gut motor disturbances instead of epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that the water-drinking ultrasonography combined test could be used for diagnosis of gastric motor and sensory dysfunction, particularly in PDS and EPS-PDS patients. This test is easy, well tolerated by the patient and can be widely applied in clinical practice.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Drinking Water ; Dyspepsia/diagnostic imaging/*physiopathology ; Female ; *Gastric Emptying ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; Stomach/*diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
*Drinking Water ; Dyspepsia/*physiopathology ; Female ; *Gastric Emptying ; Humans ; Male ; Stomach/*diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of syndrome-differentiation acupuncture on life quality in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) in order to evaluate its clinical efficacy.

METHODSOne hundred and five cases of FD were randomly divided into a syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group, a regular acupuncture group and a non-acupoint group, 35 cases in each one. Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected as main acupoints in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group. After syndrome differentiation, Danzhong (CV 17) and Zhangmen (LR 13) were added for those with stagnation of liver qi; Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) were added for those with deficiency of spleen-stomach qi; Qimen (LR 14) and Taichong (LR 3) were added for liver-qi invading stomach and Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Neiting (ST 44) were added for dampness-heat blocking stomach. The selection of acupoints in the regular acupuncture group was the same as main acupoints in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group. The points 10 mm lateral to the main acupoints were selected in the non-acupoint group. The treatment was given once a day, six days as a treatment course and totally two courses were required. The symptom total score, health-related quality of life survey (SF-36) and Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI) were evaluated before and after the treatment as well as one month after the treatment (follow-up visit), respectively. The efficacy was also assessed.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the total effective rate was 87.5% (28/32) in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group, which was superior to 74.2% (23/31) in the regular acupuncture group and 20.7% (6/29) in the non-acupoint group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared before the treatment, the SF-36, NDI and symptom total score after the treatment and in the follow-up visit were all obviously improved in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group and regular acupuncture group (all P < 0.05), which was the most obvious in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group [after the treatment, SF-36: 84.54 +/- 5.93 vs 81.44 +/- 6.22, 63.46 +/- 6.59; NDSI: 18.94 +/- 9.30 vs 21.23 +/- 8.39, 43.93 +/- 11.26; NDLQI: 71.42 +/- 7.23 vs 63.11 +/- 7.06, 54.87 +/- 6.00; symptom total score: 22.06 +/- 15.80 vs 32.52 +/- 16.88, 47.97 +/- 10.92]; the improvement in the regular acupuncture group was more obvious than that in the non-acupoint group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared before the treatment, only NDSI score was improved in the non-acupoint group after the treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe syndrome-differentiation acupuncture could obviously improve patient's life quality in the treatment of FD, which is an effective therapy for FD.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Dyspepsia ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of Gastrosis No.1 compound in the treatment of functional dyspepsia with Spleen (Pi) and Stomach (Wei) deficiency-cold syndrome.

METHODSA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 5 centers. Patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) of Spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome (162 cases) were randomly assigned to groups given Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) Gastrosis No.1 compound or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. This trial included a 4-week treatment period and a 4-week follow-up period. The outcomes were the dyspepsia symptom scores (measured by total dyspepsia symptom scale and single dyspepsia symptom scale) and syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine score (measured by traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale). The outcomes were noted at weeks 0, 4 and 8.

RESULTSCompared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the CHM group showed significant improvement in the dyspepsia symptom scores as rated by patients and investigators (P <0.01), and also showed improvement in syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine score (P <0.01). No serious adverse event was reported. Safety tests obtained after 4 weeks of treatment showed no abnormal values.

CONCLUSIONCHM Gastrosis No.1 compound was effective and safe in the treatment of functional dyspepsia with Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold syndrome.

Adult ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Placebos ; Spleen ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Stomach ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic efficacy of Xiaopi-I on functional dyspepsia and its effects on gastric emptying.

METHODSA total of 134 patients with functional dyspepsia were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The patients in the Xiaopi-I group (66 cases) and the Domperidone group (68 cases) were given Xiaopi-I granules and Domperidone 10 mg, 3 times a day, respectively. Another 20 healthy volunteers were chosen as the negative control group. The severity scores of the symptoms, as well as the gastric emptying, were detected before and after 4-week treatment by barium strip-trial meal.

RESULTSDuring therapy, 6 cases from the Xiaopi-I group and 8 cases from the Domperidone group were lost to follow, and 120 cases finally finished the study. Statistical differences were observed from both groups in terms of the symptoms of postprandial fullness early satiety, epigastric pain, and epigastric burning after 4-week treatment (P<0.01). The symptomatic severity scores of the Xiaopi-I group before and after the treatment were 7.48±1.64 and 2.16±1.26, respectively (P<0.01). Gastric emptying rates were also improved in the patients with delayed gastric emptying, and the effective rates were 91.3% and 75.8% in the Xiaopi-I and Domperidone groups, respectively. No obvious adverse effects were found from both groups.

CONCLUSIONXiaopi-I was an effective and safe agent in the treatment of functional dyspepsia and was worth of further development in clinical.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Gastric Emptying ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Dropouts ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Modified Banxia Houpo Decoction (MBHD) in treating patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) accompanied with psychological factors, and to compare it with Domperidone, Neurostan, and Domperidone + Neurostan.

METHODSRecruited were 89 FD patients accompanied with anxiety and/or depression, who were randomly assigned to four groups, i.e., the MBHD group (23 cases), the Domperidone group (22 cases), the Neurostan group (22 cases), and the Domperidone + Neurostan group (22 cases). Corresponding medication lasted for4 weeks. The psychological scoring was performed using Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). The improvement rate of FD symptoms, the ratios of FD symptoms scoring <2, and the improvement rate of FD symptoms >50% were calculated by the scoring of FD symptoms. The gastric emptying rates of patients in each group were compared using the examinations of gastric emptying.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in pre-treatment HAMD, HAMA, FD symptoms scoring, and the gastric emptying rate among the 4 groups (P >0.05). The psychological scoring and FD symptoms scoring significantly decreased in the 4 groups except the Domperidone group after 4-week treatment (P<0.01, P <0.05). The psychological scoring and FD symptoms scoring were obviously lower in the MBHD group than in the Domperidone group (P <0.05). The improvement rate of FD symptoms, the ratios of FD symptoms scoring <2, and the improvement rate of FD symptoms >50% were the highest in the Domperidone + Neurostan group, followed by the MBHD group, and then the Domperidone group. After treatment the gastric emptying rate obviously increased in each treatment group when compared with before treatment in the same group (P <0. 01), and there was no statistical difference among these groups after treatment.

CONCLUSIONSMBHD had certain therapeutic effects on FD patients accompanied with psychological factors. Its effect was associated with gastric emptying. Besides, its improvement of the psychological state and symptoms was superior to that of Domperidone.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anxiety Disorders ; complications ; Depression ; complications ; Domperidone ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Dingguier umbilical paste on rats with functional dyspepsia and mice with splenic asthenia, and investigate the related mechanism.

METHODFunctional dyspepsia models of rats were made by irregular food intake plus diluted hydrochloric acid. Successional treatments were offered for 14 days. The rats weights, contents of serum NO, AChE and MC were measured. The rats with splenic asthenia were made by rhubarb feed, and observed the affection of gastric emptying.

RESULTCompared with those in the model control group, the weight of rats in all dosages Dingguier umbilical paste groups increased obviously (P < 0.05), pepsin activity of rats in the dosage (1.34 g x kg(-1)) Dingguier umbilical paste groups was significantly higher and the contents of NO and quantities of MC in the dosage (2.67 g x kg(-1)) Dingguier umbilical paste groups decreased clearly (P < 0.05), and the contents of serum AChE in all dosages Dingguier umbilical paste groups rose apparently. The weight of mice with splenic asthenia increased obviously, accelerated gastric emptying, and improved the symptom.

CONCLUSIONDingguier umbilical paste has significant improvement of indigestion. The related mechanism may be to reduce the content of serum NO and the quantity of MC and enhance the content of serum AChE.

Animals ; Asthenia ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Eating ; drug effects ; Female ; Gastric Emptying ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; drug effects ; pathology ; Umbilicus

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy differences among acupuncture at special acupoints, nonspecific acupoints and non acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian for functional dyspepsia (FD) at different time points.

METHODSOne hundred and sixteen FD patients were randomly divided into a special acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian group (group A, n = 36), a non-specific acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian group (group B, n 39) and a non acupoints group (group C, n = 41). Group A was treated with acupuncture at Chongyang (ST 42), Fenglong (ST 40), Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangqiu (ST 34), and group B was treated with acupuncture at Tiaokou (ST 38), Yinshi (ST 33), Futu (ST 32) and Dubi (ST 35), and the assisted acupoints were setting up at 2 mm apart from selected acupoints in meridian of proximal part. Group C was treated with 4 non acupoints: (1) medial elbow, middle point on the line between olecranon and armpit; (2) middle point on the line between condylus medialis humeri and wrist of elbow-bone; (3) the junction of deltoid and biceps inside the arm; (4) 1-2 cm horizontally away from Zusanli (ST 36), lateral border of shin bone, and the assisted acupoints were setting up at 2 mm away from selected non acupoints along limb longitudinal axis of proximal part. All acupoints and assisted acupoints were connected to the HANS nerve stimulator and they were all treated for 4 courses. The FD Symptom Index (FDI) and MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) after treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment were observed and the clinical efficacy was assessed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal, early satiation, upper abdominal pain and upper abdominal burning sensation were 84.8% (28/33), 67.7% (21/31), 76.9% (20/26) and 56.3% (9/16), respectively, in group A, and 45.9% (17/37), 38.7% (12/31), 42.9% (12/28) and 38.5% (5/13), respectively, in group B, and 15.8% (6/38), 18.4% (7/38), 46.1% (12/26) and 16.7% (4/24), respectively, in group C. The total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal, early satiation and upper abdominal pain in group A were superior to those in group B (all P < 0.05), and the total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal, early satiation, upper abdominal pain and upper abdominal burning sensation in group A were all superior to those in group C (all P < 0.05), and the total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal in group B was superior to that in group C (P < 0.05). The score of FDI and SF-36 after treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment in all the groups were better than those before treatment (all P < 0.05), and above indices in group A were the most significant (all P < 0.05), and the scores of FDI and SF-36 after treatment in group B were better than those in group C (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAll the treatment of acupuncture at special acupoints, non-specific acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian and non acupoints have therapeutic effect on FD, but acupuncture at special acupoints has better short and long term therapeutic effects, which confirm the existence of acupoints specificity.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Digestion ; Dyspepsia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult