OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of achyranthes bidentata (AB) on sperm quality in mice with spermatogenic disorder through the glycolytic metabolic pathway and its action mechanism. METHODS: We equally randomized 40 Kunming mice into a normal control, a model control, a low-dose AB (3.5 g/kg) and a high-dose AB group (7.0 g/kg), and established the model of spermatogenic disorder in the latter three groups of mice by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (30 mg/kg). Two days after modeling, we collected the testis and kidney tissues and blood samples from the mice for observation of the pathological changes in the testis tissue by HE staining, detection of perm motility with the sperm quality analyzer, examination of the apoptosis of testis cells by flow cytometry, measurement of the levels of testosterone (T), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the serum and testis tissue by ELISA, and determination of expressions of the key enzymes of glycolysis hexokinase Ⅱ (HK2), pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), platelet phosphofructokinase (PFKP), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and the meiosis proteins REC8 and SCP3 by Western blot, and the mRNA expressions of glycolytic phosphofructokinase 1 (PFK1), phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) by fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR). RESULTS: Compared with the model controls, the mice in the AB groups showed significant increases in the testis coefficient, kidney index, sperm concentration, sperm motility, spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, spermatids, sperm count and the serum T level (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but dramatic decreases in the apoptosis of testis cells and percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm (P<0.01). Achyranthes bidentata also significantly elevated the levels of SOD and CAT, and down-regulated the mRNA expressions of MDA, TNF-α and IL-1β (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and up-regulated the protein expressions of HK2, PKM2, PFKP, LDHA, REC8 and SCP3, and expressions of the glycolysis key genes Pfk1 and Pgk1 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION Achyranthes bidentata ameliorates doxorubicin-induced spermatogenic disorder in mice by regulating the glycolytic pathway and reducing oxidative stress and the expressions of inflammatory factors.
Glycolysis/drug effects* ; Doxorubicin/toxicity* ; Spermatogenesis/drug effects* ; Random Allocation ; Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Disease Models, Animal ; Achyranthes/chemistry* ; Spermatozoa/pathology* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Primary Cell Culture ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Sperm Motility/drug effects* ; Testis/pathology* ; Infertility, Male/prevention & control* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Animals, Outbred Strains

BACKGROUND:Cadmium is a common environmental pollutant,which can damage multiple organs and tissues,such as the kidney and bone,but its effect on annulus fibrosus cells in the intervertebral disc has been less reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of cadmium chloride on the senescence of annulus fibrosus cells and the role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. METHODS:Annulus fibrosus cells from Sprague-Dawley rat intervertebral discs were harvested and passage 3 cells were intervened with different concentrations of cadmium chloride(0,1,5,10,20 μmol/L).Cell viability and proliferation were detected by cell counting kit-8 assay.Transcriptome sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional enrichment analysis were performed on annulus fibrosus cells with or without cadmium chloride addition.Passage 3 annulus fibrosus cells were divided into control group,cadmium chloride group and LY294002 group.Cell proliferation rate was detected by EdU method,positive cell rate was detected by senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining,and expressions of senescence-associated proteins(p16,p21 and p53)and p-Akt at protein and mRNA levels were measured by western blot,RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:5 μmol/L cadmium chloride could inhibit the proliferation of annulus fibrosus cells.Results from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional enrichment analysis showed that the main signal transduction pathways included PI3K/Akt,cell cycle and p53 signaling pathways,which were related to cell senescence and proliferation.PI3K/Akt signaling pathways with significant differential expression were selected for validation.Compared with the control group,the EdU-positive rate was significantly decreased in the cadmium chloride group(P<0.05),while the β-galactosidase-positive rate,the expression of senescence-associated proteins(p16,p21 and p53)and p-Akt significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the cadmium chloride group,the EdU-positive rate and p-Akt expression were significantly decreased in the LY294002 group(P<0.05),while the β-galactosidase-positive rate and the expression of senescence-associated proteins(p16,p21 and p53)significantly increased(P<0.05).To conclude,cadmium chloride can regulate the senescence of annulus fibrosus cells by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,thereby inducing the occurrence and progression of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective This study aims to explore the complex relationship between social engagement and depressive symptoms among older adults in China,focusing particularly on the moderating role of marital status. Methods This study used data from the latest Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey(CLHLS).The analysis used the latent class analysis to delineate personality clusters and hierarchical linear regression,supplemented by the PROCESS macro,to investigate the effects of social engagement and marital status on depressive symptoms. Results The analysis encompassed 7,789 respondents(mean age:82.53[s=11.20]years),with 54%female.The personality analysis categorized participants into four clusters,with the majority(77.60%)classified as Confident Idealists,who exhibited the lowest levels of depressive symptoms.Hierarchical linear regression analysis yielded several significant findings:Higher levels of social engagement were significantly associated with fewer depressive symptoms(t=-7.932,P<0.001,B=-0.463).Marital status was a significant factor;married individuals reported fewer depressive symptoms compared to their unmarried counterparts(t=-6.368,P<0.001,B=-0.750).There was a significant moderating effect of marital status on the relationship between social engagement and depressive symptoms(t=-2.092,P=0.037,B=-0.217). Conclusion This study demonstrates that,among Chinese older adults,both social engagement and marital status significantly influence depressive symptoms.Higher social engagement,particularly in other activities like doing household chores,gardening,reading newspapers or books,and playing cards or Mahjong,is associated with fewer depressive symptoms,especially among married individuals.

Aim To investigate the mechanisms of Chaijin JieYu Anshen formula modulating the depres-sive behaviors and the synaptic plasticity of hippocam-pal neurons in insomnia-concomitant depression rats based on the histone deacetylase 5(HDAC5)/myocyte enhancer factor 2C(MEF2C)pathway.Methods A rat model of insomnia-concomitant depression was es-tablished by PCPA injection combined with chronic un-predictable mild stress(CUMS),and the experiment was divided into the control group,the model group,the high,medium and low dose group of Chaijin JieYu Anshen formula,and the positive drug group.The de-pression of rats was evaluated by sugar-water prefer-ence test,open field test and morris water maze.The levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and dopamine(DA)in serum were measured by enzyme linked im-munosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological damage of hippocampal neurons was observed by HE staining and Nissl staining.The damage of dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons was observed by Golgi staining,and the levels of HDAC5,MEF2C,postsynaptic densi-ty-95(PSD-95)and synaptophysin 1(SYN1)in hip-pocampus were measured by Western blot,immunohis-tochemistry and immunofluorescence.Results Com-pared with the model group,the Chaijin JieYu Anshen formula could increase the sugar-water preference rate of the model rats,reduce the immobility time in the open field experiment,increase the total activity dis-tance,shorten the evasion latency in the localization navigation experiment,and prolong the residence time in the quadrant where the platform was located in the space exploration experiment(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Moreover,the Chaijin JieYu Anshen formula improved the hippocampal neuron and dendritic spine damage and increase the dendritic branch length and dendritic spine density of hippocampal neurons(P＜0.01,P＜0.01),restore the serum levels of 5-HT and DA in insomnia-concomitant depression rats(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),down-regulate the HDAC5 protein,and up-regulate the expression of MEF2C,PSD-95,and SYN1 protein(P＜0.05,P＜0.01 or P＜0.001).Conclusions Chaijin JieYu Anshen formula may alle-viate the depression-like behavior of model rats by re-ducing the expression of HDAC5 protein,thus deregu-lating the inhibition of transcription factor MEF2C,promoting the expression of PSD-95 and SNY1 protein,and exerting a protective effect on hippocampal neurons and synapses.

Objective To investigate clinical effect of tendons pulling,poking and kneading for the treatment of external humeral epicondylitis.Metods From January 2018 to December 2021,a multicenter randomized controlled study was per-formed to collect 192 patients with external humeral epicondylitis in Wangjing Hospital,Beijing Dianli Hospital,and Beijing Fengsheng Osteotraumatology Hospital,respectively,and they were divided into treatment group and control group by random number table method.There were 96 patients in treatment group,including 36 males and 60 females,aged from 28 to 60 years old with an average of(41.20±5.50)years old;the course of disease ranged from 1 to 14 days with an average of(5.24±1.35)days;they were treated once every other day for 2 weeks.There were 96 patients in control group,including 33 males and 63 females,aged from 26 to 60 years old with an average of(43.35±7.75)years old;the course of disease ranged from 1 to 14 days with an average of(5.86±1.48)days;they were treated with topical voltaalin combined with elbow joint fixation for 2 weeks.Visual analogue scale(VAS)and Hospital for Surgery Scoring System(HSS)elbow pronation and supination angles,wrist metacarpal flexion and dorsal extension angles,elbow tenderness between two groups were compared before treatment and at 1,3,5,7,11 and 13 days after treatment;Hospital for Surgery Scoring System 2(HSS2)was compared before treatment and the final treatment.Results All patients were followed up for 10 to 14 days with an average of(12±1.6)days.VAS between treatment group and control group before treatment were 6.83±1.36 and 6.79±1.58,respectively,and decreased to 1.49±1.09 and 2.11±1.81 after the final treatment.VAS of treatment group were significantly lower than those of control group at 1,3,5,7,9,11 and 13 days after treatment(P＜0.05).HSS between two groups were 61.73±11.00 and 36.47±12.45 before treatment,respectively,and increased to 94.42±5.9 and 91.44±9.11 at the final treatment.HSS of treatment group were signifi-cantly higher than those of control group at 1,3,5,7,9,11 and 13 days after treatment(P＜0.05).On the 5th day after treat-ment,the external and internal rotation angles of elbow in treatment group were(66.41±12.69)° and(66.35±13.54)°,while those in control group were(62.08±16.03)° and(61.77±16.35)°.On the 7th day after treatment,the external and internal ro-tation angles of elbow were(69.79±12.64)° and(70.02±13.55)° in treatment group,and(65.28±15.86)° and(65.09± 16.67)° in control group.Elbow joint motion in treatment group was higher than that in control group(P＜0.05).On the 5th day after treatment,angles of wrist dorsiflexion and palm flexion were(39.43±15.94)°and(46.68±11.10)° in treatment group,and(38.51±18.49)° and(44.27±13.58)° in control group.On the 7th day after treatment,angles of wrist dorsiflexion and palm flexion were(42.52±16.50)° and(49.23±10.96)° in treatment group,and(41.18±20.09)° and(46.64±14.63)° in control group.The motion of wrist joint in treatment group was higher than that in control group(P＜0.05).On the 13th day after treatment,HSS2 in treatment group 93.61±6.32 were higher than those in control group 92.06±7.94(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in elbow tenderness between two groups at each time point(P＞0.05).Conclusion Voltaren external treatment combined with elbow fixation and tendons pulling,poking and kneading could effectively improve symptoms of exter-nal humeral epicondylitis.Compared with voltaren external treatment,tendons pulling,poking and kneading has advantages of longer analgesic time and better elbow function recovery.

Multiple sclerosis(MS) shows the pathological characteristics of "inflammatory injury of white matter" and "myelin repair disability" in the central nervous system(CNS). It is very essential for MS treatment and reduction of disease burden to strengthen repair, improve function, and reduce disability. Accordingly, different from the simple immunosuppression, we believe that key to strengthening remyelination and maintaining the "damage-repair" homeostasis of tissue is to change the current one-way immunosuppression strategy and achieve the "moderate pro-inflammation-effective inflammation removal" homeostasis. Traditional Chinese medicine shows huge potential in this strategy. Through literature research, this study summarized the research on remyelination, discussed the "mode-rate pro-inflammation-effective inflammation removal" homeostasis and the "damage-repair" homeostasis based on microglia, and summed up the key links in remyelination in MS. This review is expected to lay a theoretical basis for improving the function of MS patients and guide the application of traditional Chinese medicine.
Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis/pathology* ; Remyelination/physiology* ; Myelin Sheath/pathology* ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Homeostasis

Simiao Yong'an Decoction is a classic prescription for treating gangrene. Modern medical evidence has proven that Si-miao Yong'an Decoction has therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis(AS), vascular occlusion angeitides, and hypertension, while its pharmacodynamic mechanism remains unclear. The evidence of network pharmacology, molecular docking, literature review, and our previous study suggests that luteolin and kaempferol are two major flavonoids in Simiao Yong'an Decoction and can inhibit macrophage inflammation and exert anti-AS effects. However, due to lack of the metabolism studies in vivo, little is known about the metabolic characteristics of luteolin and kaempferol. This study employed ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry(UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS/MS) and relevant software to identify the metabolites and metabolic pathways of luteolin and kaempferol in rat plasma, urine, and feces, after oral administration of luteolin and kaempferol, respectively. After the administration of luteolin, 10, 11, and 3 metabolites of luteolin were detected in the plasma, urine, and feces, respectively. After the administration of kaempferol, 9, 3, and 1 metabolites of kaempferol were detected in the plasma, urine, and feces, respectively. The metabolic pathways mainly involved methylation, glucuronidation, and sulfation. This study enriches the knowledge about the pharmacological mechanism of luteolin and kaempferol and supplies a reference for revealing the metabolic process of other flavonoids in Simiao Yong'an Decoction, which is of great significance for elucidating the pharmacological effects and effective substances of this decoction in vivo.
Rats ; Animals ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Luteolin/analysis* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Kaempferols/analysis* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Molecular Docking Simulation

Nanotechnology has shown obvious advantages in the field of medical treatment and diagnosis. Through the encapsulation of nano carriers, drugs not only enhance the therapeutic effect and reduce toxic and side effects, but also become intelligent responsive targeted drug systems through the modification on the surface of nano carriers. However, due to the obstacles in relevant basic research, production conditions, cost, clinical trials, and the lack of pharmacokinetic research on various drug loading systems, few nano systems have been used in therapy. In order to solve the above problems, this paper reviewed and analyzed the research progress of nano carriers in drug delivery, including their auxiliary role and characteristics, types and functions, pharmacokinetics, application prospects and challenges.

Aim To predict the potential mechanism of ophiopogonin D (OPD) against pulmonary fibrosis by network pharmacology, and further verify it by experiment in vivo. Methods This study found that ophiopogon was the most frequently used drug in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis with deficiency of Qi and Yin through data mining. In order to explore its material basis, network pharmacology analysis was carried out. A model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by bleomycin, and different concentrations of ophiopogonin D were administered to verify the results of the pharmacological network. Results Firstly, through network pharmacology analysis, it was found that mitophagy might be the potential target for ophiopogon to exert anti-pulmonary fibrosis effect. Meanwhile, network topology analysis showed that OPD had the greatest relationship with mitophagy. Animal experiments showed that OPD could relieve pulmonary fibrosis and reduce collagen deposition in mice. At the same time, the detection of mitophagy related proteins showed that the compound could increase the expression of PINK1 and Parkin proteins, reduce the content of P62 protein in lung tissue, and reduce the intracellular ROS level. Conclusions OPD can improve mitochondrial function and play an anti-pulmonary fibrosis role by promoting PINKl/Parkin dependent mitophagy in lung tissue.