Multiple organs are physiologically and pathologically interconnected during aging, and the brain plays a central role in this process. There is a direct two-way communication between the brain and the gut called “brain-gut interaction”, which is of great significance for the study of aging, and the molecular mechanism remains to be further studied. The aim of this study is to explore the mechanism of aging in the context of brain-gut interaction. The results of general physical signs of mice showed that the amount of exercise decreased, body weight and food intake decreased significantly in aged mice (P < 0. 001, P<0. 05). The thymus index of aged mice was significantly lower than that of normal mice (P< 0. 05), and the thymic pathological results showed that the thymic cortex of aging mice was thinner, the boundary between medulla and cortex was blurred, and the cells were loosely arranged. Metabolomics analysis revealed 317 differential metabolites in feces and 100 differential metabolites in hippocampus. The results of microbiome showed that Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla of gut microbiota. Bacteroidetes showed an upward trend and Firmicutes showed a downward trend after aging. KEGG pathway results showed that 26 metabolic pathways were related to the study of aging, among which galactose metabolism, ABC transporter and purine metabolism were of great significance for the brain-gut interaction. The results of Spearman correlation analysis of the three groups showed that the types of metabolites involved were mainly lipids and lipid-like molecules and organic acids and derivatives, and the gut microbiota involved were mainly Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the synergistic changes between brain and gut in aging mice were related to the mechanism of aging, which provided new insights into the mechanism of aging process.

This study aims to identify the active components and the mechanism of Jingqi Yukui Capsules(JQYK) in the treatment of gastric ulcer based on network pharmacology, and verify some key targets and signaling pathways through animal experiment. To be specific, first, the active components and targets of JQYK were retrieved from a Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine(BATMAN-TCM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP), and the targets of gastric ulcer from GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM) with the search term "gastric ulcer". The common targets of the two were the potential targets of the prescription for the treatment of the di-sease. Then, protein-protein interaction(PPI) network of key targets were constructed based on STRING and Cytoscape 3.7.2, followed by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment by matescape database and pathway visualization by Omicshare. For the animal experiment, the improved method of Okabe was used to induce gastric ulcer in rats, and the model rats were classified into the model group, JQYK high-dose(JQYK-H), medium-dose(JQYK-M), and low-dose(JQYK-L) groups, Anweiyang Capsules(WYA) group, and Rabeprazole Sodium Enteric Capsules(RBPZ) group. Normal rats were included in the blank group. Rats in the blank group and model group were given distilled water and those in the administration groups received corresponding drugs. Then gastric ulcer healing in rats was observed. The changes of the gastric histomorphology in rats were evaluated based on hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and the content of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) in rat gastric tissue was detected with Coomassie brilliant blue method. The mRNA and protein levels of some proteins in rat gastric tissue were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and Western blot(WB) to further validate some key targets and signaling pathways. A total of 206 active components and 535 targets of JQYK, 1 305 targets of gastric ulcer, and 166 common targets of the disease and the drug were yielded. According to PPI analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, multiple key targets, such as interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor(TNF), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1(MAPK1), MAPK3, and MAPK14, as well as nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB) signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and leukocyte transendothelial migration in the top 20 key signaling pathways were closely related to inflammation. The key protein p38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway were selected for further verification by animal experiment. The gastric ulcer in the JQYK-H group recovered nearly to the level in the blank group, with significant decrease in the content of iNOS in rat gastric tissue and significant reduction in the mRNA and phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and the mRNA and protein levels of NF-κB p65 in rat gastric tissue. The results indicated that JQYK can inhibit the phosphorylation of the key protein p38 MAPK and the expression of NF-κB p65 in the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby exerting the anti-inflammatory effect and effectively improving the quality of gastric ulcer healing in rats. Thus, the animal experiment result verifies some predictions of network pharmacology.
Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Capsules ; Gastric Mucosa/metabolism* ; Humans ; Network Pharmacology ; Rats ; Stomach Ulcer/genetics*

BACKGROUND: Shenyankangfu Tablet (SYKFT) is a Chinese patent medicine that has been used widely to decrease proteinuria and the progression of chronic kidney disease. OBJECTIVE: This trial compared the efficacy and safety of SYKFT, for the control of proteinuria in primary glomerulonephritis patients, against the standard drug, losartan potassium. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Primary glomerulonephritis patients, aged 18-70 years, with blood pressure ≤ 140/90 mmHg, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 45 mL/min per 1.73 m MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was change in the 24-hour proteinuria level, after 48 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 735 participants were enrolled. The percent decline of urine protein quantification in the SYKFT group after 48 weeks was 8.78% ± 2.56% (P = 0.006) more than that in the losartan 50 mg group, which was 0.51% ± 2.54% (P = 1.000) less than that in the losartan 100 mg group. Compared with the losartan potassium 50 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 50 mg group had a 13.39% ± 2.49% (P < 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein level. Compared with the losartan potassium 100 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 100 mg group had a 9.77% ± 2.52% (P = 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein. With a superiority threshold of 15%, neither was statistically significant. eGFR, serum creatinine and serum albumin from the baseline did not change statistically significant. The average change in TCM syndrome score between the patients who took SYKFT (-3.00 [-6.00, -2.00]) and who did not take SYKFT (-2.00 [-5.00, 0]) was statistically significant (P = 0.003). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in any group. CONCLUSION: SYKFT decreased the proteinuria and improved the TCM syndrome scores of primary glomerulonephritis patients, with no change in the rate of decrease in the eGFR. SYKFT plus losartan potassium therapy decreased proteinuria more than losartan potassium therapy alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02063100 on ClinicalTrials.gov.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been demonstrated as a better source of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) than plasma for brain tumors. However, it is unclear whether whole exome sequencing (WES) is qualified for detection of ctDNA in CSF. The aim of this study was to determine if assessment of ctDNA in CSF by WES is a feasible approach to detect genomic alterations of glioblastoma. METHODS: CSFs of ten glioblastoma patients were collected pre-operatively at the Department of Neurosurgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. ctDNA in CSF and genome DNA in the resected tumor were extracted and subjected to WES. The identified glioblastoma-associated mutations from ctDNA in CSF and genome DNA in the resected tumor were compared. RESULTS: Due to the ctDNA in CSF was unqualified for exome sequencing for one patient, nine patients were included into the final analysis. More glioblastoma-associated mutations tended to be detected in CSF compared with the corresponding tumor tissue samples (3.56 ± 0.75 vs. 2.22 ± 0.32, P = 0.097), while the statistical significance was limited by the small sample size. The average mutation frequencies were similar in CSF and tumor tissue samples (74.1% ± 6.0% vs. 73.8% ± 6.0%, P = 0.924). The R132H mutation of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and the G34V mutation of H3 histone, family 3A (H3F3A) which had been reported in the pathological diagnoses were also detected from ctDNA in CSF by WES. Patients who received temozolomide chemotherapy previously or those whose tumor involved subventricular zone tended to harbor more mutations in their CSF. CONCLUSION Assessment of ctDNA in CSF by WES is a feasible approach to detect genomic alterations of glioblastoma, which may provide useful information for the decision of treatment strategy.

Alzheimer's disease（AD） is an incipient aging neurodegenerative disease， which increases rapidly along with the development trend of social aging and seriously threatens the health of the people. In the absence of effective preventive measures， it will have an enormous impact on the socio-economic and healthcare system. The study found that abnormal cell signal transduction is a key link in many diseases. Cell signal transduction theory has been widely used to clarify the essence of traditional Chinese medicine visceral image and the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine. 'Correlation of Liver and Kidney' is one of the core plates of the theory of 'Correlation of Five Organs'， which is suitable for explaining the pathogenesis of complex diseases and the correlation of multiple syndromes， and guiding the prescription of clinical syndrome. Hei Xiaoyaosan， as the first choice compound for the prevention and treatment of AD based on the theory of "Correlation of Liver and Kidney' in our team， can play the effects of prevention and treatment by soothing liver and nourishing blood， strengthening spleen and tonifying kidney， and promoting brain collaterals and dredging viscerab spirit. Based on the theory of 'Correlation of Liver and Kidney'， this paper expounds the pathogenesis of AD from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine， and puts forward the methods and ideas of the preventing and treating of AD from Ca²⁺-calcium/calmodulin dependent protein （CaM）/calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinaseⅡ（CaMKⅡ）-cyclic adenosine phosphate reactive element binding protein （CREB） cell signal transduction pathway by consulting literatures and previous studies.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Huangqi Jianzhongtang on Janusprotein tyrosine kinase 2/signal transducers and transcriptional activator protein 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signal pathway in rats with spleen-stomach deficiency cold type gastric ulcer (GU). Method:A total of 60 SPF level Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: blank group and model group. Model rats were used to reconstruct the spleen-stomach deficiency cold type GU model by comprehensive modeling method. Model rats were divided into model group, Anweiyang group and high, medium and low-dose Huangqi Jianzhongtang groups according to the random number table, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in blank group and model group were given 10 mL·kg^-1·d^-1 distilled water, and 16, 8, 4 g·kg^-1·d^-1 Huangqi Jianzhongtang, respectively. Rats in the positive control group were given 0.14 g·kg^-1·d^-1 Anweiyang for 21 days. The gene expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 in the ulcer tissue were detected by Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), the protein expressions and phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 in the ulcer tissue were detected by Western blot, and the contents of interleukin-10（IL-10）and interleukin-17（IL-17）in the gastric tissue of each group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result:Compared with the blank group, the general survival condition of the model group was worse, the content of IL-10 in gastric homogenate was significantly reduced, while the content of IL-17 was significantly increased (P<0.05), the protein expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 in gastric tissue was not significantly increased, whereas the gene expressions and phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the content of IL-10 increased, but the content of IL-17 decreased, the gene expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 and the level of protein phosphorylation decreased in the treatment group, especially in the high-dose Huangqi Jianzhongtang group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion:Huangqi Jianzhongtang can improve the survival condition of rats with spleen stomach deficiency cold type gastric ulcer, and its mechanism may be related to the intervention of gastric mucosal immune barrier dysfunction mediated by JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation.