Knockdown of polypyrimidine tract binding protein facilitates motor function recovery after spinal cord injury

After spinal cord injury(SCI),a fibroblast-and microglia-mediated fibrotic scar is formed in the lesion core,and a glial scar is formed around the fibrotic scar as a res ult of the activation and proliferation of astrocytes.Simultaneously,a large number of neuro ns are lost in the injured area.Regulating the dense glial scar and re plenishing neurons in the injured area are essential for SCI repair.Polypyrimidine tra ct binding protein(PTB),known as an RNA-binding protein,plays a key role in neu...     

The potential application of the traditional Chinese herb Exocarpium Citri grandis in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19

Huajuhong(Exocarpium Citri grandis,ECG)is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and has been used for the treatment of respiratory diseases for hundreds of years.Recently,ECG has been listed in a traditional Chinese medicine formula in the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019(sixth edition)in China.To date,the effect and mechanism of ECG against respiratory diseases have not been systematically reviewed.In this paper,the researchers summarized the effects of ECG and its pharmacologically active compound naringin in functioning as an antitussive and expectorant,improving lung function,alleviating acute lung injury,attenuating pulmonary fibrosis,and enhancing antiviral immune response,so as to provide a reference for its clinical application in the prevention and treatment of multiple respiratory diseases,including coronavirus disease 2019.     

Angiotensin-(1–7)reducesα-synuclein aggregation by enhancing autophagic activity in Parkinson's disease

Abnormal accumulation ofα-synuclein contributes to the formation of Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra,which is considered the typical pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease.Recent research indicates that angiotensin-(1-7)plays a crucial role in several neurodegenerative disorders,including Parkinson's disease,but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive.In this study,we used intraperitoneal administration of rotenone to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks to establish a Parkinson's disease model.We investigated whether angiotensin-(1-7)is neuroprotective in this model by continuous administration of angiotensin-(1-7)into the right substantia nigra for 4 weeks.We found that angiotensin-(1-7)infusion relieved characteristic parkinsonian behaviors and reducedα-synuclein aggregation in the substantia nigra.Primary dopaminergic neurons were extracted from newborn Sprague-Dawley rat substantia nigras and treated with rotenone,angiotensin-(1-7),and/or the Mas receptor blocker A-779 for 24 hours.After binding to the Mas receptor,angiotensin-(1-7)attenuated apoptosis andα-synuclein aggregation in rotenone-treated cells.Primary dopaminergic neurons were also treated with angiotensin-(1-7)and/or the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine for 24 hours.Angiotensin-(1-7)increasedα-synuclein removal and increased the autophagy of rotenone-treated cells.We conclude that angiotensin-(1-7)reducesα-synuclein aggregation by alleviating autophagy dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.Therefore,the angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and angiotensin-(1-7)has potential therapeutic value for Parkinson's disease.All experiments were approved by the Biological Research Ethics Committee of Nanjing First Hospital(approval No.DWSY-2000932)in January 2020.     

Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science Instructions for Authors

The Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science,a peerreview journal with an international scope(ISSN 1672-3597,CN 31-1908/R,Bimonthly),is indexed in Emerging Sources Citation Index(ESCI),The Western Pacific Region Index Medicus(WPR1M),Springer-Verlag GmbH Database,Index of Copernicus(IC)and Chinese Science Citation Database(CSCD).     

A Network Pharmacology Study of Reduning Injection for the Treatment of Coronavirus Disease-19

Objective: The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019?nCoV) outbreak has escalated into a global pandemic. According to Chinese guidance for coronavirus disease?19 (COVID?19): Prevention, control, diagnosis, and management, Reduning injection can effectively treat, the disease caused by the virus. To identify the active ingredients of Reduning injection and COVID?19 disease?related pathways, we conducted a network pharmacology study. Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database was used to screen the chemical constituents and potential targets of Reduning injection. The gene names were converted to the corresponding protein names using UniProt. GeneCards and OMIM databases were used to select targets related to 2019?nCoV. Using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software platform and STRING database, we constructed drug?common target and target protein protein?protein interaction network diagrams. Rx64 3.6.2 software and Bioconductor biological information software package were used for? Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses. Results: In Reduning injection, a total of 33 effective chemical components were obtained that were involved in 151 signaling pathways, of which 44 targets were considered therapeutically relevant. Conclusion: Reduning injection can be potentially applied for the treatment of COVID-19 based on the results of our network pharmacology study.     

All roads lead to Rome-a review of the potential mechanisms by which exerkines exhibit neuroprotective effects in Alzheimer’s disease

Age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease(AD)have become a critical public health issue due to the significantly extended human lifespan,leading to considerable economic and social burdens.Traditional therapies for AD such as medicine and surgery remain ineffective,impractical,and expensive.Many studies have shown that a variety of bioactive substances released by physical exercise(called“exerkines”)help to maintain and improve the normal functions of the brain in terms of cognition,emotion,and psychomotor coordination.Increasing evidence suggests that exerkines may exert beneficial effects in AD as well.This review summarizes the neuroprotective effects of exerkines in AD,focusing on the underlying molecular mechanism and the dynamic expression of exerkines after physical exercise.The findings described in this review will help direct research into novel targets for the treatment of AD and develop customized exercise therapy for individuals of different ages,genders,and health conditions.     

Microglial voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 in spinal cord injury

After spinal cord injury,microglia as the first responders to the lesion display both beneficial and detrimental characteristics.Activated microglia phagocyte and eliminate cell debris,release cytokines to recruit peripheral immune cells to the injury site.Excessively activated microglia can aggravate the secondary damage by producing extravagant reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines.Recent studies demonstrated that the voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 is selectively expressed in microglia and regulates microglial activation upon injury.In mouse models of spinal cord injury,Hv1 deficiency ameliorates microglia activation,resulting in alleviated production of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines.The reduced secondary damage subsequently decreases neuronal loss and correlates with improved locomotor recovery.This review provides a brief historical perspective of advances in investigating voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 and home in on microglial Hv1.We discuss recent studies on the roles of Hv1 activation in pathophysiological activities of microglia,such as production of NOX-dependent reactive oxygen species,microglia polarization,and tissue acidosis,particularly in the context of spinal cord injury.Further,we highlight the rationale for targeting Hv1 for the treatment of spinal cord injury and related disorders.     

Leflunomide increased the renal exposure of acyclovir by inhibiting OAT1/3 and MRP2

Rheumatoid arthritis patients can be prescribed a combination of immunosuppressive drug leflunomide(LEF)and the antiviral drug acyclovir to reduce the high risk of infection.Acyclovir is a substrate of organic anion transporter(OAT)1/3 and multidrug resistance-associated protein(MRP)2.Considering the extraordinarily long half-life of LEF’s active metabolite teriflunomide(TER)and the kidney injury risk of acyclovir,it is necessary to elucidate the potential impact of LEF on the disposition of acyclovir.Here we used a specific MRP inhibitor MK571 and probenecid(OAT1/3 and MRP2 inhibitor)to assess the effects of MRP2 and OAT1/3 on the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of acyclovir in rats.We showed that LEF and probenecid,but not MK571 significantly increased the plasma concentration of acyclovir.However,kidney and liver exposures of acyclovir were increased when coadministered with LEF,probenecid or MK571.The kidney/plasma ratio of acyclovir was increased to approximately 2-fold by LEF or probenecid,whereas it was increased to as much as 14.5-fold by MK571.Consistently,these drugs markedly decreased the urinary excretion of acyclovir.TER(0.5−100μmol/L)dose-dependently increased the accumulation of acyclovir in MRP2-MDCK cells with an IC50 value of 4.91μmol/L.TER(5μmol/L)significantly inhibited the uptake of acyclovir in hOAT1/3-HEK293 cells.These results suggest that LEF/TER increased the kidney accumulation of acyclovir by inhibiting the efflux transporter MRP2,which increased its kidney/plasma ratio and renal injury risk.However,the inhibitory effects of LEF/TER on OAT1/3 reduced the tubular cells’uptake of acyclovir and increased the plasma concentration.     

Antiviral Properties of Traditional Chinese Medicine against Coronavirus: Research Clues for Coronavirus Disease-2019

The objective of this study was to provide research clues for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease?2019 (COVID?19) and coronavirus (CoV) infection using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). A review on research and clinical trials that using TCM extracts and active ingredients against CoV was performed, and a table of TCM agents and their effects on CoV were summarized. Relevant analysis was performed and visual expression of the data included summarizing the types of TCM and treatment methods for COVID?19. TCM fighting against CoV is mainly used in the lung and heart channels, and its medicinal properties are mainly cold and mild, while its taste is mainly bitter and sweet. The majority of research focused on treatments that clear away heat and toxic materials and those that strengthen body resistance and tonify deficiencies. TCM has unique advantages to fight against CoV. The development of new anti?CoV therapy using TCM is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of COVID?19 pneumonia and various viral infectious diseases.     

Analysis of Similarities and Differences between Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Both coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID?19) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are epidemic, contagious, sudden, and publicly harmful diseases. The whole?genome nucleotide identity of the pathogens causing the two diseases reached 79.5%. The mechanism and treatment of COVID?19 are still under investigation. Combining the experiences of SARS prevention and treatment in 2003, and the case data and literature of COVID?19, the similarities and differences between the two diseases in terms of causes, susceptible people, characteristics, dialectical mode, and treatment were analyzed. The two diseases are both plagues in terms of Chinese medicine. The cause of SARS was “heat poison,” and its pathogenesis was “heat poison, stasis, and qi and yin deficiency.” Therefore the treatment regimen was mainly to clear away heat, detoxicate, and expel evil. While the cause of COVID?19 was “wet poison,” and its pathogenesis was “wet, poison, heat, stasis, close, syncope, and yang collapse.” Hence the basic treatment strategy was to declare lung and remove dampness. Treatment of COVID?19 was clearing away evil qi as soon as possible, with the basic treatment regimen, which was declaring lung, removing dampness, and dispelling the evil. Combined with Traditional Chinese medicine’s (TCM’s) understanding and experience in SARS prevention and treatment, and Chinese clinical cured cases, we try to provide strategies for people all over the world to understand and respond to COVID?19, through the analysis and comparison. To improve COVID-19 prevention and treatment regimen and give full play to the advantages of TCM.