Several research studies have revealed that migraine has a solid link with gastrointestinal diseases especially irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study was carried out to investigate therapeutic potential of diet based on IgG elimination combined with probiotics on migraine plus irritable bowel syndrome. A total of 60 patients diagnosed with migraine plus IBS were recruited for the study. IgG antibodies against 266 food varieties were detected by ELISA. Then, the subjects were randomized into three groups for treatment of IgG elimination diet or probiotics or diet combined with probiotics. Migraine symptom, gut function score, medication use, and serum serotonin level were measured at baseline, 7 weeks, and 14 weeks. Improvement of migraine and gut symptom was achieved at a certain time point. Reduced use of over-the-counter- (OTC−) analgesics was seen in all groups. However, use of triptans did not show significant difference. An increased serum serotonin level was seen in subjects treated with elimination diet and elimination diet combined with probiotics. IgG elimination diet combined with probiotics may be beneficial to migraine plus IBS. It may provide new insight by understanding the intricate relationship between migraine and gastrointestinal diseases.

The vitreous substitute for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) surgery remains an unmet clinical need in ophthalmology. In our study, we developed an in situ formed hydrogel by crosslinking polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan as a potential vitreous substitute. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres were developed and loaded onto the PVA/chitosan hydrogels to treat PVR. In vitro, PVA/chitosan hydrogels at four concentrations were subjected to morphological, physical, rheological analyses, and cytotoxicity was evaluated together with the characterization of 5-FU PLGA microspheres. In vivo, pharmacologically induce PVR rabbits were performed a vitrectomy. In the PVA group, 3% PVA/chitosan hydrogel was injected into the vitreous cavity. In the PVA/MS group, 3% PVA/chitosan hydrogel and 5-FU PLGA microspheres were injected. In the Control group, phosphate-buffered saline was injected. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated with postoperative examinations and histological analyses. This study demonstrated that the 3% PVA/chitosan hydrogel showed properties similar to those of the human vitreous and could be a novel in situ crosslinked vitreous substitute for PVR. Loading 5-FU PLGA microspheres onto this hydrogel may represent an effective strategy to improve the prognosis of PVR.

Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. It can lead to progressive cognitive impairment, memory loss, and behavioral alterations. So far, the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this disorder remain unclear. And there are no effective treatments to prevent, halt, or reverse AD. In recent years, Chinese traditional medicine has become a new force in the treatment of AD, and the typical representatives of natural herbal ingredients are curcumin and its derivatives. Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), which is a classical derivative of curcumin, was found to have neuroprotective effects against a cell model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in our previous studies. This study investigated the intrinsic mechanism of BDMC against AD in animal models. Methods In this study, BDMC was injected into the lateral ventricles of normal C57BL/6 mice, APP/PS mice, and APP/PS mice treated with EX527 (the inhibitor of SIRT1). Y maze and Morris water maze were used to test the learning and memory ability of mice. Nissl staining was used to observe the morphological changes of neurons. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect Aβ deposition in mice. The activities of GSH and SOD were determined to observe the levels of oxidative stress in mice. And Western blot analyses were used to detect content of SIRT1 in mice. Results In the APP/PS mice, after BDMC intervention, their cognitive function improved, oxidative stress adjusted, the number of neurons increased, Aβ deposition decreased, and the level of SIRT1 expression increased. However, when SIRT1 is inhibited, BDMC on the improvement in the learning and memory ability and the improvement on oxidative stress in APP/PS1 mice were reversed. Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that in the AD mice, BDMC has antagonistic effect on AD. And an intermediate step in the antagonism effect is caused by SIRT1 upregulation, which leading to decreased oxidative stress. Based on these, we concluded that BDMC injection into the lateral ventricle can act against AD by upregulating SIRT1 to antioxidative stress.

Introduction. Oxidative stress and cell apoptosis have both been suggested to be closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Previously, bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) has been shown to exhibit several desirable characteristics as a candidate neuroprotective agent, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in the nervous system. However, whether BDMC can exert cell-protective roles in an in vitro model of PD remains unknown. Material and methods. SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with BDMC, with or without AG490 and SI-201, for 30 min, followed by a co-incubation with rotenone for 24 h. Subsequently, a cell viability assay and western blotting was performed, and SOD and GSH activities were analyzed. Results. The results revealed that the pretreatment with BDMC enhanced the cell survival, antioxidative stress capacity and the phosphorylation levels of JAK/STAT3 in SH-SY5Y cells treated with rotenone. However, following the incubation with AG490 and SI-201, inhibitors of the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway, BDMC was unable to exert cell-protective roles in SH-SY5Y cells treated with rotenone. Conclusions. In conclusion, the results suggested that BDMC may exert a cell-protective role in SH-SY5Y cells in vitro via JAK2/STAT3 signaling, thus suggesting the possible application of BDMC for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases related to JAK2/STAT3 signaling.