Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subtype of stroke characterized by high mortality and disability rates. To date, the exact etiology of ICH-induced brain injury is still unclear. Moreover, there is no effective treatment to delay or prevent disease progression currently. Increasing evidence suggests that ferroptosis plays a dominant role in the pathogenesis of ICH injury. Baicalin is a main active ingredient of Chinese herbal medicine Scutellaria baicalensis. It has been reported to exhibit neuroprotective effects against ICH-induced brain injury as well as reduce iron deposition in multiple tissues. Therefore, in this study, we focused on the protective mechanisms of baicalin against ferroptosis caused by ICH using a hemin-induced in vitro model and a Type IV collagenase-induced in vivo model. Our results revealed that baicalin enhanced cell viability and suppressed ferroptosis in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells treated with hemin, erastin and RSL3. Importantly, baicalin showed anti-ferroptosis effect on primary cortical neurons (PCN). Furthermore, baicalin alleviated motor deficits and brain injury in ICH model mice through inhibiting ferroptosis. Additionally, baicalin existed no obvious toxicity towards the liver and kidney of mice. Evidently, ferroptosis is a key pathological feature of ICH and baicalin can prevent the development of ferroptosis in ICH. As such, baicalin is a potential therapeutic drug for ICH treatment.

No abstract

Depression is a prevalent mental disease characterized by persistent low mood, lack of pleasure, and exhaustion. Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) is a kind of modern acupuncture treatment, which has been widely used for the treatment of a variety of neuropsychiatric diseases. To investigate the effects and underlying mechanism of ACE on depression, in this study, we applied ACE treatment at the Baihui (GV20) and Dazhui (GV14) acupoints of corticosterone (CORT)-induced depression model mice. The results showed that ACE treatment significantly attenuated the behavioral deficits of depression model mice in the open field test (OFT), elevated-plus-maze test (EPMT), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swimming test (FST). Moreover, ACE treatment reduced the serum level of adreno-cortico-tropic-hormone (ACTH), enhanced the serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and noradrenaline (NE). Furthermore, metabolomics analysis revealed that 23 differential metabolites in the brain of depression model mice were regulated by ACE treatment for its protective effect. These findings suggested that ACE treatment ameliorated depression-related manifestations in mice with depression through the attenuation of metabolic dysfunction in brain.

Objective. The medical record of Chinese medicine is a miniature of the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with a time-honored history in a real-world setting and a firm place in medicine. In modern times, people have emphasized the value and standardization of TCM cases. The aim of this study was to explore the historical origins and developments of TCM case records. Methods. A chronological narrative style was used to divide the development history of TCM case records into early (1600 BC–220 AD), middle (220–1911 AD), and modern periods (1912–till now). The historical context of the origin and development of TCM case records was analyzed through the evolution of the format and content of the case recording files with the specific documents and distinctive cases. Results. From the early to middle period, the development of TCM case record had experienced four periods: the budding, blossoming, maturity, and heyday. In modern times, they presented the following characteristics: A, the establishment and development of the discipline of TCM medical records; B, the standardization of the writing format of TCM medical records; C, a large number of books concentrating on recording and studying TCM medical records, especially those of prestigious veteran TCM doctors; D, the proliferation of TCM case reports published in journals; E, the establishment of TCM medical records databases and application platforms integrating computer programs and artificial intelligence; F, many reporting guidelines have been developed in order to improve the reporting quality of case report in TCM. Conclusions. The study analyzed and illustrated the characteristics of TCM case records of different dynasties in terms of writing content and format. TCM case record is a relatively young discipline in spite of its ancient origins. TCM case records still have far-reaching significance for the inheritance and development of TCM theory and clinical experience. From the wisdom of history, its positive impact has just been revalued to be validated and it will continue to develop.

Objective. Traditional Chinese medicine formula Kai-Xin-San (KXS) is used to treat psychiatric disorders, especially in anxiety and depression. However, the precise molecular mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant effect of KXS on inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress in corticosterone (CORT)-induced depression. Methods. The therapeutic efficacy of KXS was evaluated in a mouse model of depression induced by CORT. Behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of KXS in treating depressive-like behavior. Nissl staining and β-galactosidase staining were used to assess the effects of KXS on neuronal injury in depressed mice. To screen key potential therapeutic targets of KXS, transcriptome sequences and data analysis were performed. Then, Iba1 immunofluorescence staining and their relative inflammatory factors mRNA expression were conducted to assess the effect of KXS in inhibiting microglial inflammation activation response. Concurrently, the measurement of 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) immunohistochemistry staining, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were performed to evaluate the effect of KXS on anti-oxidative stress of depression in vivo. Besides, nitric oxide (NO), relative inflammatory factors mRNA expression, JC-1 staining, and ROS were used to evaluate the effect of KXS by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma (IFNγ)-induced BV2 cells. Results. KXS significantly relieved the depressive-like symptoms induced by CORT, as well as ameliorating the neuronal damage, which decreased microglia inflammatory activation response of IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in vivo or in vitro too. Transcriptome Sequencing and Data Analysis showed that KXS mainly by regulating immune system and transduction pathways decreased CORT-induced depression in mice. And showed that there were 19 Principal components and 10 genes in the main regulatory position with the strongest correlation in depression mice. Meanwhile, KXS effectively decreased senescence, the expression of 4-HNE, MDA content, and the production of ROS, while increasing the SOD activity in CORT-induced mice. Besides, KXS significantly reversed the mitochondrial membrane potential loss and excessive ROS production in LPS/IFNγ-induced BV2 cells. Conclusion. Our research suggested that KXS might protect depressed mice against CORT-induced neuronal injury by inhibiting microglia activation and oxidative stress.