[Gastric emptying and functional dyspepsia]

Deciphering the function of Xiangsha-Liujunzi-Tang in enhancing duodenal mucosal barrier by inhibiting MC/Tryptase/PAR-2 signaling pathway in functional dyspepsia rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Xiangsha-Liujunzi-Tang (XSLJZT) is a classical formula for treating the diseases of digestive system, which can effectively and significantly improve the symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD) patients. The main function of XSLJZT is to benefit Qi and spleen, and harmonize stomach.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to investigate the intervention effect of XSLJZT on duodenal mucosal injury in FD rats and the response mechanism of MC/Tryptase/PAR-2 signal pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to qualitatively and quantitatively identify the chemical component of XSLJZT. A comprehensive modeling method (iodoacetamide infusion + irregular diet + swimming exhaustion) was used to construct the FD rat model. XSLJZT decoction was given to intervene FD rats for 2 weeks. The indicators of digestive function including body mass, 3-h food intake, visceral sensitivity, gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were routinely measured for FD rats. The pathological changes of duodenum and microstructure of intestinal epithelial cells were observed by HE staining and transmission electron microscopy respectively. The inflammatory factors (VCAM-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and ICAM-1) and histamine content were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of Tryptase, PAR-2, ZO-1, β-catenin, p-NF-κBp65 and p-ERK1/2 in duodenal tissues were measured by Western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence colony-staining (IFC).

RESULTS

XSLJZT administration significantly improved the survival of FD rats, increased body mass and 3-h food intake, improved visceral sensitivity, and restored gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate. HE staining showed that XSLJZT recovered the structure of duodenal mucosal and reduced inflammatory infiltration. ELISA revealed that XSLJZT reduced the content of inflammatory factors (VCAM-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and ICAM-1) and histamine. In addition, WB and IFC uncovered that the protein levels of ZO-1 and β-catenin were up-regulated and MC/Tryptase/PAR-2 signaling pathway was inhibited by XSLJZT.

CONCLUSION

XSLJZT significantly improved the integrity of duodenal mucosa and decreased the inflammation in FD rats through the inhibition of MC/Tryptase/PAR-2 signaling pathway response.

Thermal care of functional dyspepsia based on bicarbonate-sulphate-calcium water: a sequential clinical trial

Drug treatment of functional dyspepsia is often unsatisfactory. We assessed the efficacy of a bicarbonate-sulphate-calcium thermal water cycle of 12 days, in patients with functional dyspepsia. Patients with functional dyspepsia were sent by their general practitioners to 12 days of treatment with thermal water, 200–400 ml in the morning, at temperature of 33°C (91.4 F) and were evaluated on a strict intention to treat basis. Four efficacy endpoints were analyzed as follows: (i) reduction of the global symptoms score, (ii) reduction of intensity to a level not interfering with everyday activities, (iii) specific efficacy on ulcer-like or dysmotility-like dyspepsia and (iv) esophageal or abdominal-associated symptoms. Statistical significance was reached for all three primary outcomes after the first 29 consecutive patients. Thermal water reduced the global symptom score, reduced intensity of symptoms to a level not interfering with everyday activity, but was unable to completely suppress all symptoms. A parallel effect emerged for ulcer-like and dyspepsia-like subgroups. The effect on heartburn and abdominal symptoms was not significant, suggesting a specific effect of the water on the gastric and duodenal wall. The Roma II criteria identify a natural kind of dyspepsia that improves with thermal water. Ulcer-like and dysmotility-like are not therapeutically distinguishable subgroups. Patients with dominant esophageal or abdominal symptoms should receive a different therapy. Sequential methods are very effective for the evaluation of traditional care practices and should be considered preliminary and integrative to randomized controlled trials in this context.