Chiropractic Therapy Modulated Gut Microbiota and Attenuated Allergic Airway Inflammation in an Immature Rat Model

Effect of pediatric Tuina on children's recurrent acute respiratory tract infections: a retrospective cohort study in Southern China

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of pediatric Tuina (PT) in preventing recurrent acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in children.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study based on the electronic medical records of children with recurrent ARTIs in 2016. Children were divided into a PT group or a non-PT group, according to whether they had received PT or not in 2016. The primary outcome was the number of ARTI episodes in 2017 and 2018. The secondary outcomes were the number of ARTIs leading to outpatient department visits and outpatient antibiotic prescriptions due to ARTIs in the same time period. Negative binomial regressions were used to detect the association between PT and the outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 2303 children were included in the analysis, including 94 in the PT group and 2209 in the non-PT group. Children who received PT six or more times in 2016 had fewer episodes of ARTIs in 2017 [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.42-0.84)] and 2018 [IRR: 0.58, 95% CI (0.36-0.94)] and fewer outpatient department visits due to ARTIs in 2017 [IRR: 0.56, 95% CI (0.38-0.83)] than children who had not received PT in 2016. There was no significant difference in the number of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Receiving PT six or more times within one year is associated with a decrease in recurrent ARTIs in children in the following two years. Randomized controlled trials are needed for effect evaluation prior to establishing PT as a method for preventing recurrent ARTIs among children.

Traditional Pediatric Massage Enhanced Hippocampal GR, BDNF and IGF-1 Expressions and Exerted an Anti-depressant Effect in an Adolescent Rat Model of CUMS-induced Depression

This study aimed to investigate the anti-depressant effect of traditional pediatric massage (TPM) in adolescent rats and its possible mechanism. The adolescent depression model in rats was established by using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). All rats were randomly divided into five groups (seven per group), including the groups of control (CON), CUMS, CUMS with TPM, CUMS with back stroking massage (BSM) and CUMS with fluoxetine (FLX). The tests of sucrose preference, Morris water maze and elevated plus maze were used to evaluate depression-related behaviors. Plasma corticosterone (CORT) level was measured by ELISA. The gene and protein expressions of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured by RT-qPCR and IHC respectively. The results showed that CUMS induced depression-related behaviors in the adolescent rats, along with decreased weight gain and reduced hippocampal expressions of GR, IGF-1 and BDNF. TPM could effectively prevent depression-related behaviors in CUMS-exposed adolescent rats, manifested as increasing weight gain, sucrose consumption, ratio of open-arm entry, times of crossing the specific quadrant and shortening escape latency. TPM also decreased CORT level in plasma, together with enhancing expressions of GR, IGF-1 and BDNF in the hippocampus. These results may support the clinical application of TPM to prevent and treat adolescent depression.

Mechanism, application and effect evaluation of nerve mobilization in the treatment of low back pain: A narrative review

Lower back pain is a prevalent condition affecting people across all age groups and causing significant personal and societal burdens. While numerous treatments exist, nerve mobilization has emerged as a promising approach for managing lower back pain. Nerve mobilization involves applying gentle and rhythmic movements to the affected nerves, promoting normal nerve function and releasing tension. It has been well documented that nerve mobilization can be effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with lower back pain, but the underlying mechanisms have not been clarified. This study aims to review the mechanisms of nerve mobilization in the management of lower back pain, its application, and effectiveness evaluation, and provide a potential solution for managing lower back pain.

The positive effect of mother-performed infant massage on infantile eczema and maternal mental state: A randomized controlled trial

Objective

To observe the influence of MPIM on infantile eczema, quality of life, growth and maternal mental state.

Methods

This trial was a randomized controlled study. Sixty-six full-term infants with eczema were randomly divided into eczema control group (EC group, n = 33) and eczema with MPIM group (EM group, n = 33), along with healthy full-term infants in the healthy control group (HC group, n = 31). The mothers in the EC group received the instruction of routine care, while the mothers in the EM group applied massage on the infants plus receiving the same instruction of the routine care. HC group received none of any specific intervention. Data were collected in the three groups at the baseline and at the end of 2- and 5-month intervention. Before and at the end of 2-month intervention, the following indexes were investigated in infants including the growth indexes, eczema area severity index (EASI), infantile dermatitis quality of life index (IDQOL). And the scores of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were investigated in mothers at the same timepoints. At the end of 5-month intervention, the infants' growth and relapse condition of eczema were observed.

Results

Overall, 31 cases in HC group, 31 in EC group and 32 in EM group were included for data analysis. There were no significant differences in the indexes of infantile growth among the three groups (all P >0.05). The scores of EASI and IDQOL significantly lowered (both P < 0.001) in EC group following the instruction of routine care, along with reduced maternal scores of SAS and SDS (both P < 0.05). Compared with the EC group, the EM group showed significantly lower scores of EASI and IDQOL (both P < 0.001) and lower relapse rate (P < 0.01) in infants with eczema, along with significantly lower scores of SAS and SDS in mothers (both P < 0.01). Moreover, none of obvious adverse reaction was reported following MPIM, to which most of the mothers could adhere.

Conclusion

MPIM could effectively promote the remission of infantile eczema and reduce its relapse, along with relieving maternal anxiety and depression mood.

Clinical trial registration

Identifier: ChiCTR2200066246.

The effect of tuina on ulcerative colitis model mice analyzed by gut microbiota and proteomics

Tuina can effectively alleviate ulcerative colitis-related symptoms, but the mechanism of action is unknown. The purpose of this research is to explore potential pathways for the treatment of tuina through gut microbiota and proteomics techniques. Thirty-two male BALB/c mice were divided into four groups, the control, model, mesalazine, and tuina groups. The ulcerative colitis model was established by freely drinking a 3% dextran sulphate sodium solution for 7 days. The mesalazine group and the tuina group, respectively, received 7 days of mesalazine and tuina treatment. Subsequently, their body weights, feces properties, colon length, histomorphological changes, gut microbiota, and colon proteomics were determined. Body weights, disease activity index score, colon histological scores, and microbiota diversity were restored in the tuina group. At the phylum level, Firmicutes was increased and Bacteroidota decreased. At the family level, Lachnospiraceae increased and Prevotellaceae decreased. At the genus level, the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group was increased. Proteomics detected 370 differentially expressed proteins regulated by tuina, enriched to a total of 304 pathways, including biotin metabolism, Notch signaling pathway, linoleic acid metabolism, and autophagy. Tuina can effectively improve the symptoms of weight loss, fecal properties, and colon inflammation in ulcerative colitis mice and restore the gut microbiota diversity, adjusting the relative abundance of microbiota. The therapeutic effects of tuina may be achieved by modulating the signaling pathways of biotin metabolism, Notch signaling pathway, linoleic acid metabolism, and autophagy.

Increased Hippocampal Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression and Reduced Anxiety-Like Behavior Following Tuina in a Rat Model With Allergic Airway Inflammation

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the influence mechanism of Tuina on anxiety-like behavior in immature rats with allergic airway inflammation (AAI).

METHODS

A total of 27 Sprague-Dawley male rats (aged ∼5 weeks) were divided randomly into control, AAI, and AAI with Tuina groups (9 rats per group). The anxiety-like behavior was assessed by an open field test and elevated plus-maze test. Allergic airway inflammation was assessed based on the pathological score of the lung, plasma ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E, interleukin 4, interleukin 5, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) messenger RNA and protein expression in the hippocampus and lung were detected by polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Meanwhile, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) messenger RNA in the hypothalamus, the plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone were also determined respectively by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) function.

RESULTS

The AAI group had obvious anxiety-like behavior and hyperactive HPA axis, along with decreased GR expression in the hippocampus and lung. Following Tuina, AAI and the anxiety-like behavior were efficiently reduced, and the hyperactivity of HPA axis was efficiently inhibited, along with enhanced GR expression in the hippocampus and lung.

CONCLUSION

Glucocorticoid receptor expression in the hippocampus and lung was enhanced, and anxiety-like behavior was reduced following Tuina in rats with AAI.

Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 Alleviates the Inflammatory Response in Asthma by Regulating TLR2/TLR4 Expression

Background

Asthma is a chronic disease, which is harmful to the health of the body and the quality of life. Supplementation of Lactobacillus can affect the immune environment of the lungs through the gut-lung axis. This study aimed to explore the potential regulatory targets of Lactobacillus to relieve inflammation in asthma and determine a new approach for improving asthma.

Methods

A mouse ovalbumin (OVA)-induced model was constructed. OVA mice were supplemented with Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 by gavage. The gut microbiota composition of normal and OVA mice was analyzed using 16S ribosomal DNA identification. BALF, serum, lung tissues, and duodenal tissues were collected. Wright’s staining was performed to determine the cell content of the alveolar lavage fluid. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed to observe the improvement in the lungs of OVA mice supplemented with Lactobacillus. Immunofluorescence was performed to measure the severity of the intestinal barrier leakage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was carried out to determine the expression levels of inflammatory cell factors, while quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to detect the levels of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)/TLR4 expression and cell adhesion factors.

Results

Compared with Control mice, OVA mice exhibited malignant conditions, such as intestinal leakage and lung edema. After supplementation with Lactobacillus, the inflammatory cell content in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid decreased, and the inflammatory response was alleviated. The level of TLR2/TLR4 expression was reduced. The inflammatory cell infiltration in the airway mucosa of OVA mice was improved, alveolar swelling was reduced and the basement membrane appeared thinner.

Conclusion

The Lactobacillus inhibited the TLR2/TLR4 expression in OVA mice. Supplementation with Lactobacillus can alleviate the inflammatory response in OVA mice, inhibit pulmonary fibrosis, and treat asthma.