Therapeutic potential of CB1R activation by Qingyangshen glycoside M1 for seizure relief

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cynanchum otophyllum C.K.Schneid.PI.Wilson, commonly referred as ''Qingyangshen'' (QYS), is a traditional folk medicine from Yunnan, renowned for its efficacy in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Glycosides isolated from QYS have shown promise in alleviating epilepsy, however, mechanisms of action and specific molecular targets remain to be elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to evaluate the anticonvulsant effects of Qingyangshen glycosides M1 (M1), a C21 steroidal glycoside from QYS, on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsions in zebrafish (Danio rerio), and its neuroprotective effect on Glutamate (Glu)-induced damage to PC12 cells, and importantly to identify its potential molecular targets.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To evaluate anticonvulsant activity of M1, 7 days-post-fertilization (7-dpf) animals were pretreated (by immersion) and then exposed to PTZ (10 mM) solution. Furthermore, Glu-induced PC12 cell damage was employed to investigate the neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic capacity. Cells were pretreated with various concentrations of M1 (0-10 μM) for 12 h and then co-treated with Glu (15 mM) for an additional 24 h. The cell viability, apoptosis rate and apoptosis-related proteins (p-PI3K, PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, CREB, p-CREB, BDNF, Bax and Bcl-2) were measured using CCK-8, annexin V/PI and Western blot assays. To model the expected interaction between M1 and candidate cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R), ERK phosphorylation, molecular docking, and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) techniques were employed. Finally, CB1R antagonist Rimonabant (Rim) was validated by co-administration in both zebrafish and cells to confirm the requirement of CB1R for M1 efficacy.

RESULTS

At a concentration of 400 μM, M1 dramatically reversed PTZ-induced convulsive-like behaviors in zebrafish, as evidenced by a significant reduction in locomotor activity. In the context of Glu-induced cytotoxicity, M1 (10 μM) demonstrated a notable increase in cell viability and suppressed apoptosis through modulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activation of the PI3K/Akt/CREB/BDNF signaling axis. These effects were facilitated through CB1R activation. In contrast, Rim dampened the beneficial activities of M1 as a cannabinoid agonist.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrated that M1 as a potential CB1R activator, exhibiting anticonvulsive effects in a PTZ-induced zebrafish model and neuroprotective properties via the PI3K/Akt/CREB/BDNF signaling axis in a Glu-induced PC12 cell injury model. Notably, the observed seizure relief attenuated by CB1R chemical antagonism.

[Impact of social support for schizophrenia patients on their quality of life and family life satisfaction]

Objective: To explore the relationship of social support to patients with schizophrenia, family burden with patients' quality of life and family life satisfaction. Methods: Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to select 358 patients with schizophrenia and 358 patients' family members in Gansu Province who met the inclusion criteria were included. The Social Support Rating Scale, Family Burden Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Quality of Life Scale were used in the survey. AMOS 24.0 was used to explore the pathway of influence of family burden on social support to patients with schizophrenia, patients' quality of life and patients' family life satisfaction. Results: There was a two-by-two significant correlation between patients' access to social support, family burden, patients' life quality and family life satisfaction (P<0.05), and the total score of the social support scale negatively predicted the total score of the life quality scale (β=-0.28, P<0.05) and positively predicted the total score of the life satisfaction scale (β=0.52, P<0.05). Family burden was a full mediator between the social support to the patient and the patient's quality of life, and as a partial mediator between the social support to the patient and the family's life satisfaction. Conclusions: Social support to people with schizophrenia is a significant predictor of their quality of life and family life satisfaction. Family burden mediates the relationship of social support to patients with their quality of life and family life satisfaction. Interventions can focus on increasing social support for the patient and reducing the burden on the patient's family to improve the patient's quality of life and increase the satisfaction of the patient's family.

[Introduction and implications of WHO position paper: vaccines against influenza, May 2022]

On May 13, 2022, World Health Organization(WHO) Position Paper on Influenza Vaccine (2022 edition) was published. This position paper updates information on influenza epidemiology, high risk population, the impact of immunization on disease, influenza vaccines and effectiveness and safety, and propose WHO's position and recommendation that all countries should consider implementing seasonal influenza vaccine immunization programmes to prepare for an influenza pandemic. In addition, it proposes that the influenza surveillance platform can be integrated with the surveillance of other respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus. This position paper has some implications for the prevention and control of influenza and other respiratory infectious diseases in China: (1) Optimize influenza vaccine policies to facilitate the implementation of immunization services; (2) Influenza prevention and control should from the perspective of Population Medicine focus on the individual and community to integrate with "Promotion, Prevention, Diagnosis, Control, Treatment, Rehabilitation"; (3) Incorporate prevention and control of other respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus, and intelligently monitor by integrating multi-channel data to achieve the goal of co-prevention and control of multiple diseases.

Mapping quantitative trait loci for nitrogen uptake and utilization efficiency in rice (Oryza sativa L.) at different nitrogen fertilizer levels

Genetic improvement is the fundamental basis for improving nitrogen-use efficiency. A better understanding of genetic factors controlling nitrogen uptake and utilization is required for crop genetic improvement. In this study, we identified the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with traits of nitrogen uptake and utilization by using the single-sequence repeat marker method and a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a super hybrid Xieyou9308. All the traits investigated were inherited quantitatively by continuous variation and showed normal distribution in phenotype with transgressive segregation in the RIL population. Most of the traits were significantly correlated with each other except for nitrogen absorption ability (NAA) with nitrogen harvest index (NHI) and NHI with agricultural nitrogen-absorption efficiency (ANAE). At logarithmic odds value of 2.3, total 13 candidate QTLs, including 4 for NAA, 2 for NHI, 2 for physiological nitrogen-use efficiency, 1 for agricultural nitrogen-use efficiency (ANUE), and 4 for ANAE, were detected and mapped on chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 12. Significant pleiotropic effect or neighboring expression of QTLs was observed among traits. At position 64.8 cM on chromosome 4 near the marker RM5757, there was a QTL cluster of NAA, ANUE, and ANAE, and at chromosome 5 near the marker RM5968, there was a QTL cluster of NAA and ANUE. The QTL clusters might provide partial explanation and genetic mechanism for the observed correlations between nitrogen uptake and utilization efficiency traits and might form a basis for future breeding programs.

Superchirped moiré grating based on an acousto-optic superlattice with a chirped fiber Bragg grating

A superchirped moiré grating has multiple superimposed chirped Bragg gratings. We show that a superchirped moiré grating can be formed in an acousto-optic superlattice with a chirped fiber Bragg grating. There are multiple transmission peaks related to Fabry-Perot resonance in the transmission spectrum. The peak spacing is varied by the acoustic frequency. The proposed devices can be used as tunable multiple-passband transmission filters and switches.