Effect of a Herbal Formula Song Zhi Wan on Non-alcoholic Fatty liver Disease in Obese Mice
Danny Ka-Ho Wong,
Saisai Zhang,
Gerald Wong,
Ching Yan Serene Cheng,
Regina Cheuk-Lam Lo,
Fen Liu,
Lung-Yi Mak,
Peng Xiao,
Wai-Kay Seto,
Man Fung Yuen
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2021
Pages:
22-28
Received:
29 March 2021
Accepted:
14 April 2021
Published:
26 April 2021
Abstract: Background: Effective treatment against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is lacking. Song Zhi Wan (SZW), a Chinese formulation medicine comprising eight herbal ingredients, has been demonstrated to confer a liver protective effect in chronic hepatitis C patients. We aimed to investigate the effect of SZW on NAFLD using a high-fat diet (HFD; 60% fat) induced obese mouse model. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed with HFD for 10 weeks, followed by daily oral administration of various dosages of SZW (low [n=6], normal [n=10], high [n=10]) or water (n=10) for 8 weeks. Another formulation of SZW (modified SZW), in which two ingredients were replaced by radish seed and barley, was tested. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, liver transaminases, and histologic steatosis were assessed. Results: At the end of experiment, the HFD-fed placebo mice had a mean increase in serum total cholesterol and triglyceride by 57.7% and 35.0%, respectively. HFD-fed mice receiving either SZW formulation had a smaller increase in serum total cholesterol (mean increase 7.9% – 39.4%) and a significant reduction in triglyceride (mean reduction 4.2% – 27.4%; P < 0.05). A dosage dependent effect on serum total cholesterol and triglyceride was observed with modified SZW (=0.043 and 0.006, respectively). 90% of placebo mice and 59% of SZW-treated mice had severe steatosis (P=0.079). With an escalating dosage of original SZW, there was a decreasing proportion of mice with severe steatosis (P=0.013). Conclusion: SZW administration can attenuate hypercholesterolemia, reduce dyslipidemia and alleviate steatosis in HFD-induced obese mice.
Abstract: Background: Effective treatment against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is lacking. Song Zhi Wan (SZW), a Chinese formulation medicine comprising eight herbal ingredients, has been demonstrated to confer a liver protective effect in chronic hepatitis C patients. We aimed to investigate the effect of SZW on NAFLD using a high-fat diet (HFD...
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Acupuncture in Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries: Mobilization of Potential Neuroprogenitors and Clinical Outcome in a Case Series
Mingyuan Wu,
Sonja Moldenhauer,
Matthias Duetsch,
Thomas Scheffel,
Rainer Hellweg,
Andreas Holloschi,
Frank Rainer Abel,
Wei Han,
Anja Moldenhauer
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2021
Pages:
29-37
Received:
11 May 2021
Accepted:
26 May 2021
Published:
4 June 2021
Abstract: Background: Spinal cord injuries (SCI) often lead to devastating loss of neurological functions. Among other therapeutic methods, acupuncture is applied to support recovery. In former studies with healthy volunteers, we demonstrated an acupuncture-induced mobilization of potential neuroprogenitors. We hypothesized that this might also occur in patients with SCI and thereby improve regeneration. Methods: Four patients with SCI were acupunctured 15 times over a period of eight weeks. Before and after each acupuncture, CD133+34– cells were determined as potential neuroprogenitors by flow cytometry. By means of Elisa, we measured matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), which is suggested to be involved in the mobilization of progenitor cells, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin regulating neurogenesis. Patients’ motor and sensory functions were determined by American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS), and the quality of life was assessed using short form (SF)-36. Results: We observed that the number of potential neuroprogenitors increased gradually in peripheral blood over the eight weeks’ course of acupuncture treatment with a concomitant increase of MMP-9 and decrease in BDNF (p<0.05). Patients felt an improved sensory function and showed a positive perception of acupuncture treatment, while no clear changes in motor function were documented. Conclusion: Our results suggest that acupuncture induces the mobilization of potential neuroprogenitors in SCI patients, improvement of subjective sensory function and a better quality of life. Whether and to what extent acupuncture supports regeneration needs to be verified in future studies. Study registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN71857369, retrospectively registered 18 February 2019, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN71857369).
Abstract: Background: Spinal cord injuries (SCI) often lead to devastating loss of neurological functions. Among other therapeutic methods, acupuncture is applied to support recovery. In former studies with healthy volunteers, we demonstrated an acupuncture-induced mobilization of potential neuroprogenitors. We hypothesized that this might also occur in pati...
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