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The article presents the findings of an experimental work and research on the effects of L. F04, the active fraction of the herb Lycopus lucidus, on erythrocytes rheological property, conducted by Shi Hong-zhi, Li Yong-zhi et al. Lycopus lucidus has effects in resisting coagulation and thrombosis. Cell rheology detector type LG-B-190 manufactured by Shidi Scientific Instrument Co. is one of the instruments used in the study. After being injected with dextran 500, rats in the model group showed characteristics of blood stasis.

Wallerian degeneration is a complex biological process that occurs after nerve injury, and involves nerve degeneration and regeneration. Schwann cells play a crucial role in the cellular and molecular events of Wallerian degeneration of the peripheral nervous system. However, Wallerian degeneration regulating nerve injury and repair remains largely unknown, especially the early response. We have previously reported some key regulators of Wallerian degeneration after sciatic nerve injury. Baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis protein repeat-containing protein 3 (BIRC3) is an important factor that regulates apoptosis-inhibiting protein. In this study, we established rat models of right sciatic nerve injury. In vitro Schwann cell models were also established and subjected to gene transfection to inhibit and overexpress BIRC3. The data indicated that BIRC3 expression was significantly up-regulated after sciatic nerve injury. Both BIRC3 upregulation and downregulation affected the migration, proliferation and apoptosis of Schwan cells and affected the expression of related factors through activating c-fos and ERK signal pathway. Inhibition of BIRC3 delayed early Wallerian degeneration through inhibiting the apoptosis of Schwann cells after sciatic nerve injury. These findings suggest that BIRC3 plays an important role in peripheral nerve injury repair and regeneration. The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Nantong University, China (approval No. 2019-nsfc004) on March 1, 2019., Competing Interests: None

During nerve regeneration, neurite growth is regulated by both intrinsic molecules and extracellular factors. Here, we found that inhibitor 5 of protein phosphatase 1 (IPP5), a newly identified inhibitory subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), inhibited neurite growth in primary sensory neurons as an intrinsic regulator. IPP5 was highly expressed in the primary sensory neurons of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and was downregulated after sciatic nerve axotomy. Knocking down IPP5 with specific shRNA increased the length of the longest neurite, the total neurite length and the number of neurite ends in cultured rat DRG neurons. Mutation of the PP1-docking motif K(8)IQF(11) or the PP1-inhibiting motif at Thr(34) eliminated the IPP5-induced inhibition of neurite growth. Furthermore, biochemical experiments showed that IPP5 interacted with type I transforming growth factor-β receptor (TβRI) and PP1 and enhanced transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling in a PP1-dependent manner. Overexpressing IPP5 in DRG neurons aggravated TGF-β-induced inhibition of neurite growth, which was abolished by blocking PP1 or IPP5 binding to PP1. Blockage of TGF-β signaling with the TβRI inhibitor SB431542 or Smad2 shRNA attenuated the IPP5-induced inhibition of neurite growth. Thus, these data indicate that selectively expressed IPP5 inhibits neurite growth by maintaining TGF-β signaling in primary sensory neurons.

This paper gave a brief introduction of the effect of Solanum nigrum on anti-cancer. The experimental results showed that the total alkaloid isolated from S. nigrum interfered structure and function of tumor cell membrane, disturbed the synthesis of DNA and RNA, changed the cell cycle distribution, so that total alkaloids could play in inhibabition to tumor cells, while the glycoprotein (150 x 10(3)) isolated from S. nigrum might have shown anti-cancer abilities by blocking the anti-apoptotic pathway of NF-kappaB, activating caspase cascades reaction and increasing the production of nitric oxide.

Objective: To study the effects of L.F04, the active fraction of Lycopus lucidus, on erythrocytes rheological property so as to investigate its mechanism in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis., Method: The effects of L.F04 (used for treatment for 10 days in different dosages) on deformability, aggregation and membrane liquidity of erythrocytes (MLE) as well as whole blood apparent viscosity (eta(b)) were examined on the basis of rat model of blood-stasis syndrome induced by venous injection of high molecular weight dextran., Result: As compared with the normal control group, the model group's RBC deformability and MLE were lower, and the aggregation of erythrocytes and eta(b) were higher. Compared with the model group, both L.F04 0.612 g/kg and 0.306 g/kg showed significant effect in improving deformability and inhibiting aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) and reducing blood viscosity. The trend of improving MLE was also shown., Conclusion: L.F04 could significantly improve the abnormal rheological property of erythrocytes.

Objective: To study the effect of active fractions from Lycopus lucidus (L. F04) on platelet aggregation and thrombus formation so as to investigate its mechanism of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis., Method: The effects of Lycopus lucidus L. F04 on platelet aggregation induced by ADP in vivo, and thrombosis of artery-vein by-pass and thrombus formed in circuitous loop in vitro were examined using the blood stasis animal model of rats made by injecting high molecular weight dextran (HMWD)., Result: The increase of maximum platelet aggregation rate induced by ADP in vivo in HMWD model was evidently inhibited with 0.408 g/kg or 0.204 g/kg or L. F04, and the effect showed a trend of concentration-dependence. As compared with the control, the thrombus weight in rat model of blood stasis increased clearly and its length showed only a trend of increase. Both 0.408 g/kg and 0.204 g/kg of L. F04 had the effect of resisting the thrombus formation, while 0.408 g/kg showed better effects of reducing the thrombus dry weight and wet weight. Both 0.408 g/kg and 0.204 g/kg of L. F04 could inhibit the thrombosis in artery-vein by-pass; the inhibition rates were 27.41% and 27.14% respectively., Conclusion: Lycopus lucidus L. F04 could significantly inhibit platelet aggregation and thrombus formation.

Objective: To study pharmacological effects of PEC (the oral liquid which consists of Panax quinquefolium, Epimedium brevicornum, Schisandra chinensis Bail and Cervus eplaphus) on mice., Method: Experiments were carried out through swimming test, step-through, spontaneous activity and sleeping time., Result: When 5-10 mL x kg(-1) of PEC was given orally for 7 days, it could prolong swimming duration of mice in water tank, and increase the tolerant ability against oxygen-deficiency. PEC could also improve cognitive-deficiency induced by taking off sleep with force in mice after given orally for 7 days. The PEC could increase the spontaneous activity in mice, antagonize the inhabitation induced by Valium, and shorten the sleeping time caused by sodium pentobarbital., Conclusion: PEC has strong potential neuro-pharmacological activities such as anti-fatigue, improving cognitive-deficiency in mice.

Objective. To study the effects of active fractions from Lycopus lucidus (L. F04) on erythrocyte rheology so as to investigate its mechanism of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Method. The effects of L. F04 on erythrocytes deformability, aggregation, liquidity of membrane were examined in the present study and the blood stasis animal model of rats made by injecting high molecular weight dextran (HMWD) was used. Result. HMWD injection decreased red blood cells deformability (P<0.05) and liquidity of membrane (P<0.01) and increased erythrocytes aggregation (P<005). Compared with the model, both L. F04 0.612 g/kg and 0.306 g/kg improved red blood cells deformability (P<0.05), inhibited erythrocytes aggregation (P<0.05), and showed the trend of improving liquidity of membrane. But there was no concentration-dependence. Conclusion. L. F04 can significantly improve the deviant erythrocyte rheology characteristics.