experimental-study-on-muscone-reducing-nf-b-pathway-activity

Experimental Study on Muscone Reducing NF-&#954;B Pathway Activity by Targeting IL-1R1 to Attenuate Oxidative Stress Injury in Schwann Cells

The underlying mechanism of how natural musk treats Bell&#39;s palsy is not clear. This study aims to reveal the potential mechanism of musk in treating ...

Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Activation and reconstruction of the spinal cord circuitry is important for improving motor function following spinal cord injury. We conducted a case series study to investigate motor function improvement in 14 patients with chronic spinal cord injury treated with 4 weeks of unilateral (right only) cortical intermittent theta burst stimulation combined with bilateral magnetic stimulation of L3-L4 nerve roots, five times a week. Bilateral resting motor evoked potential amplitude was increased, central motor conduction time on the side receiving cortical stimulation was significantly decreased, and lower extremity motor score, Berg balance score, spinal cord independence measure-III score, and 10 m-walking speed were all increased after treatment. Right resting motor evoked potential amplitude was positively correlated with lower extremity motor score after 4 weeks of treatment. These findings suggest that cortical intermittent theta burst stimulation combined with precise root stimulation can improve nerve conduction of the corticospinal tract and lower limb motor function recovery in patients with chronic spinal cord injury.

Effects of cortical intermittent theta burst stimulation combined with precise root stimulation on motor function after spinal cord injury: a case series study.

Following a spinal cord injury, there are usually a number of neural pathways that remain intact in the spinal cord. These residual nerve fibers are important, as they could be used to reconstruct the neural circuits that enable motor function. Our group previously designed a novel magnetic stimulation protocol, targeting the motor cortex and the spinal nerve roots, that led to significant improvements in locomotor function in patients with a chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. Here, we investigated how nerve root magnetic stimulation contributes to improved locomotor function using a rat model of spinal cord injury. Rats underwent surgery to clamp the spinal cord at T10; three days later, the rats were treated with repetitive magnetic stimulation (5 Hz, 25 pulses/train, 20 pulse trains) targeting the nerve roots at the L5-L6 vertebrae. The treatment was repeated five times a week over a period of three weeks. We found that the nerve root magnetic stimulation improved the locomotor function and enhanced nerve conduction in the injured spinal cord. In addition, the nerve root magnetic stimulation promoted the recovery of synaptic ultrastructure in the sensorimotor cortex. Overall, the results suggest that nerve root magnetic stimulation may be an effective, noninvasive method for mobilizing the residual spinal cord pathways to promote the recovery of locomotor function.

Nerve root magnetic stimulation improves locomotor function following spinal cord injury with electrophysiological improvements and cortical synaptic reconstruction.

Classic paired associative stimulation can improve synaptic plasticity, as demonstrated by animal experiments and human clinical trials in spinal cord injury patients. Paired associative magnetic stimulation (dual-target peripheral and central magnetic stimulation) has been shown to promote neurologic recovery after stroke. However, it remains unclear whether paired associative magnetic stimulation can promote recovery of lower limb motor dysfunction after spinal cord injury. We hypothesize that the current caused by central and peripheral magnetic stimulation will converge at the synapse, which will promote synapse function and improve the motor function of the relevant muscles. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of paired associative magnetic stimulation on neural circuit activation by measuring changes in motor evoked and somatosensory evoked potentials, motor and sensory function of the lower limbs, functional health and activities of daily living, and depression in patients with spinal cord injury. We will recruit 110 thoracic spinal trauma patients treated in the Department of Spinal Cord Injury, China Rehabilitation Hospital and randomly assign them to experimental and control groups in a 1:1 ratio. The trial group (n = 55) will be treated with paired associative magnetic stimulation and conventional rehabilitation treatment. The control group (n = 55) will be treated with sham stimulation and conventional rehabilitation treatment. Outcomes will be measured at four time points: baseline and 4, 12, and 24 weeks after the start of intervention (active or sham paired associative magnetic stimulation). The primary outcome measure of this trial is change in lower limb American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale motor function score from baseline to last follow-up. Secondary outcome measures include changes in lower limb American Spinal Injury Association sensory function score, motor evoked potentials, sensory evoked potentials, modified Ashworth scale score, Maslach Burnout Inventory score, and Hamilton Depression Scale score over time. Motor evoked potential latency reflects corticospinal tract transmission time, while amplitude reflects recruitment ability; both measures can help elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect of paired associative magnetic stimulation on synaptic efficiency. Adverse events will be recorded. Findings from this trial will help to indicate whether paired associative magnetic stimulation (1) promotes recovery of lower limb sensory and motor function, reduces spasticity, and improves quality of life; (2) promotes neurologic recovery by increasing excitability of spinal cord motor neurons and stimulating synaptic plasticity; and (3) improves rehabilitation outcome in patients with spinal cord injury. Recruitment for this trial began in April 2021 and is currently ongoing. It was approved by the Ethics Committee of Yangzhi Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Tongji University, China (approval No. YZ2020-018) on May 18, 2020. The study protocol was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR2100044794) on March 27, 2021 (protocol version 1.0). This trial will be completed in April 2022.

Effects of paired associative magnetic stimulation between nerve root and cortex on motor function of lower limbs after spinal cord injury: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

In ancient China, bee venom was widely used to treat various diseases. Although using bee venom is not currently a mainstream medical method, some have applied it to treat certain conditions, including idiopathic facial paralysis (IFP). Recently, melittin (Mel), the main active component of bee venom, has been shown strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, how bee venom improves neurological dysfunction in facial paralysis remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the anti-neurotraumatic effect of Mel on Schwann cells (SCs), the main cells of the neuron sheath, injured by oxidative stress.

Melittin Alleviates Oxidative Stress Injury in Schwann Cells by Targeting Interleukin-1 Receptor Type 1 to Downregulate Nuclear Factor Kappa B-Mediated Inflammatory Response In Vitro.

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202512000-00026/figure1/v/2025-01-31T122243Z/r/image-tiff Promoting synaptic plasticity and inducing functional reorganization of residual nerve fibers hold clinical significance for restoring motor function following spinal cord injury. Neuromagnetic stimulation targeting the nerve roots has been shown to improve motor function by enhancing nerve conduction in the injured spinal cord and restoring the synaptic ultrastructure of both the sensory and motor cortex. However, our understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms by which nerve root magnetic stimulation facilitates motor function recovery in the spinal cord is limited, and its role in neuroplasticity remains unclear. In this study, we established a model of spinal cord injury in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by applying moderate compression at the T10 vertebra. We then performed magnetic stimulation on the L5 nerve root for 3 weeks, beginning on day 3 post-injury. At day 22 post-injury, we observed that nerve root magnetic stimulation downregulated the level of interleukin-6 in the injured spinal cord tissue of rats. Additionally, this treatment reduced neuronal damage and glial scar formation, and increased the number of neurons in the injured spinal cord. Furthermore, nerve root magnetic stimulation decreased the levels of acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and dopamine, and increased the expression of synaptic plasticity-related mRNA and proteins PSD95, GAP43, and Synapsin II. Taken together, these results showed that nerve root magnetic stimulation alleviated neuronal damage in the injured spinal cord, regulated synaptic plasticity, and suppressed inflammatory responses. These findings provide laboratory evidence for the clinical application of nerve root magnetic stimulation in the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Nerve root magnetic stimulation regulates the synaptic plasticity of injured spinal cord by ascending sensory pathway.

Moxibustion therapy is an important traditional non-pharmacological treatment in traditional medicine for improving chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression. By reviewing recent studies on moxibustion intervention for chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression, this article summarized and analyzed the current research status. In clinical studies, moxibustion therapy that tonifies the spleen, nourishes the kidneys, warms yang, and nourishes blood has been verified to be effective for chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression, but the efficacy may vary among individuals receiving different chemotherapy regimens. Experimental studies have shown that moxibustion therapy primarily improves chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression by repairing bone marrow tissue structure, increasing the amounts of hematopoietic stem cells, improving bone marrow hematopoietic microenvironment, repairing bone marrow cell DNA, and regulating signaling pathways such as Notch, Wnt, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/ mammalian target protein of rapamycin and other signaling pathways. Future research can further systematically reveal the mechanisms of moxibustion therapy, such as alleviating hematopoietic stem cell aging induced by chemotherapy, regulating miRNAs to improve bone marrow suppression, and investigate the sensitivity of patients with bone marrow suppression caused by different chemotherapy regimens to moxibustion therapy, in order to complete and standardize the application protocols of moxibustion.

Article	Year
Effects of cortical intermittent theta burst stimulation combined with precise root stimulation on motor function after spinal cord injury: a case series study. Neural regeneration research\| PubMed ID: 35017444	2022
Nerve root magnetic stimulation improves locomotor function following spinal cord injury with electrophysiological improvements and cortical synaptic reconstruction. Neural regeneration research\| PubMed ID: 35142694	2022
Effects of paired associative magnetic stimulation between nerve root and cortex on motor function of lower limbs after spinal cord injury: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Neural regeneration research\| PubMed ID: 35535897	2022
Melittin Alleviates Oxidative Stress Injury in Schwann Cells by Targeting Interleukin-1 Receptor Type 1 to Downregulate Nuclear Factor Kappa B-Mediated Inflammatory Response In Vitro. Cureus\| PubMed ID: 39211643	2024
Nerve root magnetic stimulation regulates the synaptic plasticity of injured spinal cord by ascending sensory pathway. Neural regeneration research\| PubMed ID: 40095662	2025
[Research progress on moxibustion therapy for improving chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression]. Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research\| PubMed ID: 40262944	2025

Yeran Mao

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