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Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture along meridians on the expression of angiotensinogen (AGT) mRNA in myocardial tissue of myocardial ischemia (MI) rats. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, MI model group, Neiguan (PC6) point group (EA group) and non-acupoint (the lateral-superior side of the hip) group. Myocardial infarction was produced in rats with 85 mg/kg of isoproterenol administered subcutaneously twice at an interval of 24 h. Rats of EA group and non-acupoint group were treated with electroacupuncture, once daily for five consecutive days. Gene chip was used to detect RAS-related genes of myocardial tissue from the model group and the EA group. Cardiac index and pathological staining were observed of four groups. Real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR was used to detect the expression of AGT mRNA in cardiac tissue. Results: The expression of RAS-related genes were different between the model group and the EA group. The difference of AGT mRNA was the most significant. The cardiac index and AGT mRNA expression in the model group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P

Objective To evaluate the effect of the pulse width of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in rats and examine the role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway during EA. Methods Sciatic nerve functional index (SFI), muscle wet weight and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the gastrocnemius muscle were analyzed after treatment in model rats with EA of various pulse widths (0.5, 50, 100 and 200 ms). The apoptosis index (AI) and paired box (PAX)3 and PAX7 protein expression were also determined. Further, the mRNA and protein expressions of components of IGF-1/PI3K/Akt pathway and their downstream targets were determined, along with the inhibiting effect of the pathway with a PI3-specific inhibitor. Results EA with a pulse width of 200 ms was found to have the best effect with regard to increasing SFI, CSA and muscle weight, decreasing AI, and increasing the expression of PAX3 and PAX7. The IGF-1/PI3K/Akt pathway was found to be activated by denervation, although the downstream forkhead box O (FoxO) pathway was not suppressed by its activation. The PI3K/Akt pathway and its downstream molecule mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were up-regulated further by EA to promote muscle protein synthesis. Meanwhile, the expressions of downstream FoxO and F-box protein 32 (ATROGIN-1) were down-regulated to reduce protein degradation. Conclusions EA with 200-ms pulse width was found to have a more significant effect than 0.5-ms EA. The positive effects of EA disappeared after inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Flavanomarein (FM) is a major natural compound of Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt with protective effects against diabetic nephropathy (DN). In this study, we investigated the effects of FM on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in high glucose (HG)-stimulated human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) and the underlying mechanisms, including both direct targets and downstream signal-related proteins. The influence of FM on EMT marker proteins was evaluated via western blot. Potential target proteins of FM were searched using Discovery Studio 2017 R2. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was conducted to enrich the proteins within the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for biological processes. Specific binding of FM to target proteins was examined via molecular dynamics and surface plasmon resonance analyses (SPR). FM promoted the proliferation of HK-2 cells stimulated with HG and inhibited EMT through the Syk/TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) was predicted to be the most likely directly interacting protein with FM. Combined therapy with a Syk inhibitor and FM presents significant potential as an effective novel therapeutic strategy for DN.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of EGDT against NPC cell lines. Methods MTT assay was used to assess cell proliferation inhibition of EGDT. The apoptotic induction and cell cycle arrest were detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was adopted to detect the protein levels. Quantitative Real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA expressions. The NPC xenografts were established to evaluate the tumor growth inhibition of EGDT. Immunohistochemistry was applied to analyze the EGFR expression in the tumor tissues. Results EGDT showed proliferation inhibition on the NPC cell, induced G0/G1 phase arrest and cell apoptosis in vitro. EGDT decreased the protein and mRNA levels of EGFR and its downstream RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways in time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, EGDT also showed a sound antitumor activity in NPC xenograft in vivo. Conclusion The treatment of EGDT displays EGFR and its mediated downstream signaling pathway blockade through decreasing the protein and mRNA levels, suggesting a promising strategy in treating human NPC.

To study the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Pericardium Meridian on the heart function of volunteers with acute hypoxia, and to provide scientific evidence for the acupoints selection along the affected meridian in acupuncture-moxibustion therapy. Based on a self-control design, eighteen healthy volunteers were recruited in the study. Points from the Pericardium Meridian [Neiguan (PC 6), Ximen (PC 4), Quze (PC 3) and Tianquan (PC 2)], non-Pericardium Meridian point [Shousanli (LI 10)], non-meridian and non-acupoint points [1.0-1.5 cm lateral to Neiguan (PC 6) and Ximen (PC 4), respectively on both sides], and a blank control (only inhaling low-oxygen gas without EA stimulation) were selected to observe, once every week, 10 sessions in total, and only 1 acupoint was observed once. The volunteers inhaled low-oxygen gas mixture (10.8% O2 and 89.2% N2) for 30 min to imitate acute hypoxia. EA was conducted when the gas mixture was inhaled for 10 min and then lasted for 20 min; meanwhile, hemodynamic indexes such as cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), left cardiac work (LCW), left cardiac work index (LCWI) and heart rate (HR) were recorded on a hemodynamic monitor. EA at the acupoints of Pericardium Meridian significantly down-regulated the increased CO/CI, LCW/LCWI, and HR (P

Ethnopharmacological relevance Urolithin A (UroA), the main intestinal microflora metabolite of ellagic acid of berries, pomegranate,and some other traditional chinese herbals such as emblica officinalis,etc,has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-tumor and pro-autophagy effects. Aim of the study This study evaluated the anti-diabetic and pancreas-protective effects of UroA using a mice model of type 2 diabetes and preliminarily explored its effect on autophagy as well as the mechanism involved. Materials and methods Type 2 diabetes model was induced by high-fat diet (HFD; 60% energy as fat) and low-dose streptozotocin (85 mg/kg) injection. Mice were administered with UroA (50 mg/kg/d) alone or UroA-chloroquine (autophagy inhibitor) combination for 8 weeks. Results UroA improved symptoms of diabetic mice such as high water intake volume, high urine volume, significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (FBG), after-glucose-loading glucose, glycated hemoglobin (GHb) levels, plasma C-peptide, malondialdehyde (MDA) and interleukin-1 β level, increased reduced glutathione (GSH), interleukin-10 content, and glucose tolerance. UroA also improved pancreatic function indexes such as HOMA-β as evidenced by improved pathological and ultrastructural features of the pancreas assessed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Accordingly, UroA decreased mitochondrial swelling and myelin-like cytoplasmic inclusions. UroA significantly upregulated the protein levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3II) and beclin1, downregulated sequestosome 1 (p62) accompanied by decreased expression of apoptotic protein cleaved caspase3 in pancreas of diabetic mice. In addition, it increased the phosphorylation level of protein kinase B (p-Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR). Most of these effects of UroA were reversed by treatment with autophagy inhibitor chloroquine. Conclusions Our findings reveal that the pancreas protective effects of UroA against diabetes were partially mediated by its regulation of autophagy and AKT/mTOR signal pathway.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by abnormal immune response with overproduction of auto-antibodies, self-destructive complexes and hyperactivity of both T and B lymphocytes. Although the exact pathogenesis of SLE remains unclear, it has been found that the imbalance of Th1/Th2, subsequent cytokines and anti- or pro-inflammatory mediators could reflect the stage and phenotype of SLE. Among diverse cytokines involved in the disease progression, IL-12 and IFN-γ gain much attention for their biological functions in SLE. There existed many divergences on the expression levels of IL-12 while few conflicts were demonstrated on elevated levels of IFN-γ in SLE patients. By analysis of gene polymorphisms, it was suggested that positive correlations were observed between IL-12B rs3212227, IL-12B rs17860508 and susceptibility to and severity of SLE in Polish patients. In addition, the combination of the IL-12B rs17860508 GC allele and/or IL-12B rs3212227 C allele could increase the risk of SLE progression and/or severity of SLE parameters in Polish population. Furthermore, it was also found that the incorporation of IFN-γ R1 Met 14/Val 14 and IFN-γ R2 Gln 64/Gln 64 genotypes was a potential risk factor for SLE. Based on the precious researches, IL-12 and IFN-γ targeted gene therapy was developed and found to be effective in murine lupus. Intramuscular injection of IFN-γR/IgG1Fc fusion protein encoded cDNA and suppressive ODN was found to decrease the severity of disease and promote survival of lupus mice. On the other hand, intramuscular injection of IL-12 and IL-18 encoded plasmids alone or together was also observed to have therapeutic effects on murine lupus. All in all, this review mainly introduces the biological features and the potential therapeutic effects of IL-12 and IFN-γ in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of combined moxibustion and medication for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

This work reports a striking enhancement of catalytic performance of gold nanoparticles (NPs) with average diameter of 3.2 nm partially (ca. 32–40%) confined in the cavity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the gas-phase hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene (BD), as well as liquid-phase hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde (CAL). The reaction rates and turnover frequencies of the CNTs confining gold NPs exceed those with a similar size deposited on the outer surface of CNTs and activated carbon by more than one to two orders of magnitude in both two reactions. The selectivity to monobutenes and hydrocinnamaldehyde is up to 100% and 91% at 100% and 95% conversions of BD and CAL, respectively. Au/CNTs catalysts were characterized in depth to establish their structure–property relationship. The peculiar interaction of confined gold NPs with the surface of CNTs facilitates the dissociation/activation of H2, which is the rate-determining step for hydrogenation reactions demonstrated by kinetic studies.

Objective To observe the impact of electroacupuncture on the reproductive function of hydrocortisone acetate modeling rats.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy for infertility due to sperm abnormality (SAI).

Invasive prolactinomas are more likely to be resistant to drug therapy but the mechanism of this is still unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze the different expression of ERmRNA and D2RmRNA isoforms in prolactinomas responsive and resistant to dopamine agonist (DA), and to discuss the correlation of such gene expression with tumor biological behavior. A prospective study of 20 consecutive patients who harbored prolactinomas was designed. Patients were classified as responsive (14 cases) or resistant (six cases) according to their clinical and biochemical response to bromocriptine. Tumor tissue samples were examined by means of QRT-PCR analysis. Median D2SmRNA expression in responsive patients was about 2.5-fold that in resistant ones (13.5 +/- 10.4 and 5.4 +/- 2.4, respectively, P = 0.09). No significant difference was found between D2LmRNA expression levels (P = 0.77). However, there was a significant difference between D2S/D2LmRNA ratios for responsive and resistant tumors (P = 0.012). A significant difference was not found between these two groups in levels of ERalphamRNA and ERbetamRNA expression (P = 0.20 and 0.06, respectively). D2SmRNA expression was significantly different for invasive and noninvasive tumors (6.2 +/- 3.6 vs. 17.0 +/- 11.2, respectively, P = 0.02). The D2S/D2L ratio is related to the responsiveness of prolactinomas to DA medication, in which D2SmRNA plays an important role. Lower expression of D2SmRNA in invasive tumor patients suggests that invasive prolactinomas may be more likely to be resistant to DA medication.

Objective This study attempts to clarify the causes behind a partially changed oxygen pressure by observing subcutaneous microcirculatory perfusion (abbr. SMP) and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) along the skin of Large Intestine Channel (LI) simultaneously. Methods Take SMP and TcPO2 as the two main indexes and one-cun-above-LI6 (Pianli), LI10 (Shousanli), and LI13 (Shouwuli) as the three destined points along the skin of LI to test the indexes on the destined points in 15 healthy volunteers using PeriFlux System 5000 and to observe their variation during acupuncturing Hegu (LI4). Besides, the experiment has also been performed in another 8 volunteers with all the other conditions equal but heating Hegu as the intervention instead. To investigate the difference in energy metabolism between Meridian and Non-Meridian further, SMP was observed on acupoints LI10, LI13, and their bilateral Non-Meridian control points. Results In Hegu acupuncturing group, the means of the two main indexes in the three vertical levels mentioned above before acupuncture and during acupuncture were analyzed by homebody paired sample T test, and SMP during acupuncture was a little higher than that before acupuncture, whereas TcPO2 significantly decreased (P Conclusion A reduced TcPO2 along the meridian course when acupoint being stimulated is not caused by reduced oxygen supply but rather by increased oxygen consumption resulted from enhanced energy metabolism in some relative tissues.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of electroacupuncture and diet adjusting on insulin resistance in rats with nutrition obesity, and the role of electroacupuncture and diet adjusting in the treatment of obesity. METHODS: Obesity was induced in rats by high-fat diet. Rats with nutrition obesity were randomly divided into high-fat diet (HD) group, high-fat diet plus electroacupuncture (HA) group, normal diet (ND) group and normal diet plus electroacupuncture (NA) group, with another group of SD rats as normal control (NC). After 15 days, all the rats' body weight and length were measured, the Lee's index was calculated, and the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected. RESULTS: Compared with the HD group, food intake, body weight and viscera fat weight of the rats with nutrition obesity in the HA group and the NA group were markedly reduced (P

Previous studies suggest that superoxide anions are possibly traveling along acupuncture meridians. The electrical potential difference (EPD) between acupoints may be related to the movement. To test the above hypothesis, we conducted a study investigating the effects of acupoint antioxidant interventions on the meridian EPD. Firstly, ST39 (L) and ST44 (L) were screened out for the EPD detection along the stomach meridian, and ST36 (L) was selected for interventions including acumassage with the control cream, as well as the TAT-SOD cream for 30 minutes, or injection with reduced glutathione sodium. The EPD between ST39 and ST44 was recorded for 80 minutes and measured again 48 h later. While the EPD increased during the acumassage, the acumassage with TAT-SOD cream and the glutathione injection generated waves of EPD increased, indicating the migration or removal from the visceral organ of a greater quantity of superoxide. Remarkably lower EPD readings 48 h later with both antioxidant acupoint interventions than the mere acumassage imply a more complete superoxide flushing out due to the restored superoxide pathway at the acupoint after interventions. The results confirm superoxide transportation along the meridians and demonstrate a possibility of acupoint EPD measurement as a tool to monitor changes in the meridians and acupoints.

Object The aim of this study was to observe long-term clinical outcomes in a group of patients treated with bromocriptine for invasive giant prolactinomas involving the cavernous sinus. Methods Data from 20 patients with invasive giant prolactinomas at the authors’ institutions between July 1997 and June 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. The criteria to qualify for study participation included: 1) tumor diameter greater than 4 cm, invading the cavernous sinus to an extent corresponding to Grade III or IV in the classification scheme of Knosp and colleagues; 2) serum prolactin (PRL) level greater than 200 ng/ml; and 3) clinical signs of hyperprolactinemia and mass effect. Among the 20 patients who met the criteria, six had undergone unsuccessful transcranial or transsphenoidal microsurgery prior to bromocriptine treatment and 14 patients received bromocriptine as the primary treatment. Eleven of the 20 patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. After a mean follow-up period of 37.3 months, the clinical symptoms in all patients improved by different degrees. Tumor volume on magnetic resonance images was decreased by a mean of 93.3%. In 11 patients, the tumor had almost completely disappeared; in the other nine patients, residual tumor invaded the cavernous sinus. Visual symptoms improved in 13 of the patients who had presented with visual loss. Eight patients had normal PRL levels. The postoperative PRL level was more than 200 ng/ml in seven patients. During the course of drug administration, cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in one patient, who subsequently underwent transsphenoidal surgery. No case of apoplexy occurred during bromocriptine treatment. Conclusions Dopamine agonist medications are effective as a first-line therapy for invasive giant prolactinomas, because they can significantly shrink tumor volume and control the PRL level. Tumor mass vanishes in some patients after bromocriptine treatment; in other patients with localized residual tumor, stereotactic radiosurgery is a viable option so that unnecessary surgery can be avoided. The application of radiotherapy does not reliably shrink tumor volume.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncutre at Tianzhu point on the expressions of bcl-2 and bcl-XL in the degenerative cervical intervertebral disc of rats.

Different from the traditional teachning method, PBL (Problem-Based Learning) teachning mode is emphasized to foster the students’ skills in spontaneous study and problem solving and the analyzing and comprehensive thinking ability. The authors believe that in the application of the PBL teaching method, the teachers’ functions should be stressed on how to select the initial moment, provide the topics, excite the interesting points, search information, make comments and evaluate the students’ ability, i.e. “to offer fish and teach how to catch fish as well”.

Background Few data are presently available on the effective control of cavernous sinus (CS) invasion of invasive prolactinomas. The aim of this retrospective study, through a mean period of 5 years follow up, is to observe the tumor shrinkage of CS invasive prolactinomas, as well as PRL normalization with bromocriptine therapy. Methods 68 patients met the criteria of invasive prolactinomas (Grade III or IV in the classification scheme of Knosp and colleagues; serum PRL level greater than 200 ng/ml). 33 patients underwent bromocriptine therapy as the initial treatment, and 14 of these 33 had combined treatment with microsurgery and/or radiotherapy. The other 35 patients received microsurgery as the primary treatment, after which two patients had normal PRL without taking bromocriptine and other 33 patients received bromocriptine treatment after microsurgery. Results Tumor volume on magnetic resonance images had completely disappeared in 50 patients (74%), while all the other 18 patients had residual tumor in the parasellar areas, invading the CS, and 14 patients had a secondary empty sella due to tumor shrinkage. Of those 14 patients, seven still had elevated PRL levels; five had optic chiasmal herniation by different degrees (P < 0.05). There were 49 patients with normal PRL levels (72%); five patients with PRL levels more than 200 ng/ml. After the treatment, 14 patients with tumor volume disappearance on MR images and PRL normalization therefore withdrew from bromocriptine therapy. During a subsequent one-and-a-half-year follow-up, tumor recurrence and PRL increase were not found in those 14 patients. Twenty-seven patients maintained normal PRL levels with low-dose bromocriptine, of which 20 patients had their tumor disappear while seven patients had CS residual tumor. Conclusions About three-fourths of prolactinomas with CS invasion can be effectively controlled not only with regard to tumor volume disappearance but also in serum PRL normalization. Residual tumor in the CS areas with PRL normalization and no pressure symptoms can be treated with low-dose of bromocriptine so as to achieve long-term tumor volume control and endocrine control. Great attention should be paid to CS residual tumors accompanying the empty sella, especially in cases with optic chiasmal herniation.

AIM: To evaluate the influence of various clinicopathologic factors on survival of patients with bile duct carcinoma after curative resection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made for 86 cases of bile duct carcinoma treated from January 1981 to September 1995. Fifteen clinicopathologic factors possibly influencing survival were selected. Independent variables were first analyzed by univariate methods. Survival for variable was estimated by the method of Kaplan and Meier. The variables that were statistically significant by univariate analysis were included in a multivariate analysis, which were confirmed using the Cox stepwise proportion hazard model with the help of SPSS 10.0 for Windows software. RESULTS: The overall cumulative survival rate was 72.6% at 1 year, 32.4% at 3 years, and 18.7% at 5 years. The results of univariate analysis showed that the major significant prognostic factors influencing survival of these patients were histological type of lesion, lymph node metastasis, pancreatic invasion, duodenal invasion, perineural invasion, macroscopic vessel involvement, resected surgical margin and depth of cancer invasion (P = 0.02, 0.02, 0.004, 0.005, 0.01, 0.43, 0.03 and 0.04). Age, sex, location of tumor, size of tumor, macroscopic type of lesions, hepatic metastasis, and hepatic invasion were not significantly associated with prognosis (P > 0.05). Pancreatic invasion, perineural invasion and lymph node metastases were the three most important prognostic factors by multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model. CONCLUSION: Pancreatic invasion, perineural invasion and lymph node metastases are the most important prognostic factors for bile duct carcinoma after curative resection.