ABSTRACT
With the emergence of the modified forms of acupuncture-moxibustion such as dry needle,the discipline acupuncture-moxibustion faces significant opportunities and challenges.The concept and treatment of acupuncture-moxibustion need to combine with modern medicine to consolidate the effectiveness and apply the research results to guide clinical treatment.By reviewing the brief history of acupuncture-moxibustion in the Western countries and summarizing the definitions,this article was to propose the trend and development strategies of this discipline in the future.
ABSTRACT
Acupuncture is the leading discipline of traditional Chinese medicine and undertakes the communication between traditional Chinese medicine and other natural sciences. With the rapid development of life science and technology and the exponential growth of knowledge, traditional acupuncture faces significant opportunities and challenges. In the context of great development of life sciences, we have re-recognized acupuncture, and we believe that acupuncture effects have corresponding material basis and regulatory mechanisms. The full embodiment of life science in the definition of acupuncture will contribute to the synergetic development of clinical and basic acupuncture research. In this paper, we discussed the value of acupuncture in life science based on the concepts of acupuncture and material basis of acupuncture effects.
ABSTRACT
S100A8, an important member of the S100 protein family, is a low-molecular-weight (10.8 kDa) calcium-binding protein containing conserved EF-hand structural motifs. Previous studies have shown that the biological function of S100A8 protein is associated with a variety of inflammatory diseases, for example asthma. S100A8 protein plays important roles in the regulation of inflammation. It can activate inflammatory cells and cytokines via chemotactic activity for neutrophils, and bind to the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), thus mediating intracellular inflammatory signaling transduction. Additionally, recent studies have reported the anti-inflammation activity of S100A8 protein, which indicates that S100A8 may have a more complex function of biological regulation in the different pathophysiological conditions. In this review, we summarized the studies on the functions and molecular mechanisms of S100A8 protein in inflammation, which would propose a novel strategy for the prophylaxis and treatment of asthma and other inflammatory diseases.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Asthma , Calgranulin A , Physiology , InflammationABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the anti-remodeling effect of acupuncture on asthma and to explore the mechanism of T-type calcium channel protein in airway smooth muscle cell in airway remodeling effect in asthma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, an acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group, 8 rats in each group. The rats in the latter three groups were sensitized for consecutive 14 days by single peritoneal injection of aqueous suspension 1 mL of 10 mg ovalbumin (OVA), 200 mg aluminum hydroxide and saline together with 1 mL inactivated pertussis vaccine. From the 15th day, asthma was induced for 30 minutes by ultrasonic atomizing inhalation of 1% OVA for consecutive 14 days in the model group. The acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Fengmen" (BL 12) and "Feishu" (BL 13) for 30 minutes before the ultrasonic atomizing inhalation, once every two days for consecutive 14 days. The same acupoints selection and the course of treatment as the acupuncture group were produced in the sham acupuncture group and they were treated with acupuncture at 1 mm acupoint skin without retaining needles. The normal group remained unhandled. The respiratory function and the airway remodeling were evaluated by airway resistance and pulmonary histopathology, respectively, and the T-type calcium channel protein expression of Ca(v)3.1, Ca(v) 3.2, Ca, 3.3 in airway smooth muscle cell were detected by immunohistochemistry technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The airway resistance in the model group was higher than that in the normal group and in the acupuncture group (both P < 0.05), and the airway resistance in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the sham acupuncture group (P < 0.05). (2) The ratios of the airway wall thickness to the basement membrane perimeter (Awt/Pbm) and the airway outer perimenter to the airway internal perimeter (Po/Pi) in the model group were higher than those in the normal group and in the acupuncture group (all P < 0.05), and the ratios of Awt/Pbm and Po/Pi in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the sham acupuncture group (both P < 0.05). (3) The average optical of Ca(v) 3.1 and Ca(v) 3.2 in airway smooth muscle cell in the model group were higher than that in the normal group and in the acupuncture group (both P < 0.05), and the average optical of Ca(v) 3.3 in airway smooth muscle cell in the model group was higher than that in the normal group (P < 0.05) and it was lower than that in the sham acupuncture group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture can inhibit the airway remodeling and the accrementition of the airway smooth muscle and can reduce the airway resistance. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of T-type calcium channel protein in airway smooth muscle cell, especially in relation to the protein expression of Ca(v) 3.1.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Acupuncture Therapy , Airway Remodeling , Asthma , Genetics , Metabolism , Calcium Channels, T-Type , Genetics , Metabolism , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle , Metabolism , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Respiratory System , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To validate and supplement the libraries of serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) by the application of the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction PCR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The primers were designed based on the full sequences of the genes. Nine single matched tags, 6 multiple matched tags, 1 non-matched tag due to the update of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, and 2 non-matched tags were selected to fulfill the validation of real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genes were all specifically amplified by the primers pairs. The expressions of the single matched tags were identical to those of the SAGE libraries; however, the expressions of only 3 genes of the 6 multi-matched tags were identical to those of the SAGE libraries. The PCR data of the non-matched tag due to the update of the NCBI database were opposite to those of the SAGE libraries. The data did not support the significant difference of the non-matched gene of the SAGE libraries.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Real-time PCR is a reliable tool for the validation of high through-put data such as SAGE. The reliability of data depends on the match of the tags of the SAGE libraries.</p>