Effect of acupuncture on serum PYY and nesfatin-1 in obese patients with insulin resistance / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on serum peptide YY (PYY) and nesfatin-1 in obese patients with insulin resistance. Methods: Ninety-eight obese patients with insulin resistance were divided into a control group and an observation group by the random number table method, with 49 cases in each group. The control group received exercise and dietary interventions, and the observation group received additional acupuncture treatment to the exercise and dietary interventions. The body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, fasting insulin (FINS), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and serum PYY and nesfatin-1 levels were compared before and after treatment. The efficacy was evaluated after treatment. Results: The total effective rate was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the BMI, body fat percentage, and serum TG and TC levels decreased significantly in both groups (P<0.05), and were significantly lower in the observation group than those in the control group (P<0.05). The FINS, FPG, HOMA-IR, and serum PYY and nesfatin-1 levels of the control group were not significantly changed after treatment (P>0.05). The FINS, FPG and HOMA-IR of the observation group decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.05), and were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The serum PYY and nesfatin-1 levels of the observation group increased significantly after treatment (P<0.05), and were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on exercise and dietary interventions, acupuncture is effective for obese patients with insulin resistance. It can reduce the BMI, body fat percentage, blood lipids, blood glucose, and serum insulin levels and improve insulin resistance. The action may be associated with the up-regulation of serum PYY and nesfatin-1.

Effect of electrical stimulation at auricular points combined with sound masking on the expression of CREB, BDNF and TrkB in the auditory cortex of tinnitus rats / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the effect of electrical stimulation at auricular points (EAS) combined with sound masking on the expression of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) in the auditory cortex of tinnitus rats.@*METHODS@#A total of 27 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EAS group. The rats in the model group and the EAS group were intervened with intraperitoneal injection of sodium salicylate to induce tinnitus model, while the rats in the control group were intervened with injection of 0.9% NaCl solution. After the model was successfully established, the rats in the EAS group were treated with electrical stimulation at "Shenmen" (TF) and "Yidan" (CO), combined with sound masking; the treatment was given once a day for 15 days. The gap prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle (GPIAS) and prepulse inhibition (PPI) testing were performed using the acoustic startle reflex starter package for rats. The expression of BDNF, TrkB, CREB and p-CREB in the auditory cortex of each group were measured with Western Blot analysis.@*RESULTS@#① Compared with the control group, the GPIAS values in 12 kHz, 16 kHz, 20 kHz and 28 kHz were significantly decreased in the model group (all 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#EAS could improve the GPIAS values of high-frequency background sound in tinnitus rats, which may be related with the upregulation of the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway in the auditory cortex, leading to the reversion of the maladaptive plasticity.

Adaption and Optimization of Universal Hairpin Transduction in Gene Diagnostics Based on Nucleic Acid Circuits / 分析化学

Isothermal nucleic acid amplifications, as powerful as polymerase chain reaction but functioning at a constant temperature, are considered to be very promising technique in achieving point-of-care gene diagnostics. However, until now, their practical applications are still seriously lagged by the bad reliability resulting from the problems such as false positive amplification and low signal amplitude. In this work, a universal transduction method in which any sequence ( including loop-mediated isothermal amplification products) could be transduced via a hairpin transducer into a catalyst of a well-engineered circuit (catalytic hairpin assembly, CHA) was established. Because CHA circuit could amplify tens to hundreds fold with especially high sequence specificity, it could provide both accuracy and high amplitude for sequence detection. And for a new targeting sequence, the only sequence needed to be changed was the hairpin transducer. Due to the importance of the transducer, we provided and verified a universal designing rule-set to guarantee the transducing efficiency ( signal to background ratio) of the transducer. Transducers designed following this rule set were then proved to be very efficient in detecting pathogen gene targets. As less as near single molecule ( 20 copies ) of pathogen genes could be detected with significant fluorescent and electrochemical signals.

Efficacy comparison of different points combination in the treatment of menopausal insomnia: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy of different points combination in the treatment of menopausal insomnia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-six cases of menopausal insomnia were randomized into 3 groups, Xinshu (BL 15), Shenshu (BL 23), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenmen (HT 7), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were chosen in the restore interaction between the heart and the kidney group (group A, 32 cases); Zhaohai (KI 6), Jiaoxin (KI 8), Shenmai (BL 62), Pucan (BL 61) were chosen in the acupuncturing qiao mai group (group B, 32 cases); auricular Shenmen (TF4) and sensitive spot at the distribution area of auricular vagus nervus were chosen in the ear acupuncture group (group C, 32 cases). Six days made one session and the treatments were finished after 4 courses. The polysomnography (PSG) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were employed before and after treatment to evaluate the alleviation of insomnia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The parameters of the sleep latency (SL), rapid wave sleep latency (RL) and sleep efficiency (SE) were significantly improved in the three groups, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The SL and awaking time (AT) in group C [SL (401.08 +/- 16.54) min and AT (4.87 +/- 2.64) times] were significantly superior to those in the other two groups [SL (50.36 +/- 18.47) min, (54.87 +/- 20.92) min, AT (5.98 +/- 2.11) times, (6.13 +/- 3.04) times, all P < 0.05]. The S(3+4) (%) in group C was also significantly higher than those in the other two groups (both P < 0.05). It was indicated by PSQI that the sleep quality of group C (0.78 +/- 0.12) was significantly superior to that in group B (1.32 +/- 0.29), the total score and cured and markedly effective rate in group C [(4.34 +/- 1.43), 68.8% (22/32)] were superior to those in group A [(7.48 +/- 3.09), 53.1% (17/32), both P < 0.05].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ear acupuncture has a better curative effect than the restore interaction between the heart and the kidney group and acupuncturing qiao mai group, it is worth of being promoted.</p>

Impacts on repeated common cold for the adults with different constitutions treated by acupoint application in the dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impacts on repeated common cold for the adults with different constitutions treated by acupoint application in the dog days (the three periods of the hottest days) and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice (the three periods of the coldest days).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty-two cases of repeated common cold were divided into four zones according to the body constitution. Each zone was sub-divided into a group of the dog days + the three nine-day periods of the coldest days (group A), and a simple group of the dog periods (group B). In both groups, Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Tiantu (CV 22), Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongfu (LU 1) and Shenshu (BL 23) were selected. In group A, the acupoint application was given on the 1st or 2nd day of the first, second and third periods of the hottest days in 2010, as well as the 1st or 2nd day of the first, second and third periods of the coldest days in 2010 separately. In group B, the acupoint application was only given on the 1st or 2nd day of the first, second and third periods of the hottest days in 2010. The follow-up visit was conducted before the acupoint application in the three periods of the coldest days in 2010 and before the acupoint application in the three periods of the hottest days in 2011. Additionally, the frequency of disease attack and the symptom score in sickness were taken as the observation indices for the efficacy assessment in both groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) In both groups, the attack frequency was reduced obviously in half a year after the three periods of the hottest days for the patients of qi deficiency constitution, yang deficiency constitution and qi stagnation constitution and the clinical symptom score were reduced apparently (all P<0.01), which were superior to those for the patients of phlegm damp constitution (P<0.01, P<0.05). For the patients of phlegm damp constitution, only the clinical symptom score was reduced (P<0.01). (2) In group A, the improvements were received in the attack frequency and the clinical symptom score in half a year after the three periods of the coldest days for the patients of those four constitutions as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01). In group B, the attack frequency and the clinical symptom score were all back to the level as those before treatment. (3) In group A, in half a year after the three periods of the coldest days, the efficacy for reducing the attack frequency and the improvements in the clinical symptoms were better than those in group B (all P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acupoint application in the dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice reduces the attack frequency and relieves the clinical symptoms of common cold for the adults of individual constitutions to different extents. The efficacy can be further improved in the treatment with the acupoint application in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice half a year after the acupoint application in the dog days.</p>

Treatment of peripheral facial paralysis with acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) mainly cooperated with stellate ganglion block: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the better therapy for peripheral facial paralysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty patients were randomized into three groups: a common acupuncture group: acupuncture at Yangbai (GB 14), Sibai (ST 2) and Yingxiang (LI 20) as main acupoints, a ST 9 group: acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) as main and a ST 9 plus SGB group: acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) as main cooperated with stellate ganglion block (SGB). Once daily, 7 treatments made one session. After three sessions of treatment, the latency period and amplitude of evoked potential in ENoG, R1 value and R2 value of blink reflex were compared before and after the treatment in different groups separately. The total therapeutic effect was evaluated after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the treatments shortened the latency period of ENoG, and elevated the amplitude evoked potential significantly. After treatment, the latency period in ST 9 plus SGB group was reduced significantly as compared with common acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The amplitude of evoked potential in ST 9 group was increased significantly as compared with the other two groups (both P < 0.05). After treatment, in each group, R1 and R2 values were shortened significantly. The difference values of R1 and R2 in ST 9 group and ST 9 plus SGB group were all significantly higher as compared with common acupuncture group (both P < 0.05). Additionally, the difference value of R1 in ST 9 plus SGB group was higher significantly than that in ST 9 group (P < 0.05). The clinical cured and remarkably effective rate was 87.5% (35/40) in ST9 plus SGB group, which was higher than 77.5% (31/40) in ST 9 group, and 65.0% (26/40) in common acupuncture group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As compared with common acupuncture group, ST 9 group and ST 9 plus SGB group achieve the much superior efficacy on peripheral facial paralysis. The treatment with ST 9 acupuncture and SGB can better repair the early reflex induced by the injury of facial nerve.</p>

Observation of the therapeutic effect on COPD of cold phlegm blocking the lung type at stable stage treated with acupoint sticking therapy in different season / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To systematically observe the clinical effect on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the stable stage, differentiated as cold phlegm blocking the lung type, treated with acupoint sticking therapy during the dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice so as to propose the latest clinical idea and theoretic evidence for the treatment of COPD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty cases of COPD at stable stage, which were in accordance with the inclusive standard were randomly divided into three groups, named group A (treatment in dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice), group B (treatment in dog days) and group C (treatment in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice), 50 cases in each group. The ingredients (Semen Brassicae, Euphoribia Kansui, Asarum, Rhizome Corydalis, Cinnamon, ginger juice) and doses of herbal medicine plaster were same in each group. The herbal plaster was applied to Feishu (BL 13), Shenshu (BL 23), Dazhui (GV 14), Tiantu (CV 22), Danzhong (CV 17) and Zhongfu (LU 1). In group B, the treatment was given once on the 1st day of each dog-day period, totally 3 treatments were included. In group C, the treatment was given once on the 1st day of each nine-day periods after the winter solstice, totally, 3 treatments were involved. In group A, the treatment was given once on the 1st day of each dog-day period and each nine-day periods after the winter solstice separately, totally 6 treatments were required. The therapeutic effect was evaluated in 4 aspects, named comprehensive clinical efficacy, survival quality (the scores for symptoms, activity limitation and influence on daily life), the attach frequency and pulmonary function.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 88.0% (46/50) in group A, which was superior to 76.0% (38/50) in group B and 70.0% (35/50) in group C separately (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). The results of the attack frequency, clinical symptom score and pulmonary function indices after treatment were all improved apparently as compared with those before treatment in each group (all P < 0.01). All the above indices in group A were improved much apparently as compared with the other two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). Except for the level of forced vital capacity (FVC), the results of clinical symptom score and the other pulmonary function indices in group B were all improved significantly as compared with group C (P < 0.05, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupoint sticking therapy during different season of the year achieves a superior clinical efficacy for the patients with COPD at stable stage. This therapy can reduce the attack frequency and improve the survival quality and pulmonary function for the patients. It is concluded that the efficacy of the treatment in dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice is superior to simple dog-day treatment and the treatment in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice, and the efficacy of dog days treatment is better than that in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice.</p>

Protective effects of curcumin on vascular endothelial injuries induced by radiation / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of curcumin on vascular endothelial injuries induced by radiation and the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were isolated, cultured and divided into the control group and 4 groups exposed to 3-ray at the doses of 2, 4, 6 and 8 Gy. Cellular morphological and ultrastructural changes were examined under light microscopy and electron microscopy respectively. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cellular apoptosis, necrosis and intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS) generation. The contents of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the cultures were measured before and after irradiation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of cellular morphological and ultrastructural ex-aminations shown that the typical apoptotic changes appeared after irradiation. The rates of apoptosis and necrosis in groups pretreated with curcumin were significantly lower than those in other groups (P<0.05). LDH and MDA in the irradiation groups were significantly higher than those in curcumin pretreatment groups (P<0.05). The ROS generation in radiation groups significantly increased with the radiation doses, as compared with the groups pre-treated with curcumin (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Irradiation induced the apoptosis and necrosis of HUVEC, and increased significantly the intracellular LDH and MDA levels in a dose-dependent. Curcumin had the protective effects on HUVEC from the apoptosis and necrosis induced by radiation.</p>

Ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy for differential diagnosis of cervical mass / 中国介入影像与治疗学

Objective To assess the clinical application value of ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cervical tumors.Methods Seventy-two patients with cervical tumors underwent ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy;and the obtained samples were examined histopathologically.Results The successful rate of aspiration biopsy was 98.15%,and the accurate rate of histopathological diagnosis was 97.22%.No complications occurred.Conclusion Being a minimally invasive,rapid,safe and simple method in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cervical tumor,ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy has important clinical value and can be used as the first choice of qualitative diagnosis of cervical tumor.

Isolation of Subtype Spermatogonia in Juvenile Rats / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The present study was aimed at finding an effective method to isolate and purify the subtype of type A spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in juvenile rats. Testes from 9-days-old rats were used to isolate germ cells by using two-step enzymatic digestion. The expression of c-kit in the testes of the rats was immunohistochemically detected. After isolation, cell suspension was enriched further by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation. Then type A1-A4 spermatogonia was isolated from the purified spermatogonia with c-kit as the marker by using fluorescence-activated cell sorting(FACS). Electron microscopy was used to observe their ultrastructure. Finally, highly purified and viable subtype of SSCs was obtained. Cells separation with discontinuous density gradient centrifugation significantly increased the concentration of c-kit positive cells [(18.65±1.69)% after the centrifugation versus (3.16±0.84)% before the centrifugation, P＜0.01]. Furthermore, the recovery and viability were also high [(65.9±1.24)% and (85.6±1.14)%]. It is concluded that FACS with c-kit as the marker in combination with discontinuous density gradient centrifugation can well enrich type A1-A4spermatogonia from the testes of 9-days-old rats.

Clinical observation on moxibustion and acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) for treatment of refractory facial paralysis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe clinical therapeutic effect of moxibustion and acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) on refractory facial paralysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases were randomly divided into a test group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The control group were treated with acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Touwei (ST 8), etc. , and the test group with acupuncture at the same points as those in the control group plus moxibustion and acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) with a warm-heat sense transmitting into the depth of the point along the needle body for the patient.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate of 93.3% in the test group was significantly better than 76.7 in the control group (P < 0.05); in the test group, the total effective rate for the patients with needling sensation propagating along the channel was 100%, which was significantly superior to 80.00% in the patients with no needling sensation propagating along the channel (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion and acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) activating sensation propagating along channel as main way has a better therapeutic effect on refractory facial paralysis.</p>

Alteration of signal transduction-associated gene expression in rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by blocking angiotensin II receptors / 生理学报

To investigate the molecular mechanism of angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor activation in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts, the expressions of cell signal transduction-associated genes were studied by using cDNA microarray. Cardiac fibroblasts of adult Sprague-Dawley rats (230~250 g) were isolated and cultured. The cells were divided into 4 groups: Ang II, Ang II + losartan, Ang II + PD123319, Ang II + losartan + PD123319. The expressions of Ang II receptors were studied by immunohistochemical staining. Total RNA was extracted and purified. After cDNA synthesis and biotin-16-dUTP labeling, the probes were denatured and hybridized with GEArray Q Series mouse G Protein-coupled Receptors Signaling Pathway Finder Gene Array (MM-025) containing 96 genes associated with 11 pathways. The arrays were scanned with a Uniscand1000 scanner and further analyzed with GEArray Analyzer software. RT-PCR was used to further confirm the results of gene microarray. The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of Ang II type 2 (AT2) receptor was evidently induced by Ang II stimulation when Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor was blocked. The results of gene array indicated that blocking AT1 receptor changed 34 genes (more than 2 folds), 30 were down-regulated and 4 were up-regulated. The maximum change was not beyond 20 folds. The following 9 pathways were activated: cAMP/PKA, Ca2+, PKC, PLC, MAPK, PI-3 kinase, NO-cGMP, Rho, NF-kappaB pathways. Blockade of AT2 receptor caused 64 genes changing more than 2 folds (48 were down-regulated and 16 were up-regulated). Eleven pathways were basically activated. The change of the following 7 genes was over 30 folds: Cyp19a1 (37 folds), Il1r2 (42 folds), Cflar (53 folds), Bcl21 (31 folds), Pik3cg (278 folds), Cdkn1a (90 folds), Agt (162 folds). According to the activated extent, the signal transduction pathways in turn were PI-3 kinase, NF-kappaB and JAK-STAT pathways. Blocking both AT1 and AT2 receptors changed 46 genes more than 2 folds (36 were down-regulated and 10 were up-regulated). Eleven pathways were basically activated. The results of RT-PCR of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha confirmed the observations in gene microarray. Our results show that Ang II can induce a high expression of AT2 receptor in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts when AT1 receptor is blocked, and the signal mechanism of AT2 receptor is clearly different from that of AT1 receptor.

Identification of up-regulated genes induced by angiotensin II in cardiac fibroblasts / 生理学报

To identify up-regulated genes in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts (CF) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II), suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was performed between the CF stimulated by Ang II (tester) and unstimulated CF (driver) to generate subtractive cDNA library. The library was screened with dot blots hybridization to further verify the differentially expressed cDNA clones. Partial positive clones (19 up-regulated genes) were sequenced and BLAST analyzed. Twelve up-regulated genes related to extracellular matrix, cell cycle, intracellular signal transduction, cell cytoskeleton, cell metabolism and 7 new expressed sequence tags (EST) were acquired (GenBank accession number: CN382808, CN382809, CN382810, CN382811, CN382812, CN382813, CN382814). Our data reveal that SSH is a powerful technique of high sensitivity for the detection and cloning of up-regulated genes expressed in CF induced by Ang II, which may be helpful to clarify the mechanism of cardiac remodeling.

Changes of extracellular matrix of congenital clubfoot / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Previously, more researches are about the pathological changesinskeleton, nerveandmuscularofcongenitalclubfoot(CCF). Researches are exploring the changes in the surrounding soft tissues of the deformed feet.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between the pathogeny,pathology and pathogenesis of CCF and extracellular matrix (ECM).DESIGN: A completely randomized controlled trial.SETTING: Institute of Orthopeadics of the Fourth Military Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted in the Institute of Orthopeadics of the Fourth Military Medical University from November 1997 to August 2003. The deep fascia of study group was obtained from 15 CCF patients who received operative corrections including 11 males and 4 females with an average of 9 months. Five infant corpses who died from non-neural muscular diseases and non-collagen diseases aged between 4 and 21 months with an average age of 11 months were selected in the control group.METHODS: Immunohistochemical investigation was used for the assay of both study and control group. Slices were quantitatively analyzed by Letica Q,570c color image analysis and management system.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Positive expressions of collagen Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ, and the relative contents in the deep fascia of both groups.RESULTS: The grey values for relative contents of collagen Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ in the interior foot were 116. 43 ± 11. 80, 132. 91 ± 8. 88, and 184. 40 ± 11.82respectively in the study group, and 169.28 ± 8.17, 176. 33 ± 9.47, and 194. 38 ±5.87 in the control group. The contents of collagen Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲincreased in the contractured tissues of CCF group with the most significant increase in collagen Ⅰ, followed by collagen Ⅲ and the increase of collagen Ⅱwas least. Additionally, collagen Ⅰ was negatively correlated with collagen Ⅲ. The positive expression of collagen Ⅱ might be an accompanying phenomenon, which had no correlation with collagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ.CONCLUSION: ECM changes in CCF are accorded with fibrosis in tissues and organs and general fibroelastosis. Therefore, CCF might be caused by the fibrosis of interior foot.