Clinical effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three meridians of wrist on wrist joint contracture after stroke / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three meridians of wrist combined with rehabilitation training and simple rehabilitation training on wrist joint contracture after stroke.@*METHODS@#A total of 72 patients with wrist joint contracture after stroke were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 36 cases in each one. In the control group, simple rehabilitation training was applied, 5 times a week, 3 weeks as one course and totally 3 courses were required. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, plum-blossom needle tapping at three meridians of wrist was adopted in the observation group. The tapping regions were wrist traveling parts of three meridians of hand, ranging from up 3 to below 1 of wrist crease, 3 times a week, 3 weeks as one course and totally 3 courses were required. The active range of motion (AROM) of active wrist extension, Fugl-Meyer score (FMA) and Barthel index (BI) score were observed before and after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#The AROM, FMA scores and BI scores after treatment in the two groups were superior to before treatment (<0.05), and the improvements of 3 indexes in the observation group were superior to the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three meridians of wrist combined with rehabilitation training is superior to simple rehabilitation training on wrist joint contracture after stroke.

Effect of EGCG on oxidative stress and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in neurons exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion / 中南大学学报(医学版)

To explore the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on oxidative stress and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in neurons subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R).
 Methods: Primary cultured cerebral cortical neurons were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats, and the OGD/R cell model was established. After pretreatment with EGCG at different concentrations (12.5, 25.0, 50.0 or 100.0 μmol/L), the neurons were subjected to OGD/R. The cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were assessed after reperfusion. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were measured. The expression of Nrf2 protein in nucleus, HO-1 mRNA and protein were detected.
 Results: OGD/R treatment reduced the cell viability, elevated ROS level and MDA content, decreased SOD and GSH-Px activities. The expression of Nrf2 protein in nucleus, HO-1 mRNA and protein were increased (P<0.01). Pretreatment with EGCG promoted the survival of neurons exposed to OGD/R, decreased ROS level and MDA content while increased SOD and GSH-Px activities. The levels of Nrf2 protein in nucleus, HO-1 mRNA and protein were upregulated (P<0.01).
 Conclusion: EGCG can reduce the oxidative stress of neurons subjected to OGD/R, which may be related to activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway and enhancement of the antioxidant ability of neurons.

Epigallocatechin gallate inhibits corneal neovascularization in ratalkaline burn model

To evaluate the effectiveness of epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG] in inhibiting corneal neovascularization in rat alkaline burn model. Corneal neovascularization model was induced by sodium hydroxide alkaline burn injury in SD rats. Rats were randomly divided into two groups and were given intraperitoneal injection with EGCG or PBS per day for up to 14 days respectively. Corneal inflammation and neovascularization area were assessed on days3, 7, and 14 after cauterization with digital photographs. Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and pigment epithelium derived factor [PEDF] mRNA levels were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction [qRT-PCR]. The nucleartransfactor-kb [NF-?B] subunit P65 protein was assayed by immunohistochemistry. The differences of corneal inflammation scores between two groups were significant. The area of CNV between two groups had no significant difference on day3 but have significant difference on days 7 and 14.The PDEF mRNA expression in EGCG group was significantly higher and the expression of VEGF mRNA was lower than those in PBS group. The results of immunohistochemistry showed from day 7, expression of NF-kB P65protein was suppressed considerably in EGCG group. This study demonstrates that EGCG inhibits corneal neovascularization in a rat model induced by alkali burn

Substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, gastrin, 5-hydroxytryptamine and gastrointestinal function / 国际儿科学杂志

Substance P,vasoactive intestinal peptide and gastrin belong to the gastrointestinal hormone;5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) is a neurotransmitter.Substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide are widely present in the intestinal mucosa and play an important role in the intestinal motility and secretion.As the first gastro intestinal hormone whose molecular structure has been clarified,gastrin can promote gastrointestinal motility,for sports complex displacement damage caused by spontaneous and motilin,make the gastrointestinal movement in to postprandial fasting like movement.5-HT belongs to vasoactive amines,regulates the permeability of the blood vessel wall through 5-HT receptors.In this review,the origin,distribution and progress in gastrointestinal function of vasoactive intestinal peptide,gastrin and 5-hydroxytryptamine will be summarized.

Influence of hepatocyte growth factor on iNOS, NO and IL-1β in the cerebrum during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NO and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the cerebrum of rats subjected to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).@*METHODS@#Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: a sham group, an I/R group,an HGF1 group, an HGF2 group, and an HGF3 group. The latter 3 groups were respectively injected 15, 30 and 60 μg/kg HGF. The focal cerebral I/R model was established by sutureoccluded method. After 1.5 h ischemia followed by 24 h reperfusion, the iNOS activity and NO content in the ischemic cerebral tissue were assessed. The expression of iNOS mRNA and IL-1β mRNA was detected. The level of iNOS protein and IL-1β content were determined. In addition, cultured cerebral cortical neurons in vitro were exposed to I/R. Then the expression of iNOS and IL-1β protein in the neurons was detected, and NO content was assessed.@*RESULTS@#The iNOS activity and NO content in the ischemic cerebral tissue were increased. The expression of iNOS mRNA and IL-1β mRNA was upregulated. The level of iNOS protein and IL- 1β content were increased. Administration of HGF decreased the iNOS activity and NO content, and downregulated the expression of iNOS mRNA, IL-1β mRNA, iNOS protein and IL-1β content in the ischemic cerebral tissue. HGF decreased the expression of IL-1β, iNOS protein and NO content in the cortical neurons exposed to I/R in vitro.@*CONCLUSION@#HGF can inhibit the expression of IL-1β and decrease the expression of iNOS and content of NO, which is probably one of the mechanisms mediating the protection of HGF against cerebral ischemia injury.

Intragastric rupture of splenic artery aneurysms: three case reports and literature review

Rupture of splenic artery aneurysm remains an uncommon cause of hypovolemic shock although it is the third most common intra-abdominal aneurysms. It is difficult to diagnosis timely and entails a significant morbidity and mortality. We present three uncommon cases of bleeding from upper gastrointestinal tract as a result of rupture of splenic artery aneurysm to stomach in patients with liver cirrhosis or infectious endocarditis. We also reviewed the literature and these case reports highlighted that rapid resuscitation, diagnostic imaging, surgical consultation, and alternatively transarterial embolization were the priorities in the management. Early diagnosis and intervention for ruptured splenic artery aneurysm are crucial for patient's survival; therefore, it must be kept in mind as feasible etiology of life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding, especially in patients with underlying liver cirrhosis or infective endocarditis