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OBJECTIVE@#The present study investigated how mild moxibustion treatment affects the intestinal microbiome and expression of NLRP3-related immune factors in a rat model of intestinal mucositis (IM) induced with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu).@*METHODS@#Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, chemotherapy, moxibustion and probiotics groups. The IM rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 5-Fu. Mild moxibustion treatment and intragastric probiotic administration were provided once daily for 15 days. Tissue morphology, serum levels of inflammatory factors and the expression levels of tight junction proteins, caspase-1, gasdermin D and NLRP3 were evaluated in colon tissue, through hematoxylin and eosin staining, electron microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. Gut microbiome profiling was conducted through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.@*RESULTS@#Moxibustion and probiotic treatments significantly increased the expression levels of tight junction proteins, reduced cell apoptosis and the expression levels of caspase-1, gasdermin D and NLRP3; they also decreased the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and IL-18, while increasing serum levels of IL-10. Moxibustion and probiotic treatments also corrected the reduction in α-diversity and β-diversity in IM rats, greatly increased the proportion of the dominant bacterial genus Lactobacillus and reduced the abundance of the genera Roseburia and Escherichia in chemotherapy-treated rats to levels observed in healthy animals. We also found that these dominant genera were firmly correlated with the regulation of pyroptosis-associated proteins and inflammatory factors. Finally, moxibustion and probiotic treatments elicited similar effects in regulating intestinal host-microbial homeostasis and the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-related factors.@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion exerts its therapeutic effect on IM by ameliorating mucosal damage and reducing inflammation. Moreover, moxibustion modulates the gut microbiota, likely via decreasing the expression levels of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
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Objective:To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture for persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR).Methods:A total of 154 PAR patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group,78 cases in the treatment group received acupuncture at meridian points,while 76 cases in the control group received acupuncture at non-meridian points.The treatment was done every other day,3 times a week for a total 4 weeks.The total nasal symptom score (TNSS),the total non-nasal symptom score (TNNSS) and the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) were measured before the treatment and after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment,as well as 1 month and 3 months after the treatment to compare the clinical effect between the two groups.Results:After 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate in the treatment group was 92.3％,versus 76.3％ in the control group,showing a statistically significant difference (P＜0.05).Intra-group comparisons of TNSS,TNNSS and RQLQ scores after 4 weeks of treatment showed statistically significant differences (all P＜0.05).Between-group comparisons of TNSS,TNNSS and RQLQ score after 4 weeks of treatment and in follow-up visits showed statistically significant differences (all P＜0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture is effective for PAR,and acupuncture at meridian points can produce a better effect than acupuncture at non-meridian points.
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Breast cancer has the highest incidence rate among all women's malignant tumors worldwide.Surgery,radiotherapy and chemotherapy are three major treatments,while most patients showed adverse effects or complications during or after the treatment,including lymphedema,gastrointestinal reactions and leukopenia,which cause severe impact on patients' recovery and quality of life.Moxibustion has been used and certified to alleviate adverse effects of surgery or chemoradiotherapy for breast cancer.We have summarized literatures in recent years and suggest more systematic research in the future for the underlying mechanism.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of recombinant adenovirus encoding human apM1 gene on proliferation and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Protein expression of apM1 in cell culture supernatant of HUVECs transfected with human Ad-apM1 was detected by double antibody sandwich ELISA. The effect of human adiponectin on cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. The total NOS and iNOS expressions were measured by chromatometre.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Human adiponectin protein level and total NOS and eNOS expressions were significant increased and iNOS expression significantly reduced in culture supernatant of HUVECs infected with Ad-apM1 compared to that in control HUVECs. The recombinant adenovirus had no influence on HUVECs growth as determined by MTT assay.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Human Ad-apM1 can be effectively expressed in HUVECs and do not influence HUVECs growth. Increased total NOS and eNOS expressions and decreased iNOS expression in HUVECs transfected with Ad-apM1 gene suggest a potential role of Ad-apM1 gene transfer for the prevention and treatment of arteriosclerosis.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Adenoviridae , Genetics , Adiponectin , Genetics , Cell Proliferation , Cells, Cultured , Endothelial Cells , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Endothelium, Vascular , Cell Biology , Gene Expression , Gene Transfer Techniques , Nitric Oxide Synthase , Metabolism , Umbilical Veins , Cell BiologyABSTRACT
Objective To construct an eukaryotic expression vector with human adipose most abundant gene transcript 1 (APM1) gene,and to investigate the transfection and expression of pCDEF-APM1 eukaryotic expression plasmid in HEK293 cells.Methods pCDEF-APM1 eukaryotic expression plasmid was constructed by DNA recombinant method.Expression vector pCDEF-APM1 was transfected into HEK293 cells with Effectene reagent.The level of human adiponectin protein in the supernatant of cell culture media was detected with double antibody sandwich ELISA.Results The sequence of DNA fragment from constructed pCDEF-APM1 plasmid was identical to that published in GenBank.There was raised human adiponectin protein level in culture supernatant of HEK293 cells tnmsfected with pCDEF-APM1.Conclusion The pCDEF-APM1,an eukaryotic expression plasmid for APM1 gene is successfully constructed.High protein expression of adiponectin can be obtained in HEK293 cells transfected with pCDEF-APM1 eukaryotic expression plasmid.