Effects of moxibustion at 45 ℃ on blood lipoids and serum level of ox-LDL and NO in rats with hyperlipidemia / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of moxibustion at different temperatures (38 ℃ and 45 ℃) on blood lipoids and serum level of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and nitric oxide (NO) in rats with hyperlipidemia, and to explore the correlation between regulating blood fat and anti-oxidative stress and protection of vascular endothelium of moxibustion at 45 ℃.@*METHODS@#According to random number table, 60 SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion at 38 ℃ group and a moxibustion at 45 ℃ group, 15 rats in each group. The rats in the normal group received no treatment; the rats in the remaining three groups were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare rat models of hyperlipidemia. After successful modeling, the rats in the model group received no treatment; the rats in the moxibustion at 38 ℃ group and moxibustion at 45 ℃ group were treated with moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV 8) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), and the temperature was controlled at (38±1) ℃ and (45±1) ℃, respectively. The moxibustion was given for 10 min at each acupoint, once every two days, and totally 4-week treatment was given. After treatment, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured by using biochemical colorimetric method; the levels of ox-LDL and NO were measured by using ELISA method.@*RESULTS@#① Compared with the normal group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly increased in the model group (all 0.05). ② Compared with the normal group, the level of ox-LDL was increased but that of NO was decreased in the model group (both <0.01); compared with the model group and moxibustion at 38 ℃ group, the level of ox-LDL was decreased but that of NO was increased in the moxibustion at 45 ℃ group (<0.01, <0.05); compared with the model group, the level of ox-LDL was decreased but that of NO was increased in the moxibustion at 38 ℃ group (both <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion at 45 ℃ has regulating effects on blood lipid in rats with hyperlipidemia, which can regulate blood lipid through various ways, such as anti-oxidative stress and protection of vascular endothelium.

Effects and mechanism of miR-214 on hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the role of miR-214 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its inhibitory mechanisms in depressing the signaling pathway of β-catenin, this study was conducted.@*METHODS@#We ectopically expressed miR-214 in HepG2 cells to obtain cell lines Lv-miR-214-HepG2 and their control Lv-control-HepG2. Differences between the two cell lines were compared in cell growth, proliferation, colony forming ability and cell cycles. RT-PCR method was applied for the quantification of β-catenin mRNA expression. Western-blot method was applied for the determination of the protein level of β-catenin and their downstream targets (ie. Cyclin D1, c-Myc and TCF-1). The effect of miR-214 on cells was further explored through RNA interference and restoring miR-214 expression.@*RESULTS@#In comparison with negative (Lv-control-HepG2) and blank (HepG2) control, a significant inhibition of cell growth and proliferation caused by miR-214 was observed after 48∼72h of cell culture experiments (P0.05). By comparing to the RT-PCR and Western-blot results of control, the miR-214 treatment led to a slightly decrease in the β-catenin mRNA expression (P>0.05), but an extremely inhibition in the protein level of β-catenin and its downstream targets Cyclin D1, c-Myc, and TCF-1 (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#miR-214 functions as a suppressor during the progression of HCC, and its inhibitory role was achieved by down-regulating β-catenin signaling pathway.

Effects and mechanism of miR-214 on hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective: To explore the role of miR-214 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its inhibitory mechanisms in depressing the signaling pathway of β-catenin, this study was conducted. Methods: We ectopically expressed miR-214 in HepG2 cells to obtain cell lines Lv-miR-214-HepG2 and their control Lv-control-HepG2. Differences between the two cell lines were compared in cell growth, proliferation, colony forming ability and cell cycles. RT-PCR method was applied for the quantification of β-catenin mRNA expression. Western-blot method was applied for the determination of the protein level of β-catenin and their downstream targets (ie. Cyclin D1, c-Myc and TCF-1). The effect of miR-214 on cells was further explored through RNA interference and restoring miR-214 expression. Results: In comparison with negative (Lv-control-HepG2) and blank (HepG2) control, a significant inhibition of cell growth and proliferation caused by miR-214 was observed after 48~72h of cell culture experiments (P0/G1 phase [(70.32±3.12)%] but a lower proportion in S phase [(18.42±2.90)%] (P0.05). By comparing to the RT-PCR and Western-blot results of control, the miR-214 treatment led to a slightly decrease in the β-catenin mRNA expression (P>0.05), but an extremely inhibition in the protein level of β-catenin and its downstream targets Cyclin D1, c-Myc, and TCF-1 (P<0.05). Conclusions: miR-214 functions as a suppressor during the progression of HCC, and its inhibitory role was achieved by down-regulating β-catenin signaling pathway.

Study on signal transmission characteristics of meridian based on electrical network theory and experiments / 中国针灸

Study on features of acupoints with resistance test in the past half century is reviewed in this article. Mechanism and technology of the method are introduced as well as its shortcomings. The determination method of signal transmission along meridians with the combination of electrical network theories and practice is advanced. And the result of a series experiments on one meridian at the superficial part of the body are given as well. Thus, it is concluded that the signals of the point-in/point-out and the signals along a non-meridian path with the same distance are significantly different, which gives a verification of the feasibility of the method by using electrical network theories to set out characteristics of signal transmission along meridians dynamically.

Experimental study on anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of electroacupuncture combined with medium frequency therapy in model rats with lumbar nerve root compression / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects and mechanism of electroacupuncture combined with medium frequency therapy on lumbar nerve root compression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group, an electroacupuncture group (EA group), a medium frequency group(MF group) and an electroacupuncture combined with medium frequency group (EA + MF group), twelve rats in each group. Models were established by surgery except the normal group and the sham operation group. Rats in the normal group, the sham operation group and the model group were not treated. In the EA group, the rats were treated by electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) and "Huantiao" (GB 30) etc., and by medium frequency at the "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) and "Huantiao"(GB 30) in the MF group. Rats in the EA + MF group were treated by both electroacupuncture and medium frequency. All treatments were started on the fifth day of established model, once a day for fourteen days. Rats' lower limb functions were observed before and after treatment, thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2) and prostacyclin F1alpha (PGF1alpha) in blood plasma were tested after treatment, and pathological changes in the local compressed nerve root were observed by light microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the scores of rats' lower limb neurologic function in three therapy groups were significantly lower than before (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, TXB 2 in the EA group and the EA + MF group after treatment were decreased significantly (both P < 0.01), and PGF1alpha in the EA + MF group was increased significantly (P < 0.01), and TXB 2/PGF1alpha level were all regulated favorably in three therapy groups (all P < 0.01), and the pathological scores in the EA group and the EA + MF group were improved significantly (both P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>n Electroacupuncture combined with medium frequency has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in model rats with lumbar nerve root compression, and its mechanism may be related with the regulation of homeostasis M between TXB 2 and PGF1alpha so as to improve microcirculation.</p>

Correlation between predominant pI genotypes,G120/A121 mutations and drug resistance / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To analyze the predominant genotypes of outer membrane porin I (PI)and to determine the correlation between G120 as well as A121 mutations in PI proteins and drug resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in the local area.Methods A double PCR to simultaneously detect both pIA and pIB genes,was established in this study.The target amplification products were T-A cloned and then sequenced to determine the mutations at G120,A121 and the specificity of double PCR.By using acidity slip method and double agar dilution method,the β-lactamase production and resistance to six antibiotics of pIA~+ and pIB~+ gonoeoeeal isolates were detected.Results Double PCR could be used to accurately genotyping pI genes in all the tested gonococcal isolates with the sensitivity of 1 ng DNA template.In the 116 N.gonorrhoeae isolates,30.2%(35/116) were pIA~+ strains and 69.8%(81/136) were pIB~+ strains.All the pIA~+ strains presented G120D/A121G double mutations (88.6%) or A121G single mutation (11.4%).98.8% of the pIB +strains presented G120K/A121D (65.0%),G120K/A121G or G120N/A121D ( 13.8% ) double mutations,and G120D/N/K single mutation (21.3% ).34.5% (40/116) of the isolates produced β-lactamase,and the enzyme-produced rate (20%) in pIA~+ strains was significantly lower than that in pIB~+ strains (40.7%) with P＜0.05.No spectinomycin-resistant swains were identified but three ceftriaxoneresistant strains were presented.However,the resistance ratios to penicilin,terramycin,ciprofloxacin and azithromycin of all the isolates were as high as 75.0%-90.5%.100% and 71.4% of the pIA~+strains without β-lactamase production and with G120 and/or A121 mutations were sensitive topenicillin and terramycin,respectively.On the contrast,100% of the pIB~+ strains without β-1actamase production and with G120 and/or A121 mutations were resistant to both the two antibiotics.Conclusion The established double PCR method could be used for fast and accurate genotyping of N.gonorrhoeae pI genes.The N.gonorrhoeae strains prevalent in the local areas mainly possessed pIB gene.Both spectinomycin and ceftriaxone could still be chosen to treat gonorrhea.The resistance enhancement caused by G120 and/or A121 mutations to penicillin and tetramycin was only presented in pIB~+ gonococci.