Effect of wheat-grain moxibustion on the expression of Beclin-1/GRP78 in spinal dorsal horn in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on the expressions of Beclin-1 and GRP78 in spinal dorsal horn in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), and to explore the possible analgesic mechanism of wheat-grain moxibustion for CSR.@*METHODS@#A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a wheat-grain moxibustion group and a wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, 12 rats in each group. The CSR model was prepared by spinal cord insertion method. Three days after modeling, the rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion group were treated with wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time) on the basis of the model group; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group were intraperitoneally injected with 3-MA solution and wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time). The three groups were intervened for 7 days, once a day. The gait score and mechanical pain threshold were observed before treatment and 7 days into treatment; after the treatment, the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 in spinal dorsal horn were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry; the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was detected by Western blot method; the autophagosomes and ultrastructure in spinal dorsal horn neurons were observed by electron microscope.@*RESULTS@#After the treatment, compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the gait score was increased and the mechanical pain threshold was decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group and the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, in the wheat-grain moxibustion group, the gait score was decreased and mechanical pain threshold was increased (P<0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was decreased, and the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 were increased (P<0.01). Under electron microscope, the ultrastructure of spinal dorsal horn neurons in the wheat-grain moxibustion group was not significantly damaged, and its structure was basically close to normal, and the number of autophagosomes was more than the other three groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) has analgesic effect on CSR rats. The mechanism may be related to moderately up-regulate the expression of Beclin-1, enhance autophagy and reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Observation on clinical effect of acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion for mild to moderate postpartum depression / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion and oral sertraline hydrochloride dispersible tablets in the treatment of mild to moderate postpartum depression.@*METHODS@#Sixty patients with mild to moderate postpartum depression were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with psychotherapy. The control group was treated with oral sertraline hydrochloride dispersible tablets, 50 mg each time, once a day; the observation group was treated with acupuncture at Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuehai (SP 10), Hegu (LI 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), etc. combined with wheat-grain moxibustion at Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23), once every other day, 3 times a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks as a course, with 2 consecutive courses of treatment. Before and after treatment and follow-up of 3 months after the end of treatment, the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) and World Health Organization quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) score of the two groups were compared, and the clinical effect was assessed.@*RESULTS@#After treatment and during follow-up, the HAMD and EPDS scores of the two groups were lower than before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion can improve the depressive symptoms of patients with mild to moderate postpartum depression and improve their quality of life, and the clinical effect is more lasting and stable than oral sertraline hydrochloride dispersible tablets.

Spatial clustering analysis of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Heze City of Shandong Province / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To investigate the spatial distribution and clustering areas of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Heze City,Shandong Province,and to provide epidemiological information for further exploring the etiology and related risk factors of the disease.Methods Detailed residential addresses of 342 cases of patients (residents of Heze City) with diaphragm type Budd-Chiari syndrome diagnosed between 1995 and 2004 in Heze Municipal Hospital,Heze Shan County Central Hospital,Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College,Shandong Provincial Hospital and Beijing Xuanwu Hospital were collected.Geographic information system (GIS) was used as a platform for data management and display.The nearest neighbor index,Ripley's K(d) function,Ripley's L(d) function and the nearest neighbor clustering method were applied to detect the spatial characters of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Heze City,Shandong Province.Crimestat 3.0 was used for spatial analysis.Results The nearest neighbor distance analysis showed that the nearest neighbor index was 0.6767 (Z =-11.4387,P ＜ 0.01).That was an aggregation at the first-order spatial scale.Within the study area,the first clustering radius of Budd-Chiari syndrome was 6.66 km,and the first clustering strength was 5.40; the average radius of the strongest clustering area was 126.61 km,and the clustering strength was 12.52,while the biggest clustering radius was larger than 222 km.After corrected by population,the gathering strength was slightly higher than that before the correction.Ten first-order hot spots were formed,and 95％ confidence interval aggregation number was 7,which meant the results were statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05),main clustering areas are in Mudan District,Shan County and Juancheng.One secondorder hot spot was gathered based on the first-order hot spot.Conclusions Spatial distribution of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Heze City,Shandong Province has showed spatial aggregation and heterogeneity.This study has a great epidemiological significance for further exploring the cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cell injury induced by fluoride in vitro / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To study the effect of different concentrations of fluoride on cultured human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells(HUVEC). Methods Different doses of sodium fluoride (NaF) were added to HUVEC culture medium, fluoride concentrations were 0(control), 100,400,700,1000,2000 μmol/L, respectively,6 re-set hole in each group. After continuous culture for 48 h, cells and culture medium were collected. Cell morphology was studied by Wright-Giemsa staining; cells apoptosis was determined by acridine orange fluorescence staining; cell activity was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay; superoxide dismutase (SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) activity, malonaldehyde(MDA) content, induced nitricoxide synthase(iNOS), and endothelia nitricoxide synthase(eNOS) activity in cell culture medium were determined by spectrophotometry; cell iNOS mRNA and eNOS mRNA expression were detected by RT-PCR; intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels were detected by double antibody sandwich ELISA method.Results With increased dose of fluoride, HUVEC cells decreased, the structure changed. In 400 - 2000 μmol/L group, the SOD activity[(6.627 ± 0.213), (6.668 ± 0.152), (5.935 ± 0.122), (4.755 ± 0.182)kU/L] was lower than those of the control group[(7.457 ± 0.398)kU/L, P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01], GSH-Px activity[(481.284 ± 43.785),(492.223 ± 16.474), (382.762 ± 25.167), (293.687 ± 24.881 )kU/L] was also lower than those of the control group [(585.078 ± 47.323)kU/L, P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01], MDA level[(0.609 ± 0.011 ), (0.646 ± 0.016), (0.852 ± 0.013),(1.188 ± 0.045)nmol/L] was higher than those of the control group[(0.512 ± 0.027)nmol/L, P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01];iNOS activity[(3.604 ± 0.115), (3.615 ± 0.075), (3.848 ± 0.103), (4.275 ± 0.079)kU/L] also was higher than those of the control group[(2.798 ± 0. 136)kU/L, all P ＜ 0.01], iNOS mRNA expression increased, eNOS activity [(5.539 ± 0.079), (5.503 ± 0.064), (5.226 ± 0.142), (4.809 ± 0. 107)kU/L] decreased compared to those of control group[(5.996 ± 0.155)kU/L, P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01], eNOS mRNA expression decreased; ICAM-1 levels [(0.852 ± 0. 102), (0.886 ± 0.061 ), (0.961 ± 0.158), (1.418 ± 0. 167)μg/L] increased compared to those of the control group[(0.687 ± 0.046)μg/L, P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01], VCAM-1 levels[(2.719 ± 0.197), (2.946 ± 0.167),(3.173 ± 0.225 ), (3.613 ± 0. 153 ) μg/L] was higher than those of the control group [(2.375 ± 0.067 ) μg/L, all P ＜0.01]. Conclusions High concentrations of fluoride reduce the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which leads to metabolic disorders of nitric oxide and abnormal cytokines expression, thereby inhibiting vascular endothelial cell growth, structural change and induced apoptosis. This is an important factor in high fluoride-induced vascular endothelial injury.

Pathological morphology of vascular endothelial injury and arteriosclerosis caused by high fluoride and the effects of selenium / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To study morphological changes of rabbit artery endothelial cell injury and atherosclerosis caused by high fluoride and the role of selenium. Methods Twenty healthy male New Zealand white rabbits, body weight (2.0 ± 0.5)kg, were randomly divided into control group(drinking deionized water, fed basic diet), fluoride group(drinking fluoride 100 mg/L deionized water, fed basic diet), selenium group(drinking selenium 1 mg/L deionized water, fed basic diet), fluoride plus selenium group(drinking fluoride 100 mg/L deionized water, selenium 1 mg/L of deionized water, fed basic diet). The experimental period was 6 months. At 0, 3, 6 months of the experiment, serum fluorine and selenium levels were determined. At the end of the experiment,thoracic aorta was collected to observe its pathology and ultrastructural changes. Results Serum fluoride was significantly higher at the 3rd and the 6th month of experiment(all P ＜ 0.01 ) in fluoride group[ (0.589 ± 0.146),(0.772 ± 0.175)mg/L] and fluoride plus selenium group[ (0.502 ± 0.094), (0.693 ± 0.158)mg/L] than in control group[ (0.174 ± 0.002), (0.208 ± 0.031 )mg/L] and serum fluoride was significantly higher at 6 months than at 3 months(P ＜ 0.05 ) in fluoride group. Serum selenium was significantly higher at the 3rd and the 6th month of experiment (all P ＜ 0.01 ) in selenium group[ (0.252 ± 0.022), (0.319 ± 0.052)mg/L] and fluoride plus selenium group[ (0.239 ±0.016), (0.294 ± 0.018)mg/L] than in control group[(0.135 ± 0.014), (0.167 ± 0.019)mg/L], and serum selenium was significantly higher at the 6th month than at 3rd month of experiment in selenium group(P ＜ 0.05). Endothelial cell apoptosis indices were (4.92 ± 1.32)%, (30.30 ± 6.80)%, (6.57 ± 2.14)% and (14.29 ± 2.99)%, respectively in control group, fluoride group, selenium group and fluoride plus selenium group. Their main effect of fluorine and selenium was statistically significant (F = 106.833,20.082, all P ＜ 0.01 ). There were antagonistic effect between fluoride and selenium(F = 30.402, P ＜ 0.01 ). Pathological changes of rabbit aortic endothelial cells in fluoride group included endothelial with attached fibrin and red blood cells, and structural of the cells changed, with serious vascular injury; in fluoride plus selenium group apoptosis of endothelial cells decreased, with reduced number of attached red blood cells and fibrin, endothelial cell structure normal, the extent and scope of vascular damage significantly reduced. Conclusions Appropriate amount of selenium inhibits the apoptosis of endothelial cells induced by high fluoride, reduces aortic structural damage caused by high fluoride, and maintains the integrity of endothelial cells, thereby antagonizes the vascular damage and atherosclerosis induced by high fluoride.

Effect of Selenium on Expression of eNOS and iNOS Induced by Fluoride in ECV-304 / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To knowthe effect of selenium on expression ofnitric oxide synthase(eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) induced by fluoride in ECV-304(human umbilical vein endothelial cells).Methods The cells,ECV-304,were divided into two groups and treated as follows,one group was treated with sodium fluoride at different doses(0,400,1 000 and 2 000 ?mol/L),the other was treated with sodium fluoride at different doses(0,400,1 000 and 2 000 ?mol/L)and added sodiumselenite(100 nmol/L) respectively.24 h of treatment,The activity ofeNOS and iNOS were measured by NO and NOS assay kits and the expression of eNOS mRNA and iNOS mRNA was analyzed by RT-PCR.Results The activity of eNOS and the expression of eNOS mRNA were down-regulated by fluoride with a dose dependent manner,while the activity of iNOS and the expression of iNOS mRNA were up-regulated.Selenium showed a significant antagonism to low level fluoride treated groups.Conclusion Seleniumcan antagonize the effect offluoride on the expression ofiNOSand eNOS in the vein endothelial cells when the fluoride exposure level is not toohigh.