Electroacupuncture Improves Blood-Brain Barrier and Hippocampal Neuroinflammation in SAMP8 Mice by Inhibiting HMGB1/TLR4 and RAGE/NADPH Signaling Pathways / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in experimental models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in vivo.@*METHODS@#Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice were used as AD models and received EA at Yingxiang (LI 20, bilateral) and Yintang (GV 29) points for 20 days. For certain experiments, SAMP8 mice were injected intravenously with human fibrin (2 mg). The Morris water maze test was used to assess cognitive and memory abilities. The changes of tight junctions of blood-brain barrier (BBB) in mice were observed by transmission electron microscope. The expressions of fibrin, amyloid- β (Aβ), and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBa-1) in mouse hippocampus (CA1/CA3) were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot or immunohistochemical staining. The expression of fibrin in mouse plasma was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 and claudin-5 in hippocampus were detected by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. Apoptosis of hippocampal neurons was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining.@*RESULTS@#Fibrin was time-dependently deposited in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice and this was inhibited by EA treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, EA treatment suppressed the accumulation of Aβ in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice (P<0.01), which was reversed by fibrin injection (P<0.05 or P<0.01). EA improved SAMP8 mice cognitive impairment and BBB permeability (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, EA decreased reactive oxygen species levels and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice, which was reversed by fibrin injection (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Mechanistically, EA inhibited the promoting effect of fibrin on the high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1)/toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) signaling pathways (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#EA may potentially improve cognitive impairment in AD via inhibition of fibrin/A β deposition and deactivation of the HMGB1/TLR4 and RAGE/NADPH signaling pathways.

Cordycepin protects against β-amyloid and ibotenic acid-induced hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuronal hyperactivity

Cordycepin exerts neuroprotective effects against excitotoxic neuronal death. However, its direct electrophysiological evidence in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying the protective effect of cordycepin against the excitotoxic neuronal insult in AD using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. β-Amyloid (Aβ) and ibotenic acid (IBO)-induced injury model in cultured hippocampal neurons was used for the purpose. The results revealed that cordycepin significantly delayed Aβ + IBO-induced excessive neuronal membrane depolarization. It increased the onset time/latency, extended the duration, and reduced the slope in both slow and rapid depolarization. Additionally, cordycepin reversed the neuronal hyperactivity in Aβ + IBO-induced evoked action potential (AP) firing, including increase in repetitive firing frequency, shortening of evoked AP latency, decrease in the amplitude of fast afterhyperpolarization, and increase in membrane depolarization. Further, the suppressive effect of cordycepin against Aβ + IBO-induced excessive neuronal membrane depolarization and neuronal hyperactivity was blocked by DPCPX (8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, an adenosine A₁ receptor-specific blocker). Collectively, these results revealed the suppressive effect of cordycepin against the Aβ + IBO-induced excitotoxic neuronal insult by attenuating excessive neuronal activity and membrane depolarization, and the mechanism through the activation of A₁R is strongly recommended, thus highlighting the therapeutic potential of cordycepin in AD.

Preliminary application of 3D printing technique in resection and reconstruction of mandibular ameloblastoma / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To investigate the primary application of 3D printing technique in vascularized fibula resection and grafting for mandible ameloblastoma. Methods The data of 3 cases of unilateral mandibular ameloblastoma were retrospectively collected.The thin slice CT scan of mandible was performed before operation.The scanned original data were imported into mimics 17.0 software for 3D reconstruction.Mirror image of the healthy side mandible was generated by the mirror image tool of the software.Preoperative planning,designing transplantation of vascularized fibula bone,pre-bending and pre-shaping titanium plate,surgical simulation were done by the mirror model.Results All operations were performed successfully,and were in agreement with the preoperative planning.The facial appearance and mandible function were both satisfactory.Conclusion 3D printing technology assisting mandibular ameloblastoma resection and bone graft reconstruction is able to optimize preoperative planning,provide individualized treatment and achieve postoperative satisfaction.

Application value of three-dimensional printing personalized navigation template in posterior lower cervical pedicle screw placement / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Posterior pedicle screw fixation of lower cervical spine has many advantages. However, because of the special anatomy of pedicle, the technical requirements of nailing placement are high and it is also a challenge to surgeons. The application of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology can help to complete screw placement, and has certain advantages. OBJECTIVE: To introduce the method of 3D printing personalized navigation template assisted posterior lower cervical pedicle screw fixation and evaluate its clinical application value. METHODS: Totally 20 patients with lower cervical spine pedicle screw internal fixation who were treated from June 2015 to December 2016 in Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University were retrospectively analyzed. Before the surgery, the patient's lower cervical spine CT data was introduced into the relevant software and the 3D printing personalized navigation template assisted nailing pedicle screw was designed. The number of screws inserted was recorded. After the operation, CT scan was used to calculate the accuracy rate of screw placement. Preoperative and postoperative cervical spine Visual Analogue Scale score and spinal function score of Japanese Orthopedic Association were used to evaluate the clinical effect of cervical nerve. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) All patients were followed up for 3 months postoperatively. (2) 3D printing personalized navigation template assisted 132 pedicle screws. The precise insertion rate was 94.7%. Among them, 125 screws were at grade 0 (94.7%, 125/132), 3 screws grade 1 (2.3%, 3/132), 4 screws grade 2 (3.0%, 4/132), no screw grade 3. (3) At postoperative 1 and 3 months, the neck shoulder Visual Analogue Scale score and spinal function score of Japanese Orthopedic Association of the patients were significantly improved (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05), compared with those at preoperative. (4) In summary, 3D printing personalized navigation template assisted cervical pedicle screw placement had the high insertion rate and satisfactory clinical efficacy.

Unified-planning, graded-administration, and centralized-controlling: a management modality for treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome with Chinese medicine in Henan Province of China / 中国结合医学杂志

Henan Province in China has a major epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Chinese medicine (CM) has been used throughout the last decade, and a management modality was developed, which can be described by unified-planning, graded-administration, and centralized-controlling (UGC). The UGC modality has one primary concept (patient-centered medicine from CM theory), four basic foundations (classifying administrative region, characteristics of CM on disease treatment, health resource conditions, and distribution of patients living with HIV), six important relationships (the "three uniformities and three combinations," and the six relationships therein guide the treatment of AIDS with CM), and four key sections (management, operation, records, and evaluation). In this article, the authors introduce the UGC modality, which could be beneficial to developing countries or resource-limited areas for the management of chronic infectious disease.

Treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with Chinese medicine in China: opportunity, advancement and challenges / 中国结合医学杂志

Chinese medicine (CM) has been used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) for 30 years and the demonstrated therapeutic effects of CM, such as reducing plasma HIV viral load, increasing CD4(+)T cell counts, promoting immunity reconstitution, ameliorating symptoms and signs, improving the health related quality of life (HRQOL) and counteracting against the effects of anti-retroviral drugs, were summarized and reviewed in this article. The authors point out that it had been a good opportunity to use CM for the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS in the past and also there are huge challenges ahead for CM research and clinicians to discover more effective CM and its underlying mechanisms for treatment of AIDS.

Analyzing Chinese medicine syndromes of hematotoxicity reaction induced by highly active antiretroviral therapy / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the main features of Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes and differences of hematotoxicity reaction induced by highly active antiretroviral therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The information of CM four diagnostic methods was collected by cross-sectional study. Their syndrome features were summed up and their differences were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 216 patients, the main syndromes were qi-blood deficiency syndrome (142 cases, accounting for 65.7%) and Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (74 cases, accounting for 34.3%). The score of qi-blood deficiency syndrome was obviously lower than that of Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (P < 0.05). The count of CD4+ T cells was higher in qi-blood deficiency syndrome than in Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome. There was no statistical difference in the serum viral load between the two groups (P > 0.05). The quality of life was higher in qi-blood deficiency syndrome than in Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome, but with no statistical difference (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Qi-blood deficiency syndrome and Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome were main syndromes of hematotoxicity reaction induced by HAART. The pathogenic condition of qi-blood deficiency syndrome patients was milder. There was no obvious difference in the quality of life, CD4+ T cells, and the viral loads between two syndromes.</p>

The clinical characteristics of 681 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze clinical features and the differences of GCB and non-GCB phenotypes for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in different age groups, Ki-67 index and international prognostic index (IPI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 681 patients with DLBCL hospitalized in West China Hospital from January 2000 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of these DLBCL cases, the median age was 56 years old with a male predominance, 51.4% stage III-IV, 37.6% B symptoms, 30.2% IPI 3-5 scores, 49.8% from extranodal sites, 29.0% gastrointestinal tract infiltration, 38.3% low absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), 56.1% elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, 83.0% elevated β(2)-microglobulin (β(2)-MG) level. B symptoms was associated with bone marrow involvement with the odds ratio 5.212 (95%CI 2.821 - 9.632, P = 0.000). Among 268 with DLBCL patients classified by Hans' classification, 28.4% were GCB and 71.6% non-GCB. The proportions of patients with HBsAg-positive, elevated serum LDH level and Bcl-2 positive expression in non-GCB group was higher than those in GCB group (P < 0.05). The differences between GCB and non-GCB DLBCL were not revealed in terms of age subgroups, Ki-67 expression status and IPI subgroups. The high (≥ 60%) Ki-67 group included more patients with extranodal site involvement compared with the low (< 60%) Ki-67 group (51.8% vs 38.7%, P = 0.008). The proportion of patents with low ALC in IPI 3-5 scores group was higher than in IPI 0-2 scores group (P = 0.000). The multivariate analysis showed that high IPI had statistically significant negative influence on survival (P = 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Most patients with DLBCL were middle-aged male from our data. The patients with primary nodal (PN) was almost equal to those with primary extranodal (PEN). The most frequent extranodal site was gastrointestinal tract. The non-GCB phenotype was significantly more common than GCB phenotype in this study, and the non-GCB group included more patients with HBsAg-positive and Bcl-2 positive expression. Low ALC was observed predominantly in the high risk group. IPI score was an independent prognostic indicator for survival.</p>

Study on the correlation between polymorphisms of genes with susceptibility to tuberculosis and drug-resistant tuberculosis in Chinese Han population / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the distribution of polymorphisms of SLC11A1 gene,VDR gene,MBL gene and IFNG gene with susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) in Chinese Han population suffering from drug-sensitive TB and drug-resistant TB so as to identify the correlation between gene polymorphisms and the development of drug-resistant TB.Methods Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of VDR gene,SLC11A1 gene,MBL gene,IFNG gene were typed and analyzed by pyrosequencing,Real-time Probe and SNaPshot among 229 patients with drug-sensitive TB and 230 patients with drug-resistant TB.Results The polymorphic foci of VDR gene from the drug-sensitive TB group and the drug-resistant TB group showed no significant difference (P＞0.05).The genotype of INT4 site and allelic frequency of SLC11A1 gene for drug-sensitive TB group were significantly different from those for drug-resistant TB group(P=0.031,0.046).If recessive inheritance was assumed,the genotypes of INT4 site from the two groups were significantly different (0R=5.756,95% CI:1.261-26.269,P=0.011).Considering the relationship between OR values under various combination,our findings confirmed that the genetic mode of INT4 site was in accordance with recessive inheritance.The genotypes of Q/P site and allelic frequencies of MBL gene from drug-sensitive and drug-resistant groups were significantly different (P=0.029,0.033).The difference still existed under the hypothesis of recessive inheritance (OR=9.290,95% CI:1.167-73.949,P=0.011).The polymorphic foci of IFNG gene from the two groups showed no significant difference.Conclusion INT4 sites on SLC11A1 gene and Q/P site on MBL gene were probably associated with the development of drug-resistant TB in Chinese Han population.Further study on this issue would be helpful in locating the population at high risk of drug-resistant TB and exploring the effective intervention to decrease the incidence of this disease.

A new method for predicting anterior chamber depth in intraocular lens implantation / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To propose a method for predicting the postoperative anterior chamber depth value (ACD) based on the evaluation standard of contrast sensitivity function (CSF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In a personalized eye model, the natural lens was replaced with an artificial lens, and the tracing method based on ZEMAX software was utilized to simulate the pseudophakic optical system. The best MTF curve was obtained through optical optimization to calculate the CSF and determine the best contrast sensitivity (CS) curve. The best ACD value was acquired according to the CSF curve. The data form 10 cataract cases without retinal diseases were obtained and the postoperative ACD value was predicted using Holladay, Hoffer Q, SRK/T and the proposed method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Consistency analysis of the results showed that all the ACD values predicated by the 4 methods fell in 95% consistency within the boundaries, and the differences in the largest absolute value between the 3 methods (Holladay, Hoffer Q, and SRK/T) and the proposed method were 0.73 mm, 0.65 mm, and 0.68 mm, and the calculation results of the mean value were 5.846 mm, 5.804 mm, and 5.825 mm. Clinically, the two methods were deemed to have good consistency.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The proposed method establishes a connection between the contrast sensitivity curve and ACD to allow better refraction adjustment for the patients.</p>

Micro-acupuncture system in the hairline region of the scalp / 中国针灸

Studying on the acupoints in the hairline region of the scalp, it is discovered that a group of acupoints are orderly arranged in the hairline region of the scalp. Furthermore, the arrangement is highly consistent with the meridian route of zang-fu organs. Manipulating needles at acupoints in the hairline regions of the scalp may treat certain diseases, including insomnia, migraine, and Alzheimer disease. The characteristics of the acupuncture treatment at acupoints in the hairline of scalp resemble the characteristics of ear acupuncture and eye acupuncture. Thus forms a special micro-acupuncture system in the hairline regions of the scalp. This paper states the theoretical basis, the arrangement of acupoints, clinical application and operating norms.

Study on the morphological evidence of five-shu-point / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for the morphological evidence of five-shu-point so as to explain the theory of the five-shu-point more reasonably.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Carefully study on Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic and compare with the modern anatomic knowledge.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The theory of five-shu-point is closely related with the theory of blood vessels. The distributional pattern of the superficial vein on the remote parts of the limbs (below the elbow or the knee joints) is the morphological basis for the theory of five-shu-point.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of puncturing with needles in alignment at the hairline region on vascular dementia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for an effective therapy for vascular dementia (VD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of VD were randomly divided into 2 groups, 60 cases in each group. The observation group were treated with puncturing with needles in alignment at the hairline region and the control group with oral administration of Duxil. Hasegawa's dementia scale (HDS), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), functional activity questionnaire (FAQ), nerve function defect (NFD) and main symptoms (MS) scales were used for assessment of symptoms and signs before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Changes of scores for HDS, MMSE, FAQ, NFD and MS before and after treatment had statistically very significant differences (P < 0.01) in the two groups, with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 88.33% in the observation group and 81.67% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Puncturing with needles in alignment at the hairline region has definite therapeutic effect on vascular dementia.</p>

Effects of different manipulation methods of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) on signal transduction pathway of STAT5 in human PBMC / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study on effects of different manipulation methods of acupuncture on the binding ability of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT5) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with DNA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty healthy volunteers were randomly divided into 3 groups; reinforcing method group, reducing method group, normal control group, 10 cases in each group. The expression of STAT5 mRNA and the activation of STAT5 in the human PBMC were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the reinforcing method group, the basic transcription level of STATS mRNA in human PBMC and the binding ability of STAT5 with DNA significantly increased (P<0.01), but in the reducing method group, they did not significantly change as compared with those in the normal control group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cytokines and JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway are in volved in immunoregulative actions of acupuncture of the reinforcing method, but the reasons of influencing the transcription level of STAT5 mRNA and the binding ability of STAT5 with DNA are unclear.</p>