Moxibustion regulates T-regulatory/T-helper 17 cell balance by modulating the microRNA-221/suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 axis in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression is associated with the balance of T-regulatory (Treg) and T-helper 17 (Th17) cells, while the role of microRNAs (miRs) in regulating Treg/Th17 cell balance has not been clarified. This study aimed to assess whether moxibustion could regulate Treg/Th17 cell balance by modulating the miR-221/suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) axis in the RA mouse model.@*METHODS@#A mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was established in male DBA/1J mice. Twenty-two days after CIA induction, the mice received daily treatment with moxibustion for 12 times. Pathological scores were assessed according to the levels of synovial hyperplasia. The expression levels of cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-17 and IL-10 were analyzed in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4+) splenocytes was analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The expression levels of RA-related miRs and target genes were subsequently detected, and the target of miR-221 was confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay.@*RESULTS@#It was revealed that moxibustion treatment decreased the pathological scores and downregulated the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17, while upregulated the expression level of IL-10. The Treg/Th17 cell balance was regulated by moxibustion treatment. The expression level of miR-221 was suppressed by moxibustion treatment. Furthermore, SOCS3 was found as the direct target of miR-221, which mediated the function of moxibustion by regulating the Treg/Th17 cell balance.@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion therapy regulated the Treg/Th17 cell balance by modulating the miR-221/SOCS3 axis in the RA mouse model.

Traditional Chinese Medicine as a Remedy for Male Infertility: A Review

Male infertility (MI) is a complex multifactorial disease, and idiopathic infertility accounts for 30% of cases of MI. At present, the evidence for the effectiveness of empirical drugs is limited, and in vitro fertilization is costly and may increase the risk of birth defects and childhood cancers. Therefore, affected individuals may feel obliged to pursue natural remedies. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may represent a useful option for infertile men. It has been demonstrated that TCM can regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis and boost the function of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. TCM can also alleviate inflammation, prevent oxidative stress, reduce the DNA fragmentation index, and modulate the proliferation and apoptosis of germ cells. Furthermore, TCM can supply trace elements and vitamins, ameliorate the microcirculation of the testis, decrease the levels of serum anti-sperm antibody, and modify epigenetic markers. However, the evidence in favor of TCM is not compelling, which has hindered the development of TCM. This review attempts to elucidate the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of TCM. We also explore the advantages of TCM, differences between TCM and Western medicine, and problems in existing studies. Subsequently, we propose solutions to these problems and present perspectives for the future development of TCM.

Hazards of insomnia and the effects of acupuncture treatment on insomnia / 中西医结合学报

Insomnia is a common disease in modern society; it is made worse by increasingly fierce competition in the workplace and elsewhere, along with rapid economic and social development. Sleep disorders can result in changes in serum biomarkers and decreased immunity, and may cause maladies such as depression and cardiac diseases, as well as many other somatic symptoms. Western medications for treating insomnia can easily lead to addiction and other adverse effects. Fortunately, acupuncture can ease the symptoms of insomnia. This review summarizes the hazards associated with insomnia and the use of acupuncture in its treatment. Furthermore, the authors introduce an effective and low-cost method of treating insomnia with acupuncture. This review indicates that insomnia poses a major threat to mental health through its effects on serum components, heart function and the immune system of patients, which may lead to other physiological disorders. Anxiety and depression are the two main negative emotions affected by insomnia. Acupuncture, which has showed effectiveness against insomnia and its complications, may be an effective and complementary method for the treatment of insomnia and associated maladies.

Rasch analysis on stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QOL) scale of acupuncture intervention on stroke / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To optimize the evaluation level of active motor threshold and the functional domain of upper limbs of stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QOL) scale with Rasch analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with acute ischemic stroke that were in accord with research criterid were randomly divided into a test group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). Acupuncture treatment and routine western medicine were applied on the test group, and single treatment of routine western medicine was applied on the control group. Selected acupoints were MS 5, Fengchi (GB 20), Hegu (LI 4), etc. Active motor threshold and the functional domain of upper limbs of SS-QOL were self-tested by patients after one treating course. The characteristics of the above mentioned items were tested with Rasch model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The statistical result on fitness of active motor threshold and the functional domain of upper limbs of SS-QOL showed that every reference of samples and items wosin accord with the Rasch model and has well inner reliability and validity. The Infit and Outfit MnSq values of active motor threshold and the functional domain of upper limbs of SS-QOL are basically between 0.5 and 1.5.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The application of Rasch analysis on the assessment of patient reported outcome (PRO) has optimized the PRO scale (the activity and upper limb function domain of SS-QOL scale) and enhanced evaluation level of active motor threshold and the functional domain of upper limbs of SS-QOL scale.</p>

Construction of sugar-based microbial fuel cells by dissimilatory metal reduction bacteria / 生物工程学报

Dissimilatory Metal Reduction Bacteria play an important role in the anaerobic environment. This kind of bacteria gains energy by coupling the oxidation of organic acid or sugars to the reduction of metal oxides. The graphite electrode rode can also be used as the final electron acceptor due to its similarity to solid metal oxides. Based on this biological mechanism, Dissimilatory Metal Reduction Bacteria Rhodoferaxferrireducens was used to construct a suit of microbial fuel cells with sugars as fuel, and the process and mechanism of electricity generation was studied. Rhodoferax ferrireducens was inoculated into the anode chamber in which a graphite electrode served as the final electron acceptor and glucose as the sole electron donor. It was showed that current density was up to 158mA/m2 with the resistance of 510omega at the normal temperature (platform voltage was around 0.46V, the effectual electrode surface was 57cm2). Following 20days' growth a large amount of bacteria cells attached to the electrode surface had been observed through the SEM images. The plandtonic cell protein concentration was 140mg/L and the attached biomass of electrode surface was 1180mg/m2 determined by the Bradford method, which indicated quite a few bacteria attached to the electrode. By analyzing the voltage value measured by the data acquisition system, it was proved that microbial electricity generation attributed mainly to the electrochemically and biologically active cells attached to the electrode, while the planktonic cells had no ability to catalyze electricity generation and almost had not electrochemically and biologically active. Furthermore, this kind of microbial fuel cells exhibited a good electrochemical cycle property and proved to be efficient in biomass utilization and energy restore since other sugars like fructose, sucrose, even xylose, could be oxidized and finally decomposed. Vast waste biomass in the form of carbohydrates is discarded in the environment. Not only is contamination of the environment caused by the discarded biomass, but also abundant energy stored in the biomass is drained away in vain. The sugar-based microbial fuel cells constructed by Rhodoferax ferrireducens could effectively transform the energy stored in sugars into electricity. Meanwhile, the microbial fuel cells presented in this paper, which could work cleanly at normal temperature with a good cycle property, showed a promising future application in this field.