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Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy on the expression of transcription factor forkheadbox P3 (Foxp3) and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) protein in cerebral ischemic mice. Methods Forty-five female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to sham operation group, model group, acupuncture group, rehabilitation group, and acupuncture-rehabilitation group, with nine mice in each group. Subsequently, each group was divided into three days, seven days and 14 days subgroups. The permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion models were established by the suture method, except the sham operation group. The sham operation group and the model group received no treatment. The acupuncture group received scalp cluster acupuncture, the rehabilitation group received treadmill training, and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group received scalp cluster acupuncture combined with treadmill training. Three days, seven days and 14 days after modeling, the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS) was obtained, and the expression of Foxp3 and RORγt in brain tissue of ischemic side was analyzed by Western blotting. Results The mNSS in the sham operation group was 0, and was higher in the model group than in the sham operation group at each postoperative time point. Three days after operation, the mNSS decreased in the rehabilitation group and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group, compared to the model group (P < 0.05). Fourteen days after operation, the mNSS decreased in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group, compared to the model group and acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The expression of Foxp3 protein was significantly lower in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in other groups at all time points after surgery( P < 0.05). Three days after operation, the expression of RORγt was higher in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in other groups (P < 0.05). Seven days after operation, the expression of RORγt was higher in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in the acupuncture group and sham operation group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy may improve the tissue injury of cerebral ischemia mice, and promote the recovery of neural function, possibly by regulating Foxp3 and RORγT expression to reduce the level of inflammation, and then exert neuroprotective effects.
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Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy on the expression of transcription factor forkheadbox P3 (Foxp3) and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) protein in cerebral ischemic mice. Methods Forty-five female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to sham operation group, model group, acupuncture group, rehabilitation group, and acupuncture-rehabilitation group, with nine mice in each group. Subsequently, each group was divided into three days, seven days and 14 days subgroups. The permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion models were established by the suture method, except the sham operation group. The sham operation group and the model group received no treatment. The acupuncture group received scalp cluster acupuncture, the rehabilitation group received treadmill training, and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group received scalp cluster acupuncture combined with treadmill training. Three days, seven days and 14 days after modeling, the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS) was obtained, and the expression of Foxp3 and RORγt in brain tissue of ischemic side was analyzed by Western blotting. Results The mNSS in the sham operation group was 0, and was higher in the model group than in the sham operation group at each postoperative time point. Three days after operation, the mNSS decreased in the rehabilitation group and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group, compared to the model group (P < 0.05). Fourteen days after operation, the mNSS decreased in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group, compared to the model group and acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The expression of Foxp3 protein was significantly lower in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in other groups at all time points after surgery( P < 0.05). Three days after operation, the expression of RORγt was higher in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in other groups (P < 0.05). Seven days after operation, the expression of RORγt was higher in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in the acupuncture group and sham operation group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy may improve the tissue injury of cerebral ischemia mice, and promote the recovery of neural function, possibly by regulating Foxp3 and RORγT expression to reduce the level of inflammation, and then exert neuroprotective effects.
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Objective:To investigate the effects of acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy on homocysteine (Hcy) and cognitive function in patients with cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke. Methods:From July, 2017 to June, 2018, 88 patients with cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke were randomly divided into group A (n = 29, cluster needling), group B (n = 30, cognitive training) and group C (n = 29, acupuncture-rehabilitation). Their serum Hcy content was measured and they were assessed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) before and 30 days after treatment. Results:The serum Hcy content was the least in group C after treatment (F = 6.570, P < 0.01), with the most score of MoCA (F = 31.526, P < 0.001). Conclusion:Acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy is more effective than simple cluster needling or cognitive training for patients with cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke.
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@#Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy on the neurological function and the expression of cleaved-caspase-8, cleaved-caspase-3 and cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 1 (cIAP1) in ischemic penumbra of rats with cerebral ischemia. Methods A total of 90 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group, acupuncture group, rehabilitation group and acupuncture-rehabilitation group. Each group was divided into three days, seven days and 14 days subgroups (n=6). The cerebral ischemia model was established with the modified Koizumi suture method. The sham group and the model group received no treatment. The acupuncture group received cluster needling of scalp acupuncture, the rehabilitation group received treadmill training, and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group received both acupuncture and treadmill training. Three days, seven days and 14 days after modeling, their neurological function was assessed with modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS) and Rota-rod test, and the expression of cleaved-caspase-8, cleaved-caspase-3 and cIAP1 protein in cerebral ischemic penumbra were detected with Western blotting. Results Compared with the model group, the mNSS scores decreased, the retention time of Rota-rod test increased, the expression of cleaved-caspase-8, cleaved-caspase-3 protein decreased and the expression of cIAP1 protein increased in each treatment group at each time point (P<0.05). Compared with the other two treatment groups, the mNSS scores further decreased, the retention time further increased, the expression of cleaved-caspase-8, cleaved-caspase-3 protein further decreased, and the expression of cIAP1 protein further increased (P<0.05) seven days and 14 days after modeling in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group.Conclusion Acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy can improve the neurological function in rats with cerebral ischemia, that is better than the simple acupuncture or exercise, which may relate to the inhibition of caspase-8 and caspase-3 protein activation, and promotion of cIAP1 protein expression, to inhibit the apoptotic caspases cascade reaction.
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Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy on neurological function and expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1, members of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, after permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups, namely sham group, model group, acupuncture group, rehabilitation group and acupunc-ture-rehabilitation group, and each group was further divided into 3-day, 7-day and 14-day subgroups, equally. Their middle cerebral arteries were occluded except those of sham group. The sham and model groups accepted no treatment, while the acupuncture group accepted clus-ter needling of scalp acupuncture, the rehabilitation group accepted treadmill training, and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group accepted both acupuncture and treadmill training. They were assessed with modified Neurologic Severity Score (mNSS) 3, 7 and 14 days after model-ing, while the expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1 were determined with Western blotting. Results The mNSS score reduced in all the treatment groups (P<0.05) compared with that of the model group at every time point, and was the least in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (P<0.05) 7 and 14 days after modeling among the treatment groups. Meanwhile, the expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1 protein increased in all the treatment groups (P<0.05), and was the most in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture-rehabilitation thera-py can promote the neurological function recovery in rat with permanent focal cerebral ischemia, which may be associated with the continu-ous inducement of Flt-1, Flk-1 protein expression in ischemic penumbra cortex.
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Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy on apoptosis and the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and cleaved-caspase-9 in ischemic penumbra of rats with cerebral ischemia. Methods A total of 180 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,acupuncture group,rehabilitation group and acupunc-ture-rehabilitation therapy group.Each group was divided into three days,seven days and 14 days subgroups(n=12).The model was estab-lished with the modified Longa suture method. The model group and the sham operation group received no treatment. The acupuncture group received cluster needling of scalp acupuncture,the rehabilitation group received treadmill training,and the acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy group received both acupuncture and treadmill training.On the third,seventh and 14th days after modeling,the neurological func-tion was assessed with modified Neurological Severity Score(mNSS).The apoptosis was observed by TUNEL staining and the expression of XIAP and cleaved-caspase-9 protein was determined by Western blotting in cerebral ischemic penumbra,respectively.Results Compared with the model group,the mNSS scores decreased,the rate of apoptosis decreased,the expression of XIAP protein increased,and the expres-sion of cleaved-caspase-9 decreased in each treatment group at each time point(P<0.05).Compared with the other two treatment groups,the rate of apoptosis further decreased at each time points(P<0.05),the expression of XIAP protein further increased at each time points(P<0.05),the mNSS score further decreased(P<0.05)and the expression of cleaved-caspase-9 protein further decreased(P<0.05)seven days and 14 days after modeling in the acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy group.Conclusion Acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy could re-duce the neurological deficit in rats with cerebral ischemia,which was superior to the simple acupuncture treatment and rehabilitation train-ing.The mechanism may be related to th reduction of apoptosis by promoting XIAP protein expression and inhibiting caspase-9 protein acti-vation.
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Objective To explore the effects of acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy on neurological function recovery and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway activation after permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods Ninty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups, namely sham group, model group, acupuncture group, rehabilitation group and acupunc-ture-rehabilitation group, and 18 in each group. Each group was further divided into 3 days, 7 days and 14 days subgroups (n=6). Their mid-dle cerebral arteries were occluded except those of sham group. The sham and model groups accepted no treatment, while the acupuncture group accepted cluster needling of scalp acupuncture, rehabilitation group accepted treadmill training, and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group accepted both acupuncture and treadmill training. They were assessed with modified Neurologic Severity Score (mNSS) 3, 7 and 14 days after modeling, while the expression of ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 were determined with Western blotting. Results The neurologic severi-ty score reduced in all three treatment groups (P<0.05) compared with that of the model group at every time point, and was the least in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (P<0.05) 7 and 14 days after modeling among the treatment groups. Meanwhile, the expression of p-ERK1/2 increased in all three treatment groups (P<0.05), and was the most in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (P<0.05), as well as the rate of (p- ERK1/2)/(ERK1/2) (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture- rehabilitation therapy can promote the neurological function recovery, which may be associated with activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway.