Effects of electroacupuncture on rats with cognitive impairment: An iTRAQ-based proteomics analysis / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#The study explores the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the governing vessel (GV) on proteomic changes in the hippocampus of rats with cognitive impairment.@*METHODS@#Healthy male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham, model and EA. Cognitive impairment was induced by left middle cerebral artery occlusion in the model and EA groups. Rats in the EA group were treated with EA at Shenting (GV24) and Baihui (GV20) for 7 d. Neurological deficit was scored using the Longa scale, the learning and memory ability was detected using the Morris water maze (MWM) test, and the proteomic profiling in the hippocampus was analyzed using protein-labeling technology based on the isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). The Western blot (WB) analysis was used to detect the proteins and validate the results of iTRAQ.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the model group, the neurological deficit score was significantly reduced, and the escape latency in the MWM test was significantly shortened, while the number of platform crossings increased in the EA group. A total of 2872 proteins were identified by iTRAQ. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified between different groups: 92 proteins were upregulated and 103 were downregulated in the model group compared with the sham group, while 142 proteins were upregulated and 126 were downregulated in the EA group compared with the model group. Most of the DEPs were involved in oxidative phosphorylation, glycolipid metabolism and synaptic transmission. Furthermore, we also verified 4 DEPs using WB technology. Although the WB results were not exactly the same as the iTRAQ results, the expression trends of the DEPs were consistent. The upregulation of heat-shock protein β1 (Hspb1) was the highest in the EA group compared to the model group.@*CONCLUSION@#EA can effect proteomic changes in the hippocampus of rats with cognitive impairment. Hspb1 may be involved in the molecular mechanism by which acupuncture improves cognitive impairment.

Wide Pulse Width Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Denervation-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Rats via IGF-1/PI3K/Akt Pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the effect of the pulse width of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in rats and examine the role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway during EA.@*METHODS@#Sciatic nerve functional index (SFI), muscle wet weight and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the gastrocnemius muscle were analyzed after treatment in model rats with EA of various pulse widths (0.5, 50, 100 and 200 ms). The apoptosis index (AI) and paired box (PAX)3 and PAX7 protein expression were also determined. Further, the mRNA and protein expressions of components of IGF-1/PI3K/Akt pathway and their downstream targets were determined, along with the inhibiting effect of the pathway with a PI3-specific inhibitor.@*RESULTS@#EA with a pulse width of 200 ms was found to have the best effect with regard to increasing SFI, CSA and muscle weight, decreasing AI, and increasing the expression of PAX3 and PAX7. The IGF-1/PI3K/Akt pathway was found to be activated by denervation, although the downstream forkhead box O (FoxO) pathway was not suppressed by its activation. The PI3K/Akt pathway and its downstream molecule mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were up-regulated further by EA to promote muscle protein synthesis. Meanwhile, the expressions of downstream FoxO and F-box protein 32 (ATROGIN-1) were down-regulated to reduce protein degradation.@*CONCLUSIONS@#EA with 200-ms pulse width was found to have a more significant effect than 0.5-ms EA. The positive effects of EA disappeared after inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Effects of TAT-SOD at Acupoints on Essential Hypertension by Monitoring Meridians Electrical Potential / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the effect on essential hypertension of the topical application of TAT-Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (TAT-SOD) at left acupoint Zusanli (ST 36), and to observe whether the change of electrical potential difference (EPD) can be related to the change of blood pressure.@*METHODS@#Sixteen patients with essential hypertension and 16 healthy subjects were included in the study. EPD between the left acupoints of Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Qiuxu (GB 40) was firstly screened out for the EPD detection. An intracellular superoxide quenching enzyme, TAT-SOD, was topically applied to the acupoint ST 36 within an area of 1 cm once a day, and the influence on EPD was investigated. The dosage applied to TAT-SOD group (n=8) was 0.2 mL of 3000 U/mL TAT-SOD cream prepared by adding purified TAT-SOD to a vehicle cream, while placebo group (n=8) used the vehicle cream instead. The left acupoints of Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Qiuxu (GB 40) were selected for EPD measurement after comparing EPD readings between 5 acupoints on each of all 12 meridians.@*RESULTS@#EPDs between the left acupoints of GB 34 and GB 40 for 16 patients of essential hypertension and 16 healthy subjects were 44.9±6.4 and 5.6±0.9 mV, respectively. Daily application of TAT-SOD for 15 days at ST 36 of essential hypertension patients significantly decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 179.6 and 81.5 mm Hg to 153.1 and 74.1 mm Hg, respectively. Responding to the change in blood pressure, EPD between the left acupoints of GB 34 and GB 40 also declined from 44.4 to 22.8 mV with the same trend. No change was observed with SBP, DBP and EPD between the left acupoints of GB 34 and GB 40 with the daily application of the placebo cream.@*CONCLUSION@#Enzymatic scavenging of the intracellular superoxide at ST 36 proved to be effective in decreasing SBP and DBP. The results reconfirm the involvement of superoxide anions and its transportation along the meridians, and demonstrate that EPD between acupoints may be an indicator to reflect its functioning status. Moreover, preliminary results suggest a close correlation between EPD and blood pressure readings, implying a possibility of using EPD as a sensitive parameter for blood pressure and to monitor the effect of antihypertensive treatment.

Analysis on the specificity of the relevant points along the governor vessel in chronic gastritis based on tenderness reaction and tenderness threshold / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the specificity of the relevant points along the governor vessel in chronic gastritis through the synchronous observation of the tenderness reaction and tenderness threshold on the back along the governor vessel in the volunteers with chronic gastritis and make the comparison with healthy volunteers.@*METHODS@#A chronic gastritis group and a healthy volunteer group were prepared, 30 cases in each one. Using synchronous comparison, the tenderness reaction at the point inferior to each of the spinous processes from T to L along the governor vessel was observed. The mechanical pressure pain threshold was determined.@*RESULTS@#Regarding the tenderness reaction at the point inferior to each spinous process on the back along the governor vessel, the occurrence rate was different significantly between the chronic gastritis group and the healthy volunteer group (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The point inferior to the spoinous process of T on the governor vessel, Shendao (GV 11, T) and Lingtai (GV 10, T) are the points with the high specificity in chronic gastritis, which provides the reference to clinical treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion. The occurrence rate of high tenderness reaction and the low tenderness threshold may be the important manifestation of the point specificity on the back along the governor vessel in chronic gastritis.

Regular pattern of pain reaction by pressing along the Governor Vessel on the back in patients with digestive system disease / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find out the regular pattern of pain reaction by pressing along the Governor Vessel at the levels of T3 to L4 on the back in patients with digestive system disease, so as to provide references for diagnosis of the disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty patients diagnosed with digestive system disease by gastroscopy and colonoscopy as well as 16 patients with digestive symptoms without accurate diagnosis by endoscopy checks were observed. Pressing was applied from Zhiyang (GV 9) to Yaoyangguan (GV 3), including non-acupoints along the Governor Vessel. Positive reaction was recognized since pain, soreness or distension sensation appeared in the space between the spinous process.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive ratios of 30 patients with endoscopy checks and 16 without the check accounted for 100.0%. The tender spots, usually 5 to 9 in number, were mainly focused on the relative acupoints and non-acupoints along the Governor Vessel from T6 to T10.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pain reaction from Lingtai (GV 10) to Zhongshu (GV 7), which are at the level of T6 to T10, along the Governor Vessel is closely related with digestive system disease. And it can be regarded as function criterion of the digestive system and important reference of auxiliary diagnosis.</p>

Determination of trace elements in 13 traditional Chinese medicines in medicated diet for diabetes mellitus by ICP-MS / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate six trace elements including Cr, Zn, Mn, Se, Cu and V of 13 traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) commonly used in diet therapy of diabetes mellitus.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The samples were prepared through digesting in a microwave oven and determined with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The correlative coefficients of the calibration curves were above 0.999. Standard addition recovery was 88.7% - 110.0% and RSD < or = 7.0%. Under the given analytical conditions, the results obtained showed that the contents of the six trace elements varied in these TCM samples, for element Cr, ranging between 0-11.82 microg x g(-1), Mn in 4.36-564.3 microg x g(-1), Cu in 0.55-13.34 microg x g(-1), Zn in 3.19-86.23 microg x g(-1) Se in 0-0.39 microg x g(-1) and V in 0.05-12.04 microg x g(-1), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The possible relationship between the content of the six trace elements and 13 TCM samples for dietetic therapy of diabetes mellitus was also discussed.</p>

Comparison of the thermal conductivity of the related tissues along the meridian and the non-meridian / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the thermal conductivity of the related tissues along meridian line and non-meridian area.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty healthy volunteers were observed with a infrared thermal imaging system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During heating the acupoint or the non-acupoint along the meridian line, the velocity of spreading of the temperature-increasing response along the meridian line was more easy and rapid, with a definite direction. However, during heating the non-meridian spots, the change of temperature was confined to the local area, with no definite direction. The spreading of skin temperature response along the meridian line was more rapid than the non-meridian area during both the two were heated simultaneously, and finally, 3 infrared radiant tracks along the meridian courses conformed basically with that of the classical three yin- meridians of the hand appeared.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The thermal conductivity of the related tissues along the meridian line is better than that of non-meridian area and has definite direction, with differences in physical characteristics between them.</p>