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Objective:To investigate any effect of electro-acupuncture stimulation on the expression of the silence regulator homolog 1 (SIRT1) and p53 tumor suppressor genes in chondrocytes of persons with osteoarthritis (OA).Methods:Thirty-six experimental rabbits were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an electro-acupuncture group, each of 12. One knee of each rabbit in the model and electro-acupuncture groups was fixed for 6 weeks to induce OA, while the control group was not given any intervention. The rabbits in the electro-acupuncture group were then treated with electro-acupuncture for 16 days; the model group rabbits were fixed to the treatment table but were not given electro-acupuncture. At the end of the experiment, the articular cartilage was hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stained for microscopic examination and Mankin scoring. The chondrocytes′ gray values after immunohistochemical staining allowed determination of the SIRT1 and p53 expression levels.Results:The average histopathological grade, Mankin score and stained Mankin score of the electro-acupuncture group were all superior to the model group′s averages. SIRT1 and p53 expression were detected in all three groups, but the SIRT1 gray value of the model group was significantly higher than the other two groups′ averages. The average p53 gray value in the model group was significantly lower.Conclusions:Electro-acupuncture can effectively alleviate the symptoms of knee OA, perhaps by up-regulating SIRT1 expression in the cartilage, inhibiting apoptosis of articular chondrocytes and generally promoting cell regeneration.
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Objective To investigate the effect of early intervention with mirror therapy on hemiparetie survivors of ischemic stroke.Methods Thirty-six hemiplegic patients within one month after a stroke were randomly divided into a mirror therapy group (MT group,n=18) and a routine rehabilitation control group (RRC group,n=18).The participants in the MT group received MT for 45 min/d,5 d/wk for 3 weeks in addition to conventional stroke rehabilitation.Those in the RRC group received exercise therapy at the same frequency without the mirror protocol.The Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),Wolf motor function test (WMFT),functional ambulation category scale (FAC),Brunnstrom stages of motor recovery,and the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) were used to assess changes in the upper limb,gross hand dexterity and lower limb recovery before and right after the interventions,as well as one and two months after the treatment.Results Significant improvement was observed in the limb function of both groups after the treatment.Compared with the RRC group,there was significantly greater improvement observed in the MT group.This was true of the FMA ratings at all time points,the average WMFT scores one and two months after the intervention,the FAC ratings two months after the intervention,and the Brunnstrom stages at both one and two months after the intervention.However,no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the average MAS scores was observed at any time point.Conclusion Early intervention with MT can significantly accelerate the recovery of a paretic upper limb aud improve walking ability after stroke.Such intervention is worthy of promotion and application in clinical practice.
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Objective To evaluate systematically the efficacy of mirror therapy for improving the upper limb function, daily life and pain of stroke survivors. Methods The PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, Ovid, Co-chrane Library, Open Gray, China Biological Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, GoogleScholar, VIP and Wan Fang Data databases were searched for reports of randomized and controlled trials ( RCTs) of mirror therapy for improving the upper limb function of stroke survivors. Only papers published before December 2015 were surveyed. The relevant references of the primary studies were also searched. The literature screening, data extraction and assessments were conducted by two reviewers independently. The meta-analysis was performed using version 5.2 of the RevMan software. Results A total of 22 RCTs involving 823 patients were discovered, some not dealing with mirror therapy. Comparing the studies with and without visual feedback, there were significant differences in upper limb motor function as measured by the Fugl-Meyer, ARAT and Brunnstrom instruments. The average Barthel indexes and visual analogue scale were also significantly different. Conclusion Mirror therapy can improve upper limb function and ability in the activities of daily living, and also relieve pain among stroke survivors to some degree, though its long-term efficacy is still unclear. Large-sample, multi-center, high-quality RCTs are required to verify these conclusions.