Beneficial effects of andrographolide in a rat model of autoimmune myocarditis and its effects on PI3K/Akt pathway

The study is to investigate effects of andrographolide on experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). Lewis rats were immunized on day 0 with porcine cardiac myosin to establish EAM. The EAM rats were treated with either andrographolide (25, 50, 100 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 21 days. An antigen-specific splenocytes proliferation assay was performed by using the cells from control rats immunized with cardiac myosin. Survival rates, myocardial pathology and myocardial functional parameters (left ventricle end-diastolic pressure, ± dP/dt and left ventricular internal dimension) of EAM rats received andrographolide were significantly improved. Andrographolide treatment caused an decrease in the infiltration of CD3⁺ and CD14⁺ positive cells in myocardial tissue. Moreover, andrographolide treatment caused a reduction in the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-17 (IL-17) and myosin-antibody, and an increase in the level of IL-10 in EAM rats. Oral administration of andrographolide resulted in the decreased expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt without any change of PI3K and Akt. Further results indicate andrographolide significantly inhibited myosin-induced proliferation in splenocytes, and this effect was inhibited by co-treatment of SC79 (Akt activator). Our data indicate andrographolide inhibits development of EAM, and this beneficial effect may be due to powerful anti-inflammatory activity and inhibitory effect on PI3K/Akt pathway.

Clinical research for rehabilitation training combined with modified-acupuncture for joint dysfunction after meniscal suture surgery / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects on joint dysfunction after meniscal suture surgery between rehabilitation training combined with modified-acupuncture and simple rehabilitation training.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-one patients with meniscal suture surgery were randomized into an observation group (=36) and a control group (=35). Patients in the observation group received modified-acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training. Acupuncture for 8 weeks were at Zutonggu (BL 65), Shugu (BL 66), Neiting (ST 44), Xiangu (ST 43), Xiaxi (GB 43), Zulinqi (GB 41), Dadu (SP 2), Taibai (SP 3), Xingjian (LR 2), and Taichong (LR 3), once a day for continuous 6 days with 1 day for rest. Patients in the control group received simple rehabilitation training for continuous 8 weeks. The training included quadriceps femoris, range of knee joint motion and motion and limb walking on the affected side. The effect score for meniscus injury after treatment from Japanese Orthopaedics Association (JOA) and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were recorded before and after treatment. The effects were compared in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the VAS and JOA scores were improved in the two groups (all<0.05), with better results in the observation group (both<0.05). The effective rate was 91.7% (33/36) in the observation group, which was better than 80.0% (28/35) in the control group (<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rehabilitation training combined with-acupuncture achieve better effect than simple rehabilitation training for joint dysfunction after meniscal suture surgery.</p>

Effects of MiR-194 on the metastasis of human osteosarcoma cell line U2-OS by recombinant lentivirus vector / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:This study aimed to construct a lentiviral expression vector for microRNA-194 and investigate its effect on the metastasis of human osteosarcoma cell line U2-OS. Methods:Pri-and mature miR-194 amplified by PCR were inserted into the plenty-GFP vector and identified by restriction endonuclease digestion and nucleotide sequencing. The osteosarcoma cell line U2-OS was transfected with the lentivirus. Then, the stable transfected cells were used in Transwell and wound healing assay. Results:Restric-tion analysis and sequencing showed that the recombinant lentiviral expression vector was constructed correctly. The titers of obtained overexpression and suppression expression recombinant lentivirus were 1.5*108 and 4*108 TU/ml. Cell metastasis ability was signifi-cantly different in different experimental groups (P<0.01). Conclusion:The lentiviral expression vector for microRNA-194 was suc-cessfully constructed. MicroRNA-194 could influence the metastasis of the osteosarcoma cell line U2-OS;thus, it could be further ex-plored as a potential target in osteosarcoma therapy.