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.

Assessment of effective mitigation and prediction of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Germany using demographic information and spatial resolution

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are important to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases as long as no vaccination or outstanding medical treatments are available. We assess the effectiveness of the sets of non-pharmaceutical interventions that were in place during the course of the Coron-avirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in Germany. Our results are based on hybrid models, combining SIR-type models on local scales with spatial resolution. In order to account for the age-dependence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we include realistic pre-pandemic and recently recorded contact patterns between age groups. The implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions will occur on changed contact patterns, improved isolation, or reduced infectiousness when, e.g., wearing masks. In order to account for spatial heterogeneity, we use a graph approach and we include high-quality information on commuting activities combined with traveling information from social networks. The remaining uncertainty will be accounted for by a large number of randomized simulation runs. Based on the derived factors for the effectiveness of different non-pharmaceutical interventions over the past months, we provide different forecast scenarios for the upcoming time. Mathematics Subject Classification (2010) 00A72 {middle dot} 65L05 {middle dot} 68U20

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.

High-performance liquid chromatography of sulfonamides and quinolones on p-tert-butyl-calix[6]arene-bonded silica gel stationary phase.

The high-performance liquid chromatographic behavior of some sulfonamides and quinolones was studied on a p-tert-butyl-calix[6]arene-bonded silica gel stationary phase. The effect of mobile phase variables such as methanol content, ionic strength and pH on their chromatographic behavior was investigated. The retention behavior of sulfonamides on the stationary phase was compared with that on both Zorbax C(18)-bonded silica gel and gamma-(ethylenediamino)propyltriethoxylsilane-bonded silica gel (diamino-bonded phase). The retention mechanism of sulfonamides and quinolones on the stationary phase was also discussed. The results indicate that the stationary phase behaves as a reversed-phase packing and its separation selectivity is much better than that of not only Zorbax C(18) phase but also diamino-bonded phase. Some sulfonamides and quinolones were separated on the stationary phase, but the separation of sulfonamides is far more successful.

[Preparation of molecularly imprinted chiral monolithic column and its applications for separation of diastereomers].

A cinchonine imprinted chiral monolithic column was prepared for the separation of the diastereomers of cinchonine and cinchonidine by in-situ molecular imprinting technique. This type of molecularly imprinted column can be prepared only by a single-step procedure. In order to improve the selectivity and efficiency, a new in-situ molecular imprinting polymerization system was introduced by adopting porogenic solvents of toluene and 1-dodecanol with relatively low polarity and appropriate ratios of polymerization mixture. Diastereomers of cinchonine and cinchonidine were fully separated both under isocratic and gradient elutions on the chiral monolithic column. The broad peak shown in isocratic elution could be improved in gradient elution. Effects of mobile phase composition, flow rate and temperature on retention and separation factor were investigated. Due to the large throughput pores in the chiral monolithic column, low backpressure was observed during the separation process and a separation factor of 3.18 was obtained at 1.0 mL/min. The increase of temperature could improve the separation factor and a maximum separation factor of 5.40 was obtained at 60 degrees C.