Effect of acupuncture for regulating spleen and stomach on aspirin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupuncture for regulating spleen and stomach on aspirin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and explore the effect mechanism.@*METHODS@#A total of 68 T2DM patients complicated with aspirin resistance were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 34 cases in each one. On the base of the conventional treatment for diabetes, aspirin enteric-coated tablets were prescribed for oral administration, 100 mg each time, once daily in the control group. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, acupuncture was used for regulating spleen and stomach at Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Hegu (LI 4), etc., once daily. The treatment for 1 week was as one course and 4 courses of treatment were required totally in two groups. Before and After treatment, the indexes of platelet function (platelet aggregation rate [PAG] and salicylic acid concentration), the indexes of vascular endothelial function (6-keone prostaglandin F1α[6-keto-PGF1α], thromin B2 [TXB2] and cyclooxysynthase-2 [COX-2]), blood glucose (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], 2 h plasma glucose [2h PG] and glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c]), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), blood lipid indexes (total cholesterol [TC], triacylglycerol [TG], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]) and the total score of TCM symptoms were observed in the patients of two groups. Clinical therapeutic effect and safety was compared in the patients between the two groups after treatment and the recurrence rate of cardiocerebrovascular events was followed up 6 months after treatment.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, PAG, salicylic acid concentration, TXB2, COX-2, FPG, 2h PG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, LDL-C, TC, TG and the total scores of TCM symptoms were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture for regulating spleen and stomach combined with aspirin enteric-coated tablets relieve insulin resistance and reduces blood glucose and lipid as well as the recurrence rate of cardiocerebrovascular events in the patients with T2DM, which is probably related to the regulation of insulin resistance and the improvement of vascular endothelial function. This combined therapy achieves the better effect on aspirin resistance as compared with simple aspirin enteric-coated tablets.

Therapeutic Observation of Regulating Spleen-stomach Needling for Type 2 Diabetic Foot / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of needling method of regulating spleen-stomach in treating early-stage type 2 diabetic foot (DF).Method A hundred patients with early-stage type 2 DF were randomized into a treatment group and a control group,50 cases each.The two groups both received conventional treatment for diabetes.In addition,the treatment group was intervened by needling method of regulating spleen-stomach;the control group was given oral administration of Pancreatic kininogenase enteric-coated tablets.After 6-week treatment,the changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG),2-hour postprandial blood glucose (P2hBG),serum total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),6-keto-PGF1α and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) contents were observed.The clinical efficacies of the two groups were also compared.Result The total effective rate was 91.8％ in the treatment group versus 75.5％ in the control group,and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The levels of FBG,P2hBG,TC,TG,6-keto-PGF1α and TXB2 were significantly changed after the intervention in the two groups (P＜0.01,P＜0.05).The treatment group was significantly different from the control group in comparing each parameter after the intervention (P＜0.01,P＜0.05).Conclusion Needling method of regulating spleen-stomach is an effective method in treating early-stage type 2 DF,and can improve the progressive injury induced by abnormal glucose metabolism.

Identification of candidate target genes of pituitary adenomas based on the DNA microarray.

The present study aimed to explore molecular mechanisms involved in pituitary adenomas (PAs) and to discover target genes for their treatment. The gene expression profile GSE4488 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the Limma package and analyzed by two­dimensional hierarchical clustering. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses were performed in order to investigate the functions of DEGs. Subsequently, the protein­protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using Cytoscape software. DEGs were then mapped to the connectivity map database to identify molecular agents associated with the underlying mechanisms of PAs. A total of 340 upregulated and 49 downregulated DEGs in PA samples compared with those in normal controls were identified. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that DEGs were highly differentially expressed, indicating their aptness for distinguishing PA samples from normal controls. Significant gene ontology terms were positive regulation of immune system-associated processes for downregulated DEGs and skeletal system development for upregulated DEGs. Pathways significantly enriched by DEGs included extracellular matrix (ECM)­receptor interaction, the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand­receptor interaction. The PPI network was constructed with 117 nodes, 123 edges and CD44 and Gli2 as hub nodes. Furthermore, depudecin, a small molecule drug, was identified to be mechanistically associated with PA. The genes CD44 and Gli2 have important roles in the progression of PAs via ECM­receptor interaction and the Hh signaling pathway and are therefore potential target genes of PA. In addition, depudecin may be a candidate drug for the treatment of PAs.