An indirect comparison meta-analysis of noninvasive intravesical instillation and intravesical injection of botulinum toxin-A in bladder disorders.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) intravesical instillation and BTX-A intravesical injection are both effective treatments or overactive bladder (OAB) and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), but direct comparative studies of the two treatments are lacking. METHODS: We conducted a pairs-comparison meta-analysis and an adjusted indirect comparison meta-analysis extracting published data from randomized controlled trials in literature databases from the inception of each database to Aug. 31, 2021, evaluating efficacy and safety of BTX-A intravesical instillation and BTX-A intravesical injection. We also carried out a subgroup analysis. RESULTS: We identified 24 trials in 21 studies were included in our study, of which 18 trials in 17 studies were BTX-A intravesical injections, 6 trials in 4 studies were BTX-A intravesical instillation. Compared with the normal saline injection, BTX-A intravesical injections for patients with OAB and IC/ BPS can obviously improve the symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency episode, UI and UUI, but BTX-A significantly increased the rate of urinary retention and urinary tract infection and increased PVR (p < 0.05). Adjusted indirect comparison meta-analysis showed that BTX-A intravesical injections was more effective than BTX-A intravesical instillation (p > 0.05). Surprisingly, BTX-A intravesical instillation had fewer side effects than BTX-A intravesical injections (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although BTX-A intravesical injections of OAB and IC/BPS has been significantly superior the BTX-A intravesical instillation, it has major side effects, but this needs to be confirmed by more large-scale, multicenter, direct comparison randomized controlled trials.

Electroacupuncture improves learning and memory functions in a rat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway activation.

Electroacupuncture has been widely used to treat cognitive impairment after cerebral ischemia, but the underlying mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. Studies have shown that autophagy plays an important role in the formation and development of cognitive impairment, and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway plays an important role in autophagy regulation. To investigate the role played by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the electroacupuncture treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rat models, we first established a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion through the occlusion of the middle cerebral artery using the suture method. Starting at 2 hours after modeling, electroacupuncture was delivered at the Shenting (GV24) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints, with a dilatational wave (1-20 Hz frequency, 2 mA intensity, 6 V peak voltage), for 30 minutes/day over 8 consecutive days. Our results showed that electroacupuncture reduced the infarct volume in a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, increased the mRNA expression levels of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-related factors Beclin-1, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and PI3K, increased the protein expression levels of phosphorylated Akt, Beclin-1, PI3K, and mTOR in the ischemic cerebral cortex, and simultaneously reduced p53 mRNA and protein expression levels. In the Morris water maze test, the latency to find the hidden platform was significantly shortened among rats subjected to electroacupuncture stimulation compared with rats without electroacupuncture stimulation. In the spatial probe test, the number of times that a rat crossed the target quadrant was increased in rats subjected to electroacupuncture stimulation compared with rats without electroacupuncture stimulation. Electroacupuncture stimulation applied to the Shenting (GV24) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and improved rat learning and memory impairment. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China (approval No. 8150150901) on March 10, 2016.

Catgut implantation at acupoints increases the expression of glutamate aspartate transporter and glial glutamate transporter-1 in the brain of rats with spasticity after stroke.

Catgut implantation at acupoints has been shown to alleviate spasticity after stroke in rats. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we used the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model of stroke. Three days after surgery, absorbable surgical catgut sutures were implanted at Dazhui (GV14), Jizhong (GV6), Houhui, Guanyuan (CV4) and Zhongwan (CV12). The Zea Longa score was used to assess neurological function. The Modified Ashworth Scale was used to evaluate muscle tension. The 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride assay was used to measure infarct volume. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST) and glial glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) expression. Western blot assay was used to analyze the expression of GLAST and GLT-1. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction were carried out to assess the expression of GLAST and GLT-1 mRNAs. After catgut implantation at the acupoints, neurological function was substantially improved, muscle tension was decreased, and infarct volume was reduced in rats with spasticity after stroke. Furthermore, the expression of GLAST and GLT-1 mRNAs was increased on the injured (left) side. Our findings demonstrate that catgut implantation at acupoints alleviates spasticity after stroke, likely by increasing the expression of GLAST and GLT-1.

Clinicopathological features of cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis associated with HBV infection: a retrospective analysis of 8 cases in China.

AIMS: We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathologic features of 8 cases of hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis with hyaline thrombi, to confirm the diagnosis of cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis (CRYGN) associated with HBV infection. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was carried out with demographic information, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, pathological and prognostic features. RESULTS: The median age of 8 patients was 30.5 years (range, 21-75 years), including 6 males and 2 femles (M:F = 3:1). One patient had Raynaud's syndrome. Cryoglobulin testing was performed in 4 cases of our series, and 3 cases had elevated cryocrit (>256). Serum C4 decreased in all detected cases. Histopathologically, all cases showed hyaline thrombi occluded in capillary lumina; Co-deposit of IgG, IgM, IgA, Fib, C3d, C4d, C1q, HBsAg and HBcAb were identified in hyaline deposit/hyaline thrombi with polyclonal Igκ and Igλ staining. Ultrastructural examination confirmed the hyaline thrombi to be huge electron-dense bodies, which were a homogeneous texture. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that 8 cases in the series are CRYGN associated with HBV infection. The incidence of CRYGN associated HBV was extremely low. Our series suggested that prognosis of CRYGN associated HBV was better in patients with mild symptoms, but it was poor in elder patients with severe vasculitis.

[Effect of mineral trioxide aggregate on proliferation and differentiation of rat dental papilla cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of mineral trioxide aggregate(MTA) on the proliferation and differentiation of rat dental papilla cells(RDPC). METHODS: RDPC were cultured by tissue block method and identified.RDPC of the third passage were cultured with material extract fluid containing different mass concentrations of MTA (0.002, 0.02,0.2, 2 and 20 g/L) for 3 d, those cultured with routine culture fluid served as control group. The proliferation-related parameters were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay. RDPC were cultured with material extract fluids containing 0.002 g/L MTA, those cultured with routine culture fluid served as control group, the activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) at 1, 3,5, 7 d and the level of collagen I at 1, 3,5 d were detected. RESULTS: MTT results showed that the A value of RDPC of group 20 g/L (0.092 ± 0.011) was less than that of the control group (0.249 ± 0.006) at 3 d(P < 0.01), the A value of RDPC of group 0.02 g/L (0.267 ± 0.005) and 0.002 g/L (0.276 ± 0.006) were more than that of the control group (0.249 ± 0.006) at 3 d(P < 0.01). ALP detection proved that ALP activity of MTA at 3 d (0.217 ± 0.008), 5 d (0.253 ± 0.005) , 7 d (0.279 ± 0.004) were more than that of the control group at 3 d (0.166 ± 0.006) ,5 d (0.221 ± 0.006), 7 d (0.242 ± 0.004) (P < 0.01). Collagen I detection showed that the level of collagen I of MTA at 3 d[(78.46 ± 2.72) µg/L], 5 d[(90.73 ± 3.08) µg/L] were more than that of the control group at 3 d[ (66.75 ± 3.08) µg/L], [5 d (74.27 ± 3.50) µg/L] (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: MTA of high concentrations can significantly inhibit cell growth, and of low concentrations can promote cells proliferation and differentiation.

Effect of mineral trioxide aggregate on proliferation and differentiation of rat dental papilla cells / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of mineral trioxide aggregate(MTA) on the proliferation and differentiation of rat dental papilla cells(RDPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RDPC were cultured by tissue block method and identified.RDPC of the third passage were cultured with material extract fluid containing different mass concentrations of MTA (0.002, 0.02,0.2, 2 and 20 g/L) for 3 d, those cultured with routine culture fluid served as control group. The proliferation-related parameters were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay. RDPC were cultured with material extract fluids containing 0.002 g/L MTA, those cultured with routine culture fluid served as control group, the activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) at 1, 3,5, 7 d and the level of collagen I at 1, 3,5 d were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MTT results showed that the A value of RDPC of group 20 g/L (0.092 ± 0.011) was less than that of the control group (0.249 ± 0.006) at 3 d(P < 0.01), the A value of RDPC of group 0.02 g/L (0.267 ± 0.005) and 0.002 g/L (0.276 ± 0.006) were more than that of the control group (0.249 ± 0.006) at 3 d(P < 0.01). ALP detection proved that ALP activity of MTA at 3 d (0.217 ± 0.008), 5 d (0.253 ± 0.005) , 7 d (0.279 ± 0.004) were more than that of the control group at 3 d (0.166 ± 0.006) ,5 d (0.221 ± 0.006), 7 d (0.242 ± 0.004) (P < 0.01). Collagen I detection showed that the level of collagen I of MTA at 3 d[(78.46 ± 2.72) µg/L], 5 d[(90.73 ± 3.08) µg/L] were more than that of the control group at 3 d[ (66.75 ± 3.08) µg/L], [5 d (74.27 ± 3.50) µg/L] (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MTA of high concentrations can significantly inhibit cell growth, and of low concentrations can promote cells proliferation and differentiation.</p>

[Clinical study on Zhuyu Tongfu serial recipe combined with acupuncture and massotherapy in treating hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and mechanism of Zhuyu Tongfu (ZYTF) Serial Recipe combined with acupuncture and massotherapy in treating hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage (HCH). METHODS: One hundred and eighteen patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, on the basis of conventional Western medicine treatment, were randomly divided into ZYTF combined with acupuncture and massotherapy group (treated group) and simple Western medicine group (control group); the clinical efficacy, neurofunction deficit scoring (NDS) alterations and hematoma absorption rate of both groups were observed, and also the plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, plasma lipid peroxidase (LPO) content, erythrocyte glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, hematocrit (Ht) and the whole blood viscosity (Va) change were also observed. RESULTS: In the treated group, the clinical efficacy, NDS improvement and hematoma absorption rate were superior to that of the control group; comparison between the two groups after treatment showed that plasma SOD activity and GSH-Px activity got more elevated and plasma LPO content, Ht and Va more lowered in the the treated group than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: ZYTF combined with acupuncture and massotherapy has better effect, its therapeutic mechanism was possibly correlated to the elevation of plasma SOD activity, GSH-Px activity and lowering of plasma LPO content, Ht and Va.

Effect of daidzein on antiarrhythmia / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Daidzein on Antiarrhythmia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The conventional antiarrhythmia methods were used.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Daidzein was remarkedly effective in preventing ventricular fibrillation induced by chloroform in mice and arrhythmia induced by aconitine in rats. The arrhythmia induced by adrenalin in rabbits was antagonized by Daidzein and it could obviously inhibit the action potential amplitude of isolated sciatic nerves in toads. And it could also prevent ventricular fibrillation induced by calcium chloride in rats, and obviously reduce the death rate of rats. Its anti-arrhythmic effect was dose-dependent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Daidzein has obvious protective effect on drug-induced arrhythmia, which may be related to its inhibition of Na+ or Ca2+ influx and its blocking beta-adrenergic receptor.</p>