[Effect of heat-reinforcing needling on expression of P2X7R, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in synovial tissues of knee joint in rabbits with cold syndrome rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of heat-reinforcing needling on the expression of purinergic ligand-gated ion channel 7 receptor(P2X7R)，Nodlike receptor protein 3(NLRP3) and Caspase-1 in synovium tissues of knee joint of rabbits with cold syndrome rheumatoid arthritis(RA)，so as to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of heat reinforcing needling in the treatment of RA. METHODS: Thirty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, model group, reinforcing-reducing needling group(RRG), heat-reinforcing needling group(HRG), and antagonist group(AG), with 6 rabbits in each group.The model of cold syndrome RA was established by ovalbumin combined with Freund's adjuvant and cryogenic freezing. Rabbits of RRG and HRG were treated with corresponding acupuncture techniques on both sides of "Zusanli"(ST36) for 30 min, once a day for 7 days; Rabbits of the AG was intraperitoneally injected with A438079(2.5 mg/kg), once a day for 7 days. After intervention, color Doppler ultrasound was used to observe the joint cavity effusion, synovial thickness and internal blood flow signal.The histomorphological changes of synovial tissues were observed by HE staining. Quantitative real-time PCR method was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of P2X7R, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 in synovial tissues. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of interleukin(IL)-1ß, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in synovial tissues. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the synovial tissues in the model group was thickened, linear and punctate blood flow signals were increased, joint effusion was obvious, synovial coating cells were enlarged, the synovial matrix was severely hyperplasia, inflammatory cells infiltration was obvious.The mRNAs expression levels of P2X7R, NLRP3, Caspase-1 and IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α proteins in synovial tissues were significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with model group, abnormal blood flow signals, synovial thickness, joint effusion, proliferation of synovial matrix, inflammatory cell infiltration and synovial coating cells in the RRG, HRG and AG were improved. The mRNAs expression levels of P2X7R, NLRP3, Caspase-1 and IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α proteins in synovial tissues were decreased in the RRG, HRG and AG (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the RRG, the above indexes were lower in the HRG and AG (P<0.05, P<0.01).There was no significant difference in all indexes above between the HRG and AG (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Heat reinforcing needling can improve synovial inflammation of RA, which may be related to regulating the expressions of P2X7R/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway.

[Acupuncture technique of Jingou Diaoyu combined with speech rehabilitation training for post-stroke motor aphasia].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of the acupuncture technique of Jingou Diaoyu combined with speech rehabilitation training and speech rehabilitation training alone for post-stroke motor aphasia. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with post-stroke motor aphasia were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with basic treatment and speech rehabilitation training; on the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with the acupuncture technique of Jingou Diaoyu at Yamen (GV 15), Jinjin (EX-HN 12), Yuye (EX-HN 13), and Hegu (LI 4) etc., once a day, 6 days per week, for a total of 4 weeks. The speech function score, aphasia grade, daily life speech ability score of the two groups before and after treatment were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 94.3% (33/35) in the observation group, which was superior to 80.0% (28/35) in the control group (P<0.05). In addition to listening comprehension, each score of speech function in the two groups was significantly increased after treatment (P<0.05), and the increasing in the observation group was greater than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the aphasia grade of the two groups were improved (P<0.05), and the aphasia grade in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of daily life speech ability in the two groups were significantly improved (P<0.05), and the increasing in the observation group was greater than that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The acupuncture technique of Jingou Diaoyu combined with speech rehabilitation training could improve the speech function of patients with post-stroke motor aphasia, and its curative effect is superior to the speech rehabilitation training alone.