Modulatory effects of acupuncture on brain networks in mild cognitive impairment patients.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging has been widely used to investigate the effects of acupuncture on neural activity. However, most functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have focused on acute changes in brain activation induced by acupuncture. Thus, the time course of the therapeutic effects of acupuncture remains unclear. In this study, 32 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment were randomly divided into two groups, where they received either Tiaoshen Yizhi acupuncture or sham acupoint acupuncture. The needles were either twirled at Tiaoshen Yizhi acupoints, including Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (EX-HN3), Neiguan (PC6), Taixi (KI3), Fenglong (ST40), and Taichong (LR3), or at related sham acupoints at a depth of approximately 15 mm, an angle of ± 60°, and a rate of approximately 120 times per minute. Acupuncture was conducted for 4 consecutive weeks, five times per week, on weekdays. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indicated that connections between cognition-related regions such as the insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, inferior parietal lobule, and anterior cingulate cortex increased after acupuncture at Tiaoshen Yizhi acupoints. The insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus acted as central brain hubs. Patients in the Tiaoshen Yizhi group exhibited improved cognitive performance after acupuncture. In the sham acupoint acupuncture group, connections between brain regions were dispersed, and we found no differences in cognitive function following the treatment. These results indicate that acupuncture at Tiaoshen Yizhi acupoints can regulate brain networks by increasing connectivity between cognition-related regions, thereby improving cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

RECK overexpression reduces invasive ability in ameloblastoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Ameloblastoma is a frequent odontogenic neoplasm characterized by local invasiveness and high risk of recurrence. Reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) is a tumor suppressor that inhibits metastasis and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of RECK overexpression on invasive potential in ameloblastoma cells. METHODS: Lentiviral vectors containing human RECK gene were created and subsequently stably transfected into immortalized ameloblastoma cell line hTERT(+) -AM. Functional characteristics of hTERT(+) -AM cells with stable RECK overexpression included proliferation, migration, invasion, and regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, MMP-9 measured by zymography or commercially available assays. RESULTS: The stable and higher expression of RECK mRNA and protein (P < 0.01) was detected in RECK-transfected hTERT(+) -AM cells. RECK overexpression caused a decrease in migration and invasion (P < 0.01) for hTERT(+) -AM cells and a decrease in activity of MMP-2, MMP-9 (P < 0.01). Proliferation was not affected by RECK overexpression (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of RECK gene significantly inhibited cell invasive ability of hTERT(+) -AM cells, suggesting RECK may be a new target for ameloblastoma treatment.

[Effect of shallow needling combined with acupoint application on the acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis].

OBJECTIVE: To search for an effective therapy for the acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis. METHODS: One hundred and twenty cases of facial paralysis patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with routine medication, and the observation group was treated with shallow needling combined with acupoint application using self-made "acupoint application formula for facial paralysis" on the basis of the routine medication. The acupoints of Yifeng (TE 17), Wangu (GB 12), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Qianzheng (EX-HN 17), Cuanzhu (BL 2) in affected side and Hegu (LI 4) in healthy side were selected as main acupoints for shallow needling, and Qianzheng (EX-HN 17), Dicang (ST 4), Yangbai (GB 14) and Wangu (GB 12), or Jiache (ST 6), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Quanliao (SI 18) and Yifeng (TE 17) were selected for acupoint application. The cure rate and the course of cured patients in both groups were compared. RESULTS: The cure rate of 88.3% (53/60) in observation group was superior to that of 66.7% (40/60) in control group (P < 0.01). The course of cured patients in observation group was obviously shorter than that of control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: On the basis of routine medication, shallow needling combined with acupoint application can improve the therapeutic effect and shorten the course for acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis.

Expression and role of metalloproteinase-2 and endogenous tissue regulator in ameloblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Ameloblastoma is a frequently encountered odontogenic benign tumor characterized by local invasiveness and high risk of recurrence. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 can degrade type IV collagen, one of the major components in the basement membrane, resulting in the promotion of tumor invasion, whereas it is under the influence of an activator, membrane type 1-MMP-14 and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases (TIMP)-2. The aim of this study was to investigate combinatorial role played by MMP-2, TIMP-2 and MMP-14 in ameloblastoma. METHODS: Transcriptional expression of MMP-2, TIMP-2 and MMP-14 in tissue extracts of 42 ameloblastomas and 10 dental follicles was detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and compared difference in clinical type and local recurrence of ameloblastoma. RESULTS: MMP-2, TIMP-2 and MMP-14 mRNA were detected in all investigated ameloblastoma tissues. While MMP-2 mRNA was only expressed in eight of 10 odontotheca tissues and TIMP- 2 and MMP-14 were not found in all odontotheca tissues. The mRNA expression of MMP-2, TIMP-2 and MMP-14 were significantly higher in ameloblastoma tissues than in odontotheca tissues. The mRNA levels of TIMP-2 and MMP-14 were significantly higher in recurrent and solid/multicystic ameloblastoma tissues than in primary and unicystic ameloblastoma tissues respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Of the MMP-2/TIMP-2/MMP-14 complex, a high expression of MMP-2, TIMP-2 and MMP-14 mRNA levels may contribute to the local invasive characteristics of ameloblastoma, whereas the local invasive capacity of ameloblastoma is more likely related to a high transcriptional levels of TIMP-2 and MMP-14.

Expression of RECK and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in ameloblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Ameloblastoma is a frequent odontogenic benign tumor characterized by local invasiveness, high risk of recurrence and occasional metastasis and malignant transformation. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) promotes tumor invasion and progression by destroying the extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane. For this proteolytic activity, the endogenous inhibitor is reversion-inducing cysteine rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK). The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between RECK and MMP-2 expression and the clinical manifestation of ameloblastoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were employed to detect the protein and mRNA expression of RECK and MMP-2 in keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT), ameloblastoma and ameloblastic carcinoma. RESULTS: RECK protein expression was significantly reduced in KCOT (87.5%), ameloblastoma (56.5%) and ameloblastic carcinoma (0%) (P < 0.01), and was significantly lower in recurrent ameloblastoma compared with primary ameloblastoma (P < 0.01), but did not differ by histological type of ameloblastoma. MMP-2 protein expression was significantly higher in ameloblastoma and ameloblastic carcinoma compared with KCOT (P < 0.01). RECK mRNA expression was significantly lower in ameloblastoma than in KCOT (P < 0.01), lower in recurrent ameloblastoma than in primary ameloblastoma, and was negative in ameloblastic carcinoma. MMP-2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in ameloblastoma compared with KCOT (P < 0.01), but was no different in recurrent ameloblastoma versus primary ameloblastoma. RECK protein expression was negatively associated with MMP-2 protein expression in ameloblastoma (r = -0.431, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Low or no RECK expression and increased MMP-2 expression may be associated with negative clinical findings in ameloblastoma. RECK may participate in the invasion, recurrence and malignant transformation of ameloblastoma by regulating MMP-2 at the post-transcriptional level.