Effects of electroacupuncture on rats with cognitive impairment: An iTRAQ-based proteomics analysis.

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 ß1 (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.

[Effects of Electroacupuncture Stimulation of Zhongwan (CV 12) on Skin Microcirculatory Blood Perfusion Levels along the Conception Vessel in Yin-deficiency Constitution Volunteers].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at Zhongwan (CV 12) on the skin microcirculatory blood flow along the Conception Vessel (CV) in yin-deficiency constitution volunteers. METHODS: A total of 16 yin-deficiency constitution volunteers (9 woman and 6 men) from 200 students of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine finished a body constitution questionnaire and showed a yin-deficiency constitution. Skin microcirculatory blood perfusion units (MBPU) at Danzhong (CV 17), Xiawan (CV 10) , and Qihai (CV 6) of the CV were measured by using a Laser Doppler Flowmetry (Peri Flux 5000) in normal constitution, before and after EA stimulation of Zhongwan (CV 12) for 20 min. RESULTS: Under normal condition, the cutaneous MBPU values were significantly lower in the Qihai (CV 6) than in both Danzhong (CV 17) and Xiawan (CV 10) (P < 0.01). After EA stimulation of CV 12 for 20 min, the MBPU values were significantly decreased in the CV 17 and CV 6 acupoint regions compared with pre-stimulation (P < 0.05). No significant changes of skin MBPU were found in Xiawan (CV 10) after EA stimulation of CV 12 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA at Zhongwan (CV 12) can reduce the skin MBPU values of CV 6 and CV 17 of the Conception Vessel in yin-deficiency constitution volunteers.

[Amount Change of Peripheral Blood NK Cells in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies and Its Clinical Significance].

OBJECTIVE: To study the amount change of peripheral blood NK cells in patients with hematologic malignancies and its significance. METHODS: A total of 200 patients with hematologic malignancies in our hospital from June 2013 to March 2015 were chosen as study objects, out of them 105 patients were in aute stage and 95 patients were in remisson stage. At same time 100 people from healthy medical examination in our hospital were chosen as control group. The mumber change and subgroups of their peripheral blood NK cells were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: In control group the absolute number of NK cells was (412.91 ± 167.35)/µl, the relative number of NK cells was (13.31 ± 2.56) %; in group at acute stage of leukemia the absolute number of NK cells was (97.84 ± 23.18)/µl, the relative number of NK cells was (6.79 ± 0.78) %; in group at acute stage of lymphoma, the absolute number of NK cells was (101.79 ± 25.63)/µl, and the relative number of NK cells was (7.12 ± 1.03) %; in group at remission stage of leukemia, the absolute number was (297.17 ± 87.56)/µl, and the relative number was (10.15 ± 1.64) %; In group at remission of lymphoma, the absolute number of NK cells was (288.52 ± 118.52)/µl, and the relative number of NK cells was (10.82 ± 1.97) %. The number of NK cells between different groups showed statistical difference (P < 0.05). In remission group, the number of NK cells before and after treatment had statistical difference (P < 0.05). In control group, the number of CD56(bright) subgroup was (25.28 ± 4.72) %, the number of CD56(bright) subgroup at the acute stage of leukemia was (65.46 ± 11.21) %, and the number of CD56(bright) subgroup at the acute stage of lymphoma was (70.71 ± 12.14) %, the number of CD56(bright) subgroup at remission stage of leukemia was (23.35 ± 4.67) %, the number of CD56(bright) subgroup at remission stage of lymphoma was (24.89 ± 4.58) %. The number of CD56(bright) subgroup between different groups showed statistical significance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The number and function of peripheral blood NK cells in patients with hematologic malignancies have been confirmed to be obvious decrement, but after treatment the number of NK cells in those patients showed increment.

Variations in energy metabolism along the pericardium meridian and its relationship with visceral function adjustments during electroacupuncture.

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment guided by meridian theory. As it gradually gains more worldwide acceptance, a clarification of its mechanisms is extremely urgent. We observed variations in transcutaneous oxygen pressure/carbon dioxide pressure (tcpO2/tcpCO2) and microcirculation blood perfusion units (BPU) along the pericardium meridian, and cardiac function during EA at Neiguan (PC6) to explore variations in energy metabolism and its relationship with visceral function adjustments during EA. METHODS: Twenty-two healthy volunteers participated in this study. Three channel laser Doppler flowmetry and tcpO2/tcpCO2 detection systems were used to detect tcpO2/tcpCO2 and microcirculation BPU along the pericardium meridian. A hemodynamic monitor was used to detect cardiac function. RESULTS: In the normal state, the microcirculatory BPU along the pericardium meridian were significantly higher than that of their bilateral corresponding control points (p < 0.05). During EA at PC6, the values of the microcirculatory BPU along the pericardium meridian did not vary, and few increased. In the normal state, the values of tcpO2 along the pericardium meridian were significantly higher than those of their bilateral corresponding control points (p < 0.05). In addition, the values of tcpCO2 along the pericardium meridian were lower than those of their bilateral corresponding control points. In comparison with the normal state, EA could decrease tcpO2 along the meridian significantly (p < 0.05) and increase tcpCO2. During EA at PC6 in healthy volunteers treated by artificial acute mild hypoxia, cardiac output and cardiac index (p < 0.05) decreased and systemic vascular resistance increased significantly (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the normal state, the values of microcirculatory BPU and tcpO2 along the pericardium meridian were both higher than those of their bilateral corresponding control points. Energy metabolism was vigorous along the meridian. During EA, the decrease in oxygen partial pressure along the pericardium meridian might be a result of strengthened energy metabolism of associated tissue and increased oxygen consumption. The variations in energy metabolism along the pericardium meridian during the course of EA had a close relationship with visceral function adjustments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTRTRC13003193.

[Comparison of microcirculatory blood perfusion between acupoints of the stomach meridian and their bilateral control points and changes of blood flow after electroacupuncture in 21 volunteer subjects].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the difference of the microcirculatory blood perfusion between acupoints and non-acupoints of the Stomach Meridian and its bilateral control points and to analyze the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on subcutaneous microcirculatory perfusion in healthy volunteers. METHODS: A total of 21 healthy adult volunteers were recruited in the present study. Subcutaneous microcirculatory blood perfusion units (BPU) of Shangjuxu (ST 37), Liangqiu (ST 34), Yinshi (ST 33), Futu (ST 32) and non-acupoint (the midpoint between ST 33 and ST 32) of the Stomach Meridian and their bilateral on-meridian points were measured by using Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF, PeriFlux 5000). EA (0.5 Hz,duration 0.2 ms, 3-4 V) was applied to Zusanli (ST 36) for 10 min. The subcutaneous microcirculatory perfusion was detected under room temperature of (28 +/- 1) degree C and humidity of about 60% after inserting a single-use syringe needle into the subcutaneous tissues (about 1 cm in depth). RESULTS: In comparison with the bilateral control points, the subcutaneous microcirculatory BPU values of Shangjuxu (ST 37), Liangqiu (ST 34), Yinshi (ST 33), Futu (ST 32) and non-acupoint regions of the Stomach Meridian were significantly higher (P < 0.01). In comparison with pre-EA, the cutaneous microcirculatory BPU was increased mildly after EA of ST 36 (P > 0.05). Following EA for 5 to 10 min, the waveforms of LDF of the Stomach Meridian got regular and smooth. CONCLUSION: The microcirculatory blood perfusion of acupoints and non-acupoint of the Stomach Meridian in the deeper subcutaneous tissues are significantly higher than that of their bilateral corresponding control points, suggesting that subcutaneous microvascular blood flow may be the heat source for forming infrared radiation trace along the meridian in the human body observed in our past studies.

[Effect of electroacupuncture of different acupoints on electroretinogram and cerebral visual evoked potentials in healthy subjects].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of different acupoints on electroretinogram (ERG) and cerebral visual evoked potentials (VEP) in healthy subjects so as to evaluate the relative specificity of the function of acupoints. METHODS: A total of 33 healthy adult volunteers were observed in the present study. The subject was asked to lie on a testing bed for a while, two disk electrodes were respectively fixed to the suborbital region and the occiput (the crossing point, 5 cm apart from the right median line of the head and 5 cm above the ear), and the reference electrode was fixed to the medial side of the earlobe for recording ERG and cerebral VEP separately. The testing room was asked to keep faint light during the whole recording process. A flash stimulation (frequency 1 Hz) was applied to the subject's eye (with a distance of about 50 cm between the light source and the tested eye, and the other eye was covered by an eyepatch). EA (0.5 Hz, 0.2 ms and 3-4 V) was applied to Guangming (GB 37), Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) for 30 min respectively in different testing days (with the interval being 3 days at least). ERG and cerebral VEP were recorded by using Polygraphy (RM-6200). RESULTS: Following EA of Guangming (GB 37), Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36),the changing values (increase and decrease) of the amplitude of b waves of ERG and P100 waves of cerebral VEP were (19.68 +/- 12.61)% and (12.84 +/- 14.08)%, (6.09 +/- 14.06)% and (5.61 +/- 8.01)%, (2.39 +/- 3.52)% and (5.43 +/- 8.22)%, respectively, while those of b waves of ERG and P100 waves of cerebral VEP of GB 37 were significantly bigger than those of PC 6 and ST 36 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: EA of Guangming (GB 37)can significantly change the amplitude of both ERG and cerebral VEP in volunteer subjects, which is markedly bigger than those of EA of Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6), suggesting a relative specificity of the effect of EA of different acupoints.

[Photosynthetic physiological adaptabilities of Pinus tabulaeformis and Robinia pseudoacacia in the Loess Plateau].

With Yangling, Yongshou, Fuxian, Ansai, Mizhi and Shenmu, the s ix counties from the south to the north in the Loess Plateau as study sites, this paper studied thoe photosynthetic charac teristics and leaf traits of Pinus tabulaeformis and Robinia pseudoacacia. The results showed that among the six sites, there were significant differences in the photosynthetic rate (Pn), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), water use efficiency (WUE), leaf mass per area (LMA), nitrogen content (Nmass), and chlorophyll content (Chl) of P. tabulaeformis and R. pseudoacacia, suggesting that the photosynthetic capacity and leaf traits of the two species differed with sites. From the south to the north, the Pn, PNUE and WUE of P. tabulaeformis increased slightly while those of R. pseudoacacia decreased significantly, indicating that in drought habitat, P. tabulaef6rmis could still maintain high photosynthetic capacity, hut the photosynthetic capacity of R. pseudoacacia was greatly restrained. Also from the south to the north, the LMA of P. tabulaeformis and R. pseudoacacia had a slight increasing trend, while Nmass and Chl decreased slightly. The variation ranges of the three parameters were greater for R. pseudoacacia than for P. tabulaeformis, indicating that P. tabulaeformis had stronger drought-tolerant capability than R. pseudoacacia, which was not only exhibited in physiological metabolism, but also in leaf morphological acclimation. The correlation analysis between photosynthetic parameters and leaf traits of P. tabulaeformis and R. pseudoacacia in the six sites showed that there was a significant negative correlation between LMA and Nmass. The Pn and PNUE of both test species had no correlations with LMA and Nmass, but had significant positive correlation with Chl. The WUE of the species was negatively correlated with LMA, but positively correlated with Nmass.