[Effects of acupotomy on partial movement gait and serum tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß in patients with knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore effects of acupotomy on pain, function, gait and serum inflammatory factors in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA). METHODS: From December 2017 to June 2019, 110 patients with KOA were collected and divided into acupotomy group(56 cases) and western medicine group(54 cases) by using random number table method. In acupotomy group, there were 16 males and 40 females, aged from 46 to 74 years old with an average of (62.98±6.68) years old, the course of disease ranged from 1 to 240 months with an average of 24.5(15.25, 33.00) months;were treated with acupotomy on the pain points around knee joint once a week for 3 weeks. In western medicine group, there were 18 males and 36 females, aged from 47 to 73 years old with an average of (64.19±5.98 ) years old;the course of disease ranged from 1 to 220 months with an average of 25.00(13.75, 33.00) months;were took celecoxib capsule orally, 200 mg once a day for 3 weeks. Oxford Knee Score(OKS) was performed before treatment, 3 weeks and 3 months after treatment. Gait kinematics analysis and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) were measured before and after treatment for 3 weeks. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months with an average of(15.03±4.55) months. OKS between two groups decreased significantly at 3 weeks and 3 months after treatment(P<0.001). Functional scores and overall scores in acupotomology group were significantly decreased at 3 months compared with 3 weeks after treatment(P<0.001). OKS of acupotomy group were significantly lower than those of western medicine group at 3 weeks and 3 months after treatment(P<0.05). Gait speed, frequency and length between two groups were significantly improved at 3 weeks after treatment(P<0.05). At 3 weeks after treatment, gait freguency of acupotomy group was significantly improved compared with western medicine group(P<0.05). TNF-α and IL-1ß were significantly lower in both groups at 3 weeks after treatment than before treatment(P<0.05). At 3 weeks after treatment, level of IL-1 ß was lower in western medicine group than in acupotomy group(P<0.05), and difference in TNF-α level was not statistically significant(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupotomology of pain points could significantly improve pain, function, gait, and decreased serum inflammatory factors at early to mid stage of KOA patients, in particular, it is superior to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in terms of knee function recovery and cadence improvement.

[Experimental study on improvement of blood supply timeliness of rabbits with vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis by massage].

OBJECTIVE: Establishing a rabbit model of vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis(CSA) and to observe the characteristics of timeliness in improving the blood flow of vertebral artery by massage, and discusse the material basis of this timeliness based on NPY and ET-1. METHODS: Fifty New Zealand healthy and white rabbits, 6-month-old, the body mass of (2.0±0.5) kg, with half males and half females, were randomly divided into blank group, model group, three massage groups(including massage for 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min group by random number table), 10 rabbits in each group. In addition to the blank group, CSA rabbit model was made by injection of sclerosing agent in other groups. The rabbits of massage for 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min groups received the massage therapy of corresponding duration, one times a day, continuous 10 days. The blood flow of vertebral artery in each group was detected by PeriFlux5000 laser doppler, and the contents of NPY and ET-1 in serum were detected by ELISA before and after treatment. RESULTS: Changes in blood flow of vertebral artery before and after treatment:there was no significant difference between model group and massage for 10 min group;there was significant difference between model group and massage for 20, 30 min groups(P<0.01); there was significant difference between massage for 10 min group and massage for 20, 30 min groups(P<0.01); there was no significant difference between massage for 20 min group and massage for 30 min group. Changes of NPY content before and after treatment: there was significant difference between model group and massage for 10 min group(P<0.05); there was significant difference between model group and massage for 20, 30 min groups(P<0.01); there was significant difference between massage for 10 min group and massage for 20, 30 min groups(P<0.01); there was no significant difference between massage for 20 min group and massage for 30 min group. Changes of ET-1 content before and after treatment:there was no significant difference between model group and massage for 10 min group;there was significant difference between model group and massage for 20, 30 min groups(P<0.01); there was significant difference between massage for 10 min group and massage for 20 min, 30 groups (P<0.01); there was no significant difference between massage for 20 min group and massage for 30 min group. CONCLUSIONS: Massage needed 20 min for rabbits with CSA can only significantly improve the blood flow of vertebral artery. However, prolonging the time of massage has no obvious effect. The material basis of this timeliness characteristic of massage is closely related to the change of NPY and ET-1 levels in serum.

Blood pH in coronary artery microthrombosis of rats

OBJECTIVE@#To study the mechanism and significance of pH change in the coronary artery microthrombosis of rats.@*METHODS@#After the sodium laurate-induced model of coronary artery microthrombosis of rats was constructed, the vascular endothelial cells were separated and then cultured in the mediums with different pH values for 24 h. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the content of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in the medium; while the real-time PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the expression of fibrinogen-like protein 2 (FGL2) at the mRNA and protein level. The comprehensive evaluation was performed to discuss the effect of pH change on the coronary artery microthrombosis of rats.@*RESULTS@#The expression level of vWF detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was 336.67 ± 24.95, 311.33 ± 14.98, 359.67 ± 39.63, 354.67 ± 49.01 and 332.00 ± 33.42 (pg/mL) respectively; while the expression of vWF in the model group was 570.00 ± 57.94, 524.67 ± 57.94, 437.00 ± 95.38, 415.33 ± 44.38 and 444.67 ± 74.31 respectively. Being cultured under the different pH values, the relative expression level of FGL2 mRNA in the model group was 7.93 ± 0.93, 6.70 ± 0.70, 5.03 ± 0.32, 5.13 ± 0.40 and 5.57 ± 0.83 respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The coronary artery microthrombosis of rats can cause the high expression and secretion of vWF. Meanwhile, FGL2 is also up-regulated in the thrombosis and such up-regulation is more significant in the condition with low pH, which indicates that the low pH condition may be one of factors that contribute to the cardiovascular diseases.

Blood pH in coronary artery microthrombosis of rats

Objective: To study the mechanism and significance of pH change in the coronary artery microthrombosis of rats. Methods: After the sodium laurate-induced model of coronary artery microthrombosis of rats was constructed, the vascular endothelial cells were separated and then cultured in the mediums with different pH values for 24 h. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the content of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in the medium; while the real-time PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the expression of fibrinogen-like protein 2 (FGL2) at the mRNA and protein level. The comprehensive evaluation was performed to discuss the effect of pH change on the coronary artery microthrombosis of rats. Results: The expression level of vWF detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was 336.67 ± 24.95, 311.33 ± 14.98, 359.67 ± 39.63, 354.67 ± 49.01 and 332.00 ± 33.42 (pg/mL) respectively; while the expression of vWF in the model group was 570.00 ± 57.94, 524.67 ± 57.94, 437.00 ± 95.38, 415.33 ± 44.38 and 444.67 ± 74.31 respectively. Being cultured under the different pH values, the relative expression level of FGL2 mRNA in the model group was 7.93 ± 0.93, 6.70 ± 0.70, 5.03 ± 0.32, 5.13 ± 0.40 and 5.57 ± 0.83 respectively. Conclusions: The coronary artery microthrombosis of rats can cause the high expression and secretion of vWF. Meanwhile, FGL2 is also up-regulated in the thrombosis and such up-regulation is more significant in the condition with low pH, which indicates that the low pH condition may be one of factors that contribute to the cardiovascular diseases.

Association of β-adrenergic receptor genes polymorphisms with incidence of subsequent cardiovascular events in Han Chinese patients with coronary artery disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Sequence variants in the β-adrenergic receptor (ADRB) genes have a close relationship with the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the patient's prognosis. However, there is a lack of data on the role of the variants in ADRBs genes in Han Chinese patients with CAD. We aimed to investigate the association of genetic variants in the ADRB1 and ADRB2 genes with the incidence of major adverse cardiac event (MACE) in Han Chinese patients with CAD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 545 Han Chinese patients with CAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were recruited to the study and followed for one year. Three variant sites in ADRB1 (rs1801253) and ADRB2 (rs1042713 and rs1042714) were genotyped. The effect of the ADRB1 and ADRB2 genotypes on MACE within one year was assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 47 cases of MACE during follow-up. There was no significant difference in the incidence of MACE among patients carrying different genotypes of the three variants in ADRB1 and ADRB2 (Log-rank, all P > 0.05). Cox regression analysis showed no association between three variants in ADRB1 and ADRB2 genes and the incidence of MACE during one-year follow-up, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for rs1801253, rs1042713 and rs1042714 were 1.05 (0.54-2.02), 1.24 (0.58-2.64) and 1.66 (0.81-3.42), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data did not support a relationship between the three polymorphisms of ADRB1 (rs1801253) and ADRB2 (rs1042713 and rs1042714) genes and risk of subsequent cardiovascular events after PCI in Han Chinese patients with CAD.</p>

[Glucoamylase enhancement regulated by blue light in Aspergillus niger].

Regulation of glucoamylase production in photoinduced A. niger under blue light were investigated. The results showed that continuous illumination of blue light was effective in promotion of conidiation, leading to more glucoamylase production due to the need of sporulation in A. niger. It was clear that 36h-old mycelium grown in dark was in the developmental stage of formation of conidiophore stalk and was most sensitive to BL A. niger cultures exhibited some competence stage to respond to blue light over a period of 36 h when early conidiophore stalk formed in darkness, and photoinduction at this critical period resulted in relatively higher yield of glucoamylase. The fluence-response data generated with blue light indicated that the optimum fluence required for the photomorphogenetic response in A. niger was no less than 450 (mol/m2 x s) to saturate the photoinduction system. The amount of glucoamylase gene (G1) transcripts accumulated during illumination with blue light was more than that in total darkness, whereas the threshold for G1 induction during illumination with increased gradient light was higher than that exposed directly to light of constant fluence, indicating the existence of a light adaptation mechanism for glucoamyalse production in response to blue light. Nevertheless, both high and low light were able to promote glucoamylase producing. Furthermore, suppression subtractive hybridization experiment revealed that some respiratory chain redox enzymes in mitochondria including alternative oxidase as well as sulfhydryl oxidase participated the photoresponse in A. niger and consequently influenced the metabolism. The results support a possibility of designing strategies to improve glucoamylase yield by application of blue light.

[Study on the asexual sporulation of Aspergillus niger under blue light induction and analysis of its subtractive library].

The effect of blue light (BL) on the morphological development of Aspergillus niger was studied by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation. Comparing with the darkness, BL was able to stimulate development of sporangiophore and conidiosphore, promote grownth of mycelium. Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was conducted with tester cDNA which was from 39 to approximately 40h-old mycelium cultured under darkness and driver cDNA which was from mycelium illuminated for 3 to approximately 4h under BL after dark growth. Some cDNA bands were obtained by suppression PCR (polymerase chain reaction) with the subtractive cDNA. Positive bacterial clones were randomly picked and identified by colony PCR method. Through sequence alignments from GenBank, most of differential cDNA fragments were highly identical with some redox enzymes existing in mitochondria, and the quantitative measurement of these differential mRNA by real time RT-PCR indicated that relative expression of the identified gene fragments under BL induction was higher than that under darkness. Furthermore, the result suggested that some respiratory chain redox enzymes of mitochondria were involved in the photoresponse and consequently influence the metabolism. Among differential cDNA fragments two unkown sequences were found and their complete gene and gene function remained to be investigated.

[Effect of blue light on conidiation development and glucoamylase enhancement in Aspergillus niger].

Pure blue (BL) or red light (RL) were obtained by filtering blue or red fluorescent lamp light through plastic filters. With the dark condition as control, the effect of BL and RL on the Aspergillus niger were studied including soluble protein content of mycelium, glucoamylase activity, the biomass as well as sporangiophore photomorphogenesis and vegetative spore development. Irradiation with BL and RL wholly promoted glucoamylase activity together with the rise of the soluble protein content and the mycelium growth. The glucoamylase activity of mycelia culture under blue light was enhanced 2.54 times than that of control. In the phases of developmental growth (young mycelia and sporangiophores), glucoamylase activity and relative conductivity ratio of mycelium were higher under blue light than under dark, the enhanced glucoamylase activity likely stemmed from development of macrosporangiophores of Aspergillus niger promoted by blue light. In addition, the increase of glucoamylase activity under blue light was highest at the stage of macrosporangiophores forming and conidiation, then declined owing to spores aging. As to young microsporangiophores under darkness the glucoamylase activity just relatively increased and declined rapidly with age. Different from control, irradiation with blue light at the time of 72 h after inoculation was able to stimulate development of macrosporangiophore and conidium along with the rise of glucoamylase activity of Aspergillus niger.