Objective To observe the effect of electropuncture on activation of glial cells and neuronic ultrastructure in hippocampus of Alzheimer disease(AD) rats,and to investigate its protective effect on neuron.Methods AD rat model was established by microinjection of amyloid-beta protein(A?1-40) into the Meynert nucleus of rats,then randomly divided into normal group,sham operation group,model group and electropuncture group,14 rats in each.Electro-acupuncture was given at "baihui(DU 20)","taixi(KI 3)" and "zusanli(ST 36)"in the electro-acupuncture group;activation of glial cells in hippocampus was determined by immunohistochemistry,and ultrastructure of neurons was observed under transmission electron microscopy in all group of rats.Results A great number of glial cells were activated in model group with increase of the number,nerve cell degeneration,endoplasmic reticulum to expand,and chondriosome to swell.After treatment of electro-acupuncture,the number of activated glial cells decreased as compared with model group,and the ultrastructure returned to almost normal.Conclusions Electro-acupuncture treatment can decrease the number of activated glial cells of AD rats so as to protect the neurons.

Objective To isolate differently expressed cDNAs associated with vascular dementia from hippocampus of rats. Methods The creation of vascular dementia model of rat was by 4 vessel occlusion method. The learning and memory of vascular dementia(VaD) rats were examined by Morris water maze. RNA fingerprinting was used to analyse the differently expressed cDNAs in the hippocampus of normal aging and VaD rats. At the same time, cDNAs expressed differently during the progression of VaD were isolated. Results Thirty two candidate cDNA fragments were isolated by RNA fingerprinting. The two cDNA fragments specifically expressed in VaD rats were analysed by Northern blot. Homology analysis through BLAST revealed that these two were novel genes and were given numbers of BG937392 and BG937393 in the gene bank. Conclusions RNA fingerprinting is a simple and quick method for isolating differently expressed genes. These two new gene fragments may contribute significantly to the process of VaD as pathogenic genes or protective genes.

Objeetive To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on microglia, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-or (TNF-α) in the frontal lobes of rats modeling Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods Forty-eight normal SD rats 24 months old were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operated group, a model group and an EA group, with 12 rats in each group. The AD model was established by stereotaxic microinjection of agglutinated amyloid-beta protein (A1β-40, 1 μl, 10 μg/μl) into the rats' bilateral Meynert nucleus. The effects of EA applied to the rats' "Baihui" ( DU 20) "Taixi" ( KI 3 )" and "Zusanli" ( ST 36) acupoints were observed. The EA treatment was applied once a day for 6 days as a course. The next course of treatment was continued after one day's rest and the total treatment involved 2 courses. The activated mieroglia and the expression of IL-1β, and TNF-α in the frontal lobe were determined by immunohistochemistry method. Results The number of cells exhibiting microglia, IL-1β, or TNF-α in the frontal lobes of rats in the model group increased significantly, but after EA treat-ment, cells showing microglia, IL-1β, or TNF-α decreased remarkably. There were significant differences in compar-ison with the model group (P≤0. 01). Conclusion Electroacupuncture treatment can depress inflammatory reac-tion in the frontal lobe of AD rats and adjust the rats' immunologic state.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation for functional dyspepsia (FD), and to explore the plausible action mechanism.Method Seventy-two eligible FD patients were randomized into a treatment group (36 cases) and a control group (36 cases). In the treatment group, the FD patients were divided into four types, liver-qi stagnation, spleen-stomach qi-deficiency, liver-qi affecting stomach, damp-heat accumulated in stomach, to receive acupuncture at the corresponding points based on syndrome differentiation in addition to the basic points including Zhongwan (CV12), Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36), and Neiguan (PC6); the control group was given Itopride hydrochloride tablets. Before and after intervention, the symptomatic efficacy index and the MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), as well as serum Gastrin (GAS) content were observed in the two groups.Result The total effective rate was 94.1% in the treatment group, significantly higher than 63.9% in the control group (P＜0.01); after intervention, the improvement of symptomatic efficacy index in the treatment group was markedly better than that in the control group (P＜0.01); the improvements of the SF-36 component scores in the treatment group were markedly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation can obviously improve the symptoms of FD patients, gastrointestinal function, and the quality of life, which is possibly realized by regulating serum GAS, and thus this treatment protocol is proper to be the optimal protocol in clinic for FD.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of needling bilateral points Hegu (LI 4) before colonoscopy on the examined patients and the time of inserting colonoscope. Methods: 185 patients to receive colonoscopy were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (93 cases) and a control group (92 cases) in order of examination. Bilateral points Hegu (LI 4) were needled before colonoscopy in the acupuncture group. No preventive measures were taken in the control group.Pain grades during the period that colonoscope passes the sigmoid and transverse colons were observed and the time of inserting colonoscope was recorded. Results: One hundred and sixty-five patients underwent colonoscopic insertion successfully, which were taken as the effective cases. Of them, 84 cases were in the acupuncture group and 81 cases in the control group. Statistics indicated that pain grades during colonoscope's passing the sigmoid and transverse colons were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the control group (P＜ 0.01); the time of inserting colonoscope was significantly shorter in the acupuncture group than in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion: Needling bilateral points Hegu(LI 4) before colonoscopy can effectively relieve the patients'discomfort and shorten the colonoscopic time during the examination.

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of NF-?B in cerebral ischemia area of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats and the neuron apoptosis in cortex by EA on shuigou and neiguan (left) point, and study the protective effect and its mechanism of EA on the cerebral ischemia. Method Cerebral ischemia reperfusion model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 30 min and then removal, then EA shuigou and neiguan left points of experimental rats. Neuronal apoptosis in cortex was observed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL), NF-?B protein in the ischemia cortex was detected by immunohistochemistry. Result The neuronal apoptosis and the expression of NF-?B protein in the ischemia cortex was deteded of ischemia side of EA treatment groups were lower comparing with model group. Conclusion EA can lighten the neurons injury after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion by decreasing the expression of NF-?B protein and the neuronal apoptosis in the ischemia cortex.

Objective To research the function of the vagus nerve center nucleus of solitary tract(NTS)in the influence of gastric pressure by acupuncture at "Zusanli" in rats with motility disturbances of the stomach.Methods Adopting electrophysiological methods,the extracellular discharge signals of neuronic action in NTS were recorded with glass microelectrode.The influence of the discharges of NTS neurons and gastric pressure responding to the acupuncture at "Zusanli" point were observed in normal status and the condition of Atropine or Metoclopramide intravenous injection.Results In the normal status,acupuncture at "Zusanli" activated the discharges of NTS neurons and promote the gastric pressure remarkably.After Atropine intravenous injection,the background discharges of NTS neurons decreased.There was no statistical difference in the discharges responding to the effect of acupuncture before and after Atropine administration.And the gastric motion reinforced obviously by acupuncture at "Zusanli" after Atropine administration.But after intravenous injection of Metoclopramide,the background discharges of NTS neurons increased.There was also no statistical difference in the discharges responding to the effect of acupuncture before and after Metoclopramide administration.Moreover,the function of promoting gastric motion by acupuncture at "Zusanli" got more obviously after Metoclopramide administration.Conclusion The function of adjusting gastric motion by acupuncture at "Zusanli" point has close relation to the activation of NTS neurons,and the increasing amplitude of the discharges of NTS neurons wasn't influenced by cholinergic receptor blocker Atropine and dopamine-receptor antagonist Metoclopramide.

This study was aimed to probe into the mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A total of 40 male 15-month-old SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, moxibustion group and sham-operation group. Stereotactic injection of agglutinated Aβ25-35 into rat’s bilateral hippocampus was used to prepare AD models. Equal amount of normal saline was injected to rat’s bilateral hippocampus in the sham-operation group. Model rats were treated by moxibustion at the distance of 2-3 cm above points of‘BL23-Shenshu’, ‘ST36-Zusanli’ and ‘GV20-Baihui’. No intervention was given to rats in the normal group. The learning and memory ability was detected by Morris water maze test. Changes on expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 of hippocampus zone were detected by immunohistochemical method. The results showed that in the model group, the average escape latency of five days and the last three days were significantly lengthened. And the times across the platform position were significantly reduced. Compared with the normal group and the sham-operation group, expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 in the hippocampus were significantly increased, and the expression of Bcl-2 was obviously decreased (P < 0.01). In the moxibustion group, the average escape latency of five days and the last three days were shortened obviously, and the times across the platform position were significantly increased. Compared with the model group, expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly reduced, and the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased (P < 0.01). It was concluded that the action mechanism of AD treatment with moxibustion may be through the reducing of proapoptotic protein Bax and Caspase-3 releasing, promoting the releasing of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, so as to improve the learning and memory impairment caused by Aβ.

Objective To observe the effects of moxibustion on learning and memory ability and nerve cell ultrastructure in CA1 region of hippocampus of rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD);To discuss its mechanism of action to AD.Methods A total of 40 male SD mice was randomly divided into normal group, model group, moxibustion group and sham-operation group. Stereotactic injection agglutinated Aβ25-35 into bilateral hippocampus of rats in model group and moxibustion group to prepare AD models. Rats in moxibustion group were treated by moxibustion at the points which were located above 2-3 cm away from Shenshu, Zusanli and Baihui. Rats in normal group received no treatment. The learning and memory ability was detected by Morris water maze test. Morphological changes of rat nerve cell ultra structure in hippocampal CA1 region were observed by transmission electron microscope.Results In model group, the average escape latency of five days and the last three days was significantly lengthened, and the times across the platform position significantly decreased. Transmission electron microscope indicated nerve cell structures were damaged and displayed unclearly;mitochondrion swelled, even mitochondrial crista was abnormal and deformed, endoplasmic reticulum of inter organelle expanded and the deposition of lipofuscin increased. After the treatment by moxibustion, the average escape latency of five days and the last three days was shortened obviously, and the times across the platform position significantly increased. In moxibustion group, the edema of nerve cells significantly decreased;dilation of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria swelling significantly improved;golgi bodies, mitochondria and ribosomes obviously increased in comparison with the model group. Conclusion Moxibustion can improve the learning and memory impairment caused by Aβ by promoting repairing of nerve cells in brain.

Objective: To investigate the effect of phosphocreatine (PCr) on angiotensin II (Ang II) induced proliferation and collagen synthesis of cardiac ifbroblasts in neonatal rats with its mechanism.
Methods: The cardiac ifbroblasts (CF) from neonatal rats were cultured in vitro and were divided into 4 groups.①Control group, the CF was cultured in non-serum DMEM,②Ang II group, the CF was cultured with Ang II at (1×10-6) mol/L,③PCr treated group, the CF was cultured with PCr at 10 mmol/L, and④Ang II+PCr group. The CF cell cycle percentage was detected by lfow cytometric assay, myocardial collagen content was observed by VG staining and protein expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK1/2) was detected by immuneohistochemistry.
Results: ① Compared with Control group, the CF in Ang II group showed increased percentage of S phase and decreased percentage of G0/G1 and G2/M phases, increased collagen content and pERK1/2 protein expression, all P<0.01.② The CF cell cycle, collagen content and pERK1/2 protein expression were similar between Control group and PCr treated group, all P>0.05. ③ Compared with Control group, Ang II + PCr group had elevated pERK1/2 protein expression, P<0.01, while the CF cell cycle and collagen content were similar with Control group, P>0.05.④Compared with Ang II group, the CF in Ang II + PCr group had increased percentage of G0/G1 and G2/M phases, decreased percentage of S phase, decreased collagen content and pERK1/2 protein expression, all P<0.01.
Conclusion: PCr may partially inhibit Ang II induced CF proliferation and collagen synthesis which might be related to the inhibition of excessively activated ERK1/2. Therefore, PCr could improve Ang II induced myocardial ifbrosis in neonatal rats.