ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of abdominal catgut embedding therapy for chronic lumbago.Method Sixty patients with chronic lumbago were randomly allocated to abdominal catgut embedding (treatment) and abdominal acupuncture (control) groups, 30 cases each. An evaluation was made using the JOAscore in the two groupsbefore and after one month of treatment. The therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.ResultThere was a statistically significant difference in the JOA scale score between before and after one month of treatment in both groups (P<0.01,P<0.05) and between the treatment and control groups after one month of treatment (P<0.05); the total effective rate and recovery rate of the treatment group were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.01).ConclusionAbdominal catgut embedding therapy is more effective than acupuncture therapy for chronic lumbago.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein in preeclampsia(PE) model rats.

METHODSAdult SD rats were divided into PE model group (n=7) induced by endotoxin, normal pregnancy group (n=6) and non-pregnancy group (n=12) treated with an equal volume of saline. AQP4 protein expression in the brain of the rats was detected with immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe blood pressure in PE model rats (135∓9 mmHg) was significantly higher than that in normal pregnancy rats (116∓8 mmHg) and non-pregnancy rats (112∓6 mmHg) (P<0.02). The rats in PE model group showed obvious proteinuria compared with the other two groups (3.8∓0.5 vs 2.6∓0.6 and 2.3∓0.4, P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that AQP4 protein was localized primarily around the brain parenchymal blood vessels. Western analysis revealed a significantly elevated AQP4 protein expression in PE model group (39.6∓4.9) compared with that in normal pregnancy group (26.5∓4.3) and non-pregnancy group (9.7∓2.1) (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe up-regulation of AQP4 protein around the intraparenchymal blood vessels of the brain may play a role in the development of eclampsia.

Animals ; Aquaporin 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Pre-Eclampsia ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) signaling pathway during apoptosis in cardiomyocytes of rats with severe scald.Methods Twenty-four healthy adult male SpragueDawley rats,weighing 220-280 g,were divided into 3 groups (n=8 each) using a random number table method:control group (group C),severe scald group (group S) and dexmedetomidine group (group D).Thirty percent of the total body surface area was shaved on the back and then exposed to 94 ℃ water (with 37 ℃ warm water in group C) for 12 s to establish the model of third degree scald in pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rats.Dexmedetomidine 30 μg/kg (2 μg/ml) was intraperitoneally injected immediately after scald in group D.Rats received anti-shock treatment by intraperitoneal injection of isotonic saline according to Parkland formula,and group C received no injection.Rats were anesthetized using the method previously mentioned at 12 h after treatment,and myocardial specimens of the left ventricle were rapidly excised and stored at-80 ℃ for determination of cell apoptosis (by TUNEL) and expression of P13K,phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and phosphorylated GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β) (by Western blot).Apoptosis index (AI) was calculated.Results Compared with group C,AI was significantly increased,and the expression of P13K,p-Akt and p-GSK-3β was up-regulated in S and D groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group S,AI was significantly decreased,and the expression of P13K,p-Akt and p-GSK-3β was up-regulated in group D (P＜0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine inhibits apoptosis in cardiomyocytes through activating PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway in the rats with severe scald.