The physiological mechanism underlying the acupoint sensitization was evaluated systemically by using the method of electric physiology at spinal cord, medulla, and thalamus levels; the dynamic change of acupoint from the relative "silence" to the relative "activation" function was explained through the study on the dynamic process of acupoint sensitization; the biological process of the therapeutic effect of acupoint stimulation was illuminated through the research of the central mechanism underlining the dose effect relationship between the sensitive acupoint and the related brain area, thus scientific evidence for the functional link between the acupoint and internal organs as well as the nature of the acupoint were provided.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Nociceptors ; physiology ; Sensation ; Viscera ; innervation ; physiology ; Visceral Afferents ; physiology

Objective To investigate the effect of early intervention on the quality of life of patients with post-stroke depression. Methods A total of 246 patients with post-stroke depression assessed by self-rated depression scale (SDS) were divided into control group (n=92) and intervention group in which oral antidepressants were prescribed (n=154). All the patients were assessed with Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), modified Barthel index (MBI) and quality of life index (QLI) at the beginning and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the antidepression therapy, and the results were analyzed statistically. Results Compared with the control group, the patients receiving early intervention of post-stroke depression had lowered HAMD score, increased MBI score and QLI score at 1, 3, and 6 months after the treatment (P<0.05), with also obvious relief of depression, improved ability of daily activity and quality of life. Conclusion Early intervention of post-stroke depression may improve the depression and promote the recovery of bodily functions of the patients to increase their satisfaction with life and quality of life.

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations and MRI features in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) leading to intractable hiccup and nausea (IHN). Methods We collected the data of 17 patients with NMO and analyzed the clinical profiles and MRI features in patients that also complicated with IHN. Results IHN was a common clinical manifestation in patients with NMO: of 17 with NMO, 8 were complicated with IHN (47.5%), having IHN and diplopia and nystagmus symptoms; 6 appeared MRI-detected linear medullary lesion (LML) and linear medullespinal lesion (LMSL) in the spinal cord. The cord lesions extended over three vertebral segments and centered on central canal of spinal cord; most cord lesions preferentially involved the posterior or lateral horn of spinal cord on axial T2. Conclusion NMO leading to IHN is clinically manifested by IHN, and diplopia, and a linear medullary or medullospinal lesion often appears in the spinal cord and medulla. The cord lesions are centered on the central canal of the spinal cord and mainly involve in the posterior or lateral horn of the spinal cord. All these manifestations and MRI features are the distinctive characteristics of NMO, which can be differentiated from multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVETo identify a novel HLA-A allele in a Chinese Han individual.

METHODSOne mismatch was observed in HLA-A locus in HLA typing for CMDP donors using bi-allelic SBT kit. A confirmatory test for novel HLA allele was performed with mono-allelic SBT kit.

RESULTSThe DNA sequence was confirmed to be a novel HLA-A allele. There was 1 nucleotide differed from the closest matching HLA-A*11:01:01 at position 393(G→A), which resulting a change from GGG to GGA at codon 107, led to a silent mutation, conserving the amino acid Gly.

CONCLUSIONA novel HLA-A allele was confirmed and officially named HLA-A*11:01:37 (Genbank accession number, JN209962) by the WHO Nomenclature Committee for Factors of the HLA System in January 2012.

Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Blood Donors ; HLA-A11 Antigen ; genetics ; Humans ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the central mechanism of hypoglycemic effect induced by ear acupuncture.

METHODSExtracellular single-unit recordings were carried out in nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) of rats after infusion of glucose, insulin via jugular venous and electroacupuncture at auricular concha, observing responses of glucose-sensitive neurons and insulin-sensitive neurons in NTS to electroacupuncture stimulation at auricular concha.

RESULTSThere existed glucose-sensitive neurons and insulin-sensitive neurons in NTS. Among glucose-sensitive neurons, inhibitory ones accounted for 37.3%, and excitable ones accounted for 10.9%. Among the insulin-sensitive neurons, excitable ones accounted for 33.3%, and inhibitory ones accounted for 4.9%. When electroacupuncture was given at auricular concha, 49.3% (34/69) of total neurons recorded in NTS showed increase in firing rate, while 4.3% (3/69) showed decrease in firing rate. Among the 34 exciting-responsive neurons, there were 18 neurons responding to glucose infusion with a discharge decreased in frequency, and there were 8 neurons responding to insulin infusion with a discharge increased in firing rate.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture stimulation at auricular concha can irritate the neurons in NTS, which show largely inhibitory and excitable response to glucose and insulin infusion, respectively. The hypoglycemic effect induced by auricular acupuncture possibly results from regulating these neurons' firing activities.

Acupuncture, Ear ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Solitary Nucleus ; drug effects ; physiology

AIMTo isolate C-25 epimers of inokosterone from Achyranthes bidentata Blume. and identify their structures.

METHODSTo separate C-25 epimers of inokosterone by using various kinds of chromatography methods and identify their structures on basis of spectral analysis and chemical method.

RESULTSThree compounds were isolated and their structures were established as 25S-inokosterone (1), 25R-inokosterone (2) and ecdysterone (3).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1 and 2 are new C-25 configuration isomers from Achyranthes bidentata Blume., their absolute configurations are elucidated at the first time, and their 13CNMR data are reported for the first time.

Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Cholestenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ecdysterone ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Stereoisomerism

Objective To evaluate the risks of vaccination operation in order to provide scientific basis for policy makings of vaccination operation.Methods The risk matrix and analytic hierarchy process approach were used to evaluate the risks of vaccination operation,including the possibility,severity,risk weight,and risk level.Results Seven items for the first level and thirty one items for the second level vaccination risk factors were determined.In the first level,E level risk (Extremely serious risk ) was vaccination implementation risk,and H level risk (high risk ) was the risks of pre -notification and health education and risks of vaccine and cold chain management.Vaccination implementation risk accounted the largest weight (weight coefficient=38.95%).In second level,E level risk was three inspection and seven verification before vaccination,and H level risk were personnel professional quality,personnel responsibility,pre -inspection,informed before vaccination, vaccination route, site and dose, vaccination operation, post vaccination notification and retention,and three inspection and seven verification before vaccination,accounted the largest weight (weight coefficient=10.14%).The weight of the logical consistency of the test results were satisfactory (consistency ratio<0.1 ).Conclusion The integrated application of risk matrix and analytic hierarchy process in risk assessment of vaccination operation helps to further regulate vaccination services and has application and promotion value.

[Abstract] Objective To investigate the optimal screw configuration for internal fixation of femoral neck fractures based on anatomic analysis on radiologic imaging. Methods From January to February 2017, thirty proximal femurs of 15 nonnal adults from Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) of Paople' s Hospibal of Anji were constructed by CT. 8 males and 7 females with a mean age of (43±8. 5) years (ranging from 28 to 63 years) .The medial femoral neck sections (FNS) were projected on the lateral femoral trochanteric wall. The simulated three screw configurations in the projection of FNS include: two inverted equilateral triangles symmetrized to the axis of the FNS (IET-FNS group) or the coronal axis of the proximal femur (IET-PF group) and an obtuse triangle (OT group).The distance between the screws, the distance between the centre of the FNS and the screws, and the area ratio of the triangle/FNS were calculated. Results The projection of the FNS on the lateral femoral trochanteric wall was displayed as a rotating forward ellipse. Measurements of distance between screws

OBJECTIVETo study single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and its role in inducing inflammatory cytokines in the cruor-fibrinolysis system of rat.

METHODSTwenty one Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1) control; 2) low-dose SWCNT (0.15 mg/kg BW); 3) medium-dose SWCNT (0.75 mg/kg BW); 4) high-dose SWCNT (1.5 mg/kg BW). Intratracheal instillation of SWCNT suspensions was administered to rats once per day for 21 days. In order to assess the exposure effect of SWCNT to the rats, activity of Inflammatory cytokine was measured and markers of cruor-fibrinolysis system were studied via ELSIA. Also, change in clotting time was recorded and histopathology was studied.

RESULTSIL-6 and IL-8 concentrations of rats exposed to SWCNT were significantly higher than those in controls (P<0.05). The activity of inflammatory cytokines and histopathological change indicated that oxidative damage occurred. Change in clotting time in rats exposed to SWCNT decreased compared with controls. Meanwhile, t-PA (tissue-tupe plassminogen activator) and AT-III (antithrombin-III) levels in rats exposed to particulates increased or decreased significantly compared with controls (P<0.05). A similar trend was observed for D-dimer (D2D) levels, indicating that SWCNT can impact the cruor-fibrinolysis system of rat.

CONCLUSIONThe results from our study suggest that an increased procoagulant activity and reduced fibrinolytic activity in rats exposed to SWCNT can cause pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammation, due to the release of pro-thrombotic and inflammatory cytokines into the blood circulation of rat.

Animals ; Blood Coagulation ; Body Weight ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Fibrinolysis ; Inflammation ; etiology ; metabolism ; Nanotubes, Carbon ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

To explore therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined electrical stimulation on aged patients with post‐stroke depression .Methods : A total of 78 patients with post‐stroke depression were randomly and equally divided into routine treatment group (received health education based on routine treatment ) and combined treatment group (received acupuncture combined low‐frequency electrical stimulation based on routine treatment group ).After four‐week treatment , score of Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and therapeutic effect were compared between two groups .Results : Compared with before treatment , there was significant reduction in HAMD score in two groups after treatment ;compared with routine treatment group after treatment , there was significant reduction in HAMD score [(19.72 ± 2. 04) scores vs.(14. 94 ± 1. 86) scores] in combined treatment group , P＝0. 001 all.To‐tal effective rate of combined treatment group was significantly higher than that of routine treatment group (87.18% vs.64.1%, P＝0.018).Conclusion : Acupuncture combined low‐frequency electrical stimulation possesses significant therapeutic effect on post‐stroke depression , which is worthy of clinical application .