Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the protein and gene expressions of Bax, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in cerebral cortex of type 2 diabetic rats with cognitive impairment (CI), and to explore the mechanism of EA in improving the learning and memory abilities. Methods: A total of 100 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a normal group (n=10) and a model group (n=90) by random number table method. Rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with a small dose of streptozotocin (STZ) to establish the type 2 diabetic models, after being fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet for 1 month. Twenty CI rats were selected from the 50 successful model rats by the Morris water maze (MWM) test and randomly divided into a model group and an EA group according to the blood glucose level and MWM data (n=10). Rats in the EA group received acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), Neiting (ST 44) and Yishu (Extra), of which Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiting (ST 44) were stimulated by EA apparatus, 20 min/time, once a day for 6 d a week and 4 consecutive weeks. The rats in the model and the normal groups were fixed without treatment. After 4-week treatment, the random blood glucose level of the rats was measured; the learning and memory abilities of rats were measured by MWM; terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect apoptotic cells; Western blot (WB) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the protein and gene expressions of Bax, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in cerebral cortex. Results: After modeling, the random blood glucose level and the escape latency tested by MWM were significantly increased, and the number of crossing the platform tested by the MWM was decreased in the EA and model groups, and were significantly different from those in the normal group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the differences between the model group and the EA group were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). After 4-week treatment, the random glucose level and the escape latency tested by MWM were significantly increased (both P<0.05), and the number of crossing the original platform tested by the MWM was significantly reduced (P<0.01), the protein and gene expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly increased (all P<0.001), the protein and gene expressions of Bcl-2 were significantly reduced (both P<0.001), and the number of neuron apoptosis was significantly increased (P<0.001) in the model group than in the normal group; the random blood glucose level was significantly reduced (P<0.05), the escape latency tested by MWM was significantly shortened (P<0.05), and the number of crossing the original platform tested by MWM was significantly increased (P<0.05), the protein and gene expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 were significantly reduced (all P<0.001), the protein and gene expressions of Bcl-2 were significantly increased (both P<0.001), and the number of neuron apoptosis was significantly reduced (P<0.001) in the EA group than in the model group. Conclusion: EA can improve the learning and memory damages induced by type 2 diabetic model rats with CI; the action mechanism may be achieved via anti-apoptosis.

To summarize professor
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Facial Paralysis/therapy* ; Humans ; Needles

Objective: To understand the sources and characteristics of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, from 2015 to 2016. Methods: From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016, newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu were recruited in the study and they were asked to complete an in-depth field epidemiology questionnaire. Information related to their previous sexual behaviors and infection sources or routes were collected in the survey. The data were processed and analyzed with EpiData 3.0 and SPSS 19.0 software. Results: A total of 320 participants from 393 newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu during this period were surveyed and recruited in the study. Most of them were males (268, 83.8%), unmarried (141, 44.1%), aged between 25-44 years (166, 51.9%), had census register in other provinces (217, 67.8%) and educational level of junior high school (128, 40.0%). Among 305 cases whose infection times could be determined, 107 (35.1%) were newly infected within one year, and among 267 cases whose infection location could be determined, 200 (74.9%) were infected in Yiwu. New infections were mainly detected in those who had homosexual behaviors or causal sex partners (during the past year) and through active detection approach. Local infections were mainly among those who had local residence and commercial heterosexual behavior in Yiwu. Conclusions: Most newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu from 2015-2016 were infected for more than one year and locally infected. Census registration of other provinces, homosexual sexual behavior, and casual sexual behavior give major contribution to HIV/AIDS epidemic in Yiwu.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Risk-Taking ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Surveys and Questionnaires