Objective To sift and optimize pulse width for electroacupuncture prevention and treatment of muscular atrophy. Method A model of lower limb muscle atrophy was made in 40 rats. They were randomized into groupsⅠ (no electroacupuncture),Ⅱ (a pulse width of 0.5 ms and a frequency of 2 Hz), Ⅲ (a pulse width of 100 ms and a frequency of 2 Hz) and Ⅳ (a pulse width of 200 ms and a frequency of 2 Hz). Points Zusanli (ST36) and Chengshan(BL57) were given electroacupuncture. Sciatic function index (SFI), gastrocnemius muscle wet weight ratio (GW), the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius muscle fibers (GC), gastrocnemius muscle cell diameter (GD) and gastrocnemius muscle cell apoptosis index (AI) were used as indicators of therapeutic effect. Result Compared with group Ⅰ, SFI and GW increased significantly in groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ (P<0.05). Compared with groupsⅠ and Ⅱ, AI on the affected side decreased significantly in groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ (P<0.05). Conclusion The therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture is related to its pulse width. The pulse widths of 100 ms and 200 ms are significantly more effective than a pulse width of 0.5 ms from a conventional electroacupuncture device in preventing and treating muscular atrophy.

BACKGROUND: High-intensity exercise can induce the depolymerization and/or degradation of tubulin in the skeletal muscle. According to the close relation with the mitochondria, tubulin may influence mitochondrial movement track and molecular motor, thereby varying the movement and distribution of mitochondria. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of high-intensity exercise on α-tubulin, MAP4, Miro1 and mitochondrial ultrastructures, analyze their sequential changes and further explore whether tubular depolymerization regulates the movement and distribution of mitochondria via Miro1. METHODS: Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (n=8) and exercise (n=48) groups. The rats in the exercise group ran on the treadmill ( -16°, 20 m/minute) for 90 minutes, and the soleus samples were removed immediately, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after exercise (n=8 each time point). The expression levels of α-tubulin, MAP4 and Miro1 were detected by western blot assay, and the ultrastructural changes of mitochondria were observed under transmission electron microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expression level of α-tubulin was decreased significantly at 6 and 12 hours after exercise. The expression level of MAP4 was increased significantly at 6, 12, 48 and 72 hours after exercise. The expression level of Miro1 was increased firstly at 6 and 12 hours after exercise, and decreased at 72 hours after exercise. In the control group, the paired mitochondria were arranged on the both sides of Z line, and few appeared in the myolemma. Mitochondria began to accumulate in the myolemma immediately and 6 hours after exercise; the number achieved the peak at 12 hours, reduced at 24 and 48 hours, and returned to normal at 72 hours. These results suggest that high-intensity exercise can induce the depolymerization of microtubules in the skeletal muscle, thus regulating the movement and distribution of mitochondria via Miro1.

AIM:To investigate whether early endothelial progenitor cells (early-EPCs) expressβ2-adrenergic receptor (β2 AR) in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) patients and the effect of β2 AR expression on the migration of early-EPCs.METHODS:Venous blood samples (20 mL) were obtained from antecubital vein of COPD pa-tients or healthy controls .Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by standard Ficoll gradient centrifugation , and purified by CD34 positive selection cocktail .The mRNA expression of β2 AR in the early-EPCs was detected by RT-PCR. The protein levels of β2 AR were assessed by Western blotting and flow cytometry .Chemotaxis was studied by Transwell as-say.Cultured early-EPCs were treated with ICI118551, norpinephrine (NE) or monoclonal antibody of β2AR (mAb-β2 AR) for 24 h.The number of migratory cells was counted under a light microscope .RESULTS:The level of β2 AR ex-pression in the COPD patients was higher than that in the controls .The number of migratory early-EPCs to stromal cell-de-rived factor 1αwas significantly improved by ICI 118551 compared with other COPD groups .When early-EPCs from the COPD patients or the controls were treated with different concentrations of mAb-β2 AR for 24 h, the number of migratory early-EPCs from the COPD patients and the controls treated with NE at concentration of 100 nmol/L was significantly re-duced.However, a marked decrease in the number of migratory early-EPCs from the COPD patients treated with NE was observed compared with control group .Before treated with ICI118551 or NE for 24 h, the early-EPCs were co-incubated with mAb-β2 AR for 40 min, and the number of migratory early-EPCs was not significantly different between COPD group and control group .Genetic down-regulation of β2 AR promoted the migration of early-EPCs in COPD group .CONCLU-SION:The level of β2 AR expression in the COPD patients is increased compared with the controls .The down-regulation ofβ2 AR improves the migration of early-EPCs.

Objective: To investigate influence of Wenxin particle on cardiac electrophysiology in rats complicated with depression after myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: A total of 50 SD rats were randomly and equally divided into normal group, MI group, depression group, MI complicated with depression group (model group) and Wenxin particle group (Wenxin particle were given to model rats by gavage, 2 g/d, 28d). Model（MI complicated with depression）rats were made by acute ligation of left coronary artery and supply chronic unpredictable mild stress in order. The influences of Wenxin particle on cardiac electrophysiological indexes, such as monophasic action potential (MAP90), left ventricular effective refractory period (ERP) and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) were evaluated in Wenxin particle group. Results: (1) Compared with normal group, there were significant decrease in behavior scores (P<0.05) in model group, after four-week treatment with Wenxin particle, their behavior scores significantly increased (P<0.01); (2) Compared with normal group, there were significant increase in MAPD90 and ERP, and significant decrease in VFT in model group (P<0.05); compared with model group, there were significant decrease in MAPD90 [(89.33±7.12) ms vs. (72.29±8.37) ms] and ERP [(84.00±6.57) ms vs. (68.00±7.43) ms], and significant increase in VFT [(7±3.11)V vs. (29±5.60)V] in Wenxin particle group, P<0.05. Conclusion: Wenxin particle can improve cardiac electrical remodeling in rats complicated with depression after myocardial infarction, including decrease monophasic action potential duration and effective refractory period, and raise ventricular fibrillation threshold.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on denervated skeletal muscle atrophy and expression of IGF-1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in rats, and to explore the possible mechanisms of it. METHODS: Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group. Denervated muscle atrophy model was made by cutting off the left hindlimb sciatic nerve in the model group and the EA group. In the EA group, EA, dense-disperse wave, 2 Hz/33 Hz and 1.5-2 mA, was connected at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Shangjuxu" (ST 37). The treatment was given for 30 min every time, once a day and a total of 20 times were needed, there was 2 days interval every 5 times. The rats in the control group and model group were fixed in the same cage every day but not applied EA. Sciatic nerve function index (SFI) and ratio of muscle wet weight (RWW) were measured after treatment. HE staining was used to determine the ratio of cross-sectional area (RCA) and the ratio of fiber diameter (RFD). TUNEL and double immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the myocyte apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. The mRNA expressions of IGF-1 and AKT were detected by real-time PCR. The total protein of AKT, p-AKT (Ser473) and p-AKT (Thr308) were detected by western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, SFI, RWW, RCA and RFD of the model group were significantly decreased and apoptotic index of myocytes were significantly increased (all <0.01). Compared with the model group, the above indexes of the EA group were improved (all <0.05), and the expressions of PAX3 and PAX7 related to proliferation and differentiation of muscle satellite cells were significantly increased (both <0.01), p-AKT (Ser473) protein level was increased (<0.05). CONCLUSION EA can improve the atrophy of denervated muscles, reduce myocyte apoptosis, and promote the proliferation and differentiation of muscle satellite cells. The mechanism may be related to the increase of p-AKT (Ser473) level and activation of AKT signaling pathway.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscular Atrophy ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To compare the application value of Caprini thrombosis risk assessment scale and Shanghai venous thrombosis risk factor scale in predicting venous thromboembolism in hospitalized maternal patients.Methods:This was a case-control study. A total of 67 pregnant women complicated with venous thromboembolism in the Obstetrics Department of Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from January 2010 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. And 144 pregnant women without venous thromboembolism in the same period were selected. Two venous thrombosis risk assessment tools were used to evaluate the pregnant women, and the predictive effectiveness and accuracy of the two assessment tools were compared.Results:The effects of the two risk assessment tools for venous thrombosis were different before and after delivery with statistical difference ( Z=8.15, 5.97, both P<0.01), but the Shanghai venous thrombosis risk factor scale (83.9%, 67.3%) was superior to Caprini thrombosis risk assessment scale (52.1%, 45.0%) in the accuracy of prenatal and postnatal prediction. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the Shanghai venous thrombosis risk factor rating scale (0.863) was significantly superior to the Caprini thrombosis risk assessment scale (0.748) after delivery. Conclusions:The Shanghai venous thrombosis risk factor scale is more valuable than the Caprini thrombosis risk assessment scale in the early risk identification of venous thromboembolism in pregnant women.

Objective:To analyze the predictive value of von Willebrand factor (vWF) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) of patients in intensive care unit (ICU) by using propensity score matching (PSM).Methods:Patients admitted to ICU of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from December 2020 to June 2022 who stayed in ICU for ≥72 hours and underwent daily bedside vascular ultrasound screening were included. Baseline data such as age, gender, primary disease, and chronic comorbidities were collected. Coagulation indexes before admission to ICU and 24 hours and 48 hours after ICU admission were collected, including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), international normalized ratio (INR), fibrinogen (Fib), fibrin monomer (FM), vWF, D-dimer, antithrombin Ⅲ (ATⅢ), etc. Patients were divided into VTE group and non-VTE group according to whether they had VTE or not [diagnosis of VTE: patients underwent daily ultrasound screening of bedside blood vessels (both upper and lower limbs, visceral veins), and those suspected of having thrombosis were confirmed by ultrasonographer or pulmonary angiography]. Using PSM analysis method, the VTE group was used as the benchmark to conduct 1 : 1 matching of age, whether there was malignant tumor, whether there was infection, whether there was diabetes, and coagulation indicators before admission to ICU. Finally, the cases with balanced covariates between the two groups were obtained. The risk factors of VTE were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of vWF in the occurrence of VTE in critically ill patients.Results:A total of 120 patients were enrolled, of which 18 (15.0%) were diagnosed with VTE within 72 hours after admission to ICU, and 102 (85.0%) were not found to have thrombus in ICU. Before PSM, there were significant differences in age, gender, proportion of malignant tumor and infection, and coagulation indexes between VTE group and non-VTE group. After PSM, 14 pairs were successfully matched, and the unbalanced covariables between the two groups reached equilibrium. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that vWF was an independent risk factor for VTE at 48 hours after ICU admission in critically ill patients [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.165, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.000-1.025, P = 0.004]. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of vWF at 48 hours after ICU admission for predicting VTE was 0.782, 95% CI was 0.618-0.945, P = 0.007. When the optimal cut-off value was 312.12%, the sensitivity was 67.7% and the specificity was 93.0%. Conclusion:Dynamic monitoring of vWF is helpful to predict the occurrence of VTE in ICU patients, and vWF at 48 hours after ICU admission has certain value in predicting the occurrence of VTE.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have reported inconsistent results with positive,negative,and J-shaped associations between alcohol consumption and the hazard of aortic aneurysm and dissection(AAD).This study aimed to examine the connections between weekly alcohol consumption and the subsequent risk of AAD. METHODS:The UK Biobank study is a population-based cohort study.Weekly alcohol consumption was assessed using self-reported questionnaires and the congenital risk of alcohol consumption was also evaluated using genetic risk score(GRS).Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios(HRs)with 95%confidence intervals(CIs)for the associations between alcohol consumption and AAD.Several sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results. RESULTS:Among the 388,955 participants(mean age:57.1 years,47.4%male),2,895 incident AAD cases were documented during a median follow-up of 12.5 years.Compared with never-drinkers,moderate drinkers(adjusted HR:0.797,95%CI:0.646-0.984,P<0.05)and moderate-heavy drinkers(adjusted HR:0.794,95%CI:0.635-0.992,P<0.05)were significantly associated with a decreased risk of incident AAD.Interaction-based subgroup analysis revealed that the protective effect of moderate drinking was reflected mainly in participants younger than 65 years and women. CONCLUSION:Our findings support a protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on AAD,but are limited to participants younger than 65 years and women.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have reported inconsistent results with positive,negative,and J-shaped associations between alcohol consumption and the hazard of aortic aneurysm and dissection(AAD).This study aimed to examine the connections between weekly alcohol consumption and the subsequent risk of AAD. METHODS:The UK Biobank study is a population-based cohort study.Weekly alcohol consumption was assessed using self-reported questionnaires and the congenital risk of alcohol consumption was also evaluated using genetic risk score(GRS).Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios(HRs)with 95%confidence intervals(CIs)for the associations between alcohol consumption and AAD.Several sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results. RESULTS:Among the 388,955 participants(mean age:57.1 years,47.4%male),2,895 incident AAD cases were documented during a median follow-up of 12.5 years.Compared with never-drinkers,moderate drinkers(adjusted HR:0.797,95%CI:0.646-0.984,P<0.05)and moderate-heavy drinkers(adjusted HR:0.794,95%CI:0.635-0.992,P<0.05)were significantly associated with a decreased risk of incident AAD.Interaction-based subgroup analysis revealed that the protective effect of moderate drinking was reflected mainly in participants younger than 65 years and women. CONCLUSION:Our findings support a protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on AAD,but are limited to participants younger than 65 years and women.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have reported inconsistent results with positive,negative,and J-shaped associations between alcohol consumption and the hazard of aortic aneurysm and dissection(AAD).This study aimed to examine the connections between weekly alcohol consumption and the subsequent risk of AAD. METHODS:The UK Biobank study is a population-based cohort study.Weekly alcohol consumption was assessed using self-reported questionnaires and the congenital risk of alcohol consumption was also evaluated using genetic risk score(GRS).Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios(HRs)with 95%confidence intervals(CIs)for the associations between alcohol consumption and AAD.Several sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results. RESULTS:Among the 388,955 participants(mean age:57.1 years,47.4%male),2,895 incident AAD cases were documented during a median follow-up of 12.5 years.Compared with never-drinkers,moderate drinkers(adjusted HR:0.797,95%CI:0.646-0.984,P<0.05)and moderate-heavy drinkers(adjusted HR:0.794,95%CI:0.635-0.992,P<0.05)were significantly associated with a decreased risk of incident AAD.Interaction-based subgroup analysis revealed that the protective effect of moderate drinking was reflected mainly in participants younger than 65 years and women. CONCLUSION:Our findings support a protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on AAD,but are limited to participants younger than 65 years and women.