Objective: To explore the function of cluster needling at scalp points therapy on regulating differential protein's expression at different time points in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model rats. Methods: Fifty-four rats were divided into three groups randomly and 18 rats in each group. The groups respectively were the model group (group M, n = 18), cluster needling at scalp points group (group C, n = 18), false operation group (group F, n = 18). Each group was then assigned in three subgroups, including 24-h, 7-day, and 14-day subgroups. Six rats in each subgroup. Acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and 2 points beside Baihui, which was 3-4 mm away from the midline. Longa score was used to eval-uated neurological effects. Proteomics methods were used to identify differentially expression proteins with a standard of fold change greater than 1.5 and P<.05 at different times. Results: 1. Nerve function scoring: The nerve function scores at 7 and 14 days decreased in group C, which showed better neural function than group M (P<.05). 2. Fold change in proteins:Group M showed 932 differentially expressed proteins compared with group F, and among them, 414 proteins showed significant changes in expression after acupuncture. The expression levels of Cdc42 and GFAP were increased, and Mag, Shank2, and MBP levels were decreased. In the Gene Ontology analysis, the cellular component consisted of the terms cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, lysosome, and plasma membrane. The main related biological processes were cell-cell signaling, protein transport, aging, and cell adhesion. Many synaptic and metabolic pathways were found by KEGG analysis. Conclusion: Cluster needling at scalp acupoints can improve the nerve function score and improve dyskinesia in MCAO model rats. Cluster needling at scalp acupoints can regulate the expression of 414 proteins, including Cdc42, GFAP, Mag, Shank2, and MBP, which are related to cerebral ischemia. The differential proteins are major concentration in cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, lysosomes, and plasma mem-brane, participate in cell-cell signaling, protein transport, aging, and cell adhesion, and act through multiple synaptic and metabolic pathways to exert their biological functions.

DNA methylation is a significant epigenetic modification mode, which plays an important role in embryo reprogramming, stem cell differentiation and tumor occurrence. The ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzyme is a crucial demethylation enzyme, which can catalyze 5-methylcytosine(5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine(5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine(5caC). These bases represent the epigenetic modifications of DNA and regulate the process of DNA methylation. Understanding the role of TET enzyme in regulating the DNA methylation modification and gene expression can help us to gain the knowledge for the normal growth development and epigenetic regulation in human diseases.
5-Methylcytosine ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; DNA ; DNA Methylation ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Humans

Objective To evaluate the applicability of the Chinese version of SF-36 ( v. 2 ) scale for evaluating the quality of life of hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure. Methods From September 2013 to December 2014, 159 patients with chronic heart failure(NYHA I-IV), who were older than 18 years, clear mind and well self-expressed, were selected as participants. Questionnaire surveys included general survey and SF-36(v. 2) scale. Internal consistency reliability, binary reliability and construct validity were all analyzed as indicators to evaluate SF-36 ( v. 2 ) scale. Results A total of 159 questionnaires were issued and 159 valid questionnaires were recovered. The eight dimensions of SF-36(v. 2) scale including physical function (PF), role-physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), social function (SF), vitality (VT), role-emotion(RE), and mental health (MH) score conversion were (41.57 ±24.86), (48.35 ±21.64), (69.18 ± 25. 68), (31. 28 ± 16. 01), (48. 90 ± 19. 53), (45. 05 ± 22. 76), (59. 43 ± 24. 31), (57. 55 ± 19. 03); the floor effects were 2. 5%, 4. 4%, 3. 1%, 4. 4%, 3. 1%, 6. 3%, 0. 6%, 1. 3%; the ceiling effects were 0. 0%, 3. 8%, 21. 4%, 0. 0%, 0. 0%, 1. 9%, 3. 1%, 0. 0%. The item-convergent validity all achieved the standard (r≥0. 4), and the total scaling success rate of item-convergent was 100. 00%; the dimensions′success rates of item-discriminant validity of RP, BP, RE and SF were all 100%, the rest of four dimensions were PF 95. 71%, GH 85. 71%, VT 89. 29%, MH 94. 29%, and the total success rate was 94. 69%. Internal consistency reliability ranged from 0. 738 to 0. 919; the binary reliability ranged from 0. 808 to 0. 963. Within factors analysis, two common factors were confirmed, separately representing physical health and mental health, altogether making contribution of 61. 66% cumulative variance. Conclusions As the revision of SF-36(v. 1), SF-36(v. 2) scale seemed more friendly in layout for questions and answers, the floor and ceiling effects significantly reduced. Additionally, it also shows good reliability and validity in the evaluation of quality of life of hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure, and the SF-36(v. 2) scale can be used to evaluate the quality of life ( QOL) of patients with chronic heart failure.