This study was aimed to explore the clinical effect of San-Jiao (SJ) acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine and Cisapride tablets in the treatment of senile constipation. A total of 118 patients were selected according to the inclusion criteria. According to the visiting sequence, patients were randomly divided into the acupuncture with Chinese medicine group of 60 cases and drug group of 58 cases. In the acupuncture with Chinese medicine group, SJ acupuncture was combined with Huang-Di (HD) powder in the treatment. In the drug group, Cisapride tablets were applied. Both groups were treated for 20 times. The scale was used in the comprehensive evaluation of integral effect evaluation of main symptoms, psychological evaluation before and after the treatment. The results showed that there was significant difference on the integral before and after treatment in both groups (P< 0.01). The posttreatment integral showed that the acupuncture with Chinese medicine group was better than the drug group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference on total effective rate between two groups. However, comparison on good improvement rate showed that the acupuncture with Chinese medicine group was better than the drug group (χ2 =28.25, P < 0.01). It was concluded that the acupuncture with Chinese medicine group had better effect on the im-provement of clinical symptom integral, psychological integral, and comprehensive effect evaluation. SJ acupuncture combined with HD powder was a safe treatment method with good effect.

Objective To investigate the cardiac affects of esophageal dilatation and stent implantation and its possible pathogenic mechanism. Methods One hundred patients who underwent esophageal dilation or stent implantation had investigeted with Hotter tape recorder, vectorcardiogram, oxygen saturation and cardiac enzymes checked at the time prior to. during and after the procedure respectively. Results During the procedure, incidence of frequent ventricular premature beats was 66%, paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia 9 cases; frequent atrial premature heats 73 cases, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia 21 eases, myocardial ischaemia 17 cases and hypoxia 69 eases with significant differences comparing with those prior to the procedure(9 cases; 0 case; 7 cases; 0 case; 0 case and 9 eases respectively) but all above changes as well as cardiac enzymes recorded 24 hours after the procedure had no statistical significance comparing with those prior to the procedure. Conclusion There is a high incidence of cardiac arrhythmia and myocardial ischaemia at the time of dilatation and stent implantation. However, most of these changes can subside without intervention 24 hours after the procedure. Pathogenic mechanisms involved may be related to hypoxia duo to the pain provoked by the procedure suggesting close observation is needed during the operation.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of dezocine for prevention of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under remifentanil-based anesthesia.Methods Sixty-eight patients of both sexes, aged 65-85 yr, weighing 48-78 kg, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ , undergoing elective unilateral total knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia, were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =34 each) using a random number table: control group (group C) and dezocine group (group D).After induction of anesthesia, the patients were tracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated.Anesthesia was maintained with iv infusion of propofol 0.05-0.06 mg · kg-1 · min-1 and remifentanil 0.05-0.10 μg · kg-1 · min-1, and intermittent iv boluses of vecuronium 0.04 mg/kg.Dezocine 0.1 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 30 min before skin incision in group D.At 1 day before operation (T0) , and 1, 3, 5, 7 days after operation (T1 , T2, T3 , T4) , the blood samples from the central vein were collected for determination of serum cortisol (Cor), neuron specific enolase (NSE) and S-100β protein concentrations.Before operation, and 5 and 7 days after operation, the patients' cognitive function was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination, and the occurrence of POCD was recorded.Results Compared with the baseline value at T0, the serum Cor, NSE and S-100β protein concentrations were significantly increased at T1-3, and MMSE scores were decreased at T3,4 in the two groups.Compared with group C, the serum Cot, NSE and S-100β protein concentrations were significantly decreased at T1-4, and Mini-Mental State Examination scores were increased at 5 and 7 days after operation, and the incidence of POCD was decreased in group D.Conclusion Dezocine 0.1 mg/kg intravenously injected at 30 min before skin incision can prevent the occurrence of POCD in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under remifentanil-based anesthesia.

Objective To observe the regulatory effect of bFGF and TGF-β1 for the proliferation of mesenchymal progenitor cells ( MPCs) derived from primary osteoarthritis cartilage, and to provide theoretical evidence in preventing and curing primary OA. Methods Different concentrations of bFGF and TGF-β1 ( alone or combined) were used to treat primary OA cartilage and their effects on proliferation of MPCs were tested by MTT method. Results Either bFGF (10. 0~50. 0 ng/mL) or TGF-β1 (0. 1 ~1. 0 ng/mL) alone can significantly promote the proliferation of MPCs derived from primary OA cartilage (P<0. 05). But with their increased concentration,the proliferation rate was of no significant changes (P>0. 05). The combination of 10. 0 ng/mL bFGF and 1. 0 ng/mL TGF-β1 significantly increased the prolifer-ation of MPCs from primary OA (P<0. 05). Conclusion Both bFGF and TGF-β11 play important roles in the proliferation of MPCs in primary OA cartilage,and they can increase the proliferation in different degree with different concentrations. There must be feasible methods of gene technology to promote cell proliferation and differentiation of MPCs for repairing articular car-tilage injury.

Objective To observe the growth and proliferation capabilities of MPCs in primary OA articular cartilage and their differen-tiation properties into chondrocytes by applying related genes SOX6 and SOX9, so as to provide theoretical evidence in preventing and curing primary OA. Methods SOX6 and SOX9 genes were respectively ligated into adenovirus shuttle plasmids pAdTrack-CMV-SOX6 and pAdTrack-CMV-SOX9, then the recombinant plasmids were used to infect MPCs derived from primary OA articular cartilage. TB and the ex-pressions of collagen type Ⅱ protein and mRNA in differentiated MPCs were compared between the infected group and the uninfected group. Results Either SOX6 gene or SOX9 gene could stably infect MPCs from primary OA cartilage. TB and collagen typeⅡwere strongly posi-tive in the SOX6-infected or SOX9-infected MPCs, while they were weekly positive in the uninfected MPCs. Collagen typeⅡmRNA expres-sion in SOX6-infected MPCs derived from primary OA cartilage was 3. 8 times of that in uninfected cells (P<0. 01), and that in SOX9-in-fected MPCs was 5. 15 times of that in the uninfected cells (P<0. 01). Conclusion The stable transfection of SOX6 and SOX9 genes into MPCs derived from primary OA cartilage could significantly promote chondrogenic differentiation of MPCs. There must be feasible methods of gene technology to promote cell proliferation and differentiation of MPCs for repairing articular cartilage injury.

Objective · To explore the correlation of serum S100B protein with depressive episode of bipolar disorder (BD) and its prognosis.Methods· Based on BD criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (DSM-Ⅳ),80 patients with depressive episode of BD (case group) and 42 healthy controls (control group) were enrolled.Patients were randomly assigned into quetiapine group who were treated with lithium and quetiapine and modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) group who received lithium and MECT.The serum S100B level and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) were assayed before and after 4-week treatment.Results· The serum S100B levels before treatment in patients with depressive episode of BD were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P=0.000).The levels of S100B in both drug and MECT groups decreased after 4-week treatment.The HAMD score after treatment significantly decreased than that before treatment (P=0.000).Pearson correlation analysis showed that the change of S 100B level was positively correlated with the change of HAMD score before and after treatment in case group (r=0.33,P=0.013).Conclusion· S100B may be associated with depressive episode of BD and its prognosis.

Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on phosphatase and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1(PINK1)/Parkin signaling pathway in the midbrain substantia nigra of Thy1-α synuclein(αSyn)transgenic model mice with Parkinson disease(PD). Methods:Twenty-four Thy1-αSyn transgenic mice were randomly divided into a model group,an acupuncture group,an acupuncture + moxibustion group,and a Western medicine group.Six wild-type mice in the same litter were used as the wild-type group.In the acupuncture group,Baihui(GV20)and Yanglingquan(GB34)were selected for acupuncture.In the acupuncture + moxibustion group,Guanyuan(CV4)was added on the basis of the acupuncture group.The Western medicine group was given rapamycin intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 10 mg/(kg·bw).The wild-type group and the model group were fixed without intervention.The overall rod performance(ORP)score of mice was observed in each group.The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)positive neurons in the substantia nigra of mice in each group.The αSyn was detected by the immunofluorescence chemical method.The expression levels of αSyn,microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ,autophagy protein sequestosome-1/protein 62(SQSTM-1/p62),PINK1,Parkin,and ubiquitin-specific protease 30(USP30)proteins were detected by Western blotting assay.The expression levels of LC3B,p62,PINK1,Parkin,and USP30 mRNAs were detected by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results:Compared with the wild-type group,the ORP score,the p62,PINK1,and Parkin protein expression levels decreased significantly(P<0.01),the PINK1 mRNA expression level decreased(P<0.05),while the protein and mRNA expression levels of USP30 increased(P<0.05)in the model group.Compared with the model group,the ORP score in the acupuncture group and the acupuncture + moxibustion group increased(P<0.05);the expression level of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ protein in the acupuncture + moxibustion group and the Western medicine group increased(P<0.05);the protein expression levels of p62,PINK1,and Parkin increased(P<0.05),while the USP30 protein expression level decreased significantly(P<0.01)in the acupuncture group,the acupuncture + moxibustion group,and the Western medicine group;the Parkin mRNA expression level in the acupuncture group and the acupuncture + moxibustion group increased(P<0.05);the USP30 mRNA expression level in the acupuncture + moxibustion group decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture and moxibustion regulate the related molecule expression levels of PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway in the Thy1-αSyn transgenic PD model mice and promote the autophagy degradation of αSyn to exert the protective effect of dopaminergic neurons.

Myocardial fibrosis is a key link in the occurrence and development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Its etiology is complex, and the effect of drugs is not good.Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is an important cause of myocardial fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of gaseous signal molecule sulfur dioxide (SO2 ) on diabetic myocardial fibrosis and its internal regulatory mechanism. Masson and TUNEL staining, Western-blot, transmission electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry were used in the study, and the interstitial collagen deposition, autophagy, apoptosis, and changes in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathways were evaluated from in vivo and in vitro experiments. The results showed that diabetic myocardial fibrosis was accompanied by cardiomyocyte apoptosis and down-regulation of endogenous SO2 -producing enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AAT)1/2 . However, exogenous SO2 donors could up-regulate AAT1/2 , reduce apoptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by diabetic rats or high glucose, inhibit phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT protein, up-regulate autophagy, and reduce interstitial collagen deposition. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the gaseous signal molecule SO2 can inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway to promote cytoprotective autophagy and inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis to improve myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats. The results of this study are expected to provide new targets and intervention strategies for the prevention and treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Hypothyroidism alone can lead to myocardial fibrosis and result in heart failure, but traditional hormone replacement therapy does not improve the fibrotic situation. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), a new gas signaling molecule, possesses antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic capabilities. Whether H 2 S could improve hypothyroidism-induced myocardial fibrosis are not yet studied. In our study, H 2 S could decrease collagen deposition in the myocardial tissue of rats caused by hypothyroidism. Furthermore, in hypothyroidism-induced rats, we found that H 2 S could enhance cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE), not cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), protein expressions. Finally, we noticed that H 2 S could elevate autophagy levels and inhibit the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signal transduction pathway. In conclusion, our experiments not only suggest that H 2 S could alleviate hypothyroidism-induced myocardial fibrosis by activating autophagy and suppressing TGF-β1/ SMAD family member 2 (Smad 2) signal transduction pathway, but also show that it can be used as a complementary treatment to conventional hormone therapy.

Objective:To investigate the effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis in rats after myocardial infarction and the underlying mechanisms.Methods:Forty-three Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were divided into 4 groups according to the random number table method: a control group(n=12), a myocardial infarction group(MI group, n=13), an hydrogen sulfide(H 2S)group(n=6)and an MI+ H 2S group(n=12). The rat model of acute myocardial infarction was established by intraperitoneal injections of isoproterenol(50 mg/kg, once a day, for 2 days). Electrocardiogram and troponin changes were recorded 48 h after the last drug administration to determine whether the rat model was successfully constructed.After successful establishment of the model, rats in the MI group and the MI+ H 2S group were intraperitoneally injected with sodium hydrosulfide(56 μmol/kg, once a day, for 6 weeks).6 weeks later, echocardiogram and Masson's trichrome staining were performed to assess changes in cardiac function and collagen volume fraction in each group.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)was used to detect the myocardial apoptosis rate in each group, and Western-blot was used to detect protein expression of Yes-related protein 1(YAP1), WW domain containing transcriptional regulator1(TAZ), mammalian Ste20-like kinase 2(MST2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), cysteine protease 3(caspase-3), the ratio of matrix metalloproteinase 3(MMP3)/matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor 2(TIMP2), and B-cell lymphoma factor(Bcl-2). Results:Compared with the control group, myocardial collagen volume fraction was increased( P<0.05), the myocardial cell apoptosis rate was increased( P<0.05), and myocardial YAP1, TAZ, MST2, Bax, caspase-3 protein expression and MMP3/TIMP2 ratio were increased in the MI group(all P<0.05), while the expression of Bcl-2 protein was decreased( P<0.05). Compared with the MI group, collagen volume fraction and the cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate were significantly decreased in the MI+ H 2S group( P<0.05). Also, protein expression of YAP1(2.406±0.024 vs.2.830±0.063), TAZ(0.964±0.090 vs.1.329±0.018), MST2(0.780±0.082 vs.1.788±0.097), Bax(1.500±0.008 vs.0.613±0.003)and caspase-3(0.620±0.024 vs.0.780±0.012)and the MMP3/TIMP2 ratio were decreased(all P<0.05), while protein expression of Bcl-2 was increased( P<0.05)in myocardial tissue. Conclusions:H 2S can mitigate myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction, through inhibiting the activation of the YAP1/TAZ signaling pathway, thus reducing apoptosis of cardiomyocytes.