BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that the changes of extracellular matrix in degenerative intervertebral disc tissues mainly present as the decrease of col agen type Ⅱ and proteoglycan contents and the increase of col agen type Ⅰ content. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of adeno-associated virus-mediated bone morphogenetic protein 2 gene on nucleus pulposus Ⅰ and Ⅱ col agen levels in rabbit degenerative intervertebral disc tissues. METHODS:L 2-3 , L 3-4 , L 4-5 and L 5-6 lumbar discs of 12 New Zealand white rabbits were punctured to establish interverbral disc degeneration model. Subsequently, 12 rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, four rabbits in each group. The intervertebral discs in the adeno-associated virus-mediated bone morphogenetic protein 2 group were injected with the adeno-associated virus-mediated bone morphogenetic protein 2 gene, the intervertebral discs in the adeno-associated virus group were injected with adeno-associated virus only, while the discs in the normal saline group were injected with normal saline. Al rabbits were sacrificed after injected for 8 weeks, and the L 2-3 , L 3-4 , L 4-5 and L 5-6 lumbar discs of each rabbit were col ected, paraffin-embedded and sliced. The histological changes of nucleus pulposus were observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the immunohistochemistry was used to detect the col agen type Ⅰ and Ⅱ expressions in nucleus pulposus. Semi-quantitative analysis was performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the nucleus pulposus in the intervertebral disc tissues was less in the adeno-associated virus-mediated bone morphogenetic protein 2 group, the nucleus pulposus was in single or clustered distribution with clear nucleus structure and without fibrous tissue fil ing. The tissue structures of nucleus pulposus were the same in the adeno-associated virus group and normal saline group, the cellnumber in nucleus pulposus was smal , the nucleus pulposus was shrunken and shriveled, and the cells were fil ed with fibrous tissue and arranged disorderly. Immunohistochemistry staining showed the expression of col age type Ⅰ in the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus of adeno-associated virus-mediated bone morphogenetic protein 2 group was higher than that of the adeno-associated virus group and normal saline group (P<0.05);the expression of col age typeⅠ in the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus of adeno-associated virus-mediated bone morphogenetic protein 2 group was lower than that of the adeno-associated virus group and normal saline group (P<0.05). The results indicate that adeno-associated virus-mediated bone morphogenetic protein 2 can inhibit the expression of col agen type Ⅰ in the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus, promote the expression of col agen type Ⅱ. Maintaining the content of col agen in intervertebral disc can keep the histological structure and morphology of intervertebral disc, stabilize the environment for nucleus pulposus cellgrowth, and delay the intervertebral disc degeneration.

AIM:To discuss the related factors that affected the stability of posterior corneal surface after laser in situ keratomileusis ( LASIK) .
METHODS:About 64 patients (64 eyes) were enrolled. The correlation among the changes in posterior corneal surface 6 month after LASIK, surgery method, corneal flap thickness ( FT ) , ablation thickness ( AT ) , postoperative residual corneal stroma thickness ( RCST ) , preoperative thinnest corneal thickness ( CT ) , flap thickness/preoperative thinnest corneal thickness ( FT/CT ) , ablation thickness/preoperative thinnest corneal thickness ( AT/CT) , postoperative residual corneal stroma thickness/preoperative thinnest corneal thickness ( RCST/CT) , anterior and posterior preoperative corneal height, the difference of the forward shift in posterior corneal surface ( diff value ) of preoperative and preoperative intraocular pressure were analyzed.
RESULTS: The changes of diff value between preoperative and postoperative were related with diopter (r=0.419, P=0.014), AT (r=0.394, P=0.023), AT/CT (r=0.501, P=0.004), Diff value of preoperative (r=0.501, P=0. 004), RCST (r=-0. 385, P=0. 033) and RCST/CT (r=-0. 401, P=0. 025). The changes of height value from posterior corneal surface between preoperative and postoperative were related with diopter (r=0. 520, P=0. 002), AT (r=0.504, P=0. 003), AT/CT (r=0. 442, P=0. 013), Diff value of preoperative (r=0. 624, P=0. 000) and RCST/CT (r=-0. 394, P=0. 028).
CONCLUSION: AT, RCST, AT/CT, RCST/CT and diff value of preoperative should be the key index that predicted the stability of posterior corneal surface after LASIK,the further research will give the range of safety value.

ObjectiveTo develop three animal models to mimic muscle tremors of Parkinson's disease and observe effects of Chinese herb compounds Jian-Xing on these models.MethodsPure muscle tremor mice models were developed by single intraperitoneal injection of arecoline or oxotremorine. The mitochondria damaged model was developed by intraperitoneal injection of MPTP(1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) 20mg/kg for 8 days. Duration time of tremoring was recorded. The climbing time and spontaneous movements of MPTP mice were recorded. HPLC was used to detect the content of dopamine and it's metabolites in MPTP mice.ResultsAfter injection of oxotremorine or arecoline,model mice exhibited significant tremoring, duration time of tremor of mice in Jian-Xing group shortened significantly. As to MPTP model mice, climbing time of model mice prolonged, times of spontaneous movements of model mice decreased and the content of dopamine in striaturn decreased compared with control group. Climbing time of mice in Jian-Xing group shortened, spontaneous movements increased and content of dopamine increased distinctively. ConclusionOxotremorine, arecoline and MPTP all can produce tremor animal models. Chinese herb compounds Jian-Xing can shorten the duration time of tremor.As to MPTP model, Jian-Xing can shorten the climbing time of model mice, increase the spontaneous movements and increase the content of dopamine in striaturn.

Objective: To investigate the effect of taurine on learning and memory impairment, cytokines secretion in rats intrahippocampally injected with ?-amyloid (A?) 1-40. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into control group, A? injected group, taurine (0.3g/kg?d, 0.6g/kg?d) groups. The rats were fed with taurine for 7 days, and then subjected to bilateral intrahippocampus injection of A?1-40 or vehicle. Two weeks later, all rats performed Morris water maze test. The contents of IL-6, TNF-? were checked by way of radio-immunity assay for hippocampus samples. Results: Compared with A?model group, the escape latency and distance were significantly reduced in taurine (0.6g/kg?d) group; the ratio of swimming distance in the target quadrant to that in the whole pool of the probe trial; the content of cytokines of IL-6 and TNF-?in hippocampus were reduced significantly. Conclusion: Taurine can effectively attenuate the cognitive dysfunction caused by A?1-40 in rats. The reduced cytokines content in hippocampus might contribute to this effect.

Objective To verify the interaction between asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR)and hepatitis B virus (HBV)preS1 protein in vivo and in vitro ,and identify ASGPR as a cell-surface receptor for HBV,which could elucidate the molecular mechanism of HBV infection.Methods The preS1-ASGPR interaction was examined in mammalian two-hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation system by strictly following the manufacturer’s instructions.Results ASGPR interacted specifically and directly with the preS1 domain of HBV in vivo and in vitro .Conclusion ASGPR may be a candidate receptor for HBV that mediates further step of HBV entry.

Objective To discuss the effect of mirtazapine in depressive functional dyspepsia patients with weight loss (FD-WL).Methods As a randomized and controlled trial,seventy-two FD patients with weight loss and depression were randomly divided into mirtazapine group(n=24),paroxetine group(n=23) and conventional group(n=25),and all patients were treated for 8 weeks.The Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI)-symptom checklist,the Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression (HAMD),body weight were assessed before the treatment and after 2,4,6,8 week.Results (1) After 2-week treatment,the scores of NDI-symptom checklist and HAMD in mirtazapine group were significantly lower than that in paroxetine group and conventional group.After 4-week,6-week and 8-week treatment,the score of HAMD in mirtazapine group((13.34±1.52),(11.65±1.56),(10.15±1.36)) and paroxetine group((13.65±1.81),(11.34±1.21),(9.58±1.41))was significantly lower than that in conventional group((18.15±1.61),(17.20±2.14),(15.30±1.56)) (all P<0.05).But there was no statistically difference between mirtazapine group and paroxetine group (P>0.05).(2) After 6-week and 8-week treatment,the body weight in mirtazapine group((53.17±6.46)kg,(53.55±6.52)kg)was significantly higher compared with that in paroxetine group((49.47±5.72)kg,(49.57±5.81)kg)and conventional group((48.69±5.60)kg,(48.68±5.65)kg)(all P<0.05).After 8-week treatment,patients in mirtazapine group experienced a weight gain of(3.34±1.82)kg.Conclusion Mirtazapine not only can significantly improve dyspepsia symptoms and depressive scoring,but also can increase body weight.

Objective To evaluate the methylation status at CpG site -55 in the interferon-gamma (IFN-7) gene promoter and its effect on IFN-7 expression in chronic hepatitis B. Method The authors recruited 30 patients with UBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 30 HBeAg-negative CHB patients, and 30 healthy blood donors. Pyrosequeneing was used to determine the methylation status at CpG site -55 in the IFN-γ gene promoter following bisulfite treatment of DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The expression of IFN-γ was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. HBV DNA in PBMCs was detected by nested PCR. Results The methylation level at CpG site -55 in the IFN-γ gene promoter was significantly increased, resulting in subsequent down-regulation of the expression of this cytoldne in CHB. The methylation level at CpG site -55 was significantly higher in HBeAg-positive patients than in HBeAg-negative ones (P<0.01) and was also significantly higher in PBMCs from HBV DNA-positive patients than from HBV DNA-negative ones (P<0.01) ; the methylation level at CpG site -55 was positively correlated with the amount of HBV DNA in serum (P<0.01). Oonclusion IFN-γ gene expression appears to be regulated by methylation of the IFN-γ gene promoter in CHB; the methylation level at CpG site -55 is associated with HBV infection.

In order to summarize and perfect the basic skill practicing method in acupuncture teaching and form a characteristic teaching, the research on skill training and technique improving of acupuncture and tuina major was carried out. The undergraduate students in acupuncture and tuina major from College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. Students from both groups received the basic courses of acupuncture-moxibustion and tuina as requested in the syllabus and the special teaching was added to the experimental group, namely "three practice" (strength practice, coordination practice, targeted practice of acupuncture basic skills) and "three enlightenment" (technique enlightenment, mind and qi enlightenment, efficacy enlightenment). During and after the courses, the teaching effectiveness was evaluated on the basis of needling manipulation. The peacetime score in the experimental group was superior to that in the control group (38.03 +/- 1.14 vs 33.25 +/- 1.31, P < 0.05), the total score in the experimental group was superior to that in the control group (84.03 +/- 6.30 vs 78.05 +/- 6.55, P < 0.05). The special teaching method of "three practice" and "three enlightenment" can improve the effect of skill training teaching method. It highlights the unique feature of central plains by integrating the essence of Shaolin internal qigong and Chen-style Taiji, it can also provide new ideas for the practical teaching of TCM professional courses and the construction of characteristic professionals.
Acupuncture ; education ; manpower ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Students ; Teaching

To investigate the cardioprotective effect of formononetin (FMN) on no-reflow (NR) after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion and its molecular mechanism based on integrated pharmacology and experimental verification, firstly, human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and myocardial NR rats were used to confirm the estrogenic activity and the effect of alleviating NR of FMN, respectively. Male SD rats were divided into Sham, NR, FMN (20 mg·kg^-1) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 5.0 mg·kg^-1) groups, which were administered once a day for one week, the experiment was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM-LAEC2019095). The pharmacological analysis and in vivo study of NR rats were integrated to reveal the mechanism of FMN improving NR. The results showed that FMN had estrogenic effect and reduced NR by improving cardiac structure and function, reducing NR, ischemic myocardial area and pathological injury of cardiomyocytes. Integrated pharmacology predicts that the mechanism of FMN improving NR is mainly related to phosphatidyinositol-3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signal pathway. Phytoestrogens play a role in cardiovascular protection mainly by activating G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). GPER is also an important regulator in the upstream of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This study found that FMN can significantly activate GPER, p-PI3K, p-Akt and phospho-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS). It has good binding ability with GPER and eNOS protein. In this study, through the integration of pharmacology and experimental evaluation, it is revealed that FMN activates PI3K/Akt/eNOS signal pathway by activating GPER, thus significantly improving NR.

Objective To explore the association of sedentary life style with risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM).Methods A total of 6 016 local residents aged 18 years or older in Fujian province were recruited by multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method in 2010-2011.Data,including demographic information,physical activity and sedentary time were collected.Indices related to height,weight,waist circumference,blood pressure and blood lipid were determined while MS and T2DM were diagnosed by IDF (2005) and WHO (1999) criteria.Logistic regression was used to estimate the correlations between sedentary behavior and MS or T2DM.Results The prevalence rates of MS and T2DM were 19.0％ and 8.0％ respectively,in local residents aged 18 years or older,in Fujian province.The overall rate of sedentary behavior was 18.1％,with the mean sedentary time as 4.3 hours.Both data showed significantly differences (P＜0.001) among control group,MS without T2DM group,MS with T2DM group and T2DM without MS group.Compared with the group of sedentary time ＜2.0 h/d,1) the group with 2.0-3.5 h/d was significantly correlated with MT group (OR=1.44,95％ CI:1.03-2.03,P＜0.05),2) groups of 3.5-6.0 h/d and ≥6.0 h/d were significantly correlated with M,T,MT group,respectively (OR:1.49-1.76 and 1.28-1.58 respectively,95％ CI:1.19-2.45 and 1.02-2.23 respectively,P＜ 0.05),and 3) sedentary behavior was independently associated with an increased risk of MT group (OR=1.82,95％ CI:1.33-2.48,P＜0.01) and M group (OR=1.43,95％CI:1.14-1.78,P＜0.01),after the adjustment for factors as age,sex,cigarette smoking,alcohol drinking,BMI,education,occupation,sedentary behavior/sedentary time.Conclusion MS and T2DM were associated with sedentary lifestyle,but these findings should be confirmed through further longitudinal studies.