OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in acupuncture for pain threshold at different time points among the groups of 9 TCM constitutions.

METHODSThe cross-sectional survey was adopted to investigate TCM constitutions among 600 subjects and determine 9 TCM constitution types (neutral constitution, qi-deficiency constitution, yang-deficiency constitution, yin-deficiency constitution, phlegm-damp constitution, damp-heat constitution, blood-stagnation constitution, qi-stagnation constitution, special diathesis constitution). The same acupuncture manipulation was applied to Zusanli (ST 36) on the left side in the subjects and the needle was retained for 30 min. The tenderness threshold was detected with 2390 type Von Frey apparatus at different time points, named before acupuncture, at the moment after qi arrival, in 10 min of needle retaining, in 30 min of needle retaining and in 15 min after needle withdrawal in the subjects of 9 TCM constitutions.

RESULTSThe interactive effect happened between the constitution type and time point (P < 0.05). Among the groups of 9 TCM constitutions, the pain threshold values at the moment after qi arrival (except blood-stagnation constitution, qi-stagnation constitution, special diathesis constitution) in 10 min of needle retaining and in 30 min of needle retaining were increased as compared with those before acupuncture separately (P < 0.01), among which, the value increase was the most significant in 30 min of needle retaining. The differences in the pain thresholds were significant in 15 min after needle withdrawal in the groups of neutral constitution and damp-heat constitution as compared with those before acupuncture (both P < 0.01). In 10 min of needle retaining and in 30 min of needle retaining, as compared with the group of neutral constitution, the changes in pain thresholds of the rest abnormal constitutions were apparently lower (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) presents different effects among the groups of different constitution types. The effect maintaining durations are different.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pain Management ; Pain Threshold ; Yang Deficiency ; therapy ; Yin Deficiency ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the effects of deep electroacupuncture on carlilage tissue in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rabbits. Meth-ods 40 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal group (A, n=10) and model group (n=30). The model group was modeled KOA with Hulth-Telhag way, and identified with X-ray. Then they were divided into no-treated group (B, n=10), deep electroacupuncture group (C, n=10) and routine electroacupuncture group (D, n=10) randomly. The groups C and D accepted electroacupuncture since 6 weeks after modeling, for 4 weeks. They were measured with pH of joint fluid, observed structure and pathology of cartilage under transmission electron microscope, detected apoptosis index, and determined the expression of acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) and p53 with Western blotting, and distribution of ASIC1 with immunohistochemistry in cartilage tissue. Re-sults The pHs of joint fluid from high to low were ranged as the groups A=C>D>B (P<0.01). The cartilage structure was more complete in the groups A, C and D than in the group B. The apoptosis rates from less to more were ranged as the groups A=C

Knockout is an important method for gene function study, while vector is the core of gene knockout. In order to obtain an effective vector for rapid construction of mutant and essentiality identification of the corresponding gene, we constructed a recombinant plasmid named plDM-T based on the temperature-sensitive and replication- defective plasmid plDM1 by inserting an Xcm I adapter into the EcoR I and Pst I sites of pIDM1. Digesting with Xcm I, pIDM-T can be prepared as a linear T-vector for PCR products cloning and be used to knockout the corresponding gene in the genome with insertion duplication mutagenesis. After the verification of temperature sensitivity of the replication of the plasmid, we cloned two Salmonella pullorum genes eno and ybdr into the constructed pIDM-T, and two recombinant plasmids pIDM-T_eno and pIDM-T_ybdr were identified. The recombinant plasmids were then transformed into S. pullorum strain CVCC527 and the IPC (Integration rate per cell) values were calculated. As a result, we identified the eno gene as an essential gene and the ybdr as a non-essential gene in CVCC527. We verified the correctness of recombination site in ybdr recombinant 527 clones (Sal delta ybdr) by PCR and sequencing. The pIDM-T vector can be used for gene knockout in S. pullorum, as well as the identification of essentiality of the corresponding genes, which offers an effective and rapid tool for gene function study in Salmonella.
Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombination, Genetic ; Salmonella ; classification ; genetics

Objective To evaluated the effectiveness and safety ofLianhua Jizhi Tablets for acute trachitis and bronchitis with syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing.Methods A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled and multi-center clinical trial design was selected. Totally 240 cases were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, 120 cases in each group, of which 237 cases were included in the analysis of FAS. Experimental group was givenLianhua Jizhi Tablets, while control group was given placebo, 12 tablets/day, 7 days for a course. Curative effect of acute trachitis and bronchitis, TCM syndrome and disappearance of cough, cough and sputum symptom scores and area under the curve (AUC) were observed. The safety was evaluated. Results The cure rates of disease in experimental group and control group were 66.67% (78/117) and 29.17% (35/120), respectively;cure rates of TCM syndrome in experimental group and the control group were 68.38% (80/117) and 27.50% (33/120), respectively;there was statistically significant difference in area under the curve of cough and sputum symptom score between the two groups (P<0.01). Disappearance rates (cure) of daytime cough in experimental group and control group were 52.99% (62/117) and 13.33% (16/120), respectively;disappearance rates (cure) of nocturnal cough in experimental group and control group were 76.52% (88/115) and 31.90% (37/116), respectively;there were no side effects in experimental group.ConclusionLianhua Jizhi Tablets can significantly relieve clinic symptoms in the treatment of acute trachitis and bronchitis, and have good clinical efficacy and safety.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of close-to-bone needling (CBN) on the expressions of type-Ⅱcollagen, pro-collagen type Ⅱ C-terminal propeptide (PⅡCP) and C-telopeptide of type Ⅱ collagen (CTX-Ⅱ) in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODSAmong 40 New Zealand rabbits, 10 rabbits were selected into a normal group; the remaining 30 rabbits were made into KOA model, and X-ray was used to evaluate the results of model establishment. After the model was successfully made, the rabbits were randomly divided into a model group, a CBN group and a regular acupuncture group, ten rabbits in each one.Rabbits in the CBN group and the regular acupuncture group were treated at "Neixiyan" (EX-LE 4), "Dubi" (ST 35), "Yinlingquan" (SP 9), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Liangqiu" (ST 34). The CBN group applied CBN, and the depth of needling was appropriate with needles reaching bone; the regular acupuncture group applied regular acupuncture. The electroacupuncture(EA) device was used in the two groups, 20 min per treatment, once a day.Five days of treatment were taken as one course, and totally 4 courses were given with an interval of 2 days between courses. The normal group received identical fixation as model group. After treatment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to perform imaging observation on knee; transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the cell structure of knee joint cartilage;HE staining was used to observe the pathological change of knee; TUNEL was used to observe the apoptotic index; the expressions of type-Ⅱ collagen proteins and mRNA were measured by Western-blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); the serum PⅡCP and CTX-Ⅱ levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSAfter treatment, compared with the model group, in the CBN group and regular acupuncture group the articular cavity effusion was reduced without the subchondral bone edema; the cell structure of knee joint cartilage was regular with less apoptosis; the expressions of type-Ⅱ collagen proteins and mRNA were significantly increased (all<0.05), the PⅡCP levels were significantly increased (both<0.05), but the CTX-Ⅱ levels were significantly decreased (both<0.05).The differences of the expressions of type-Ⅱ collagen proteins and mRNA, the levels of PⅡCP and CTX-Ⅱ between the CBN group and the regular acupuncture group were significant (all<0.05); the differences between the CBN group and the normal group were non-significant (all>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCBN can significantly improve the pathological status of cartilage of KOA, reduce apoptosis, and is likely to regulate the expressions of PⅡCP and CTX-Ⅱ to promote the type-Ⅱ collagen, which is superior to regular acupuncture.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of close-to-bone needing combined with electroacupuncture (EA) on cartilage collagen type Ⅱ/discoidin domain receptor/matrix metalloproteinase 13 (collagen type Ⅱ/DDR2/MMP 13) signaling pathway in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to explore the possible action mechanism of this method on repair of extracellular matrix of knee cartilage.

METHODSForty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned into a normal group (10 rabbits) and a model establishing group (30 rabbits). The Hulth-Telhag technique was applied to establish the model of KOA, and X-ray was used for outcome assessment. The rabbits with successful modeling were randomly assigned into a model group, a close-to-bone needing group, a regular acupuncture group, 10 rabbits in each one. The rabbits in the close-to-bone needing group were treated with close-to-bone needing and EA; the rabbits in the regular acupuncture group were treated with regular acupuncture and EA. "Neixiyan" (EX-LE 4), "Dubi" (ST 35), "Yinlingquan" (SP 9), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Liangqiu" (ST 34) were selected in the two groups. The intervention was given for 20 min, once a day; the intervention of 5 days made 1 session, 2 days as the interval and totally 4 sessions were given. Rabbits in normal and model group were immobilized without any treatment. After the treatment, western blotting method was applied to evaluate the expression of DDR2 and collagen type Ⅱ; the activity of collagen type Ⅱ, DDR2 and MMP 13 was assessed by immunohistochemistry method; the mRNA expression of DDR2 and MMP 13 was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the activity expression of collagen type Ⅱ were significantly reduced in the other groups (all<0.01),while the activity and mRNA expression of DDR2 and MMP 13 were notably increased (all<0.01). Compared with the model group, the activity expression of collagen type Ⅱ in the close-to-bone needing group and regular acupuncture group were increased (all<0.01), while the activity and mRNA expression of DDR2 and MMP 13 were reduced (all<0.01). Compared with the regular acupuncture group, the activity and mRNA expression of MMP 13 and DDR2 in the close-to-bone needing group were reduced (all<0.01), while the activity expression of collagen type Ⅱ were increased (<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe close-to-bone needing combined with EA and regular EA could both promote the repair of knee cartilage, where closing-to-bone needing combined with EA shows a superior efficacy. The mechanism may be associated with the blocking effect of collagen type Ⅱ/DDR2/MMP13 signaling pathway and the inhibiting effect of degradation in extracellular matrix of cartilage.