Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hiccup ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

The effects of acupuncture on functional regulation of biological systems have been studied extensively. The most interesting feature of acupuncture is the bidirectional regulatory ability to restore homeostatic values of body systems from either up or down states, which was found by Chinese biomedical researchers several decades ago, and has recently been observed by peers internationally. Acupuncture can produce two physiological response patterns, an immediate short-term response or/and a long-lasting response. The bidirectional regulatory effects of acupuncture are rarely observed under physiological states (normal homeostasis), rather, they are usually observed under pathological states (abnormal homeostasis) with long-lasting response patterns. This suggests that the effects of acupuncture under pathological states are different from the mechanisms under normal physiological states. This is important for understan-ding and developing acupuncture therapy, and also gives insight into understanding the biological control process itself. The present paper reviews the experimental literature and discusses the four conditions that produce bidirectional regulation of acupuncture, i.e. the inherent properties of the target systems, the functional states of the target system, the acupoint characteristics, and the stimulation parameters. Finally, two hypotheses are proposed to explain the mechanisms of bidirectional effects of acupuncture. The possible peripheral mechanism is that acupuncture can stimulate different types of peripheral nerve fibers to produce opposite regulatory effects; and the possible central mechanisms is that acupuncture might activate the adaptive control process of the central nervous system to restore homeostatic balance.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Drugs, Investigational ; Humans ; Plasma

Penetration enhancers are substances to improve the rate or amount of transdermal permeation which is an important factor in transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS). Recent researches have found that some of the new penetration enhancers have a higher penetration-effect, little irritation, fewer adverse reactions, and stable properties. In this article, domestic and foreign research reports on penetration enhancers have been collected and summarized. The research progress of penetration enhancers were reviewed, with a purpose to provide a reference for reasonable selection of penetration enhancers.

Objective To evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced CT in diagnosis of mesenteric fibromatosis (MF).Methods CT images of 6 patients with pathologically proved mesenteric fibromatosis were retrospectively analyzed.The imaging characteristics analysis in-cluded the number,size,density of the lesion,the degree and quality of enhancement,as well as the relationship with the surrounding tissues.Results Singular lesion located in the mesentery was found in all the 6 patients (100%).The size of all cases ranges from 2.0 cm to 8.5 cm and the mean diameter was 6.5 cm.CT scan showed 5 tumors were homogeneous (83.3%),while one tumor had mixed den-sity (1 6.7%).On contrast-enhanced CT images,5 cases showed mild enhancement (83.3%),while 1 case showed moderate en-hancement (1 6.7%).And 4 cases appeared as heterogeneous enhancement (66.7%).4 cases of lesions infiltrated the surrounding tissue(66.7%)and the peripheral intestines were compressed in 2 cases(33.3%).5 masses were surrounded by mesenteric vessels (83.3%).Conclusion MF has certain CT manifestations,especially when mesenteric vascular surrounded the lesion.CT can provide important information for the diagnosis of this disease.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of histogram analysis of susceptible signal intensity in differentiating papillary (pRCC) from chromophobe renal cell carcinoma(ChRCC). Methods Thirteen cases with pRCC and 9 cases with ChRCC, who underwent susceptible-weighted imaging(SWI), MR common scanning and enhancement, were assessed retrospectively. The histogram parameters of susceptible signal intensity were measured, including maximum, minimum, mean, median, skewness and kurtosis. The independent samples t test(normal distribution) and Mann-Whitney rank sum test(skewed distribution) were used to compare the differences in SWI parameters between pRCCs and ChRCCs. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the efficiency of the whole-tumor SWI parameters in differentiating pRCCs from ChRCCs. Results The significant differences of the minimum, mean, median and skewness between pRCCs and ChRCCs were present(P<0.05), and there was no significant differences in maximum and kurtosis between between pRCCs and ChRCCs(P>0.05). In all the histogram parameters, the area of ROC curve of mean value was largest(0.80). The sensitivity of minimum value (84.62％) was the highest and and the specificity of skewness(100.00％) was the highest. Conclusion Histogram analysis of susceptible signal intensity can help differentiate pRCCs from ChRCCs.

Objective To study the clinical value of HRCT in staging of lung interstitial disease(LID) in connective tissue disease(CTD).Methods 222 patients with CTD confirmed clinically underwent HRCT scan.The staging of LID according to the HRCT features of LID were done and the therapeutic effect was compared between each stage.Results In 222 cases ,64 cases were negative on HRCT as stage 0,158 cases had disseminated LID in different degree,including stage Ⅰ in 107,stage Ⅱ in 36 and stage Ⅲ in 15.There were significant statistically between the therapeutic effect and staging of LID.Conclusion The staging of CTD with LID by HRCT is helpful for judging the extent of LID and clinical treatment.

Objective To seek the specific receptors associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) adhesion by separating the binding protein of the HBV preS1 region in HepG2 and performing the mass spectrometry .Methods The immunomagnetic bead method was adopted to separate HepG2 membrane protein combined with preS1 peptide fragment and the binding protein was separated by the sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) ,then the destination strips was analyzed by LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry and retrieved by the database .Results 16 bands were separated from HepG2 membrane proteins combined with preS1 by SDS-PAGE ;14 kinds of proteins were identified from 6 bands with better repeatability separated from HepG 2 membrane proteins combined with preS1 .Conclusion Protein analyzed by the mass spectrometry is mainly related with the material transport , cellular signal transduction ,antigen presentation ,immune regulation and energy metabolism .

Objective To clarify the protective effect of nrsodeoxycholic acid ( UDCA ) on endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis in pancreatic β-cell of streptozotocin ( STZ )-induced diabetic rats.Methods Rats( n =40) received a single injection STZ( 50 mg/kg) intra-peritoneally and formed a β-cell injury model.Weight-matched normal rats( the control group,n =10 ) were injected with the buffer alone.STZ-treated rats with persistent random blood glucose higher than 16.7 mmol/L for 1 week were considered as diabetic status( n=14 ),then divided randomly into STZ-induced diabetes mellitus ( DM ) group ( n =7 ) and UDCA-treated DM group ( n =7 ).UDCA (40 mg· kg- 1,d-1 ) was administered daily by intragastric intubations throughout the experimental period (30 d).During the entire experiment,blood glucose in all rats was assessed.By the end of the experiment,all rats were sacrificed with the pancreas removed and the blood sample collected immediately.Fasting insulin levels were assayed by radioimmunoassay.The morphological changes of pancreatic β-cells apoptosis were determined by TUNEL assay.RNA in pancreas was abstracted and microarray containing 89 pieces of apoptosis related genes was applied.The related gene expressions were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results The concentration of blood glucose in diabetic rats was gradually decreased after UDCA treatment,but at the end of the experiment it was still higher than that in the normal control group.The treatment with UDCA raised the fasting insulin level in diabetic rats,but this concentration was significantly lower as compared to the control group.Based on TUNEL stained tissue sections,the percentage of β-cell apoptosis of UDCA-treated DM group was significantly lower than that of STZ-induced diabetic group(P＜0.05 ).Among 89 genes,42 genes up-regulated and 46 genes down-regulated in diabetic rats,some of which were ameliorated by UDCA treatment.The expressions of Caspase-3,Bax,Bip,and CHOP mRNA in pancreas of DM group were significantly up-regulated as compared with those in the control group ( P ＜ 0.05 ) ; while the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA was markedly down-regulated (P＜0.05 ).However,these parameters in the U DCA-treated animals showed a marked improvement.Conclusion Ursodeoxycholic acid seems to protect pancreatic β-cell from apoptosis in STZ-induced diabetes by attenuating the severity of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Objective To assess the value of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in staging hepatic fibrosis (HF) in rabbits. Methods Sixty healthy rabbits were randomly divided into HF group (n=44), control group (n=16). Rabbits in the HF group and supplementary group were injected subcutaneously with 50%CCl4 oily solution to establish hepatic fibrosis model. On the basis of preliminary test, 8 rabbits in the HF group and 4 rabbits in the control group were selected randomly at the 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th week after CCL4 injection ,respectively , to undergo liver MR scan,including conventional axial T1WI, T2WI and axial SWI, DWI scan. All rabbits were sacrificed after MR scan and the tissue of liver were sampled for pathological test and hepatic fibrosis staging. Rabbits were classified into group F0, F1-2 and F3-4 based on pathological results. Liver signal intensity (SI), and liver-to-muscle SI ratio were measured on SWI images and ADC values were measured on DWI images correspondently. One-way ANOVA analysis was performed to compare difference in liver SI, liver-to-muscle SI ratio and ADC values among group F0 (no fibrosis), F1-2 (mild-moderate fibrosis) and F3-4 (severe fibrosis) . Spearman correlation analysis was performed to correlate pathological staging and liver SI, liver-to-muscle SI ratio and ADC values. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to compare the diagnostic performance of SWI and DWI for staging HF. Results Two and 5 rabbits in the HF group died at the 5th and the 6th week after CCL4 injection , respectively due to acute hepatic necrosis, hepatorrhexis and systemic failure. Seven rabbits in supplementary group were used as supplement. Of the 16 rabbits in the control group, 1 was excluded from the study due to liver fibrosis. Fifteen rabbits in group F0, sixteen rabbits in group F1-2 and sixteen rabbits in group F3-4 underwent MRI and were included into this study. Liver-to-muscle SI ratio in group F0, F1-2 and F3-4 were 0.973 ± 0.020, 0.880 ± 0.090 and 0.649 ± 0.140, respectively. Liver SI were 378 ± 45, 374 ± 19 and 317 ± 34. ADC values were (1.473 ± 0.320) × 10-3, (1.311 ± 0.310) × 10-3 and (0.942 ± 0.180) × 10-3mm2/s. There were statistically significant differences in liver SI, liver-to-muscle SI ratio and ADC values among group F0, F1-2 and F3-4 (F=46.571,15.803 and 15.317, P< 0.01). Liver-to-muscle SI ratio was highly negatively correlated with HF staging (r=-0.818,P<0.01), while liver SI and ADC values were moderately correlated with HF staging (r=-0.565,-0.630;P<0.01). Area under ROC curve (AUC) of liver-to-muscle SI ratio, liver SI and ADC value for differentiating hepatic fibrosis stage F0 and stage F1-4 were 0.916, 0.695 and 0.768, while the AUC for differentiating hepatic fibrosis stage F0-2 and stage F3-4 were 0.951, 0.904 and 0.900. Conclusion Liver-to-muscle SI ratio on SWI provide added diagnostic value and could be an useful parameter for staging hepatic fibrosis.