Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tennis Elbow ; therapy ; Young Adult

A bacterium which can effectively degrade LAS (Linear Sodium Alkylbenzenesulfonate) was isolated from washing powder manufacturing effluent and was preliminarily identified as Corynebacterium jeikeium GZ6. The bacterium can degrade LAS up to till 700 mg/L, and the optimum pH, temperature and concentration of LAS are 7.0, 30℃ and 400 mg/L, respectively. The biodegradation rate can reach 98.7% after 24 hours'cultivation in the suitable conditions. Experiments also showed that some heavy metal ions such as Hg2+ , Co2+ , Cd2+ can differently inhibit the degradation of LAS.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of treating infantile diarrhea due to spleen deficiency with five-step pediatric tuina of Huxiang school. Methods:Using a randomized controlled trial design, sixty eligible kids with diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by the five-step pediatric tuina method of Huxiang school, and the control group received conventional tuina treatment. The intervention was conducted once a day, consecutive 5-day treatment as 1 course, at a 2-day interval between courses, successively for a total of 4 courses. Changes in the primary and secondary symptoms of diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results: After treatment, the scores of primary and secondary symptoms and the general score of diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were improved; the improvements in fecal form and frequency, decreased appetite, bloating after meals and fatigue and sluggishness were more significant in the observation group than in the control group. Conclusion: The five-step pediatric tuina method of Huxiang school and conventional tuina both can improve the primary and secondary symptoms in infantile diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, while the former one can produce more significant efficacy.

AIMTo compare the effects of primary culture Schwann cells and cryopreserved Schwann cells on the injured peripheral nerve regeneration.

METHODSThe primary culture Schwann cells and cryopreserved Schwann cells were transplanted into the silicone tubes that bridged the resected sciatic nerves. At different time after transplantation, HRP was injected into the sciatic nerve trunks at the distal end of the silicone tubes, and then the HRP labeled neurons in dorsal root ganglions and anterior horns of spinal cord were counted. The complex action potential of regenerated nerve fibers was measured. Myelination on regenerated nerve fibers was investigated under electronic microscope.

RESULTSAt different time after transplantation, there were not significant differences that the HRP labeled neurons in dorsal root ganglions and anterior horns of spinal cord, the complex action potential of regenerated nerve fibers and myelination on regenerated nerve fibers (P > 0.05), between primary culture and cryopreserved Schwann cells.

CONCLUSIONThe cryopreserved Schwann cells still play the same important role in the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves as the primary culture Schwann cells do.

Action Potentials ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cryopreservation ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Peripheral Nerves ; physiology ; Primary Cell Culture ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; cytology ; physiology

For the purpose of exploring the teaching reform model and method, also promoting the quality of talents in acupuncture and tuina field, the research-based teaching model is applied into the course of Theory of Meridians and Acupoints. This method includes two parts of teaching and learning. For teachers, they bring modern research focus and trend into teaching through questionnaire survey among students, aiming to integrate the education inside and outside class. For students, they are guided to resolve the opening, enlightening and scalable issues through consulting abundant resources of literature and database to achieve autonomous participation in the course of learning. By this teaching method, it is expected to train the student's ability of expanding their thinking, as well as discovering, analyzing and solving the problem.
Acupuncture ; education ; methods ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; psychology ; Humans ; Learning ; Meridians ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations ; education ; methods ; psychology ; Students, Medical ; psychology

OBJECTIVEIBS-D rat model was established to assess the effect of Shen warming Pi strengthening method (SWPSM) for intervening diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by observing rats' general state, stool properties, AWR ranking, and histopathological changes.

METHODSTotally 72 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e. the normal group, the model group, the high, middle, low dose SWPSM groups, and the control group, 12 in each group. The IBS-D rat model was successfully established referring to AL-Chaer ED's modeling method. After modeling high, middle, and low dose SWPS Recipe boil-free granules were given by gastrogavage to rats in corresponding treatment groups. Sishen Pill boil-free granule was given by gastrogavage to those in the control group. Equal volume of normal saline was given by gastrogavage to rats in the model group. The medication lasted for 2 weeks. Rats' general state, stool properties, abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) ranking, and histopathological changes were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the general state of all rats got im- provement to various degrees. The improvement in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups were superior to that in the low dose SWPS Recipe group and the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the growth rate between after and before treatment in each group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group and the low dose SWPS Recipe group, the defecation amount within 4 h was less in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups and the control group (P < 0.05). The Bristol ranking score, average ranking of loose stool, ratio of dry stool and wet stool were lower in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups than in the control group and the low dose SWPS Recipe group (P < 0.05). The AWR ranking score was lower in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups than in the control group when the volume of balloon dilation was 1.5 mL. There was no organic change of histological or morphological observation.

CONCLUSIONSHigh sensitive IBS-D model was proved to be reliable. SWPSM could reduce the quantity of stools, lower Bristol ranking score, average ranking of loose stools as well as ratios of dry stool and wet stool, contributing to reducing the high sensitivity of rats' visceral organs to some extent.

Animals ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of α3 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) on apoptosis and p38 signal transduction pathway in SH-SY5Y cells and to assess the roles of α3 nAChR in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSThe levels of α3 nAChR mRNA and protein were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively, in SH-SY5Y cells transfected with α3 nAChR siRNA. The mRNA level of bcl-2 and bax was measured by the real-time PCR. The siRNA transfected SH-SY5Y cells and control were then treated with 10 µmol/L Aβ25-35 for another 48 h, and the change in apoptotic rate and the levels of p-p38 and p38 were measured by flow cytometry and Western blot. Subsequently these SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to a blocker of p38 protein, and the apoptotic rate was measured again.

RESULTSCompared to the controls, the expression of α3 nAChR at mRNA and protein levels in the SH-SY5Y cells transfected with α3 nAChR siRNA decreased by 95% and 86%, respectively; the mRNA levels of bax increased 2.11 times and that for bcl-2 decreased 0.53 times. The apoptotic rate was unaffected (3.40% ± 0.20%); but it increased after Aβ25-35 treatment (24.52% ± 1.59%); the level of p-p38 protein also increased by 178% in the α3 nAChR inhibited cells treated with Aβ25-35. Compared to controls, the Aβ25-35-treated SH-SY5Y cells and the Aβ25-35-treated and siRNA-transfected cells both showed a reduction in apoptosis after treatment with p38 blocker, especially in the former.

CONCLUSIONThe siRNA silencing of α3 nAChR mRNA may enhance the effect of Aβ25-35 on the cell apoptosis by increasing the levels of p38 protein and bax mRNA and decreasing the level of bcl-2 mRNA, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of AD.

Alzheimer Disease ; etiology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

The suspended magnetic moxibustion cupping therapy,as a specific moxibustion method which collects moxibustion,cupping,infrared and magnetic therapy into one,and integrates with the warming and heating effect of moxibustion,sucking effect of cups,and effect of infrared light energy and magnetic energy,is a particularly unique method for weight loss.This article introduces the basic situation and mechanism of suspended magnetic cupping therapy for weight loss.For pathogenesis of deficiency,phlegm,stagnation and cold in obesity,Shuang Long Xi Zhu (two dragons playing a ball) moxibustion,abdominal Jiu Gong (nine palaces) moxibustion,San Yang Kai Tai (auspicious beginning) moxibustion and Chang Long (long dragon) moxibustion were given respectively.This therapy has inspired the clinical idea of Chinese medicine for obesity.

A clinically reliable non-invasive test for endometriosis is expected to reduce the diagnostic delay. Although varieties of biomarkers have been investigated for decades, and cancer antigen-125, cancer antigen-199, interleukin-6, and urocortin were the most studied ones among hundreds of biomarkers, no clinically reliable biomarkers have been confirmed so far. Some emerging technologies including "omics" technologies, molecular imaging techniques, and microRNAs are promising in solving these challenges, but their utility to detect endometriosis has yet to be verified. New combinations of researched indicators or other non-invasive methods and further exploration of the emerging technologies may be new targets and future research hotspots for non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis. In conclusion, researches of biomarkers for the detection of endometriosis are still ongoing and may benefit from novel molecular biology, bioinformatics methods and a combination of more diverse monitoring methods. Though it will be a daunting task, the identification of a specific set of diagnostic biomarkers will undoubtedly improve the status of endometriosis.

Objective: To observe the difference in clinical efficacy between acupuncture with point selection based on syndrome differentiation along the meridians and acupuncture at non-meridian and non-acupoint points for functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods: A total of 74 FD patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 37 cases in each group. Both groups received acupuncture treatment. Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6) were selected in the observation group, with Taichong (LR 3) and Neiting (ST 44) added for excess syndrome, and Gongsun (SP 4) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) added for deficiency syndrome. Four non-meridian and non-acupoint points were selected in the control group. The treatments in both groups were performed once a day with a 2-day break after 5 consecutive treatments, which constituted one treatment course. A total of 4 courses were performed. The scores of Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI) and Leeds dyspepsia questionnaire (LDQ) were recorded before and after treatment, and during follow-up (8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks after recruitment) to assess the clinical efficacy. Results: The NDI scores in the two groups after treatment and at each time point during follow-up were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05), and the LDQ scores were lower than those before treatment (all P<0.05). The NDI scores after treatment and at each time point during follow-up in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.01); the total LDQ score and scores of upper abdominal pain, postprandial satiety and upper abdominal burning sensation after treatment and at each time point during follow-up in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05).. Conclusion: Acupuncture with point selection based on syndrome differentiation along the meridians has a better curative effect than acupuncture at non meridian and non-acupoint points in the treatment of FD.