Objective To compare the effects of electroacupuncture at points Shangjuxu(ST37), Zusanli(ST36), Xiajuxu(ST39) and Yanglingquan(GB34) on colonic expressions of interleukin-1b (IL-1b) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor a7 mRNA (nAchRa7mRNA) in ulcerative colitis rats and investigate if large intestine lower He-Sea point Shangjuxu has relative specificity to fu organ diseases. Method Seventy healthy SD rats were randomized into blank, model, Shangjuxu, Zusanli, Xiajuxu, Yanglingquan and Chengjin groups, 10 rats, half male and half female, each. A rat model of ulcerative colitis was made by induction of 2-4-6 three nitrobenzene sulfonic acid/ethanol solution enema in every group except the blank group. After successful model making and ten days of treatment, rat colonic mucosal ulcers and inflammation were observed macroscopically, colonic IL-1bcontent was measured by ELISA and the expression of nAchRa7mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. Result Compared with the model group, colonic lesions were reduced in varying degrees, colonic IL-1b content was significantly lower and the expression of nAchRa7mRNA was higher in every acupoint group (P<0.05, P<0.01);the colonic ulcer score was lower in the Shangjuxu and Zusanli groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the Shangjuxu group, colonic expression of nAchRa7mRNA was lower in the other four acupoint groups (P<0.01); colonic mucosal ulcers and inflammatory lesions were more severe and the colonic ulcer score and the IL-1bcontent were higher in the Xiajuxu, Yanglingquan and Chengjin groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion The mechanism of electroacupuncture treatment for ulcerative colitis may be that it regulates abnormal immunologic function by modulating IL-1b and nAchRa7mRNA and reduces mucosal lesions. The overall therapeutic effect of Shangjuxu is better than those of Zusanli, Xiajuxu, Yanglingquan and Chengjin, indicating that Shangjuxu has relative specificity to fu organ large intestine.

Objective:To investigate the effects of abdominal Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)on behavioral function,5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor(5-HT1AR),and synapsin-1(Syn1)in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries(HIBI). Methods:Forty healthy neonatal rats,born of 5 specific pathogen-free healthy pregnant rats,were randomly divided into a group for modeling(n=28)and a sham operation group(n=12)on the 7th day of birth.In the group for modeling,24 neonatal rats with HIBI successfully established by the Rice method were randomly divided into a model group(n=12)and an abdominal Tuina group(n=12).The abdominal Tuina group was given abdominal Tuina for 28 d from 24 h after modeling,and the other groups were put under the same conditions but without any treatments.Rats in each group were subjected to suspension tests on the 7th,14th,21st,and 28th days of intervention.After the intervention,the rat hippocampal tissue was collected and stained with hematoxylin-eosin to observe the pathological changes in the rat hippocampal CA1 region.The 5-HT1AR expression in rat hippocampal CA1 region was detected by immune-histochemistry.The Syn1 expression in rat hippocampus was measured by Western blotting method. Results:The cells were disordered,and edema and necrosis appeared in the hippocampal CA1 region of the model group.Cell arrangement was clear,and edema was improved obviously in the hippocampal CA1 region of the abdominal Tuina group.Compared with the sham operation group,the suspension test scores,the number of 5-HT1AR positive cells,and Syn1 protein expression in the hippocampus decreased significantly in the model group after 21 d and 28 d of interventions(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the suspension test scores,the number of 5-HT1AR positive cells,and Syn1 protein expression increased significantly in the abdominal Tuina group after 21 d and 28 d of interventions(P<0.05). Conclusion:Abdominal Tuina improves the behavioral function of upper limbs and up-regulates the expression levels of 5-HT1AR and Syn1 in the hippocampus of neonatal HIBI rats.

Objective To explore the effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on activity in the intact motor cortex controlling the suprahyoid muscles and thus on dysphagia after an unilateral stroke.Methods Forty patients suffering dysphagia more than two weeks after a unilateral cerebral stroke were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group,each of 20.Both groups were given traditional swallowing rehabilitation training,while the experimental group was additionally provided with 5 Hz rTMS for two weeks.Before and after the treatment,all of the patients were characterized using X-ray fluoroscopy,video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and surface electromyography,and their swallowing was evaluated using a standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) and a penetration-aspiration scale (PAS).Results After the treatment,significant improvement was observed in both groups in the average swallowing time and in the maximum amplitude of sEMG,as well as the average SSA,PAS and VFSS scores (P＜0.05).The average values in the experimental group were in all cases significantly better than the control group's averages (P＜0.05).Conclusion Applying rTMS at 5 Hz to the motor cortex of the contralateral hemisphere controlling the suprahyoid muscles can effectively improve unilateral-hemisphere dysphagia after stroke.

Objective:To observe any effect of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) of a cerebellar hemisphere on the walking of stroke survivors with lower limb dysfunction, and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods:Thirty stroke survivors with walking dysfunction were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, each of 15. Before their daily routine rehabilitation, the control group received fake iTBS while the experimental group was given 600 pulses of iTBS over 200s. The experiment continued 5 days a week for 3 weeks. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-LE), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) were used before and after the treatment to evaluate the subjects′ balance, lower extremity motor function, walking and ability in the activities of daily living. Gait analysis was also performed. The amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and the cortical silent period (CSP) were also noted to assess corticospinal excitability.Results:After the treatment, the average BBS, FMA-LE and MBI scores, FAC grading, stride length, stride speed, stride frequency, and the percentage of swing period in the walking cycle, as well as MEP amplitude and latency had improved significantly in the experimental group. All were then significantly better, on average, than in the control group. The control group also demonstrated significant improvement in all of the outcomes except the percentage of swing period in the walking cycle.Conclusion:iTBS of the cerebellum can improve the walking of stroke survivors with lower limb dysfunction. The mechanism may be related to the cerebellar regulation of spinal cord excitation of the cerebral cortex.

Objective:To explore the effect of abdominal massage on the behavior of rats with neonatal hypoxia-ischemia and its mechanism.Methods:7-day-old SD rats were made as the HIBD model by the classical method of RICE and then the HIBD model rats were divided into the abdominal massage group and model group according to the random number table method, with 12 rats in each group, and 12 rats were selected as the normal group. The abdominal massage group was given abdominal massage 24 hours after the modeling, and the intervention continued for 28 days. Rats in each group underwent a balance beam test on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day of the intervention. After the intervention, HE staining was applied to observe the morphological structure of the hippocampal CA1 region of the rats; Quantitative Real-time PCR method was used to measure the serotonin receptor (5-HTR1A) in the hippocampus. The expression of cAMP, PKA and CREB in the hippocampus were measured by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of SYP protein was measured by Western blotting.Results:After the intervention, the cells in the hippocampal CA1 area of the model group were diffusely distributed, the number of neurons reduced, and the condition of inflammatory edema appeared; the cells in hippocampal CA1 area of the abdominal massage group were arranged clearly, and the condition of inflammatory edema has significantly improved; on the 21st and 28th day of the intervention, the balance beam test scores in the abdominal massage group significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the relative expression of 5-HTR1A mRNA (1.18±0.08 vs. 0.77±0.04) in the abdominal massage group significantly increased ( P<0.05). The expression of cAMP (0.32±0.02 vs. 0.31±0.01), PKA (0.32±0.02 vs. 0.29±0.01),CREB (0.31±0.02 vs. 0.28±0.01) and SYP in the abdominal massage group significantly increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Abdominal massage could improve the behavior of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic rats, which may play a role on nerve repair by regulating 5-HTR1A/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway.

Objective:To observe any effect of exercise preconditioning on the levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the brain tissue of rats after induced cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, and how it might promote angiogenesis.Methods:Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group and an exercise preconditioning group, each of 12. After adaptive running training for 3 days, the exercise preconditioning group ran daily for 30 minutes at 15m/min for 14 days, while the other two groups did not exercise. Middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion were then induced in the model and exercise preconditioning groups using the modified Zea-Longa suture method. Rats in the sham-operation group were only cut open to expose the right carotid artery. Right after the modeling, and again 24 hours later neurological deficit was evaluated using the Zea-Longa score and modified neurological severity scoring (mNSS). Infarct sizes were measured using 2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Any morphological changes were noted using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the expression of CD31 protein, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor in the ischemic cerebral cortex were quantified immunohistochemically.Results:Right after the modelling, compared with the sham-operation group, the average Zea-Longa scores of the model and exercise groups had increased significantly, but were not significantly different from each other. Twenty-four hours later the average Zea-Longa score, mNSS score and relative cerebral infarction area of the model group had increased significantly compared with the sham-operation group, while the exercise preconditioning group′s averages had decreased significantly. The HE staining showed that compared with the sham-operation group, pathological changes such as loose tissue, reduced number of nerve cells, nucleolysis, and vacuolization of the cerebral cortex on the ischemic side were found in the model group. Compared with the model group, the pathological changes in the exercise preconditioning group were less serious. The levels of CD31 protein, HIF-1α and VEGF in the ischemic cerebral cortexes of the model group had by then increased significantly. But compared with the model group, those levels had increased more in the exercise preconditioning group.Conclusion:Exercise preconditioning can effectively promote angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia and reduce chronic injury. That may be related to the activation of the HIF-1α and/or VEGF signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) at lower-sea points of stomach, large intestine, small intestine and gallbladder on interleukin-1β (IL-1β), high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB 1) and alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR α7) in rats with acute gastric mucosal lesion (AGML), so as to explore whether there is relative specificity in treating gastric viscera disease by stimulating Zusanli (ST 36).

METHODSSixty healthy SD rats were randomly assigned into a blank group, a model group, a Zusanli group, a Shangjuxu group, a Xiajuxu group and a Yanglingquan group, ten rats in each one (half male and half female). The WRS method was applied to induce the AGML model except the rats in the blank group. The rats in the blank group were treated with routine diet; the rats in the model group were treated with immobilization at rat platform, 30 min per time; the rats in the Zusanli group, Shangjuxu group, Xiajuxu group and Yanglingquan group were treated with acupuncture and connected with EA device (dilatational wave 10 Hz/50 Hz, positive electrode on the left side and negative electrode on the right side, intensity was appropriate when rat hind leg slightly shook), 30 min per time. The treatment was given once a day. After consecutive 10-day treatment, the gastric tissue was collected and the damage of gastric mucosa was evaluated; ELISA method was applied to measure the content of serum IL-1β and tissue HMGB 1; the Western blot method was applied to measure the expression of nAchR α7 receptor.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the model group, the ulcer index (UI) of gastric mucosa, serum IL-1β and tissue HMGB 1 were lower, and the expression of nAchR α7 was increased in the remaining groups (<0.05,<0.01). (2) Compared with the Zusanli group, the UI of gastric tissue, serum IL-1β and tissue HMGB 1 were higher in the Shangjuxu group, Xiajuxu group and Yanglingquan group (<0.05,<0.01), and the expression of nAchRα7 was reduced in the Yanglingquan group (<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS(1) EA at digestive system-related lower-sea points, through IL-1β, HMGB 1 and nAchR α7, could regulate immune response, lighten inflammatory reaction and reduce mucosal injury, which could realize the intervention effect on AGML rats. (2) From the comparison, it is concluded the intervention effect of Zusanli group is superior to the other groups, partly indicating the relative specificity between Zusanli and stomach.