Objective: The strategies against epilepsy are currently very limited. The author performed this work to determine the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on epileptic seizures and define the optimal EA conditions (acupoints and stimulation parameters). Methods: Experimental epilepsy was induced by injecting kainic acid into the lateral cerebral ventricle of adult male SD rats. EA with a current of 1 mA/100 Hz or 1 mA/10 Hz was applied to the model starting at 0.5 h after the injection for 30 min. Four pairs of acupoints were tested, including Renzhong (GV 26) + Dazhui (GV 14), Jinsuo (GV 8) + Yaoqi (Ex-B 9), Neiguan (PC 6) + Quchi (LI 11) and Fenglong (ST 40) + Yongquan (KI 1). Results: Behavioral scores showed that (1) either high (100 Hz) or low (10 Hz) frequency EA at different acupoints attenuated epileptic seizures (P<0.05 or 0.01 vs. the control), except EA at Neiguan (PC 6) + Quchi (LI 11) with 1 mA/10 Hz current; (2) EA with low frequency stimulation (10 Hz) induced a better effect at Fenglong (ST 40) + Yongquan (KI 1) than other acupoints (P<0.05 or 0.01); (3) there was no significant difference in EA effects induced by various acupoints when exposed to high frequency EA (100 Hz); and (4) high frequency EA (100 Hz) elicited a better effect than low frequency EA (10 Hz) in all groups (P<0.05 or 0.01) except for that of Jinsuo (GV 8) + Yaoqi (Ex-B 9). EEG showed the similar tendency, i.e., EA generally reduced the amplitude and frequency of epileptic discharges. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture attenuates epileptic seizures, which is relatively specific to EA parameters and acupoints.

The use of opioid analgesics has a long history in clinical settings, although the functions of opioid receptors, especially their role in the brain, are not well understood yet. Recent studies have generated abundant new data on opioid receptor-mediated functions and the underlying mechanisms. The most exciting finding in the past decade is probably the neuroprotection against hypoxic/ischemic stress mediated by delta-opioid receptors (DOR). An up-regulation of DOR expression and the release of endogenous opioids may increase neuronal tolerance to hypoxic/ischemic stress. The DOR signal triggers, depending on stress duration and severity, different mechanisms at multiple levels to preserve neuronal survival, including the stabilization of ionic homeostasis, an increase in pro-survival signaling (e.g., PKC-ERK-Bcl 2) and the enhanced anti-oxidative capacity. Recent data on DOR-mediated neuroprotection provide us a new concept of neuroprotection against neurological disorders and have a potentially significant impact on the prevention and treatment of some serious neurological conditions, such as stroke.
Analgesics, Opioid ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Receptors, Opioid, delta ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of nonequilibrium plasma against Enterococcus faecalis (Ef) biofilms in vitro and to obtain novel evidence of root canal disinfection with nonequilibrium plasma. Methods: Sterile cover slips and single-rooted canals were filled with Ef and incubated to form 1-week-old and 3-week-old biofilms, respectively. The infected samples were subjected to nonequilibrium plasma, 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) and saline for 3, 10 and 30 minutes, respectively. After treatment, the killing effectiveness of nonequilibrium plasma was analyzed by using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and colony forming unit (CFU) counting. Results: The 3-dimentional reconstruction LSCM images showed that about 48.3%-79.8% of 1-week-old Ef biofilm cells and 40.0%-67.4% of 3-week-old biofilm cells were killed by nonequilibrium plasma and 2% CHX compared to saline (P<0.05). The proportion of killing activity was lower after 3 minutes (40.0%-50.9% killing) than after 10 minutes (65.3%-77.8% killing) and 30 minutes (66.4%-79.8% killing) (P<0.05). And the killing of biofilm bacteria was fastest during the first 3 minutes (13.3%-17.0% killing per minute) and slow down greatly after 10 minutes. Remarkably more bacteria were killed in 1-week-old Ef biofilms (48.3%-79.8% killing) than in 3-week-old biofilms (P<0.05). Conclusions The nonequilibrium plasma killed more Ef biofilm cells in infected root canals showed promotional as an additional approach against bacterial biofilms during root canal disinfection.

Objective: To evaluate the antiseptic effect of combined using of 5% sodium hypochlorite and calcium silicate-based root canal sealer against Enterococcus faecalis (Ef) biofilms in infected dentinal tubules in vitro. Methods: Cells of Ef were inoculated into the dentinal tubules of single-rooted teeth (without caries, periapical lesions and malformations extracted due to periodontal disease or orthodontic reasons; collected from Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University) with centrifugation and incubated in brain-heart infusion (BHI) to form 3-week-old biofilms. The infected samples were subjected to sodium hypochlorite or sterile water bathing for 10 minutes followed by calcium silicate-based root canal sealer (iRoot SP) (calcium silicate-based group), Gutta-percha group and sterile water group placed on the root canal wall for 1, 4 and 12 weeks. There were two samples in each treatment at each point. The antiseptic effectiveness of combined use of sodium hypochlorite and calcium silicate-based root canal sealer was analyzed by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), ANOVA and LSD-t test. Results: After treatment with 5% sodium hypochlorite, in calcium silicate-based group for 4 and 12 weeks more Ef biofilm cells [(75.3±3.5)% and (74.8±3.8)%] were killed than in Gutta-percha group [(65.9±4.1)% and (63.0±3.7)%] and sterile water group [(63.9±4.0)% and (64.2±3.5)%] (P<0.05). After being treated with sterile water, the proportion of dead bacterial cells in calcium silicate-based group for 1, 4 and 12 weeks [(27.5±4.6)%, (43.0±4.4)% and (40.3±6.1)%] were more than those in Gutta-percha group and sterile water group (P<0.05). After being treated with 5% sodium hypochlorite or sterile water, more biofilm bacteria were killed in calcium silicate-based group for 4 and 12 weeks than in calcium silicate-based group for 1 week (P<0.05). Conclusions The combined use of sodium hypochlorite and calcium silicate-based root canal sealer kills more biofilm cells in infected dentinal tubules.