OBJECTIVETo observe the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats and its regulating effect on inflammation reaction and the endogenous opioid system of synovial tissues. Methods A total of 30 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each one. The chronic pain model of CIA rats was made by cattle type-II collagen in the model group and EA group. Rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Kunlun" (BL 60) for 30 min from 16th day after model establishment, once a day for consecutive 10 days. Rats in the control group did not receive any treatment. Rats in the model group were treated with fixation as the EA group. Threshold of pain, arthritis index, paw swelling were measured before model establishment and 16 d, 20 d, 23 d and 25 d after model establishment. The levels of beta-endorphin (β-END), met-enkephalin (met-ENK), dynorphin A (Dyn A) were measured by radioimmunoassay; the mRNA expressions of mu opioid receptor (MOR), kappa opioid receptor (KOR) and delta opioid receptor (DOR) in synovial tissues of CIA rats were detected by I quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

RESULTSCompared with the control group, threshold of pain was reduced (all P<0. 01), arthritis index was increased (all P<0. 01) and paw swelling was increased (all P<0. 01) in the model group on the 16th day, 20th day, 23rd day, 25th day after model establishment. Compared with the model group, the threshold of pain was increased in the EA group (all P<0. 01), arthritis index and paw swelling were reduced (all P<0. 01) on the 23rd day and 25th day after model establishment. Compared with the control group, the level of Dyn A in synovial tissues of CIA rats was increased in the model group (P<0. 01); the mRNA expressions of MOR, KOR and DOR were down-regulated lower than 0. 5 fold of normal level. Compared with the model group, the level of β-END in synovial tissues of the knee joint was increased in the EA group (P<0. 05), and the mRNA expressions of MOR, KOR and DOR in synovial tissues of CIA rats were up-regulated more than 2 folds of normal level.

CONCLUSIONThe intervention of EA on chronic pain of CIA rats is superior, which is likely to be related with effects of EA on anti-inflammation and up-regulation of synovial tissue β-END and MOR, KOR, DOR.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Analgesics, Opioid ; immunology ; Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; immunology ; therapy ; Cattle ; Chronic Pain ; immunology ; therapy ; Dynorphins ; genetics ; immunology ; Electroacupuncture ; Enkephalin, Methionine ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Opioid, mu ; genetics ; immunology ; Synovial Fluid ; immunology ; beta-Endorphin ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To investigate the change of mu opioid receptor ( MOR) in dorsal root ganglion ( DRG) in rat chronic inflammatory pain model and the effect of MOR agonist and antagonis tintraplantarly ( i.pl.) injected on pain threshold, so as to determine the role of peripheral MOR in chron in inflammatory pain .Methods Chronicin flammatory pain model was established by i .pl.injection of CFA in rats.The expression of MOR in DRG was detected by immunohistochemistry .Pain threshold before and after i .pl.injection of MOR agonist and antagonist was measured by radiant heat method .Results Rats suffered from an intraplantar injection of CFA developed chronic inflammatory pain , and the painthreshold still reduced on 18 day after CFA injection compared to that in the normal group . Immunohistochemistry staining revealed that compared with the normal group , the expression of MOR in DRG of CFA rats was increased ( P<0.01 ) .After the paw dorsal surface injection of MOR agonist , the pain threshold of CFA rats was increased, while that of normal rats exhibited no significant change .After the paw dorsal surface injection of MOR antagonist, the pain threshold of CFA rats was reduced , while that of normal rats had no significant change .Conclusion Under chronic inflammatory pain condition , DRG MOR expressionis enhanced , which participates in the regulation of chronic inflammatory pain , and may contribute to the prevention of further more serious pain .

Objective To evaluate the characteristic appearance and diagnosis value of central neurocytoma on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods MRI data of 9 patients with central neurocytoma confirmed surgically and pathologically were retrospectively reviewed.Results All the lesions located in the lateral ventricle septum pellucidum,adjacent to Monro hole,in the anterior 1/3 to 2/3 of the lateral ventricle.Most of them were irregularity,sublobe and sharpness of border.They presented as inhomogeneous intense signal on MRI,with slight to equal enhancement on enhancement.DWI could be high or slightly high signal.Conclusion Central neurocytoma has the characteristic appearances on MRI,being helpful to the diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of superficial needling therapy for nape myofascitis. Method Seventy patients were randomly allocated to superficial needling and Western medicine groups, 35 cases each. The superficial needling group received superficial needling therapy once every other day, three times a week, two weeks as a course. The Western medicine group took celecoxib (Celebrex) 200 mg twice daily, two weeks as a course. The Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, the tenderness score and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) score were recorded in the two groups of patients before and after treatment. Result The VAS score, the tenderness score and the NDI score decreased in the two groups of patients after treatment compared with before (P<0.05, P<0.01) and decreased more in the superficial needling group than in the Western medicine group (P<0.05). The cure and marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate were 57.1%and 94.3%, respectively, in the superficial needling group, which were higher than 31.4%and 77.1%in the Western medicine group (P<0.05). Conclusion Superficial needling therapy can better relieve the symptoms and is more effective than oral celecoxib in treating nape myofascitis.

Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) in treating scapulohumeral periarthritis (SP). Methods: Eighty patients with SP were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. Patients in the observation group received FSN treatment while those in the control group received conventional acupuncture treatment. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and range of motion (ROM) were observed before and after the treatment, and the therapeutic efficacy was also evaluated. Results: After the treatment, the VAS scores decreased significantly in the two groups, and the VAS score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.01). After the treatment, the ROM increased significantly in both groups (both P<0.01), and the ROM in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The recovery rate and the total effective rate in the observation group were respectively 40.0% and 95.0%, significantly higher than 12.5% and 77.5% in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusion: FSN can effectively relieve pain and improve the joint motion in treating SP, thus offering a novel option to the treatment of this kind of musculoskeletal disorder.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating severe functional constipation. Method Seventy patients with severe functional constipation were randomized into a treatment group (35 cases) and a control group (35 cases). The treatment group was intervened by deeply needling bilateral Tianshu (ST25) and Fujie (SP14) with electrical stimulation in addition to ordinary acupuncture at bilateral Shangjuxu (ST37);the control group was by superficially needling the areas beside bilateral Tianshu, Fujie and Shangjuxu with sham electroacupuncture. The two groups were both treated for successive 8 weeks and were followed up for another 3 months. The complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs), Bristol stool form Scale (BSFS) and difficulty in bowel movements were observed every week. Result The two groups both showed significant improvements in average weekly CSBMs (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the CSBMs at the end of the treatment were better in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05); the two groups were both effective in improving BSFS and difficulty in bowel movements, without significant between-group differences(P>0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve CSBMs in severe functional constipation, but it’s insignificantly different from sham acupuncture in improving stool form and defecation difficulty.

Objective To establish transgenic mouse models expressing human HSP22 protein.Methods pCAGGS-HA-Wt HSP22 transgenic expressing vector carrying human HSP22 gene was constructed by gene recombination technology.The linearized DNA was got by SalI、Hind Ⅲ and BsaⅪ digestion of PCAGGS-HA-Wt HSP22,purified and microinjected into fertilized eggs from C57BL mice.The tail DNA of pups was tested by PCR and DNA sequencing.Expression of human HSP22 protein was detected by western blot with anti-HA tag monoclonal antibody.Results 4 transgenic founder mice (Tg646,Tg648,Tg649,Tg661) carrying human HSP22 gene were identified by PCR and DNA sequencing.The human HSP22 protein was expressed in the lines Tg646,Tg648 and Tg649 founder mice,but was not expressed in the line Tg661 founder mouse.Conclusions The mouse models expressing human HSP22 protein are established successfully and provide the foundation for HSP22 gene research in vivo.

Purpose　The aim is to breed a highly productive γ-linolenic acid mutant strain.Methods　The original strain Mortierella ramanniance AS 3.3413 was treated by 5-FU,UV,LiCl as mutanting agent.Results　A highly productive γ-linolenic acid mutant strain F5 was successfully obtained.The γ-linolenic acid yield of mutant strain F5 was increased by 300% as compared with that of the original strain.Pass-generation test showed that the heredity character of mutant strain F5 was stable.After the optimal medium and culture condition was established, the yield of γ-linolenic acid was up to 1 153.63 mg/L,and was increased by 335.87% as compared with that of the original strain.Conclusion　The mutant strain can be used for the industrial production of GLA.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacies of Qin’s scalp eight-needle acupuncture versus conventional scalp acupuncture in treating cancer pain. Method Sixty cancer pain patients with clinically or pathologically diagnosed malignant tumors were allocated, using a random number table, to a treatment (Qin’s scalp eight-needle acupuncture) group of 30 cases and a control (conventional scalp acupuncture) group of 30 cases. The treatment group received Qin’s scalp eight-needle acupuncture at selected points every other day and the control group, conventional scalp acupuncture every other day. One course of treatment consisted of 10 days. Result Cancer pain was relieved, analgesic dosage decreased, adverse reactions to analgesics reduced and quality of life raised significantly in the treatment group compared with the control group. Conclusion Qin’s scalp eight-needle acupuncture is effective in treating cancer pain.

Objective To assess the frequency of different subtype of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) in Chinese Han population. Methods The nueleotide repeat mutations of SCA1, SCA2, SCA3/ MJD, SCA6, SCAT, SCA8, SCA10, SCA12, SCA17 and dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) were detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), Southern blot, recombinant DNA technology by T-vector cloning and direct sequencing technique in a cohort of 559 Mainland Chinese patients affected by spinocerebellar ataxia, including 363 families with autosomal dominant SCA (AD-SCA) and 196 sporadic cases. Results Among the 363 AD-SCA families, 15 families (4. 13%) were positive for SCA1, 26 (7. 16%) for SCA2, 187 (51.52%) for SCA3/MJD, 6 (1.65%) for SCA6, 7 (1.93%) for SCA7, 1 (0. 28%) for SCA12 and 1 (0. 28%) positive for SCA17; 120(33. 06%) were negative for all the tested SCAs. There were 2 (1.02%) SCAI, 3 (1.53%) SCA2, 15 (7. 65%) SCA3/MJD, 3 (1.53%) SCA6 and 173 (88.27%) not identified in the 196 sporadic SCA patients. None of the SCA8, SCA10 and DRPLA mutation was found. Conclusions SCA3/MJD is a substantially common subtype of AD-SCAs and sporadic SCA in Chinese Han patients with SCAs, subsequently followed by SCA2, SCA1, SCAT and SCA6; SCA12 and SCA17 are uncommon subtypes, while SCA8, SCA10, and DRPLA are rare, if not absent. SCA17 subtype was initially identified in mailand China. Some other genes might be causative in those unidentified AD-SCA pedigrees, and other etiological factors besides genetic cause might contribute for those sporadic cases.