Objective To investigate the effect of co-expression of neuropilin-1(Nrp-1)and transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)on regulatory T cell(Treg)-mediated immunosuppression. Methods CD4+CD25+Tregs were isolated from the spleens of male Balb/c mice. CD4+CD25+Tregs were blocked with various doses of Nrp-1 antibody(Ab-Nrp-1,0.5,5,10 μg/ml)for 24 hours with anti-CD3/CD28 and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)stimulation, and expression of Nrp-1 and TGF-βwas determined by flow cytometry. Meanwhile,CD4+CD25+Tregs were cultured with different doses of Ab-Nrp-1 for 1 hour,and co-cultured with CD4+CD25-T cell for 12,24 and 48 hours respectively,the proliferative activity of CD4+CD25-T cells was analyzed by microplate reader. Results Compared to control group,the expressions of Nrp-1 and TGF-β were significantly increased under anti-CD3/CD28 and LPS stimulation(both P<0.05),and treatment with Ab-Nrp-1 markedly inhibited the expression of TGF-β in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05). The normal Treg had the potential to inhibit the proliferation of CD4+CD25-T cells(P<0.05),while various doses of Ab-Nrp-1 had the ability to reverse the immunosuppressive function of CD4+CD25+Treg in a dose-and time-dependent response manner,5μg/ml has the strongest ability,expecially after 24 hours. Conclusion Treg cell plays an important role in mediating immunosuppressive response via membrane associated TGF-β,and co-expression of Nrp-1 can markedly promote the immunosuppressive function.

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasonic elastography for diagnosis of chronic nonspecific low back pain. Methods From March to September, 2016, 32 patients diagnosed as chronic nonspecific low back pain and other 32 healthy people (controls) were measured lumbar erector spinae with ultrasonic elastography, and calculated Yang's modulus. The correlation between Yang's modulus and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score in the patients were investigated with Pearson's analysis. Re-sults There was no significant difference in Yang's modulus between bilateral lumbar erector spinae in both the patients and the controls (t<1.849, P>0.05), but it was more in the patients than in the controls (t=9.931, P<0.001). The Yang's modulus was positively correlated with VAS score in the patients (r=0.614, P<0.001), but not with the JOA score (r=-0.243, P=0.180). Conclusion Ultrasonic elastography can be applied to differentiate low back pain from the healthy, and measure the intensity of pain.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of postoperative analgesia between intercostal nerve freezing and con‐trolled intravenous analgesia in patients of thoracic surgery .Methods 80 patients of thoracic surgery from January 2012 to June 2013 were randomly divided into two groups :Intercostal nerve cryotherapy group (frozen group n=40) and intravenous analgesia group(control group n=40) .Frozen group :the intercostal incision and down each one intercostal and chest tube placement of inter‐costal nerve roots were frozen before sternal closure ;control group :intravenous analgesia pump were used postoperative .According to VAS method to evaluate pain level and observe adverse reactions ,complications and analgesic drug usage of postoperative pa‐tients .Results The analgesic effect of frozen group was better than that of control group within five days after thoracotomy .Com‐pared with the control group ,the incidence of adverse reactions ,postoperative complications ,and analgesic drug usage was signifi‐cantly reduced in frozen group ,there was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0 .05) .Postoperative follow‐up dis‐play :intercostal nerve area in some patients may appear numbness ,dysesthesia ,etc .,but the above situation can return to normal gradually .Conclusion The analgesic effect of intercostal nerve cryotherapy for thoracotomy patients is excellent ,and with few side effects and good safety ,and it is worthy of promotion .

Objective: To observe the immediate effect of small-angle Tui-Pushing and An-Pressing anti-rotation bone-setting manipulation in improving the correction of braces for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Methods: A total of 50 cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were selected and given brace correction first. The whole spine anteroposterior and lateral radiographs were taken, the Cobb angle was measured, and the visual analog scale (VAS) score of pain caused by brace wearing was recorded. After removal of the brace, small-angle Tui-Pushing and An-Pressing anti-rotation bone-setting manipulation was performed once. After treatment, the same brace was put on again to take a whole spine anteroposterior radiograph, the Cobb angle was measured, and the VAS score was recorded. The changes in Cobb angle and VAS score after manipulation were compared, and the immediate efficacy was evaluated. Results: After the manipulation, the Cobb angle was significantly smaller than that before treatment (P<0.01) and the VAS score was significantly lower than that before treatment (P<0.01). Conclusion: Small-angle Tui-Pushing and An-Pressing anti-rotation bone-setting manipulation can improve the immediate efficacy of brace in treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and relieve the pain caused by brace wearing at the same time.

Mental retardation is defined by significant limitations in intellectual function and adaptive behavior that occur before 18 years of age. Many chromosomal diseases come with mental retardation. We reported two Chinese families with partial trisomy 9p and other chromosome partial monosomy, clinical features of mental retardation and mild facial and pinkie anomalies. In the family 1, we showed that the proband carried a trisomy 9p21.3→pter and monosomy 21q22.3→qter by using fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Molecular genetic analysis defined the precise breakpoint on chromosome 9p between markers D9S1846 and D9S171, an interval of about 2.9 Mb on 9p21.3, and the breakpoint on chromosome 21q between markers D21S1897 and D21S1446, a region of about 1.5 Mb on 21q22.3. In the family 2, a patient with trisomy 9p21.3→pter and monosomy 5p15.33→pter, and a de novo maternal balanced translocation between chromosomes 5 and 9 was identified in his mother. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis defined the precise breakpoints on chromosome 9p21.3 and chromosome 5p15.33. Further clinical investigation found that any individual had no refractoriness eczema disease except the proband in this family. These results further implicate that trisomy 9p is associated with mental retardation, and that there may be key gene duplication on chromosome 9p21.3→9pter responsible for mental retardation and mild facial anomaly. This result has been applied successfully in prenatal diagnosis of the second family.

Objective To explore the difference in the regulating effect of electroacupuncture on serum insulin (Ins) and fat consumption between male and female simple obesity rat and the possible mechanism of its action.Methods A rat model of simple obesity was made by induction with sodium glutamate. The rats were randomized into model and electroacupuncture groups (male and female), 10 rats each. A normal group of 10 rats (male and female) was established as a control. Points Quchi, Zhongwan, Guanyuan, Housanli, Fenglong and Sanyinjiao were selected in the electroacupuncture group. Stimulation with a low frequency of 2 Hz was provided after needle insertion. The treatment was given once daily for 28 consecutive days. Serum Ins content, and greater omentum, pericardiac and perirenal fat weights were measured in the male and female groups of rats before and after electroacupuncture intervention. The comparisons were made.Results Serum Ins content, and greater omentum, pericardiac and perirenal fat weights were significantly lower in the electroacupuncture male and female groups of rats than in the model male and female groups of rats (P<0.01) and also in the electroacupuncture male group of rats than in the electroacupuncture female group of rats (P<0.05).Conclusions Electroacupuncture has different degrees of weight-reducing effect in both male and female obesity rats. The reducing effect on serum Ins content, and greater omentum, pericardiac and perirenal fat weights is better in male obesity rats.

Objective To understand the effect of anti-cysticercus therapy for patients with cerebral cysticercosis and the changes of cysticercus on CT image after treatment. Methods The patients with cerebral cysticercosis were classified by the presentation of their brain CT image before treatment, then the effect of anti-cysticercus therapy on them after treatment was analyzed and the presentations of their brain CT images between before and after treatment were compared. Results There were different changes on CT image of cysticercus in brain tissues after anti-cysticercus therapy for different types of patients with cerebral cysticercosis. Type Ⅰ: the focus was absorbed completely after treatment in the majority of patients and calcificated in the minority. Almost all the patients were cured clinically after anticysticercus therapy. Type Ⅱ: the focus was absorbed completely in the minority, and one to two or more calcification dots were observed in the majority of patients. Anti-cysticercus therapy was effective. Type Ⅲ and Ⅳ: the absorption of focus was not very good and the effect of anti-cysticercus therapy was lower relatively. Conclusion The changes of CT image such as absorption, calcification, has important significance in forecasting prognosis and instructing clinical usage.

Objective: To observe the effects of moxibustion at different times on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), in the uterine tissues of rats with dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention, and to explore the differences and possible mechanisms of moxibustion at different times in easing pain in dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention. Methods: Forty-three female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank control group (n=7), a model group (n=9), a pre-moxibustion group (n=9), an immediate-moxibustion group (n=9) and a pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group (n=9). Rat models of primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention were established using (0±1) ℃ ice water immersion method combined with injection of estradiol benzoate for 10 d, followed by injection of oxytocin on the 11th day. Rats in the 3 intervention groups received moxibustion to Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4), 10 min for each acupoint, once a day. Rats in pre-moxibustion group were given mild moxibustion, beginning on the 8th day during modeling, for 3 continuous days; rats in immediate-moxibustion group were given one time mild moxibustion, immediately after injection of oxytocin on the 11th day during modeling; rats in pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group were given mild moxibustion, beginning on the 8th day during modeling till immediately after injection of oxytocin on the 11th day during modeling, for 4 continuous days. The level of PGF2α in the rat uterine tissues was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the levels of PGE2 and AVP in rat uterine tissues were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: Compared with the blank control group, the levels of PGF2α and AVP, the PGF2α/PGE2 ratio in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the rat uterine tissues in the model group. Compared with the model group, the writhing latency was significantly prolonged, the writhing number and the total writhing score were all decreased in the pre-moxibustion group, the immediate-moxibustion group and the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group (all P<0.01); the levels of PGF2α and AVP, and the PGF2α/PGE2 ratio were all significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the rat uterine tissues of the 3 treatment groups. Compared with the pre-moxibustion group, the writhing number and the total writhing score were all decreased in the immediate-moxibustion group and the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group (all P<0.01), the writhing latency was significantly prolonged in the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group(P<0.01); the levels of PGF2α and PGF2α/PGE2 ratio were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly increased (P<0.01) in rat uterine tissues in the immediate-moxibustion group and the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group. Compared with the immediate-moxibustion group, the writhing latency was significantly prolonged and the writhing number was decreased (all P<0.05), and the total writhing score was decreased (P<0.01) in the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group; the PGF2α level and the PGF2α/PGE2 ratio were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly increased (P<0.01) in rat uterine tissues in the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group. Conclusion: Moxibustion at different times all can produce obvious analgesic effects on dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention in rats, and pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion ranks the top. The mechanism of this analgesic effect may be via the regulation of abnormal PGF2α, PGE2 and AVP levels, to effectively inhibit the spastic contraction of uterine smooth muscle in dysmenorrhea rat, thereby improving the ischemia and hypoxia in uterus.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking for menstrual headache and to discuss its mechanism.

METHODSEighty-five patients with menstrual headache were randomly divided into an observation group (43 cases) and a control group (42 cases). The observation group was treated with body acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking and the control group was treated with flunarizine hydrochloride capsules orally. The treatments of 3 menstrual cycles were required. The clinical efficacy was observed in the two groups. The content of serum prostaglandin F2α, (PGF2α) and plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the menstrual periods of some patients randomly selected in the two groups was tested before and after treatment and was compared with that of 20 cases in a normal group. Results The total effective rate was 95.4% (41/43) in the observation group which was obviously superior to 81.0% (34/42) in the control group (P<0.01). Before treatment, the content of serum PGF2α and plasma AVP of patients in the two groups was higher than that in the normal group (all P<0.01). After treatment,the content of serum PGF2α and plasma AVP was lower than that before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). The content of serum PGF2α in the observation group was decreased significantly compared with that in the control group (P<0.05) and returned to the level of the normal group.

CONCLUSIONBody acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking achieves positive efficacy for menstrual headache and its mechanism could be related to regulating the abnormal levels of serum PGF2α and plasma AVP.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Arginine Vasopressin ; blood ; Dinoprost ; blood ; Female ; Headache ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Menstruation ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effect of Hsp22 on phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy.Methods Primary rat myocardial cells were isolated and cultured in Department of Cardiology,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University.Cells were divided into four groups randomly:Control group,model group,treatment group with 1 μg/mL Hsp22,and treatment group with 10 μg/mL Hsp22.Phenylephrine stimuli was used to induce cardiomyocytes hypertrophy model.Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.Cardiomyocytes surface area was evaluated by α-actin immunofluorescence staining.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the transcription level of hypertrophic markers.Reactive oxygen species level was detected by 2',7'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) fluorescent probe.Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining.Signal pathway protein expression was detected by Western blot.SPSS 13.0 was used for statistical analysis.Data were expressed as mean + standard deviation.All data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA between groups.Comparisons between two groups were performed using LSD-t test.A P＜0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results Different concentrations of Hsp22 had no effect on cardiomyocytes viability (F=6.622;P＞0.05).Phenylephrine stimulation significantly increased cardiomyocytes area (t=10.80;P＜0.05),increased the transcription level of hypertrophy markers atrial natriuretic peptide (t=37.72;P＜0.05),type B natriuretic peptide (t=16.85;P＜0.05),and myosin heavy chain beta (t=41.53;P＜0.05).Different concentrations of Hsp22 significantly reduced cardiomyocytes area (PE+ 1 μg/mL Hsp22 t=4.018;P＜0.05;PE+10 μg/mL Hsp22 t=10.80;P＜0.05),reduced the transcription level of hypertrophic markers atrial natriuretic peptide (PE+1 μg/mL Hsp22 t=27.12,P＜0.05;PE+10 μg/mL Hsp22 t=37.72,P＜0.05),type B natriuretic peptide (PE+1 μg/mL Hsp22 t=4.82,P＜0.05;PE+10 μg/mL Hsp22 t=12.74,P＜0.05),and myosin heavy chain beta (PE+1 μg/mL Hsp22 t=23.68,P＜0.05;PE+10 μg/mL Hsp22 t=30.54,P＜0.05).Westem blot showed that Hsp22 increased the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase α (PE+1 μg/mL Hsp22 t=5.89,P＜0.05;PE+10 μg/mL Hsp22 t=5.88,P＜0.05),reduced mTOR phosphorylation level (PE+1 μg/mL Hsp22 t=16.80,P＜0.05;PE+10.μg/mL Hsp22 t=20.46,P＜0.05).Conclusions Hsp22 inhibits cardiomyocytes hypertrophy by activating AMP-activated protein kinase α.Hsp22 may become a potential anti-hypertrophic drug.