OBJECTIVETo analyze and explore the molecular mechanism of acupuncture precondition (AP) in improving brain ischemia reperfusion injury.

METHODSSix male Wistar rats were divided into a normal group of 3 rats and an acupuncture group of 3 rats. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture precondition was first given at "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Baihui" (GV 20). The brain of the rat was removed 0.5 hour after the needle was withdrawn, and then gene differential expression was analyzed by genechip method.

RESULTSAfter acupuncture precondition for 0.5 h, expression of 265 genes showed changes of more than 2 times, and that of 20 genes had a significant difference as compared with that of the normal rat (P<0.05). Among the genes, expression of 8 was upregulated and 12 downregulated; 11 were related with neuron signal conduction (ion channel, transmitter, receptor, second message), 5 with gene transcription and control, 2 with metabolism enzyme, 1 with heat shock reaction and 1 with cell skeleton.

CONCLUSIONSome gene expression substances induced by acupuncture play an important role in AP resisting brain ischemia reperfusion injury; and functional changes of neurons after AP are possibly the important basis of its subsequent action in resisting brain ischemia reperfusion injury.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; genetics ; Neurology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of plasma levels of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1(VEGFR-1,also known as sFlt-1) in second-trimester for preeclampsia.Methods One hundred and forty-six pregnant women with normal blood pressure previously were prospectively included in the study.Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained between 20 and 26 gestational weeks.Plasma levels of sFh-1 were measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay.Results (1) Among 146 previously normotensive women,12 developed preeclampsia (preeclampsia group), 134 remained normal pregnant till the end (normal group).(2) The plasma levels of sFh-1 in preeclampsia group [(4135?699)ng/L] was significantly higher than that in normal group[(1490?1033)ng/L](P

Objective To explore the function of fluorescent probe JC-1 in detecting the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential(△?m)in early apoptotic cells.Methods After 2-ME was used to induce MUTZ-1 cell apoptosis,cells were dyed with fluorescent probe JC-1,and then the changes of △?m in the early stage of apoptotic cells were analyzed by flow cytometry or detected under fluorescent microscope. Results The control cells with high △?m are those forming JC-1 aggregates in the inner membrane of mitochondria,thus showing orange-red fluorescence.2-ME caused decrease of △?m in MUTZ-1 cells,in which JC-1 maintains monomeric form,thus showing only green fluorescence.The decreases of △?m were in a time-dependent manner,which were significantly higher than those in control group(P

OBJECTIVETo study possible mechanisms of Shangjuxu (ST37) and the large intestine.

METHODSTotally 40 SD rats were selected. The distension of end colon was used as injured afferent stimulus. Activities of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons were recorded by extracellular microelectrode technique. Shangjuxu (ST37) and Hegu (L14) were needled to observe general features of discharge reactions, distention of colon induced discharge reactions of LC, and its effects on distention of colon induced discharge reactions of LC.

RESULTSDistention of colon could induce incrased discharge of LC neurons by 127.33% ± 45.48%. But needling at Shangjuxu (ST37) and Hegu (L14) could inhibit this injured response by 38.24% ± 7.69% and 21.29% ± 13.16% respectively (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNeedling at Shangjuxu (ST37) and afferent signals of colon distension converged and interacted with each other. Needling at Shangjuxu (ST37) could significantly inhibit colon distension induced discharge of LC neurons, which might be one of mechanisms for Shangjuxu (ST37) and the large intestine relationship.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Colon ; Intestine, Large ; Locus Coeruleus ; physiology ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of testosterone on oxidized low-density lipoproteins ( ox-LDL)-stimulated phenotypic transition and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMCs) in vitro, and to explore its possible mechanisms. Methods Rat VSMCs cultured in vitro were divided into control group, ox-LDL group(50μg/mlox-LDL),fetalbovineserum(FBS)group(10% FBS),andtestosteronegroups(5×10-8 or5×10-7 mol/L testosterone plus 50μg/ml ox-LDL) . The effect of testosterone on ox-LDL-induced proliferation of VSMCs was explored by WST-1 assay. The cell cycle distribution was determined using flow cytometry. Western blotting was used todetecttheexpressionsofmitofusin2(Mfn2),phosphorylatedextracellularsignal-regulatedkinases1/2(p-ERK1/2) , proliferating cell nuclear antigen ( PCNA) ,α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) ,and osteopontin ( OPN) . Results Compared with control group, the proliferation of VSMCs was promoted by ox-LDL, the number of VSMCs decreased in G0/G1 phase and increased in S phase significantly, the expression levels of Mfn2 and α-SMA were significantly reduced, and the expression levels of p-ERK1/2, PCNA, and OPN were significantly raised in ox-LDL group. Compared with ox-LDL group, the proliferation of VSMCs was inhibited, the number of VSMCs increased in G0/G1 phase and decreased in S phase in two testosterone groups, along with the increased expressions of Mfn2 andα-SMA, and the descended expressions of p-ERK1/2, PCNA, and OPN. Conclusions Testosterone inhibits phenotypic transition and proliferation of VSMCs induced by ox-LDL in vitro, which may be related to the up-regulated expression of Mfn 2 and the suppression of ERK1/2 pathway.

11.0 for the pH of reaction solution,65℃～75℃for the reaction temperature,and 1:1.7 for the mass ratio of corn(dry weight)to FeCl_3?6H_2O.The corn polysaccharide-Fe(Ⅲ)complex synthesized with the optimized process was stable,with good solubility in water.The assay of Fe(Ⅲ)was 39.86%,40.20%and 40.17%,respectively for three batches of products.The RSD was

This study assessed the clinical application of transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound (3D TVUS) in the diagnosis of congenital uterine malformation. A retrospective study was performed on 62 patients with congenital uterine malformation confirmed hysteroscopically and/or laparoscopically. The patients were subjected to transvaginal two-dimensional ultrasound (2D TVUS) and 3D TVUS. The accuracy rate was compared between the two methods. The accuracy rate of 3D TVUS was (98.38%, 61/62), higher than that of 2D TVUS (80.65%, 50/62). 3D TVUS coronal plane imaging could demonstrate the internal shape of the endometrial cavity and the external contour of the uterine fundus. It allowed accurate measurement on the coronary plane, and could three-dimensionally show the image of cervical tube, thereby providing information for the diagnosis of some complex uterine malformation. 3D TVUS imaging can obtain comprehensive information of the uterus malformation, and it is superior to 2D TVUS for the diagnosis of congenital uterine malformations, especially complex uterine anomaly.

BACKGROUND: Proprioception is one of the many factors affecting posture stability, but the relationship and differences between proprioception and stability of the lower extremities remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences of static stability and proprioception between dominant and non-dominant legs and the correlation between proprioception and stability in healthy adults without the influence of foot posture. METHODS: Sway length (SL) and sway area (SA) of the center of pressure (COP) were measured in 30 healthy adults with neutral feet standing on both legs and one leg, and the mean trajectory error (ATE) and completion time (CT) of lower limbs were recorded during proprioception evaluation. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital [No. (2019)50], and all participants voluntarily signed informed consent before the initiation of the study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The ATE of the dominant leg was larger than that of the non-dominant leg (P < 0.05). There were significant correlations between left and right legs in proprioception and stability (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The associations between SL in left legs and ATE in right legs and between SL in right legs and ATE in left legs (P < 0.05) were significantly adjusted for the intrinsic differences of proprioception and stability. There was a significant correlation between SL standing with dominant legs and SL in two legs static standing (P < 0.05). Therefore, the proprioception of the dominant legs was significantly worse than that of the non-dominant legs, but there was no difference in their stability. To conclude, the stability of the lower limbs is not only related to the proprioception at the same side, but also to the proprioception at the opposite side. In the process of training and clinical rehabilitation therapy, if we hope to improve stability and proprioception of the lower limbs, we should not only strengthen training of the ipsilateral limb, but also pay attention to the contralateral proprioception.

Sphingosine kinase (SphK), sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and S1P receptor (S1PR) are involved in the tumor biological processes such as tumor cell proliferation and migration, and play an important role in the development of cancer. In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on the interaction between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment is genetically stable and can be induced to an antitumor phenotype, which has significant therapeutic advantages. Studies have shown that SphK/S1P/S1PR can regulate multiple aspects of the tumor microenvironment. This review summarizes the effects of SphK and S1P/S1PR signaling on the tumor microenvironment from four perspectives: tumor immune microenvironment, cancer associated fibroblasts, tumor angiogenesis and tumor hypoxic microenvironment, and also outlines potential drug research related to these signal molecules, aiming to elucidate the role of SphK/S1P/S1PR in tumor occurrence and development and provide new ideas for the research of anti-tumor drugs.

An antibiotic-producing bacterium, which was numbered as 20 #-5, was separated from the soil in Chongqing. It was identified as the member of pseudomonas. Gram positive bacteria are badly suppressed by it. The antibiotic secreted by 20 #-5 can endure 100℃ for half an hour, and it can also go through the ultrafiltration membrane with pores of 0.22?m.