The article reviews the clinical and mechanism researches of acupuncture-moxibustion in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in recent two decades at home and abroad. The results indicate that acupuncture-moxibustion is conductive to RA with fewer adverse reactions for the patients, and improves joint function and quality of life to a certain extent. The therapeutic results of acupuncture-moxibustion result from the multi-target, multi-level collaborative effect on RA. In mechanism, the overall regulation of the neuro-immuno-endocrine system is involved. RA is attenuated through inhibiting inflammatory responses, regulating relevant signaling pathways, maintaining the balance of osteoblasts and articular cartilage, and adjusting the gene expression. Although some achievements have been obtained in clinical and mechanism researches, it still needs to deepen the mechanism research so as to promote the clinical application of acupuncture-moxibustion and provide the new approaches to its innovation and development.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/therapy* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Neiguan (PC6) on arrhythmia during acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion and the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in rats. Methods: A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley male rats were used. Ten rats were randomly selected as the blank group, and the remaining 30 rats were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, with 15 rats in each group. Before modeling, rats in the EA group received one session of EA intervention at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) for 30 min; the other groups were treated with the same grasping and anesthesia for 30 min without intervention. PowerLab physiological recorder was used to record electrocardiograph within 30 min of infarction. After the experiment, cardiac tissue and serum were collected from rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the morphological changes of myocardial tissue in the ventricular infarction area of rats in each group. The expression of Cx43 protein in the myocardium of each group was detected by Western blotting (WB). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in myocardial tissue and the serum content of endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDLF) in rats. Results: There was no statistical difference in arrhythmia score between the EA group and the model group, but the total duration and average duration of arrhythmia in the EA group were decreased (P<0.01). HE staining showed that compared with the blank group, myocardial cells in the model group were disorganized and seriously damaged. The pathological changes in the EA group were similar to those in the model group, but the damage was relatively minor. The results of WB showed that compared with the blank group, the Cx43 expression in myocardial tissue of the model group was decreased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the Cx43 expression in the EA group was increased (P<0.01); compared with the blank group, the Na+-K+-ATPase activity in myocardial tissue of the model group was significantly decreased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the Na+-K+-ATPase activity in the EA group was increased (P<0.01). ELISA results showed that compared with the blank group, the serum EDLF content in the model group was significantly increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the EDLF content in the EA group was decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion: EA at Neiguan (PC6) can delay and reduce the onset of arrhythmia during myocardial infarction in the rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. Its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the Cx43 expression in myocardial tissue, improvement of the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in myocardial tissue, and increase in the content of serum EDLF.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference of protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at different times pretreating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) and the protein expressions of ULK1 and Beclin-1 in myocardial tissue, so as to explore the relation of the difference and autophagic mechanism. METHODS: Sixty-three male SD rats were randomized into 7 groups, a sham group, a model group, an EA pretreating for 1 d (EA-1d) group, an EA pretreating for 2 d (EA-2d) group, an EA pretreating for 3 d (EA-3d) group, an EA pretreating for 4 d (EA-4d) group, an EA pretreating for 5 d (EA-5d) group, 9 rats in each group. All the rats in the pretreating groups were treated with EA 1-5 days before MIRI surgery. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 2 mA) was used at bilateral "Neiguan (PC 6)" for 20 min. All the rats except for those in the sham group was underwent left thoracotomy and ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery for 30 minutes followed by 4 hours of reperfusion to establish the MIRI model. The same operation was performed in the sham group except for the ligation of the LAD. Throughout the experiment, electrocardiogram was continuously monitored. The myocardial infarct sizes were assessed by Evans blue and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The serum concentrations of cardiac troponinⅠ(cTnⅠ) was detected by ELISA. The expressions of ULK1 and Beclin-1 in the heart tissues were analyze by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, the concentrations of cTnⅠ and the protein expressions of ULK1 and Beclin-1 increased in the model group (all <0.05). Compared with the model group, the infarct sizes decreased in the EA-1d, EA-2d, EA-3d, EA-4d and EA-5d groups (all <0.05), with less risk sizes in the EA-3d, EA-4d and EA-5d groups (all <0.05). The levels of cTnⅠin the EA-4d and EA-5d groups decreased ( both <0.05); the expressions of ULK1 protein decreased in the EA-1d, EA-2d, EA-3d, EA-4d and EA-5d groups (all <0.05); the expressions of Beclin-1 protein decreased in the EA-2d, EA-3d, EA-4d and EA-5d groups (all <0.05). The infarct sizes in the EA-4d and EA-5d groups were lower than that in the EA-1d group (both 0.05). The cTnⅠconcentration in the EA-4d group was less than that in the EA-1d group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Pretreatment with EA for 1-5 days can improve the infarct size in MIRI, with better effect of the pretreatment for 4-5 days. The cardioprotective effect may be related to the inhibition of autophagy. But the difference of the protective effects is not related to the protein expressions of ULK1 and Beclin-1.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Autophagy ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at different time during reperfusion on the expression of autophagy-related protein Bcl-2 and Beclin1 in myocardial tissue in rats with myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI), and to explore the autophagy-related mechanism of EA on protecting MIRI. METHODS: A total of 72 SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a RA group, a RB group, a RC group and a RD group, 12 rats in each group. Except the sham operation group, the rats in the remaining groups were treated with ligating the left anterior descending artery (LAD) for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion to establish the model of MIRI. The rats in the sham operation group were treated with crossing a line through the LAD. The rats in the model group did not receive treatment. The rats in the RA group, RB group, RC group and RD group were treated with EA at "Neiguan" (PC 6) for 20 min, starting at 0 h, 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h after reperfusion. Evans Blue-TTC double-staining was employed to evaluate myocardial infarct size; the serum CK-MB was detected by ELISA and the expression of Bcl-2 and Beclin1 protein in myocardial tissue were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the percentage of myocardial infarct size in the RB group, RC group and RD group was decreased significantly (all <0.05), and the reduction in the RB group was more significant than that in the RC group and RD group (both <0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the expression of CK-MB and Beclin1 in the model group was significantly increased, but the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased (all <0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of CK-MB and Beclin1 was decreased significantly in RA group, RB group, RC group and RD group (all <0.05), but the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased (all <0.05). Compared with the RA group, the expression of CK-MB was decreased in the RB group and RC group (both <0.05) but the expression of Bcl-2 was increased (both <0.01); the expression was not significantly different from that in the RD group (>0.05); the increasing of Bcl-2 in the RB group was more significant than that in RC group (<0.05). The expression of Beclin 1 in the RB group was significantly lower than that in the RA group (<0.05), but there was no significant difference among other EA groups (all >0.05). CONCLUSION EA at different time during reperfusion could reduce myocardial infarct size in rats with MIRI, and EA at 0.5 h after reperfusion has best efficacy; this protective effect may be achieved by increasing Bcl-2 expression and reducing Beclin1 expression to inhibit overautophagy during reperfusion.
Animals ; Beclin-1 ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; Myocardium ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of preventative moxibustion on adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in myocardial tissue in rats with exhaustive exercise, and to explore the action mechanism of preventative moxibustion for myocardial injury by exhaustive exercise.

METHODSEighteen SD male rats were randomly divided into a blank group, an exhaustive exercise group and a moxibustion group, 6 rats in each one. Rats in the blank group were treated with immobilization for 5 min per day, without any intervention. Rats in the exhaustive exercise group were treated with no intervention in the first 10 days. Rats in the moxibustion group were treated with moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4), 5 cones for each acupoint, for 10 days.On 11th day, rats in the exhaustive exercise group and moxibustion group were sacrificed to collect sample after exhaustive swimming, and time of exhaustive exercise was recorded. HE staining was used to observe the inflammatory changes of myocardial tissue; colorimetric method was used to measure lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA); immune suppression method was used to measure the content of creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) in serum; Elisa method was used to measure the content of troponinT (cTnT) in serum; western blot method was applied to measure the content of AMPKα2 and mTOR in myocardial tissue.

RESULTSThe time of exhaustive exercise was (4 831.17±689.88) s in the moxibustion group, which was longer than (3 509.50±1 232.49) s in the exhaustive exercise group (<0.05); HE staining indicated structure of the myocardium was clear and inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced in the moxibustion group. Compared with the blank group, the contents of serum LDH, CK-MB, cTnT were increased in the exhaustive exercise group (all<0.05); MDA content was increased and SOD activity was decreased (both<0.05); the AMPK α2 content in myocardial tissue was increased and the mTOR content was decreased (both<0.05). Compared with the exhaustive exercise group, the contents of serum LDH, CK-MB, cTnT were reduced in the moxibustion group (all<0.05); MDA content was decreased and SOD activity was increased (both<0.05); the AMPKα2 content in myocardial tissue was increased, and the mTOR content was decreased (both<0.05); AMPKα2 and mTOR were negatively correlated (=-0.764,<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPreventative moxibustion is likely to regulate the expression of AMPK and mTOR to induce signaling pathway to recover myocardial injury by exhaustive exercise.

Objective To study the association of metabolic syndrome (MS)with cardiovascular disease (CVD).Methods According to the diagnostiv criteria for MS,1457 MS patients as the research objects,who were screened out of the tangshian harbor economic development zone hospital.All patients were detected with waist circ-umference,seat systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic boold pressure(DBP),fasting Plasma glucose(FPG),total cholesterol(TC),low -density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL -C),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL -C),tri-glyceride(TG).By 3 years follow -up and the carotid ultrasound detection of carotid intima -media thickness(IMT), all the patients were divided into three groups according to the diagnosis:event group (Coronary heart disease +Hypertensive heart disease,stroke,Coronary heart disease +Hypertensive heart disease +stroke)and control group. Results The patients′SBP[(145.5 ±15.7)mmHg,(149.9 ±13.8)mmHg,(156.3 ±14.6)mmHg],DBP [(92.5 ±8.7)mmHg,(97.9 ±9.0)mmHg,(101.0 ±10.0)mmHg],FPG[(6.3 ±2.6)mmol/L,(6.0 ± 2.5)mmol/L,(6.9 ±2.6)mmol/L],TC[(5.46 ±1.28)mmol/L,(5.10 ±1.15)mmol/L,(5.37 ±1.21)mmol/L], LDL -C[(3.40 ±0.75)mmol/L,(3.08 ±0.65)mmol/L,(3.24 ±0.72)mmol/L],TG[(3.44 ±1.60)mmol/L, (3.31 ±1.52)mmol/L,(3.38 ±1.58)mmol/L]of the event group were significantly higher than the control group [(139.2 ±17.4)mmHg,(85.6 ±9.1 )mmHg,(5.5 ±2.1 )mmol/L,(1.4 ±0.4 )mmol/L,(2.59 ± 0.64)mmol/L,(2.61 ±1.28)mmol/L]and HDL -C[(1.13 ±0.38)mmol/L,(1.2 ±0.4)mmol/L,(0.9 ± 0.23)mmol/L]was significantly lower than the control group[(1.4 ±0.4)mmol/L](P <0.05).Detection rates of all the event groups were significantly higher in age[(53.4 ±6.4)years,(54.6 ±6.6)years,56.3 ±6.8)years], hypertensive heart disease(67.8%,74.8%,88.0%),high blood sugar(46.7%,42.9%,49.7%),and carotid atherosvletosis (19.9%,18.9%,29.3%)than the control group[(47.2 ±6.5)years,47.2%,24.3%,5%)](P <0.05).Conclusion There was a correlation between Mdtabolic syndrome and Cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of edaravone combined with early rehabilitation in the treat-ment of cerebral hemorrhage,and to provide clinical evidence for rehabilitation management and drug treatment of cerebral hemor-rhage patients. METHODS:168 patients with cerebral hemorrhage,collected from neurology department of our hospital during Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2014,were randomly divided into observation group and control group with 84 cases in each group. Both groups re-ceived routine treatment;observation group was additionally given edaravone intravenously on the basis of routine treatment,and be-gan to receive standardized rehabilitation treatment within 48 hours after the onset of symptom;control group began to receive stan-dardized rehabilitation treatment 2 weeks after the onset of symptom. NIHSS and MMSE score of 2 groups were conducted before re-habilitation treatment,and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS:There was no statistically significant difference in lesion site and clinical manifestations between 2 groups on admission(P>0.05);both NIHSS and MMSE score of observation group were better than those of control group after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment,there was statistical significance(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Edaravone associated with early rehabilitation can obviously improve the prognosis of patients with cerebral hemorrhage.

Objective To explore the effect of the joint edaravone in early rehabilitation on the prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke.Methods The general branch of Kailuan group of patients with ischemic stroke who were conformed to the 1995 national conference on the 4th cerebrovascular diagnostic criteria with head CT or MRI imaging diagnosis,were collected from January 2012 to December 2014.A total of 324 cases were the first onset,who had been treated with conventional drugs,and were randomly divided into the observation group(edaravone associated with early rehabilitation)and the control group(early rehabilitation)with 162 cases in each group.Patients of the observation group were given venous application of edaravone and received the standardized rehabilitation treatment within 48 hours.The control group were given standard rebabilitation therapy at 2 weeks after attacked.NIHSS and MMSE scores of the two groups of patients were evaluated at the beginning of the rehabilitation course,4 weeks and 12 weeks of the treatments.Results There were no statistically significant difference and the clinial manifestations of the lesion site between the two groups of patients on admission.At the beginning of the rehabilitation,the NIHSS and MMSE score of control group were statistically significant different from that of observation group [NIHSS:(14.8 ±5.3)vs.(16.1 ±5.1),PNIHSS =0.049;MMSE:(15.9 ±6.3)vs.(14.2 ±6.2),PMMSE =0.041].The sec-ond and third evaluation were respectively conducted at 4 weeks[NIHSS:(10.1 ±6.3)vs.(8.2 ±5.7),MMSE:(17.7 ±5.5)vs.(20.9 ±5.9)]and 12 weeks[NIHSS:(6.6 ±4.9)vs.(4.7 ±3.6),MMSE:(21.0 ±4.8)vs. (24.6 ±4.9)].The results of the observation group were significantly better than the control group(P4W NIHSS =0.036,P4W MMSE =0.035;P12W NIHSS =0.006,P12W MMSE =0.003),and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion Edaravone associated with early rehabilitation can obviously improve the prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke.

Structure of natural product-ursolic acid was modified for increasing its antitumor activity. Ursolic acid was acylated, esterified, hydrolized or oxidized to obtain target pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with different substitutes. Sixteen derivatives of ursolic acid were designed and synthesized including eleven new compounds. Anti-tumor activities of ursolic acid and these derivatives against HeLa, SKOV3 and BGC-823 cells in vitro were investigated by MTT assay. The results indicated that compounds 7a and 8a were found to have stronger cell growth inhibitory than ursolic acid on HeLa cells and SKOV3 cells separately, and are worth to be intensively studied further.

Objective To understand the status of human resources for AIDS control at city and county level in Hebei Province,and to improve the outfit of human resources.Methods General investigation and self-designed questionnaire were used by the trained investigators.Epi Data 3.0 was used to establish a database,and SPSS 13.0 was used to analyze the data.Results There were 1 347 missionaries at the city and county level,547 of whom were full-time staff.Significant differences existed in academic qualifications and titles between city and county level.A lack in technical staff in county level appeared.Conclusions The number of staff for HIV control in Hebei is not sufficient.Therefore human resources in these places should be strengthened and rationally allocated for AIDS control.