Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at the Shuigou point on systolic phenotype-related factors and on the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway of the middle cerebral artery smooth muscle cells in rats modeling cerebral infarction; and to explore the molecular mechanism of treating cerebral infarction with electroacupuncture.Methods:A total of 108 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank group ( n=6), a sham operation group ( n=6), a model group ( n=48) and an electroacupuncture group ( n=48). The model and electroacupuncture groups were randomly divided into eight phase subgroups at 1h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 72h, 7d and 14d after the modeling of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), with six rats in each group. The electroacupuncture groups received electric acupuncture at the Shuigou acupoint for 20min after successful modeling. Neurological Severity scoring (NSS) was used to evaluate the neurological impairment. PLN protein expression in the middle cerebral artery and the expression of JAK1 and STAT3 proteins in the rats′ brain tissue were detected using western blotting. PDGF-AA content in the middle cerebral artery was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results:Compared with the blank and sham operation groups, the average NSS score and PDGF-AA protein expression had increased significantly in the model and electroacupuncture groups. PLN protein expression had decreased significantly at 12h-14d in the model group, but decreased significantly at 12h-7d in the electroacupuncture group. Compared with those two groups, there was a significant increase in JAK1 protein expression at 1h-72h, 3h-6h, 24h-72h, and14d in the model group. In the electroacupuncture group the corresponding significant increases were over 1h-14d, 1h-6h, 24h, 72h, and 14d. STAT3 protein expression had increased significantly in the model group over 6h-14d and 3h-14d. In the electroacupuncture group those increases were over 6h-14d. Compared to the model group, a significant increase was observed in the expression of PLN protein at 14d, with a significant decrease in NSS at 72h, 7d and 14d. PDGF-AA protein had increased significantly at 6h-7d. For JAK1 protein that was at 12h and 14d, and for STAT3 protein it was over 12h-72h and at 14d.Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at the Shuigou point may regulate the expression of PDGF-AA and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway so as to regulate the normal expression of PLN, and thus smooth muscle contraction to maintain the normal functioning of the middle cerebral artery. This may be one of the molecular mechanisms by which electroacupuncture at the Shuohui point improves nerve functioning in treating cerebral infarction.

Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at the Shuigou point on systolic phenotype-related factors and on the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway of the middle cerebral artery smooth muscle cells in rats modeling cerebral infarction; and to explore the molecular mechanism of treating cerebral infarction with electroacupuncture.Methods:A total of 108 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank group ( n=6), a sham operation group ( n=6), a model group ( n=48) and an electroacupuncture group ( n=48). The model and electroacupuncture groups were randomly divided into eight phase subgroups at 1h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 72h, 7d and 14d after the modeling of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), with six rats in each group. The electroacupuncture groups received electric acupuncture at the Shuigou acupoint for 20min after successful modeling. Neurological Severity scoring (NSS) was used to evaluate the neurological impairment. PLN protein expression in the middle cerebral artery and the expression of JAK1 and STAT3 proteins in the rats′ brain tissue were detected using western blotting. PDGF-AA content in the middle cerebral artery was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results:Compared with the blank and sham operation groups, the average NSS score and PDGF-AA protein expression had increased significantly in the model and electroacupuncture groups. PLN protein expression had decreased significantly at 12h-14d in the model group, but decreased significantly at 12h-7d in the electroacupuncture group. Compared with those two groups, there was a significant increase in JAK1 protein expression at 1h-72h, 3h-6h, 24h-72h, and14d in the model group. In the electroacupuncture group the corresponding significant increases were over 1h-14d, 1h-6h, 24h, 72h, and 14d. STAT3 protein expression had increased significantly in the model group over 6h-14d and 3h-14d. In the electroacupuncture group those increases were over 6h-14d. Compared to the model group, a significant increase was observed in the expression of PLN protein at 14d, with a significant decrease in NSS at 72h, 7d and 14d. PDGF-AA protein had increased significantly at 6h-7d. For JAK1 protein that was at 12h and 14d, and for STAT3 protein it was over 12h-72h and at 14d.Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at the Shuigou point may regulate the expression of PDGF-AA and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway so as to regulate the normal expression of PLN, and thus smooth muscle contraction to maintain the normal functioning of the middle cerebral artery. This may be one of the molecular mechanisms by which electroacupuncture at the Shuohui point improves nerve functioning in treating cerebral infarction.

Objective:To observe the effects of different moxibustion times on proteins of transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3) ion channel protein and synovial cell apoptosis in rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), to provide a new basis for the anti-inflammatory mechanism of moxibustion. Methods:A total of 50 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a normal group, a model group, moxibustion groupⅠ, moxibustion groupⅡ and moxibustion groupⅢ by complete randomization, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group were bred routinely, and rats in the model group were also bred routinely after successful modeling. After successful modeling, rats in moxibustion groupⅠ,Ⅱ andⅢ accepted consecutive moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Shenshu (BL 23) for 15 d, once a day, respectively 5 min, 20 min and 30 min for each session. The degree of paw edema was observed and recorded. Immunohistochemical assay was used to detect the protein expression of TRPV3 ion channel in dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord dorsal horn. Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect apoptotic synovial cell number. Results: At the end of treatment, paw circumference of rats in moxibustion groupⅡ andⅢ were significantly reduced as compared with that in the model group (P<0.05). TRPV3 ion channel protein expression of dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord dorsal horn was higher in the model group than that in the normal group (P<0.05); the TRPV3 ion channel protein expressions of dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord dorsal horn in moxibustion groupⅡ andⅢ were higher than that in moxibustion groupⅠ (P<0.05); apoptotic synovial cell number in the model group was larger than that in the normal group (P<0.05), and apoptotic synovial cell numbers in moxibustion groupⅡ andⅢ were significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Moxibustion of appropriate time could induce TRPV3 expression, and promote synovial cell apoptosis.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of tissue mitral annular displacement (TMAD) in the assessment of left ventricular long axis systolic function and the relationship of obese degree with left ventricular long axis systolic function in patients with abdominal obesity.MethodsThirty-eight abdominal obesity cases and thirty-four healthy cases were investigated using echocardiography.The images of apical four-chamber view and apical two-chamber view were obtained,systolic mitral annular displacement (MADs),mid-point of mitral annular displacement(MAD-midpt),mid-point of mitral annular normalized displacement(MAND-midpt) and mid-point of mitral annular biplanar normalized displacement(MABNDmidpt) were measured by the technique of TMAD.Their characteristics between patients with abdominal obesity and healthy group were compared,and the relationship of waist-hip ratio(WHR) and related indexes of MAD were analyzed.ResultsIn abdominal obesity group,the MADs at the four site were significantly decreased compared with control group (P＜0.001,respectively),the MAD-midpt and MAND-midpt of apical four-chamber view and apical two-chamber view were significantly decreased compared with control group (P＜0.001,respectively).The WHR related with MABND-midpt independently by the analysis of partial correlation(r=-0.697,P=0.000).ConclusionsThe left ventricular long axis systolic function were damaged in patients with abdominal obesity.The technique of TMAD could quantitatively assess the left ventricular long axis systolic function in patients with abdominal obesity.