OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Hegu" (LI4) and "Taichong" (LR3) on DNA methylation of the solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4) gene promoter region in the hippocampus of depressed rats, and to explore the potential antidepressant mechanism of EA. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a medication group, a 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) group, and an EA group, 6 rats in each group. Depression models were established in the model group, the medication group, the 5-AZA group, and the EA group using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) combined with solitary housing. The medication group was treated with intragastric administration of fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules; the 5-AZA group was treated with intraperitoneal injection of 5-AZA; the EA group was treated with EA at bilateral "Hegu" (LI4) and "Taichong" (LR3), with disperse-dense wave, frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz, and intensity of 1-1.2 mA, 20 min each session. All the treatment was given in three groups once daily for 21 consecutive days. Behavioral changes were evaluated by sucrose preference test, open field test, and novelty-suppressed feeding test. Serum levels of serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) were measured by ELISA. The expression of SLC6A4 and 5-HT1AR protein and mRNA in hippocampus was detected by Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. DNA methylation status of the SLC6A4 promoter region in hippocampal tissue was analyzed by bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP). RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the model group showed decreased sucrose preference, reduced total locomotor distance, and prolonged latency to feeding (P<0.05), decreased serum 5-HT, DA, and NE levels (P<0.05), downregulated hippocampal SLC6A4 and 5-HT1AR protein and mRNA expression (P<0.05), and increased CpG site methylation rate of the SLC6A4 promoter region (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the medication group, the 5-AZA group, and the EA group exhibited increased sucrose preference, increased total locomotor distance, shortened latency to feeding (P<0.05), elevated serum 5-HT, DA, and NE levels (P<0.05), upregulated hippocampal SLC6A4 and 5-HT1AR protein and mRNA expression (P<0.05), and reduced CpG site methylation rate of the SLC6A4 promoter (P<0.05). Compared with the medication group and the 5-AZA group, the EA group showed higher sucrose preference, greater total locomotor distance, shorter latency to feeding (P<0.05), and increased serum DA and NE levels (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA could improve depressive behaviors in depressed rat models. The underlying mechanism may involve inhibition of SLC6A4 hypermethylation in the hippocampus on the serotonergic system, upregulation of SLC6A4 and 5-HT1AR protein and mRNA expression, and elevation of monoamine neurotransmitters such as 5-HT.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Acupuncture Points ; DNA Methylation ; Depression/metabolism* ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism* ; Humans

Acupuncture treatment of chronic pain combined with depression (CPDC) is the result of a multi-target, multi-pathway approach. Acupuncture can treat CPDC by inhibiting the activation of glial cells, regulating the release of inflammatory mediators, regulating the expressions of neurotransmitters, changing the plasticity of neural synapses, regulating related epigenetic effects, regulating the microbiota-brain-gut axis, inhibiting nerve cell apoptosis, and antagonizing oxidative stress. The mechanism of its effect mainly involves anti-inflammatory related signaling pathways, regulation of neural synapse-related signaling pathways, and exerts its therapeutic effect through hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and amygdala.

Objective To observe the effects of wheat grain moxibustion for"Huantiao"on sciatic nerve function,pathological morphology of sciatic nerve stem and expressions of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway expression in spinal cord tissue of rats with sciatic nerve injury(SNI);To explore the possible mechanism of wheat grain moxibustion for the treatment of SNI.Methods Totally 24 SD male rats were randomly divided into blank group,sham-operation group,model group and wheat grain moxibustion group,with 6 rats in each group.The model group and the wheat grain moxibustion group used a rat model with sciatic nerve clamping injury.From the 7th day after modeling,the rats were treated with moxibustion on the affected side of"Huantiao"for 6 strokes each time,once a day,for consecutive 10 days.The sciatic nerve function index(SFI)of rats on the 7th day after modeling and after intervention were observed,mechanical withdraw threshold(MWT)in rats were measured using a fiber optic pain gauge,ELISA was used to detect NO and iNOS content in spinal cord tissue,HE staining was used to observe the morphology of sciatic nerve stem,the expression of TLR4,NF-κBp65,p-NF-κBp65,MyD88,IκBα and p-IκBα in spinal cord tissue were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the SFI and MWT of the rats in the model group significantly decreased(P<0.01),the arrangement of nerve fibers in sciatic nerve stem was disordered,with a significant increase in the number of Schwann cells and a large number of vacuolar degeneration,the content of NO,iNOS and the expression of TLR4,p-NF-κBp65,MyD88,p-IκBα protein in spinal cord tissue significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the SFI and MWT of the rats in the wheat grain moxibustion group increased significantly(P<0.01),the damage of sciatic nerve stem was reduced,with orderly cell arrangement,a decrease in the number of Schwann cells,and a decrease in axonal demyelination and cellular vacuolar degeneration,the content of NO,iNOS and the expression of TLR4,p-NF-κBp65,MyD88,p-IκBα in spinal cord tissue significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Wheat grain moxibustion for"Huantiao"can down-regulate TLR4,p-NF-κBp65,MyD88 and p-IκBα protein expressions in spinal cord tissue of SNI rats,reduce the secretion of NO and iNOS,thereby relieve pain and damaged nerve tissue inflammation response.

Cerebral hemorrhage is an acute cerebrovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality,and its pathogenesis is very complicated.The Janus tyrosine protein kinase(JAK)/signal transduction and activator of transcription(STAT)signaling pathway are critical in the development of cerebral hemorrhage.Acupuncture has proved to be effective in the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage.This article took the JAK/STAT signaling pathway as the starting point to review the research on the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for cerebral hemorrhage in recent years.It summarized its effects in inhibiting inflammatory reactions,reducing brain edema,inhibiting cell apoptosis,promoting nerve and vascular regeneration,and promoting neural function remodeling,providing reference for relevant research.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture(EA)at"Hegu"and"Taichong"on the expressions of cytochrome C(Cyt-C)and Caspase-9 in the hippocampus of rats with chronic pain and depression comorbidity(CPDC);To explore its potential mechanism for the treatment of CPDC.Methods A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group,model group,medication group and EA group,with 15 rats in each group.The CPDC model was induced by twice injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the plantar of the left hind paw.EA group was applied to bilateral"Hegu"and"Taichong"for 20 min,the medication group were treated with duloxetine suspension 10 mg/kg by gavage for 14 days.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency were measured on day 7,14,21 and 28 after the first injection,tail suspension test and sucrose preference test were performed on day 14 and 28,Nissl staining was used to observe hippocampal neurons and the number of Nissl body,the protein expressions of Cyt-C and Caspase-9 in hippocampal tissue were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency of the model group significantly decreased(P<0.01),the tail suspension immobility time increased(P<0.01),the percentage of sucrose preference decreased(P<0.01),the neurons were thinly arranged,the neurons were damaged and lost,and the number of Nissl body were less(P<0.01),the apoptotic rate of hippocampal neurons increased(P<0.01),the expression of Cyt-C,Caspase-9 and cleaved-Caspase-9/Caspase-9 ratio in hippocampal tissue increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency of the EA group and medication group significantly increased(P<0.01),the tail suspension immobility time decreased(P<0.01),the percentage of sucrose preference increased(P<0.01),the loss of neurons in hippocampus was reduced,the cells were arranged neatly,and the nucleoli were clear,the number of Nissl body increased(P<0.01),the apoptotic rate of hippocampal neurons decreased(P<0.01),and the expression of Cyt-C,Caspase-9 and cleaved-Caspase-9/Caspase-9 ratio in hippocampal tissue decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion EA at"Hegu"and"Taichong"can alleviate pain and depression in CPDC rats,which may be related to inhibiting the expressions of Cyt-C and Caspase-9 in hippocampal tissue and inhibiting the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons,thus playing a neuroprotective effect.

Objective To compare the advantages of robot assisted and DSA guided PBC for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.Methods A retrospective clinical analysis was conducted on 85 patients(28 in robot group and 57 in DSA group)who underwent robot assisted and DSA guided PBC surgery in a same center from September 2021 to February 2024.The single puncture success rate,improvement rate of VAS score,clinical efficacy rate,incidence of complications,average surgical time and fluoroscopy time were compared between the two groups.Results There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of single puncture success rate(96.43% vs.84.21% ),VAS improvement rate[88.9% (77.78%,100.00% )vs.88.89% (55.56%,100.00% )],clinical effective rate(92.86% vs.94.74% ),and total incidence of complications(35.09% vs.42.11% )(P>0.05).The average surgical time was significantly higher in the robot group[38.50(35.00,48.00)min]than the DSA group[19.00(15.00,25.50)min],and the average fluoroscopy time in the robot group[13.00(12.00,15.75)s]was significantly lower than the DSA group[194.00(152.50,259.50)s].The difference in average surgical and fluoroscopy time between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion DSA guided surgery has more advantages in centers with a large number of patients and a pursuit of efficiency.The robot assisted surgical puncture process is safe and controllable and patient radiation exposure time is short,thereby having high clinical application and promotion value.

Objective To observe the effects of plantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA)on pain-depressive behavior and changes in hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitters in rats to establish an animal model of related comorbidity.Methods Sixteen male,8-week-old,SPF-grade healthy SD rats were randomly divided into model and control groups with eight rats in each group.In the model group,rats were anesthetized and injected with 100 μL CFA in the left hind paw to induce the comorbid chronic inflammatory pain and depression model.In the control group,rats were injected with the same volume of saline.Pain thresholds were measured using the Von Frey hair and thermal radiation instrument,and depression-like behaviors were assessed using the open field test(OFT),tail suspension test(TST),and forced swim test(FST).Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),dopamine(DA),and norepinephrine(NE)in rat hippocampal tissue.Histological changes in the hippocampal area were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Results Compared with the control group,the mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency in the model group were significantly decreased at 3,7,and 14 days(P<0.01).The total distance in the OFT was significantly reduced at 7 and 14 days(P<0.01),and the time spent in the center zone was significantly decreased at 14 days(P<0.01).Immobility time in the TST was significantly increased at 14 days(P<0.01),and the immobility time in the FST was significantly increased at 7 and 14 days(P<0.05,P<0.01).5-HT,DA,and NE contents in hippocampal tissue of the model group rats were significantly reduced compared with those in the control group(P<0.01),and hippocampal tissue in the model group showed pathological changes,including irregular neuronal shapes,loose and disordered arrangement,increased intercellular space,some unclear cell nuclei,and some neuronal contraction and apoptosis.Conclusions Injection of 100 μL CFA into the footpad causes pain hypersensitivity,depression-like behavior,significant reductions in monoaminergic neurotransmitters in the hippocampus,and histological changes in the hippocampus,effectively simulating the manifestations of comorbid pain and depression,and is an experimental model to study the pathological mechanisms of comorbid chronic inflammatory pain and depression.

Objective: To investigate the antimicrobial resistance and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of S.paratyphi A strains in Zhengzhou city isolated from sentinel hospitals in 2013-2015. Methods: According to Salmonella molecular typing and K-B drug susceptibility testing method published by international PulseNet bacterial infectious disease monitoring network and USA Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI2015), we analyzed drug sensitivity and PFGE molecular characteristics of 67 S.paratyphi A strains(11 strains in 2013, 7 strains in 2014, 49 strains in 2015) isolated from blood and stool samples in two sentinel hospitals of fever with rash syndrome surveillance system established in Zhengzhou city in 2013-2015. Results: The results showed 67 strains of S.paratyphi A had different levels of resistance to 13 kinds of antibiotics, 65 strains were multi-drug resistant strains (97.0%), 5 isolates were resistant to 2-3 kinds of antibiotics (7.5%), 41 isolates were resistant to 5-8 kinds of antibiotics (61.2%),11 isolates were resistant to 9-10 kinds of antibiotics(16.4%),8 isolates were resistant to 11-12 kinds of antibiotics(11.9%). 67 strains of S.paratyphi A were divided into 10 molecular patterns(PTYA1-PTYA10) by digestion with XbaⅠ restriction endonuclease and pulsed field gel electrophoresis, each pattern contains 1-48 strains with similarity ranged from 94.31%-100%. PTYA3 contained 48 strains, which was predominant band type; PTYA1, 9 contained 6 strains; PTYA 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 contained 1 strains among them. Conclusion The status of drug resistance of clinical isolates of S.paratyphi A in Zhengzhou city was rather serious, PFGE patterns showed diversity and dominant characteristics. The PFGE patterns of partial strains and its corresponding anti-drug spectrum have certain relevance and cluster relationship.

Objective: To reveal the therapeutic effect of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy for the treatment of post-stroke shoulder pain. Methods: Ninety patients with post-stroke acupuncture-moxibustion therapy (AM), acupuncture-moxibustion plus Chinese herbal decoction (AMCH), and Chinese herbal decoction (CH) respectively. Results: In the comparison of the therapeutic effects and blood viscosity, there was significant difference between the AM and CH group, as well as between the AMCH and CH group (P＜0.01); the difference was not significant between the AM and AMCH group. Conclusion:Acupuncture-moxibustion is an effective therapy in the treatment of the post-stroke shoulder pain, and it can also reduce the blood viscosity in short-term.