OBJECTIVE: To assess the impacts of electroacupuncture (EA) on the gait, oxidative stress, inflammatory reaction, and protein degradation in the rats of denervated skeletal muscle atrophy, and explore the potential mechanism of EA for alleviating denervated skeletal muscle atrophy. METHODS: Forty male SD rats, 8 weeks old, were randomly assigned to a sham-surgery group, a model group, an EA group, and a p38 MAPK inhibitor group, with 10 rats in each group. The right sciatic nerve was transected to establish a rat model of denervated skeletal muscle atrophy in the model group, the EA group and the p38 MAPK inhibitor group. In the sham-surgery group, the nerve was exposed without transection. One day after successful modeling, the rats in the EA group received EA at "Huantiao" (GB30) and "Zusanli" (ST36) on the right side, using a continuous wave with a frequency of 2 Hz and current intensity of 1 mA, for 15 min in each session, EA was delivered once a day, 6 times a week. In the p38 MAPK inhibitor group, the rats received the intraperitoneal injection with SB203580 (5 mg/kg), once a day, 6 times a week. The intervention was composed of 3 weeks in each group. After the intervention completion, the CatWalk XT 10.6 animal gait analysis system was used to record the gait parameters of rats. The wet weight ratio of the gastrocnemius muscle was calculated after the sample collected. Using HE staining, the fiber morphology and cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius muscle were observed; ELISA was employed to measure the content of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the gastrocnemius muscle; the biochemical hydroxyamine method was adopted to detect the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the gastrocnemius muscle; with immunohistochemistry and Western blot used, the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), phosphorylated (p)-p38 MAPK, muscle atrophy F-box gene (Atrogin-1), muscle RING finger 1 (Murf-1), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was detected in the gastrocnemius muscle. RESULTS: Compared to the sham-surgery group, in the model group, the standing duration, the swing time and the step cycle were increased (P<0.001), the footprint area of the maximum contact time, the print area, the average intensity of the maximum contact time, the average intensity, the swing speed, and the step length were decreased (P<0.001); the wet weight ratio of gastrocnemius muscle and fiber cross-sectional area were reduced (P<0.001); the content of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and MDA in gastrocnemius muscle elevated (P<0.001), and that of SOD reduced (P<0.001); the positive and protein expression of p-p38 MAPK, Atrogin-1 and Murf-1 elevated (P<0.001) and that of Nrf2 and HO-1 dropped (P<0.001). When compared with the model group, in the EA group and the p38 MAPK inhibitor group, the standing duration, the swing time and the step cycle decreased (P<0.01), the footprint area of the maximum contact time, the print area, the average intensity of the maximum contact time, the average intensity, the swing speed, and the step length increased (P<0.01); the wet weight ratio of gastrocnemius muscle and fiber cross-sectional area were improved (P<0.01, P<0.05); the content of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and MDA in gastrocnemius muscle dropped (P<0.05, P<0.01), and that of SOD elevated (P<0.01, P<0.05); the positive and protein expression of p-p38 MAPK, Atrogin-1 and Murf-1 dropped (P<0.01, P<0.05) and that of Nrf2 and HO-1 increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture may alleviate skeletal muscle atrophy in denervated skeletal muscle atrophy rats by mediating the p38 MAPK activity, thereby suppressing oxidative stress, inflammatory reaction, and protein degradation.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Rats ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Muscular Atrophy/metabolism* ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction ; Superoxide Dismutase/genetics* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics* ; Oxidative Stress ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Acupuncture Points

This article introduces Professor LIU Xing's clinical experience in treatment of peripheral facial paralysis at the recovery and sequelae stages with the combination of acupotomy, cupping and herbal medication. Based on the analysis of etiology and pathogenesis of peripheral facial paralysis, Professor LIU believes that "invasion of pathogenic wind to collaterals and obstruction of qi and blood" is crucial. Therefore, the treatment focuses on "dispelling wind and harmonizing blood". The compound therapeutic mode is proposed, with acupotomy, cupping and herbal decoction involved, in which, "three-step sequential method of acupotomy" is predominated. Firstly, in the prone position, five "feng" (wind) points are stimulated in patient, Fengfu (GV16), Fengchi (GB20), Yifeng (TE17), Bingfeng (SI12) and Fengmen (BL12). Secondly, in the lateral position, three-facial points are stimulated (FaceⅠneedle: Yangbai [GB14]-Yuyao [EX-HN4]; Face Ⅱ needle: Sibai [ST2]-Quanliao [SI18]; Face Ⅲ needle: Jiache [ST6]-Dicang [ST4]) to restore the deviated facial muscles. Finally, in the supine, two Dantian points are stimulated on the forehead and chest, respectively (upper Dantian: Yintang [GV24⁺], middle Dantian: Danzhong [CV17]), to regulate qi and blood. As the adjunctive therapies, cupping is used to remove stasis, and herbal decoction is to harmonize the body interior. In view of holistic regulation, the treatment is administered in accordance with the affected meridians, so as to expel wind, remove obstruction in collaterals and regulate qi and blood.
Humans ; Facial Paralysis/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Cupping Therapy ; Aged ; Young Adult

Interferon stimulated gene 15 kDa protein (ISG15) is the first ubiquitin-like protein identified, which plays vital roles in a variety of fields including viral infection and immunological regulation. In this study, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze ISG15-modified proteins in A549 cells in response to infection by influenza virus, which was enriched by immunoprecipitation. A total of 22 cellular host proteins were identified in A549 cells infected by influenza virus, including ubiquitin-like ISG15 protein, cyclin-T1, heat shock protein 71 kDa, caldesmon, eukaryotic translation initiation factor, and so on. Besides, non-structural protein (NS1) from influenza virus was also identified. Among the 22 host proteins identified, 6 proteins were also identified in the control non-infected A549 cells, including annexin A1, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A, ATP synthase subunit g, enolase, actin, and tubulin. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the identified ISG15-modified host proteins induced by influenza virus infection could be classified into 9 protein classes: chaperone, oxidoreductase, enzyme modulator, transferase, nucleic acid binding, transcription factor, kinase, cytoskeletal protein, and structural protein. This study provided a specific and effective tool for analyzing ISG15-modified proteins in proteome level.

Abstract Formaldehyde has been widely employed to immobilize clinical tissue specimens, inactivate toxins and viruses in biomedical fields. Formaldehyde can react with active groups in bio-molecules such as proteins, resulting in protein cross-linking, inactivation, and immobilization. By using several standard peptides and tryptic peptides from matrix protein of influenza virus as experimental models, we studied the chemical modifications of peptides and proteins with formaldehyde by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and nano-electrospray quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. The reaction between formaldehyde and peptides was performed under the same conditions as those during inactivation of virus (4℃, 0. 025% Formalin (V/V), 37% formaldehyde solution (w/w), and 72 h). The results indicated that under above conditions, formaldehyde could react with amino group of N-terminus of standard peptide to generate a methylol adduct, which was further condensed into an imine to generate+12 Da product. Besides, formaldehyde could react with side chain of two amino acids such as arginine and lysine, yielding +12 Da product respectively. The analysis of the reaction between formaldehyde and tryptic peptides from matrix protein of influenza virus showed that +24 Da products could be detected in most peptides due to combinational contribution from N-terminus of peptide (+12 Da ) and side chain of C-terminal arginine or lysine (+12 Da) . Moreover, a +36 Da product was detected for a peptide with miss-cut site. The results indicated that low-concentration formaldehyde primarily reacted with amino group on N-termini of peptides and proteins, as well as the side chains of arginine and lysine residues. The present study suggested an effective mass spectrometry-based method for analyzing the reaction between low-concentration formaldehyde and peptides and proteins, thus provided strategies for interpretation for the mass spectra of reaction products.

S-Palmutoylatuon un proteun us one of the most umportant kunds of lupud modufucatuon and plays a vutal role un cell sugnal transductuon, metabolusm and other processes, whuch us formed by covalent bundung of palmutuc acud wuth the sulfhydryl group of cysteune resudue un proteun through thuoester bond. In the present study, acyl-buotun exchange reactuon was performed to convert S-palmutuc acud on the hemagglutunun proteun from unfluenza A vurus unto buotun-labeled tag. The buotun-labeled proteun was then enruched by streptavudun beads and further purufued by electrophoresus, followed by un-gel dugestuon. The results showed that the ratuo of buotun concentratuon of the sample wuth hydroxylamune treatment (+HA ) to that of the sample wuthout hydroxylamune treatment (-HA) was larger than 3. Mass spectrometruc analysus of the dugestuon muxture of the enruched hemagglutunun proteun from unfluenza A vurus udentufued two s-palmutoylatuon modufucatuon sutes that were located on carboxyl termunal reguon of hemagglutunun proteun such as Cys562 and Cys565 , respectuvely. Thus research offers a specufuc and effectuve method for large-scale analysus of S-palmutoylated proteuns.

Objective To study the clinical rescue for basicranial fracture complicated with massive hemorrhage.Methods The therapies for 20 patients of basicranial fracture complicated with massive hemorrhage treated in our hospital within 3 years were analyzed retrospectively.Results Among 20 patients,16 cases were male,4 cases were female.7 cases were simple anterior basicranial fracture with massive hemorrhage,1 case was the delayed massive hemorrhage in cavernous fistula caused by anterior basicranial fracture,12 cases were anterior and mid basicranial fracture complicated with massive hemorrhage.In consequence,6 cases were secondary cerebrospinal leak,8 cases recovered,8 cases died.Conclusion The basicranial fracture complicated with massive hemorrhage is a very dangerous symptom with high death rate and high disability rate.The patients should be rescued actively.

ObjectiveTo analyze the development mechanism and investigate the more effective therapeutic method of the multiple system organs failure (MSOF) after severe craniocerebral injury.MethodsThe clinical data of 21 MSOF cases after severe craniocerebral injury was analyzed retrospectively.ResultsOf all 21 cases, 2 cured, 7 mended and 12 died with death rate 57% and deformity rate 33.3%.ConclusionTo severe craniocerebral injury, comprehensive, timely and effective therapeutic method is the key to reduce the occurrence of MSOF and the rate of death and deformity.