OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion (holistic treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion by adjusting the mind and consolidating the root) on comorbidity of depression and insomnia. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with comorbidity of depression and insomnia were included and treated with Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV20), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Neiguan (PC6), etc. The refined moxibustion therapy was delivered at Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), bilateral Yongquan (KI1), etc. Subcutaneous embedding therapy with thumb-tack needle was adopted at bilateral Xinshu (BL15), bilateral Pishu (BL20), etc. The intervention was operated once every other day, 3 treatments a week, and for 6 consecutive weeks. Before and after treatment completion, and in 1 month after treatment, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Hamilton's depression scale (HAMD-17) were adopted to assess sleep quality and depression symptoms in the patients, respectively. Before and after treatment completion, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the functional connectivity (FC) of locus coeruleus (LC) in brain regions was evaluated; and the levels of serum norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) were detected. RESULTS: Compared with the scores before treatment, PSQI and HAMD-17 scores after treatment completion and in 1 month after treatment were reduced (P<0.01); and strengthened FC was revealed between the right LC and the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus, as well as the lateral occipital lobe region. After treatment completion, serum NE was elevated (P<0.01), the levels of CORT, ACTH and CRH were reduced (P<0.01). Before and after treatment completion, the difference in FC between the right LC and the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with the differences in PSQI score (r = -0.484, P = 0.016) and HAMD-17 score (r = -0.233, P = 0.027). CONCLUSION Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion can effectively alleviate depression symptoms and improve sleep quality in the patients with comorbidity of depression and insomnia, which is obtained probably through reducing the levels of serum CORT, ACTH and CRH, increasing serum NE, strengthening the FC of the right LC with the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus and the lateral occipital lobe region.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Depression/complications* ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Comorbidity

Objective: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of acellular nerve allografts (ANA) on motor neurons in the spinal cord anterior horn of sciatic nerve injury ( SNI) rats . Methods: SPF grade male SD rats were randomly divided into normal , model , ANA-bridged (bridge group) , and autologous nerve transplantation groups (autograft group) , with 6 rats in each group . The SNI rat model was established using the right sciatic nerve clamp method for 10 mm . In the bridge group , the ANA was bridged to the two severed ends of the injured sciatic nerve , and in the autograft group , the autologous nerves were flipped head to tail and then bridged to the two se- vered ends . A spectrophotometer was applied to determine the DNA content in normal nerves and ANA . The foot- print test was used to determine the sciatic nerve function index (SFI) of the rats in each group , the wet weight ra- tio of the anterior tibialis muscle was calculated . The morphology and structure of the anterior horn motor neurons of the spinal cord of each group were observed by HE staining. The immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to detect Apaf-1 , Caspase-3 , Bcl-2 , Bax , and Cyt-C proteins expression in the L4-6 segment of the spinal cord . Results: The DNA content in the ANA prepared in this study was significantly lower than that in normal nerves (P < 0. 05) . Compared with the normal group , the SFI and wet weight ratio of the anterior tibialis muscle were re- duced in the model group (P < 0. 001) ; compared with the model group , both SFI and wet weight ratio of the ante- rior tibialis muscle significantly increased in the bridge group and the autografts group ( P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 001) , and the SFI and wet weight ratio of the anterior tibialis muscle in the autograft group were higher than those in the bridge group (P < 0. 001 , P < 0. 01) . The results of HE staining showed that the motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord of the normal group were structurally intact and had clear cytosolic boundaries; the neurons in the model group were lysed and necrotic , with blurred cytosolic boundaries; the neurons in the bridge group were less lysed and necrotic , but the nuclear translocation phenomenon could still be seen; the neurons in the autograft group were morphologically and structurally intact with clear cytosolic boundaries . Compared with the normal group , the expression of Apaf-1 , Caspase-3 , Bax and Cyt-C proteins significantly increased in the model group (P < 0. 001 , P < 0. 01 , P < 0. 01 , P < 0. 05) . Compared with the model group , the expression of Apaf-1 , Caspase- 3 , Bax , and Cyt-C proteins significantly decreased (P < 0. 001 , P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 05) ; but the expres- sion of Bcl-2 protein significantly increased in the bridge group and the autograft group (P < 0. 05) . The expression of Apaf-1 , Caspase-3 , Bax and Cyt-C proteins in the autografts group was lower than that in the bridge group (P < 0. 001 , P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 05) . Conclusion ANA can exert a protective effect on motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord of SNI rats by improving the morphology and structure of neurons , increasing the ex- pression of Bcl-2 protein , but decreasing the expression of Cyt-C , Bax , Caspase-3 , and Apaf-1 proteins in the spi- nal cord . The mechanism of ANA may be related to the Bcl-2/Cyt-C/Apaf-1-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis sig- naling pathway .

Objective To investigate whether the efficacy of acupuncture differs in patients with discogenic sciatica at different disease duration.Methods This study was a secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial.A total of 216 patients with discogenic sciatica were divided into acupuncture(108 cases)and sham acupuncture groups(108 cases)using stratified block randomization.The bilateral D(a)ch(a)ngshū(BL25)and Gu(a)nyuánshū(BL26)were used as obligatory points in the acupuncture group,and five unilateral points were used as adjunct acupoints based on meridian syndrome differentiation theory.Seven non-acupoints that localized away from the relative meridians preset for sham acupuncture treatment were used for the sham acupuncture group.Patients were assigned to receive 10 sessions over 4 weeks.The Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)and the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)scores were used for assessment at baseline,Week 4,and Week 52.Patients were divided into three subgroups(up to 24 months,more than 24 but up to 48 months,and more than 48 months)based on the duration of sciatica for secondary analyses,and the association between efficacy of acupuncture and duration was assessed.Results The acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups had lower VAS and ODI scores than at pre-treatment(P<0.05).In the subgroups with different disease durations,the acupuncture group had lower VAS and ODI scores than the sham acupuncture group(P<0.05).Further analysis of patients at different disease durations within the acupuncture group showed no differences in VAS and ODI scores among disease duration groups after acupuncture(P>0.05).Interaction analysis for both the treatment and follow-up periods showed no interaction effect between efficacy of acupuncture and disease duration(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture is effective in patients with discogenic sciatica at different durations,and efficacy does not differ significantly according to duration,suggesting that acupuncture efficacy is relatively stable,which may provide a reference for clinical decision-making.

Objective To investigate whether the efficacy of acupuncture differs in patients with discogenic sciatica at different disease duration.Methods This study was a secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial.A total of 216 patients with discogenic sciatica were divided into acupuncture(108 cases)and sham acupuncture groups(108 cases)using stratified block randomization.The bilateral D(a)ch(a)ngshū(BL25)and Gu(a)nyuánshū(BL26)were used as obligatory points in the acupuncture group,and five unilateral points were used as adjunct acupoints based on meridian syndrome differentiation theory.Seven non-acupoints that localized away from the relative meridians preset for sham acupuncture treatment were used for the sham acupuncture group.Patients were assigned to receive 10 sessions over 4 weeks.The Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)and the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)scores were used for assessment at baseline,Week 4,and Week 52.Patients were divided into three subgroups(up to 24 months,more than 24 but up to 48 months,and more than 48 months)based on the duration of sciatica for secondary analyses,and the association between efficacy of acupuncture and duration was assessed.Results The acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups had lower VAS and ODI scores than at pre-treatment(P<0.05).In the subgroups with different disease durations,the acupuncture group had lower VAS and ODI scores than the sham acupuncture group(P<0.05).Further analysis of patients at different disease durations within the acupuncture group showed no differences in VAS and ODI scores among disease duration groups after acupuncture(P>0.05).Interaction analysis for both the treatment and follow-up periods showed no interaction effect between efficacy of acupuncture and disease duration(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture is effective in patients with discogenic sciatica at different durations,and efficacy does not differ significantly according to duration,suggesting that acupuncture efficacy is relatively stable,which may provide a reference for clinical decision-making.

Enteric-soluble soft capsule is a kind of new preparation that does not disintegrate in the stomach ，but releases rapidly in the intestinal tract to play a pharmacodynamic role. It has the unique advantages of improving drug stability ，reducing drug irritation ，delivering drugs directionally to the intestinal tract ，and prolonging drug action time. In this paper ，the decomposition and release mechanism ，application advantages ，classification of enteric-soluble coating materials and preparation methods of enteric-soluble soft capsule are sorted and summarized ，in order to provide reference for further development of this type of preparation.

Objective: Numerous studies have shown that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) enhance neurological recovery after cerebral ischemia. However, the mechanisms are still not clear. The present study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of MSCs on global cerebral ischemia induced by cardiac arrest (CA) and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Rats subjected to asphyxial CA were injected intravenously with MSCs (5×106 ) at 2 hours after resuscitation. Whole brain histopathologic damage scores (HDS) were assessed by histopathology at 3 and 7 days after resuscitation. The distribution of donor MSCs in the brain was evaluated. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 6 (TSG-6) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in cerebral cortex was assayed. After intravenous infusion of TSG-6 siRNA-MSCs, HDS and pro-inflammatory cytokines were reevaluated at 7 days after resuscitation. Results: Intravenously administered MSCs significantly reduced whole brain HDS after global cerebral ischemia. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that donor MSCs were primarily found in cerebral cortex and expressed TSG-6. MSCs treatment significantly increased the expression of TSG-6 and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cerebral cortex. In addition, intravenous infusion of TSG-6 siRNA-MSCs failed to attenuate brain inflammation. Conclusion: Systemically administered MSCs reduced inflammatory damage to brain in rats with global cerebral ischemia via secretion of TSG-6.
Heart Arrest ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Objective To study the establishment of rat model of asphyxia-cardiac arrest and efficacy of CPR in order to find the length of optimum time of asphyxia to cause injury.Methods One hundred and twenty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly (random number) divided into sham operation group and experimental groups.Cardiac arrest was induced by asphyxiation after intravenous injection of vecuronium bromide.The experimental groups were assigned into AP4 (four-minute asphyxia period),AP6 and AP8 subgroups in accordance with different lengths of time of asphyxia subjected to.In these groups,CPR,including pre-cordial compression and synchronized mechanical ventilation,was initiated 4,6 and 8 min after asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest,respectively.The successful ratio of resuscitation and hemodynamic variables were recorded.Brain water content,neural deficit scores (NDS),imaging changes on MR,pathological changes of brain tissue and neuronal apoptosis were evaluated at 1 d,3 d and 7 days after ROSC.All the data were analyzed by single-factor analysis of variance or Chi-square test.P ＜ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Result The lowest NDS occurred at 1 d after ROSC,brain water content and imaging changes on MR were most obvious at 3 d after ROSC,while pathological changes of brain tissue and neuronal apoptosis increased and reached the peak at 7d after ROSC.The survival rates after 24 hours of AP4,AP6 and AP8 groups were 85％,75％ and 45％,respectively.The rate of ROSC and survival rate of AP8 group were significantly lower than those of other groups (P ＜0.01).The longer time of asphyxia the severer pathological changes of brain tissue,brain edema,neural deficit,and magnetic resonance imaging changes in all experimental groups.As compared to other groups,the brain damage index of AP8 group was most serious,while that of AP6 group was moderate.Conclusions The rat model following asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was established successfully.From the evidence of survival rate and damage grade of brain tissue,asphyxia for 6 min may be the rational length of ischemic time in this model.

Objective To investigate the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)treatment on TSG-6 in a rat model of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Methods Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly (random number) divided into sham group,phosphate buffer solution (PBS)-treated group and MSCs-treated group.Animals were subjected to asphyxial cardiac arrest followed by CPR.In PBS-treated group or MSCs-treated group,animals were injected intravenously with PBS or MSCs at 2h after resuscitation.Neurological deficit scores (NDS) were assessed at 1,3 and 7 d after CPR.Serum S-100B was assayed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Immunofluorescence was performed to detect donor MSCs and the expression of TSG-6 in brain.TSG-6 and proinflammatory cytokines in brain were assayed using real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Western blot analysis was performed to measure the levels of neutrophil elastase (NE) in brain.Multiple comparisons were made by analysis of variance.Results At 3d and 7d,MSCs-treated group demonstrated higher NDS than PBS-treated group (P ＜ 0.01),and serum S-100B levels significantly reduced in MSCs-treated group compared with PBS-treated group (P ＜ 0.01).DAPI-labeled MSCs migrated into the ischemic brain and some DAPI + cells colocalized with TSG-6.Compared with PBS-treated group,MSCs treatment significantly up-regulated the expression of TSG-6 and reduced the expression of NE and proinflammatory cytokines in brain at 3 d and 7 d after CPR (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Systemically administered MSCs suppressed inflammatory responses in brain after CPR and improved neurological function in rats possibly via induction of TSG-6.

Objective: Asphyxia and ventricular fibrillation are the two most prevalent causes of cardiac arrest. The study investigated the differences in brain damage after cardiac arrest between asphyxial and ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrests in rats. Methods: Male healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the asphyxial group (cardiac arrest of 6 min, n=15), ventricular fibrillation group (cardiac arrest of 6 min, n=15) and sham group (n=5). Neurologic deficit scores and tape removal test were evaluated at 1, 3 and 7 days after cardiopulmonary resuscitation from three groups. Serum S-100B and brain histopathologic damage scores were also examined. Results: There were no differences in neurologic performance at 1, 3 and 7 days after cardiopulmonary resuscitation between the asphyxial group and ventricular fibrillation group (P>0.05, respectively). Serum S-100B level was higher in the asphyxial group at 1, 3 and 7 days, compared with the ventricular fibrillation group (P<0.05, respectively). There were significantly higher histopathologic damage scores at 1, 3 and 7 days in the asphyxial group compared with the ventricular fibrillation group (P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Asphyxial cardiac arrest has worse morphologic brain damage compared with ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest, but the functional brain damage caused by asphyxial cardiac arrest is similar to that caused by ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest.

Objective To study the effects of mild hypothermia on cardiomyocyte contractility improvement after ischemia-repeffusion injury and on the preservation of well-functioning mitochondrial respiratory capability.Methods A total of 50 newborn SD rats 1 ～ 2 days after delivery were sacrificed and their hearts taken to preserved in 4 ℃ cold D-hanks buffer solution with 0.12％ pancreatic proteinase and collagenase and then processed with 37 ℃ water bath to collect the cardiomyocytes cultured in DMEM medium with 10％ FBS for 5 days.The cardiomyocytes of rats were subjected to ischemia/reperfusion,in vitro,by oxygen and glucose deprivation(OGD)/oxygen and glucose restoration(OGR).The cardiomyocytes of rats after ischemia/reperfusion were divided into three groups:control group,hypothemia group and normothermia group.Contractile frequency and velosity were determined before OGD and 0 h,0.5h,1 h,1.5 h and 2 h after OGR.Ultrastructure changes of cardiomyocytes and mitochondrion were observed under transmission electron microscope(TEM)0 h and 2 h after OGR as well as assessment ot respiratory rate and respiratory control rate(RCR)with Clark oxygen electrode in each group.All data were analyzed with statistical software of SPSS 13.0.Results Contractile function of cardiomyocytes in hypothermia group and normothermia group declined to nadir at 0 h after OGR(P =0.000)and the contractile function of cardiomyocytes in hypothermia group was improved one hour later,compared with the normothermia group(P =0.000).Obvious swelling of mitochondrion was observed under TEM in normothermia group with little alteration after OGR.The RCR assessments indicated respiratory function in normothermia group was impaired after OGR(P =0.000)and this may be responsible for contractility dysfunction.Conclusions Mild hypothemia used after ischaemia can optimize the contractility of cardiomyocytes after a normothermia OGR,and the well-functioning respiratory capability of mitochondrion may be preserved in this process.