Increasing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are of vital importance for various biological processes, and dysregulation of lncRNAs is frequently associated with various diseases such as psoriasis. LncRNAs modulate gene expression at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational levels; however, the specific regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in psoriasis remain largely unexplored. This review provides an overview of recent studies investigating mechanisms and functions of lncRNAs in psoriasis, especially focusing on the role of lncRNAs in keratinocytes, T cells, and dendritic cells.
Humans ; Psoriasis/genetics* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics*

Objective To explore the effect of blended learning in practical training of acupuncture techniques.Methods Sophomores of acupuncture and Tuinaspeciality were divided into two groups based on classes,with 38 students in experimental group and 34 in control group,adopting blended learning and traditional method in teaching acupuncture techniques respectively.Blended learning mainly adopts mixed methods of both online "punch-card" on WeChat community and offline class learning.Post-test score of two groups were compared by independent samples t-test with SPSS 19.0.The teaching effect of blended learning was evaluated in students in experimental group by questionnaire survey.Results The total score of acupuncture techniques (4.73 ± 0.15) in experimental group were significantly higher than that of control group (4.27 ± 0.46) (t=5.588,P＜0.01) and students' satisfaction concerning the blended learning in experimental group was up to 88％ (22/25).Conclusion Blended learning can promote students' acupuncture skills and cultivate good study habits,making practice in class more targeted.More friendly online learning tools needs to be further developed.

Filiform needle acupuncture technique is the core content of needling and moxibustion method. The examination and assessment of filiform needle manipulation are the most important measure for testing the effect of filiform needle acupuncture technique teaching. The establishment of a scientific examination and assessment system of filiform needle manipulation should involve comprehensive examination and assessment contents, definite and detailed evaluation rules and quantified scoring criteria to make the examination and assessment system be able to comprehensively and objectively assess the students' skills of filiform needle manipulation to achieve the purpose of improving the quality of filiform needle acupuncture technique teaching.

The anaphase promoting complex (APC) regulates cell cycle progression by forming two functionally distinct E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes, APC^Cdc20 activated by cell division cycle protein 20 (Cdc20) and APC^Cdh1 activated by Cdc20 homologue 1 (Cdh1), respectively. Cdc20 and Cdh1 have different functions in the occurrence and development of the tumor. Cdc20 is a cancer promoter while Cdh1 suppresses tumorigenesis. Emerging evidence has begun to reveal that Cdc20 has positive functions in tumorigenesis, the overexpression of Cdc20 has been observed in many cancers. Currently, Cdc20 inhibitors, mostly non-specific inhibitors except apcin, not only block the combination between Cdc20 and APC, also block the combination between Cdh1 and APC, which leads to a poor selectivity. In this paper, the Cdc20 role in the development and process of cancers and its inhibitors are reviewed.

Objective To explore the effect of flipped classroom in teaching auricular needling method. Methods Sophomores of acupuncture and Tuina speciality were divided into two groups based on classes, with 33 students in experimental group and 30 in control group. In teaching auricular needling method, experimental group adopted flipped classroom by online resources and classroom activities, while control group adopted traditional classroom such as teaching, watching video, demonstration. Post-test score of two groups were compared by independent samples t-test. The teaching effect of flipped classroom was evaluated by questionnaire survey of students in experimental group. Results The total score of auricular needling (88.4±13.91), score of location (55.40±7.34), and score of application (32.00±10.31) in experi-mental group were significantly higher than those in con-trol group (71.48±15.93, 47.55±12.23 and 23.94± 11.97) (P<0.05). Students' satisfaction concerning the flipped classroom in experimental group was up to 90%. Conclusion Flipped classroom can be used in teaching auricular needling method, which can improve teaching quality and promote improvement of students' self-study and communication skills.

OBJECTIVESix1 and Six4 are expressed in several tumors, and associated with tumor progress and poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Six1 and Six4 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and to evaluate their correlation with the clinicopathological factors and prognosis.

METHODSTissue microarray technology and immunohistochemical method (EnVision) were used to detect the expression of Six1 and Six4 in the tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent normal epithelium of esophagus from 292 ESCC patients.

RESULTSAmong the 292 ESCC patients, the positive rates of Six1 and Six4 protein expression in tumor tissues were 72.9% (213/292) and 56.2% (164/292), respectively, significantly higher than the expression rate of 33.2% (97/292) and 32.5% (95/292) in adjacent normal epithelium of esophagus (P < 0.05). Chi square test showed that the expression of Six1 protein was related to tumor size, depth of tumor invasion and patient survival status; higher Six4 protein expression level was related to poor differentiation and increased depth of invasion. Single factor Log-rank analysis revealed that gender, TNM stage, Six1 protein expression level were related to the overall survival of ESCC patients (P < 0.05), while the five-year survival rate was significantly higher in the Six1-negative group than the Six1-positive group [51.9% (41/79) vs. 43.7% (93/213)]. Multi-factor Cox proportional risk model analysis showed that TNM stage and positive expression of Six1 were independent prognostic factors for ESCC patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSix1 and Six4 are highly expressed in ESCC. Their expression levels are closely related to the progress and prognosis of ESCC. Over-expression of Six1 is related to poor prognosis in ESCC patients. Thus, Six1 could be used as an important prognostic indicator for ESCC patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden

Objective To explore the effect of direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) in teaching acupuncture manipulation skills. Methods Sophomores of acupuncture and Tuina spe-ciality were divided into two groups based on their classes, 36 students in experimental group and 31 in control group. In experimental group, DOPS on filiform needling was done twice in the middle and at the end of the semester respectively. In control group, DOPS was done once at the end of semester. The final exam's DOPS score and satisfaction degree of teachers and students concerning the results of the assessment in two groups were compared by independent samples t-test. P<0.05 indicates signifi-cant differences. The teaching effect of DOPS was also evaluated by questionnaire survey of students in experimental group. Results The total score of DOPS (4.26 ±0.24), scores of needle insertion (4.18±0.42), and scores of reinforcing and reducing method (4.03±0.28) in experimental group were higher than those in control group ((4.14±0.25), (4.00±0.29) and (3.87±0.37), P<0.05). The teachers' satisfaction (8.38±0.51) and students' satisfaction (8.47±1.03) concerning the results of the assessment in experimental group were higher than those in control group ((8.05±0.78) and (7.94±1.15), P<0.05). More than 80% of students in experimental group supported the saying of‘DOPS promoting students' skills training and enhancing the ability of handwork ’ . Conclusions DOPS can be used as an effective teaching and examination method and can improve students' skills of acupuncture manipulation.

OBJECTIVETo observe the dose-effect relationship of electroacupuncture of different current intensities combined with Morphine of different dosage on alleviating the rats' tibial cancer pain, and explore the possible mechanism, which could provide the experiment basis for alleviating the tibial cancer pain by electroacupuncture combined with Morphine.

METHODSOne hundred female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and eight treatment groups, 10 cases in each group. The rats in the treatment groups were treated by combined therapies of electroacupuncture of different intensities with 2 Hz /100 Hz dense-disperse wave on "Jiaji"(EX-B 2)and different dosage Morphine in 2 factor 3 level conditions, once a day for 6 days. The pain thresholds were observed before the treatment and 0 min, 1 h, 2 h and 5 h after the first treatment as well as after 3 and 6 times of treatments. The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression was determined by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThe rats' pain thresholds were significantly increased with electroacupuncture of 2 mA and 1 mA (all P < 0.01) on the 0 min, 1 h and 2 h of the first treatment, between which there were no significant differences (all P > 0.05). The pain threshold was still increased by electroacupuncture of 2 mA on the 5 h of the treatment (P < 0.01), while that of 1 mA failed to take effect (P > 0.05). After 3 and 6 times of treatments, both electroacupuncture of 2 mA and 1 mA had the effect of increasing the pain threshold (all P < 0.01), and the effect of 2 mA was superior to that of 1 mA (P < 0.05), had the synergistic effect with 5 mg/(kg x d) Morphine (P < 0.05). After 6 times of treatments, both electroacupuncture of 2 mA and 1 mA could inhibit the expression of GFAP (both P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference between them (P > 0.05). Both of 5 mg/(kg x d) and 2.5 mg/(kg x d) of Morphine, however, didn't bring about inhibition effect (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is a does-effect relationship on electroacupuncture of different current intensity for alleviating the tibial cancer pain in rats. The electroacupuncture with 2 mA, which is better than that with 1 mA, has the synergistic effect with 5 mg/(kg x d) of Morphine. The electroacupuncture can inhibit the expression of GFAP to cooperate with Morphine for the purpose of alleviating the rats' tibial cancer pain.

Animals ; Bone Neoplasms ; complications ; genetics ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pain ; etiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pain Management ; instrumentation ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spine ; metabolism ; Tibia ; metabolism

The questionnaire and the result of 2010' Hwato Cup National University Students' Acupuncture Manipulation Skills Competition were analyzed in this paper. It was showed that the competition achieved the significant effects of enhancing acupuncture manipulation skills for the university students and promoting the standardization on teaching acupuncture manipulation skills. The teachers and students were not very satisfied with the current acupuncture manipulation skill education. In the competition, only the item of reciting the classics achieved more than 90 scores, which just displayed the memory ability. The results of the manipulation competition were generally not very high. It is suggested that concerning to teaching acupuncture and moxibustion in the future, the ratio of class time for improving the practice ability on the human body should be increased and the practice on some manipulation techniques such as inserting the needle by holding the needle tip with the pressing hand, reinforcing-reducing technique by twirling and rotating the needle and warming needle technique should be intensified. It is necessary to enhance the interpretation, emphasis and supplementation on the keys and details of some manipulations of acupuncture and moxibustion.
Acupuncture ; education ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universities

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of acupuncture on skeletal muscle endurance in rats as a pre-games assistant training.

METHODSThirty male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control, model and acupuncture group. Acupuncture group was treated at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Housanli" (ST 36) by twisting mild reinforcing-reducing method for 20 min, no interventions were added on control and model group. Muscle strength was detected in three groups under anaesthetic (after model established in model group, after model established and treated in acupuncture group). Averaged change percentage of mean skeletal muscle endurance (P(m)) and averaged maximum percentage of skeletal muscle endurance (P(max)) were evaluated.

RESULTS(1) 10P(m) in model group decreased more than acupuncture group statistically (P < 0.05); 20P(m), 30P(m) and 40P(m) in model group decreased significantly compared to those in control group and acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) Changes of 10P(max) in acupuncture group was much less than in model group (P < 0.05); changes of 20P(max), 30P(max), 40P(max) and 50P(max) decreased more in model group than in acupuncture group and control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAs an assistant training method, acupuncture can postpone descending point of muscle strength endurance to delay sport fatigue.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Muscle, Skeletal ; chemistry ; physiology ; Physical Endurance ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley