OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in promoting recovery of the facial function with the involvement of autophagy, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. METHODS: Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the control, sham-operated, facial nerve injury (FNI), EA, EA+3-methyladenine (3-MA), and EA+GDNF antagonist groups using a random number table, with 12 rats in each group. An FNI rat model was established with facial nerve crushing method. EA intervention was conducted at Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yifeng (SJ 17), and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints for 2 weeks. The Simone's 10-Point Scale was utilized to monitor the recovery of facial function. The histopathological evaluation of facial nerves was performed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of Beclin-1, light chain 3 (LC3), and P62 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Additionally, IHC was also used to detect the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR. RESULTS: The facial functional scores were significantly increased in the EA group than the FNI group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining showed nerve axons and myelin sheaths, which were destroyed immediately after the injury, were recovered with EA treatment. The expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3 were significantly elevated and the expression of P62 was markedly reduced in FNI rats (P<0.01); however, EA treatment reversed these abnormal changes (P<0.01). Meanwhile, EA stimulation significantly increased the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR (P<0.01). After exogenous administration with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or GDNF antagonist, the repair effect of EA on facial function was attenuated (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS EA could promote the recovery of facial function and repair the facial nerve damages in a rat model of FNI. EA may exert this neuroreparative effect through mediating the release of GDNF, activating the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway, and further regulating the autophagy of facial nerves.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Electroacupuncture ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism* ; Facial Nerve Injuries/therapy* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Beclin-1 ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Autophagy ; Mammals/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the biological function and main molecular mechanism of long noncoding RNA RMRP(lncRNA RMRP)in endometrial carcinoma.Methods The specimens of carcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues of 30 patients with endometrial carcinoma who received surgical treatment in our hospital were collected.RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of lncRNA RMRP in endometrial carcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues,and HESC cells and HEC-1-A cells.The endometrial carcinoma cell line HEC-1-A was cultured in vitro,and the Vector,pcDNA-RMRP,NC-siRNA,RMRP-siRNA,NC mimic,miR-580-3p mimic,pcDNA-RMRP+NC mimic,pcDNA-RMRP+ miR-580-3p mimic,RMRP-siRNA+Vector,RMRP-siRNA+pcDNA-JAK2,NC inhibitor,and miR-580-3p inhibitor were transfected into HEC-1-A cells as the Vector group,the pcDNA-RMRP group,the NC-siRNA group,the RMRP-siRNA group,the NC mimic group,the miR-580-3p mimic group,the pcDNA-RMRP+NC mimic group,the pcDNA-RMRP+miR-580-3p mimic group,the RMRP siRNA+Vector group,the RMRP-siRNA+pcDNA-JAK2 group,the NC inhibitor group,and the miR-580-3p inhibitor group respectively.RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of lncRNA RMRP and miR-580-3p in cells.CCK-8 was used to detect cell proliferation rate.The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry analysis.Bioinformatics software and dual luciferase reporter gene experiment were used to predict and verify the targeted relationships between miR-580-3p and lncRNA RMRP,as well as miR-580-3p and JAK2.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of JAK/STAT signaling pathway.Results Compared with adjacent tissues,lncRNA RMRP was highly expressed in endometrial carcinoma tissues(P<0.05).Compared with HESC cells,the expression of lncRNA RMRP in HEC-1-A cells was significantly increased(P<0.05).pcDNA-RMRP significantly promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis,while RMRP-siRNA significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis,with statistically significant diferences(P<0.05).miR-580-3p was the downstream target miRNA of lncRNA RMRP,and lncRNA RMRP could negatively regulate the expression of miR-580-3p.JAK2 was the downstream target gene of miR-580-3p,and miR-580-3p could negatively regulate the expression of JAK2 protein.pcDNA-RMRP significantly increased the protein levels of JAK2,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in the cells,while co-transfection of pcDNA-RMRP and miR-580-3p mimic significantly decreased the protein levels of JAK2,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3,with statistically significant diferences(P<0.05).RMRP-siRNA could signifi-cantly reduce the protein levels of JAK2,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in cells.After co-transfection of RMRP-siRNA and pcDNA-JAK2,the protein levels of JAK2,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were significantly increased,with statistically significant diferences(P<0.05).In addition,co-transfection of RMRP-siRNA and pcDNA-JAK2 increased cell proliferation and decreased cell apoptosis,with statistically significant diferences(P<0.05).Conclusion Knockdown of lncRNA RMRP could inhibit endometrial carcinoma cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis by regulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway,which might be a potential therapeutic target for endometrial carcinoma.

Pogostemon cablin is a famous southern medicine.As the important raw material for modern medicine and industry,Pogostemon cablin becomes required with a large marketing demand.However,due to the serious continuous cropping obstacles in the growth process of Pogostemon cablin,the aggravation of diseases of Pogostemon cablin and the degradation of its quality arose.This paper outlined the ecological factors such as climate factors,soil factors and topographic factors suitable for the growth of Pogostemon cablin,analyzed the continuous cropping obstacles and diseases arising in the cultivation,reviewed the current ecological planting mode of Pogostemon cablin such as crop rotation,intercropping,relay-cropping and under-forest planting,and also made a comprehensive evaluation of the economic benefits,ecological benefits and social benefits of the ecological planting mode of Pogostemon cablin,aiming to provide a theoretical basis and a reference for the promotion of the ecological planting mode of Pogostemon cablin.

Objective To explore the evidence,urinary biomarkers,and partial mechanisms of hypercoagulability in the pathogenesis of IgA vasculitis(IgAV).Methods Differential expression of proteins in the urine of 10 healthy children and 10 children with IgAV was screened using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry,followed by Reactome pathway analysis.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis was conducted using STRING and Cytoscape software.In the validation cohort,15 healthy children and 25 children with IgAV were included,and the expression levels of differential urinary proteins were verified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results A total of 772 differential proteins were identified between the IgAV group and the control group,with 768 upregulated and 4 downregulated.Reactome pathway enrichment results showed that neutrophil degranulation,platelet activation,and hemostasis pathways were involved in the pathogenesis of IgAV.Among the differential proteins,macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)played a significant role in neutrophil degranulation and hemostasis,while thrombin was a key protein in platelet activation and hemostasis pathways.PPI analysis indicated that thrombin directly interacted with several proteins involved in inflammatory responses,and these interactions involved MIF.Validation results showed that compared to healthy children,children with IgAV had significantly higher urine thrombin/creatinine and urine MIF/creatinine levels(P<0.05).Conclusions Thrombin contributes to the pathogenesis of IgAV through interactions with inflammatory factors.Urinary thrombin and MIF can serve as biomarkers reflecting the hypercoagulable and inflammatory states in children with IgAV.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a natural product commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceutical applications. Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, is prevalent globally while the impact of AITC on toxoplasmosis is unclear. We explored the effect of AITC on acute toxoplasmosis. We infected C57BL/6 mice with T. gondii type I RH strain following AITC administration. On the 4th day after infection, which corresponds to the initial stage of infection, we collected serum for the determination of inflammatory cytokine levels. The mice serum of the AITC-administered group contained significantly lower levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-23 subunit p19, IL-4, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The lifespan of the mice in the AITC-administered group was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments showed that AITC promoted the proliferation of intracellular T. gondii accompanied by the inhibition of IL-4, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Our results showed that AITC facilitated T. gondii infection in the early stage by inhibiting the production of several inflammatory cytokines.

Objective: To analyze the current status of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), work fatigue and musculoskeletal pain in Chinese occupational population, and to study the relationship between work fatigue and musculoskeletal pain and WMSDs. Methods: A total of 66 961 employees from 323 enterprises in 15 key industries in China were selected as the study subjects using stratified cluster sampling method. The incidence of WMSDs in the past year was investigated using the Chinese version of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire, and the work fatigue and musculoskeletal pain were investigated using Borg 6-20 Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale and visual analogue scale. The data were standardized using the age composition data of 18 to 60 years from the seventh national population census. Results: The standardized annual incidence of WMSDs was higher in the front-line workers than that in the administrative and other supportive staff (38.82% vs 36.30%). The detection rates of work fatigue and musculoskeletal pain in the study subjects were 44.54% and 63.08%, respectively. The result of S-curve fitting showed that the risk of WMSDs increased with the level of work fatigue (P<0.01). Among the front-line workers, the average of monthly fatigue frequency in the neck, shoulder, lower back, upper back, wrist/hand, foot and ankle, knee, leg, and elbow were higher in the group with WMSDs compared to those without WMSDs (all P<0.01). The pain degree of musculoskeletal pain was higher in all nine sites in the fatigued group than in the no-fatigue group (all P<0.01). The standardized detection rate of musculoskeletal pain was higher in the fatigued group than in the non-fatigued group (80.38% vs 25.71%). The work fatigue was moderate and positively correlated with musculoskeletal pain in all seven sites except the lower back and elbow, with Kendall Tau-b correlation coefficients ranging from 0.423 to 0.546 (all P<0.01). Conclusion: There is a good correlation between work fatigue and local musculoskeletal pain, work fatigue and WMSDs in Chinese occupational population. Implementing ergonomic interventions to control the development of work fatigue can be an effective measure for preventing WMSDs.