OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on threshold of pain, gait, proliferation and differentiation of muscle satellite cell in rats with acute blunt trauma of gastrocnemius muscle, and to explore the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture in promoting the repair of acute injury of skeletal muscle. METHODS: A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group (6 rats), a model group (24 rats) and an electroacupuncture group (18 rats). In the model group and the electroacupuncture group, the model of acute blunt trauma of gastrocnemius muscle was established by self-made impactor. In the electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture was applied at "Chengshan" (BL 57) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) on the right side, with disperse-dense wave, in frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz, once a day, 30 min each time. Electroacupuncture intervention was performed for 3, 7 and 14 days according to the sampling time. On the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th days after modeling, the mechanical withdrawal pain threshold of hindfoot was detected by Von Frey method; the standing time and the maximum contact area of the right hindfoot were recorded by Cat Walk XT^TM animal gait analysis instrument; the morphology of the right gastrocnemius muscle and the number of inflammatory cells were observed by HE staining; the positive expression of paired box gene 7 (Pax7) and myogenic differentiation (MyoD) of the right gastrocnemius muscle was detected by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: After modeling, the muscle fiber rupture and massive infiltration of red blood cells and inflammatory cells were observed in the right gastrocnemius muscle; after electroacupuncture intervention, the morphology of muscle fiber was intact and the infiltration of inflammatory cells was improved. Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the differences of mechanical withdrawal pain threshold between the left and right foot were increased (P<0.05), the standing time was shortened and the maximum contact area of the right hindfoot was decreased (P<0.05), the number of inflammatory cells and the positive expression of Pax7 and MyoD of the right gastrocnemius muscle were increased (P<0.05) on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th days after modeling. Compared with the model group, in the electroacupuncture group, the differences of mechanical withdrawal pain threshold were decreased (P<0.05), the standing time was prolonged (P<0.05), the number of inflammatory cells of right gastrocnemius muscle was decreased (P<0.05) on the 7th and 14th days after modeling; the maximum contact area of the right hindfoot was increased (P<0.05), the positive expression of MyoD of the right gastrocnemius muscle was increased (P<0.05) on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after modeling; the positive expression of Pax7 of the right gastrocnemius muscle was increased (P<0.05) on the 3rd day after modeling. CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture can effectively improve the pain threshold and gait in rats with acute blunt trauma of gastrocnemius muscle, and promote the repair of skeletal muscle injury, the mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of Pax7 and MyoD, so as to promoting the proliferation and differentiation of muscle satellite cell.
Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle ; Electroacupuncture ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Gait ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; Pain ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effects of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medication on pregnancy outcomes in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) infertility of kidney deficiency and blood stasis, and to explore its effects on the protein expression of serum p38MAPK and JAK/STAT. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with RIF infertility of kidney deficiency and blood stasis who were scheduled for artificial cycle frozen-thawed embryo transfer were randomly divided into an observation group (31 cases, 4 cases dropped out) and a control group (31 cases, 3 cases were eliminated). The patients in the control group were treated with conventional artificial cycle frozen-thawed embryo transfer. On the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medication. Acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Guanyuan (CV 4) and bilateral Neiguan (PC 6), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Guilai (ST 29), Zusanli (ST 36), Taichong (LR 3), Shenshu (BL 23), Ciliao (BL 32), with each session lasting for 30 minutes, once every other day. Chinese herbal medication was administered to Bushen Huoxue (tonifing the kidney and activating blood circulation) decoction, with one dose per day, starting from the 3rd to 5th day of the menstrual cycle and continuing until 1 day before embryo transfer. Clinical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate, live birth rate, and biochemical pregnancy rate were compared between the two groups. TCM symptom score, platelet count (PLT), and plasma D-dimer level were assessed before treatment and 1 day before embryo transfer. Western blot method was used to detect the expression of serum P38MAPK, JAK, and STAT proteins before treatment and 1 day before embryo transfer. RESULTS: In the observation group, the clinical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate, and live birth rate were higher (P<0.05), while the biochemical pregnancy rate was lower (P<0.05) than those in the control group. One day before embryo transfer, both groups showed a decrease in TCM symptom scores, PLT, and plasma D-dimer levels compared to those before treatment (P<0.05), and the observation group had lower TCM symptom scores and plasma D-dimer levels than the control group (P<0.05). One day before embryo transfer, the expression levels of serum p38MAPK, JAK, and STAT proteins in both groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the observation group had lower serum p38MAPK protein expression than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medication can improve the clinical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate, live birth rate, and reduce the biochemical pregnancy rate in RIF infertility patients of kidney deficiency and blood stasis. Its mechanism of action may be related to down-regulating plasma D-dimer level and protein expression of serum p38MAPK.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Menstrual Cycle ; Infertility, Female/drug therapy* ; Kidney ; Treatment Outcome ; Acupuncture Points

OBJECTIVE This study aims to elucidate the mechanism of action of Isoliquiritigenin(ILG)in the treatment of Dia-betic Encephalopathy(DE)based on network pharmacological analysis and in-vitro experiments.METHODS The potential targets of ILG were predicted using the HERB database and SwissTargetPrediction database.DE-associated disease targets were obtained from GeneCards,OMIM,and PharmGkb,and the intersecting targets between ILG and DE were identified using the Venny software.A PPI network was constructed using the STRING database,and core targets were screened out using Cytoscape software.GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were undertaken using R 4.0.3,followed by validation via molecular docking techniques and in vitro experiments.RESULTS 65 intersecting targets between ILG and DE were identified in this study.Topological analysis yielded eight core targets namely,EGFR,ESR1,PTGS2,PPARG,GSK3β,CDK2,PIK3R1,and F3.GO function and KEGG pathway en-richment analyses revealed that ILG antagonizes DE through several biological processes which impact numerous cellular components and molecular functions such as response to lipopolysaccharides,protein phosphorylation,protein kinase activity,and serine/threo-nine/tyrosine kinase activity.Pathways implicated included the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,protein polysaccharide signaling pathway in cancer,and endocrine resistance pathway.The molecular docking results showed that all eight core targets had a good binding with ILG,especially with GSK3β,with a binding energy of-7.22 kcal·mol-1.In vitro experiments indicated that ILG could improve high glucose-induced cell damage and activate the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway.CONCLUSION ILG is likely to exert its effects on GSK3β to regulate the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway,thereby alleviating DE.

Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Bone Cements ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Necrosis/drug therapy* ; Osteomyelitis/etiology* ; Sternum ; Vancomycin

In this study, the evidence mapping methodology was used to systematically retrieve and sort out the clinical research evidence of Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of tension-type headache(TTH), and to understand the distribution of evidence in this field and the basis and quality of evidence. Chinese and English articles on the 28 Chinese patent medicines for TTH, which were recorded in National Essential Medicines List(2018), Medicine Catalogue for National Basic Medical Insurance, Work Injury Insurance, and Maternity Insurance(2020), and Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020), were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), Wanfang, VIP, China Biology Medicine disc(CBMdisc), PubMed, EMbase, and Cochrane Library from the establishment to June 2021, followed by descriptive analysis. Then, tables and bubble charts were plotted to analyze the distribution characteristics of evidence. A total of 129 eligible articles were yielded: 126 randomized/non-randomized controlled trials, and 3 systematic reviews. The functions, indications, and composition of the 28 medicines, as well as the proportion of related articles, publication trends, intervention measures, and outcome indicators were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the 28 Chinese patent medicines, composed of 128 Chinese medicinals, can be classified into six categories in terms of function: reinforcing healthy Qi, tranquilizing mind, dispelling stasis, regulating Qi, treating wind, and resuscitating. There are ongoing efforts to study the treatment of TTH with Chinese patent medicine in China, despite of little evidence. The clinical positioning of Chinese patent medicine for TTH is not clear, and clinical research fails to highlight the advantages of Chinese medicine. In addition, the outcome indicators have not been standardized and unified, and there is a lack of evidence on the long-term efficacy of Chinese patent medicine for TTH. This study is the first exploratory application of evidence maps to compare the characteristics and clinical research progress of 28 Chinese patent medicines for TTH, which can provide a reference for research on the optimization of Chinese medicine strategies for TTH.
Asians ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Nonprescription Drugs ; Pregnancy ; Tension-Type Headache

Aim To study the effect of cobra venom nerve growth factor ( NGF) on inducing the apoptosis of LX2 cells, the key cells of hepatic fibrosis , through Akt signaling pathway and its underlying mechanism .Methods CCK-8 method was used to detect the pro-liferation of LX2 cells at different concentrations of NGF and LY294002 .Flow cytometry was applied to detect the effect of NGF on the apoptosis of LX 2 cells. Western blot was used to study the effects of NGF and LY294002 respectively , and their combination on the p-Akt protein level .Results NGF could decrease the survival rate of LX2 cells, and the minimum effective concentration was 1mg· L-1; it increased the apopto-sis rate of LX2 cells within the rise of concentration un-der a certain of range and decreased the expression level of p-Akt, but it had no significant effect on the ex-pression of Akt .Conclusions NGF may promote the apoptosis of LX2 cells by inhibiting the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in a concentration-de-pendent manner .The study of the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis is significant for the clinical treatment of liver fibrosis.

Critical Illness ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of cap-assisted endoscopic nylon loop ligation (C-ENLL) as a new and simple method on gastric fundus submucosal tumors. Methods 74 cases with small gastric fundus submucosal tumors ≤2.00 cm in diameter were reviewed between January 2015 and June 2016. All cases were treated by C-ENLL. The clinical efficacy was analyzed. Results All the 74 patients underwent endoscopic ultrasonography before operation, 70 cases originated from the muscularis propria, 3 cases originated from the muscularis mucosae, 1 case originated from the submucosa. The average diameter of the lesions ranged 0.50 ～ 1.80 cm. C-ENLL achieved an en bloc resection rate of 100.0％, with a mean total procedure time of 26 min. Two patients developed delayed perforation, were treated with nylon rope and metal clip purse suture wound. All of whom were managed successfully. There was no delayed bleeding after operation. Pathological examination showed that 66.2％ (49/74) of the tumors were gastrointestinal stromal tumors. No tumor recurrence was observed during the follow-up. Conclusion The C-ENLL may be a feasible and safe method for the treatment of small gastric fundus submucosal tumors.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of aquaporin 5(AQP5) on proliferation and migration of ectopic endometrial epithelial cells.

METHODSAQP5 shRNA interference fragments were designed and transfected into ectopic endometrial epithelial cells stably by lentivirus technology. Fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the AQP5 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. The cell proliferation and migration were determined by using MTT method and Transwell system, respectively. Levels of phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT) and total AKT were examined by Western blotting. The nude mice model of endometriosis was constructed and the endometrial cell nodule formation was observed.

RESULTSAQP5 shRNA transfection inhibited cell proliferation and migration compared with control group (both P<0.05). The activation of AKT in AQP5 shRNA transfected cells was lower than that in control cells (P<0.01). Compared to control group, the endometrial cells nodule formation was suppressed in mice inoculated with AQP5 shRNA-silencing ectopic endometrial epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONDown-regulation of AQP5 expression can suppress the proliferation and migration of ectopic endometrial epithelial cells and endometrial cell nodule formation in nude mice, in which AKT pathway may be involved.

Animals ; Aquaporin 5 ; genetics ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Down-Regulation ; Endometriosis ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Gene Silencing ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transfection

Objective: To investigate the effect of aquaporin 5 ( AQP5 ) on proliferation and migration of ectopic endometrial epithelial cells .Methods: AQP5 shRNA interference fragments were designed and transfected into ectopic endometrial epithelial cells stably by lentivirus technology .Fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the AQP 5 mRNA and protein expression , respectively .The cell proliferation and migration were determined by using MTT method and Transwell system , respectively .Levels of phosphorylated AKT ( p-AKT ) and total AKT were examined by Western blotting .The nude mice model of endometriosis was constructed and the endometrial cell nodule formation was observed .Results: AQP5 shRNA transfection inhibited cell proliferation and migration compared with control group(both P<0.05).The activation of AKT in AQP5 shRNA transfected cells was lower than that in control cells(P<0.01).Compared to control group, the endometrial cells nodule formation was suppressed in mice inoculated with AQP 5 shRNA-silencing ectopic endometrial epithelial cells .Conclusion: Down-regulation of AQP5 expression can suppress the proliferation and migration of ectopic endometrial epithelial cells and endometrial cell nodule formation in nude mice , in which AKT pathway may be involved.