[Retracted] MicroRNA­19b promotes the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8695.].

[Effect of Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture on safety of rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in patients with cerebral infarction: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of Xingnao Kaiqiao (regaining consciousness and opening orifices) acupuncture on the efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in patients with cerebral infarction. METHODS: A total number of 142 patients of cerebral infarction undergoing rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis were randomized into an acupuncture-medication group (71 cases) and a western medication group (71 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the western medication group, rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis was given. In the acupuncture-medication group, besides the intervention as the control group, Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture was provided at Shuigou (GV 26), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Jiquan (HT 1), etc. once daily. One treatment session contained 6 treatments and 1 session was required. Before and after treatment, the score of the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), the levels of the relevant indexes of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) (platelet [PLT], D-dimer and fibrinogen), the incidences of sICH and adverse effect were compared between groups. The efficacy was assessed in two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, NIHSS scores and the levels of D-dimer were reduced compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and those in the acupuncture-medication group were lower than the western medication group (P<0.05). The level of fibrinogen in the acupuncture-medication group was increased in comparison with that before treatment (P<0.05), and also higher than the western medication group (P<0.05). The incidence of sICH was 0% (0/71) in the acupuncture-medication group, lower than 8.6% (6/70) in the western medication group (P<0.05). The effective rate was 97.2% (69/71) in the acupuncture-medication group, higher than 87.1% (61/70) in the western medication group (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse effect was 2.8% (2/71) in the acupuncture-medication group, lower than 12.9% (9/70) in the western medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture may improve the efficacy of rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in the patients with cerebral infraction and decrease the incidences of sICH and adverse effect. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of fibrinogen and D-dimer levels.

[Acupuncture intervention prolongates thrombolysis time window by regulating cerebral cortex angiogenesis-related genes and proteins in cerebral infarction rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and endostatin (Endostatin, ES) mRNAs and proteins (angiogenesis related factors) in the ischemic penumbra region in rats with cerebral infarction (CI), so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in prolonging the time window of thrombolysis therapy for CI. METHODS: A total of 48 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, medication (6 h thrombolysis) and acupuncture (Acupunct)+medication groups (n=12 in each group). The CI model was established using modified auto-thrombus method. Six hours after thrombolysis, recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA,10 mg/kg) was given to rats of the thrombolysis group through tail vein. Acupuncture was applied at "Shuigou"(CV26) and bilateral "Neiguan" (PC6) 2 h after successful modeling, and the needles were retained for 30 minutes. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was monitored during modeling in each group, and the neurological deficit score (0-7 points) was given 2 h and 24 h after successful modeling according to Bederson's methods. The cerebral infarction volume was observed after triphenyltetrazole chloride (TTC) staining. The protein and mRNA expression levels of VEGF, bFGF and ES in the ischemic penumbra region of the right cerebral cortex were detected by Western blot and real-time PCR, separately. RESULTS: The neurological deficit score at both 2 h and 24 h after modeling, percentage of cerebral infarction volume, and the expression levels of VEGF, bFGF and ES proteins and mRNAs in the model group were significantly higher than those of the sham operation group (P<0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the neurological deficit score 24 h (not at 2 h) after modeling and percentage of cerebral infarction volume, and the expression levels of ES protein and mRNA in the Acupunct+medication group (not in the medication group) were notably lower (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the expression levels of VEGF and bFGF proteins and mRNAs in the Acupunct +medication group (not in the medication group) were considerably higher (P<0.01, P<0.05). No significant differences were found between medication and model groups in the CI percentage, VEGF, bFGF and ES proteins and mRNAs (P>0.05). The therapeutic effect of Acupunct +medication group was significantly superior to that of medication in lowering neurological deficit score, percentage of CI volume and expression of ES protein and mRNA and in up-regulating the expression of VEGF and bFGF proteins and mRNAs (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and timely intervention can prolong the time window of thrombolysis in CI rats, which may be related to its function in up-regulating the expression of VEGF and bFGF mRNAs and proteins and in down-regulating the expression of ES mRNA and protein in ischemic cerebral cortex.

Acclimation of copper absorption ability of Candida utilis.

The use of inorganic copper in feed is hazardous. As probiotics of animals, Candida utilis can absorb copper ions and transform them to organic copper. This study aimed to domesticate the ability of C. utilis (CICC 32211) to absorb and transform copper ions. So, C. utilis (CICC 32211) was cultured in media with different concentrations of copper ions for 24, 48 and 72 h to identify the optimum copper ion concentration. C. utilis (CICC 32211) strains were domesticated for three generations, then the absorption and distribution of copper ions in the yeast cells were studied. We found that the optimum concentration of copper ions was 110 µg/mL. After 48 h, the number of yeast cells was low, but copper ion absorption efficiency was maximized (43.83%). Most of the enriched copper ions were distributed in the yeast cell wall (up to 30.58% when grown in the medium with 110 µg/mL copper ions), while the intracellular copper ion content was low (2.095%). High concentrations of copper ions affected the morphological structure, element content and distribution of yeast cells.

[Research progress of acupuncture and moxibustion on axon guidance cues].

Axon guidance cues includes Slit, Semaphorin, Ephrin and Netrin. They have the function of regulating the regeneration of axons and guiding the regenerated axons to the correct target. They can affect the nervous system, cardiovascular system, and participate in the proliferation and migration of tumor cells. The current research on the influence of acupuncture and moxibustion(mainly focusing on electroacupuncture) on axon guidance cues is limited to animal experiments. Electroacupuncture can treat diseases dominated by the nervous system by regulating the expression of axon guidance cues. This review summarizes the research progress of acupuncture and moxibustion on regulating axonal guidance cues, is hoped to provide references for the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating nervous system disease and ideas for acupuncture treatment of diseases related to axon guidance cues.

Mechanisms of Electroacupuncture on Alzheimer's Disease: A Review of Animal Studies.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main type of dementia affecting elderly people. The medicines used for treating AD have limits in their ability to alleviate cognitive and functional decline. Electroacupuncture (EA), an economical alternative and complementary therapeutic measure used in Chinese medicine, has strong clinical applicability, and its treatment effects are more reliable as its stimulation factors can be standardized. EA has been effectively used for ameliorating spatial learning and memory impairment in AD patients and rodent AD models. Here, we summarized the mechanisms of EA on rodent AD models, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for identifying new targets and research directions, and exploring appropriate EA stimulation parameters, then provide a detailed methodology to optimize the effects of EA, ultimately reducing the heavy burden of treating AD patients on families and countries. Our review showed that 8 acupoints were used when treating AD animals; Baihui (GV 20) was the most frequently used. Four mechanisms of EA were studied: (1) protection of cerebral neurons from oxidative stress, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity and hormone levels; (2) regulation of metabolism, including glucose metabolism and plasma metabolism; (3) regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor; and (4) regulation of ß-amyloid peptide protein deposition.

[Exploration of xingnao tiaochang acupuncture therapy in treatment of Parkinson's disease on the base of brain-gut axis theory].

Based on the "brain-mind theory" of traditional Chinese medicine, the dysfunction of brain mind is the mechanism of the Parkinson's disease in pathogenesis. In modern medicine, the brain-gut axis theory believes that the impairment of intestinal flora is of the reciprocal causation with the cerebral pathological changes in Parkinson's disease. Hence, the theory of xingnao tiaochang (regaining consciousness and regulating intestine) is proposed in combination of the dysfunction of brain mind with the brain-gut axis, based on which, the treating principle and method are determined for regulating the brain and intestine. Separately, in view of traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine, the treating principle and method of xingnao tiaochang were discussed, as well as the rationality of acupuncture and acupoint selection under its guidance so as to provide a more extensive approach to the clinical treatment of Parkinson's disease.

[Professor NI Guang-xia's clinical experience in treatment of wei syndrome with xingshen tongyang needling technique of acupuncture].

According to the effect of the spirit and yang qi in the treatment of wei syndrome and the theory as "acupoints of yangming meridians especially for treatment of wei syndrome", professor NI Guang-xia proposes the treatment principle of xingshen tongyang (regaining consciousness/spirit and promoting yang). Guided by this treatment principle, the theory of traditional meridians and acupoints is coordinated with the achievement of modern medicine research. Consequently, xingshen tongyang needling technique of acupuncture is suggested. In the treatment of wei syndrome, the predominated prescriptions are formed for regaining consciousness/spirit, i.e. Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Fengfu (GV 16) and Fengchi (GB 20) and for promoting yang circulation, i.e. Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (ST 36). The acupoint prescriptions are modified align with the individual cases. This treatment regimen effectively relieves the symptoms and delayed the progress of disease.

Selective Oxidation of Propylene on Cu2O(111) and Cu2O(110) Surfaces: A Systematically DFT Study.

Density functional theory calculations with a Hubbard U correction were used to investigate the selective oxidation of propylene on Cu2O(111) and Cu2O(110) surfaces, and the mechanism for the selective oxidation of propylene was discussed. On both surfaces, acrolein can be generated by two H-stripping reactions in the allylic hydrogen stripping path, while propylene oxide (PO), propanal, and acetone can be created through the propylene oxametallacycle intermediates in the epoxidation path. Our calculation results indicated that Cu2O has a high crystal plane-controlled phenomenon for the selective oxidation of propylene. It was found that the formations of propanal and acetone are unfavorable kinetically and acrolein is the main product on the (111) surface. On the (110) surface, the activation barrier of acrolein formation is too high to produce and PO becomes the favored product, which is different from the case of the (111) surface. Moreover, energetic span model analysis was carried out to discuss the selective oxidation of propylene on these two surfaces and confirm the above calculations. The present study can help people to design the proper crystal plane catalyst to get the target product of PO with high selectivity and activity in the selective oxidation of propylene.

CeO2@SiO2 Core-Shell Nanostructure-Supported CuO as High-Temperature-Tolerant Catalysts for CO Oxidation.

Supported CuO-CeO2 catalysts have been extensively studied for their outstanding catalytic activity in CO oxidation. Unfortunately, they are prone to sintering and deactivation when exposed to high-temperature automotive exhausts. Herein, taking advantage of the heat-resistant SiO2 microspheres, we fabricated a series of core-shell-structured yCuO- xCeO2@SiO2 ( x is the weight ratio of CeO2-SiO2 and y is the weight ratio of Cu-(CeO2@SiO2)) composite catalysts. All the small CeO2 particles were bound to the SiO2 spheres, forming an xCeO2@SiO2 structure, on the surface of which a certain amount of CuO was well-dispersed. The 5CuO-50CeO2@SiO2 catalyst exhibited good activity, with the full conversion of CO achieved at around 130 °C, and no obvious deactivation was observed in the stability test. Importantly, the interaction between CuO and CeO2@SiO2 enhanced its durability at high temperatures. Even at 800 °C and with a space velocity of 800 000 mL·gcat-1·h-1, CO conversion could be maintained at 90%, which is prospectively applied in a real CO elimination system. The result of the temperature-programmed reduction in hydrogen demonstrated that this special core-shell-structured 5CuO-50CeO2@SiO2 catalyst improved the reduction ability of the CuO species. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy measurements further confirmed that CO molecules preferred to be adsorbed on Cu(I) species to form reactive CO-Cu(I) that enhanced the reactivity of the 5CuO-50CeO2@SiO2 catalyst.

[Effect of preoperative intervention of electroacupuncture at Baliao point on postoperative complications of procedure for prolapsed and hemorrhoids].

OBJECTIVE: To explore effective treatments that can alleviate postoperative complications in patients with procedure for prolapsed and hemorrhoids (PPH). METHODS: Sixty patients with pre-mixed hemorrhoids PPH were randomly divided into a simple operation group and a preoperative electroacupuncture intervention group, 30 cases in each group. PPH routine treatment was given in the simple operation group. Electroacupuncture (EA) was applied at Baliao point 30 min before PPH in the preoperative electroacupuncture intervention group, and EA was applied at Ciliao (BL 32) and Xialiao (BL 34) for 30 min. The scores of anus pendant, pain degree and persistent time and first urination time were compared within 24 h after operation between the two groups. RESULTS: The scores of anal pendant and pain degree in the 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, the persistent time of anal pendant and pain degree within 24 h and first urination time were better in the preoperative electroacupuncture intervention group than those in the simple operation group, and there were statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at Baliao point 30 min before PPH can not only decrease the degrees of anal pendant and pain in the 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, but also shorten the persistent time of anal pendant and pain within 24 h after surgery and promote the first urination.

Acupuncture therapy for fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: Fibromyalgia (FM) can cause chronic widespread pain and seriously affect the quality of patient lives. Acupuncture therapy is widely used for pain management. However, the effect of acupuncture on FM is still uncertain. The aim of this review was to determine the effect and safety of acupuncture therapy on the pain intensity and quality of life in patients with FM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for FM published before May 2018. A meta-analysis was performed according to the Cochrane systematic review method by using RevMan 5.3 software, and GRADE was used to evaluate the quality of the evidence. RESULTS: We identified 12 RCTs that compared acupuncture therapy to sham acupuncture or conventional medication. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture was significantly better than sham acupuncture for relieving pain (MD =-1.04, 95% CI [-1.70, -0.38], P=0.002, I 2=78%) and improving the quality of life (MD =-13.39, 95% CI [-21.69, -5.10], P=0.002, I 2=82%), with low- to moderate-quality evidence in the short term. At follow-up in the long term, the effect of acupuncture was also superior to that of sham acupuncture. No serious adverse events were found during acupuncture. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture therapy is an effective and safe treatment for patients with FM, and this treatment can be recommended for the management of FM.

[Effect of Acupuncture Plus Moxibustion on Immune Function in Patients with Bra-chiocephalic Takayasu Arteritis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of acupuncture and moxibustion on humoral immunity and cellular immunity related indexes in patients with bra-chiocephalic Takayasu arteritis (BCTA), so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in the treatment of Takayasu arteritis (TA). METHODS: A total of 31 BCTA patients (9 men and 22 women at age of 16-70 years) were treated by manual acupuncture stimulation of main acupoint Renying(ST 9)and auxillary acupoints as Jiquan (HT 1), Chize (LU 5), Fengchi (GB 20), bilateral Xinshu (BL15), Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), Jingming (BL 1), etc. according to clinical symptoms, with the needles retained for 20 min. Additionally, moxibustion was applied to Taiyuan (LU 9), BL 15, BL 13 and BL 17. The treatment was conducted twice daily for 4 weeks. Serum IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, C3 , C4 contents, and CD 3＋， CD 4＋， CD 8＋ T lymphocytes contents were assayed by using immue turbidimetry and cell counting. RESULTS: Before the treatment and in these 31 BCTA patients, an abnormal increase was found in serum IgG content in 10 cases, IgM in 3 cases, IgE in 3 cases, C3 in 11 cases, CD 4＋ in 6 cases, and CD 8＋ in 9 cases, and an abnormal decrease was found in serum CD 3＋ level in 11 cases, CD 4＋ in 7 cases, as well as CD 8＋ in 4 cases. After the treatment, the increased levels of IgG, IgM, C3, CD 4＋ and CD 8＋ in patients with abnormally higher values were considerably down-regulated (P<0.05), the decreased levels of CD 3＋， CD 4＋ and CD 8＋ in patients with abnormally lower values were evidently up-regulated (P<0.05). No significant changes were found in IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, C3 and C4, CD 3＋ and CD 8＋ in patients with normal values of these indexes after the treatment (P>0.05). The CD 4＋ level in patients with normal value was significantly deun-regulated after the treatment (P<0.05), but still in the range of normal value. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture plus moxibustion can regulate some of the abnormally elevated and lowered humoral immunity and cellular immunity related indexes in BCTA patients, possibly having a favorable role in the treatment of BCTA.

MicroRNA-19b promotes the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway.

Local and systemic metastasis is the main reason for the poor survival rate of patients with ovarian cancer (OC). MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are short non-coding RNAs that serve critical roles in the initiation and progression of OC. The present study demonstrated that expression of miR-19b was significantly increased in OC tissues and cell lines. Analysis of clinicopathological features revealed that the increased expression of miR-19b was associated with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and lymphatic metastasis of OC patients. Loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that the silencing of miR-19b reduced the migration and invasion of OVCAR-3 cells; contrarily, the overexpression of miR-19b facilitated the migration and invasion of CAOV-3 cells. Furthermore, miR-19b regulated the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and the activity of the PTEN/RAC serine/threonine-protein kinase pathway in vitro. Notably, the results of dual-luciferase reporter assays indicated that PTEN was a direct downstream target of miR-19b in OC. Taken together, the results of the current study demonstrated that miR-19b serves an oncogenic role in the progression of OC, and could potentially act as a biomarker and therapeutic target for OC patients.

Circulating regulatory B cell subsets in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

This study analyzed the populations of three different subsets of regulatory B cells (Bregs) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) and explored the relationship between the changes in these subsets of Bregs and the severity of NMOSD. A total of 22 patients with relapsed NMOSDs before treatment were recruited in our study, along with 20 age and gender-matched healthy controls, from May 2015 to March 2016. The percentages and numbers for three different subsets of Bregs including the CD19+CD24hiCD38hi, CD19+CD24hiCD27+, and CD19+CD5+CD1dhi populations were evaluated in parallel by flow cytometry. Afterwards, correlations between the change of three different subsets of Bregs and disease severity were analyzed. We found significantly lower percentages of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi and CD19+CD5+CD1dhi Bregs in NMOSDs patients than in healthy individuals. In contrast, the CD19+CD24hiCD27+ Bregs population was significantly higher in NMOSDs patients than in healthy individuals. However, the three different Bregs subsets showed no significant correlation with expanded disability status scale (EDSS) or annualized relapse rate (ARR). Our findings suggest that the subsets of Bregs may play complex roles in the pathogenesis of NMOSDs and are not correlated with clinical disease severity. Further insights into the potential role of subsets of Bregs could increase our basic knowledge of NMOSDs pathogenesis.