[Progress of mechanism research on the neurotransmitters in treatment of insomnia with acupuncture by regulating sleep architecture].

Low-quality sleep in patients with insomnia is closely related to sleep architecture imbalance and neurotransmitter impairment. Acupuncture may reduce the duration of light sleep and its proportion, increase the time of deep sleep and rapid- eye-movement sleep as well as their proportions so as to modulate the sleep architecture for insomnia. The paper summarized the related studies of acupuncture for improving sleep architecture through regulating serotonin, norephinephrine, dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, acetylcholine and orexin; and explored the effects of acupuncture on the neurotransmitters and their specific performance in regulating sleep architecture. It is anticipated that the review may provide the literature evidences of acupuncture for improving sleep quality in patients with insomnia, and the approaches to the mechanism research of acupuncture for regulating sleep architecture.

[Acupoint compatibility effect and mechanism of Shenmen (HT7) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) in improving daytime fatigue and sleepiness of insomnia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the acupoint compatibility effect of Shenmen (HT7) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) in improving daytime fatigue and sleepiness of insomnia, and its mechanism in regulating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and suprachiasmatic nucleus-pineal gland-melatonin (SCN-PG-MT) system. METHODS: Ninety patients with insomnia were randomly divided into HT7, SP6 and HT7-SP6 (HT7 plus SP6) groups, with 30 cases in each group. Electroacupuncture (EA,5 Hz/25 Hz) was applied to HT7, SP6 or HT7-SP6 in each group for 30 min. The EA treatment was conducted once daily, 5 days a week for 2 weeks. Before and after treatment, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were observed, separately. The contents of serum adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CS) and melatonin (MT) were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, the sleep quality, sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, daytime dysfunction scores and total score of PSQI in the three groups after treatment were decreased (P<0.05), the time to fall asleep score of PSQI and total score of ESS were decreased in the SP6 and HT7-SP6 groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the sleep quality, time to fall asleep, sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction scores, total score of PSQI and total score of ESS in the HT7-SP6 group were lower than those in the HT7 group (P<0.05), the sleep quality, sleep efficiency and total score of PSQI in the SP6 group were lower than those in the HT7 group (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, the serum ACTH and CS levels in the three groups were decreased (P<0.05), and the serum MT levels in the SP6 and HT7-SP6 groups were increased (P<0.05). After treatment, the ACTH and CS levels in the HT7-SP6 group were lower than those in the HT7 group (P<0.05), and the serum MT levels in the SP6 and HT7-SP6 groups were higher than that in the HT7 group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The compatibility of HT7 and SP6 has a synergism effect on the improvement of night sleep quality and daytime fatigue and sleepiness of insomnia patients, the mechanism may be related with its function in down-regulating the serum ACTH and CS levels and increasing the serum MT content. SP6 has a better effect than HT7, and plays a major role in acupoint compatibility.

[Combined use of Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) to improve the anxiety and depression in patients with insomnia: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on anxiety and depression in patients with insomnia, and to explore the mechanism of its compatibility effect. METHODS: Ninety patients of insomnia were randomly divided into a combination group, a Shenmen group and a Sanyinjiao group, 30 cases in each group. In addition, 37 cases with anxiety (12 cases in the combination group, 13 cases in the Shenmen group and 12 cases in the Sanyinjiao group) and 42 cases with depression (14 cases in the combination group, 14 cases in the Shenmen group and 14 cases in the Sanyinjiao group) were identified. The patients in the combination group, Shenmen group and Sanyinjiao group were treated with EA (dilatational wave, frequency of 5 Hz/25 Hz) at Shenmen (HT 7)-Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), respectively, 30 min each treatment, once a day. The consecutive 5 days of treatments were taken as a course of treatment, and 2 courses of treatment were given. The insomnia severity index (ISI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores were evaluated before and after treatment, and the serum contents of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) were measured. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the ISI, SAS and SDS scores in the three groups were all decreased after treatment (P<0.05), and the ISI score in the combination group was lower than that in the Shenmen group (P<0.05). Among the patients with anxiety, compared before treatment, the ISI, SAS scores and serum contents of DA were all decreased after treatment in the three groups (P<0.05), and the serum contents of NE in the combination group and Shenmen group were decreased after treatment (P<0.05); the SAS score and serum contents of NE in the combination group and Shenmen group as well as the ISI score in the combination group were lower than those in the Sanyinjiao group (P<0.05). Among the patients with depression, compared before treatment, the ISI, SDS scores and serum contents of DA were all decreased after treatment in the three groups (P<0.05), and the serum contents of NE in the combination group and Shenmen group were decreased after treatment (P<0.05); the ISI, SDS scores and serum contents of NE in the combination group as well as SDS score in the Shenmen group were lower than those in the Sanyinjiao group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA at Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) has advantages over EA at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on improving insomnia, anxiety and depression. Shenmen (HT 7) plays a major role in improving anxiety and depression. Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) may play a compatibility effect of regulating consciousness and sleeping by reducing the level of serum NE.

Small nucleolar RNA host gene 22 (SNHG22) promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by miR-429/SESN3 axis.

BACKGROUND: It has been observed that lncRNAs have been taking part in many cancer progressions, including non-small cell lung cancer and gastric cancer. Meanwhile, lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 22 (SNHG22) has been studied, taking part in the progression of ovarian epithelial carcinoma. However, we know little about the function of SNHG22 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: In this study, we will explore the inner mechanism of SNHG22 in ESCC. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay was implemented in ESCC cells for detecting the expression of lncRNA, SNHG22, and miR-429. Also, functional experiments, including CCK8 and colony formation assay, were implemented to assess the growth of ESCC cells. Meanwhile, flow cytometry analysis was conducted to test the apoptosis of ESCC cells. The immunofluorescence (IF) assay and western blot were conducted to verify the autophagy of ESCC cells. RESULTS: Inhibition of SNHG22 was found that can inhibit the progression and promotes autophagy and apoptosis of ESCC cells. Meanwhile, as subcellular fraction assay and FISH assay found that SNHG22 mainly in the cytoplasm, miR-429 was found can bind to SNHG22 and SESN3 by RIP assay and luciferase reporter assay. SESN3 was found it can play the oncogene in ESCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: SNHG22 promotes the progression of ESCC by the miR-429/SESN3 axis.

Sugar-sweetened beverage intake and serum testosterone levels in adult males 20-39 years old in the United States.

BACKGROUND: This population-based study was designed to investigate whether consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is associated with lower serum total testosterone concentration in men 20-39 years old. METHODS: All data for this study were retrieved from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012. The primary outcome was serum testosterone concentration, and main independent variable was SSB intake. Other variables included age, race/ethnicity, poverty/income ratio, body mass index (BMI), serum cotinine, heavy drinking, and physical activity. RESULTS: Among all subjects (N = 545), 486 (90.4%) had normal testosterone levels (defined as ≥231 ng/dL) and 59 (9.6%) had low testosterone levels (defined as < 231 ng/dL). Multivariate logistic regression revealed the odds of low testosterone was significantly greater with increasing SSB consumption (Q4 [≥442 kcal/day] vs. Q1 [≤137 kcal/day]), adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.29, p = 0.041]. After adjusting for possible confounding variables, BMI was an independent risk factor for low testosterone level; subjects with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 had a higher risk of having a low testosterone level than those with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (aOR = 3.68, p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: SSB consumption is significantly associated with low serum testosterone in men 20-39 years old in the United States.

Continuous positive airway pressure and diabetes risk in sleep apnea patients: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The study assessed the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by evaluating change in the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin following CPAP treatment in non-diabetic patients and pre-diabetic with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases were searched until August 24, 2015. The analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two arm prospective studies, cohort studies, and retrospective studies. The primary outcome measure was change of HOMA-IR in pre-diabetic patients receiving CPAP treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included with 965 patients who had OSA. Nineteen studies were prospective studies and four were RCTs. CPAP therapy resulted in a significant reduction in the pooled standard difference in means of HOMA-IR (-0.442, P=0.001) from baseline levels compared with the control group. Change in FBG and fasting insulin from baseline levels was similar for the CPAP and control groups. For RCT studies (n=4), there was no difference in change in HOMA-IR or FBG levels from baseline between CPAP and control groups. The combined effect of RCTs showed that CPAP was associated with a significant reduction in change from baseline in fasting insulin than the control group (standardized diff. in means between groups=-0.479, P value=0.003). CONCLUSION: These findings support the use of CPAP in non-diabetic and pre-diabetic patients with OSA to reduce change of HOMA-IR and possibly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in this patient population.

Predictors of cardiorespiratory fitness in female and male adults with different body mass index: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004 dataset.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore factors affecting cardiorespiratory fitness in males and females with different body mass index (BMI). METHODS: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004 data were used for this retrospective study. Estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is surrogate for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to explore whether study variables were associated with estimated VO2max stratified by gender and BMI categories. RESULTS: A total of 3292 subjects 20-49 years of age were included in the analysis. CRF significantly decreased as BMI increased in both females and males. Ethnic difference was found in normal BMI in both genders and obese females; homocysteine was significantly negatively associated with estimated VO2max, as was total cholesterol. Obese male subjects with diabetes had a lower estimated VO2max than those without diabetes, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level and vitamin B12 level were significantly negatively associated with CRF. Female subjects with diabetes had higher estimated VO2max than those without diabetes. Folate was significantly positively correlated with estimated VO2max, whereas CRP was negatively correlated in obese female. CONCLUSIONS: There are different predictors of CRF in males and females, and in individuals with different BMI. Key messages Different BMI classes are associated with different predictors of cardiorespiratory fitness. Indicators of cardiorespiratory fitness differ between sexes.

Effect of lifestyle intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of lifestyle intervention on clinical risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes is unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of comprehensive lifestyle change, such as diet, exercise, and education, on clinical markers that are risk-factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We searched Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar (up to August 31, 2013) for randomized controlled trials that compared standard of care (control group) with treatment regimens that included changes in lifestyle (intervention group). The primary outcome was reduction in risk factors of cardiovascular disease including body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). RESULTS: A total of 16 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The standardized difference in means of change from baseline significantly favored the intervention compared with the control group in BMI (-0.29; 95% CI, -0.52 to -0.06, P=0.014), HbA1c (-0.37; 95% CI, -0.59 to -0.14, P=0.001), SBP (-0.16: 95% CI, -0.29 to -0.03, P=0.016), DBP (-0.27, 95% CI=-0.41 to -0.12, P<0.001). There was no difference between the intervention and control groups in HDL-c (0.05; 95% CI, -0.10 to 0.21; P=0.503) and LDL-c (-0.14; 95% CI, -0.29 to 0.02; P=0.092). CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis found that lifestyle intervention showed significant benefit in risk factors that are known to be associated with development of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

[Land use pattern and its dynamic changes in Amur tiger distribution region].

Land use and land cover change has been the primary cause for the habitat loss and fragmentation in the distribution region of Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). Based on the spatiotemporal changes of land use and land cover in the distribution region, as well as their effects on the population dynamics of Amur tiger, this paper analyzed the development process and its characteristics of the main land use types (agricultural land, forest land, and construction land) in this region, with the land use change history being divided chronically into three distinctive periods, i.e., ancient times (prior to 1860), modern times (1860-1949), and contemporary times (after 1949). The results showed that the sporadic land use in ancient times had no significant effects on the survival of Amur tiger, while the extensive and intensive land use after the 1860s was mainly responsible for the decrease of Amur tiger population and its living space. Since 1949, the Amur tiger distribution region has been divided into two parts, i.e., Northeast China and Russia Far East. The differences in land use pattern, policy, and intensity between these two parts led to different survival status of Amur tiger. The key driving forces for the land use change in Amur tiger distribution region were human population increase, policy change, and increased productivity.

Inhibitory effects of tetrandrine on the Na(+) channel of human atrial fibrillation myocardium.

AIM: Tetrandrine (Tet) is a Ca(2+) channel blocker and has antiarrhythmic effects. Less information exists with regard to the mechanisms underlying its antiarrhythmic action other than blocking Ca(2+) channels. In this study, the effects of Tet on the Na(+) current (I(Na)) in the atrial myocardium of patients in atrial fibrillation (AF) and sinus rhythm (SR) were investigated, and the characteristics of the Na(+) current were synchronously compared between the AF and SR patients. METHODS: Na(+) currents were recorded using the whole-cell patch clamp technique in single atrial myocyte of the AF and the normal SR groups. The effects of Tet (40-120 micromol/L) on the Na(+) current in the two groups were then observed. RESULTS: Tet (60-120 micromol/L) decreased I(Na) density in a concentration-dependent manner and made the voltage-dependent activation curve shift to more positive voltages in the SR and AF groups. After exposure to Tet, the voltage-dependent inactivation curve of I(Na) was shifted to more negative voltages in the two groups. Tet delayed the time-dependent recovery of I(Na) in a concentration dependent manner in both AF and SR cells; however, there were no differences in the effects of Tet on I(Na) density and properties in the two groups. The I(Na) density of AF patients did not differ from that of the SR patients. CONCLUSION: Tet can block sodium channels with slow recovery kinetics, which may explain the mechanisms underlying the antiarrhythmic action of Tet. The decreased conduction velocity (CV) in AF patients is not caused by the Na(+) current.

[A new method for quick identification for fufang danshen tablets by AOTF-near infrared spectroscopy].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new method using AOTF-Near infrared spectroscopy for fast identifying Fufang Danshen tablets. METHOD: Near-infrared spectroscopy of Fufang Danshen tablets from different factories and different bacth numbers were collected and the discriminant analysis model (FFDS-C) was established with principal component analysis. This model was applied to predict the the different samples of Fufang Danshn tablets. RESULT: The model can be used to precisely identify Fufang Danshen tablets from other samples. CONCLUSION: The method with low consumption is simple and quick and can be applied to the identification of the Fufang Danshen tablets.

[Capacitative Ca²âº entry is involved in ACh-induced distal colon smooth muscle contraction in rats].

Contraction of smooth muscle cells is triggered by an increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) upon agonist stimulation. Ca(2+) influx across the plasma membrane constitutes a major component of the agonist-induced response in smooth muscle cells. Traditionally, voltage-operated Ca(2+) channel (VOCC) is considered as the channel mediating the Ca(2+) entry. However, this view has been challenged by recent discoveries, which demonstrated that other types of ion channels, such as store-operated and/or receptor-operated Ca(2+) channels (SOCC and/or ROCC), also participate in Ca(2+) response induced by agonists in smooth muscle cells. SOCC is defined as the channel activated in response to the depletion of the internal Ca(2+) stores, an event secondary to G protein coupled receptor or receptor tyrosine kinase stimulation. The Ca(2+) flow mediated by SOCC is termed as capacitative Ca(2+) entry (CCE). Previous study from other group has demonstrated that VOCC played a predominant role in ACh-induced contraction of distal colon smooth muscle in guinea pig. However, whether SOCC participates in the agonist-induced contractile response in this particular tissue is unknown. The present study was performed to investigate the role of CCE in ACh-induced mechanical activity of distal colon smooth muscle in rats. The contractile function of the smooth muscle was assessed by measuring isometric force of isolated rat distal colon rings. We showed that both high extracellular K(+) (40 mmol/L) and ACh (5 mumol/L) evoked striking contraction of the smooth muscle. The contractile responses were almost abolished by removal of extracellular Ca(2+) with ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N' tetraacetic acid (EGTA), suggesting a critical contribution of extracellular source of Ca(2+) to the contraction. Verapamil (5 mumol/L), an L-type VOCC blocker, significantly attenuated, but didn't completely eliminate the high K(+)- and ACh-induced contraction (74% and 41% for high K(+) and ACh, respectively), indicating that additional channels might be involved in the contractile mechanism. Furthermore, ACh only induced transient contractions in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+). Readmission of Ca(2+) into the extracellular compartment resulted in a significant and sustained increase in the tension of the smooth muscle. This response was not affected by verapamil (5 mumol/L) and Cd(2+) (5 mumol/L), both of which efficiently block VOCC at the doses. However, La(3+), a known inhibitor of SOCC, significantly suppressed the Ca(2+) readdition-induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner. On the basis of these results, we conclude that contraction of smooth muscle in the distal colon is regulated by multiple Ca(2+) channels. In addition to VOCC-mediated Ca(2+) influx, SOCC-mediated CCE participates in agonist-induced contractile response of distal colon smooth muscle in rats.

[A multicenter clinic study of slow-release-gliclazide in type 2 diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 30 mg slow-release-gliclazide (Diamicron MR) on type 2 diabetes patients with the level of blood glucose poorly controlled formerly. METHODS: 154 type 2 diabetes patients with the level of blood glucose poorly controlled formerly were enrolled and treated with Diamicron MR for 16 weeks. The efficacy of slow-release-gliclazide was evaluated through HbA1c, FPG and 2 h PBG after 16 weeks of treatment period. The safety was evaluated through the adverse events including hypoglycemic episodes and the change of vital signs and clinic laboratory parameters. RESULTS: After 16 weeks of treatment period, the HbA1c, FPG and 2 h PBG were decreased by 1.89%, 2.31 mmol/L and 3.94 mmol/L respectively, cutting down 21.6%, 24.5% and 27.8% relatively in comparison with pre-treatment. Glucose metabolism could be significantly improved by taking once-daily Diamicron MR. CONCLUSION: Slow-release-gliclazide offers the significant treatment safely, which is important to optimize type 2 diabetes mellitus management.

[Study on relationship of clinical effect of xuefu zhuyu concentrated pill and serum pharmacological anti-platelet activating effect in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the significance of platelet activation in unstable angina pectoris (UA) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to explore the relationship of clinical effect of Xuefu Zhuyu concentrated pill (XCP) in vivo and the serum pharmacological anti-platelet activating effect of XCP in vitro. METHODS: By flow cytometry and special labelled antibodys to detect the whole blood platelet membranous glycoprotein CD62P and CD41/45 expressions in UA patients before and after XCP treatment, as well as those in peripheral blood of AMI rats before and after co-cultured with XCP containing serum from patients at 37 degrees C for 30 min. RESULTS: CD62P and CD41/45 expressions increased significantly in UA patients to 24.36 +/- 7.91% and 29.51 +/- 12.21% respectively. After effective treatment, they decreased to 19.57 +/- 7.22% and 20.87 +/- 8.73% respectively accompanied with increase of platelet adhesion and aggregation rate. The difference of CD62P before and after treatment was significant (P < 0.05). CD62P in blood of AMI rats was 39.73 +/- 12.36%, after being co-cultured with XCP containing serum from patients treated effectively, it reduced to 30.41 +/- 10.36% (P < 0.05), but after co-cultured with the serum from patients treated ineffectively, it showed less intervention effect (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Platelet was highly activated in UA patients and AMI rats. The consistency between clinical holistic effect of XCP and serum pharmacological effect of XCP in platelet activation inhibition reflects a good correlation between serum pharmacological effect of Chinese herbal medicine and its clinical holistic effect.