MiR-138-5p knockdown promotes osteogenic differentiation through FOXC1 up-regulation in human bone mesenchymal stem cells.

This study examined the hypothesis that the microRNA miR-138-5p reduces the osteodifferentiation of human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) by downregulating the expression of forkhead box C1 (FOXC1). For this, hBMSCs were separated from bone marrow and osteogenic induction medium was added to stimulate osteogenic differentiation. Flow cytometric analysis was applied to evaluate the expression of cell-surface antigens associated with hBMSCs, including CD29, CD44, CD90, CD45, and CD34. qRT-PCR assays and Western blot assays were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of miR-138-5p, osteocalcin, runt-related transcription factor 2, bone sialoprotein, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and FOXC1. ALP staining assays and Alizarin Red staining (ARS) assays were used to confirm osteogenic differentiation. We used a luciferase assay to test the interaction between miR-138-5p and FOXC1. We demonstrated that miR-138-5p is downregulated in osteogenic differentiated hBMSCs. Further, overexpression of miR-138-5p reduced the expression of markers for osteodifferentiation, ALP activity, and ARS activity. Furthermore, we showed that FOXC1 is a downstream target gene of miR-138-5p, and that knockdown of miR-138-5p improves the osteogenesis differentiation of hBMSCs by upregulating FOXC1. The results from this study indicate miR-138-5p as a new target for osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs and the treatment of bone defects.

The history of acupuncture anesthesia for pneumonectomy in Shanghai during the 1960s.

The success of acupuncture anesthesia (AA) for pneumonectomy in Shanghai in 1960 was a key event for AA gaining practical clinical application. The effort was a close collaboration between the Shanghai First Tuberculosis Hospital and the Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. One of the most important factors of AA success was the great financial and political support provided by the Chinese central government and Shanghai local government. In December1965 the State Science and Technology Commission of China issued a formal document acknowledging AA as an important first-level national achievement of the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, and a collaborative effort of the whole scientific community in China. AA was an important influential factor that helped acupuncture spread across the world.

[Academic characteristics of Huang's school of acupuncture and moxibustion].

Huang's school of acupuncture and moxibustion, whose representative figures are HUANG Hong-fang and HUANG Xian-ming, is one of the schools of acupuncture and moxibustion in Shanghai. The life stories of the representative figures of Huang's school of acupuncture and moxibustion and three academic viewpoints of Huang's school are briefly introduced in this article: (1) syndrome differentiation for seeking the pathogenic roots and developing treatment principle based on the roots; (2) focusing on spleen and stomach and putting stomach first in the treatment; (3) simple point selection with clear structures showing major and assistant points. Their characteristics of the needling techniques are summarized, involving needling manipulations, qi induction, reinforcing and reducing method, etc. so as to lay a foundation for further study and inheritance of the academic thought in Huang's school of acupuncture and moxibustion.

[Fan Yu-qi and "Taiyi miraculous moxa roll"].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the manipulation method, the range of indications and the characteristics of acupoint selection for "Taiyi miraculous moxa roll". METHODS: Apply computer to make retrieval and statistics of the literature, and then induction and analysis were made by manual methods. CONCLUSION: The "Taiyi miraculous moxa roll" method substitutes moxibustion for acupuncture, with very wide ranges of indications, the most being the thoracico-abdominal diseases, the next being the diseases in the head, and the less being in the limbs and in the lumbodorsal position; so far as the syndrome differentiation is concerned, the most is deficiency syndrome, the next is cold syndrome, wind syndrome, heat syndrome, phlegm syndrome and so on. The most acupoints selected are on the trunk, and the next on the limbs, and then on the head. This method is worth to be popularized.

[Acupuncture and moxibustion expert LU Shou-Yan].

LU Shou-yan is a famous acupuncture and moxibustion expert of our country in modern time. He bent himself to the cause of acupuncture and moxibustion throughout his life, propagated acupuncture and moxibustion in the adverse circumstances, and devoted himself to the education of acupuncture and moxibustion, giving no thought to personal safety; for perfecting theory of acupuncture and moxibustion, he studied intensively with great concentration, and creatively put forward effective methods of acupuncture and moxibustion; he earlier advocated experimental studies of acupuncture and moxibustion, promoting development of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences; he wrote books to expound theories, promoting propagation of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences. He contributes his lifetime for development of acupuncture and moxibustion cause.

[Analysis on characteristics of ancient acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of tuberculosis consumptive diseases].

Systematical and comprehensive statistics, induction and analysis on literature and data of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of tuberculosis in incunabula are carried out by computer. The results indicate that in treatment of tuberculosis, most select acupoints of the upper back, chest-epigastrium and The Yangming Channel on the leg to promote dispersing function of the lung, strength the spleen and anti-tuberculosis; select acupoints of The Conception Vessel on the lower abdomen and Shenshu (BL 23) and others on the lower back to tonify the kidney and anti-tuberculosis. Clinically, most select moxibustion and acupuncture with reinforcing-reducing manipulation and pricking blood therapy. And referential recipes for clinical treatment are raised.