Effects of selenium levels on placental oxidative stress and inflammation during pregnancy: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the impact of Se levels in different pregnancy periods on placental function are limited. AIM: This cohort study sought to investigate the levels of the trace element Se and to assess their effects on placental oxidative stress (OS) and mRNA expression of inflammatory genes during pregnancy. METHODS: The study population consisted of 2519 pregnant women from the Ma'anshan birth cohort. Se levels were measured in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and in cord blood using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Placental stress and mRNA expression of inflammatory genes were assessed using RT-PCR. RESULTS: A statistically significant negative association was noted between Se levels in the second trimester of pregnancy and mRNA expression of placental HO-1(ß = -0.009, p < .01), HIF1α (ß = -0.005, p = .010), GRP78 (ß = -0.011, p < .001), CRP (ß = -.007, p = .033) and CD68 (ß = -0.006, p = .019). A negative association was noted between Se levels in cord blood and mRNA expression of placental HO-1 (ß = -0.007, p = .004), HIF1α (ß = -0.006, p = .005) and GRP78 (ß = -0.009, p = .004). We found that prenatal Se status was associated with placental stress and mRNA expression of inflammatory genes. CONCLUSION: Se deficiency during pregnancy, especially in the second trimester, leads to the production of OS and an increase in inflammatory mediators, affecting the growth and development of the fetus. Monitoring of pregnant women's nutritional status is necessary to prevent nutritional imbalances and deficiencies in important micronutrients in the fetal.

Fire Needling Acupuncture Suppresses Cartilage Damage by Mediating Macrophage Polarization in Mice with Knee Osteoarthritis.

Purpose: Macrophage polarization contributes to the mechanisms of treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). In previous studies, fire needling acupuncture has been shown to affect KOA favorably. However, the mechanism of fire needling acupuncture on macrophage polarization is not well-defined. Thus, this study was conducted to determine that fire needling acupuncture exerts a therapeutic role in KOA by modulating macrophage polarization. Methods: Thirty mice were allocated at random into three groups of ten. The groups were labeled as "control", "model", and "fire needling acupuncture". Each group consisted of ten mice. From the second day of intra-articular injection MIA, the right "xiyan" (EX-LE5), "dubi" (ST35), "liangqiu" (ST34), and "xuehai" (SP10) acupoints were manipulated once every other day for two weeks in the fire needling acupuncture group. Mechanical withdrawal threshold and weight distribution were evaluated for behavioral testing in each group. The synovial morphology was monitored by HE staining. Pathological morphology was observed by HE staining, Saf-O staining, and toluidine blue staining. The polarization of macrophages in synovial tissue was detected using immunofluorescence (F4/80, CD86, and CD206). Results: Fire needling acupuncture increased the percentage weight-bearing difference and the mechanical withdrawal threshold, and improved synovial inflammation and cartilage damage in MIA-induced KOA mice. F4/80 and CD86 expression were downregulated by fire needling acupuncture, but CD206 was increased. Conclusion: Fire needling acupuncture decreases pain behaviors in KOA mice and improves synovial membrane injury and pathological cartilage damage. The macrophage polarization is involved in the mechanism of fire needling acupuncture's amelioration of articular cartilage damage.

Determining 5HT7R's Involvement in Modifying the Antihyperalgesic Effects of Electroacupuncture on Rats With Recurrent Migraine.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is widely used in clinical practice to relieve migraine pain. 5-HT7 receptor (5-HT7R) has been reported to play an excitatory role in neuronal systems and regulate hyperalgesic pain and neurogenic inflammation. 5-HT7R could influence phosphorylation of protein kinase A (PKA)- or extracellular signal-regulated kinase1 / 2 (ERK1 / 2)-mediated signaling pathways, which mediate sensitization of nociceptive neurons via interacting with cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). In this study, we evaluated the role of 5-HT7R in the antihyperalgesic effects of EA and the underlying mechanism through regulation of PKA and ERK1 / 2 in trigeminal ganglion (TG) and trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). Hyperalgesia was induced in rats with dural injection of inflammatory soup (IS) to cause meningeal neurogenic inflammatory pain. Electroacupuncture was applied for 15 min every other day before IS injection. Von Frey filaments, tail-flick, hot-plate, and cold-plated tests were used to evaluate the mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Neuronal hyperexcitability in TNC was studied by an electrophysiological technique. The 5-HT7R antagonist (SB269970) or 5-HT7R agonist (AS19) was administered intrathecally before each IS application at 2-day intervals during the 7-day injection protocol. The changes in 5-HT7R and 5-HT7R-associated signaling pathway were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, immunofluorescence, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses. When compared with IS group, mechanical and thermal pain thresholds of the IS + EA group were significantly increased. Furthermore, EA prevented the enhancement of both spontaneous activity and evoked responses of second-order trigeminovascular neurons in TNC. Remarkable decreases in 5-HT7R mRNA expression and protein levels were detected in the IS + EA group. More importantly, 5-HT7R agonist AS19 impaired the antihyperalgesic effects of EA on p-PKA and p-ERK1 / 2. Injecting 5-HT7R antagonist SB-269970 into the intrathecal space of IS rats mimicked the effects of EA antihyperalgesia and inhibited p-PKA and p-ERK1 / 2. Our findings indicate that 5-HT7R mediates the antihyperalgesic effects of EA on IS-induced migraine pain by regulating PKA and ERK1 / 2 in TG and TNC.

Status and influential factors of vitamin D among children aged 0 to 6 years in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in childhood are common. However, the status and influential factors of vitamin D during different ages are not clear. This study aimed to survey vitamin D concentrations in children aged 0 to 6 years and explore its influential factors. METHODS: A total of 6953 children were recruited in Wuxi City of East China from January to December in 2016. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. RESULTS: The median vitamin D concentrations in the infant group (0-1 years of age) was 69.40 nmol/L, which were higher than that in both the toddlerhood group (1-3 years of age; 62.30 nmol/L) and the preschool group (3-6 years of age; 50.85 nmol/L). In addition, the median vitamin D concentrations were 71.70 nmol/L in summer, which was higher than that in spring (64.25 nmol/L), autumn (62.95 nmol/L) and winter (64.10 nmol/L). However, no difference was observed between genders (P = 0.974). Furthermore, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/L) was 48.1% in the preschool group (3-6 years of age), which was higher than the 21.2% vitamin D deficiency in the toddlerhood group (1-3 years of age) and the 17.9% vitamin D deficiency in the infant group (0-1 years of age). Interestingly, a nonlinear association between 25(OH) D and air temperature was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was common in a Chinese population of children 0-6 years old, especially in the preschool-aged children. Therefore, we suggested that we should pay more attention to vitamin D supplementation in Chinese young children.

Prophylactic Electroacupuncture on the Upper Cervical Segments Decreases Neuronal Discharges of the Trigeminocervical Complex in Migraine-Affected Rats: An in vivo Extracellular Electrophysiological Experiment.

PURPOSE: This rat experiment aims to demonstrate the efficacy of electrical acupuncture in preventing migraine attacks by stimulating the acupoint GB20. INTRODUCTION: Migraine, which takes 2ed at level four causes of GBD's disease hierarchy, becomes a public health issue. It is important for physicians to supplement their knowledge of its treatment and consider alternative methods of therapy, such as acupuncture. However, the neurobiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of this prophylactic effect were unclear. The trigeminocervical complex is thought to be an important relay station in migraine pathophysiology as the key nuclei of the trigeminovascular system and the brainstem descending pain modulation system. METHODS: There were six groups involved in this study: control, model, electroacupuncture, non-acupoint electroacupuncture, saline+electroacupuncture and saline+non-acupoint electroacupuncture. We injected saline or inflammatory soup into dura mater to induce control or migraine in the rats. The mechanical pain threshold and the single-cell extraneural neurophysiology of the C1 spinal dorsal horn neurons in the trigeminocervical complex were detected. RESULTS: Pre-electroacupuncture could significantly increase the mechanical pain threshold of the periorbital region receptive field of the trigeminal nerve and decrease the discharges of neurons in the trigeminocervical complex. Acupuncture also reversed the abnormal skin pain response of the periorbital region receptive field of the trigeminal nerve caused by low-intensity stimulation. DISCUSSION: We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because it is the first of its kind to use GB20 to provide relief from migraine attacks and mechanical cephalic cutaneous hypersensitivity by regulating the neuronal discharge from trigeminocervical complex.

Electroacupuncture Inhibits Hyperalgesia by Alleviating Inflammatory Factors in a Rat Model of Migraine.

OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture has a therapeutic effect similar to that of prophylactic drugs and can be considered a treatment option for migraineurs. However, the mechanism of acupuncture treatment's effect on migraine is uncertain. An approach based on anti-inflammatory effects is an important treatment strategy for migraine because non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually used during migraine attacks. Meningeal inflammation is thought to be responsible for the activation of the trigeminovascular system. Our previous study found that electroacupuncture (EA) decreased neurogenic inflammation mediator expression in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and alleviated hyperalgesia. The present study examined whether EA would inhibit hyperalgesia by alleviating neurogenic inflammatory factors. METHODS: A rat model of migraine was established using dural electrical stimulation (DES). Five groups were analyzed in this study. The Model group received DES three times to mimic migraine attacks, a Control group had sham DES, and three groups received electroacupuncture after DES: a Non-Acu group at a non-acupuncture point, a GB20 group at GB20, and a GB20/34 group at GB20 and GB34 acupuncture points. We evaluated mechanical hyperalgesia using an electronic von Frey esthesiometer in the awake state. After sacrifice, the dura mater was analyzed using immunofluorescence. Serum calcitonin gene-related peptide, cyclooxygenase-2, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of acupuncture. RESULTS: After repeated DES, we observed facial and hind paw mechanical hyperalgesia, which was inhibited by electroacupuncture. Electrical stimulation increased the number of mast cells and macrophages and serum levels of inflammatory factors. GB20 and GB20/34 electroacupuncture significantly decreased the number of mast cells and macrophages and serum levels of inflammatory factors. Moreover, electroacupuncture at GB20/34 was superior to that at GB20 alone in inhibiting hyperalgesia and alleviating inflammatory factors. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture inhibits DES-induced hyperalgesia by alleviating inflammatory factors. Inhibition of dural mast cells, macrophages, and serum inflammatory factors may be one of the mechanisms involved in acupuncture treatment's effect on migraine.

Electro-acupuncture inhibits C-fiber-evoked WDR neuronal activity of the trigeminocervical complex: Neurophysiological hypothesis of a complementary therapy for acute migraine modeled rats.

INTRODUCTION: Acupuncture has become a relevant complementary and alternative treatment for acute migraine; however, the neurophysiological mechanism (C-fibers) underlying this effect remains unclear. C-fibers play a crucial role for diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC) at wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the trigeminocervical complex (TCC) in migraine attacks, and we supposed that this may be the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia. This study aimed to examine the neurophysiology of acupuncture intervention in an acute migraine rat model. METHODS: Inflammatory soup (IS) or saline was injected into the dura mater to establish a migraine and control model in rats. To explore the neurobiological mechanism of acupuncture for migraine, we implemented electro-acupuncture (EA), non-electric-stimulation acupuncture, and no-acupuncture in IS and saline injected rats, and recorded the single-cell extraneural neurophysiology of the atlas (C1) spinal dorsal horn neurons in the TCC. RESULTS: Our research shows that electro-acupuncture at GB8 (Shuaigu), located in the periorbital region receptive field of the trigeminal nerve, may rapidly reduce the C-fiber evoked WDR neuronal discharges of the TCC within 60 s. DISCUSSION: This study provides pioneering evidence of a potential neurobiological mechanism for the analgesic effect on migraine attacks achieved by electro-acupuncture intervention via DNIC. The data indicates that EA may become a crucial supplementary and alternative therapy for migraineurs that failed to respond to acute medications, e.g., fremanezumab, which achieves its analgesic effect via modulating Aσ-fibers, not C-fibers.

[Application of shear wave elastography in acupuncture research].

In recent years, a new technique of elastic quantization imaging, the ultrasound-based shear wave elastography (SWE) is arising, which has advantages of real-time, non-invasion, rapid imaging and strong repeatability, and quantifying the elastic properties of soft tissues including thyroid gland, breast, prostate, muscle tendon, ligament, etc.. It has been gradually applied to clinical and experimental researches of acupuncture and has an extensive application prospect. The present paper briefly introduces the application of SWE in accurately locating the acupoint, Deqi from needled acupoints, acupuncture manipulations, and evaluation of efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of musculofascial diseases.

Erratum to "Effect of Electroacupuncture on Hyperalgesia and Vasoactive Neurotransmitters in a Rat Model of Conscious Recurrent Migraine".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/9512875.].

Effect of Electroacupuncture on Hyperalgesia and Vasoactive Neurotransmitters in a Rat Model of Conscious Recurrent Migraine.

Migraine onset is associated with the abnormal release of vasoactive neurotransmitters from perivascular nerves, and these neurotransmitters are involved in the pathophysiology of migraine. Hyperalgesia is a key feature of migraine, and accumulating evidence indicates that electroacupuncture (EA) at the single acupuncture point (Fengchi [GB20]) is effective in ameliorating hyperalgesia. In clinical practice, multiple acupuncture points are widely used, especially GB20 and Yanglingquan (GB34). However, the role played by vasoactive neurotransmitters in acupuncture antihyperalgesic effect at the single or multiple acupuncture points remains unknown. We aimed to determine whether EA would exert its antihyperalgesic effects by modulating vasoactive neurotransmitter release from the perivascular nerves. Furthermore, we examined whether targeting multiple acupuncture points would be more effective than targeting a single point in reducing hyperalgesia. The mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia were evaluated by measuring the facial and hind-paw mechanical withdrawal thresholds, tail-flick and hot-plate latencies. Plasma concentrations of vasoactive neurotransmitters were determined using rat-specific ELISA kits from jugular vein, including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), nitric oxide (NO), and endothelin-1 (ET-1). The result suggested that EA significantly ameliorated the mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, reduced c-Fos levels in the trigeminal ganglion, and attenuated plasma and dural levels of vasoactive neurotransmitters, especially in the multiple acupuncture points group (GB20+GB34). In conclusion, EA exerts antihyperalgesic effect in a rat model of conscious recurrent migraine, possibly via modulation of the vasoactive neurotransmitters. Furthermore, targeting multiple acupuncture points is more effective than targeting a single point in reducing hyperalgesia.