[Design, manufacture and evaluation of a multi-parameter controllable automatic fire-acupuncture instrument].

A multi-parameter controllable automatic fire-acupuncture instrument was developed by integrating traditional fire needling with modern medical device technology. A gun-like appearance was designed for easy hand-held operation, the electromagnetic induction was for heating needle body, a scale knob was for controlling the needle insertion depth, the combination of electromagnetic ejection and spring return was for the precise control of the needle retention time; and the changeable single ste-rile needle or multiple needles were adopted to meet individual demand, obtain high efficiency and prevent infection. All of these designs are associated with the overall process control system to ensure the exact controllability of needle body temperature, needling density, insertion depth and needle retention time. Besides, this device is advantageous at handy and aseptic operation with high efficiency, conformability and visualization. In this research, this instrument was tested in animals for the impacts of automatic fire needling on skin damage and fur growth. It is found that the accurate control of each parameter is of the significant advantage in the safety and effectiveness of treatment, which lays a solid foundation for the subsequent systematic review on safety and effectiveness.

A new abietane diterpenoid from Ajuga ovalifolia var. calantha induces human lung epithelial A549 cell apoptosis by inhibiting SHP2.

The Src-homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2), encoded by PTPN11, has been reported oncogenic tyrosine phosphatase associated with various tumors and played critical roles in many cell signaling events. Targeting SHP2 by small molecules may be a promising way for cancer therapy. Herein, a new abietane diterpenoid, named 3-acetoxylteuvincenone G (3-AG), was isolated from the whole plants of Ajuga ovalifolia var. calantha. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by means of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Using recombinant enzyme activity assay and cellular thermal shift assay, we found that 3-AG was a selective inhibitor of SHP2. Molecular docking suggested 3-AG displayed an orientation favorable to nucleophilic attack in the catalytic domain of SHP2. 3-AG suppressed A549 cell proliferation (IC50 = 10.79 ± 0.14 µM), invasion and induced cell apoptosis through SHP2/ERK1/2 and SHP2/AKT pathways. In summary, 3-AG, a potent, selective, and efficacious SHP2 inhibitor, may be a promising small molecule to treat human lung epithelial cancer.