Molecular identification and functional analysis of Ctrp9 in Epinephelus coioides.

CTRP9 is a member of the C1q/TNF-related protein (CTRP) superfamily and has been studied in mammals, whereas the comparative studies of CTRP9 in non-mammalian species are still absent. In this study, ctrp9 was isolated and characterized from the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). The full-length cDNA of ctrp9 was 1378 bp in size with an ORF (open reading frame) of 1020 bp that encodes a 339 amino acid pre-pro hormone. The mRNA expression of ctrp9 showed a rather high level in the kidney and brain, but a low level in other tissues. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of ctrp9 decreased significantly in the liver after fasting for 7 days and restored to the normal levels after refeeding. In contrast, the ctrp9 mRNA level increased in the hypothalamus after fasting. The recombinant gCtrp9 (globular Ctrp9) was prepared using the Pichia pastoris expression system and was verified by Western blot as well as mass spectrometry assays. In the primary hepatocytes culture, the recombinant gCtrp9 could inhibit the glucose production after 12-h treatment. After i.p. (intraperitoneal) injection with recombinant gCtrp9, in hypothalamus, mRNA expression levels of npy and orexin (orexigenic factors) decreased, whereas the expression levels of crh and pomc (anorexigenic factors) increased. Moreover, i.p. injection with the recombinant gCtrp9 could reduce the serum concentrations of glucose, TG and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol but increase the content of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Our studies for the first time unveil the structure of Ctrp9 and its potential role as a regulatory factor of metabolism and food intake in teleost.

Duplication of neuropeptide Y and peptide YY in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and their roles in food intake regulation.

In vertebrates, the neuropeptide Y (NPY) family peptides have been recognized as key players in food intake regulation. NPY centrally promotes feeding, while peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) mediate satiety. The teleost tetraploidization is well-known to generate duplicates of both NPY and PYY; however, the functional diversification between the duplicate genes, especially in the regulation of food intake, remains unknown. In this study, we identified the two duplicates of NPY and PYY in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Both NPYa and NPYb were primarily expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), but the mRNA levels of NPYb were markedly lower than those of NPYa. Hypothalamic mRNA expression of NPYa, but not NPYb, decreased after feeding and increased after 7-days of fasting. However, both NPYa and NPYb caused a significant increase in food intake after an intracranial injection of 50ng/g body weight dose. PYYb, one of the duplicates of PYY, had an extremely high expression in the foregut and midgut, whereas another form of duplicate PYYa showed only moderate expression in the CNS. Both hypothalamic PYYa and foregut PYYb mRNA expression increased after feeding and decreased after 7-days of fasting. Furthermore, the intracranial injection of PYYb decreased food intake, but PYYa had no significant effect. Our results suggested that although the mature peptides of NPYa and NPYb can both stimulate food intake, NPYa is the main endogenous functional NPY for feeding regulation. A functional division has been identified in the duplicates of PYY, which deems PYYb as a gut-derived anorexigenic peptide and PYYa as a CNS-specific PYY in Nile tilapia.

[Myofascial pain syndrome treated with sparrow-pecking moxibustion at trigger points: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy difference in treatment of myofasical pain syndrome between sparrow-pecking moxibustion and acupuncture at trigger points so as to provide the reference of the effective therapeutic method for myofascial pain syndrome. METHODS: Ninety patients were randomized into a sparrow-pecking moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 45 cases in each one. The trigger points were selected in pain areas in the two groups. In the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group, the sparrow-pecking moxibustion was applied, 30 min in each time. In the acupuncture group, the filiform needles were inserted obliquely at 45 degrees and retained for 40 min in each treatment. The treatment was given once a day and 10 treatments made one session in the two groups. The short-form McGill pain questionnaire was used as the observation index, and the changes in pain rating index (PRI), present pain intensity (PPI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after treatment were used for efficacy assessment. RESULTS: The results of PRI, PPI and VAS after treatment were reduced apparently as compared with those before treatment in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group and the acupuncture group (all P<0.001). The differences in PRI, PPI and VAS after treatment were not significant in comparison of the two groups (both P>0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 80.0% (36/45) in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group, which was better than 40.0% (18/45, P<0.001) in the acupuncture group. CONCLUSION: Sparrow-pecking moxibustion at trigger points achieves the superior efficacy on myofascial pain syndrome as compared with acupuncture at trigger points. This therapy is simpler in operation additionally.

[Progress of research on acupuncture at trigger point for myofascial pain syndrome].

To review the literature of acupuncture at trigger point for myofascial pain syndrome from the main selected points (trigger point), the mechanism of Chinese medicine and modern research and its clinical application. The results show that acupuncture at trigger point has significant effect on the myofascial pain syndrome, which could be influenced by the type of needle, manipulation, insertion angle and depth of the needles. However, the involved studies at present are still far from enough and lack of systematic study with multivariate analysis, it is needed to be improved that some problems about the clinical diagnosis and basic research.