Effect of ERK1/2 signaling pathway in electro-acupuncture mediated up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 in lungs of rabbits with endotoxic shock.

BACKGROUND: The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of electro-acupuncture (EA), a traditional clinical method, are widely accepted, but its mechanisms are not yet well defined. In this study, we investigated the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2 (ERK1/2) pathways on electro-acupuncture - mediated up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in rabbit lungs injured by LPS-induced endotoxic shock. MATERIAL/METHODS: Seventy rabbits were randomly divided into 7 groups: group C, group M, group D, group SEAM, group EAM, group EAMPD, and group PD98059. Male New England white rabbits were given EA treatment on both sides once a day on days 1-5, and then received LPS to replicate the experimental model of injured lung induced by endotoxic shock. Then, they were killed by exsanguination at 6 h after LPS administration. The blood samples were collected for serum examination, and the lungs were removed for pathology examination, determination of wet-to-dry weight ratio, MDA content, SOD activity, serum tumor necrosis factor-α, determination of HO-1 protein and mRNA expression, and determination of ERK1/2 protein. RESULTS: The results revealed that after EA treatment, expression of HO-1and ERK1/2 was slightly increased compared to those in other groups, accompanied with less severe lung injury as indicated by lower index of lung injury score, lower wet-to-dry weight ratio, MDA content, and serum tumor necrosis factor-α levels, and greater SOD activity (p<0.05 for all). After pretreatment with ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, the effect of EA treatment and expression of HO-1 were suppressed (p<0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: After electro-acupuncture stimulation at ST36 and BL13, severe lung injury during endotoxic shock was attenuated. The mechanism may be through up-regulation of HO-1, mediated by the signal transductions of ERK1/2 pathways. Thus, the regulation of ERK1/2 pathways via electro-acupuncture may be a therapeutic strategy for endotoxic shock.

Role of HO-1 in protective effect of electro-acupuncture against endotoxin shock-induced acute lung injury in rabbits.

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 has been reported to play a great role in attenuating lung injury during endotoxic shock in our previous research. Although electro-acupuncture has been explored to reduce oxidative stress and decrease inflammatory reaction in animals with endotoxic shock, the mechanism of this effect is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether HO-1 is involved in the effect of electro-acupuncture on the injured lung during endotoxic shock in rabbits. Sixty New England white rabbits were randomly divided into groups C, Z, ES, EA, AP, and EAZ. Before inducing endotoxic shock, group ES received no electro-acupuncture, while group EA received electro-acupuncture at ST36 (zusanli) and BL13 (feishu) acupoints on both sides for five days and group AP received electro-acupuncture (EA) stimulation at a non-acupoint. Groups ES, AP, EA, and EAZ received LPS to replicate the experimental model of injured lung induced by endotoxic shock, and electro-acupuncture was performed throughout the procedure with the same parameter. Groups EAZ and Z received the HO-1 inhibitor, ZnPP-IX, intraperitoneally. The animals were sacrificed by blood-letting at 6 h after LPS administration. The blood samples were collected for serum examination, and the lungs were removed for pathology examination, detection of alveolaer epithelial cell apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay (TUNEL assay), determination of wet to dry ratio, measurement of Evans blue (EB) contents, and determination of HO-1protein and mRNA expression. According to the results, EA at ST36 and BL13 could increase the expression of HO-1. At the same time, index of quantitative assessment (IQA) score and the number of TUNEL-positive cells decreased, while electro-acupuncture at the other points did not exert this effect, and pretreatment with ZnPP-IX in group EAZ suppressed the efficacy of electro-acupuncture preconditioning. In summary, electro-acupuncture stimulation at ST36 and BL13, while not the non-acupoint, could attenuate the lung injury during the endotoxic shock, and this effect was due to increased expression of HO-1.

[Comparison of the effect of eight kinds of volatile oil of Chinese material medica on percutaneous absorption of ibuprofen in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the permeation-enhancing effect of the volatile oil of eight kinds of Chinese material medica including Fructus Evodia, Radix Saposhnikoviae, Rhizoma Atractylodes lancea Radix Aucklandiae, Radix Curcuma wenyujin, Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii, Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum, Herba Schizonepetae on the model drug of ibuprofen in order to provide theoretic foundation for the selection and application of natural penetration enhancer. METHODS: The permeation flux of ibuprofen was determined using the penetration experiment apparatus in vitro. The content of ibuprofen was measured by HPLC. RESULTS: All the above mentioned volatile oil showed permeation enhancing effect on ibuprofen in different degrees, and the enhancive permeation multiple was 3.46, 3.00, 2. 36, 2.32, 2.28, 2.01, 1.37 and 1.29. CONCLUSION: All eight kinds of volatile oil can enhance the percutaneous absorption of ibuprofen in vitro, among which the volatile oil of Fructus Evodia and Radix Saposhnikoviae showed significant penetration enhancing effect.

[Metrorrhagia treated by radio frequency ablation: report of 36 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of radio frequency ablation (RFA) for treating metrorrhagia. METHOD: In-36 metrorrhagia patients, who failed to respond to both traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine, and who did not seek child-bearing with malignant changes of the uterus shown by gynecological examination, B-ultrasonic, diagnostic curettage, and pathological examination, the width and depth of the uterine cavity were measured while sending the coagulator to the bottom of the uterus, followed by coagulation of the uterine cavity for two times. The whole process was carried out under the supervision of B-ultrasonic, whose strong echo-band was between 0.8 and 1.0 cm. RESULT: Within one year, the effective rate was 100%, and no recurrence was found. CONCLUSION: RFA is easy, economical, safe and efficient in treating metrorrhagia.