Effect of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) on perinatal nicotine-exposure-induced lung function and morphology of neonatal rats / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) versus "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) in the pregnant rats on perinatal nicotineexposureinduced lung function and morphology of newborn rats and explore the rule of acupoint effect in EA for the prevention from lung dysplasia in newborn rats.@*METHODS@#A total of 24 female SD rats were randomized into a normal saline group (S group), a nicotine group (N group), a nicotineST 36 group (N + ST 36 group) and a nicotineGB 34 group (N+GB 34 group), 6 rats in each one. Starting at the 6th day of pregnancy, 0.9% sodium chloride solution was injected subcutaneously in the S group, 1 mg/kg; and in the rest 3 groups, nicotine of the same dose was injected through to the 21st postnatal day to establish the perinatal nicotineexposure model. Simultaneously, during model preparation, EA was applied at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) in the N+ST 36 group and the N+GB 34 group respectively, once a day, through to the 21st postnatal day. The lung function analytic system for small animal was adopted to observe the changes in lung function indicators in newborn rats, such as peak inspiratory flow (PIF), peak expiratory flow (PEF), expiratory resistance (RE), inspiratory resistance (RI) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn). HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of lung, such as alveolar fusion and rupture.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the S group, PEF and Cdyn were lower and PIF, RI and RE higher in the N group (all 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in the pregnant rats significantly improves the perinatal nicotineexposureinduced lung function and morphology of newborn rats than electroacupuncture at "Yanglingquan" (GB 34).

Differential gene expressions in kidney Yang deficiency in individuals with sub-health status / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the gene expression profiles in kidney Yang deficiency in individuals with sub-health status.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The subjects identified to have Kidney-yang deficiency and sub-health status were enrolled in this study with healthy subjects as the normal control. Using gene chip technique and MAS software, the gene expression profiles in kidney Yang deficiency in the subjects with sub-health status were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Characteristic profiles of the differentially expressed genes were found between the kidney Yang deficiency group and normal control group. Among the total of 75 differentially expressed genes, 22 were up-regulated (with a ratio greater than 2) and 53 were down-regulated (with a ratio less than 0.5) in kidney Yang deficiency group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Gene chip technique allows rapid and high-throughput screening for gene expression in kidney Yang deficiency and sub-health status, and a initial evidence of kidney Yang deficiency-related genes has been obtained.</p>