Radix Sanguisorbae Improves Intestinal Barrier in Septic Rats via HIF-1 α/HO-1/Fe2+ Axis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Radix Sanguisorbae (RS, Diyu) could restore intestinal barrier function following sepsis using a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced septic rat model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged IEC-6 cell model, respectively. METHODS: Totally 224 rats were divided into 4 groups including a control, sham, CLP and RS group according to a random number table. The rats in the control group were administrated with Ringer's lactate solution (30 mL/kg) with additional dopamine [10 µ g/(kg·min)] and given intramuscular injections of cefuroxime sodium (10 mg/kg) 12 h following CLP. The rats in the RS group were administrated with RS (10 mg/kg) through tail vein 1 h before CLP and treated with RS (10 mg/kg) 12 h following CLP. The rats in the sham group were only performed abdominal surgery without CLP. The rats in the CLP group were performed with CLP without any treatment. The other steps were same as control group. The effects of RS on intestinal barrier function, mesenteric microvessels barrier function, multi-organ function indicators, inflammatory response and 72 h survival window following sepsis were observed. In vitro, the effects of RS on LPS-challenged IEC-6 cell viability, the expressions of zona occludens-1 (ZO-1) and ferroptosis index were evaluated by cell counting kit-8, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Bioinformatic tools were applied to investigate the pharmacological network of RS in sepsis to predict the active compounds and potential protein targets and pathways. RESULTS: The sepsis caused severe intestinal barrier dysfunction, multi-organ injury, lipid peroxidation accumulation, and ferroptosis in vivo. RS treatment significantly prolonged the survival time to 56 h and increased 72-h survival rate to 7/16 (43.75%). RS also improved intestinal barrier function and relieved intestinal inflammation. Moreover, RS significantly decreased lipid peroxidation and inhibited ferroptosis (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Administration of RS significantly worked better than Ringer's solution used alone. Using network pharmacology prediction, we found that ferroptosis and hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1 α) signaling pathways might be involved in RS effects on sepsis. Subsequent Western blot, ferrous iron measurements, and FerroOrange fluorescence of ferrous iron verified the network pharmacology predictions. CONCLUSION: RS improved the intestinal barrier function and alleviated intestinal injury by inhibiting ferroptosis, which was related in part to HIF-1 α/heme oxygenase-1/Fe2+ axis.

The effects of art therapy on quality of life and psychosomatic symptoms in adults with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related psychological and physical disorders can mean stressful and painful experiences for patients. Art therapy, a form of complementary and alternative medicine, is an increasingly popular way to decrease emotional stress, alleviate somatic symptoms, and improve quality of life in patients with cancer. However, current systematic reviews have not explored the beneficial effects of art therapy. Moreover, there have been inconsistent findings on the effect of this therapy, and there is insufficient evidence to confirm the effects in adults with cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of art therapy in improving quality of life and psychosomatic symptoms in adults with cancer. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis included adults with all kinds of cancer. Six English-language and three large Chinese-language databases were comprehensively searched for relevant studies. Gray literature and references were also checked. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool. RESULTS: Eight eligible randomized controlled trials conducted in four countries were included. Art therapy improved overall quality of life, but had no significant effect on psychological health or physical health sub-dimensions in women with cancer. Moreover, art therapy alleviated anxiety and depression, but had only a tendency toward an effect on somatic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-quality evidence shows that art therapy is beneficial for women with cancer in terms of improving the overall quality of life and alleviating emotional symptoms (anxiety and depression). However, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the efficacy of this therapy on somatic symptoms.

Analgesia with 5' extracellular nucleotidase-mediated electroacupuncture for neuropathic pain.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is a treatment for neuropathic pain, but its mechanism remains unclear. Previous studies showed that analgesia was induced in rats with neuropathic pain when their spinal cord adenosine content increased after electroacupuncture (EA); however, the mechanism behind this electroacupuncture-induced increase has not been clarified. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the role that ecto-5'-nucleotidase plays in EA-induced analgesia for neuropathic pain. METHODS: We performed electroacupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint on the seventh day after establishing a rat model of neuropathic pain induced through chronic constriction injuries. We observed the mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal pain threshold and detected the expression of ecto-5'-nucleotidase in the spinal cord using Western blot. Chronic constriction injury rat models were intraperitoneally injected with α,ß-methyleneadenosine 5'-diphosphate, an ecto-5'-nucleotidase inhibitor, 30 min before electroacupuncture. The adenosine content of the spinal cord was detected using high-performance liquid chromatography. Lastly, the adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine was intrathecally injected into the lumbar swelling of the rats, and the mechanical withdrawal and thermal pain thresholds were reevaluated. RESULTS: Analgesia and increased ecto-5'-nucleotidase expression and adenosine content in the spinal cord were observed 1 h after electroacupuncture. α,ß-methyleneadenosine 5'-diphosphate was able to inhibit upregulation of adenosine content and electroacupuncture-induced analgesia. After administration of N6-cyclopentyladenosine, electroacupuncture-induced analgesia was restored. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that electroacupuncture at Zusanli can produce analgesia in chronic constriction injury rat models, possibly via the increased ecto-5'-nucleotidase expression induced through electroacupuncture, thus leading to increased adenosine expression in the spinal cord.

[Melatonin receptor 2 mediated spinal dorsal horn astrocytes IL-17 inhibition contributes to electroacupuncture analgesia in neuropathic pain rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on pain behaviors and expression of spinal dorsal horn melatonin receptor 2 (MT2) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in neuropathic pain rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying pain relief. METHODS: The present study includes 3 parts. In the first part, eighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation, model and EA groups, with 6 rats in each group. The neuropathic pain model was established by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the right sciatic nerve. On the 7th day following modeling, EA was applied to the right "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) (1 mA,2 Hz/100 Hz) for 30 min. The mechanical pain threshold(MWT) and thermal pain thre-shold(TPT) of the affected limb were detected before modeling, 7 days following modeling and 60 min after EA. The expression of MT2 in spinal dorsal horn was detected by Western blot. The contents of melatonin （Mel） and IL-17 in the spinal dorsal horn were determined by ELISA. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the spinal dorsal horn was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. In the second part, 30 rats were divided into 5 groups: sham operation, model, EA, MT2 antagonist (4-P-PDOT), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) groups, with 6 rats in each group. Rats of the 4-P-PDOT and DMSO groups were intrathecal injection with 10 µL MT2 antagonist 4-P-PDOT (100 µg) and equivalent DMSO 30 min before EA. The MWT and TPT of affected limb were detected. The GFAP expression and IL-17 content in the spinal dorsal horn was detected by Western blot， immunohistochemistry and ELISA, respectively. In the third part, 30 rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham operation, model, EA, recombinant IL-17, and normal saline groups, with 6 rats in each group. The recombinant IL-17 protein (100 ng, 10 µL) and the same amount of 0.9% sodium chloride solution were intrathecal injection into the rats of the recombinant IL-17 group and the normal saline group 30 min before the EA. The MWT and TPT of affected limb were measured. RESULTS: On the 7th day after modeling, the MWT of rats in the model group and the EA group were significantly higher, while TPT were lower than those before the modeling (P<0.05). At 60 min after EA, compared with the model group, the MWT and TPT of the EA group reversed significantly (P<0.05). The levels of GFAP and IL-17 were significantly increased, while the levels of Mel and MT2 were significantly decreased in the model group than in the sham operation group (P<0.05), and those were considerably reversed in the EA group than in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the EA and DMSO groups, the MWT in the 4-P-PDOT group were significantly increased, while TPT were decreased (P<0.05), and the contents of GFAP and IL-17 were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared to the EA and normal saline groups, MWT of the rats in the recombinant IL-17 group were significantly increased, while TPT decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA of ST36 and SP6 can alleviate neuropathic pain in CCI rats, which is closely related to its effect in inhibiting the release of IL-17 from astrocytes mediated by MT2.

[Effect of Yes-associated protein in regulation of electroacupuncture pretreatment on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on inflammatory reaction, apoptosis and expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP) of ischemic penumbra of cerebral cortex in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury rats, and to explore the possible mechanism of its neuroprotection effect. METHODS: A total of 84 SD rats were randomized into a sham operation group (12 rats), a model group (18 rats), an EA group (18 rats), an EA+YAP virus transfection group (18 rats) and an EA+virus control group (18 rats). Except for the sham operation group, thread embolization method was adopted to establish the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in rats of the other groups. EA was applied at "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) for 30 min in the 3 EA intervention groups 2 h before model establishment, disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/15 Hz in frequency and 1 mA in intensity. Adenovirus transfection technique was used to induce gene silencing of YAP in the EA+YAP virus transfection group, and adenovirus vectors was injected as negative control in the EA+virus control group 4 d before model establishment. Twenty-four hours after model establishment, neurological function score was evaluated, the relative cerebral infarction area was observed by TTC staining, the apoptosis in the ischemic penumbra of cerebral cortex was detected by TUNEL staining, the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the ischemic penumbra of cerebral cortex was detected by ELISA method, the expression of YAP was detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the expression of YAP was increased in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the expression of YAP in the ischemic penumbra of cerebral cortex was increased in the EA group (P<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the neurological function score, the percentage of TUNEL positive cells and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the ischemic penumbra of cerebral cortex were increased in the model group (P<0.001, P<0.01); compared with the model group, the neurological function score, the relative cerebral infarction area, the percentage of TUNEL positive cells and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the ischemic penumbra of cerebral cortex were decreased in the EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01); compared with the EA group, the neurological function score, the relative cerebral infarction area, the percentage of TUNEL positive cells and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the ischemic penumbra of cerebral cortex were increased in the EA+YAP virus transfection group (P<0.01, P<0.05); compared with the EA+YAP virus transfection group, the neurological function score, the relative cerebral infarction area, the percentage of TUNEL positive cells and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the ischemic penumbra of cerebral cortex were decreased in the EA+virus control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture pretreatment can effectively improve the ischemia reperfusion injury, its mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expression of YAP in the ischemic penumbra of cerebral cortex and relieving the apoptosis and inflammatory reaction.

Urinary coenzyme Q10 as a diagnostic biomarker and predictor of remission in a patient with ADCK4-associated Glomerulopathy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: AarF domain-containing kinase 4 (ADCK4)-associated glomerulopathy is a mitochondrial nephropathy caused by mutations in the ADCK4 gene, which disrupt coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 25-year-old female patient with ADCK4-associated glomerulopathy presenting with proteinuria (and with no additional systemic symptoms). A known missense substitution c.737G > A (p.S246N) and a novel frameshift c.577-600del (p.193-200del) mutation were found. We followed the patient for 24 months during supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (20 mg/kg/d - 30 mg/kg/d) and describe the clinical course. In addition, we measured serum and urine coenzyme Q10 levels before and after coenzyme Q10 supplementation and compared them with those of healthy control subjects. The patient's urinary coenzyme Q10 to creatinine ratio was higher than that of healthy controls before coenzyme Q10 supplementation, but decreased consistently with proteinuria after coenzyme Q10 supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Although the use of urinary coenzyme Q10 as a diagnostic biomarker and predictor of clinical remission in patients with ADCK4-associated glomerulopathy should be confirmed by larger studies, we recommend measuring urinary coenzyme Q10 in patients with isolated proteinuria of unknown cause, since it may provide a diagnostic clue to mitochondrial nephropathy.

[Spinal transcription factor GATA4 mediated adenosine A1 receptor activation contributes to electroacupuncture analgesia in neuropathic pain rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on pain behaviors and expression of spinal transcription factor GATA-binding Protein 4 (GATA4) and adenosine A1 receptor in neuropathic pain rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying pain relief. METHODS: The present study includes 2 parts. In the first part, 18 SD rats were randomly divided into control, adenovirus short-hairpin interference RNA for GATA4 (AV-shGATA4 RNA) and adenovirus empty vector (AV-control short-hairpin RNA, AV-shCTRL) groups, with 6 rats in each group. The expression of GATA4 protein in the lumbar spinal cord (L4-L6) was detected to evaluate the transfection efficiency of AV-shGATA4 RNA (silencing GATA4 expression). In the second part, thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely sham operation, CCI model, EA, EA+AV-shGATA4 RNA, and EA+AV-shCTRL groups, with 6 rats in each group. The neuropathic pain model was established by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the right sciatic nerve. On the 7th day following modeling, EA was applied to the right "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Taichong"(LR3) (1 mA，2 Hz /100 Hz) for 30 min. Rats of the EA+AV-shGATA4 RNA and EA+AV-shCTRL groups received intrathecal injection of AV-shGATA4 RNA and AV-shCTRL(1×1011 PFU/mL，10 µL)at the spinal L4-L6 segments, separately, 48 h before EA intervention. The mechanical pain threshold and thermal pain threshold of the affected limb were detected before molding, 7 days following molding and 60 min after EA. The expressions of adenosine A1 receptor and GATA4 protein in the spinal cord (L4-L6) were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Outcomes of the first part showed that compared with the control group, no significant changes were found in the mechanical and thermal pain thresholds in both AV-shCTRL and AV-shGATA4 RNA groups and in the expression of spinal GATA4 protein of the AV-shCTRL group (P＞0.05). The expression of spinal GATA4 protein of the AV-shGATA4 RNA group was significantly lower than that of the AV-shCTRL group (P<0.05). In the second part of the study, before CCI modeling, there were no significant differences among the five groups in the mechanical and thermal pain thre-sholds (P> 0.05). On the 7th day following modeling, the mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were significantly lowered in compa-rison with their own pre-modeling of each group and with the sham operation group (P<0.05). At 60 min after EA and compared with the model group, the mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were significantly increased in both the EA and EA+AV-shCTRL groups (P<0.05) but not in the EA+AV-shGATA4 RNA group (P>0.05), suggesting a critical involvement of GATA4 in EA analgesia. The expression levels of adenosine A1 receptor and GATA4 protein were significantly increased in the model group than in the sham operation group (P<0.05), and considerably further up-regulated in both EA and EA+AV-shCTRL groups (P< 0.05), rather than in the EA+AV-shGATA4 RNA group (P>0.05), suggesting that the effects of EA in up-regulating the expression of A1 receptor and GATA4 were eliminated after silencing GATA4 protein. CONCLUSION: EA of ST36 and LR3 can relieve pain by increasing the expression of adenosine A1 receptor of the lumbar spinal cord in neuropathic pain rats, which is probably mediated by GATA4 protein.

[Study on efficacy specificity of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli "(ST36) and "Baihui" (GV20) in cerebral ischemia and inflammatory pain rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy difference between electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Baihui" (GV20) for inflammatory pain and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) in rats. METHODS: In 1st part of this study, 90 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation, model (induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and reperfusion), GV20 EA, ST36 EA，and sham EA groups (n=16 in each group). In the 2nd part of the study, 40 male SD rats were randomized into saline injection (control), inflammatory pain model (subcutaneous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant ［CFA］ into the right paw), ST36 EA, GV20 EA, and sham EA groups (n=8 in each group). In these two parts, EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to ST36 or GV20. The mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency （TWL） were detected 2.5 h after administration of CFA by using Von Frey and plantar tester, respectively. The neurological deficit scores (NDS) were assessed by using Longa's method and the infarct size of the brain assessed after staining with 2% triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). The expression of c-fos protein in the dorsal horns (DHs) of the spinal cord was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: (1) Twenty-four hours following CIRI, the NDS and infarct volume were significantly increased in the model group compared with the sham-operation group (P<0.01), and obviously decreased in the GV20 EA and ST36 EA groups relevant to the CIRI model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the two EA groups in the NDS and infarct volume levels (P>0.05). (2) After administration of CFA, both the MPT and TPT were notably decreased in the inflammatory pain model group in contrast to the saline-injection group (P<0.01), but were considerably increased in both ST36 EA and GV20 EA groups (P<0.05), rather than in the sham EA group (P>0.05). The number of c-fos positive cells was significantly increased in the medial half of I-II and III-IV lamina of DHs in the L4-L6 segments of spinal cord in the inflammatory pain model group relevant to the saline-injection group (P<0.01,P<0.05), and was remarkably decreased in the lamina I-II (not in the deeper lamina) in both ST36 EA and GV20 EA groups (P<0.01), rather than in the sham EA group (P>0.05). No significant differences were found in the number of c-fos positive cells between the ST36 EA and GV20 EA groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data do not support the specificity of functions at least between GV20 EA and ST36 EA in both CIRI and inflammatory pain model rats. This is the first study reporting the effect of EA at GV20 for relieving CFA-induced inflammatory pain.

Role of spinal adenosine A1 receptors in the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the role of spinal adenosine A1 receptors (A1Rs) in the analgesic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) for neuropathic pain. METHODS: We performed EA for 30 minutes at the zusanli acupoint in the legs of rats with previously induced chronic constriction injuries and observed the mechanical and thermal pain thresholds 1 hour later. We also examined adenosine levels by high-performance liquid chromatography and A1R expression in the L4-6 spinal cord by western blot analysis. We then injected A1R short interfering RNA (AV-shA1RNA) into the L4-6 spinal cord to downregulate A1R expression and re-examined the mechanical and thermal pain thresholds. RESULTS: Adenosine levels and A1R expression in the L4-6 spinal cord were increased at 1 hour after EA. In addition, EA exhibited an analgesic effect that was reversed by AV-shA1RNA. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that EA at the zusanli acupoint elicits an analgesic effect against neuropathic pain, mediated by A1Rs in the spinal cord.

[Involvement of miR-34a and p53 protein of cerebral cortex in electroacpuncture analgesia in mice with neuropathic pain].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the involvement of miR-34a in cerebral cortex mediated anti-hyperalgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in mice with neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve, so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying improvement of neuropathic pain. METHODS: A total of 75 male C57BL/6 mice were equally randomized into 3 groups: sham, CCI model and CCI+EA (n=25 in each group). Mice of the sham group received simple separation of the right sciatic nerve without ligation. The CCI model was established by liagation of the right sciatic nerve. EA (2 Hz /15 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP9) for 30 min, once every other day. The mechanical and thermal pain threshold of the bilateral hind-paws was detected at the 3rd, 5th and 7th day after modeling, and the expression of miR-34a of bilateral cerebral cortex tissues and that of p53 protein of the left cerebral cortex were determined by using quantitive real time PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: The mechnical paw withdrawal frequency were significantly higher and the thermal paw withdrawal latencies (PWLs) were significantly shorter at the affected hind-limb (rather than at the healthy hind limb) on day 3, 5 and 7 in the CCI model group than those in the sham group (P<0.05), and considerably reversed at the affected hind-limb (rather than at the healthy hind limb) in the EA group than in the CCI model group (P<0.05), suggesting an analgesic effect of EA intervention. After modeling, the expression levels of miR-34a and p53 on day 3, 5 and 7 were significantly up-regulated in the left cerebral cortex tissue (rather than in the right cerebral cortex) of the CCI model group in comparison with the sham group (P<0.05). After EA intervention, the up-regulated expression levels of miR-34a and p53 in the left cerebral cortex tissue (rather than in the right cerebral cortex) were obviously suppressed in the EA group relevant to the CCI model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA stimulation of ST36 and SP9 can down-regulate the expression of miR-34a and p53 in the contra-lateral cerebral cortex tissue of the CCI mice, which may contribute to its anti-hyperalgesic effect.

[Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on pulmonary function and oxidative stress response in lower extremity surgery patients using tourniquet].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on pulmonary function, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in patients using tourniquet after lower extremity surgery. METHODS: A total of 40 patients who underwent lower extremity surgery were equally randomized into control group and TEAS group by using a random number table. All patients underwent lumbar epidural anesthesia combined with block anesthesia. The patients in the TEAS group were given TEAS at Zusanli (ST36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) beginning from 30 min before surgery to the end of surgery, and those in the control group received TEAS at the same acupoints with minimum current intensity. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded at each time point (T0: pre-surgery /TEAS, T1: 5 min after anesthesia, T2: 1 min before tourniquet-loosening, T3: 1 min after tourniquet-loosening, T4: 5 min after tourniquet-loosening, and T5: 6 h after tourniquet-loosening). Blood samples (4 mL) was collected from the radial artery before TEAS and 6 h after loosening tourniquet for analyzing blood gas parameters as partial pressure of caron dioxide(PCO2), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), alveolar partial pressure of oxygen (PAO2), alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference (PA-aDO2) and respiratory index (RI) by using a blood gas analyzer, and plasma SOD activity and MDA content were assayed by using xanthine oxidase method and thiobarbituric acid colorimetry method, respectively. RESULTS: Intra-group comparison showed that compared with T0, a significant increase was found in PA-aDO2 and RI at T5 and a significant reduction in PaO2 and PaO2/ PAO2 (a/A) ratio in the control group (P<0.05), and the same changes in the TEAS group (P<0.05) except a/A ratio. Comparison between two groups showed that at T5, both PaO2 and a/A levels were significantly higher in the TEAS group than in the control group (P<0.05), and both PA-aDO2 and RI levels were obviously lower in the TEAS group than in the control group (P<0.05), suggesting an improvement of the pulmonary function after TEAS. At T5, plasma SOD activity was significantly decreased and plasma MDA content was remarkably increased in the control group relevant to T0 (P<0.05), SOD activity was significantly higher in the TEAS group than in the control group (P<0.05), and MDA content was evidently lower in the TEAS group than in the control group (P<0.05), suggesting a reduction of oxidative stress response after TEAS. CONCLUSION: TEAS at ST36 and SP6 can improve pulmonary function and attenuate oxidative stress response in patients using tourniquet after lower extremity surgery.

Clinical study on Yishen Qufeng Shengshi Recipe () for glomerular proteinuria patients: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect of Yishen Qufeng Shengshi Recipe (, YQSR) in patients with glomerular proteinuria METHODS: A total of 145 patients with glomerular proteinuria were selected and randomly assigned to the treatment group (108 cases) and the control group (37 cases) according to a random number table in a ratio of 3:1. All patients received conventional and symptomatic treatment. In addition, patients in the treatment and control groups were given YQSR (200 mL, twice per day, orally) and losartan (50 mg/d orally), respectively for 6 months. The 24-h urine protein quantity, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine in the two groups were measured at multiple time points before and after treatment. RESULTS: At the end of the study, 5 cases were lost to follow-up in the treatment group and 1 in the control group. Finally, the statistical data included 103 cases in the treatment group and 36 cases in the control group. The total effectiveness after 2, 4, and 6 months was 81.6% (84/103), 87.4% (90/103), and 92.2% (95/103), respectively, in the treatment group and 47.2% (17/36), 55.6% (20/36), and 61.1% (22/36), respectively, in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01 at all observation points). In the treatment group, the curative effect after 6 months was better than that after 2 months (P<0.05). The 24-h urine protein quantity was significantly lower in the treatment group at 3, 4, 5, and 6 months than that in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01, respectively) CONCLUSION: YQSR could significantly reduce the amount of glomerular proteinuria in the early stage.

Molecular identification of spiders preying on Empoasca vitis in a tea plantation.

Biological control using predators of key pest species is an attractive option in integrated pest management (IPM). Molecular gut analysis can provide an estimation of predator efficiency on a given prey. Here we use a combination of various experimental approaches, both in field and lab, to identify a potential biological control species of the common pest of commercially grown tea, Empoasca vitis (Göthe) (Hemiptera), in a Chinese plantation. We collected 2655 spiders from plantations and established relative abundances of spider species and their temporal overlap with the pest species in tea canopy. We analyzed DNA from 1363 individuals of the most common spider species using targeted RQ-PCR to quantify the potential efficiency of spiders as a predator on E. vitis. The results showed that, in the field, the jumping spider Evarcha albaria was the most abundant, had the closest temporal overlap with the pest, and frequently fed on it. Therefore, this spider may play a key role in pest suppression. The present study demonstrates the potential of our experimental approach to study predator-prey relationships in taxa that do not lend themselves to morphological identification of gut contents, such as spiders.

Electroacupuncture-induced neuroprotection against focal cerebral ischemia in the rat is mediated by adenosine A1 receptors.

The activation of adenosine A1 receptors is important for protecting against ischemic brain injury and pretreatment with electroacupuncture has been shown to mitigate ischemic brain insult. The aim of this study was to test whether the adenosine A1 receptor mediates electroacupuncture pretreatment-induced neuroprotection against ischemic brain injury. We first performed 30 minutes of electroacupuncture pretreatment at the Baihui acupoint (GV20), delivered with a current of 1 mA, a frequency of 2/15 Hz, and a depth of 1 mm. High-performance liquid chromatography found that adenosine triphosphate and adenosine levels peaked in the cerebral cortex at 15 minutes and 120 minutes after electroacupuncture pretreatment, respectively. We further examined the effect of 15 or 120 minutes electroacupuncture treatment on ischemic brain injury in a rat middle cerebral artery-occlusion model. We found that at 24 hours reperfusion,120 minutes after electroacupuncture pretreatment, but not for 15 minutes, significantly reduced behavioral deficits and infarct volumes. Last, we demonstrated that the protective effect gained by 120 minutes after electroacupuncture treatment before ischemic injury was abolished by pretreatment with the A1-receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Our results suggest that pretreatment with electroacupuncture at the Baihui acupoint elicits protection against transient cerebral ischemia via action at adenosine A1 receptors.

New Sweet-Tasting C21-Pregnane Glycosides from Pericarps of Myriopteron extensum.

Ten novel C21 pregnane glycosides, extensumside C-L (1-10), were isolated as highly sweet-tasting substances from the edible pericarps of Myriopteron extensum (Wight) K. Schum by sensory-guided fractionation and purification. Their structures were determined through 1D and 2D NMR, such as HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY, HSQC-TOCSY, and ROESY, as well as other spectroscopic analysis combined with chemical evidence. These compounds shared the same aglycone, 3ß,16α-dihydroxy-pregn-5-en-20-one, and contained the deoxysugar chain and the glucose chain which were linked to C-3 and C-16 of the aglycone, respectively. The sweetness potency was evaluated by a human sensory panel test and preliminary structure-taste relationship was discussed. The sweetness intensities of these compounds are between 50 and 400 times greater than that of sucrose. Furthermore, quantitation analyses of compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 in different parts of M. extensum indicated that the concentrations of these sweet components in the pericarps are obviously higher than those in stems and roots.

[Treatment of Proteinuria in Chronic Glomerular Disease Patients with Pi-Shen Deficiency Complicated Damp-Heat Syndrome by Yishen Qingre Huashi Recipe: a Clinical Study].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Yishen Qingre Huashi Recipe (YQHR) in treating proteinuria of chronic glomerular disease patients with Pi-Shen deficiency complicated damp-heat syndrome (PSDCDHS). METHODS: Totally 121 stage 1 -2 primary chronic glomerular disease patients with PSDCDHS were randomly assigned to the treated group (85 cases) and the control group (36 cases) according to 2:1. All patients received conventional and symptomatic treatment. Patients in the treated group took YQHR additionally, while those in the control group took Losartan Potassium Tablet (50 mg each time, once per day) additionally. The therapeutic course for all was 6 months. Changes of 24 h urine protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine(SCr), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were observed at different time points. And the difference in therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the control group after 6 months of treatment, 24 h urine protein obviously decreased in the treated group (P <0. 05). There was no statistical difference in SCr, BUN, or eGFR between the two groups after 6 months of treatment (P >0. 05). The total effective rate after 2, 4, and 6 months of treatment in the treated group was 77. 6% (66/85 cases), 82. 4% (70/85 cases), and 89. 4% (76/85 cases), respectively. They were 47. 2% (17/36 cases), 55. 6% (20/36 cases), and 61. 1% (22/36 cases) in the control group, respectively. Compared with before treatment in the treated group, the total effective effect after 6 months of treatment was higher than that after 2 months of treatment (χ2=4. 28, P <0. 01). Compared with the control group at the same time points, the total effective rate in the treated group after 2, 4, and 6 months of treatment was higher (χ2=10. 87, 9. 53, 13.16, P <0. 01). CONCLUSION: YQHR could significantly lower proteinuria in chronic glomerular disease patients with PSDCDHS, improve the clinical effect, thereby providing clinical evidence for treating chronic glomerular disease proteinuria from resolving dampness and clearing heat.

[Adenosine Al Receptor Mediated Neuroprotection of Shenmai Injection on Rat Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: an Experimental Study].

OBJECTIVE: To observe whether adenosine Al receptor (Al R) mediated neuroprotection of Shenmai Injection (SI) on rat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: The focal cerebral I/R model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Totally 60 successfully modeled rats was divided into 5 groups according to randomized block principle, i.e., the model group, the SI group, the SI + AlR antagonist (1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine, DPCPX) group, the AlR antagonist control group, and the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) control group, 12 in each group. Besides, a sham-operation group was set up (n =12). SI at 15 mL/kg was peritoneally injected to mice in the SI group immediately after cerebral I/R. Equal volume of normal saline was injected to mice in the model group and the sham-operation group. DPCPX at 1 mg/mL was peritoneally injected to mice in the Al R antagonist control group 30 min before peritoneal injecting SI. DPCPX at 1 mg/kg and DMSO at 1 mL/kg were peritoneally injected to mice in the AlR antagonist control group and the DMSO control group 30 min immediately before cerebral I/R. Rats' neurobehavioral scores were assessed after 24 h reperfusion. The volume of cerebral infarction and Bcl-2 protein expression of cerebral infarction penumbra were also detected. Results Compared with the sham-operation group, neurobehavioral scores, the volume of cerebral infarction, and Bcl-2 protein expression increased (all P <0. 05). Compared with the model group, neurobehavioral scores and the volume of cerebral infarction obviously decreased, but Bcl-2 protein expression increased in the SI group (all P <0. 05). Compared with the SI group, neurobehavioral scores increased, the volume of cerebral infarction was obviously enlarged, and Bcl-2 protein expression was obviously reduced in the A1R antagonist control group (all P <0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: SI's neurobehavioral scores could be partially reversed in the Al R antagonist control group, the volume of cerebral infarction and Bcl-2 protein expression improved. AlR might possibly meditate neuroprotection of SI on MACO mire

Flavonoids and stilbenoids from Derris eriocarpa.

One new resveratrol analogue, 1-(3',4',5'-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-methoxy-2-(4″-methoxyphenyl)-ethane-1-ol (1), and two new prenylisoflavones, 4'-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-6-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-isoflavone (2), and derrubon 5-methyl ether (3), together with 17 known compounds including one new natural product, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-[4'-O-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-phenyl]-isoflavone (4), were isolated from the stems of ethnomedicinal plant Derris eriocarpa How. (Leguminosae). Their structures were elucidated based on chemical evidence and spectroscopic techniques including two-dimensional NMR methods. All compounds are reported from this species for the first time. Antimicrobial activities of the new compounds were evaluated. Compound 2 exhibited good inhibitory activities against Candida guilliermondii, C. albicans and Microsporium gypseum with the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 12.5 µg/ml.

[Effect of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation combined with target controlled infusion of propofol on efficacy of general anesthesia for craniotomy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) combined with target controlled infusion of Propofol on the doses of Propofol and adjuvant drugs, and on the resuscitation time of general anesthesia for craniotomy patients. METHODS: Forty patients (aged 27 - 65 years), scheduled for craniotomy and signed the informed consent, were randomly and equally divided into TAES group and control group. Patients of the two groups received intravenous anesthesia mainly with target controlled infusion of Propofol. TAES (2 Hz/100 Hz, 1-12 mA) was applied to bilateral Yuyao (EX-HN 4) and Taiyang (EX-HN5) for 20 min first before surgery, and then to bilateral Hegu (LI 4), Quanliao (SI 18) and Fengchi (GB 20) during operation and till the end of the operation. The dosages of Propofol and adjuvant drugs, the duration of surgery and anesthesia, and the time of resuscitation and extubation were recorded. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the dosages of Propofol and Nicardipine for craniotomy patients in the TAES group were significantly lower (P < 0.05), and the resuscitation time was obviously earlier and the tracheal catheter indwelling time markedly shorter in the TAES group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TAES combined with target controlled infusion of Propofol can reduce the dosage of Propofol and Nicardipine, and shorten the resuscitation time and tracheal catheter indwelling time in craniotomy patients.

[Local adenosine A1 receptors of baihui acupoint mediate cerebral ischemia tolerance induced by Electroacupuncture].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether local A1R of Baihui acupoint mediate cerebral ischemia tolerance induced by electro-acupuncture (EA). METHODS: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the sham-operation (S) group, the model group (M), the electroacupuncture (E) group, the CCPA group and the DMSO group. The focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Rats in the E group were received EA pretreatment baihui acupoint at 2 h before established MCAO. The rats in DMSO group and the CCPA group were injected with DMSO (20 µl) and CCPA (0.1 mmol/L) 20 µl into Baihui, respectively, at 2 h before established MCAO. After 24 h reperfusion, the rats' behavior, cerebral infarct volume, the cerebral Bcl-2 protein expression were assessed. RESULTS: Compared with M group, the rats' behavior was improved, the cerebral infarct volume was decreased and the Bcl-2 protein expression was up-regulated (P < 0.05) in the E group. Compared with M and DMSO group, the rats' behavior was improved, the cerebral infarct volume was decreased and the Bcl-2 protein expression was up-regulated (P < 0.05) in the CCPA group. There were no statistical differences between CCPA and E group. CONCLUSIONS: EA induced cerebral ischemia tolerance. Local A1R of Baihui acupoint possible mediate cerebral ischemia tolerance induced by Electroacupuncture.