Tuina therapy for temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) is common in clinic at present, which seriously affects the mental health and quality of life of patients. With the development of society, the incidence of TMD is gradually increasing. At present, there are many treatment methods, Tuina as a characteristic traditional Chinese medicine therapy, clinical treatment of TMD has a significant effect. In recent years, there are many clinical studies on Tuina in the treatment of TMD, but the clinical efficacy of Tuina in the treatment of TMD has not been systematically evaluated. In this study, we systematically evaluated the relevant literature of Tuina in the treatment of TMD by using the method of evidence-based medicine, in order to provide reference for clinical research in this direction in the future. METHODS: VIP Chinese database, China knowledge Network, Wanfang, China Biomedical Database, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for clinical randomized controlled trials of Tuina in the treatment of TMD from the establishment of the database to December 2020. The 2 researchers independently screened the literature and carried out quality assessment and data extraction for the included study, and used RevMan5.3 software for risk assessment and Meta analysis. RESULTS: In this study, the efficacy and safety of Tuina in the treatment of TMD were evaluated by effective rate, visual analog score (VAS) of temporomandibular joint pain, dysfunction index ((DI), palpation index (PI), craniomandibular index (CMI), maximum mouth opening (MMO), incidence of adverse reactions and so on. CONCLUSION: This protocol can provide evidence-based basis for the treatment of TMD, with Tuina to significantly improve the symptoms and function of patients with TMD. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/J75A8.

Rosmarinic Acid Protects Mice from Concanavalin A-Induced Hepatic Injury through AMPK Signaling.

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is extensively utilized in herbal medicine in China. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling can be activated by RA and inhibited by the synthetic, reversible AMP-competitive inhibitor, Compound C (CC). The objective of this study was to investigate the role of AMPK signaling involving the protective effects of RA on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in mice. BALB/c mice were treated with RA, with or without CC, followed by the pretreatment with Con A. Analysis of serum aminotransferases and cytokines were conducted and liver tissue histology was performed to evaluate hepatic injury. Cytokine levels in serum and hepatic tissue were respectively measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and used quantitative (q)PCR. Levels of phosphorylated acetyl CoA carboxylase in the liver, representing AMPK activation, were detected by Western blotting. Compared with the Con A group, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in RA group (100 and 150 mg/kg/d) were significantly reduced. RA also reduced hepatocyte swelling, cell death, and infiltration of leukocytes in the liver of Con A-treated mice. Serum levels of cytokines, such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), were reduced by RA pretreatment, while the levels of serum interleukin-10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, was elevated. These protective effects were reversed by treatment with CC. RA treatment reduced the hepatic damage via the activation of AMPK in the mice of Con A-induced. So RA acts as a potential part in the therapy of autoimmune hepatitis.

Attapulgite modified magnetic metal-organic frameworks for magnetic solid phase extraction and determinations of benzoylurea insecticides in tea infusions.

Herein, we developed a novel magnetic solid phase extraction method based on attapulgite-modified magnetic metal-organic frameworks (ATP@Fe3O4@ZIF-8), and this method could be used for the determination of benzoylureas when it was coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography. The established method was validated in terms of linearity (2.5-500 µg L-1, with correlation coefficient (R2) > 0.9994), accuracy (with satisfactory recovery of 88.29-95.99%) and precision (with relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 8%). In addition, the enrichment factors (EF) ranged from 63.6 to 72.2. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.7-3.2 µg L-1 and 2.3-10.7 µg L-1, respectively. Moreover, there was hardly any noticeable loss of the extraction efficiency when this extraction method undergoes five cycles. Finally, this method was successfully used for the determination of six benzoylureas in different tea infusions and the determined relative recoveries ranged from 78.8 to 114.3%.

[Electroacupuncture reduces obesity by improving metabolism and up-regulating expression of hypothalamic Sirtuin 1 and proopiomelanocortin in obese rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on expression of hypothalamic sirtuin 1(SIRT1) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC), and body weight, food-intake, blood glucose, and blood lipid levels in obese rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of obesity. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal, model, EA, and sham EA groups (n＝10 rats in each group). The obesity model was established by feeding the rats with high fat diet. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to "Zusanli" (ST36), "Zhongwan" (CV12), "Guanyuan" (CV4) and "Fenglong" (ST40) or sham acupoints (about 5 mm beside each acupoint, shallow needling) for 20 min, once every other day for 8 weeks. The rats' body weight and food-intake were recorded. The blood glucose (fasting plasma glucose: FPG, postprandial plasma glucose: PPG) and blood lipids (triglyceride: TG, total cholesterol: TC, non esterified fatty acid: NEFA) were assayed by using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The protein and mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 and POMC in the hypothalamus were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. RESULTS: In comparison with the normal group, the body weight, food-intake, blood lipids, and PPG levels were significantly increased (P<0.05，P<0.01), and the expression levels of SIRT1 protein and mRNA in the hypothalamus were significantly doun-regulated in the model group (P<0.05). Following EA, the body weight, food-intake, blood lipids, and PPG levels were considerably down-regulated (P<0.01，P<0.05), and the expression levels of SIRT1 and POMC protein and mRNA in the hypothalamus were significantly up-regulated in the EA group rather than those in the sham EA and the model groups (P<0.05)．. CONCLUSION: EA can reduce the obese rats' body weight, food-intake, blood lipids and blood glucose, which may be associated with its effect in up-regulating the SIRT1 and POMC expression of hypothalamus.

Cardiotoxicity of Consolida rugulosa, a poisonous weed in Western China.

Poisonous weeds are a global problem since they not only hinder local economic development, but also cause ecological harm. Consolida rugulosa (family Ranunculaceae) is a weed that is widespread in Northwestern China and causes severe poisoning when ingested by livestock. In the present study, we purified the toxins in this plant and investigated their mechanism of action. Five natural diterpene alkaloids (compounds 1-5)-including two new compounds (1 and 2)-were isolated, and five semi-synthetic derivatives (6-10) were synthesised based on 4 or 5 for structure-activity analysis. The toxicity of the compounds was evaluated in vitro with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. All of the compounds-especially 1-stimulated LDH release in primary cultured rat myocardial cells, an effect that was blocked by the Na+ channel blocker lidocaine. Electrocardiography revealed that rats treated with 1 had severe arrhythmia, while heart Doppler echocardiography and analysis of serum biomarkers levels revealed that administration of 1 for 15 days induced changes in cardiac structure and myocardial enzyme levels. These effects were antagonised by lidocaine treatment. Thus, diterpene alkaloids are the main compounds responsible for the cardiotoxicity of C. rugulosa, which can be mitigated by co-administration of lidocaine.

[Differences of acupuncture and moxibustion on heart rate variability in qi-deficiency syndrome:a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the improvement of acupuncture and moxibustion on symptoms of qi-deficiency syndrome as well as their differences on the parameters of heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: Thirty patients with qi-deficiency syndrome and 15 healthy volunteers were recruited. Thirty patients with qi-deficiency syndrome were randomly assigned into an acupuncture group and a moxibustion group, 15 cases in each one. Fifteen healthy volunteers were allocated as a healthy control group. Patients in the acupuncture group and healthy control group were treated with acupuncture while patients in the moxibustion group were treated with moxibustion. Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zusanli (ST 36) were chosen for treatment, once every other day, for totally 10 times. All the patients were evaluated with qi-deficiency assessment scale (QDAS) and HRV parameters before treatment, after 4th treatment and after all treatment. The correlation was analyzed between QDAS and HRV parameters, and HRV parameters were compared among the three groups before treatment, after 4th treatment and after all treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the scores of QDAS were decreased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group after 4th treatment and after all treatment (all P<0.05); after all treatment the score of QDAS in the moxibustion group was lower than that in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The HRV parameters of qi-deficiency syndrome were significantly lower than those of healthy volunteers with higher correlation with QDAS. Compared before treatment, the mean heart rate was decreased after treatment (P<0.05), while total HRV and low frequency were increased in the moxibustion group (both P<0.05). The mean heart rate in the healthy control group was increased after treatment (P<0.05). The differences of HRV parameters before and after treatment were not significant in the acupuncture group (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Total HRV can reflect the severity of qi-deficiency syndrome. Both acupuncture and moxibustion can improve symptoms of qi-deficiency patients, which is superior in moxibustion. The possible mechanism is likely to be related with improved sustainable activation of autonomic nervous system.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion have Different Effects on Fatigue by Regulating the Autonomic Nervous System: A Pilot Controlled Clinical Trial.

In order to investigate the different effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and alterations in the autonomic nervous system by measuring heart rate variability (HRV). Forty-five participants were recruited and randomly divided into 3 groups using a randomization schedule. The control group (CG, n = 15) and the acupuncture group (AG, n = 15) were treated by manipulation acupuncture, and the moxibustion group (MG, n = 15) was treated by indirect moxibustion. Primary outcomes were the scores of the Fatigue Assessment Instrument (FAI). Secondary outcomes were the HRV parameters which can reflect activity of the autonomic nervous system. This trial considered both instantaneous changes and long-term effectiveness. FAI scores decreased after the 4th and 10th treatments in the 3 groups. The decrease in FAI in the MG was greater than that in the AG. Acupuncture was more effective in instantaneous changes of HRV and moxibustion in long-term aspects. Both acupuncture and moxibustion improved fatigue in CFS patients, but moxibustion was more effective. The possible mechanism of the intervention may be through activation of the vagus nerve. Moxibustion was more effective than acupuncture in long-term treatment of CFS.

Effect of hypobaric hypoxia on the P2X receptors of pyramidal cells in the immature rat hippocampus CA1 sub-field.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of hypobaric hypoxia (HH) on the function and expression of P2X receptors in rat hippocampus CA1 pyramidal cells. RESEARCH DESIGN: The functional changes of P2X receptors were investigated through the cell HH model and the expressional alterations of P2X receptors were observed through the animal HH model. METHODS AND PROCEDURE: P2X receptors mediated currents were recorded from the freshly dissociated CA1 pyramidal cells of 7-day-old SD rats by whole cell patch clamp recording. The expression and distribution of P2X receptors were observed through immunohistochemistry and western blot at HH 3-day and 7-day. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: In acute HH conditions, the amplitudes of ATP evoked peak currents were decreased compared to control. The immunohistochemistry and western blot results reflected there was no change in P2X receptors expression after 3 days HH injury, while P2X receptors expression was up-regulated in response to 7 days HH injury. CONCLUSIONS: These findings supported the possibility that the function of P2X receptors was sensitive to HH damage and long-term function decrease should result in the expression increase of P2X receptors.

Role of midbrain periaqueductal gray P2X3 receptors in electroacupuncture-mediated endogenous pain modulatory systems.

Extracellular ATP facilitates pain transmission at peripheral and spinal sites via the P2X receptors and the P2X3 subtype is an important candidate for this effect. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been clinically utilized to manage chronic pain. In this study, with neuropathic pain model of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, the P2X3 receptor protein level and expression location in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG), a crucial site in endogenous pain modulatory system, were evaluated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The results showed (1) pain thresholds were decreased while P2X3 receptor expression was up-regulated in the lateral PAG (lPAG) when neuropathic pain occurred. When the lPAG was pretreated with P2X3 receptors, antagonist A-317491 attenuated the antinociceptive effect produced by intra-lPAG injection of alpha,beta-methylene-ATP (alpha, beta-meATP), an agonist for P2X3 receptor. (2) Multiple EA treatments begot enhanced pain thresholds and increased P2X3 receptor immunoreactivity in the lPAG in neuropathic pain rats. Conversely, the down-regulated P2X3 receptor expression in the lPAG with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) for P2X3 gene significantly attenuated the antinociceptive effect of EA treatment. These results suggest that P2X3 receptors in the lPAG play an inhibitory role in pain modulation and EA exerts a marked therapeutic effect in relieving neuropathic pain in CCI rats, which may be related to its regulative effect on the expression of P2X3 receptors in the lPAG. In conclusion, P2X3 receptors in the lPAG are involved in the supraspinal antiociception effect of EA treatment.

Resveratrol as a novel agent for treatment of multiple myeloma with matrix metalloproteinase inhibitory activity.

AIM: To examine the in vitro antitumor activity of resveratrol against multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines (RPMI 8226, U266, and KM3), and the mechanisms involved. METHODS: The growth inhibition of resveratrol was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The effect of resveratrol on the apoptosis was investigated by combined annexin V-propidium iodide staining. The effect of resveratrol on the invasion through Matrigel matrix was detected by transwell invasion analyses. The activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 proteins were determined by gelatin zymography analysis. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), XIAP and Bax protein were detected using Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Resveratrol inhibited proliferation of MM cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Incubation of MM cells with resveratrol resulted in apoptotic cell death. Resveratrol down-regulated the expression of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L) and XIAP and up-regulated the expression of the proapoptotic protein Bax. Furthermore, resveratrol inhibited invasion of RPMI 8226, U266, and KM3 cells with IC50 values of 64+/-8 micromol/L, 93+/-11 micromol/L, and 153+/-11 micromol/L, respectively. Resveratrol inhibited the constitutive expression of MMP-2 and -9 proteins of MM cells and suppressed its gelatinolytic activity. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol inhibits the proliferation of MM cells by inducing apoptotic cell death. Resveratrol also inhibits MM cell invasion. The inhibition of invasion may be associated with the attenuation of the enzymatic activities of MMP-2 and -9.