Effect of Electro-acupuncture on Vasomotor Symptoms in Rats with Acute Cerebral Infarction Based on Phosphatidylinositol System.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on vasomotor symptoms in rats with acute cerebral infarction, by observing the changes in the expression of factors related to the phosphatidylinositol (PI) system. METHODS: Forty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups by a random number table: the control group (n=6), the model group (n=18) and the EA group (n=18). The EA group was given EA treatment at Shuigou (GV 26) instantly after modeling with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) method, while the model and control groups were not given any treatment. The degrees of neurological deficiency were evaluated using neurological severity scores (NSS) and the brain blood flow was evaluated by a laser scanning confocal microscope. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expression levels of G-protein subtype (Gq) and calmodulin (CaM). Competition for protein binding was conducted to detect the expression level of inositol triphosphate (IP3). Thin layer quantitative analysis was conducted to detect the expression level of diacylglycerol (DAG). The expression level of intracellular concentration of free calcium ion ([Ca2+]i) was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The NSS of the model group was significantly higher than the control group at 3 and 6 h after MCAO (P<0.01), while the EA group was significantly lower than the model group at 6 h (P<0.01). The cerebral blood flow in the model group was significantly lower than the control group at 1, 3 and 6 h after MCAO (P<0.01), while for the EA group it was remarkably higher than the model group at the same time points (P<0.01). The expressions of Gq, CaM, IP3, DAG and [Ca2+]i in the model group were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and those in the EA group were significantly lower than the model group at the same time points (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EA treatment at GV 26 can effectively decrease the over-expression of related factors of PI system in rats with acute cerebral infarction, improve cerebral autonomy movement, and alleviate cerebral vascular spasm.

[Effect of Tongli Shuji acupuncture on the expression of Jagged2 and Notch2 in a rat model of permanent ischemia of the right middle cerebral artery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Tongli Shuji acupuncture on the behavioristics, the percentage of cerebral infarct volume, and the expression of Jagged2 and Notch2 proteins in the hippocampus of the ischemic hemisphere in rats with permanent ischemia of the right middle cerebral artery, as well as the mechanism of Tongli Shuji acupuncture in improving ischemic cerebrovascular disease. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model control group, medication group, routine acupuncture group, and Tongli Shuji group, with 10 rats in each group. The suture method was used to establish a model of permanent ischemia of the right middle cerebral artery. The rats in the medication group were given Citicoline (0.4 mg/kg) by gavage, those in the routine acupuncture group were given acupuncture at"Baihui"(GV20) and"Dazhui" (GV14) 15 minutes per day, and those in the Tongli Shuji group were given acupuncture at "Zhengying "(GB17), "Tianjing"(SJ10), and"Huantiao"(GB30) at the left side. The neurological deficit score was determined on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after surgery, the percentage of cerebral infarct volume was measured after treatment, and Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of Jagged2 and Notch2 in the right hippocampal tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operation group, the model control group had significant increases in the neurological deficit score on day 1 after surgery (P<0.001). Compared with the model control, medication and routine acupuncture groups, the Tongli Shuji group had significant reductions in the neurological deficit score on day 21 after surgery (P<0.01). Compared with the sham-operation group, the model control group had a significant increase in the percentage of cerebral infarct volume(P<0.05)．The Tongli Shuji group had a significant reduction in the percentage of cerebral infarct volume compared with the medication groups (P<0.05). Compared with the model control group, the routine acupuncture group had a significant increase in the expression of hippocapmal Jagged2(P<0.01)．Compared with the model control, medication and routine acupuncture groups, the Tongli Shuji group had significant increases in the expression of hippocampal Jagged2 and Notch2 (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can improve the behavioral manifestations of neurological deficit in rats with permanent ischemia of the right middle cerebral artery. Tongli Shuji acupuncture can significantly up-regulate the protein expression of Jagged2 and Notch2 in the hippocampal tissue of the ischemic region, possibly by activating the Notch signaling pathway to exert a neuroprotective effect.

[Progress of Experimental Researches on Mechanisms of Acupuncture Underlying Improvement of Ischemic Cerebral Vascular Disease by Regulating Different Intracellular Signaling Pathways].

China is in the "high death zone" of the world cerebrovascular disease (CVD) map. The prevention and treatment of ischemic CVD (ICVD) have become the top priority in clinical practice. It has been demonstrated that acupuncture therapy has a positive role in bettering clinical symptoms of ICVD patients. Findings of recent experimental studies displayed that electroacupuncture (EA) intervention is effective in reducing the cerebral infarcted volume and cellular injury, promoting proliferation, migration and differentiation of nerve stem cells, facilitating the regeneration of nerve tissue, bettering dysneuria and limb locomotor ability, etc. in ICVD rats, which are closely associated with its effects in regulating different intracellular signaling pathways. In the present study, we review the progress of recent experimental studies on the underlying mechanisms of EA in improving ICVD from six major signaling pathways including Notch, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/ extracellular signal regulated protein kinases (ERK), phosphatidy linositol-3-kinase (PI 3 K)/ protein kinase B (Akt), Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), erythropoietin-producing hepatocyte receptor (Eph)/Ephrin, nuclear factor of kappa B (NF-κB) and their compositions, which may provide new therapeutic targets for acupuncture treatment of ICVD. More attention should be paid to the comparison of the efficacy of acupuncture of different acupoint combinations (traditional acupoint formulas) in relieving ICVD.

[Treatment of Chemotherapy Related Leukocytopenia by Oral Administration of Multiple Leucogenic Drugs Combined with G-CSF: an Experimental Study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacies of three commonly used oral drugs including Berbamine Hydrochloride Tablet (B), Qijiao Shengbai Capsule (Q), and Leucogen Tablet (L) (by single drug, two drugs or three drugs) combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for treat ment of chemotherapy related leukocytopenia in mice. METHODS: Totally 156 Kunming male mice were divided into the normal control group (A, n=24), the model group (B, n=24), the G-CSF group (C, n =24), the G-CSF+Q group (D, n=12), G-CSF+ B (E, n=12), the G-CSF+L group (F, n=12), the G-CSF + Q + B group (G, n=12), the G-CSF + Q + L group (H, n=12), the G-CSF + L + B group (I, n=12), and the G-CSF + L + Q + B (J, n=12). Mouse models of chemotherapy related leukocytopenia were established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX). A G-CSF group was set up as a positive control. Mice were treated by a single oral drug, a single oral drug combined with G-CSF, and two or three drugs combined with G-CSF respectively, and the death rate calculated. Hemocytes [such as white blood cells (WBC) and its classification, red blood cells (RBC), platelet (PLT), hemoglobin (Hb)] were calculated by hematology analyzer. Mice were anatomized and important organs weighed. Organ indices were calculated. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the mortality rate among all groups (P > 0.05). Compared with Group B, WBC was elevated in all other groups (P < 0.01). WBC and PLT were elevated most in Group J, Hb and RBC were also increased at the same time (P < 0.05, P < 0. 01). Compared with Group B, RBC increased in Group E, F, G, I, and J (P < 0.01); Hb obviously increased in Group C, E, F, H, I, and J (P<0.01). Compared with Group B and D, the promotion of erythroid hematopoiesis by G-CSF could be elevated in any group contained drug B and L (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The spleen index of model mice could be significantly improved in Group C, D, and G (P < 0.01). The thymus index of model mice could be significantly improved in Group H (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The best scheme to treat mice with chemotherapy related leukopenia or decreased three blood series was to administrate three commonly oral drugs combined with G-CSF. Authors speculated that G-CSF and Q might have a certain effect on CTX induced immune inhibition.

[Characteristic analysis of the adsorption/desorption of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sediments of Taihu Lake].

The adsorption isotherms curves of 90 simples were studied in Taihu Lake through the experiment of adsorption/desorption. And the relation between the equilibrium concentrations, NAP, adsorption efficiency and corresponding parameter in interstitial water and sediment has been analyzed, in order to analyze the "source" and "collection" of Taihu. The results showed that the isotherms curves of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sediment had significant correlations in the range of the concentrations of experiment. The average equilibrium concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus are 1.10 mg/L and 0.11 mg/L respectively. The average of NAP of nitrogen and phosphorus are 23.55 mg/kg and 11.72 mg/kg respectively. The NAP of nitrogen and phosphorus are higher in the area of serious pollution. The average adsorption efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus are 23.14 L/kg and 102.09 L/kg respectively. Significant correlations were found between the equilibrium concentrations of adsorption/desorption of nitrogen and phosphous and corresponding parameter in interstitial water or sediment. Overall the sediment is the "source" of the nitrogen and phosphorus.