Acupuncture reduces pain in rats with osteoarthritis by inhibiting MCP2/CCR2 signaling pathway.

Acupuncture is an emerging alternative therapy that has been beneficial for the pain of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the underlying mechanism of protective effect remains unclear. MCP1/CCR2 axis can be stimulated in various periods of OA, and we hypothesize that acupuncture may treat OA by regulating the MCP1/CCR2 axis. This study aimed to explore the effect of acupuncture at points ST35 and ST36 on the effects of hyperalgesia and cartilage in OA rats including the expression of chemokines, nerve growth factor (NGF), and inflammatory-related proteins. OA was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by anterior cruciate ligament transection at the right knee. The first acupuncture intervention was performed on the seventh day after surgery and once a day for seven weeks. The knee-pain-related behaviors, histology, and related protein were examined in this study. We have found that electroacupuncture at ST35 and ST36 can significantly alleviate the hyperalgesia and cartilage degeneration as well as reducing nerve sprouting in OA knee joint. Moreover, acupuncture treatment may inhibit the MCP1/CCR2 axis as well as down-regulate inflaming factor and NGF in cartilage and synovial tissue. The data presented here indicate that acupuncture exerts a protective effect against hyperalgesia and cartilage degeneration, and the mechanism might involve in chemokines and NGF pathway.

Curative effect of autologous platelet rich plasma on facial acne scars / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of two administration modes of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP),intradermal injection (ID) and microneedle technique in the treatment of facial post acne scars.Methods From March 2017 to March 2018,32 patients (8 male,14female) with facial acne scars were included.They were randomly divided into two groups (group A and group B) and both underwent splitface therapy.Each group was randomly divided into two subgroups.Group A was administered by microneedle + PRP (A1) on one side and by microneedle + saline (A2) on the other.In group B,one cheek was treated with ID PRP (B1) and the other received ID saline (B2).Each patient received overall 3 treatments per session with 28 days intervals.Patients were followed-up six months after their last treatment and clinical evaluation was assessed by 2 independent plastic surgeons and patients themself.Results The results were obvious difference between each group.The score of evaluation by physicians and patients in A1 group (2.565 ± 0.504) point showed significantly better results compared with other groups.B1 group (1.820±0.592) point was significantly higher than B2 group (1.345±0.483) point (P＜0.05).There were no statistical difference regarding scores of improvement between A2 group (1.405±0.499) point and B2 group (1.345±0.483) point (P＞0.05).The total effective rate in A1 group was 100％,which was higher than B1 group (43.75％),A2 group (81.25％) and B2 group (25％),with statistical significance (P＜0.05).Conclusions The current study introduces the combination of autologous PRP and microneedle technique as an effective and safe modality in the treatment of facial post acne scars with short recovery time and easy operation.Any concerns of immunogenic reactions or disease transfer are eliminated because PRP is prepared from autologous blood.Therefore,the method is suitable to be widely used in clinic.

Effects of moxibustion on Treg/Th17 cell and its signal pathway in mice with rheumatoid arthritis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of moxibustion on Treg/Th17 imbalance and related signal pathway in mice with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), so as to explore the action mechanism of moxibustion on RA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four DBA/1J male mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a sham moxibustion group and a moxibustion group, 6 mice in each one. RA model was induced by subcutaneous injection of typeⅡcollagen and adjuvant at tail in mice other than the normal group. The mice in the moxibustion group were treated with moxibustion at"Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Shenshu" (BL 23), 1 mg per cone, 6 cones per acupoint. The consecutive 6-day treatment was taken as one course, and totally 2 courses were given with an interval of 2 d between courses. The mice in the sham moxibustion group were treated with immobilization as the moxibustion group. The effects of moxibustion on joint swelling was evaluated by RA scale of collagen induced arthritis (CIA); the pathological changes of joint inflammation were observed by HE staining; the cell count of Th17 and Treg in spleen was analyzed by flow cytometry; the content of cytokine IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-23, TGF-β and Galectin-9 were analyzed by ELISA; the mRNA and protein expression of Foxp3, Galectin-9, RORγt, CARMA1, NF-κB were analyzed by Real-time PCR and Western Blotting method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ten to 12 d after the secondary immune, red and swelling of ankle joint, feet and toe joint were observed, indicating successful establishment of RA model. 15 d into moxibustion treatment, the joint swelling was improved in the moxibustion group and the sham moxibustion group, which was superior in the moxibustion group (<0.05). As for pathological changes, compare with the normal group, the articular surface was rougher and synovial layer thinner in the model group, which was recovered to a certain extent in the sham moxibustion group; the articular surface was smooth and synovial layer was thicker in the moxibustion group, which was similar to the normal group. The results of flow cytometry test indicated the cell count of Treg in the model group was reduced but that of Th17 was increased than the normal group (both<0.01); the moxibustion could increase significantly the cell count of Treg (<0.05), but no effect was observed on Th17 (>0.05). The results of ELISA test indicated the differences of increasing of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, TGF-βas well as the reducing of IL-10 were not significant between the sham moxibustion group and the moxibustion group (all>0.05); moxibustion treatment could increase the content of Galectin-9 which was reduced in RA mice (<0.05). The results of RT-PCR and Western blotting test indicated the mRNA and protein expression of Foxp3, Galectin-9 were reduced in the model group (all<0.01), which could be up-regulated by moxibustion treatment (<0.05,<0.01); the mRNA and protein expression of RORγt, CARMA1, NF-κB was increased (all<0.01), which could be down-regulated by moxibustion treatment (<0.05,<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion could improve the swelling of joint and inflammatory reaction of joint synovial in RA mice; the mechanism may be related to the regulation of Treg cells number in spleen and the expression of Foxp3, Galectin-9, RORγt, CARMA1, NF-κB, mRNA and protein expression.</p>

Mechanism of DADS in the bystander effect of HSV-tk/GCV suicide gene therapy system in lens epithelial cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the mechanism and effect of diallyl disulfide (DADS) on the bystander effect of herpes simplex virus kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) suicide gene therapy system which was mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) in lens epithelial cells.@*METHODS@#Immunohistochemistry method was used to determine the distribution of connexin 43 (Cx43) protein in cultured rabbit lens epithelial cells and rabbit lens epithelial cells transfected by HSV-tk suicide gene. Cx43 protein was measured and analyzed in cultured rabbit lens epithelial cells and rabbit lens epithelial cells transfected by HSV-tk suicide gene that was induced by various DADS. Cell survival was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method.@*RESULTS@#DADS increased the Cx43 protein expression in cultured rabbit lens epithelial cells and rabbit lens epithelial cells transfected by HSV-tk suicide gene, and especially in 50 μmol/L DADS. After combining with DADS, the bystander effect was significantly improved (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#DADS can elevate the expression of Cx43 protein and enhance the bystander effect of HSV-tk/GCV suicide gene therapy system.