Painful Diabetic Neuropathy Is Associated with Compromised Microglial IGF-1 Signaling Which Can Be Rescued by Green Tea Polyphenol EGCG in Mice.

Background: Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a frequent and troublesome complication of diabetes, with little effective treatment. PDN is characterized by specific spinal microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) primarily derives from microglia in the brain and serves a vital role in averting the microglial transition into the proinflammatory M1 phenotype. Given that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that can regulate IGF-1 signaling, we speculated that EGCG administration might reduce spinal microglia-related neuroinflammation and combat the development of PDN through IGF-1/IGF1R signaling. Methods: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) was established by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in mice. The protein expression level of IGF-1, its receptor IGF1R, interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by Western blot or immunofluorescence. Results: The spinal IGF-1 expression markedly decreased along with the presence of pain-like behaviors, the spinal genesis of neuroinflammation (increased IL-1ß, TNF-α, and Iba-1+ microglia), and the intensified M1 microglia polarization (increased iNOS+Iba-1+ microglia) in diabetic mice. IGF-1 could colocalize with neurons, astrocytes, and microglia, but only microglial IGF-1 was repressed in T1DM mice. Furthermore, we found that i.t. administration of mouse recombinant IGF-1 (rIGF-1) as well as i.t. or i.p. treatment with EGCG alleviated the diabetes-induced pain-like behaviors, reduced neuroinflammation (suppressed IL-1ß, TNF-α, and Iba-1+ microglia), prevented the M1 microglia polarization (less iNOS+Iba-1+ microglia), and restored the microglial IGF-1 expression. Conclusions: Our data highlighted the importance of maintaining spinal IGF-1 signaling in treating microglia-related neuroinflammation in PDN. This study also provides novel insights into the neuroprotective mechanisms of EGCG against neuropathic pain and neuroinflammation through IGF-1 signaling, indicating that this agent may be a promising treatment for PDN in the clinical setting.

A Single-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind Study of 94 Patients Undergoing Surgery for Cerebral Glioma to Compare Postoperative Thromboprophylaxis with and without Rivaroxaban.

BACKGROUND Venous thrombosis (VTE) is a common adverse event among inpatients, which can cause pulmonary embolism, and greatly increases mortality. The effects of rivaroxaban in patients undergoing brain glioma surgery have still not been explored. This single-center study of 94 patients undergoing surgery for cerebral glioma aimed to compare postoperative thromboprophylaxis with and without rivaroxaban. MATERIAL AND METHODS We designed a randomized, controlled, double-blind study to evaluate the effect of rivaroxaban on 94 patients undergoing brain glioma surgery. These patients were divided into a rivaroxaban group (administered at 10 mg per day from admission to discharge) and a placebo group. The primary study endpoint was incidence of VTE at discharge. The secondary endpoints included safety outcomes of major bleeding, allergy, or VTE-related death. RESULTS A total of 94 patients were enrolled in the study: 47 in the rivaroxaban group and 47 in the placebo group. Baseline characteristics of participants were well-matched in both groups. A significant reduction was found in the incidence of VTE in the rivaroxaban treatment group versus the placebo group (1/47 vs 10/47 patients, P=0.008). The rate of major bleeding events was quite low in both group (1/47 vs 1/47 patients). One patient in the placebo group died due to a pulmonary embolism and intractable concomitant underlying diseases. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that treatment with rivaroxaban is a safe and effective thromboprophylaxis treatment in patients undergoing surgery for malignant cerebral glioma.

Efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with general anesthesia for sedation and postoperative analgesia in minimally invasive lung cancer surgery: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Multimodal opioid-sparing analgesia is a key component of an enhanced recovery pathway after surgery that aims to improve postoperative recovery. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is assumed to alleviate pain and anxiety and to modify the autonomic nervous system. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of TEAS for sedation and postoperative analgesia in lung cancer patients undergoing thoracoscopic pulmonary resection. METHODS: A total of 80 patients were randomized into two groups: the TEAS group and the sham TEAS combined with general anesthesia group. Postoperative pain levels at six, 24, 48 hours, and one month after surgery were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Bispectral index (BIS) score during the TEAS prior to anesthetic induction, Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (OAAS) score, sufentanil consumption during postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA), number of total and effective attempts of PCIA pump use, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Patients in the TEAS group had significantly lower VAS scores at six, 24, and 48 hours after surgery (P < 0.01); lower BIS scores at 10, 20, and 30 minutes before induction (P < 0.01); lower levels of postoperative sufentanil consumption; lower number of PCIA attempts and effective rates (P < 0.01); lower incidences of nausea at 0, six, 24, and 48 hours; and lower incidence of vomiting at 24 hours after surgery (P < 0.05). The postoperative OAAS scores were similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: TEAS could be a feasible approach for sedation and postoperative analgesia in thoracoscopic pulmonary resection.

Reduced GABAergic transmission in the ventrobasal thalamus contributes to thermal hyperalgesia in chronic inflammatory pain.

The ventrobasal (VB) thalamus is innervated by GABAergic afferents from the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) and participates in nociception. But how the TRN-VB pathway regulates pain is not fully understood. In the present study, we reported decreased extracellular GABA levels in the VB of rats with CFA-induced chronic inflammatory pain, measured by microdialysis with HPLC analysis. In vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recording showed decreased amplitudes of tonic currents, increased frequencies of mIPSCs, and increased paired-pulse ratios in thalamic slices from chronic inflammatory rats (7 days). Microinjection of the GABAAR agonist muscimol and optogenetic activation of the TRN-VB pathway relieved thermal hyperalgesia in chronic inflammatory pain. By contrast, microinjecting the extrasynaptic GABAAR agonist THIP or selective knockout of synaptic GABAAR γ2 subunits aggravated thermal hyperalgesia in the chronic stage of inflammatory pain. Our findings indicate that reduced GABAergic transmission in the VB contributes to thermal hyperalgesia in chronic inflammatory pain, which could be a synaptic target for pharmacotherapy.

Clinical considerations and surgical approaches for low-grade gliomas in deep hemispheric locations: thalamic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Tumors with epicenter in the thalamus occur in about 4 % of pediatric brain tumors. The histological diagnosis is mainly gliomas. Among them, low-grade glioma (LGG) constituted of a significant entity of the tumors (Cuccia et al., Childs Nerv Syst 13:514-521, 1997; Puget et al., J Neurosurg 106:354-362, 2007; Bernstein et al., J Neurosurg 61:649-656, 1984; Bilginer et al., Childs Nerv Syst 30:1493-1498, 2014). Since Kelly's report in 1989, >90 % resection of thalamic tumors were achieved in reported series (Ozek and Ture, Childs Nerv Syst 18:450-6, 2002; Villarejo et al., Childs Nerv Syst 10:111-114, 1994; Moshel et al., Neurosurgery 61:66-75, 2007; Albright, J Neurosurg 100(5 Suppl Pediatrics): 468-472, 2004; Kelly, Neurosurgery 25:185-195, 1989; Drake et al., Neurosurgery 29: 27-33, 1991). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-nine cases of thalamic tumors in children were retrospectively reviewed. There were 25 cases of LGGs. We analyzed our experience and correlated it with reported series. RESULTS: Summing up of 4 reported series and the present series, there were 267 cases of thalamic tumors in children. Among these tumors, 107 (40.1 %) were LGGs and 91 (34.1 %) were low-grade astrocytomas (LGAs). In the present series, all of the 25 LGGs were LGAs that consisted of 11 pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) and 14 diffuse astrocytomas (DAs). Six cases received biopsy sampling only. The remaining 19 cases received different degrees of surgical resection via several approaches. Radical (>90 %) resection was achieved better in PAs comparing with DAs. There was no operative mortality. Two patients had increased neurological deficits. In a mean follow-up period of 11.9 years, three patients died of tumor progression and one patient died of anaplastic change. The 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) was 87.1 and 87.1 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: Thalamic LGGs are mainly LGAs and are indolent. The rate of >90 % resection was relatively low in the present series. By applying contemporary diagnostic MRI studies, surgical facilities, and appropriate approaches in selective cases, we may try maximum neuroprotective radical (>90 %) resection.

Elevated Neurosteroids in the Lateral Thalamus Relieve Neuropathic Pain in Rats with Spared Nerve Injury.

Neurosteroids are synthesized in the nervous system from cholesterol or steroidal precursors imported from peripheral sources. These compounds are important allosteric modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid A receptors (GABAARs), which play a vital role in pain modulation in the lateral thalamus, a main gate where somatosensory information enters the cerebral cortex. Using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, we found increased levels of neurosteroids (pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, allopregnanolone, and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone) in the chronic stage of neuropathic pain (28 days after spared nerve injury) in rats. The expression of the translocator protein TSPO, the upstream steroidogenesis rate-limiting enzyme, increased at the same time. In vivo stereotaxic microinjection of neurosteroids or the TSPO activator AC-5216 into the lateral thalamus (AP -3.0 mm, ML ±3.0 mm, DV 6.0 mm) alleviated the mechanical allodynia in neuropathic pain, while the TSPO inhibitor PK 11195 exacerbated it. The analgesic effects of AC-5216 and neurosteroids were significantly attenuated by the GABAAR antagonist bicuculline. These results suggested that elevated neurosteroids in the lateral thalamus play a protective role in the chronic stage of neuropathic pain.

Randomised controlled trial of contralateral manual acupuncture for the relief of chronic shoulder pain.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of contralateral manual acupuncture (MA) on patients with chronic shoulder pain. METHODS: Eighty patients with chronic shoulder pain were randomly allocated to receive contralateral MA (n=38) for 4 weeks or to remain on a waiting list while receiving conventional orthopaedic therapy (n=42). Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were taken as the primary outcome measure and used for a priori power calculation. Secondary outcome measures for the assessment of shoulder mobility and quality of life included the Jobe test, the Constant-Murley (CM) score, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, and the 36 item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis demonstrated significant pain relief with contralateral acupuncture, with mean differences in VAS scores compared to the waiting list group of -19.4 (-28.0 to -10.8) at 2 weeks, -40.4 (-49.0 to -31.8) at 4 weeks, -41.1 (-49.7 to -32.5) at 8 weeks, and -40.9 (-49.5 to -32.3) at 16 weeks. CM and DASH scores were also improved at all time points (p<0.01). Shoulder mobility, physical functioning, social functioning and mental health components of the SF-36 were also improved by contralateral acupuncture at 8 weeks. No significant adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate beneficial effects of contralateral acupuncture in the treatment of chronic shoulder pain, both in terms of pain and function. Future research is required to compare directly the effects of local and contralateral acupuncture and to quantify the specific and non-specific effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01733914.

Effect of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation on propofol sedation: an electroencephalogram analysis of patients undergoing pituitary adenomas resection.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) as a needleless acupuncture has the same effect like traditional manual acupuncture. The combination of TAES and anesthesia has been proved valid in enhancing the anesthetic effects but its mechanisms are still not clear. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the effect of TAES on anesthesia with an electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillation analysis on surgery patients anesthetized with propofol, a widely-used anesthetic in clinical practice. EEG was continuously recorded during light and deep propofol sedation (target-controlled infusion set at 1.0 and 3.0 µg/mL) in ten surgery patients with pituitary tumor excision. Each concentration of propofol was maintained for 6 min and TAES was given at 2-4 min. The changes in EEG power spectrum at different frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) and the coherence of different EEG channels were analyzed. RESULTS: Our result showed that, after TAES application, the EEG power increased at alpha and beta bands in light sedation of propofol, but reduced at delta and beta bands in deep propofol sedation (p < 0.001). In addition, the EEG oscillation analysis showed an enhancement of synchronization at low frequencies and a decline in synchronization at high frequencies between different EEG channels in either light or deep propofol sedation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed evidence suggested that TAES may have different effects on propofol under light and deep sedation. TAES could enhance the sedative effect of propofol at low concentration but reduce the sedative effect of propofol at high concentration.

Cortical activities of heat-sensitization responses in suspended moxibustion: an EEG source analysis with sLORETA.

Moxibustion is under active research as a complementary and alternative treatment for various diseases such as pain. "Heat-sensitization" responses have been reported during suspended moxibustion, whose occurrence is associated with significantly better therapeutic effects. The present study aimed to investigate the cortical activities of this interesting phenomenon by a standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography. We performed electroencephalography recording in a group of patients with chronic low back pain before, during, and after moxibustion treatment at Yaoyangguan (DU3) areas. 11 out of 21 subjects experienced strong heat-sensitization during moxibustion, which were accompanied with significant decreases of current densities in the beta frequency bands in prefrontal, primary and second somatosensory, and cingulate cortices, as well as increased current densities in the alpha2 band in the left insula. No changes were detected in patients without sensitization responses, or in the post-moxibustion phase of either group. These data indicated widespread activity changes across different frequency bands during heat-sensitization. Cortical oscillatory activities could be used to evaluate the "heat-sensitization" responses during suspended moxibustion.

[Response of Algae to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentration and Quantity of Pumping Water in Pumped Storage Reservoir].

Taking a pumped storage reservoir located in southern China as the research object, the paper established a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and eutrophication model of the reservoir employing EFDC (environmental fluid dynamics code) model, calibrated and verified the model using long-term hydraulic and water quality data. Based on the model results, the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on the algae growth were analyzed, and the response of algae to nitrogen and phosphorus concentration and quantity of pumping water was also calculated. The results showed that the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations had little limit on algae growth rate in the reservoir. In the nutrients reduction scenarios, reducing phosphorus would gain greater algae biomass reduction than reducing nitrogen. When reducing 60 percent of nitrogen, the algae biomass did not decrease, while 12.4 percent of algae biomass reduction could be gained with the same reduction ratio of phosphorus. When the reduction ratio went to 90 percent, the algae biomass decreased by 17.9 percent and 35.1 percent for nitrogen and phosphorus reduction, respectively. In the pumping water quantity regulation scenarios, the algae biomass decreased with the increasing pumping water quantity when the pumping water quantity was greater than 20 percent of the current value; when it was less than 20 percent, the algae biomass increased with the increasing pumping water quantity. The algae biomass decreased by 25.7 percent when the pumping water quantity was doubled, and increased by 38.8 percent when it decreased to 20 percent. The study could play an important role in supporting eutrophication controlling in water source area.

Shp-1 dephosphorylates TRPV1 in dorsal root ganglion neurons and alleviates CFA-induced inflammatory pain in rats.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptors are expressed in nociceptive neurons of rat dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) and mediate inflammatory pain. Nonspecific inhibition of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) increases the tyrosine phosphorylation of TRPV1 and sensitizes TRPV1. However, less is known about tyrosine phosphorylation's implication in inflammatory pain, compared with that of serine/threonine phosphorylation. Src homology 2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 1 (Shp-1) is a key phosphatase dephosphorylating TRPV1. In this study, we reported that Shp-1 colocalized with and bound to TRPV1 in nociceptive DRG neurons. Shp-1 inhibitors, including sodium stibogluconate and PTP inhibitor III, sensitized TRPV1 in cultured DRG neurons. In naive rats, intrathecal injection of Shp-1 inhibitors increased both TRPV1 and tyrosine-phosphorylated TRPV1 in DRGs and induced thermal hyperalgesia, which was abolished by pretreatment with TRPV1 antagonists capsazepine, BCTC, or AMG9810. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory pain in rats significantly increased the expression of Shp-1, TRPV1, and tyrosine-phosphorylated TRPV1, as well as the colocalization of Shp-1 and TRPV1 in DRGs. Intrathecal injection of sodium stibogluconate aggravated CFA-induced inflammatory pain, whereas Shp-1 overexpression in DRG neurons alleviated it. These results suggested that Shp-1 dephosphorylated and inhibited TRPV1 in DRG neurons, contributing to maintain thermal nociceptive thresholds in normal rats, and as a compensatory mechanism, Shp-1 increased in DRGs of rats with CFA-induced inflammatory pain, which was involved in protecting against excessive thermal hyperalgesia.

[Effects of different tillage methods on tea garden soil physical characteristics and tea yield].

The effects of three tillage methods, i.e., no tillage, rotary tillage, deep tillage, on tea garden soil compaction, soil moisture, soil bulk density, yield component factors and tea yield were studied through field experiments in Langxi Country of Anhui Province. The results indicated that the effects of three tillage methods on soil bulk density and soil compaction were in order of deep tillage>rotary tillage>no tillage. Deep tillage and rotary tillage could effectively break the argillic horizon layer and decrease the soil compaction. Compared with no tillage, soil compaction and soil bulk density (0-30 cm) under deep tillage decreased 16.4% and 13.4%-27.5%, respectively. Deep tillage could significantly increase soil water storage space and enhance the water holding capacity of the soil. Compared with no tillage, the soil moisture of 15-30 cm soil layer was increased by 7.7% under deep tillage. The different tillage methods had little effect on soil porosity. Rotary tillage and deep tillage could increase soil specific surface area and the ratios of soil gas and soil liquid. The diurnal changes of photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate of tea both exhibited double-peak pattern. There was a significant midday depression caused principally by stomatal factors. Under deep tillage, the tea leaf transpiration rate decreased, shoot density increased, 100-bud dry mass and water use efficiency increased significantly, and the tea yield increased by 17.6% and 6.8% compared with no tillage and rotary tillage, respectively. Deep tillage was the most appropriate tillage practice in tea garden of east Anhui Province.

Characterizing heat-sensitization responses in suspended moxibustion with high-density EEG.

OBJECTIVE: We have reported "heat-sensitization" responses during suspended moxibustion, whose occurrence is associated with significantly better therapeutic effects. The present study aimed to characterize the electrophysiological features of this interesting phenomenon with high-density electroencephalography (EEG). METHODS: We performed EEG recording in a group of patients with chronic low back pain before, during, and after moxibustion treatment at DU3. RESULTS: 12 out of 25 subjects experienced strong heat-sensitization during moxibustion, which was accompanied by increased power spectral densities (PSDs) at the theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands. The scalp topographies of averaged power indicated that the theta and beta PSD changes were most obvious in fronto-central regions, whereas those of the alpha band were more global. In addition, nonsensitized and sensitized groups showed distinct activity patterns, with heat-sensitization inducing increased phase coherence at the theta and beta ranges. CONCLUSIONS: These data were the first objective evidence of heat-sensitization responses during suspended moxibustion, which were characterized by widespread oscillatory changes in scalp EEG.

[Soil pH buffer capacity of tea garden with different planting years].

In order to investigate the effects of long-term tea planting on soil pH buffer capacity (pHBC), the variation of pHBC and its influence factors were investigated in tea gardens of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years in Langxi and Qimen of Anhui Province. The results showed that the acid-base titration method was suitable for the determination of soil pHBC of tea gardens. The amount of acid-base added had approximate linear relationship with soil pH value in specific section (pH 4.0-6.0) of acid-base titration curves, so the soil pHBC could be calculated by linear regression equation. Soil pHBC in the tea gardens from the two regions showed a downward trend with increasing the planting years, which decreased at rates of 0.10 and 0.06 mmol · kg(-1) · a(-1) in Langxi and Qimen tea gardens, respectively. Soil pHBC had significant positive correlation with CEC, soil organic matter, base saturation and physical clay content, and significant negative correlation with exchangeable acid and exchange H+.

Comparison of electroacupuncture in restrained and unrestrained rat models.

Acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) are widely used to treat a variety of diseases including pain. In preclinical research, EA is usually applied by inserting acupuncture needles into the hindlimbs of rats restrained in small tubes or bags. This restrained model of EA not only causes stress-like behaviors but also is limited in stimulating locations and intensities. In 2004, a novel, unrestrained model of EA was introduced. However, these two EA methods have never been directly compared regarding their analgesic effects and other features such as stress. In the present study, we reported similar analgesic effects between restrained and unrestrained EA in rats of acute inflammatory pain induced by intraplantar injection of CFA. In addition, rats receiving unrestrained EA showed less significant stress-like behaviors and tolerated higher current intensity. These advantages suggest that this unrestrained EA method can replace the traditional restrained procedure with similar analgesic effects and allow for more choices of stimulating intensities and locations.

Modulation of brain electroencephalography oscillations by electroacupuncture in a rat model of postincisional pain.

The present study aimed to investigate how ongoing brain rhythmical oscillations changed during the postoperative pain and whether electroacupuncture (EA) regulated these brain oscillations when it relieved pain. We established a postincisional pain model of rats with plantar incision to mimic the clinical pathological pain state, tested the analgesic effects of EA, and recorded electroencephalography (EEG) activities before and after the EA application. By analysis of power spectrum and bicoherence of EEG, we found that in rats with postincisional pain, ongoing activities at the delta-frequency band decreased, while activities at theta-, alpha-, and beta-frequency bands increased. EA treatment on these postincisional pain rats decreased the power at high-frequency bands especially at the beta-frequency band and reversed the enhancement of the cross-frequency coupling strength between the beta band and low-frequency bands. After searching for the PubMed, our study is the first time to describe that brain oscillations are correlated with the processing of spontaneous pain information in postincisional pain model of rats, and EA could regulate these brain rhythmical frequency oscillations, including the power and cross-frequency couplings.

Anterior cingulate cortex is crucial for contra- but not ipsi-lateral electro-acupuncture in the formalin-induced inflammatory pain model of rats.

Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture (EA) are now widely used to treat disorders like pain. We and others have shown previously that current frequency, intensity and treatment duration all significantly influence the anti-nociceptive effects of EA. There is evidence that stimulating sites also affect the antinociception, with EA applied ipsilaterally to the pain site being more effective under some pain states but contralateral EA under others. It was recently reported that local adenosine A1 receptors were responsible for ipsilateral acupuncture, but what mechanisms specifically mediate the anti-nociceptive effects of contralateral acupuncture or EA remains unclear. In the present study, we applied 100 Hz EA on the ipsi- or contra-lateral side of rats with inflammatory pain induced by intra-plantar injection of formalin, and reported distinct anti-nociceptive effects and mechanisms between them. Both ipsi- and contra-lateral EA reduced the paw lifting time in the second phase of the formalin test and attenuated formalin-induced conditioned place aversion. Contralateral EA had an additional effect of reducing paw licking time, suggesting a supraspinal mechanism. Lesions of rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) completely abolished the anti-nociceptive effects of contra- but not ipsi-lateral EA. These findings were not lateralized effects, since injection of formalin into the left or right hind paws produced similar results. Overall, these results demonstrated distinct anti-nociceptive effects and mechanisms between different stimulating sides and implied the necessity of finding the best stimulating protocols for different pain states.

[Analysis of the chemical constituents of volatile oil from Asarum insigne by GC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the chemical constituents of volatile oil from Asarum insigne. METHODS: The volatile oil from Asarum insigne was isolated with steam distillation and identified by capillary GC/MS method. RESULTS: 68 Volatile components were identified and determined, accounting for 92.18% of the total peak area. The main volatile compounds and their relative contents are camphene (13.48%), alpha-pinene (12.44%), beta-pinene (11.07%), borneol (8.12%), trans-beta-farnesene (5.91%), elemicin (5.38%), 1,3-benzodioxole-5-(2-propenyl) (3.06%), myristicin (2.95%), ledene (2.47%), eucalyptol (2.33%), patchouli alcohol (2.25%), alpha-bisabolene (2.04%) and bornyl acetate (1.36%) etc. CONCLUSION: The study provided solid and scientific proof for the exploitation and utilization of Asarum insigne.

Electroacupuncture analgesia is enhanced in transgenic nociceptin/orphanin FQ knock-out mice.

OBJECTIVE: The modulatory effects of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (OFQ) on acupuncture (EA, a modern version of acupuncture)-induced analgesia are still controversial. Transgenic OFQ knock-out mice provide us a useful tool to investigate the role of endogenous OFQ in EA analgesia. The present study aims to investigate the role of OFQ in the EA-induced analgesia with OFQ knock-out mice. METHODS: Acupoints were selected as "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6), EA parameters were as follows: constant current output, rectangular (square) wave pulses, increased intensities of 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 mA with stepwise fashion, 10 min for each intensity, frequency of 100 Hz (with 0.2 ms as pulse width) or 2 Hz (with 0.6 ms as pulse width). Tail flick latency (TFL) evoked by radiant heat was used to evaluate the change of pain threshold before, during and after EA application. The knock-out mice were divided randomly into 3 groups: needling control, EA at 100 Hz and 2 Hz. Wild-type mice of littermates of were used as Control. RESULTS: It was found that OFQ knock -out mice had a longer basal thermal threshold; EA had enhanced analgesic effect in the knock-out mice than in wild-type Control mice. CONCLUSION: Endogenous OFQ might be algesic in basal condition and antagonize EA analgesia.

[A brief history of treatment for radial head fracture with radial head prosthesis.].

Since Speed first treated the radial head fracture with a metal prosthesis in 1941, the purpose of the treatment of radial head fracture with a radial head changed from the prevention of heterotopic ossification to the prevention of proximal migration of the radius and instability of the elbow. The optimal indication is gradually determined as a non-reconstructable radial head fracture with associated injuries that would leave the elbow unstable if the radial head were resected. Types of prosthesis changed from mono-block, bipolar to modular prosthesis. Material of prosthesis changed from acrylic resin, silastic to cobalt-chrome titanium and pyrocarbon. The 60-year development indicated that the operative technology of radial head prostheses was to be improved so as to reconstruct the flexibility and stability of the elbow to meet the higher functional requirements of patents.