Gold nanorods-mediated efficient synergistic immunotherapy for detection and inhibition of postoperative tumor recurrence.

Tumor recurrence after surgery is the main cause of treatment failure. However, the initial stage of recurrence is not easy to detect, and it is difficult to cure in the late stage. In order to improve the life quality of postoperative patients, an efficient synergistic immunotherapy was developed to achieve early diagnosis and treatment of post-surgical tumor recurrence, simultaneously. In this paper, two kinds of theranostic agents based on gold nanorods (AuNRs) platform were prepared. AuNRs and quantum dots (QDs) in one agent was used for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology to indicate the occurrence of in situ recurrence, while AuNRs in the other agent was used for photothermal therapy (PTT), together with anti-PDL1 mediated immunotherapy to alleviate the process of tumor metastasis. A series of assays indicated that this synergistic immunotherapy could induce tumor cell death and the increased generation of CD3+/CD4+ T-lymphocytes and CD3+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes. Besides, more immune factors (IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ) produced by synergistic immunotherapy were secreted than mono-immunotherapy. This cooperative immunotherapy strategy could be utilized for diagnosis and treatment of postoperative tumor recurrence at the same time, providing a new perspective for basic and clinical research.

Induction of oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA damage by koumine in Tetrahymena thermophila.

Koumine is a component of the Chinese medicinal herb Gelsemium elegans and is toxic to vertebrates. We used the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila as a model to evaluate the toxic effects of this indole alkaloid in eukaryotic microorganisms. Koumine inhibited T. thermophila growth and viability in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, this drug produced oxidative stress in T. thermophila cells and expressions of antioxidant enzymes were significantly elevated at high koumine levels (p < 0.05). Koumine also caused significant levels of apoptosis (p < 0.05) and induced DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner. Mitophagic vacuoles were present in cells indicating induction of autophagy by this drug. Expression of ATG7, MTT2/4, CYP1 and HSP70 as well as the MAP kinase pathway gene MPK1 and MPK3 were significantly altered after exposed to koumine. This study represents a preliminary toxicological evaluation of koumine in the single celled eukaryote T. thermophila.

How Key Stakeholders Perceive a Smart Mobile Integrated Care System for the Elderly.

Integrated care has been an important model for caring the elderly. In China, it is still at its very early stage. We proposed a new model to develop a smart mobile system, taking the CARE instrument as the base and composed of apps for stakeholders. We did an usability study using the TAMM tool and, from a convenience sample of 11 elderly and 18 nurses, the results indicated the system was well appreciated.

[Effects of electro-acupuncture on expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 in ankle joint synovial tissue of acute gouty arthritis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell (TREM)l in ankle joint synovial tissue of acute gouty arthritis (AGA) rats. METHODS: Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal, AGA, medication and EA group, 10 rats in each group. AGA model was established by induced monosodium urate (MSU) method, except the normal group. Tow days before AGA model was established, normal and AGA groups were lavaged with normal saline (20 ml/kg), medication group was lavaged with colchicine solution (20 ml/kg), EA(1.5-2 Hz, D.-D.wave, 9v; 1-3 rnA) was applied to "Sanyinjiao" (SP6), "jiexi" (ST41) and "Kunlun" (BL60) for 20 min, once daily;continuously for 9 days. Then observed the changes in dysfunction, and the content of TNF-α and IL-lß detected by ELISA, the expression of TREM-l detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot. RESULTS: Compared to the normal group, the AGA group of the dysfunction index increased significantly (P<0.01), the content of TNF-α and IL-lß increased significantly (P<0.05), the expression of TREM-l in synovial tissue increased significantly (P<0.05); the medication and EA groups compared to the AGA group, the dysfunction index decreased significantly (P<0.01), the content of TNF-α and IL-lß decreased significantly (P<0.05), the expression of TREM-l in synovial tissue decreased significantly (P<0.05); there were not statistically significant between the medication and EA group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA treating AGA may be through down-regulating the expression of TREM -1 in synovial tissue.

[Effect of electroacupuncture intervention on renal function and expression of renal beta-catenin in rats with chronic renal failure].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on renal function and expression of renal beta-catenin in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF), so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of CRF. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model and EA groups, with 10 rats in each group. CRF model was induced by feeding the rats with 0.5% Adenine(100 mg/d, in forage) for 21 days. EA (1-3 mA, 1.5-2 Hz) was applied to bilateral "San-yinjiao" (SP 6), "Taixi" (KI 3) and "Shenshu" (BL 23) for 20 min, once daily for 30 days. Serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urine nitrogen (BUN) contents were assayed by enzymatic method and deoxy enzymatic method, respectively, and the expression of p-catenin protein in the renal tissue was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Following modeling, serum Scr and BUN contents and renal p-catenin protein expression level were significantly increased in the model group in comparison with those of the normal group (P<0.05). After EA intervention, serum Scr and BUN contents and the expression of beta-catenin in the renal tissue were all significantly decreased in the EA group compared to the model group (P<0.05). In addition, the animals' body weight values of both model and EA groups were apparently lower than those of the normal group before EA treatment (P<0.05). After EA intervention, the body weight values of the EA group were markedly higher than those of the model group in spite of being still lower than normal rats (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can effectively suppress CRF-induced increase of serum Scr and BUN contents and renal beta-catenin protein expression in CRF rats, suggesting an improvement of the renal function after EA intervention by reducing the expression of beta-catenin in the renal tissue.

[Reflection of dysmenorrhea in acupoint sanyinjiao (SP 6) region].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the reflection of dysmenorrhea in acupoint Sanyinjiao (SP 6) region (body surface) so as to verify the relationship between the acupoint and uterus. METHODS: A total of 60 women (15-35 years in age) including 30 primary dysmenorrhea patients (test group) and 30 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled in the present study. The visual analog scale (VAS) score and mechanical pain threshold of bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP 6) regions were detected to assess changes of skin sensitivity in subjects undergoing menstrual pain and in the non-menstrual period. RESULTS: The VAS value in the menstrual period of test group was significantly higher than that in the non-menstrual period of the same one group and that in the menstrual period of the control group (P<0.01), and the pain threshold in the menstrual period of test group was significantly lower than that in the non-menstrual period of same one group and that in the menstrual period of the control group (P<0.01). No significant differences of both VAS value and pain threshold were found between the two groups in the non-menstrual period (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: An obvious tenderness at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) exists in women undergoing primary dysmenorrhea, sug- gesting a close correlation between Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and uterus.

[Observation on therapeutic effects of acupoint injection of metoclopramide for postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effects of acupoint injection of metoclopramide for postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome (PGS). METHODS: A total of 46 patients with PGS(from abdominal surgery) were randomly divided into control and acupoint injection groups (n=23 in each group). Patients of the acupoint injection group were treated by injection of Metoclopramide (5 mg+ normal saline) into bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Weishu (BL 21) alternatively, while patients of the control group treated by injection of 10 mg of Metoclopramide into the deltoid muscle and gluteus maximus muscle alternatively. The treatment of both groups was conducted once daily for 14 days. A 3-point scale of clinical symptoms (abdominal distension, belching, nausea-vomiting, upper-abdominal distending pain, sour regurgitation and gastric burning sensation) was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between two groups in clinical symptom scores before the treatment (P>0.05). Following treatment, the clinical symptom scores of both groups were significantly decreased in comparison with pre-treatment (P<0.05) and the scores of the acupoint injection group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). Of the 23 PGS patients in the control group and acupoint injection group, 0 and 2 were cured, 5 and 10 were significantly improved, 10 and 9 were improved, 8 and 2 failed, with the effective rates being 65.22% and 91.30%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Acupoint injection of Metoclopramide is effective for improving clinical symptoms of PGS patients.

[Analysis on Cheng Dan-an's educational thought in his book Chinese acupuncturology].

Mr. CHENG Dan-an, a famous acupuncture master, is the beginner of "Chengjiang Acupuncturological School" in China. This school of thought has a far-reaching impact on current acupunturological education,and its educational thought and teaching features chiefly reflect in CHENG's works. In the present paper, the authors analyze the influence of contemporary historical factors and sum up Mr. CHENG's educational thought on the basis of the written foundation, style and contents of his book Chinese Acupuncturology from four aspects (1) the role of education, (2) the process of education, (3) the teacher's and students' relationship in educational activities,and (4) the compilation of teaching materials about acupuncture and moxibustion.

[Our considerations about basic research and clinical translation based on experimental studies on acupuncture-induced blood-pressure reduction].

Basic research is an important component of acupuncture medicine, and is also the driving force for improving clinical practice. Acupuncture therapy has been used to treat hypertension for many years in China, and its underlying mechanism has also been progressively and partially explored, but its therapeutic effect remains controversial. Authors of the present paper summarize the current state of experimental researches on acupuncture treatment of hypertension from the establishment of hypertension model, acupoint selection, stimulation parameters, and related action mechanisms, and simultaneously found a disassocia- tion between the basic research and clinical practice, particularly in the selection of acupoints and stimulation parameters. Therefore, to establish a bridge for better translation from many achievements of experimental studies to clinical application is of great practical significance. The authors hold that the existing problems of clinical practice should be the foothold of basic research, while successful transformation from basic research achievements to clinical practice is our ultimate target. Only in this way, can we incessantly achieve the goal of improving clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture therapy from the phase of effectiveness verification, and promote the healthy development of acupuncturology.

[The effects of electro-acupuncture on the signaling pathway of TLR/MYD88 in ankle joint synovial tissue of acute gouty arthritis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture ( EA) on the related protein expression of the signaling pathway of the toll-like receptor2 (TLR2)/myeloid differentiation factor (MYD) 88 in ankle joint synovial tissue of acute gouty arthritis (AGA) rats. METHODS: Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group, SMD group, AGA model group, medication group and EA group, 10 rats in each group. SMD group established model by inducing SMD, other groups established AGA model by inducing monosodium urate, except the normal group. Two days before model was established, normal and SMD and AGA model groups were lavaged with normal saline (20 mL/kg), medication group was lavaged with colchicine solution (1 mg/kg), EA (1. 5-2 Hz, D.-D. wave, 9 V, 1-3 mA) was applied to"Sanyinjiao" (SP6),"Jiexi"(ST41) and "kunlun" (BL60) for 20 min, once daily, continuously for 9 days. Then the join sewlling index was observed periodically, the protein expression of TLR2 and MYD88 was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared to the normal group, the join sewlling of the SMD group in test join increased significantly (P<0. 05) and the protein expression of TLR2 and MYD88 in synovial tissue has not statistically significant (P>0.05), the oin sewlling and protein expression of TLR2 and MYD88 in synovial tissue of model group increased significantly P<0. 05); The medication and EA group compared to the model group, the protein expression of TLR2 and MYD88 in synovial tissue decreased significantly (P <0. 05), the join sewlling in test join decreased significantly P<1. 05); There were not statistically significant between the EA group and the medication group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can alleviate the symptoms of AGA, which may be related to regulation of the protein expression Y TRI and MYD88 in the TLR/MYD88 signaling pathway.