Nivalenol disrupts mitochondria functions during porcine oocyte meiotic maturation.

Oocyte maturation is important for fertility in mammals, since the quality of oocytes directly affects fertilization, embryo attachment and survival. Nivalenol is widely present in nature as a common toxin that contaminates grain and feed, and it has been reported to cause acute toxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity and carcinogenic effects. In this study, we explored the impact of nivalenol on the porcine oocyte maturation and its possible mechanisms. The extrusion of the first polar body was significantly inhibited after incubating oocytes with nivalenol. Meanwhile, nivalenol exposure led to the abnormal distribution of mitochondria, aberrant calcium concentration and the reduction of membrane potential caused a significant decrease in the capacity of mitochondria to generate ATP. In addition, nivalenol induced oxidative stress, and the level of ROS was significantly increased in the nivalenol-treated group, which was confirmed by the perturbation of oxidative stress-related genes. We found that nivalenol-treated oocytes showed positive Annexin-V and γH2A.X signals, indicating the occurrence of apoptosis and DNA damage. In all, our data suggest that nivalenol disrupted porcine oocyte maturation through its effects on mitochondria-related oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA damage.

Effects of lower body positive pressure treadmill on functional improvement in knee osteoarthritis: A randomized clinical trial study.

BACKGROUND: Knee joint pain and stiffness are the two main symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and thus restrict a patient's activities, such as walking and walking up and downstairs. The lower body positive pressure (LBPP) treadmill as one of the emerging body weight support system devices brings new hope for exercise-related rehabilitation for knee OA patients. AIM: To investigate the biomechanical effects and the subjective clinical assessment of LBPP treadmill walking exercise when compared with conventional therapy in mild to moderate knee OA patients. METHODS: Eighteen patients with mild-to-moderate knee OA were recruited in this randomized controlled trial (RCT) study. The eligible knee OA patients were randomly assigned to two groups: LBPP and control groups. The patients in the LBPP group performed an LBPP walking training program for 30 min/session per day, 6 d per week for 2 wk whereas the patients in the control group performed walking on the ground for the same amount. All patients underwent clinical assessments and three-dimensional gait analysis at pre- and 2-wk post-treatment. RESULTS: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index and visual analog scale scores in both the LBPP group and control group were found to decrease significantly at the post-treatment point than the pre-treatment point (LBPP: 70.25 ± 13.93 vs 40.50 ± 11.86; 3.88 ± 0.99 vs 1.63 ± 0.52; control: 69.20 ± 8.88 vs 48.10 ± 8.67; 3.80 ± 0.79 vs 2.60 ± 0.70, P < 0.001). Moreover, compared with the control group, the LBPP group showed more improvements in walking speed (P = 0.007), stride length (P = 0.037), and knee range of motion (P = 0.048) during walking, which represented more improvement in walking ability. CONCLUSION: The results of our RCT study showed that the LBPP group has a greater effect on improving gait parameters than the conventional group, although there was no significant advantage in clinical assessment. This finding indicates that LBPP treadmill walking training might be an effective approach for alleviating pain symptoms and improving lower extremity locomotion in mild to moderate knee OA patients.

[Effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture on the expression of glutamate and NMDA receptor of the spinal dorsal horn in rats with neuropathic pain].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture (WA) stimulation at "R4"- "R5" - "R6" on the expression of glutamate (Glu) and phosphorylated protein NMDAR1(p-NMDAR1) of the spinal dorsal horn in spared nerve injury (SNI) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of SNI. METHODS: A total of 36 SD rats were randomly divi-ded into sham operation, model and WA groups, with 12 rats in each group. The SNI procedure comprised an axotomy and ligation of the tibial and common peroneal nerves leaving the sural nerve intact. Rats of the WA group were treated by acupuncture at "R4"-"R5"-"R6" points from the 5th day to the 14th day after modeling. The mechanical pain thresholds were measured before and 5, 10 and 14 d after SNI, respectively. The cold allodynia was dectected by Acetone solution dropped onto the lateral plantar surface of the paw. Glu content and p-NMDAR1 expression of spinal dorsal horn were detected by 1H-MRS, ELISA and immunohistochemistry Methods. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the mechanical pain threshold of the model group was significantly decreased (P<0.01), the duration of cold stimulation foot contraction was increased (P<0.01), and the Glu content and p-NMDAR1 expression in the spinal dorsal horn were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). After WA intervention, the mechanical pain threshold was significantly increased (P<0.01), the duration of cold stimulation was significantly shortened (P<0.01), and Glu content and p-NMDAR1 protein expression of spinal dorsal horn were decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the WA group compared with the model group. CONCLUSION: WA can reduce pain sensitivity in rats with neuropathic pain, possibly by inhibiting the expression of Glu and p-NMDAR1 in the spinal dorsal horn.

[Current Researches and Ideas Regarding Correlation Between Meridians and Viscera].

The correlation between meridians and viscera is the key content of the meridian theory in acupuncture medicine. This paper introduces the close relationship between the meridians running on the body surface and viscera from ancient lite-rature, modern experimental studies (such as acupoint sensitization, neuro-endocrine-immune networks, etc.), and clinical application in the treatment of various conditions with acupuncture, moxibustion, Guasha (scraping) therapies, etc. We also presented some related research ideas (i.e., taking the clinical treatment as the forerunner, paying more attention to multi-disciplinary integration, combining clinical and basic research together, doing research from tridimensional point of review, and making full use of advanced technology, etc.) in order to provide a possibly favorable help for researchers to further reveal the scientific mechanisms underlying correlation between the meridian and viscera in the future.

[Warming Needle Moxibustion Relieves Symptoms of Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients and Upregulates Plasma ß-endorphin].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of warming needle moxibustion of Jiaji (EX-B 2), Huantiao (GB 30), etc. on lumbago and other symptoms of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients and changes of plasma ß-endorphin (ß-EP) content. METHODS: A total of 60 LDH patients were equally randomized into warming needle moxibustion group and conventional acupuncture group. Patients of the conventional acupuncture group were treated by puncturing lumbar Jiaji (EX-B 2), Huantiao (GB 30), Weizhong (BL 40), and Yanglingquan (GB 34) with filiform acupuncture needles. Patients of the warming needle moxibustion group were treated by puncturing the same 4 acupoints, and with the acupuncture needle in lumbar EX-B 2 attached an ignited moxa-stick segment. The treatment in both groups lasted for 30 min every time, once every other day for 15 times, with 5 times being a therapeutic course and two days' rest between every two courses. The therapeutic effect was evaluated according to the "Criteria for Evaluating the Therapeutic Effect of Disorders of Traditional Chinese Medicine". The lumbago severity was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS), and the lumbar functional activity assessed using modified Oswestry dysfunction (in objects-lifting, sitting, standing, walking, sleeping, pain, activity of daily living, social activity, outing, etc.) index (ODI). The plasma ß-EP content was assayed using ELISA. RESULTS: After the treatment, of the two 30 cases in the conventional acupuncture and warming needle moxibustion groups, 8 (26.67%) and 12 (40.00%) were under control, 8 (26.67%) and 10 (33.33%) had a marked improvement, 3 (10.00%) and 4 (13.33%) were effective, and 11 (36.66%) and 4 (13.33%) ineffective, with the effective rates being 63.34% and 86.66%, respectively. The effective rate of the warming needle moxibustion was significantly higher than that of the conventional acupuncture (P<0.05). The VAS scores and ODI values of the two groups were gradually decreased along with the prolongation of treatment, and significantly lower in the warming needle moxibustion group than in the acupuncture group at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd course of treatment (P<0.01). The levels of plasma ß-EP were gradually increased in the two groups at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd course of treatment, and were obviously higher in the warming needle moxibustion group than in the conventional acupuncture group at each of the 3 courses (P<0.01). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Warming needle moxibustion has a better therapeutic effect in relieving lumbago and lumbar dysfunction, and can up-regulate blood ß-EP level.

[Distribution of Moxibustion-induced Thermosensitive Acupoints of Yangming Meridians in Patients with Perennial Allergic Rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the distribution of heat-sensitive acupoints below the elbow and knee joints of the Yangming Meridians in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR)．. METHODS: A total of 27 PAR volunteers 16－55 years in age were recruited in the present study. In a quiet room, the patient was ordered to take a recumbent or sitting position, and the operator held an ignited moxa-stick to make a circling (about 2 min), sparrow-pecking (2 min) and forwards-backwards moving (1 min) moxibustion perpendicularly over the skin (about 3 cm away) along the running course of the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand Yangming below the elbow joints and the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming below the knee joints on both sides. The procedures were repeated again and again until the moxibustion sensation disappeared. The patient was asked to carefully perceive the heat diffusion, diathermic, extending, athermal (cool and itching) feelings, at the heated loci. If one or more of the feelings appeared, it was considered as the thermosensitive phenomenon and that spot was marked as the "thermosensitive spot" or "thermosensitive acupoint"．. RESULTS: In those 27 PAR patients, the thermosensitive response was found at Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10), Hegu (LI 4), Sanjian (LI 3), and Zusanli (ST 36), constituting 59.25% (16/27), 85.18% (23/27), 44.44% (12/27), 55.55% (15/27), and 11.11% (3/27), respectively, being 92.59% in total. Of the 27 patients, 2, 2, 9, 8, 5 and 1 cases had 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 thermosenitive acupoints appeared, accounting for 7.41%, 7.41%, 33.33%, 29.63%, 18.52% and 3.70%, respectively. CONCLUSION: There is a certain occurrence rate of the thermosensitive acupoints below the elbow and knee joints of the Yangming Meridians in PAR patients, which may provide a target-point for treating PAR.

Topical Application of TAT-Superoxide Dismutase in Acupoints LI 20 on Allergic Rhinitis.

Reactive oxygen species are products of cellular metabolism and assigned important roles in biomedical science as deleterious factors in pathologies. In fact, some studies have shown that the therapeutic benefits of taking antioxidants were limited and the potential for therapeutic intervention remains unclear. New evidences showed that ROS have some ability of intercellular transportation. For treating allergic rhinitis, as a novel intracellular superoxide quencher, TAT-SOD applied to acupoints LI 20 instead of directly to nasal cavity can be used to test that. TTA group apply TAT-SOD cream prepared by adding purified TAT-SOD to the vehicle cream to acupoints LI 20, while placebo group used the vehicle cream instead. TTN group applied the same TAT-SOD cream directly to nasal cavity three times daily. Symptom scores were recorded at baseline and days 8 and 15. For the overall efficacy rate, TTA group was 81.0%, while placebo group was 5.9% and TTN was 0%. Malondialdehyde levels decreased observably in TTA group, and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase levels remained basically unaffected. Enzymatic scavenging of the intracellular superoxide at acupoints LI 20 proved to be effective in treating allergic rhinitis, while no improvement was observed with the placebo group and TTN group.

[Study on needling depth and direction from different acupoints to sphenopalatine ganglion].

OBJECTIVE: To observe and survey the location of Xiaguan (ST 7), "Die'e" and Quanliao (SI 18) on the surface, and the needling depth and direction from the 3 points to sphenopalatine ganglion. METHODS: Fifteen corpses (30 sides) of adult male were fixed by 10% formalin. The lateral areas of face were dissected from the surface to the deep on the 3 acupoints: the electric drill with the kirschner wire punctured towards the sphenopalatine ganglion and extended to the contralateral areas according to different directions of puncturing sphenopalatine ganglion from the 3 acupoints. The corresponding puncturing points of the 3 acupoints were measured by the coordinate location method. RESULTS: (1) Surface location: the distance between Quanliao (SI 18) and "Die'e" was 21 mm and the distance between Xiaguan (ST 7) and "Die'e" was 17 mm; (2) Inserting depth of each point to sphenopalatine ganglion: the depths of Xiaguan (ST 7), "Die'e" and Quanliao (SI 18) were 49.9 mm, 46.9 mm and 46.6 mm, respectively; (3) The coordinate location of the corresponding puncturing points: the puncturing direction of Xiaguan (ST 7) was anterointernal upper corresponding to the area of connecting center between contralateral Taiyang (EX-HN 5) and Tongziliao (GB 1), the distance between the corresponding inserting point of Xiaguan (ST 7) and Sizhukong (TE 23) was 17.6 mm; the puncturing direction of "Die'e" point was posterointernal upper, and the horizontal distance from the corresponding puncture point to the zygomatic arch was 33 mm and the vertical distance from the corresponding puncture point to the eyes' outer canthus was 42 mm; the puncturing direction of Quanliao (SI 18) was posteriointernal upper and the distance between the corresponding inserting point and the area of contralateral parietal tuber, the distance between the corresponding inserting point of Quanliao (SI 18) and the connecting line of bilateral external acoustic pore was 28 mm, the distance between the corresponding inserting point of Quan-liao (SI 18) and the medial line of the head was 62 mm. CONCLUSION: Understanding the surface location, inserting depths and the general puncturing directions of the 3 points can provide basis for puncturing the sphenopalatine ganglion in clinical practice.