Expression Profiling of L5-S2 Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn in a Rat Model of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Uncovers Potential Mechanism of Electroacupuncture Mediated Inflammation and Pain Responses.

Purpose: We aim to explore expression profiles of genes in SCDH of CPPS model rat relevant to pain and inflammation by RNA-Seq and to investigate the mechanism of anti-inflammatory and analgesic of EA. Methods: Thirty-six SD male rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 12): sham operation, model, and EA. The rat CPPS model was established by injecting CFA into the ventral lobes of the prostate. The rats in EA group were treated at Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongji (CV3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Huiyang (BL35) for a total of 20 times, with a frequency of 2/100Hz. Mechanical allodynia, H&E staining and ELISA were used to detect the changes of pain threshold and tissue inflammation; RNA-Seq technique was used for profiling gene changes in SCDH and qRT-PCR was used for further validation. Results: Persistent mechanical allodynia and severe tissue inflammatory reaction both occurred in CPPS rats. After EA therapy, the pain sensitivity and inflammatory response of CPPS rats decreased significantly. RNA-Seq identified that a total of 46 DEGs were significantly up-regulated and 65 DEGs down-regulated after EA. GO enrichment showed that EA was mainly reflected in the regulation of the immune system by participating in the regulation of leukocyte, neutrophil cellular processes and cytokine metabolism. KEGG enrichment demonstrated that signal transduction and immune system were the most significant pathways. We further identified that the expressions of Pik3r2, Akt1, and Casp9 were significantly up-regulated and Jak2 and Stat3 down-regulated in the PI3K-AKT/JAK-STAT signal pathway. Conclusion: Our study revealed that immune and inflammatory responses are the main biological events that induce chronic pelvic pain in rats, and EA can exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects by regulating the expression of related genes on PI3K-AKT/JAK-STAT signal pathway in SCDH. This study provided putative novel targets of EA, which may have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of CPPS.

[Xianfang Huoming Decoction improves sperm quality in asthenospermia mice: An investigation based on the detoxification and sperm-nourishing method].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of Xianfang Huoming Decoction (XHD) improving sperm motility in mice with asthenospermia (AS). METHODS: Thirty normal BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups, blank control, AS model control, low-dose XHD, medium-dose XHD, high-dose XHD and levocarnitine + vitamin E (LC+VE). The AS model was established in the latter five groups by injection of methotrexate at 0.5 mg/kg once a week, and the mice in the blank control group were injected with the same volume of normal saline, all for 8 weeks. From the ninth week, the animals in the blank control and AS model control groups were treated with PBS at 0.1 ml/d, those in the low-, medium- and high-dose XHD groups with XHD at 7.13, 14,2 and 28.52 g/kg/ d respectively, and those in the LC+VE group with LC+VE (30:1) at 0.55 g/kg/d, all for 4 weeks. Then, the bilateral epididymides were harvested from all the mice for preparation of a sperm suspension and observation of the total numbers of sperm and motile sperm. The testis tissues were obtained for to determination of the expressions of Nrf-2- and HO-1-related mRNA and proteins by fluorescence staining, RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the AS model controls, the mice treated with low-, medium- and high-dose XHD showed dramatically increased sperm concentration (ï¼»22.36 ± 16.02ï¼½ vs ï¼»39.04 ± 4.50ï¼½, ï¼»40.76 ± 6.57ï¼½ and ï¼»41.04 ± 8.39ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.01) and motility (ï¼»22.89 ± 14.96ï¼½% vs ï¼»47.98 ± 4.74ï¼½%, ï¼»48.53 ± 6.03ï¼½% and ï¼»49.31 ± 6.24ï¼½%, P< 0.01), decreased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (ï¼»16.82 ± 14.96ï¼½% vs ï¼»12.08 ± 3.26ï¼½%, ï¼»10.77 ± 2.21ï¼½% and ï¼»9.56 ± 2.08ï¼½%, P< 0.01), and up-regulated expressions of Nrf-2- and HO-1-related mRNA and proteins in the testis tissue (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Xianfang Huoming Decoction inhibits the development of oxidative stress by up-regulating the expressions of Nrf-2- and HO-1-related mRNA and proteins in the testis tissue, which has provided theoretical evidence for its clinical application in the treatment of asthenospermia.

[Clinical value of cupping spot effect].

The cupping spot is considered as one kind of skin change due to cupping treatment. With literature regarding cupping spot, the influencing factors and value of cupping spot in clinical diagnosis and treatment were analyzed, which could make a further exploration on the action mechanism of cupping treatment. The literature showed that the formation of cupping spot was related with cupping temperature, pressure, cup-retaining time, cupping area, individual difference and health condition, etc; cupping spot had the ability to assist diagnosis, prevent disease, cure disease and evaluate clinical efficacy. Previous studies on cupping spot have already made some progress, and played a positive significance on finding cupping rule and studying its mechanism. However, the research for this area is still in the primary stage, which needed deeper study to reveal scientific connotations of cupping spot.

[Clinical observation of acupoint sticking therapy with Xiongbai Qianlie powder in the treatment of type III prostatitis syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy difference between acupoint sticking therapy and the combined therapy of retention-enema and millimeter-wave radiation in the treatment of type III prostatitis syndrome. METHODS: Seventy-two cases were randomized into an acupoint sticking therapy group (group A, 36 cases) and an enema group (group B, 36 cases). The acupoint sticking therapy with Xiongbai Qianlie powder was applied to Ciliao (BL 32), Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Huiyin (CV 1) and Changqiang (GV 1) in group A. The retention-enema with Ruyi Jinhuang powder plus millimeter-wave radiation at the prostatic region was used in group B. Eight treatments made one session. Totally, 2 sessions of treatment were required. The score of the symptoms of chronic prostatitis (NIH-CPSI) and the efficacy were observed. RESULTS: Of 36 cases in group A, 5 cases were dropped off, 13 cases remarkably effective, 17 cases effective and 1 case failed; the total effective rate was 96.8% (30/31). Of 36 cases in group B, 7 cases were dropped off, 7 cases remarkably effective, 17 cases effective and 5 cases failed; the total effective rate was 82.7% (24/29). The efficacy in group A was much better (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the score of NIH-CPSI was reduced obviously in either group (both P < 0.01). The result in group A was much better than group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The acupoint sticking therapy with Xiongbai Qianlie San achieves a good efficacy on type III prostatitis syndrome and its efficacy is superior to the retention-enema plus millimeter-wave radiation therapy.

Membrane resonance and its ionic mechanisms in rat subthalamic nucleus neurons.

The oscillatory activity in the basal ganglia is believed to have an important function, but little is known about its actual mechanisms. We studied the resonance characteristics of subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons and their ionic mechanisms using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in rat brain slices. A swept-sine-wave current with constant amplitude and linearly increasing frequency was applied to measure the resonance frequency (f(res)) of STN neurons. We also used single-frequency sine wave current to evoke firing. We found that the resonance of STN neurons was temperature- and voltage-dependent. The f(res) of STN neurons was about 4Hz when the temperature was maintained at 38°C and holding potential was at -70mV. The f(res) increased with more negative holding potentials and decreased with lower temperature. Action potentials fired most readily when the input frequency was near f(res). After application of drug ZD7288 (20µM), the resonance of STN neurons was blocked and the spikes evoked by both impedance amplitude profile (ZAP) current and single-frequency sine wave current arose readily at the lowest frequencies, indicating that hyperpolarization-activated cation current (I(h)) generated the resonance and mediated a preferential coupling at frequencies near f(res) between inputs and firing. In conclusion, there is a θ-frequency resonance mediated by I(h) in STN neurons. The resonance characteristics are temperature- and voltage-dependent. The resonance mediates a frequency-selective coupling between inputs and firing.

[Post-stroke speech disorder treated with acupuncture and psychological intervention combined with rehabilitation training: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy on post-stroke speech disorder treated with acupuncture and psychological intervention combined with rehabilitation training. METHODS: The multi-central randomized controlled study was adopted. One hundred and twenty cases of brain stroke were divided into a speech rehabilitation group (control group), a speech rehabilitation plus acupuncture group (observation group 1) and a speech rehabilitation plus acupuncture combined with psychotherapy group (observation group 2), 40 cases in each one. The rehabilitation training was conducted by a professional speech trainer. In acupuncture treatment, speech function area in scalp acupuncture, Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13) in tongue acupuncture and Lianquan (CV 23) were the basic points. The supplementary points were selected according to syndrome differentiation. Bloodletting method was used in combination with acupuncture. Psychotherapy was applied by the physician in psychiatric department of the hospital. The corresponding programs were used in each group. Examination of Aphasia of Chinese of Beijing Hospital was adopted to observe the oral speech expression, listening comprehension and reading and writing ability. RESULTS: After 21-day treatment, the total effective rate was 92.5% (37/40) in observation group 1, 97.5% (39/40) in observation group 2 and 87.5% (35/40) in control group. The efficacies were similar in comparison among 3 groups. The remarkable effective rate was 15.0% (6/40) in observation group 1, 50.0% (20/40) in observation group 2 and 2.5% (1/40) in control group. The result in observation group 2 was superior to the other two groups (P<0.01, P<0.001). In comparison of the improvements of oral expression, listening comprehension, reading and writing ability, all of the 3 groups had achieved the improvements to different extents after treatment (P<0.01, P<0.001). The results in observation group 2 were better than those in observation group 1 and control group. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and psychological intervention combined with rehabilitation training is obviously advantageous in the treatment of post-stroke speech disorder.

[Characteristics of the PAH gene mutation in Chinese patients with phenylketonuria in Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of the PAH gene mutation in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) in Xinjiang area. METHODS: The mutations in exons 3, 5, 6, 7, 11 and 12 and the flanking intronic sequence of the PAH gene were detected by PCR/SSCP analysis and direct DNA sequencing in 46 PKU patients. RESULTS: Twenty different mutations were found in 68/92 alleles (73.9%). The prevalent mutations of R243Q, EX6 96A>G, R111X, Y356X and V399V were similar to that of Northern China populations. The mutations F161S, L255S, P281L, and R413P were significantly different from that in other Chinese populations. It was the second time that E280G and A434D mutations were reported in the world, that L255S, P281L, R261Q, and I65T mutations were found in China. Thirteen different mutations were first found in Chinese Uygur, which showed a distinct ethnic characteristics. CONCLUSION: The study showed not only a distinct and conservative, but also a crossed and syncretic genetic characteristics in Xinjiang Uygur population. The results suggest that Xinjiang could be an ideal genetic resource repertoire for studying diversity of gene mutations, heterogeneity of PAH gene, human origins and migration.