Patients' expectancy scale of acupuncture: Development and clinical performance test.

PURPOSE: This study aims to develop and validate a concise tool for evaluating acupuncture expectancy that is easy to understand and conforms to acupuncture characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A draft was created using the Delphi consensus method. Reliability, validity, discrimination, and feasibility tests were conducted at the item and scale levels. RESULTS: The scale themes were defined as disease-related, treatment-related, process-related, and outcome-related. After two rounds of Delphi surveys with good experts' reliability (authority coefficients of experts were 0.86 and 0.87 in the two rounds) and agreement (Kendall's concordance coefficient of the participants were 0.33 and 0.15 in the two rounds, P < 0.05), 11 items (the mean score for item importance, full mark ratios, and coefficient of variation of items were ≥3.5, ≥25%, and ≤0.30, respectively) were included in the draft. A total of 145 individuals were recruited to test the draft. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach's α coefficient (0.90), split-half reliability coefficient (0.89), and test-retest reliability (Pearson's coefficient = 0.74, P < 0.05). Content validity was assessed by the content validity index (Item-CVI ≥ 0.78 and Scale-CVI/Ave = 0.92), and a confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess the construct validity. The discrimination of scale items was evaluated by the critical ratio (CR > 3.00) and the homogeneity test (item-total correlations >0.40). Feasibility was assessed through the acceptance rate (recovery rate = 98.60%, response rate = 100%), completion rate (100%), and completion time (4.99 ± 6.80 min). CONCLUSION: The patients' expectancy scale of acupuncture (PESA) consists of 11 items with four themes, disease-related, treatment-related, process-related, and outcome-related. It has great reliability, validity, discrimination, and feasibility and has the potential to evaluate acupuncture expectancy in clinical trials.

Exercise combined with administration of adipose-derived stem cells ameliorates neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury.

Experimental studies have shown that exercise and human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) play positive roles in spinal cord injury (SCI). However, whether ADSCs and/or exercise have a positive effect on SCI-induced neuropathic pain is still unclear. Thus, there is a need to explore the effects of exercise combined with administration of ADSCs on neuropathic pain after SCI. In this study, a thoracic 11 (T11) SCI contusion model was established in adult C57BL/6 mice. Exercise was initiated from 7 days post-injury and continued to 28 days post-injury, and approximately 1 × 105 ADSCs were transplanted into the T11 spinal cord lesion site immediately after SCI. Motor function and neuropathic pain-related behaviors were assessed weekly using the Basso Mouse Scale, von Frey filament test, Hargreaves method, and cold plate test. Histological studies (Eriochrome cyanine staining and immunohistochemistry) were performed at the end of the experiment (28 days post-injury). Exercise combined with administration of ADSCs partially improved early motor function (7, 14, and 21 days post-injury), mechanical allodynia, mechanical hypoalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia, and thermal hypoalgesia. Administration of ADSCs reduced white and gray matter loss at the lesion site. In addition, fewer microglia and astrocytes (as identified by expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein, respectively) were present in the lumbar dorsal horn in the SCI + ADSCs and SCI + exercise + ADSCs groups compared with the sham group. Our findings suggest that exercise combined with administration of ADSCs is beneficial for the early recovery of motor function and could partially ameliorate SCI-induced neuropathic pain.

Jianghuaimon dabiense gen. nov. et sp. nov (Crustacea: Decapoda: Potamidae), a new genus and new species of freshwater crab from eastern-central China.

A new genus and new species of freshwater crab, Jianghuaimon dabiense gen. et sp. nov., is described from Anhui and Hubei Provinces of China based on morphology and mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences. Externally, the new genus resembles several other potamid genera from China. However, its combination of carapace, male pleon, third maxilliped, and uniquely structured male first gonopod distinguish it from the others. Phylogenetic analysis using the 16S gene supports the new genus new species and shows that it, together with morphologically similar Neilupotamon and Bottapotamon, form a distinct clade.

[Effect of wheat-grain moxibustion on the expression of Beclin-1/GRP78 in spinal dorsal horn in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on the expressions of Beclin-1 and GRP78 in spinal dorsal horn in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), and to explore the possible analgesic mechanism of wheat-grain moxibustion for CSR. METHODS: A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a wheat-grain moxibustion group and a wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, 12 rats in each group. The CSR model was prepared by spinal cord insertion method. Three days after modeling, the rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion group were treated with wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time) on the basis of the model group; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group were intraperitoneally injected with 3-MA solution and wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time). The three groups were intervened for 7 days, once a day. The gait score and mechanical pain threshold were observed before treatment and 7 days into treatment; after the treatment, the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 in spinal dorsal horn were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry; the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was detected by Western blot method; the autophagosomes and ultrastructure in spinal dorsal horn neurons were observed by electron microscope. RESULTS: After the treatment, compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the gait score was increased and the mechanical pain threshold was decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group and the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, in the wheat-grain moxibustion group, the gait score was decreased and mechanical pain threshold was increased (P<0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was decreased, and the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 were increased (P<0.01). Under electron microscope, the ultrastructure of spinal dorsal horn neurons in the wheat-grain moxibustion group was not significantly damaged, and its structure was basically close to normal, and the number of autophagosomes was more than the other three groups. CONCLUSION: Wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) has analgesic effect on CSR rats. The mechanism may be related to moderately up-regulate the expression of Beclin-1, enhance autophagy and reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Perlodinellashennongjia sp. nov., a new species of Perlodinella Klapálek (Plecoptera, Perlodidae) from the central area of China.

Background: Perlodinella Klapálek, 1912 is a small stonefly genus in the Palearctic areas of China and its biodiversity is underestimated. New information: This paper reports a new species of Perlodinella, Perlodinellashennongjia sp. nov. in the Dajiuhu National Wetland Park of Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province, central China. The description and illustrations of the new species are provided, based on male adults, female adults and eggs. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the characters of male and female genitalia and the egg structure.

[Observation on clinical effect of acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion for mild to moderate postpartum depression].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion and oral sertraline hydrochloride dispersible tablets in the treatment of mild to moderate postpartum depression. METHODS: Sixty patients with mild to moderate postpartum depression were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with psychotherapy. The control group was treated with oral sertraline hydrochloride dispersible tablets, 50 mg each time, once a day; the observation group was treated with acupuncture at Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuehai (SP 10), Hegu (LI 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), etc. combined with wheat-grain moxibustion at Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23), once every other day, 3 times a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks as a course, with 2 consecutive courses of treatment. Before and after treatment and follow-up of 3 months after the end of treatment, the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) and World Health Organization quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) score of the two groups were compared, and the clinical effect was assessed. RESULTS: After treatment and during follow-up, the HAMD and EPDS scores of the two groups were lower than before treatment (P<0.05), and the WHOQOL-BREF scores of the two groups were higher than before treatment (P<0.05). In the control group, the scores of HAMD and EPDS during follow-up were higher than after treatment (P<0.05), and the score of WHOQOL-BREF during follow-up was lower than after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment and during follow-up, the HAMD and EPDS scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05), and the WHOQOL-BREF score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.3% (28/30), which was higher than 86.7% (26/30) of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion can improve the depressive symptoms of patients with mild to moderate postpartum depression and improve their quality of life, and the clinical effect is more lasting and stable than oral sertraline hydrochloride dispersible tablets.

Description of two new species of the genus Heterochelamon Türkay & Dai, 1997 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae), from southern China.

This study describes two new species of freshwater crab of the genus Heterochelamon Türkay & Dai, 1997 from southern China, H. huidongense from Guangdong Province and H. jinxiuense from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The two new species can be differentiated from congeners by characters derived from the shape of the epibranchial tooth, external orbital angle, cheliped proportions and structure of the male first gonopod. The present study brings the number of Heterochelamon species to seven. We used the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene for a molecular analysis and the results are consistent with the morphological features that support the recognition of two new taxa.

Description of male and habitat of Haroldius turnai Král (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae).

The small-sized genus Haroldius Boucomont, 1914 consists of 38 known species widely distributed in the Old World including South Asia, Southeast Asia and West Africa (Pereira 1954; Krikken Huijbregts 2006; Král Hájek 2012). Members of this genus are probably saprophagous or mycophagous (Scheuern 1995) and so far were collected by light traps, sifted from leaf litter or soil and captured by flight interception traps (Paulian 1939; Paulian Scheuern 1994; Krikken Huijbregts 2006). Some researches suggested that they could have precise ecological relationship with ants. Their myrmecophily habit was indicated mainly by the special morphological characters including smooth body and the characteristically broad-ened and flattened tibiae (Pereira 1954; Krell Philips 2010). However, their bi-ology are still rarely reported, and the larvae are still unknown (Pereira 1954; Krikken Huijbregts 2006).

Polycaprolactone Nanofibers Containing Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Encapsulated Gelatin Particles Enhance Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation and Angiogenesis of Endothelial Cells.

During the regeneration of tissues and organs, growth factors (GFs) play a vital role by affecting cell behavior. However, because of the low half-life time and quick degradation of GFs, their stimulations on cells are relatively short and discontinuous. In this study, a releasing scaffold platform, consisting of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-encapsulated gelatin particles, was developed to extend the influence of GFs on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and endothelial cells (ECs). The results showed that this kind of scaffold can direct the differentiation of MSCs to ECs and maintain the stability of the tubular structure, an indicator of the angiogenesis ability of ECs, for an extended period of time. Therefore, the results suggest the potential application of PCL/VEGF-encapsulated gelatin particles (PCL/VGPs) as a growth factor (GF)-releasing scaffold platform in vascular tissue engineering.