Electroacupuncture may alleviate diabetic neuropathic pain by inhibiting the microglia P2X4R and neuroinflammation.

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a common and destructive complication of diabetes mellitus. The discovery of effective therapeutic methods for DNP is vitally imperative because of the lack of effective treatments. Although 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) was a successful approach for relieving DNP, the mechanism underlying the effect of EA on DNP is still poorly understood.

A comprehensive approach to quantify the source identification and human health risk assessment of toxic elements in park dust.

In this research, enrichment factor (EF) and pollution load index were utilized to explore the contamination characteristics of toxic elements (TEs) in park dust. The results exhibited that park dust in the study area was mainly moderately polluted, and the EF values of dust Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu and Sb were all > 1. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb increased with the decrease of dust particle size.

Electroacupuncture Alleviates Diabetic Neuropathic Pain and Downregulates p-PKC and TRPV1 in Dorsal Root Ganglions and Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn.

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a common complication of diabetes. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced changes of protein in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) are critical for DNP genesis. However, which proteins change remains elusive.

Dorsal root ganglia P2X4 and P2X7 receptors contribute to diabetes-induced hyperalgesia and the downregulation of electroacupuncture on P2X4 and P2X7.

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is highly common in diabetes patients. P2X receptors play critical roles in pain sensitization. We previously showed that elevated P2X3 expression in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) contributes to DNP.

[Effect of electroacupuncture and pretreatment of electroacupuncture on pain sensitization and expression of P2X7R in spinal dorsal horn in rats with diabetic neuropathic pain].

Objective: To observe the occurrence time of neuralgia and the expression of purinergic ligand-gated ion channel 7 receptor (P2X7R) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord after intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in diabetic rats, and to explore the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) and pretreatment of EA on the heat pain threshold and expression of P2X7R in the spinal dorsal horn in rats with diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP), and to explore the possible mechanism of EA for DNP.

Methods: PartⅠ: Thirty male SD rats were randomly selected from 64 male SD rats as the control group; the remaining rats were given intraperitoneal injection of STZ (10 mg/mL) at a dose of 65 mg/kg to establish the diabetes model, and 30 rats were successfully modeled as the model group. The control group and the model group were divided into three subgroups respectively at 7, 14 and 21 days, with 10 rats in each subgroup.

Inhibition of phosphorylated calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα relieves streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathic pain through regulation of P2X3 receptor in dorsal root ganglia.

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is frequent among patients with diabetes. We previously showed that P2X3 upregulation in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) plays a role in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DNP but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, a rat model of DNP was established by a single injection of STZ (65 mg/kg).

Chronic Exposure to Hypoxia Inhibits Myelinogenesis and Causes Motor Coordination Deficits in Adult Mice.

Exposure to chronic hypoxia is considered to be a risk factor for deficits in brain function in adults, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Since active myelinogenesis persists in the adult central nervous system, here we aimed to investigate the impact of chronic hypoxia on myelination and the related functional consequences in adult mice. Using a transgenic approach to label newly-generated myelin sheaths (NG2-CreER; Tau-mGFP), we found that myelinogenesis was highly active in most brain regions, such as the motor cortex and corpus callosum.

A comprehensive exploration on pollution characteristics and health risks of potentially toxic elements in indoor dust from a large Cu smelting area, Central China.

Large-scale smelting activities release large amounts of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in fine particles. These particles floating in the air eventually settle on leaves, roads, and even indoors. In smelting areas, indoor environments are generally considered relatively safe.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Improves the Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization: A Prospective, Randomized and Controlled Study.

Objectives: To explore whether transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) can improve the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Design: A prospective, randomized, and controlled study.

Setting: IVF center in a university hospital.

[Progress on Correlation between the Expression of CDK5 and Brain Injury Time].

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is a member of cyclin-dependent kinase family, which does not directly regulate cell cycle. Through phosphorylation of target protein, CDK5 plays an irreplaceable role in the development, reparation and degeneration of neurons. Brain injury refers to the organic injury of brain tissue caused by external force hit on the head.

[Expression of p35 and p25 after Focal Cerebral Contusion in Rat].

Objective: To study the expression of p35 and p25 in rat after focal cerebral contusion and to provide experimental data for estimating brain injury time.

Methods: Fifty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 d, 5 d, 7 d, 10 d after focal cerebral contusion, control and sham-operated groups (5 rats each group). The focal cerebral contusion rat model was established.

Apoptosis of interstitial cells of Cajal, smooth muscle cells, and enteric neurons induced by intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury in adult guinea pigs.

This study aimed at evaluating whether apoptosis of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), smooth muscle cells (SMC), and enteric neurons was involved in a guinea pig model of intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury. The small intestinal segments were resected at either 6 (I60/R6h) and 12 h (I60/R12h) or 7 (I60/R7d) to 14 (I60/R14d) days after 60 min intestinal ischemia in the adult guinea pigs and studied by immunohistochemistry with anti-Kit, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and beta-tublin III antibodies. Also, apoptosis was tested by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method.

Morphological changes of cholinergic nerve fibers in the urinary bladder after establishment of artificial somatic-autonomic reflex arc in rats.

Objective: To establish an artificial somatic-autonomic reflex arc in rats and observe the following distributive changes of neural fibers in the bladder.

Methods: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, spinal cord injury (SCI) group, and reinnervation group. DiI retrograde tracing was used to verify establishment of the model and to investigate the transport function of the regenerated efferent axons in the new reflex arc.

[Changes of serum cardiotrophin I and cystatin C in preeclampsia and clinical significance thereof].

Objective: To investigate the changes and of serum cardiotrophin I (cTN I) and cystatin C in preeclampsia clinical significance thereof.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 40 women with preeclampsia, aged 29 (18 - 39), with the medium gestational age of 35 weeks, and 40 age- and gestational age-matched controls. Serum cTN I and cystatin C were determined with ELISA and serum levels of creatinine kinase, creatinine, and uric acid were assayed by automatic biochemical analyzer.

[Expression of Fas and FasL in serum and placenta of preeclamptic pregnancy and its significance].

Objective: To observe the serum and placental levels of FAS and FASL in preeclampsia (PE) and to study its relationship with the disease.

Methods: Forty women with preeclampsia and 39 healthy pregnant women were recruited and samples of serum and placentas were collected. The expression of Fas and FasL in placentas was detected with Western blot and the concentration of soluble Fas and FasL in serum was detected with ELISA method.

[Imbalance of serum T helper 1- and 2-type cytokines in preeclampsia and gestational hypertension].

Objective: To investigate the changes in serum levels of Th1- (IL-2 and TNF-alpha) and Th2-type cytokines (IL-10) and the ratios of Th1/Th2 (IL-2/IL-10 and TNF-alpha/IL-10) in preeclampsia and in gestational hypertension.

Methods: Levels of IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-alpha were determined with radioimmunoassay in serum samples from 22 women with preeclampsia, 15 women with gestational hypertension and 32 normal term pregnant women. The Th1/Th2 ratios were calculated accordingly.