Effects of electroacupuncture on the PI3K/Akt/CREB signaling pathway and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in diabetic cognitive impairment rats.

Objectives: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway-related proteins and hippocampal neuron apoptosis in diabetic cognitive impairment (DCI) rats, and to explore the mechanisms of EA in treating DCI.

Methods: Adult male SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model, and EA groups, with 12 rats in each group. The animal model of DCI was replicated using a high-fat, high-sugar diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin.

Acupuncture for cervical dystonia associated with anxiety and depression: A case report.

Background: Cervical dystonia (CD) is a type of muscle tone disorder that usually occurs in the neck muscles. Due to the intermittent or continuous involuntary contraction of the neck muscles, the head and neck are twisted and skewed and some postural abnormalities occur. Long-term abnormal posture or pain can cause negative emotions in patients, which can affect their quality of life.

[Acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the short-term efficacy, long-term efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Methods: Forty-two patients with CP/CPPS were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (21 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a sham acupuncture group (21 cases). The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Zhongliao (BL 33), Huiyang (BL 35), Shenshu (BL 23) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6); the needling depth of Zhongliao (BL 33) and Huiyang (BL 35) was 60 to 80 mm, while Shenshu (BL 23) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) was directly punctured of 30 mm.

['s clinical experience of acupuncture for oculomotor paralysis].

Professor 's clinical experience of acupuncture and moxibustion for oculomotor paralysis is summarized. Professor pays attention to disease differentiation and syndrome differentiation in the treatment of this disease. According to the characteristics of oculomotor paralysis, "early diagnosis and seeking treatment from the source" is advocated.

[Effect of moxibustion combined with Guifu Yuhe decoction on the conversion score of idiopathic constitution, serum total lgE and blood EOS in the patients with allergic acne].

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion combined with Guifu Yuhe decoction on allergic acne and the influence on immunologic function in the patients.

Methods: A total of 60 patients with allergic acne were rando-mized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases).Thirty healthy employees were in the healthy group.

[Professor 's clinical experience of acupuncture for peripheral facial paralysis].

Professor -'s clinical experience and characteristics of acupuncture for peripheral facial paralysis were introduced from three aspects: differentiation of meridians and tendons, treatment by stages, and examples of proven cases. In the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis, Professor carefully examines the situation of pathogenic factors and health. In the acute stage, the treatment focuses on eliminating pathogenic factors and supporting the health; in the recovery stage, penetrating needling is recommended with strengthening the health and eliminating pathogenic factors as main purpose; in the sequelae stage, wheat-grain moxibustion is recommended with strengthening the health as main purpose.

Epidemiological situation of leprosy in a province in China: a long time to diagnosis and a high rate of deformity.

Background: This epidemiological study aimed to analyse both the distribution and characteristics of leprosy in an endemic province in Northwest China.

Methods: The medical records of leprosy patients in the province of Shaanxi, China, from 1998 to 2018 were collected from the Chinese Leprosy Management Information System (LEPMIS). Epidemiological variables were analysed in this study.

[Professor 's experience of infantile spastic cerebral palsy treated with the combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine].

Professor believes that infantile cerebral palsy is located in the brain and closely related to the kidney. The clinical treatment should focus on the brain theory and root at the kidney. In pathogenesis, infantile spastic cerebral palsy refers to flaccidity of and spasticity of .

Association between glioblastoma cell-derived vessels and poor prognosis of the patients.

Background: Vessels with different microcirculation patterns are required for glioblastoma (GBM) growth. However, details of the microcirculation patterns in GBM remain unclear. Here, we examined the microcirculation patterns of GBM and analyzed their roles in patient prognosis together with two well-known GMB prognosis factors (O -methylguanine DNA methyltransferase [MGMT] promoter methylation status and isocitrate dehydrogenase [IDH] mutations).

[" acupuncture" combined with speech training for post-stroke aphasia].

Objective: To verify the clinical efficacy of " acupuncture" combined with speech training for post-stroke aphasia.

Methods: A total of 68 patients with post-stroke aphasia were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 34 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with basic therapy and speech rehabilitation exercises (mainly Schuell's aphasia stimulation therapy).

[Professor 's experience in the treatment of vascular dementia with acupuncture and moxibustion].

In the aspects of the acupoint prescription, acupuncture techniques and typical cases, the characteristics and experience of professor in the clinical treatment of vascular dementia with acupuncture and moxibustion were introduced. Vascular dementia is treated on the base of etiology, focusing on the brain as the root cause, with the reinforcing and the promoting as the dominant principle of acupuncture. The treatment is emphasized on tonifying the kidney to fill up marrow, strengthening the spleen to nourish the brain and promoting the collateral circulation to improve the intelligence.

[Effects of moxibustion on learning and memory ability and the hippocampal BDNF/TrkB expressions in the rats of vascular dementia].

Objective: To explore the effects of (resolving stasis, promoting collateral circulation) moxibustion on learning and memory ability and the expressions of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) in the rats of vascular dementia (VD) in the microenvironment of neurovascular niche.

Methods: Using 2-vessel occlusion (2-VO), the VD rat models were duplicated. The neural stem cells (NSCs) labeled with lentiviral vector-mediated enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were co-cultured with endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to structure the NSCs + EPCs implant.

Different effects of allergic rhinitis on nasal mucosa remodeling in chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) has been reported to be associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of AR on nasal mucosa remodeling in CRS.

Methods: Patients were enrolled and divided into the following groups: CRS with nasal polyps (NP) with allergic rhinitis (AR)(CRSwNPwAR; n = 20), CRS with NP without AR (CRSwNPsAR; n = 20), CRS without NP with AR (CRSsNPwAR; n = 20), CRS without NP without AR (CRSsNPsAR; n = 20), AR without CRS (AR; n = 20) and controls (n = 14).

A meta-analysis of three identified single nucleotide polymorphisms at 1p13.3 and 1q41 and their associations with lipid levels and coronary artery disease.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to detect whether three identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs646776, rs599839, and rs17465637) at 1p13.3 and 1q41 are associated with lipid levels and the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and BIOSIS were systematically searched.

The diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasonography in biliary atresia.

Background: It is a globally challenging problem to differentially diagnose biliary atresia (BA) from other disease processes causing infantile cholestatic jaundice. The high-frequency ultrasonography (HUS) yields much improved spatial resolution and therefore, might show better image in BA diagnostic examination. The present study was to evaluate the HUS on the diagnosis of BA in infants with jaundice.

Traumatic tympanic membrane perforations: a study of etiology and factors affecting outcome.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the factors involved in the spontaneous healing and to profile the various etiologies of traumatic tympanic membrane (TM) perforation.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 729 cases of traumatic TM perforation diagnosed in the emergency department and outpatient clinic from January 2007 to March 2011.

Results: A total 641 patients with traumatic TM perforations were enrolled in the study.

Clinical significance of vasculogenic mimicry in human gliomas.

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is known as non-endothelial tumor cell-lined microvascular channels in aggressive tumors. We have previously found the presence of VM in high-grade gliomas. In this study, we aimed to identify VM patterns in gliomas and to explore their clinical significance.

Enhanced gene transduction into skeletal muscle of mice in vivo with pluronic block copolymers and ultrasound exposure.

The pluronic block copolymers are able to enhance the ultrasound-induced gene delivery in vitro. In the present study, the effects of pluronics on the efficiency of gene transfer into skeletal muscle in vivo under sonoporation were investigated. Plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) in combination with three different pluronics, F127, L61, and P85, was injected into the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of mice with and without adjunct ultrasound (1 MHz, 3 W/cm(2) 1 min, 20% duty cycle).

P85, Optison microbubbles and ultrasound cooperate in mediating plasmid DNA transfection in mouse skeletal muscles in vivo.

Pluronic block copolymers, a kind of non-ionic surfactant, also known as poloxamers, and ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction have been respectively investigated as vectors for gene delivery in vitro and in vivo. However, they are limited for clinical application due to the relatively low transfer efficiency of each individual vector. In the present study, we explored if the combination of P85, a pluronic block copolymer, Optison, a microbubble contrast agent and ultrasound enhances the transfection of plasmid DNA in vivo using mouse skeletal muscle models.

[Different opinion about "marrow meeting acupoint" of eight confluent acupoints].

Juegu (GB 39) is the "marrow meeting acupoint" of eight confluent acupoints, but this acupoint is seldom used to treat the diseases interrelated marrow either by physicians of past generations or in the modern clinic. The authors have researched that "marrow meeting in Zhengu (GB 11)" is more in accord with the theory and the clinical practicality of eight confluent acupoints than "marrow meeting in Juegu (GB 39)" from the records of ancient literature and the correspondence of eight confluent acupoints and their clinical effect, and presume that Zhengu (GB 11) should be the marrow meeting acupoint of eight confluent acupoints.

[Progress of experimental studies on acupuncture treatment of ischemic cerebral injury with Jing (Well)-points].

Clinical practice has demonstrated that acupuncture of Jing (Well)-points is effective in the treatment of cerebral infarction, vascular dementia and other problems induced by acute or chronic cerebral ischemia. In recent years, abundant results from animal experiments of cerebral ischemic (CI) injury have preliminarily uncovered some underlying mechanisms of acupuncture of Jing points in reducing CI injury, including 1) scavenging active free radicals, 2) decreasing calcium overloading, 3) regulating inflammation-related cytokines expression, and 4) upregulating the expression of anti-apoptosis genes. However, further studies are needed because of the complexity of the development of ischemic cerebral injury.

[Effect of electroacupuncture combined with medication on vascular endothelial cells in the compound hypertension and hyperlipemia rat].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture combined with medication for treatment of compound model of hypertension and hyperlipemia (CMHH).

Methods: CMHH rat model was made by the way of "2K1C" combined with intragastric perfusion of high fat diet, and a normal group and a pseudosurgery group were set up. After modeling for 4 weeks, the successful model rats who had synchronously increase of blood pressure (BP) and blood lipids were randomly divided into a model group, a medication group , an electroacupuncture group and an acupuncture plus medication group.

[Comparison study on the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction with color Doppler ultrasonography and nocturnal electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment].

Objective: To study the diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasonography(CDUS) and nocturnal electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment (NEVA) in the assessment of erectile dysfunction (ED) and in differentiating the causes of ED.

Methods: CDUS and NEVA were performed in the 45 patients with ED. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to their results of CDUS, and compared all parameters of NEVA between each two groups, and then studied the correlation between CDUS and NEVA in the assessment of ED.

Pluronic block copolymers: novel functions in ultrasound-mediated gene transfer and against cell damage.

Pluronics have been investigated as vectors for drug and gene delivery in vitro and in vivo and were demonstrated to have high efficiency for gene transfer in vivo. However, they alone do not enhance gene transfer in vitro. We examined three pluronics, F127, L61 and P85, for their effects on ultrasound (US)-mediated gene transfer in three cell lines, 3T3-MDEI, C2C12 and CHO.