OBJECTIVE:To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture in rats with bupivacaine-induced lumbar multifidus injury and its underlying regulatory mechanism on macrophage polarization.METHODS:A total ...OBJECTIVE:To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture in rats with bupivacaine-induced lumbar multifidus injury and its underlying regulatory mechanism on macrophage polarization.METHODS:A total of seventy-two Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into control,model,and electroacupuncture groups.Forty-eight rats categorized in model groups were injected 0.5% bupivacaine(BPVC) into the lumbar multifidus at the L4-L5 segment.Rats in the electroacupuncture groups received the intervention for 1,2,3 and 5 d,respectively.The degree of macrophage infiltration and change of M1/M2 polarization were observed based on hematoxylin and eosin staining,immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture.Meanwhile,exosomal miRNAsequencing and bioinformatics analysis predicted the pathways and biological processes related to inflammatory response and macrophage polarization regulated by electroacupuncture intervention.RESULTS:BPVC injection induced the infiltration of local macrophages at the L4-L5 segment of lumbar multifidus.Comparison of mean IOD values with 2 d and 5 d post injury revealed the highest expression of CD68+ macrophages on day 3 post injury by immunohistochemistry.(P < 0.001,P < 0.001,respectively).Compared with the model group,the cell counts of iNOs+ CD68+ M1-macrophages were lower in the electroacupuncture group,while the positive percent of CD163+ CD206+ M2-macrophages was higher in the electroacupuncture group,on day 3 after BPVC injection(P < 0.001,P < 0.001,respectively).Moreover,the results of sequencing and bioinformatic analysis suggested that exosomal miRNAs were involved in the EA regulating macrophage polarization.CONCLUSIONS:Electroacupuncture can promote macrophage polarization to reduce inflammation following lumbar multifidus muscular injury.展开更多
In this paper,we consider the maximal positive definite solution of the nonlinear matrix equation.By using the idea of Algorithm 2.1 in ZHANG(2013),a new inversion-free method with a stepsize parameter is proposed to ...In this paper,we consider the maximal positive definite solution of the nonlinear matrix equation.By using the idea of Algorithm 2.1 in ZHANG(2013),a new inversion-free method with a stepsize parameter is proposed to obtain the maximal positive definite solution of nonlinear matrix equation X+A^(*)X|^(-α)A=Q with the case 0<α≤1.Based on this method,a new iterative algorithm is developed,and its convergence proof is given.Finally,two numerical examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.展开更多
In this paper,a novel method for investigating the particle-crushing behavior of breeding particles in a fusion blanket is proposed.The fractal theory and Weibull distribution are combined to establish a theoretical m...In this paper,a novel method for investigating the particle-crushing behavior of breeding particles in a fusion blanket is proposed.The fractal theory and Weibull distribution are combined to establish a theoretical model,and its validity was verified using a simple impact test.A crushable discrete element method(DEM)framework is built based on the previously established theoretical model.The tensile strength,which considers the fractal theory,size effect,and Weibull variation,was assigned to each generated particle.The assigned strength is then used for crush detection by comparing it with its maximum tensile stress.Mass conservation is ensured by inserting a series of sub-particles whose total mass was equal to the quality loss.Based on the crushable DEM framework,a numerical simulation of the crushing behavior of a pebble bed with hollow cylindrical geometry under a uniaxial compression test was performed.The results of this investigation showed that the particle withstands the external load by contact and sliding at the beginning of the compression process,and the results confirmed that crushing can be considered an important method of resisting the increasing external load.A relatively regular particle arrangement aids in resisting the load and reduces the occurrence of particle crushing.However,a limit exists to the promotion of resistance.When the strain increases beyond this limit,the distribution of the crushing position tends to be isotropic over the entire pebble bed.The theoretical model and crushable DEM framework provide a new method for exploring the pebble bed in a fusion reactor,considering particle crushing.展开更多
Effective partitioning is crucial for enabling parallel restoration of power systems after blackouts.This paper proposes a novel partitioning method based on deep reinforcement learning.First,the partitioning decision...Effective partitioning is crucial for enabling parallel restoration of power systems after blackouts.This paper proposes a novel partitioning method based on deep reinforcement learning.First,the partitioning decision process is formulated as a Markov decision process(MDP)model to maximize the modularity.Corresponding key partitioning constraints on parallel restoration are considered.Second,based on the partitioning objective and constraints,the reward function of the partitioning MDP model is set by adopting a relative deviation normalization scheme to reduce mutual interference between the reward and penalty in the reward function.The soft bonus scaling mechanism is introduced to mitigate overestimation caused by abrupt jumps in the reward.Then,the deep Q network method is applied to solve the partitioning MDP model and generate partitioning schemes.Two experience replay buffers are employed to speed up the training process of the method.Finally,case studies on the IEEE 39-bus test system demonstrate that the proposed method can generate a high-modularity partitioning result that meets all key partitioning constraints,thereby improving the parallelism and reliability of the restoration process.Moreover,simulation results demonstrate that an appropriate discount factor is crucial for ensuring both the convergence speed and the stability of the partitioning training.展开更多
The application of nitrogen fertilizers in agricultural fields can lead to the release of nitrogen-containing gases(NCGs),such as NO_(x),NH_(3) and N_(2)O,which can significantly impact regional atmospheric environmen...The application of nitrogen fertilizers in agricultural fields can lead to the release of nitrogen-containing gases(NCGs),such as NO_(x),NH_(3) and N_(2)O,which can significantly impact regional atmospheric environment and con-tribute to global climate change.However,there remain considerable research gaps in the accurate measurement of NCGs emissions from agricultural fields,hindering the development of effective emission reduction strategies.We improved an open-top dynamic chambers(OTDCs)system and evaluated the performance by comparing the measured and given fluxes of the NCGs.The results showed that the measured fluxes of NO,N_(2)O and NH_(3)were 1%,2%and 7%lower than the given fluxes,respectively.For the determination of NH_(3) concentration,we employed a stripping coil-ion chromatograph(SC-IC)analytical technique,which demonstrated an absorption efficiency for atmospheric NH_(3) exceeding 96.1%across sampling durations of 6 to 60 min.In the summer maize season,we utilized the OTDCs system to measure the exchange fluxes of NO,NH_(3),and N_(2)O from the soil in the North China Plain.Substantial emissions of NO,NH_(3) and N_(2)O were recorded following fertilization,with peaks of 107,309,1239 ng N/(m^(2)·s),respectively.Notably,significant NCGs emissions were observed following sus-tained heavy rainfall one month after fertilization,particularly with NH_(3) peak being 4.5 times higher than that observed immediately after fertilization.Our results demonstrate that the OTDCs system accurately reflects the emission characteristics of soil NCGs and meets the requirements for long-term and continuous flux observation.展开更多
Marine thin plates are susceptible to welding deformation owing to their low structural stiffness.Therefore,the efficient and accurate prediction of welding deformation is essential for improving welding quality.The t...Marine thin plates are susceptible to welding deformation owing to their low structural stiffness.Therefore,the efficient and accurate prediction of welding deformation is essential for improving welding quality.The traditional thermal elastic-plastic finite element method(TEP-FEM)can accurately predict welding deformation.However,its efficiency is low because of the complex nonlinear transient computation,making it difficult to meet the needs of rapid engineering evaluation.To address this challenge,this study proposes an efficient prediction method for welding deformation in marine thin plate butt welds.This method is based on the coupled temperature gradient-thermal strain method(TG-TSM)that integrates inherent strain theory with a shell element finite element model.The proposed method first extracts the distribution pattern and characteristic value of welding-induced inherent strain through TEP-FEM analysis.This strain is then converted into the equivalent thermal load applied to the shell element model for rapid computation.The proposed method-particularly,the gradual temperature gradient-thermal strain method(GTG-TSM)-achieved improved computational efficiency and consistent precision.Furthermore,the proposed method required much less computation time than the traditional TEP-FEM.Thus,this study lays the foundation for future prediction of welding deformation in more complex marine thin plates.展开更多
At present,there is currently a lack of unified standard methods for the determination of antimony content in groundwater in China.The precision and trueness of related detection technologies have not yet been systema...At present,there is currently a lack of unified standard methods for the determination of antimony content in groundwater in China.The precision and trueness of related detection technologies have not yet been systematically and quantitatively evaluated,which limits the effective implementation of environmental monitoring.In response to this key technical gap,this study aimed to establish a standardized method for determining antimony in groundwater using Hydride Generation–Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry(HG-AFS).Ten laboratories participated in inter-laboratory collaborative tests,and the statistical analysis of the test data was carried out in strict accordance with the technical specifications of GB/T 6379.2—2004 and GB/T 6379.4—2006.The consistency and outliers of the data were tested by Mandel's h and k statistics,the Grubbs test and the Cochran test,and the outliers were removed to optimize the data,thereby significantly improving the reliability and accuracy.Based on the optimized data,parameters such as the repeatability limit(r),reproducibility limit(R),and method bias value(δ)were determined,and the trueness of the method was statistically evaluated.At the same time,precision-function relationships were established,and all results met the requirements.The results show that the lower the antimony content,the lower the repeatability limit(r)and reproducibility limit(R),indicating that the measurement error mainly originates from the detection limit of the method and instrument sensitivity.Therefore,improving the instrument sensitivity and reducing the detection limit are the keys to controlling the analytical error and improving precision.This study provides reliable data support and a solid technical foundation for the establishment and evaluation of standardized methods for the determination of antimony content in groundwater.展开更多
Objective To explore the impacts of electro-acupuncture on embryo implanted potential and its molecular mechanism in patients with infertility of different syndromes. Methods Among infertile patients treated with in v...Objective To explore the impacts of electro-acupuncture on embryo implanted potential and its molecular mechanism in patients with infertility of different syndromes. Methods Among infertile patients treated with in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation （IVF-ET） combined with electro-acupuncture, 82 cases of kidney deficiency syndrome （group A）, 74 cases of liver qi stagnation syndrome （group B） and 54 cases of phlegm dampness syndrome （group C） were selected. Patients in three groups all received a long program of ovarian hyperstimulation. Additionally, electro-acupuncture was applied before controlled ovarian hyperstimulation （COH） and in the process of ovarian hyperstimulation. Contents of human leukocyte antigen G （HLA-G） in the serum were determined in three groups respectively on the 2nd day of menstruation （M2） and the day of human Chorionic Gonadotropin （hCG） injection. Content of HLA-G in the culture solution of three groups was examined separately on the day of embryo transplantation. The fertilization rate, implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were observed for patients in three groups. Results Contents of HLA-G in the serum on the day of hCG injection and in the culture solution on the day of embryo transplantation in group A and B were significantly higher than those in group C （all P0.05）. However, there was no significant difference with contents of HLA-G in serum on M2 day among three groups. The high quality embryo rate in either group A （73.6%, 352/478） or group B （70.6%, 379/537） was significantly higher than that in group C （54.2%, 208/384） with significantly statistical difference （all P0.01）. But there were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate, fertilization rate and cleavage rate among three groups. Conclusion Electro-acupuncture combined could increase contents of HLA-G in the body and the level of HLA-G secreted from embryos of patients in the process of IVF-ET. Eventually, the pregnancy outcome and the pregnancy rate are improved. It showed better clinical effects of electro-acupuncture for patients with kidney deficiency and liver qi stagnation syndromes than those of phlegm dampness syndome.展开更多
AIM To observe whether there are differences in the effects of electro-acupuncture(EA) and moxibustion(Mox) in rats with visceral hypersensitivity. METHODS EA at 1 m A and 3 m A and Mox at 43?℃ and 46?℃ were applied...AIM To observe whether there are differences in the effects of electro-acupuncture(EA) and moxibustion(Mox) in rats with visceral hypersensitivity. METHODS EA at 1 m A and 3 m A and Mox at 43?℃ and 46?℃ were applied to the Shangjuxu(ST37, bilateral) acupoints in model rats with visceral hypersensitivity. Responses of wide dynamic range neurons in dorsal horns of the spinal cord were observed through the extracellular recordings. Mast cells(MC) activity in the colons of rats were assessed, and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor(5-HT3R) and 5-HT4Rexpressions in the colons were measured.RESULTS Compared with normal control group, responses of wide dynamic range neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord were increased in the EA at 1 m A and 3 m A groups(1 m A: 0.84 ± 0.74 vs 2.73 ± 0.65, P < 0.001; 3 m A: 1.91 ± 1.48 vs 6.44 ± 1.26, P < 0.001) and Mox at 43?℃ and 46?℃ groups(43?℃: 1.76 ± 0.81 vs 4.14 ± 1.83, P = 0.001; 46?℃: 5.19 ± 2.03 vs 7.91 ± 2.27, P = 0.01). MC degranulation rates and the expression of 5-HT, 5-HT3 R and 5-HT4 R in the colon of Mox 46?℃ group were decreased compared with model group(MC degranulation rates: 0.47 ± 0.56 vs 0.28 ± 0.78, P < 0.001; 5-HT: 1.42 ± 0.65 vs 7.38 ± 1.12, P < 0.001; 5-HT3R: 6.62 ± 0.77 vs 2.86 ± 0.88, P < 0.001; 5-HT4R: 4.62 ± 0.65 vs 2.22 ± 0.97, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The analgesic effects of Mox at 46?℃ are greater than those of Mox at 43?℃, EA 1 m A and EA 3 m A.展开更多
Functional constipation(FC)is a chronic discasc that significantly afcts the life quality of patients.Acupuncture has been used for the treatment of FC for many years,but its effectiveness has not been scientifcally a...Functional constipation(FC)is a chronic discasc that significantly afcts the life quality of patients.Acupuncture has been used for the treatment of FC for many years,but its effectiveness has not been scientifcally assessed.The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of electro-acupuncture(EA)in relieving the symptoms,mental states and quality of life(QOL)of FC patients.A total of 96 FC patients were randomly allocated into EA,mosapride&sham EA group(MS)and mosapride control group(MC).In the EA group,patients were treated with 16 sessions of needling at Quchi(LI1I)and Shangjuxu(ST37)bilaterally,5 times a week in the first 2 weeks,and 3 times a.week in the last 2 weeks.In the MC group,patients were treated with 5 mg mosapride citrate three times a day for 4 weeks.In the MS group,patients underwent sham EA and the same mosapride citrate treatment as in the MC group.The primary outcome was the number of weekly spontaneous bowel movements(SBMs).The secondary outcomes included stool consistency,intensity of defecating difficulty,36-Item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36),Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS),and the validated Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life(PAC-QOL).The results showed that as compared with the baseline,EA significantly improved the weekly SBMs,stool consistency and intensity of defecating difficulty(P<0.05).It also partly ameliorated the PAC-QOL,SF-36,SDS and SAS scores when compared with MC or MS group(P<0.05).However,no significant difference was observed between MS and MC groups in bowel function outcomes and QOL scores.It was concluded that EA could effectivcly improve bowel function,mental states and QOL of FC patients.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the effect and mechanism of electro-acupuncture lEA） at ST25 and ST37 on irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） of rats. METHODS： A total of 21 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into norm...AIM： To investigate the effect and mechanism of electro-acupuncture lEA） at ST25 and ST37 on irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） of rats. METHODS： A total of 21 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group and EA group. A rat model of IBS was established by constraining the limbs and distending the colorectum of rats. Rats in EA group received bilateral EA at ST25 and ST37 with a sparse and intense waveform at a frequency of 2/50 Hz for 15 min, once a day for 7 d as a course. Rats in normal and model groups were stimulated by distending colorectum （CR）. An abdominal withdrawal reflex （AWR） scoring system was used to evaluate improvements in visceral hypersensitivity. Toluidine blue-improved method, immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay were used to observe mucosal mast cells （MC）, changes of substance P （SP） and substance P receptor （SPR） in colon and change of corticotropin-releasing hormone （CRH） in hypothalamus. RESULTS： The threshold of visceral sense was significantly lower in model group than in normal group,and significantly higher in EA group than in model group. The number of mucosal MC was greater in model group than in normal group and significantly smaller in EA group than in model group. The CRH level in hypothalamus of rats was significantly higher in model group than in normal group, which was remarkably decreased after electro-acupuncture treatment. The SP and SPR expression in colon of rats in model group was decreased after electro-acupuncture treatment. CONCLUSION： EA at ST25 and ST37 can decrease the number of mucosal MC and down-regulate the expression of CRH in hypothalamus, and the expression of SP and SPR in colon of rats with IBS.展开更多
AIM： To discuss the protective effect of electroacupuncture at the Foot-Yangming Meridian on gastric mucosal lesion, somatostatin （SS） and the expression of SS receptor genes （SSR1mRNA） in rabbits with gastric ul...AIM： To discuss the protective effect of electroacupuncture at the Foot-Yangming Meridian on gastric mucosal lesion, somatostatin （SS） and the expression of SS receptor genes （SSR1mRNA） in rabbits with gastric ulcer and to further explore the relative specificity of meridians and viscera at gene expression level. METHODS： Forty rabbits were randomly divided into control group （A）, gastric ulcer model group （B）, FootYangming Meridian group （C）, Foot-Shaoyang Meridian group （D） and Foot-Taiyang Meridian group （E）. The gastric ulcer model was prepared by infusing alcohol into stomach. Groups C-E were treated with electroacupuncture at points along the above meridians using meridian stimulating instruments for 7 days respectively. By the end of treatment, the index of gastric ulcer was determined, the amount of epidermal growth factor（EGF） and somatostatin was measured by radioimmunoassay （PJA）. SS-R1mRNA expression in gastric mucosa was determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS： The value of EGF in model group was obviously lower（73.6±14.8 vs 91.3±14.9 pg/mL, P〈 0.01） than that in control group. The index of gastric ulcer, content of SS and expression of SSRtmRNA in gastric mucosa were significantly higher than those in control group （24.88 ± 6.29 vs 8.50 ± 2.98 scores, P〈 0.01; 2978.6 ± 587.6 vs 1852.4 ± 361.7 mIU/mL, P〈 0.01; 2.56±0.25 vs 1.04±0.36, P〈0.01） . The value of EGF in Foot-Yangming Meridian group was higher than that in model group（92.2±6.7 vs 73.6±14.8 pg/mL, P〈 0.01）. The index of gastric ulcer, content of SS and expression of SS-R1mRNA in gastric mucosa were significantlylower than those in control group（10.88±3.23 vs 24.88±6.29 scores, P〈0.01; 1800.2±488 vs 2978.6±587.6 mIU/mL, P 〈 0.01; 1.07±0.08 vs 2.56±0.25mIU/mL, P〈0.01）. Compared to the model group, the content of SS and expression of SSRlmRNA in gastric mucosa in Foot-Shaoyang Meridian group decreased （2441.0±488. vs 2978.6± 587.6 mIU/mL, P〈 0.05; 1.73±0.16 vs 2.56±0.25 mIU/mL, P〈0.01）. But the above parameters in Foot-Taiyang Meridian group did not improve and were significantly different from those in Footoyangming Meridian group （P〈0.05） CONCLUSION： Electro-acupuncture at Foot-Yangming Meridian can protect gastric mocusa against injury. The mechanism may be releted to the regulation of brain-gut peptides and the expression of SSRtmRNA.展开更多
Objective： Acupuncture has a definite therapeutic effect on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）, and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway （CAP） has been shown to be involved in regula- tion of infla...Objective： Acupuncture has a definite therapeutic effect on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）, and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway （CAP） has been shown to be involved in regula- tion of inflammation. In this study, we investigated whether electro-acupuncture （EA） affects the CAP in COPD,Methods： Sprague-Dawley rats were induced into COPD through exposure to cigarette smoke combined with lipopolysaccharide. EA treatment was applied at Zusanli （ST36） and Feishu （BL13） points for 30 min/d for 7 d. Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into six study groups, including normal, normal ＋ EA, normal ＋ α-bungarotoxin （α-BGT） （the antagonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunit （α7nAChR）） ＋ EA, COPD, COPD ＋ EA, and COPD ＋ α-BGT ＋ EA. Lung function, pathology and vagus nerve discharge were tested. The levels of acetylcholine （ACh）, acetylcholinesterase （ACHE）, interleukin-6 （IL-6） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-ct） in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） and lung tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA and protein expression and immunoreac- tivity of α7nAChR and its postreceptor inflammation signal pathway, including janus kinase 2 （JAK2）, sig- nal transducers and activators of transcription 3 （STAT3）, nuclear factor-KB （NF-KB）, were observed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results： Compared with normal rats, there were a significant decline in lung function and discharge of the vagus nerve （P 〈 0.01）, a marked sign of lung inflammation and an increase of ACh, ACHE, IL-6 and TNF-α level in BALF or lung tissue （P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01 ） and higher expression of 0t7nAChR, JAK2, STAT3 and NF-αB （P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01） in the COPD rats. In rats receiving EA, the lung function and vagal discharge were enhanced （P 〈 0.01 ）, lung inflammation was improved and the levels of ACh, ACHE, IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased （P 〈 0.01）. Further, the expression of α7nAChR, JAK2, STAT3 and NF-κB was downregulated （P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01 ）. However, the above effects of EA were blocked in rats injected with α-BCT （P 〈 0.01 ）. Conclusion： EA treatment can reduce the lung inflammatory response and improve lung function in COPD, which may be related to its involvement in the regulation of CAP.展开更多
This study examined the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy at different time windows on learning and memory ability of rats with cerebral infarction and th...This study examined the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy at different time windows on learning and memory ability of rats with cerebral infarction and the underlying mechanism.Two hundred SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:normal group,sham-operated group,model group and EA+TMS group,and each group was then divided into five sub-groups in terms of the different time to start treatment post operation:6,12,24,48 and 72 h.Cerebral infarction models were established in the model and the EA+TMS groups by left middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R).After treatment for 14 d,the Morris water maze test was applied to examine the spatial learning and memory abilities of rats.In infarcted area,the expression of caspase-3 was immunohistochemically detected,and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to measure the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA.The results showed that in EA+TMS group compared with model group at the same treatment time windows,the escape latency was substantially shortened,the expression of caspase-3 was considerably decreased and the expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA significantly increased (P<0.05).In the EA+TMS sub-groups,the escape latency was shortest,the expression level of caspase-3 lowest,and the expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA highest at the treatment time window of 24 h.It was concluded that EA combined with TMS can promote neurological function of rats with cerebral infarction by increasing the expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA and decreasing the expression of caspase-3.The best time window is 24 h after perfusion treatment to ischemia.展开更多
The clinical analgesic effect of electro-acupuncture（EA） stimulation（EAS） on breakthrough pain induced by remifentanil in patients undergoing radical thoracic esophagectomy, and the mechanisms were assessed. Sixty...The clinical analgesic effect of electro-acupuncture（EA） stimulation（EAS） on breakthrough pain induced by remifentanil in patients undergoing radical thoracic esophagectomy, and the mechanisms were assessed. Sixty patients（ASAⅢ） scheduled for elective radical esophagectomy were randomized into three groups： group A（control） receiving a general anesthesia only; group B（sham） given EA needles at PC4（Ximen） and PC6（Neiguan） but no stimulation; and group C（EAS） electrically given EAS of the ipsilateral PC4 and PC6 throughout the surgery. The EAS consisting of a disperse-dense wave with a low frequency of 2 Hz and a high frequency of 20 Hz, was performed 30 min prior to induction of general anesthesia and continued through the surgery. At the emergence, sufentanil infusion was given for postoperative analgesia with loading dose of 7.5 μg, followed by a continuous infusion of 2.25 μg/h. The patient self-administration of sufentanil was 0.75 μg with a lockout of 15 min as needed. Additional breakthrough pain was treated with dezocine（5 mg） intravenously at the patient＇s request. Blood samples were collected before（T1）, 2 h（T2）, 24 h（T3）, and 48 h（T4） after operation to measure the plasma β-EP, PGE2, and 5-HT. The operative time, the total dose of sufentanil and the dose of self-administration, and the rescue doses of dezocine were recorded. Visual Analogue Scale（VAS） scores at 2, 12, 24 and 48 h postoperatively and the incidence of apnea and severe hypotension were recorded. The results showed that the gender, age, weight, operative time and remifentanil consumption were comparable among 3 groups. Patients in EAS group had the lowest VAS scores postoperatively among the three groups（P〈0.05）. The total dose of sufentanil was 115±6.0 μg in EAS group, significantly lower than that in control（134.3±5.9 μg） and sham（133.5±7.0 μg） groups. Similarly, the rescue dose of dezocine was the least in EAS group（P〈0.05） among the three groups. Plasma β-EP levels in EAS group at T3（176.90±45.73） and T4（162.96±35.00 pg/mL） were significantly higher than those in control（132.33±36.75 and 128.79±41.24 pg/mL） and sham（136.56±45.80 and 129.85±36.14 pg/mL） groups, P〈0.05 for all. EAS could decrease the release of PGE2. Plasma PGE2 levels in EAS group at T2 and T3（41±5 and 40±5 pg/mL respectively） were significantly lower than those in control（64±5 and 62±7 pg/mL） and sham（66±6 and 62±6 pg/mL） groups. Plasma 5-HT levels in EAS group at T2（133.66±40.85） and T3（154.66±52.49 ng/mL） were significantly lower than those in control（168.33±56.94 and 225.28±82.03） and sham（164.54±47.53 and 217.74±76.45 ng/mL） groups. For intra-group comparison, plasma 5-HT and PGE2 levels in control and sham groups at T2 and T3, and β-EP in EAS group at T3 and T4 were significantly higher than those at T1（P〈0.05）; PGE2 and 5-HT levels in EAS group showed no significant difference among the different time points（P〉0.05）. No apnea or severe hypotension was observed in any group. It was concluded that intraoperative ipsilateral EAS at PC4 and PC6 provides effective postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing radical esophagectomy with remifentanil anesthesia and significantly decrease requirement for parental narcotics. The underlying mechanism may be related to stimulation of the release of endogenous β-EP and inhibition of inflammatory mediators（5-HT and PGE2）.展开更多
Objective:Abnormalities in the gut microbiota and intestinal short-chain fatty acid(SCFA)levels are implicated in the pathogenesis of functional constipation(FC).Electro-acupuncture(EA)has been shown to improve consti...Objective:Abnormalities in the gut microbiota and intestinal short-chain fatty acid(SCFA)levels are implicated in the pathogenesis of functional constipation(FC).Electro-acupuncture(EA)has been shown to improve constipation-related symptoms and rebalance the gut microbiota.However,it is currently unknown whether the gut microbiota is a key mechanistic target for EA or how EA promotes gut motility by regulating the gut microbiota and SCFAs.Therefore,we assessed the effects of EA in FC mice and pseudo-germfree(PGF)mice to address these questions.Methods:Forty female Kunming mice were randomly separated into a normal control group(n=8),an FC group(n=8),an FC+EA group(n=8),a PGF group(n=8)and a PGF+EA group(n=8).The FC group and FC+EA group were treated with diphenoxylate to establish the FC model;the PGF group and PGF+EA group were given an antibiotic cocktail to initiate the PGF model.After maintaining the model for 14 d,mice in the FC+EA and PGF+EA groups received EA stimulation at the ST25 and ST37 acupoints,once a day,5 times per week,for 2 weeks.Fecal parameters and intestinal transit rate were calculated to assess the efficacy of EA on constipation and gastrointestinal motility.Colonic contents were used to quantify gut microbial diversity using 16S rRNA sequencing,and measure SCFA concentrations using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Results:EA significantly shortened the first black stool defecation time(P<0.05)and increased the intestinal transit rate(P<0.01),and fecal pellet number(P<0.05),wet weight(P<0.05)and water content(P<0.01)over 8 h,compared with the FC group,showing that EA promoted gut motility and alleviated constipation.However,EA treatment did not reverse slow-transit colonic motility in PGF mice(P>0.05),demonstrating that the gut microbiota may play a mechanistic role in the EA treatment of constipation.In addition,EA treatment restored the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and significantly increased butyric acid generation in FC mice(P<0.05),most likely due to the upregulation of Staphylococcaceae microorganisms(P<0.01).Conclusion:EA-mediated resolution of constipation occurs through rebalancing the gut microbiota and promoting butyric acid generation.展开更多
Functional constipation （FC） is a common functional bowel disorder disease that affects life quality of a large number of people. This study aimed to explore the impact of different intensities of electro-acupunctu...Functional constipation （FC） is a common functional bowel disorder disease that affects life quality of a large number of people. This study aimed to explore the impact of different intensities of electro-acupuncture （EA） treatment for FC patients. Totally, 111 patients with FC meeting the Rome III criteria were randomly assigned to different intensities of EA groups （low and high intensity of EA groups） and medicine-controlled （MC） group. In EA groups, patients were treated with EA at quchi （Llll） and shangjuxu （ST37） bilaterally for 4 weeks, 5 times/week in the first 2 weeks, and 3 times/week in the last 2 weeks. In MC group, 5 mg mosapride citrate was administered orally 3 times/day for 4 weeks. Spontaneous bowel movement frequency each day was recorded using a consti- pation diary. Self-rating anxiety scale （SAS） and self-rating depression scale （SDS） were used to assess the patients＇ psychological state. Cortisol （CORT）, substance P （SP）, and vasoactive intestinal polypep- tide （VIP） were evaluated at baseline and at the end of 4 weeks after treatment. As compared with the baseline, there was statistically significant increase in stool frequency every week （P〈0.01）, but there was no statistically significant difference among the three groups. As compared with the baseline, after 4 weeks of EA therapy, the scores of SDS and serum levels of CORT were decreased significantly in low intensity of EA group （P〈0.01）, and the serum levels of SP and VIP were increased significantly （P〈0.05）; the scores of SAS and SDS and serum levels of CORT were decreased significantly in high intensity of EA group （P〈0.05）, and the serum levels of SP and VIP were increased significantly （P〈0.05）; the serum levels of CORT and VIP were increased significantly in MC group （P〈0.05）. As compared with MC group, after 4 weeks of treatment, the serum levels of SP were signifcicantly in- creased in low intensity of EA group （P〈0.01）. Low and high intensities of EA could increase the stool frequency, improve the FC patient＇s anxiety and depression, reduce the serum levels of CORT, and in- crease the serum levels of SP and VIP effectively. It is concluded that both low and high intensities of EA are effective for FC patients, but there is no significant difference between the low and high intensi- ties of EA.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of different frequencies of electro-acupuncture at Shuigou(GV 26) on the latent period and wave amplitude of motor evoked potentials(MEPs) in rats with focal cerebral infarction.ME...OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of different frequencies of electro-acupuncture at Shuigou(GV 26) on the latent period and wave amplitude of motor evoked potentials(MEPs) in rats with focal cerebral infarction.METHODS:Fifty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups:controls,model,2 Hz Shuigou,50 Hz Shuigou and 100 Hz Shuigou.There were 10 rats in each group.Using a modification of a technique for middle cerebral artery occlusion,focal cerebral ischemic injury was induced in all rats except those in the control group.The rats in the control group received no treatment.After behavioral deficit had been evaluated using the Zausinger 6-point neurological function score,therats in the Shuigou groups underwent acupuncture and continuous wave stimulation at a frequency of 2 Hz,50 Hz or 100 Hz(intensity 1 mA) for 10 min twice daily for 3 days.The control and model groups underwent no intervention.Zausinger 6-point neurological function score and MEPs were measured 72 h after the start of treatment.RESULTS:The neurological function scores of the three Shuigou groups were significantly higher than those of the model group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference between sides in the latency and amplitude of MEPs in the model group(P> 0.05).The latency on the affected side in the model group was significantly longer than that in the control group(P<0.05) and the amplitude on affected side was significantly reduced(P<0.01).After 3 days of electro-acupuncture,the latency on the affected side in the 2 Hz Shuigou group was significantly shortened(P<0.05) and the amplitude was significantly increased(P<0.05) compared with the model group.CONCLUSION:Low frequency electro-acupuncture at Shuigou(GV 26) can promote recovery of motor function after focal cerebral ischemic injury in rats.展开更多
The selection of electro-acupuncture parameters remains poorly unified between clinical studies. The present study observed the effects of electro-acupuncturing Renzhong （DU 26） with different stimulation parameters...The selection of electro-acupuncture parameters remains poorly unified between clinical studies. The present study observed the effects of electro-acupuncturing Renzhong （DU 26） with different stimulation parameters on motor function recovery following middle artery occlusion injury in rats. Results showed an optimal stimulation parameter for Renzhong electro-acupuncture that was low frequency and mild current （2 Hz, 1 mA） significantly improved cortical excitability and conductive function, and promoted recovery in a rat model of motor function in middle artery occlusion. Frequency had a greater impact than current or interaction, and played a critical role in electro-acupuncture therapy.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Studies have shown that electro-acupuncture at the Ren meridian could improve proliferation of subventricular zone neural stem cells in cerebral-ischemic rats. However, there are few reports on the influe...BACKGROUND： Studies have shown that electro-acupuncture at the Ren meridian could improve proliferation of subventricular zone neural stem cells in cerebral-ischemic rats. However, there are few reports on the influence of electro-acupuncture at the Du meridian on neural stem cell proliferation. OBJECTIVE： To observe the influence of electro-acupuncture at Ren and Du meridians on neural stem cell proliferation in the subventricular zone and altered signal transduction in cerebral ischemia rats. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Human Anatomy, Medical College of Sun Yat-sen University from May 2006 to February 2008. MATERIALS： Mouse anti-rat bromodeoxyuridine （BrdU） monoclonal antibody was provided by Sigma, USA; mouse anti-rat nestin monoclonal antibody and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase （ERK） specific inhibitor PD98059 were provided by Calbiochem, Germany; acupuncture needle was provided by Suzhou Acupuncture Supplies, China. METHODS： A total of 126 rats were randomly assigned to four groups： model （n = 36）, Du meridian （n = 36）, Ren/Du meridian （n = 36）, and Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 （n = 18）. Rats in the Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 group were observed on days 7 （n = 6） and 14 （n = 12） after cerebral ischemia injury. Rats in the model, Du meridian, and Ren/Du meridian groups were observed on days 7, 14, and 28 after cerebral ischemia injury, with 12 rats per group at each time point. Thread occlusion was used to establish middle cerebral artery occlusion models. Electro-acupuncture was performed at Renzhong （DU 26） and Baihui （DU 20） acupoints in the Du meridian group, as well as Chengjiang （RN 24）, Guanyuan （RN 4）, Renzhong, and Baihuiacupoints in the Ren/Du meridian and Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 groups 2 days after model establishment. In addition, electro-acupuncture stimulation with disperse-dense waves was performed, with 30 Hz disperse wave, 100 Hz dense wave, and 5 V intensity for 20 minutes. Rats in the Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 group were treated with 0.2 pg PD98059 injection into the subventricular zone, 2 pL per rat. Rats in the model group were not treated with electro-acupuncture. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： BrdU/nestin immunofluorescent staining was used to detect proliferating neural stem cells in the subventricular zone of cerebral ischemia rats; Western blot was used to determine phosphorylated ERK1 and 2 （pERK1/2） expression in the subventricular zone. RESULTS： On days 14 and 28 after cerebral ischemia, there were significantly more BrdU-positive and BrdU/nestin-positive cells in the Ren/Du meridian group compared with the Du meridian group （P 〈 0.05）. PD98059 decreased the number of BrdU-positive and BrdU/nestin-positive cells induced by electro-acupuncture at the/：ten and Du meridians （P 〈 0.05）. On days 7, 14, and 28 after treatment, pERK1/2 expression was significantly greater in the Du meridian and Ren/Du meridian groups compared with the model group （P 〈 0.05）. The promoting effect of electro-acupuncture at Ren and Du meridians on ERK1/2 phosphorylation was superior to electro-acupuncture at the Du meridian alone on day 14 after model induction （P 〈 0.05）. However, PD98059 completely abolished the promoting effect of electro-acupuncture at Ren/Du meridians on pERK1/2 expression （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Electro-acupuncture at Ren and Du meridians increased proliferation of subventricular zone neural stem cells, which was related to activation of the ERK pathway in a rat model of cerebral ischemia injury.展开更多
基金Natural Science Foundation-funded Project:Regulation of Autophagy by Electroacupuncture at Weizhong Point on the Proliferation of Multifidus Muscle Satellite Cells (No.81574052) and Exosomes Arounding Acupoints Deliver miR-206 to Mediate Insulin-like Growth Factor 1/Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B Pathway and Regulate Muscle Satellite Cell Differentiation:Mechanism of Electroacupuncture in Promoting Rehabilization of Lumbar Multifidus Muscles Injury in Model Rats (No.82174482)Major Program of Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region:Study on the Eeffect of Pediatric Tuina Combined with Acupuncture on the Intestinal Microflora Structure in Children with Provisional Tic Disorder and its Therapeutic Mechanism (201802127)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture in rats with bupivacaine-induced lumbar multifidus injury and its underlying regulatory mechanism on macrophage polarization.METHODS:A total of seventy-two Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into control,model,and electroacupuncture groups.Forty-eight rats categorized in model groups were injected 0.5% bupivacaine(BPVC) into the lumbar multifidus at the L4-L5 segment.Rats in the electroacupuncture groups received the intervention for 1,2,3 and 5 d,respectively.The degree of macrophage infiltration and change of M1/M2 polarization were observed based on hematoxylin and eosin staining,immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture.Meanwhile,exosomal miRNAsequencing and bioinformatics analysis predicted the pathways and biological processes related to inflammatory response and macrophage polarization regulated by electroacupuncture intervention.RESULTS:BPVC injection induced the infiltration of local macrophages at the L4-L5 segment of lumbar multifidus.Comparison of mean IOD values with 2 d and 5 d post injury revealed the highest expression of CD68+ macrophages on day 3 post injury by immunohistochemistry.(P < 0.001,P < 0.001,respectively).Compared with the model group,the cell counts of iNOs+ CD68+ M1-macrophages were lower in the electroacupuncture group,while the positive percent of CD163+ CD206+ M2-macrophages was higher in the electroacupuncture group,on day 3 after BPVC injection(P < 0.001,P < 0.001,respectively).Moreover,the results of sequencing and bioinformatic analysis suggested that exosomal miRNAs were involved in the EA regulating macrophage polarization.CONCLUSIONS:Electroacupuncture can promote macrophage polarization to reduce inflammation following lumbar multifidus muscular injury.
基金Supported in part by Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi(2023GXNSFAA026246)in part by the Central Government's Guide to Local Science and Technology Development Fund(GuikeZY23055044)in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62363003)。
文摘In this paper,we consider the maximal positive definite solution of the nonlinear matrix equation.By using the idea of Algorithm 2.1 in ZHANG(2013),a new inversion-free method with a stepsize parameter is proposed to obtain the maximal positive definite solution of nonlinear matrix equation X+A^(*)X|^(-α)A=Q with the case 0<α≤1.Based on this method,a new iterative algorithm is developed,and its convergence proof is given.Finally,two numerical examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
基金supported by Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation(2408085QA030)Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Educational Committee,China(2022AH050825)+3 种基金Medical Special Cultivation Project of Anhui University of Science and Technology(YZ2023H2C008)the Excellent Research and Innovation Team of Anhui Province,China(2022AH010052)the Scientific Research Foundation for High-level Talents of Anhui University of Science and Technology,China(2021yjrc51)Collaborative Innovation Program of Hefei Science Center,CAS,China(2019HSC-CIP006).
文摘In this paper,a novel method for investigating the particle-crushing behavior of breeding particles in a fusion blanket is proposed.The fractal theory and Weibull distribution are combined to establish a theoretical model,and its validity was verified using a simple impact test.A crushable discrete element method(DEM)framework is built based on the previously established theoretical model.The tensile strength,which considers the fractal theory,size effect,and Weibull variation,was assigned to each generated particle.The assigned strength is then used for crush detection by comparing it with its maximum tensile stress.Mass conservation is ensured by inserting a series of sub-particles whose total mass was equal to the quality loss.Based on the crushable DEM framework,a numerical simulation of the crushing behavior of a pebble bed with hollow cylindrical geometry under a uniaxial compression test was performed.The results of this investigation showed that the particle withstands the external load by contact and sliding at the beginning of the compression process,and the results confirmed that crushing can be considered an important method of resisting the increasing external load.A relatively regular particle arrangement aids in resisting the load and reduces the occurrence of particle crushing.However,a limit exists to the promotion of resistance.When the strain increases beyond this limit,the distribution of the crushing position tends to be isotropic over the entire pebble bed.The theoretical model and crushable DEM framework provide a new method for exploring the pebble bed in a fusion reactor,considering particle crushing.
基金funded by the Beijing Engineering Research Center of Electric Rail Transportation.
文摘Effective partitioning is crucial for enabling parallel restoration of power systems after blackouts.This paper proposes a novel partitioning method based on deep reinforcement learning.First,the partitioning decision process is formulated as a Markov decision process(MDP)model to maximize the modularity.Corresponding key partitioning constraints on parallel restoration are considered.Second,based on the partitioning objective and constraints,the reward function of the partitioning MDP model is set by adopting a relative deviation normalization scheme to reduce mutual interference between the reward and penalty in the reward function.The soft bonus scaling mechanism is introduced to mitigate overestimation caused by abrupt jumps in the reward.Then,the deep Q network method is applied to solve the partitioning MDP model and generate partitioning schemes.Two experience replay buffers are employed to speed up the training process of the method.Finally,case studies on the IEEE 39-bus test system demonstrate that the proposed method can generate a high-modularity partitioning result that meets all key partitioning constraints,thereby improving the parallelism and reliability of the restoration process.Moreover,simulation results demonstrate that an appropriate discount factor is crucial for ensuring both the convergence speed and the stability of the partitioning training.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Develop-ment Program(No.2022YFC3701103)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42130714 and 41931287).
文摘The application of nitrogen fertilizers in agricultural fields can lead to the release of nitrogen-containing gases(NCGs),such as NO_(x),NH_(3) and N_(2)O,which can significantly impact regional atmospheric environment and con-tribute to global climate change.However,there remain considerable research gaps in the accurate measurement of NCGs emissions from agricultural fields,hindering the development of effective emission reduction strategies.We improved an open-top dynamic chambers(OTDCs)system and evaluated the performance by comparing the measured and given fluxes of the NCGs.The results showed that the measured fluxes of NO,N_(2)O and NH_(3)were 1%,2%and 7%lower than the given fluxes,respectively.For the determination of NH_(3) concentration,we employed a stripping coil-ion chromatograph(SC-IC)analytical technique,which demonstrated an absorption efficiency for atmospheric NH_(3) exceeding 96.1%across sampling durations of 6 to 60 min.In the summer maize season,we utilized the OTDCs system to measure the exchange fluxes of NO,NH_(3),and N_(2)O from the soil in the North China Plain.Substantial emissions of NO,NH_(3) and N_(2)O were recorded following fertilization,with peaks of 107,309,1239 ng N/(m^(2)·s),respectively.Notably,significant NCGs emissions were observed following sus-tained heavy rainfall one month after fertilization,particularly with NH_(3) peak being 4.5 times higher than that observed immediately after fertilization.Our results demonstrate that the OTDCs system accurately reflects the emission characteristics of soil NCGs and meets the requirements for long-term and continuous flux observation.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.51975138the High-Tech Ship Scientific Research Project from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology under Grant No.CJ05N20the National Defense Basic Research Project under Grant No.JCKY2023604C006.
文摘Marine thin plates are susceptible to welding deformation owing to their low structural stiffness.Therefore,the efficient and accurate prediction of welding deformation is essential for improving welding quality.The traditional thermal elastic-plastic finite element method(TEP-FEM)can accurately predict welding deformation.However,its efficiency is low because of the complex nonlinear transient computation,making it difficult to meet the needs of rapid engineering evaluation.To address this challenge,this study proposes an efficient prediction method for welding deformation in marine thin plate butt welds.This method is based on the coupled temperature gradient-thermal strain method(TG-TSM)that integrates inherent strain theory with a shell element finite element model.The proposed method first extracts the distribution pattern and characteristic value of welding-induced inherent strain through TEP-FEM analysis.This strain is then converted into the equivalent thermal load applied to the shell element model for rapid computation.The proposed method-particularly,the gradual temperature gradient-thermal strain method(GTG-TSM)-achieved improved computational efficiency and consistent precision.Furthermore,the proposed method required much less computation time than the traditional TEP-FEM.Thus,this study lays the foundation for future prediction of welding deformation in more complex marine thin plates.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Project No.42307555).
文摘At present,there is currently a lack of unified standard methods for the determination of antimony content in groundwater in China.The precision and trueness of related detection technologies have not yet been systematically and quantitatively evaluated,which limits the effective implementation of environmental monitoring.In response to this key technical gap,this study aimed to establish a standardized method for determining antimony in groundwater using Hydride Generation–Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry(HG-AFS).Ten laboratories participated in inter-laboratory collaborative tests,and the statistical analysis of the test data was carried out in strict accordance with the technical specifications of GB/T 6379.2—2004 and GB/T 6379.4—2006.The consistency and outliers of the data were tested by Mandel's h and k statistics,the Grubbs test and the Cochran test,and the outliers were removed to optimize the data,thereby significantly improving the reliability and accuracy.Based on the optimized data,parameters such as the repeatability limit(r),reproducibility limit(R),and method bias value(δ)were determined,and the trueness of the method was statistically evaluated.At the same time,precision-function relationships were established,and all results met the requirements.The results show that the lower the antimony content,the lower the repeatability limit(r)and reproducibility limit(R),indicating that the measurement error mainly originates from the detection limit of the method and instrument sensitivity.Therefore,improving the instrument sensitivity and reducing the detection limit are the keys to controlling the analytical error and improving precision.This study provides reliable data support and a solid technical foundation for the establishment and evaluation of standardized methods for the determination of antimony content in groundwater.
基金Supported by ordinary item of scienceand technology development plan of TCM in Shandong Province:2009-150
文摘Objective To explore the impacts of electro-acupuncture on embryo implanted potential and its molecular mechanism in patients with infertility of different syndromes. Methods Among infertile patients treated with in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation （IVF-ET） combined with electro-acupuncture, 82 cases of kidney deficiency syndrome （group A）, 74 cases of liver qi stagnation syndrome （group B） and 54 cases of phlegm dampness syndrome （group C） were selected. Patients in three groups all received a long program of ovarian hyperstimulation. Additionally, electro-acupuncture was applied before controlled ovarian hyperstimulation （COH） and in the process of ovarian hyperstimulation. Contents of human leukocyte antigen G （HLA-G） in the serum were determined in three groups respectively on the 2nd day of menstruation （M2） and the day of human Chorionic Gonadotropin （hCG） injection. Content of HLA-G in the culture solution of three groups was examined separately on the day of embryo transplantation. The fertilization rate, implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were observed for patients in three groups. Results Contents of HLA-G in the serum on the day of hCG injection and in the culture solution on the day of embryo transplantation in group A and B were significantly higher than those in group C （all P0.05）. However, there was no significant difference with contents of HLA-G in serum on M2 day among three groups. The high quality embryo rate in either group A （73.6%, 352/478） or group B （70.6%, 379/537） was significantly higher than that in group C （54.2%, 208/384） with significantly statistical difference （all P0.01）. But there were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate, fertilization rate and cleavage rate among three groups. Conclusion Electro-acupuncture combined could increase contents of HLA-G in the body and the level of HLA-G secreted from embryos of patients in the process of IVF-ET. Eventually, the pregnancy outcome and the pregnancy rate are improved. It showed better clinical effects of electro-acupuncture for patients with kidney deficiency and liver qi stagnation syndromes than those of phlegm dampness syndome.
基金Supported by National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)No.2009CB522900 and No.2015CB554501National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30973784
文摘AIM To observe whether there are differences in the effects of electro-acupuncture(EA) and moxibustion(Mox) in rats with visceral hypersensitivity. METHODS EA at 1 m A and 3 m A and Mox at 43?℃ and 46?℃ were applied to the Shangjuxu(ST37, bilateral) acupoints in model rats with visceral hypersensitivity. Responses of wide dynamic range neurons in dorsal horns of the spinal cord were observed through the extracellular recordings. Mast cells(MC) activity in the colons of rats were assessed, and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor(5-HT3R) and 5-HT4Rexpressions in the colons were measured.RESULTS Compared with normal control group, responses of wide dynamic range neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord were increased in the EA at 1 m A and 3 m A groups(1 m A: 0.84 ± 0.74 vs 2.73 ± 0.65, P < 0.001; 3 m A: 1.91 ± 1.48 vs 6.44 ± 1.26, P < 0.001) and Mox at 43?℃ and 46?℃ groups(43?℃: 1.76 ± 0.81 vs 4.14 ± 1.83, P = 0.001; 46?℃: 5.19 ± 2.03 vs 7.91 ± 2.27, P = 0.01). MC degranulation rates and the expression of 5-HT, 5-HT3 R and 5-HT4 R in the colon of Mox 46?℃ group were decreased compared with model group(MC degranulation rates: 0.47 ± 0.56 vs 0.28 ± 0.78, P < 0.001; 5-HT: 1.42 ± 0.65 vs 7.38 ± 1.12, P < 0.001; 5-HT3R: 6.62 ± 0.77 vs 2.86 ± 0.88, P < 0.001; 5-HT4R: 4.62 ± 0.65 vs 2.22 ± 0.97, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The analgesic effects of Mox at 46?℃ are greater than those of Mox at 43?℃, EA 1 m A and EA 3 m A.
基金supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program(No.2011CB505203)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81603652,No.81874388).
文摘Functional constipation(FC)is a chronic discasc that significantly afcts the life quality of patients.Acupuncture has been used for the treatment of FC for many years,but its effectiveness has not been scientifcally assessed.The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of electro-acupuncture(EA)in relieving the symptoms,mental states and quality of life(QOL)of FC patients.A total of 96 FC patients were randomly allocated into EA,mosapride&sham EA group(MS)and mosapride control group(MC).In the EA group,patients were treated with 16 sessions of needling at Quchi(LI1I)and Shangjuxu(ST37)bilaterally,5 times a week in the first 2 weeks,and 3 times a.week in the last 2 weeks.In the MC group,patients were treated with 5 mg mosapride citrate three times a day for 4 weeks.In the MS group,patients underwent sham EA and the same mosapride citrate treatment as in the MC group.The primary outcome was the number of weekly spontaneous bowel movements(SBMs).The secondary outcomes included stool consistency,intensity of defecating difficulty,36-Item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36),Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS),and the validated Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life(PAC-QOL).The results showed that as compared with the baseline,EA significantly improved the weekly SBMs,stool consistency and intensity of defecating difficulty(P<0.05).It also partly ameliorated the PAC-QOL,SF-36,SDS and SAS scores when compared with MC or MS group(P<0.05).However,no significant difference was observed between MS and MC groups in bowel function outcomes and QOL scores.It was concluded that EA could effectivcly improve bowel function,mental states and QOL of FC patients.
基金Supported by Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Combined with Medication (Nanjing University of TCM), Ministry of Education, No. KJA200809Shanghai Rising-Star Program, No. 08QA14064Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project, No. S30304
文摘AIM： To investigate the effect and mechanism of electro-acupuncture lEA） at ST25 and ST37 on irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） of rats. METHODS： A total of 21 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group and EA group. A rat model of IBS was established by constraining the limbs and distending the colorectum of rats. Rats in EA group received bilateral EA at ST25 and ST37 with a sparse and intense waveform at a frequency of 2/50 Hz for 15 min, once a day for 7 d as a course. Rats in normal and model groups were stimulated by distending colorectum （CR）. An abdominal withdrawal reflex （AWR） scoring system was used to evaluate improvements in visceral hypersensitivity. Toluidine blue-improved method, immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay were used to observe mucosal mast cells （MC）, changes of substance P （SP） and substance P receptor （SPR） in colon and change of corticotropin-releasing hormone （CRH） in hypothalamus. RESULTS： The threshold of visceral sense was significantly lower in model group than in normal group,and significantly higher in EA group than in model group. The number of mucosal MC was greater in model group than in normal group and significantly smaller in EA group than in model group. The CRH level in hypothalamus of rats was significantly higher in model group than in normal group, which was remarkably decreased after electro-acupuncture treatment. The SP and SPR expression in colon of rats in model group was decreased after electro-acupuncture treatment. CONCLUSION： EA at ST25 and ST37 can decrease the number of mucosal MC and down-regulate the expression of CRH in hypothalamus, and the expression of SP and SPR in colon of rats with IBS.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.30171136
文摘AIM： To discuss the protective effect of electroacupuncture at the Foot-Yangming Meridian on gastric mucosal lesion, somatostatin （SS） and the expression of SS receptor genes （SSR1mRNA） in rabbits with gastric ulcer and to further explore the relative specificity of meridians and viscera at gene expression level. METHODS： Forty rabbits were randomly divided into control group （A）, gastric ulcer model group （B）, FootYangming Meridian group （C）, Foot-Shaoyang Meridian group （D） and Foot-Taiyang Meridian group （E）. The gastric ulcer model was prepared by infusing alcohol into stomach. Groups C-E were treated with electroacupuncture at points along the above meridians using meridian stimulating instruments for 7 days respectively. By the end of treatment, the index of gastric ulcer was determined, the amount of epidermal growth factor（EGF） and somatostatin was measured by radioimmunoassay （PJA）. SS-R1mRNA expression in gastric mucosa was determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS： The value of EGF in model group was obviously lower（73.6±14.8 vs 91.3±14.9 pg/mL, P〈 0.01） than that in control group. The index of gastric ulcer, content of SS and expression of SSRtmRNA in gastric mucosa were significantly higher than those in control group （24.88 ± 6.29 vs 8.50 ± 2.98 scores, P〈 0.01; 2978.6 ± 587.6 vs 1852.4 ± 361.7 mIU/mL, P〈 0.01; 2.56±0.25 vs 1.04±0.36, P〈0.01） . The value of EGF in Foot-Yangming Meridian group was higher than that in model group（92.2±6.7 vs 73.6±14.8 pg/mL, P〈 0.01）. The index of gastric ulcer, content of SS and expression of SS-R1mRNA in gastric mucosa were significantlylower than those in control group（10.88±3.23 vs 24.88±6.29 scores, P〈0.01; 1800.2±488 vs 2978.6±587.6 mIU/mL, P 〈 0.01; 1.07±0.08 vs 2.56±0.25mIU/mL, P〈0.01）. Compared to the model group, the content of SS and expression of SSRlmRNA in gastric mucosa in Foot-Shaoyang Meridian group decreased （2441.0±488. vs 2978.6± 587.6 mIU/mL, P〈 0.05; 1.73±0.16 vs 2.56±0.25 mIU/mL, P〈0.01）. But the above parameters in Foot-Taiyang Meridian group did not improve and were significantly different from those in Footoyangming Meridian group （P〈0.05） CONCLUSION： Electro-acupuncture at Foot-Yangming Meridian can protect gastric mocusa against injury. The mechanism may be releted to the regulation of brain-gut peptides and the expression of SSRtmRNA.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 81373743)Outstanding Young Talents Support Program of Anhui(No. 20140181)
文摘Objective： Acupuncture has a definite therapeutic effect on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）, and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway （CAP） has been shown to be involved in regula- tion of inflammation. In this study, we investigated whether electro-acupuncture （EA） affects the CAP in COPD,Methods： Sprague-Dawley rats were induced into COPD through exposure to cigarette smoke combined with lipopolysaccharide. EA treatment was applied at Zusanli （ST36） and Feishu （BL13） points for 30 min/d for 7 d. Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into six study groups, including normal, normal ＋ EA, normal ＋ α-bungarotoxin （α-BGT） （the antagonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunit （α7nAChR）） ＋ EA, COPD, COPD ＋ EA, and COPD ＋ α-BGT ＋ EA. Lung function, pathology and vagus nerve discharge were tested. The levels of acetylcholine （ACh）, acetylcholinesterase （ACHE）, interleukin-6 （IL-6） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-ct） in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） and lung tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA and protein expression and immunoreac- tivity of α7nAChR and its postreceptor inflammation signal pathway, including janus kinase 2 （JAK2）, sig- nal transducers and activators of transcription 3 （STAT3）, nuclear factor-KB （NF-KB）, were observed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results： Compared with normal rats, there were a significant decline in lung function and discharge of the vagus nerve （P 〈 0.01）, a marked sign of lung inflammation and an increase of ACh, ACHE, IL-6 and TNF-α level in BALF or lung tissue （P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01 ） and higher expression of 0t7nAChR, JAK2, STAT3 and NF-αB （P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01） in the COPD rats. In rats receiving EA, the lung function and vagal discharge were enhanced （P 〈 0.01 ）, lung inflammation was improved and the levels of ACh, ACHE, IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased （P 〈 0.01）. Further, the expression of α7nAChR, JAK2, STAT3 and NF-κB was downregulated （P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01 ）. However, the above effects of EA were blocked in rats injected with α-BCT （P 〈 0.01 ）. Conclusion： EA treatment can reduce the lung inflammatory response and improve lung function in COPD, which may be related to its involvement in the regulation of CAP.
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30640010)
文摘This study examined the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy at different time windows on learning and memory ability of rats with cerebral infarction and the underlying mechanism.Two hundred SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:normal group,sham-operated group,model group and EA+TMS group,and each group was then divided into five sub-groups in terms of the different time to start treatment post operation:6,12,24,48 and 72 h.Cerebral infarction models were established in the model and the EA+TMS groups by left middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R).After treatment for 14 d,the Morris water maze test was applied to examine the spatial learning and memory abilities of rats.In infarcted area,the expression of caspase-3 was immunohistochemically detected,and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to measure the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA.The results showed that in EA+TMS group compared with model group at the same treatment time windows,the escape latency was substantially shortened,the expression of caspase-3 was considerably decreased and the expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA significantly increased (P<0.05).In the EA+TMS sub-groups,the escape latency was shortest,the expression level of caspase-3 lowest,and the expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA highest at the treatment time window of 24 h.It was concluded that EA combined with TMS can promote neurological function of rats with cerebral infarction by increasing the expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA and decreasing the expression of caspase-3.The best time window is 24 h after perfusion treatment to ischemia.
文摘The clinical analgesic effect of electro-acupuncture（EA） stimulation（EAS） on breakthrough pain induced by remifentanil in patients undergoing radical thoracic esophagectomy, and the mechanisms were assessed. Sixty patients（ASAⅢ） scheduled for elective radical esophagectomy were randomized into three groups： group A（control） receiving a general anesthesia only; group B（sham） given EA needles at PC4（Ximen） and PC6（Neiguan） but no stimulation; and group C（EAS） electrically given EAS of the ipsilateral PC4 and PC6 throughout the surgery. The EAS consisting of a disperse-dense wave with a low frequency of 2 Hz and a high frequency of 20 Hz, was performed 30 min prior to induction of general anesthesia and continued through the surgery. At the emergence, sufentanil infusion was given for postoperative analgesia with loading dose of 7.5 μg, followed by a continuous infusion of 2.25 μg/h. The patient self-administration of sufentanil was 0.75 μg with a lockout of 15 min as needed. Additional breakthrough pain was treated with dezocine（5 mg） intravenously at the patient＇s request. Blood samples were collected before（T1）, 2 h（T2）, 24 h（T3）, and 48 h（T4） after operation to measure the plasma β-EP, PGE2, and 5-HT. The operative time, the total dose of sufentanil and the dose of self-administration, and the rescue doses of dezocine were recorded. Visual Analogue Scale（VAS） scores at 2, 12, 24 and 48 h postoperatively and the incidence of apnea and severe hypotension were recorded. The results showed that the gender, age, weight, operative time and remifentanil consumption were comparable among 3 groups. Patients in EAS group had the lowest VAS scores postoperatively among the three groups（P〈0.05）. The total dose of sufentanil was 115±6.0 μg in EAS group, significantly lower than that in control（134.3±5.9 μg） and sham（133.5±7.0 μg） groups. Similarly, the rescue dose of dezocine was the least in EAS group（P〈0.05） among the three groups. Plasma β-EP levels in EAS group at T3（176.90±45.73） and T4（162.96±35.00 pg/mL） were significantly higher than those in control（132.33±36.75 and 128.79±41.24 pg/mL） and sham（136.56±45.80 and 129.85±36.14 pg/mL） groups, P〈0.05 for all. EAS could decrease the release of PGE2. Plasma PGE2 levels in EAS group at T2 and T3（41±5 and 40±5 pg/mL respectively） were significantly lower than those in control（64±5 and 62±7 pg/mL） and sham（66±6 and 62±6 pg/mL） groups. Plasma 5-HT levels in EAS group at T2（133.66±40.85） and T3（154.66±52.49 ng/mL） were significantly lower than those in control（168.33±56.94 and 225.28±82.03） and sham（164.54±47.53 and 217.74±76.45 ng/mL） groups. For intra-group comparison, plasma 5-HT and PGE2 levels in control and sham groups at T2 and T3, and β-EP in EAS group at T3 and T4 were significantly higher than those at T1（P〈0.05）; PGE2 and 5-HT levels in EAS group showed no significant difference among the different time points（P〉0.05）. No apnea or severe hypotension was observed in any group. It was concluded that intraoperative ipsilateral EAS at PC4 and PC6 provides effective postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing radical esophagectomy with remifentanil anesthesia and significantly decrease requirement for parental narcotics. The underlying mechanism may be related to stimulation of the release of endogenous β-EP and inhibition of inflammatory mediators（5-HT and PGE2）.
基金National Natural Science Foundationof China(grant number:82074554,82205270 and 81774430)Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Xinglin Scholars Program(grant number:YXRC2018007).
文摘Objective:Abnormalities in the gut microbiota and intestinal short-chain fatty acid(SCFA)levels are implicated in the pathogenesis of functional constipation(FC).Electro-acupuncture(EA)has been shown to improve constipation-related symptoms and rebalance the gut microbiota.However,it is currently unknown whether the gut microbiota is a key mechanistic target for EA or how EA promotes gut motility by regulating the gut microbiota and SCFAs.Therefore,we assessed the effects of EA in FC mice and pseudo-germfree(PGF)mice to address these questions.Methods:Forty female Kunming mice were randomly separated into a normal control group(n=8),an FC group(n=8),an FC+EA group(n=8),a PGF group(n=8)and a PGF+EA group(n=8).The FC group and FC+EA group were treated with diphenoxylate to establish the FC model;the PGF group and PGF+EA group were given an antibiotic cocktail to initiate the PGF model.After maintaining the model for 14 d,mice in the FC+EA and PGF+EA groups received EA stimulation at the ST25 and ST37 acupoints,once a day,5 times per week,for 2 weeks.Fecal parameters and intestinal transit rate were calculated to assess the efficacy of EA on constipation and gastrointestinal motility.Colonic contents were used to quantify gut microbial diversity using 16S rRNA sequencing,and measure SCFA concentrations using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Results:EA significantly shortened the first black stool defecation time(P<0.05)and increased the intestinal transit rate(P<0.01),and fecal pellet number(P<0.05),wet weight(P<0.05)and water content(P<0.01)over 8 h,compared with the FC group,showing that EA promoted gut motility and alleviated constipation.However,EA treatment did not reverse slow-transit colonic motility in PGF mice(P>0.05),demonstrating that the gut microbiota may play a mechanistic role in the EA treatment of constipation.In addition,EA treatment restored the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and significantly increased butyric acid generation in FC mice(P<0.05),most likely due to the upregulation of Staphylococcaceae microorganisms(P<0.01).Conclusion:EA-mediated resolution of constipation occurs through rebalancing the gut microbiota and promoting butyric acid generation.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(No.2011CB505203)
文摘Functional constipation （FC） is a common functional bowel disorder disease that affects life quality of a large number of people. This study aimed to explore the impact of different intensities of electro-acupuncture （EA） treatment for FC patients. Totally, 111 patients with FC meeting the Rome III criteria were randomly assigned to different intensities of EA groups （low and high intensity of EA groups） and medicine-controlled （MC） group. In EA groups, patients were treated with EA at quchi （Llll） and shangjuxu （ST37） bilaterally for 4 weeks, 5 times/week in the first 2 weeks, and 3 times/week in the last 2 weeks. In MC group, 5 mg mosapride citrate was administered orally 3 times/day for 4 weeks. Spontaneous bowel movement frequency each day was recorded using a consti- pation diary. Self-rating anxiety scale （SAS） and self-rating depression scale （SDS） were used to assess the patients＇ psychological state. Cortisol （CORT）, substance P （SP）, and vasoactive intestinal polypep- tide （VIP） were evaluated at baseline and at the end of 4 weeks after treatment. As compared with the baseline, there was statistically significant increase in stool frequency every week （P〈0.01）, but there was no statistically significant difference among the three groups. As compared with the baseline, after 4 weeks of EA therapy, the scores of SDS and serum levels of CORT were decreased significantly in low intensity of EA group （P〈0.01）, and the serum levels of SP and VIP were increased significantly （P〈0.05）; the scores of SAS and SDS and serum levels of CORT were decreased significantly in high intensity of EA group （P〈0.05）, and the serum levels of SP and VIP were increased significantly （P〈0.05）; the serum levels of CORT and VIP were increased significantly in MC group （P〈0.05）. As compared with MC group, after 4 weeks of treatment, the serum levels of SP were signifcicantly in- creased in low intensity of EA group （P〈0.01）. Low and high intensities of EA could increase the stool frequency, improve the FC patient＇s anxiety and depression, reduce the serum levels of CORT, and in- crease the serum levels of SP and VIP effectively. It is concluded that both low and high intensities of EA are effective for FC patients, but there is no significant difference between the low and high intensi- ties of EA.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30873304)
文摘OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of different frequencies of electro-acupuncture at Shuigou(GV 26) on the latent period and wave amplitude of motor evoked potentials(MEPs) in rats with focal cerebral infarction.METHODS:Fifty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups:controls,model,2 Hz Shuigou,50 Hz Shuigou and 100 Hz Shuigou.There were 10 rats in each group.Using a modification of a technique for middle cerebral artery occlusion,focal cerebral ischemic injury was induced in all rats except those in the control group.The rats in the control group received no treatment.After behavioral deficit had been evaluated using the Zausinger 6-point neurological function score,therats in the Shuigou groups underwent acupuncture and continuous wave stimulation at a frequency of 2 Hz,50 Hz or 100 Hz(intensity 1 mA) for 10 min twice daily for 3 days.The control and model groups underwent no intervention.Zausinger 6-point neurological function score and MEPs were measured 72 h after the start of treatment.RESULTS:The neurological function scores of the three Shuigou groups were significantly higher than those of the model group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference between sides in the latency and amplitude of MEPs in the model group(P> 0.05).The latency on the affected side in the model group was significantly longer than that in the control group(P<0.05) and the amplitude on affected side was significantly reduced(P<0.01).After 3 days of electro-acupuncture,the latency on the affected side in the 2 Hz Shuigou group was significantly shortened(P<0.05) and the amplitude was significantly increased(P<0.05) compared with the model group.CONCLUSION:Low frequency electro-acupuncture at Shuigou(GV 26) can promote recovery of motor function after focal cerebral ischemic injury in rats.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30873304
文摘The selection of electro-acupuncture parameters remains poorly unified between clinical studies. The present study observed the effects of electro-acupuncturing Renzhong （DU 26） with different stimulation parameters on motor function recovery following middle artery occlusion injury in rats. Results showed an optimal stimulation parameter for Renzhong electro-acupuncture that was low frequency and mild current （2 Hz, 1 mA） significantly improved cortical excitability and conductive function, and promoted recovery in a rat model of motor function in middle artery occlusion. Frequency had a greater impact than current or interaction, and played a critical role in electro-acupuncture therapy.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30371808the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,No.5009688
文摘BACKGROUND： Studies have shown that electro-acupuncture at the Ren meridian could improve proliferation of subventricular zone neural stem cells in cerebral-ischemic rats. However, there are few reports on the influence of electro-acupuncture at the Du meridian on neural stem cell proliferation. OBJECTIVE： To observe the influence of electro-acupuncture at Ren and Du meridians on neural stem cell proliferation in the subventricular zone and altered signal transduction in cerebral ischemia rats. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Human Anatomy, Medical College of Sun Yat-sen University from May 2006 to February 2008. MATERIALS： Mouse anti-rat bromodeoxyuridine （BrdU） monoclonal antibody was provided by Sigma, USA; mouse anti-rat nestin monoclonal antibody and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase （ERK） specific inhibitor PD98059 were provided by Calbiochem, Germany; acupuncture needle was provided by Suzhou Acupuncture Supplies, China. METHODS： A total of 126 rats were randomly assigned to four groups： model （n = 36）, Du meridian （n = 36）, Ren/Du meridian （n = 36）, and Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 （n = 18）. Rats in the Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 group were observed on days 7 （n = 6） and 14 （n = 12） after cerebral ischemia injury. Rats in the model, Du meridian, and Ren/Du meridian groups were observed on days 7, 14, and 28 after cerebral ischemia injury, with 12 rats per group at each time point. Thread occlusion was used to establish middle cerebral artery occlusion models. Electro-acupuncture was performed at Renzhong （DU 26） and Baihui （DU 20） acupoints in the Du meridian group, as well as Chengjiang （RN 24）, Guanyuan （RN 4）, Renzhong, and Baihuiacupoints in the Ren/Du meridian and Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 groups 2 days after model establishment. In addition, electro-acupuncture stimulation with disperse-dense waves was performed, with 30 Hz disperse wave, 100 Hz dense wave, and 5 V intensity for 20 minutes. Rats in the Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 group were treated with 0.2 pg PD98059 injection into the subventricular zone, 2 pL per rat. Rats in the model group were not treated with electro-acupuncture. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： BrdU/nestin immunofluorescent staining was used to detect proliferating neural stem cells in the subventricular zone of cerebral ischemia rats; Western blot was used to determine phosphorylated ERK1 and 2 （pERK1/2） expression in the subventricular zone. RESULTS： On days 14 and 28 after cerebral ischemia, there were significantly more BrdU-positive and BrdU/nestin-positive cells in the Ren/Du meridian group compared with the Du meridian group （P 〈 0.05）. PD98059 decreased the number of BrdU-positive and BrdU/nestin-positive cells induced by electro-acupuncture at the/：ten and Du meridians （P 〈 0.05）. On days 7, 14, and 28 after treatment, pERK1/2 expression was significantly greater in the Du meridian and Ren/Du meridian groups compared with the model group （P 〈 0.05）. The promoting effect of electro-acupuncture at Ren and Du meridians on ERK1/2 phosphorylation was superior to electro-acupuncture at the Du meridian alone on day 14 after model induction （P 〈 0.05）. However, PD98059 completely abolished the promoting effect of electro-acupuncture at Ren/Du meridians on pERK1/2 expression （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Electro-acupuncture at Ren and Du meridians increased proliferation of subventricular zone neural stem cells, which was related to activation of the ERK pathway in a rat model of cerebral ischemia injury.
