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To observe the effect of moxibustion on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/UNC-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) signaling pathway in the synovial tissue of toes in rheumatoid arthritis rats, so as to explore the mechanism of mo-xibustion in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).A total of 45 SD rats were randomly divided into blank, model， moxibustion, methotrexate and rapamycin groups, with 9 rats in each group. RA rat model was established by injection of Freund's complete adjuvant. Moxibustion was applied to "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Guanyuan" (CV4) for 20 min, once a day for 3 weeks. Methotrexate group was given methotrexate (0.35 mg/kg) by gavage, twice a week for 3 weeks. Rapamycin group was intraperitoneally injected with rapamycin (1 mg/kg)，once every other day for 3 weeks. The toe volume of the left hind limb of rats was measured by the toe volume measuring instrument. The content of AMP in toe synovium was detected by ELISA. The expression of AMPK and VPS34 protein in toe synovium was detected by Western blot.The expression of ULK1 and Atg13 mRNA in toe synovium was detected by RT-PCR.Compared with the blank group, the volume of toe in the model group was increased (Moxibustion can improve joint swelling in RA rats, and the mechanism may be related to promoting the activity of AMPK/ULK1 signaling pathway.

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Guanyuan"(CV4) on the apoptosis rate of synoviocytes and protein expression of Fas, FasL and Caspase-3 in synovial tissue of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of rheumatoid arthritis （RA）.A total of 24 rats were randomly divided into normal, model, medication and EA groups, with 6 rats in each group. The AIA model was established by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, 0.1 mL) into the left hindlimb paw. The rats in the medication group received intraperitoneal injection of 0.35 mg/kg of methotrexate, twice a week for 4 weeks. The rats in the EA group received EA stimulation of ST36 and CV4 (20 Hz/50 Hz, 1 mA) for 20 min, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The left hind paw volume was measured using a paw volume meter, and histopathological changes of synovial tissue were observed by light microscope after H.E. staining. The serum contents of tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α） and interleukin-1 （IL-1） were measured by ELISA. The apoptosis of synoviocytes was detected by terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL), and the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins Fas, FasL and Caspase-3 in synovium were detected by Western blot.Compared with the normal group, the left hind paw volume from day 3 to 24 after administration of CFA, serum IL-1 and TNF-α contents were significantly increased (EA of ST36 and CV4 can promote the apoptosis of synoviocytes and the expressions of Fas and FasL proteins in AIA rats, which may contribute to its role in relieving synovitis through activating Fas/FasL signaling.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on urodynamics and intramedullary apoptosis related factor B cell lymphoma gene-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related protein X (Bax) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in neurogenic bladder rats after supersacral spinal cord injury. Methods A total of 60 female SD rats, SPF grade, were randomly selected, 12 rats in the blank group and 12 rats in the sham operation group, and the remaining 36 rats were made models. Of these 36 rats, 24 rats meeting the model standard were randomized into the model group and electroacupuncture group, with 12 rats in each group. The neurogenic bladder models after supracacral spinal cord injury were prepared by the Hassan Shaker spinal cord transection method, via combining the previous model study experience. At the end of spinal shock stage, “Dazhuī (大椎GV14)” “Zhōngji (中极CV 3) ” “ Ciliao (次髎BL 32) ”, and “Sānyīnjiāo (三阴交SP 6) ” were selected for electroacupuncture. Observation on the histomorphological changes of bladder detrusor and spinal cord in rats was conducted by HE staining. The apoptosis rate of spinal cord cells was measured by TUNEL assay. The maximum bladder volume and compliance were measured by urodynamics test. The protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and BDNF in spinal cord tissues were measured by Western blot assay. The expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and BDNF mRNA were measured by RT-PCR assay. Results ① The results of HE staining showed that compared with the blank group and sham operation group, in the model group the bladder epithelial cell structure was destroyed, the detrusor muscle fibers proliferated, and there were severe bleeding changes, the spinal cord tissue was disordered, the structure was destroyed, the cell space was enlarged, and accompanied by a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration and cystic cavity formation. Compared with the model group, in the electroacupuncture group, the intact bladder epithelial cells increased, the detrusor muscle fiber proliferation decreased, the bleeding changes decreased, the complete structural area of spinal cord tissues increased, the cell space decreased, the levels were clearer, and the cystic cavity decreased. ② The results of TUNEL assay indicated that the TUNEL positive rate of spinal cord cells in the model group was significantly higher than that in the blank group and sham group (both P Conclusion Electroacupuncture at “GV14” “CV3” “BL32”, and “SP6” can promote the repair of bladder detrusor, improve the maximum bladder volume and compliance of bladder, promote morphological repair of bladder detrusor, reduce spinal cord cell apoptosis rate, thus to restore the function of bladder. This is maybe related with the electroacupuncture's two-way regulatory mechanism of increased expression of protein and gene of Bcl-2 and BDNF and decreased expression of protein and gene of Bax in spinal cord tissues.

This study aimed to conduct proteomic analysis of the sphincter in a neurogenic bladder caused by T10 spinal cord injury. The differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) of the sphincters (internal urethral sphincter) in the neurogenic bladders (NBs) of rats after complete transection of the T10 spinal cord segment were screened using tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative labeling, and their biological information was analyzed.Twelve adult Sprague Dawley rats out of 40 were randomly assigned to the blank group (The leak-point pressure and maximum cystometric volume in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group (It is of great significance to explore the pathological mechanism of non-inhibitory contraction of the bladder sphincter caused by spinal cord injury above the T10 segment from the perspective of ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion-activated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and cell relaxation signaling pathways. Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein (Sv2A) involved in the release of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles, arrestin β2 inhibitory proteins involved in α-adrenergic receptors and G-protein-coupled receptor internalization, and calmodulin and calmodulin binding protein involved in calcium-sensitive signaling pathways may be potential targets for developing new ways to treat bladder sphincter overactivity caused by T10 spinal cord injury.

To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on autophagosomes, unc-51-like autophage activating kinase 1 (ULK1), Beclin1, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) expression, and synoviocyte ultrastructure in the synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats, and to explore the mechanism of EA in regulating the proliferation of synoviocytes via the autophagy pathway.The SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a methotrexate (MTX) group, and an EA group, with 6 rats in each group. Following RA modeling with Freund's complete adjuvant, rats in the MTX group were treated with intragastric administration of 0.35 mg/kg MTX, twice a week, for 4 weeks, while those in the EA group received 20-min EA stimulation at "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Guanyuan" (CV4), once per day, for 4 weeks, with an interval of one day between weeks. The rat left hind toe volume was measured using the toe volume measuring instrument. HE staining was conducted for detecting the morphology of rat synovial tissues, followed by the observation of autophagosomes under the transmission electron microscope. The levels of serum interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were assayed by ELISA, and the protein expression levels of ULK1, Beclin1, and LC3 were detected by Western blot.Compared with the normal group, the left hind toe volume of the model group increased significantly (EA alleviates the joint swelling and synoviocyte injury of RA rats possibly by regulating the expression of ULK1, LC3, and Beclin1 and inhibiting the synoviocyte autophagy and proliferation.

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on urodynamics of neurogenic bladder and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide(PACAP)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A(PKA) signaling pathway in detrusor tissue of rats after suprasacral spinal cord injury (SCI), so as to explore its possible mechanism in improving detrusor hyperreflexia bladder function after shock stage of suprasacral SCI.Female SD rats were randomly divided into control, sham operation, model and EA groups, with 12 rats in each group. T10 spinal cord transection (SCT) was performed by surgery. Rats in the EA group were given EA (10 Hz/50 Hz, 20 min) at "Ciliao" (BL32), "Zhongji" (CV3) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) once daily for 7 days. After the intervention, urodynamics testing was detected in each group. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of bladder detrusor. The protein and mRNA expression of PACAP38 in detrusor was detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and real-time quantitive PCR, respectively. The contents of cAMP and PKA were determined by ELISA.Compared with the control and sham operation groups, the maximum bladder capacity and bladder com-pliance, and the protein and mRNA expression of PACAP38, and the contents of cAMP and PKA of the model group were significantly decreased (EA at BL32, CV3 and SP6 can improve the bladder function in rats with bladder detrusor hyperreflexia after SCI, which may be related to its effect in activating the PACAP/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in detrusor tissue.

To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Ashi points on adjuvant arthritis rats, and explore the mechanism of EA treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sixty male rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a methotrexate group and an EA group, with 15 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group and the model group were routinely raised and did not receive treatment; rats in the methotrexate group received methotrexate at a dose of 0.35 mg/(kg·bw), twice a week for 3 weeks; rats in the EA group received acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Ashi points, and the bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Ashi points were connected to EA apparatus, once a day for 3 weeks. The general status, the swelling degree of the toe, the arthritis index (AI) score, the pathological morphology of the ankle joint, and the mRNA expressions of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein (c-IAP) 1 and c-IAP2 in joint synovial tissue cells of the rats in each group were observed. The swelling degree of the toe, AI score and mRNA expressions of c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (all P

On the base of the idea of traditional Chinese medicine as "disease prevention", the mode and the protocol of the moxibustion intervention for the group under quarantine after close contact with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were explored. The group under quarantine after close contact with COVID-19 was taken as the subjects. By the non-contact physician-patient communication network platform co-developed by China Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Hunan Provincial Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Data Center of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Yuge Medicine Company, an exploratory randomized controlled trial was designed. A total of 100 cases were included and randomized into a moxibustion group and a conventional intervention group, 50 cases in each one. In the moxibustion group, moxibustion intervention was used. In the conventional intervention group, the conventional observation was adopted without moxibusiton intervention applied. The outcomes included the symptoms changes, e.g. anxiety, emotional disturbance, fatigue, headache and diarrhea, as well as whether quarantine release and the case confirmed or not, etc. The results were evaluated before intervention, in 14 days of intervention and 2 weeks after intervention separately. In this research, on the base of internet plus technology and with the internet communication platform adopted, through mobile phone WeChat App, it was to implement the subject screen, the random allocation and the instruction of moxibustion intervention as well as the quality control of patient's diary and data collection. It is anticipated that the significance and the implementation mode of moxibustion intervention can be assessed preliminarily for the group under quarantine after close contact with COVID-19.

Professional football has been recently characterized by an increase in game speed and complexity. From this, it follows that football referees also need to improve their skills to keep up with players and adequately respond in various disputed situations. The purpose of this work is to increase the performance indicators of physical fitness and activity of referees during the annual cycle. Most referees prefer the game method. For a football referee or referee&rsquo, s assistant during a game, physical activity is similar to that of runners/athletes. Football referees are engaged in performance that is more intense, as compared to their assistants, at the international level especially. Such conditions are close to extreme and are characterized by an intense physical load dictated by game duration. This study suggested using athletics in comprehensive sustainable training of football referees. As it turned out, athletics-based training significantly improved the motor activity of football referees.

To observe the influence of pressing force and time on the thermal effect of An-pressing manipulation. Eight healthy volunteers were recruited to receive An-pressing manipulation at Xinshu (BL 15) on the right side. The pressing force and time were both divided into five levels: the force described as extremely mild, mild, moderate, strong and extremely strong and time given by 2.5 min, 5.0 min, 7.5 min, 10.0 min and 15.0 min. The real-time change in local acupoint temperature as well as the change during 1.0-15.0 min after the manipulation were observed. Compared with the baseline data, the real-time changes in the temperature after An-pressing Xinshu (BL 15) on the right side with different levels of force (from mild to strong) were respectively (1.88±0.64) °C, (2.05±0.68) °C, (2.25±0.59) °C, (2.35±0.61) °C and (2.32±0.69) °C; the changes in 15.0 min after the manipulation were respectively (–0.11±0.11) °C, (0.03±0.14) °C, (0.59±0.58) °C, (1.38±0.70) °C and (2.09±0.98) °C. The real-time temperature changes after the manipulation for different durations (from short to long) were respectively (1.94±0.37) °C, (2.33±0.29) °C, (2.49±0.31) °C, (2.51±0.39) °C and (2.41±0.55) °C; the changes in 15.0 min after the manipulation were respectively (0.53±0.49) °C, (0.33±0.30) °C, (0.52±0.33) °C, (0.55±0.38) °C and (0.76±0.36) °C. The thermal effect presented an increasing tendency with the extension of pressing time, and the temperature reached the top at 7.5 min; the thermal effect showed an increasing tendency with the rise of pressing force, and the temperature reached the top upon a moderate level of force. The pressing time can produce a greater influence on the real-time temperature than the pressing force; the pressing force can produce a greater influence on maintaining the temperature than the pressing time.

To observe the effect of An-pressing manipulation on biceps brachii with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in healthy male volunteers. A total of 30 male college student volunteers were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group and a treatment group, 10 cases in each group. Subjects in the blank group did not receive any intervention; subjects in the model group received active weight-bearing eccentric exercise on the non-favored side of the upper limb to establish the models, while not receiving any treatment; subjects in the treatment group received both the same modeling and An-pressing manipulation treatment. The subjective rating of perceived exertion (RPE), subjective soreness sensation threshold and soreness grade were evaluated before modeling, immediately after modeling, and 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h after modeling. Serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was measured before modeling, immediately after modeling, and 24, 48 and 72 h after modeling. Serum creatine kinase MM isoenzyme (CK-MM) was measured before modeling and 24, 48 and 72 h after modeling. At 24, 48, 72 and 120 h after treatment, the soreness grades of the treatment group were lower than those of the model group (all P

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in the intervention of neurogenic bladder (NB) caused by suprasacral spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods The total 60 female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into blank group, sham operation group by adopting random number table method, with 12 rats in each group. The remaining rats were made into models through operation, and 24 successful model rats were randomly divided into model group and EA group, with 12 rats in each group. Since the 19th day after modeling, EA was conducted at “Ciliao” (次髎BL 32), “Zhōngji” (中极CV 3), “Sānyīnjiāo” (三阴交SP 6) and “Dazhuī” (大椎GV 14) in EA group, remaining the needle for 20 min every time. The intervention was performed for once a day, and 7 consecutive days were needed. The rest of the three groups were only tied up for the same time. Urodynamics test was conducted after the intervention. The contents of PACAP-38 and PAC1R of the spinal cord of the injury site were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the blank group, there were no significant differences in the bladder capacity, leak point pressure, bladder compliance and PACAP-38 and PAC1R contents in spinal cord in sham operation group; compared with the sham operation group, the maximum bladder capacity and the bladder compliance in the model group were lower (both P Conclusion EA at BL 32, CV 3, SP 6 and GV 14 can improve the bladder function of NB rats of suprasacral SCI, and its mechanism may be related to the increase expression of PACAP-38 and PAC1R protein in the injured spinal cord tissue.

Objective To contrastively observe the effect of electroacupuncture at lower he-sea points of stomach, large intestine, small intestine and gallbladder of acute gastric mucosal lesion (AGML) model rats on the expression of serum high mobility group protein B 1 (HMGB 1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) of gastric tissue, and to explore whether the lower he-sea points of stomach have relative specificity in treatment of stomach diseases. Methods Seventy healthy SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups, including control group, model group, “Zusānlľ” ( ST 36) group, “Shangjuxū” ( ST 37) group, “Xiajuxū” ( ST 39) group, “Yanglingquan” ( . GB 34) group and “Chengjīn” ( BL 56) group, with five male rats and five female rats in each group. Acute gastric mucosal lesion model was established by applying WRS method. After successful modeling and treatment for ten days, sampling was conducted, gastric mucosal lesion was observed visually and scored, the levels of serum HMGB 1 and gastric tissue TNF-α were detected by ELISA method, and the expression of NF-κB was detected by immunohistochemical method. Results Compared with the model group, the levels of Ulcers and inflammation (Ul) in gastric mucosal and serum HMGB1, and the expression of gastric tissue TNF-α and NF-κB in the four lower he-sea points groups reduced (P Conclusion Electroacupuncture at relevant lower he-sea points can inhibit the body's immune response, relieve inflammatory reaction and reduce mucosal lesion by regulating HMGB 1, TNF-α and NF-κB, so as to realize the intervention and treatment on AGML rats; the total intervention effect in ST 36 group is superior to that in other groups, indicating partially that there is a relative specificity between ST 36 and stomach.

We report the doping effects of cobalt on van der Waals (vdW) magnet Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$. A series of (Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_5$GeTe$_2$ (0$\leq$x$\leq$0.44) single crystals have been successfully grown, their structural, magnetic and transport properties are investigated. For x=0.20, The Curie temperature $T_C$ increases from 276~K to 337~K. Moreover, the magnetic easy-axis is reoriented to the $ab$-plane from the $c$-axis in undoped Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$ with largely enhanced magnetic anisotropy. These magnetic properties would make (Fe$_{0.8}$Co$_{0.2}$)$_5$GeTe$_2$ more effective in stabilizing magnetic order in the two-dimensional limit. A complex magnetic phase diagram is identified on the higher doping side. The x=0.44 crystal first orders ferromagnetically at $T_C$=363~K then undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition at $T_N$=335~K. Furthermore magnetic-field-induced spin-flop transitions are observed for the AFM ground state. Our work reveals (Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_5$GeTe$_2$ as promising candidates for developing new spin-related applications and proposes a method to engineer the magnetic properties of vdW magnet., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures

The pseudosteady state productivity index is very important for evaluating the production from oil and gas wells. It is usually used as an objective function for the optimization of fractured wells. However, there is no analytical solution for it, especially when the proppant number of the fractured well is greater than 0.1. This paper extends the established fitting solution for proppant numbers less than 0.1 by introducing an explicit expression of the shape factor. It also proposes a new asymptotic solution based on the trilinear-flow model for proppant numbers greater than 0.1. The two solutions are combined to evaluate the pseudosteady state productivity index. The evaluation results are verified by the numerical method. The new solution can be directly used for fracture geometry optimization. The optimization results are consistent with those given by the unified fracture design (UFD) method. Using the analytical solution for the pseudosteady state productivity index, optimization results can be obtained for rectangular drainage areas with arbitrary aspect ratios without requiring any interpolation or extrapolation. Moreover, the new solution provides more rigorous optimization results than the UFD method, especially for fractured horizontal wells.

With the Meta-analysis method, the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and other regular methods for aphasia was evaluated, and the acupoints selection for aphasia was explored. The acupuncture literature of clinical randomized control trials for aphasia published in CNKI, WANFANG, VIP and CBM database was searched; the statistical analysis of clinical efficacy of acupuncture and other regular methods for aphasia was performed by using software Revman 5. 2 provided by Cochrane library. A file of Microsoft Excel was established to perform the analysis of acupoints selection based on frequency analysis method, so as to summarize the characteristics and rules. Totally 385 articles were searched, and 37 articles those met the inclusive criteria was included, involving 1,260 patients in the acupuncture group and 1 238 patients in the control group. The Meta-analysis results showed OR = 3.82, 95% Cl [3.01, 4.85]; rhombus was located on the right side and the funnel plot was nearly symmetry, indicating the treatment effect of the acupuncture group for aphasia was superior to the control group (Z = 11.04, P0.000 01). The frequency-analysis results showed that the frequency of acupoints from top to bottom was Lian-quan (CV 23), Tongli (HT 5), Yamen (GV 15), Jinjin (EX-HN 12), Yuye (EX-HN 13), Baihui (GV 20), Yuyan II, Yuyan I and Yuyan III. The frequency of meridians from top to bottom was the governor vessel, extra channels, conception vessel, heart meridian and large intestine meridian. It is concluded that the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training and medication treatment for aphasia is superior to that of speech rehabilitation training and medication treatment alone. The clinical treatment for aphasia focuses on its local effect; the main acupoints are in the head and face, and the meridians are governor vessel, extra channels and conception vessel.

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Xiaohai" (SI 8) and "Xiajuxu" (ST 39) on serum TNF-α and duodenal high mobility group protein B 1 (HMGB 1) levels in rats with duodenal ulcer (DU), so as to analyze its underlying mechanism in improving DU.Forty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, Xiaohai (SI 8) and Xiajuxu (ST 39) groups (n=10 in each group). The DU model was established by intramuscular injection of 10% Cysteamine hydrochloride (300 mg/kg), followed by taking water containing 1% Cysteamine hydrochloride for 48 h. EA (10 Hz/50 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to bilateral SI 8 and ST 39 for 30 min, once a day for 10 days. The DU score (0-5 score) was evaluated according to Moraes' method. Serum TNF-α content was determined by ELISA and duodenal HMGB 1 expression was measured by immunohistochemistry.Compared to the normal control group, the DU score, serum TNF-α content, and duodenal HMGB 1 expression level of the model group were significantly higher (P0.01). Following EA intervention, the increased DU score, serum TNF-α content, and duodenal HMGB 1 expression level were considerably down-regulated in the two EA groups in comparison with the model group (P0.01, P0.05) except HMGB 1 in the SI 8 group (P0.05), and the effect of EA of "Xiajuxu" (ST 39), the lower-He point, was remarkably superior to that of "Xiaohai" (SI 8) in reducing DU score and TNF-α content (P0.01).EA stimulation of SI 8 and ST 39 can improve duodenal ulceration in DU rats, which may be related to its effect in down-regulating serum TNF-α and duodenal HMGB 1 expression. The therapeutic effect of ST 39 is markedly better than SI 8 in relieving duodenal ulceration.

To observe the effect of moxibustion on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2(p-ERK1/2) protein expression in gastric ulcer (GU) rats so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying improving GU.Fifty SD rats were randomly allocated to control,model, medication ("Sijunzi" Decoction), non-acupoint moxibustion (non-acup-moxi), and acup-moxi groups (n=10 in each group). The GU model was established by intragastric perfusion of absolute alcohol. Rats of the control group were treated by gavage of distilled water. Rats of the medication group were treated by administration of "Sijunzi" Decoction (8 mL x kg(-1) d(-1)),twice a day for 8 days. Moxibustion intervention was applied to bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36),"Zhongwan" (CV 12),and "Pishu" (BL 20), "Weishu" (BL 21) alternatively for 30 min, once daily for 8 days. The animals' ulcer index (UI) was assessed by Guth's method, and gastric mucosal pathological changes were observed under light microscope following H. E. staining. The expression of gastric EGFR was detected by immunohistochemistry and that of phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) protein determined by Western blot.Compared with the control group, the UI, gastric EGFR and p-ERK1/2 protein expression levels were significantly increased in the model group(P0.01, P0.05); whereas in comparison with the model group, the UI was notably decreased in the medication, non-acup-moxi and acup-moxi groups (P0.05, P0.01), and EGFR and p-ERK1/2 protein expression levels were further up-regulated in the three treatment groups (P0.01). The effects of both medication and acup-moxi groups were obviously superior to those of the non-acup-moxi group (P0.01, P0.05). No significant differences were found between the medication and acup-moxi groups in the expression levels of EGFR and p-ERK1/2 proteins (P0.05). Results of H.E. staining showed that alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury as breakage, exfoliation, inflammatory cell infiltration, etc. was milder in both medication and acup-moxi groups following the treatment.Acupoint-moxibustion has a role in relieving alcohol induced gastric mucosal injury in the rat, which may be closely associated with its effects in up-regulating activities of the EGFR/ERK signal transduction pathway.

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on the expression of metalloprotei- nase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor-1 (TIMP-1) in the lung tissue in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), so as to reveal its mechanisms in protecting the lung tissue.Forty male SD rats were equally randomized into control, model, medication and EA groups. The COPD model was established by smoke-fumigation method (passive smoking in a closed box) and endotracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide (200 microg/100 microL) for 30 days. Rats of the medication group were treated by i.p. of dexamethasone acetate injection (2.0 mg/kg), once daily for 22 days. EA was applied to LU 9, ST 36, ST 40 and KI 3 for 20 min, once daily for 22 days. Pathological changes of the pulmonary tissue were observed under optical microscope after hematoxylin and eosin (H.E.) staining. The expression of pulmonary MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was assayed by immunohistochemistry.H.E. staining showed pulmonary diffuse edema, severe inflammatory cell infiltration, and increase of the numbers of goblet cells, proliferation of fibroblasts, etc. in the model group which were relatively milder in the medication and EA groups. The expression levels of pulmonary MMP-9 and TIMP-1 proteins were significantly higher in the model group than in the control group (P0.05), and were considerably down-regulated in both EA and medication groups in comparison with the model group (P0.05). There were no significant differences between the EA and medication groups in MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression levels (P0.05).EA can effectively suppress the increased expression of pulmonary MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in COPD rats, which may contribute to its effect in improving COPD-induced pathological changes.

To observe the effect of acupoint-catgut-embedding therapy on blood lipid and insulin levels in type I diabetes mellitus rats;s as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of pancreatic functions.Thirty SD rats were divided into normal, model and treatment group. The type I diabetes model was established by feeding the rats with high-fat diet and intraperitodneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Catgut-embedment was performed in acupoint "Zhongwan" (CV 12)-"Xiawan" (CV 10), "Yishu"-"Ganshu" (BL 18), etc., once every 20 days, twice altogether. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) content was assayed by glucose oxidase method; glycosylated hemoglobin A 1 c (HbA 1 c) assayed by ELISA, and serum fasting C-peptide(FC-p) deterriined by chemiluminescence method; and the triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and serum insulin (INS) levels were detected by enzymatic method, separately. The rat's pancreas tissues were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and cut into sections (4 Im in thickness) and stained with H. E. method.After modeling, the levels of FBG, HbA 1 c, INS and FC-p, TG, TC were significantly increased in the model group in comparison with those of the normal group (P0.05), while INS sensitive. index was apparently decreased in the model group (P0.05). Following catgut-embedding treatment, changes of the above-mentioned indexes were all remarkably reversed (P0.05), and H.E. staining showed an improvement of the injured pancreatic tissue and islet cells.Catgut-embedding therapy can reduce fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance, and improve lipid metabolism in type I diabetic rats, which may contribute to its effect in protecting pancreatic islet cells.

A pose estimation approach for the navigation of mobile robot in unknown environments is proposed. Compared with the existing mainstream SLAM, the proposed approach has a better generality without the help of odometers or motion models and it is completely based on external environment perceived by a laser sensor. In each of the laser frames, landmark points are first determined and they are then coded into a series of description matrixes. On this basis, by considering the landmarks matching in two neighboring laser frames, the pose change of the robot may be calculated, and the understanding of laser-based landmarks by geometric coding is achieved. The proposed approach is proved to be effective by the experiments of a tracked robot.

This paper proposes a simple but effective bio-inspired approach for skew detection of different kinds of images including nature images, documents, paintings etc., which requires no parameter tuning. Without relying on local visual cues, the proposed approach exploits the global statistics of an image. Orientation perceptron is designed in the inspiration of biological simple cells for local orientation detection. Statistics of their outputs are processed and then transferred by orientation transform into a curve whose maximum value is used to determine the skew angle. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified by experiments.

In this paper, a novel vision-based method for roll angle estimation of the robot is proposed. Inspired by biological visual cortex, scales and shapes of local patterns whose directions may contribute to the judgment of the scenes' gravity and horizon are determined. On this basis, a local direction detector is designed and all the detected local directions in an image are summed up into the direction function. Then the precise directions of gravity and horizon may be easily obtained by using statistical techniques. Experiments illustrate the generalization and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Safe moving is a basic ability for a mobile robot, and it is beneficial for the robot to avoid the collisions with the environment if it knows the boundaries between the obstacles and free space. In this paper, a contour detection approach is presented. The input image is firstly processed by a Gaussian filter and Sobel edge detector. After it is processed by connectivity-based boundaries extraction, the result is finalized, aided by Canny edge map. The experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.

A general vision approach for environment understanding of mobile robot is proposed, which is inspired by biological visual cortex. Gray level image from robot camera is firstly processed in the selective attention layer, and then in S and C layers for meaningful structure elements. With the help of the Sc layer designed for endpoints detection, the line segments map is generated to serve as the form of environment understanding results. Experiments on mobile robot are implemented by the task of avoiding obstacles with different sizes and shapes, pits, sharp cliffs, et al. The experimental results demonstrate the adaptability and versatility of the proposed approach.

To observe the clinical effects of botulinum toxin A in the treatment of restrictive strabismus in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).Clinical data in 33 patients with restrictive strabismus in TAO treated with botulinum toxin A were analyzed retrospectively. Botulinum toxin A was injected into extraocular muscles guided by electromyography. Clinical data included the eye position, the eye movement and diplopia.There were 25 cases of vertical strabismus, 3 horizontal strabismus and 5 vertical combining horizontal strabismus in this group. The average degree of horizontal deviation was 35. 00+/-20. 53 (20 - 80 , M = 27. 59 ) , the average degree of vertical deviation was 29. 33+/-17. 27 ( 10 - 100 , M = 27. 5 ) . The average follow-up time was ( 17. 04+/-12. 77) months (5. 00+/-67. 73 months). Sixty one extraocular muscles were injected, including 31 inferior rectus, 16 medial rectus, 10 superior rectus and 4 lateral rectus. Each rectus was injected 6. 48+/-2. 12 times (4 -11times, M = 6). The interval between injections averaged (2.96+/-0. 70) months (0. 50 - 26. 00 months). The deviation degrees was decreased after injections, 15 cases were cured and did not require further surgery, 12 cases were improved and 6 cases showed poor response. The dosage for each injection averaged (8. 16+/-1. 43) U.Botulinum toxin A injection has a good effect in the treatment of restrictive strabismus in TAO. Better results were obtained when treated earlier. Compare with paralytic strabismus and comitant strabismus, the dosage of botulinum toxin A in each injection in TAO is higher, the mean changes of degree of deviation is slighter, the interval between injections and the duration of effect is shorter. Injection dosage should increase after repeated injections. Intolerable diplopia could be eliminated in some patients, therefore, a muscle surgery could be avoided.