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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of miR-138 in regulating Th2 type immune response by targeting OX40 ligand (Ox40L) in vitro., Methods: Serum samples of patients were used to explore the clinical parameter. Wistar rats were used to establish a murine model of asthma. The dual-luciferase report assay was used to detect the regulation of miR-138 on the expression of OX40L. RT-PCR was used to detect miR-138 and OX40L mRNA expression. Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and Western blot were used to analyze target protein expression. Enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry (FCM) were used to cytokines detection., Results: The level of miR-138 was found to be negatively correlated with the expression of OX40L ( P < 0.05) and positively correlated with FEV1 ( P < 0.05). Higher miR-138 and reduced expression of OX40L were observed in dendritic cells (DCs) separated from rat bone marrow. Typically, OX40 and OX40L in asthma group were determined and the results indicated that the two parameters upregulated in compared with healthy control, while the expressions of them were suppressed by over-expression of miR-138. Furthermore, the up-regulation of Th1 cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-γ) and the down-regulation of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) were induced by over-expression miR-138 and meanwhile the decrease of Th1/Th2 was reversed by overexpression of miR-138., Conclusion: In this study, we revealed that miR-138 might regulate Th2-type immune response by down-regulating the OX40L expression in asthma., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2017.)

Objective: To observe the effects differences for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) between periodic therapy of acupuncture and diane-35 and to explore its mechanism., Methods: Sixty patients were randomly assigned into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 30 cases in each one, 29 patients finally included with one case dropping out respectively. In the acupuncture group, periodic therapy was mainly used at bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Dahe (KI 12), Guilai (ST 29), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), with different acupoints in the postmenstrual, intermenstrual, premenstrual periods, once every other day, 3 times a week. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz) was used at bilateral Dahe (KI 12) and Guilai (ST 29). If treatment, FSH increased and LH, LH/FSH, T decreased in the two groups (all P <0.05), but T level and the different value before and after treatment in the western medication group were better than those in the acupuncture group (both P <0.05)., Conclusions: Periodic therapy of acupuncture is probably one of the effective methods for PCOS, which can improve patients' clinical symptoms, sex hormone level, and menstrual cycle. there was no discomfort during menstrual period, no treatment was given. In the western medication group, diane-35 was prescribed orally for 21 days as a course, with 7 days at interval, one tablet a day. All the treatment was started on the fifth day of the menstrual circle, for continuously 3 months. The indexes were observed before and after treatment, including the menstrual circle, acne score, body mass index (BMI), serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/FSH and testosterone (T). The effects of the two groups were compared., Results: The total effective rate was 75.9% (22/29) in the acupuncture group, which was not significantly different from 79.3% (23/29) in the western medication group ( P >0.05). The menstrual cycles were shorter after treatment in the two groups (both P <0.05), with better effect and different value before and after treatment in the acupuncture group (both P <0.05). BMI in the acupuncture group after treatment was lower than that before treatment ( P <0.05) and that after treatment in the western medicine group ( P <0.01), with better different value before and after treatment in the acupuncture group ( P <0.05). The acne scores after treatment decreased in the two groups (both P <0.05), without significant difference after treatment between the two groups ( P >0.05). After treatment,FSH increased and LH,LH/FSH,T decreased in the two groups (all P <0.05),but T level and the different value before and after treatment in the western medication group were better than those in the acupuncture group (both P <0.05). Conclusion Periodic therapy of acupuncture is probably one of the effective methods for PCOS,which can improve patients' clinical symptoms,sex hormone level,and menstrual cycle.

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion may cause cognitive impairment, but the underlying neurobiological mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether clonidine, an α 2 -adrenergic receptor agonist, could play neuroprotective role against chronic ischemic brain injury and the potential mechanism. Rats were subjected to permanent bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries (two-vessel occlusion, 2VO). Three weeks later, rats were administrated with 0.05mg/kg clonidine (intraperitoneal injection, i.p.) for 7days. Cognitive function was evaluated by Morris water maze (MWM). Immunofluorescence and western blots were used to detect the protein levels. Our results showed that the cognitive function was partially impaired, and the expression of neuronal nuclei (NeuN), glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) and γ-aminobutyric acid-B receptor 1 (GABA B R1) in hippocampal CA1 area was attenuated after 2VO, which were not observed in CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG). Administration of 0.05mg/kg clonidine (i.p.) for 7days could improve cognitive function and the expression of NeuN, GAD67 and GABA B R1 in CA1, but did not affect the protein levels in CA3 and DG. These findings demonstrated that clonidine could ameliorate cognitive deficits and neuronal impairment induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion via up-regulation of GABA B R1 and GAD67 in hippocampal CA1., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)