Acupuncture for ischemic stroke:where are we now?

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for ischemic stroke(IS)and plays a key role in neurological rehabilitation after IS.Acupuncture can improve the clinical symptoms of various complications after IS,including motor dysfunction,swallowing disorders,speech disorders,cognitive impairment,depression,insomnia,and fatigue.However,the mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture in IS remain unclear.Available evidence suggests that acupuncture may exert neuroprotective effects through neuroplasticity(neurogenesis and synaptogenesis),angiogenesis,cell proliferation and apoptosis,and regulation of oxidative stress,inflammation,and immunity.Further studies should be conducted to improve the high-quality evidence-based system of acupuncture intervention for IS,by focusing on the clinical and basic research design,increasing the sample size,standardizing and quantifying the standards of acupuncture operations,using multidisciplinary techniques and methods to systematically explore the key targets of acupuncture intervention for IS,and reveal the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of IS.

New power system development path mechanism design

Carrying out green energy transformation,implementing clean energy power replacement and supply,and developing a new power system are some primary driving forces needed to fulfill China’s carbon-peak and carbon-neutral strategic goals.The construction of new power systems in China’s provinces and cities is developing rapidly,and the lack of a typical model promotes the application.The new power system path design should be based on the actual development of the power grid in different regions,energy use characteristics,and other actual needs to carry out the differentiated path design.In this context,this study analyzes the characteristics of the new domestic power system based on the policy background of the new domestic power system,constructs a new model for power system development stage identification,and proposes the overall design of the new power system development path from the power supply,transmission and distribution,and load sides.It also uses the Hebei South Network as an example to explore the development stage of the Hebei South Grid based on actual development needs.Finally,this study designs a novel power system development path for the entire supply and demand chain for the Hebei South Grid to propose ideas for constructing a new power system in China and to help green energy transformation.

Safety of different acupuncture manipulations for posterior circulation ischemia with vertigo

Acupuncture at Fengchi(GB20) in the posterior neck improves vertigo.However,subarachnoid hemorrhage and spinal epidural hematoma have been reported to occur after acupuncture in the posterior neck.Therefore,in the present study,we assessed the safety of acupuncture at Fengchi.Laboratory tests and adverse event reports were used to evaluate the safety of different acupuncture manipulations for the treatment of posterior circulation ischemia with vertigo.A total of 136 patients were randomly assigned to four groups.Verum acupuncture was conducted with different needle insertion directions(contralateral paropia or prominentia laryngea) and different needle twisting frequencies(60 or 120 times/minute) at Fengchi and matching acupoints(for example,Zhongwan [CV12],Qihai [CV6],Zusanli [ST36],and Fenglong [ST40]).The patients received 14 treatments over 3–4 weeks.Routine blood analysis,hepatic and renal function tests,urine and feces tests and electrocardiography were performed before the first treatment session and after the final session.Adverse events were recorded after every session.Of the 136 patients,120 completed the study.There were no significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment test results in any of the groups.Only five patients suffered from minor adverse events(needling pain,slight hematoma and transient chest tightness).No serious adverse events were found.Our results indicate that a 14-session course of needling at Fengchi is relatively safe for treating posterior circulation ischemia with vertigo.

Therapeutic effects of different durations of acupuncture on rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion

Acupuncture is regarded as an effective therapy for cerebral ischemia. Different acupuncture manipulations and durations may result in different therapeutic effects. In the present study, the Neig uan(PC6) acupoint of rats with occluded middle cerebral arteries was needled at a fixed frequency(3 Hz) with different durations, i.e., 5, 60 and 180 seconds under a twisting-rotating acupuncture method. Results showed that different durations of acupuncture had different therapeutic effects, with 60 seconds yielding a better therapeutic effect than the other two groups. This duration of treatment demonstrated rapid cerebral blood flow, encouraging recovery of neurological function, and small cerebral infarct volume. Experimental findings indicated that under 3 Hz frequency, the treatment of needling Neiguan for 60 seconds is effective for ischemic stroke.

Molecular characteristics of Brucella melitensis isolates from humans in Qinghai Province, China

Background:The prevalence of human brucellosis in Qinghai Province of China has been increasing rapidly,with confirmed cases distributed across 31 counties.However,the epidemiology of brucellosis transmission has not been fully elucidated.To characterize the infecting strains isolated from humans,multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeats analysis(MLVA)and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)-based approaches were employed.Methods:Strains were isolated from two males blood cultures that were confirmed Brucella m elitensis positive following biotyping and MLVA.Genomic DNA was extracted from these two strains,and whole-genome sequencing was performed.Next,SNP-based phylogenetic analysis was performed to compare the two strains to 94 B.melitensis strains(complete genome and draft genome)retrieved from online databases.Results:The two Brucella isolates were identified as B.melitensis biovar 3(QH2019001 and QH2019005)following conventional biotyping and were found to have differences in their variable number tandem repeats(VNTRs)using MLVA-16.Phylogenetic examination assigned the 96 strains to five genotype groups,with QH2019001 and QH2019005 assigned to the same group,but different subgroups.Moreover,the QH2019005 strain was assigned to a new subgenotype,llj,within genotype II.These findings were then combined to determine the geographic origin of the two Brucella strains.Conclusions:Utilizing a whole-genome SNP-based approach enabled differences between the two B.m elitensis strains to be more clearly resolved,and facilitated the elucidation of their different evolutionary histories.This approach also revealed that QH2019005 is a member of a new subgenotype(Hj)with an ancient origin in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Transcriptomic Response to Yersinia pestis:RIG-I Like Receptor Signaling Response Is Detrimental to the Host against Plague

Bacterial pathogens have evolved various mechanisms to modulate host immune responses for successful infection.In this study,RNAsequencing technology was used to analyze the responses of human monocytes THP1 to Yersinia pestis infection.Over 6000 genes were differentially expressed over the 12 h infection.Kinetic responses of pathogen recognition receptor signaling pathways,apoptosis,antigen processing,and presentation pathway and coagulation system were analyzed in detail.Among them,RIG-I-like receptor(RLR) signaling pathway,which was established for antiviral defense,was significantly affected.Mice lacking MAVS,the adaptor of the RLR signahng pathway,were less sensitive to infection and exhibited lower IFN-P production,higher Thl-type cytokines IFN-y and IL-12 production,and lower Th2-type cytokines EL-4 and IL-13 production in the serum compared with wild-type mice.Moreover,infection of pathogenic bacteria other than Y.pestis also altered the expression of the RLR pathway,suggesting that the response of RLR pathway to bacterial infection is a universal mechanism.