Effect of electroacupuncture on the mRNA and protein expression of Rho-A and Rho-associated kinase Ⅱ in spinal cord injury rats

Electroacupuncture is beneficial for the recovery of spinal cord injury, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The Rho/Rho-associated kinase（ROCK） signaling pathway regulates the actin cytoskeleton by controlling the adhesive and migratory behaviors of cells that could inhibit neurite regrowth after neural injury and consequently hinder the recovery from spinal cord injury. Therefore, we hypothesized electroacupuncture could affect the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway to promote the recovery of spinal cord injury. In our experiments, the spinal cord injury in adult Sprague-Dawley rats was caused by an impact device. Those rats were subjected to electroacupuncture at Yaoyangguan（GV3）, Dazhui（GV14）, Zusanli（ST36） and Ciliao（BL32） and/or monosialoganglioside treatment. Behavioral scores revealed that the hindlimb motor functions improved with those treatments. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, fluorescence in situ hybridization and western blot assay showed that electroacupuncture suppressed the m RNA and protein expression of Rho-A and Rho-associated kinase Ⅱ（ROCKⅡ） of injured spinal cord. Although monosialoganglioside promoted the recovery of hindlimb motor function, monosialoganglioside did not affect the expression of Rho-A and ROCKⅡ. However, electroacupuncture combined with monosialoganglioside did not further improve the motor function or suppress the expression of Rho-A and ROCKⅡ. Our data suggested that the electroacupuncture could specifically inhibit the activation of the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway thus partially contributing to the repair of injured spinal cord. Monosialoganglioside could promote the motor function but did not suppress expression of Rho A and ROCKⅡ. There was no synergistic effect of electroacupuncture combined with monosialoganglioside.

Relationship between Coronary Artery Tortuosity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Patients without Obstructed Coronaries

Objective This study aimed to analyze the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness(CRF)and the increasing severity of coronary artery tortuosity(CAT)in patients with non-stenosed coronaries.Methods A total of 396 patients who underwent coronary angiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing(CPET)between August 2020 and July 2021 were included in this single-center retrospective study after excluding patients with significant coronary artery disease(≥50%stenosis).Patients were divided into two groups:no or mild coronary artery tortuosity(N/M-CAT)and moderate to severe coronary artery tortuosity(M/S-CAT)and laboratory electrocardiographic,echocardiographic,and CPET parameters were compared between two groups.Results M/S-CAT was found in 46.9%of the study participants,with 66.7%being women.M/S-CAT was significantly associated with advanced age(P=0.014)and females(P=0.001).Diastolic dysfunction parameters,E velocity(P=0.011),and E/A ratio(P=0.004)also revealed significant differences between the M/S-CAT group and N/M-CAT group.VO2@peak(1.22±0.39 vs.1.07±0.39,P<0.01)and VO2@AT(0.77±0.22 vs.0.71±0.21,P=0.017)were significantly lower in the M/S-CAT group than in the N/M-CAT group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified females(OR=0.448;95%CI,0.296–0.676;P=0.000)and E/A ratio(OR=0.307;95%CI,0.139–0.680;P=0.004)to be independent risk factors of M/S-CAT and showed no association of CPET parameters to M/S-CAT.Conclusion The results indicate that increasing severity of CAT is strongly associated with female gender and E/A ratio and is not directly correlated with decreasing CRF.Further research with a larger patient population and a longer follow-up time is required to fully comprehend the impact of CAT on CRF.