Objective: To investigate autophagy-related mechanisms of electroacupuncture(EA) action in improving gastrointestinal motility in mice with functional constipation(FC). Methods: According to a random number table, the...Objective: To investigate autophagy-related mechanisms of electroacupuncture(EA) action in improving gastrointestinal motility in mice with functional constipation(FC). Methods: According to a random number table, the Kunming mice were divided into the normal control, FC and EA groups in Experiment Ⅰ. The autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine(3-MA) was used to observe whether it antagonized the effects of EA in Experiment Ⅱ. An FC model was established by diphenoxylate gavage. Then the mice were treated with EA stimulation at Tianshu(ST 25) and Shangjuxu(ST 37) acupoints. The first black stool defecation time, the number, weight, and water content of 8-h feces, and intestinal transit rate were used to assess intestinal transit. Colonic tissues underwent histopathological assessment, and the expressions of autophagy markers microtubuleassociated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3) and Beclin-1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinases(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT)-mammalian target of rapamycin(m TOR) signaling pathway members were investigated by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The relationship between enteric glial cells(EGCs) and autophagy was observed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, localization analysis, and electron microscopy. Results: EA treatment shortened the first black stool defecation time, increased the number, weight, and water content of 8-h feces, and improved the intestinal transit rate in FC mice(P<0.01). In terms of a putative autophagy mechanism, EA treatment promoted the expressions of LC3 and Beclin-1 proteins in the colonic tissue of FC mice(P<0.05), with glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) and LC3 significantly colocalized. Furthermore, EA promoted colonic autophagy in FC mice by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/m TOR signaling(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The positive effect of EA on intestinal motility in FC mice was blocked by 3-MA. Conclusion: EA treatment can inhibit PI3K/AKT/m TOR signaling in the colonic tissues of FC mice, thereby promoting EGCs autophagy to improve intestinal motility.展开更多
Objective: To determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial(RCT)and investigate the basic information and safety of acupuncture for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria(CSU). ...Objective: To determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial(RCT)and investigate the basic information and safety of acupuncture for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria(CSU). Methods: A total of 80 participants with CSU from July 2018 to July 2019 were randomly assigned to receive active acupuncture(n=41) on a fixed prescription of acupoints or sham acupuncture(n=39) with superficial acupuncture on non-acupuncture points through the completely randomized design. Patients in both groups received 5 sessions per week for 2 weeks, and participants were followed for a further 2 weeks.Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and randomization rates, retention of participants, treatment protocol adherence, and the incidence of adverse events(AEs). The clinical primary outcome was the changes from baseline weekly urticaria activity scores(UAS7) after treatment at 2 weeks. Secondary outcomes included the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) score of itching intensity, Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI), Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA). Results: A total of 80 participants were enrolled. The recruitment rate of 24.02%, randomization rate of 100%, a loss rate of 6.25%, and no obvious AEs were observed in either group. The decrease from baseline in the mean UAS7 total score at week 2 in the active acupuncture group was –8.63(95%CI, –11.78 to –5.49) and –6.21(95%CI, –9.43 to –2.98) in the sham acupuncture group for a between-group difference of –2.42(95% CI, –6.93 to 2.07). The change in the DLQI,VAS of itching intensity, HAMA, and HAMD were a slightly better improvement trend in the active acupuncture group than the sham acupuncture group, but the between-group difference was not significant. Conclusion:Active acupuncture had a better improvement trend in alleviating symptoms, improving quality of life and regulating the mood of anxiety and depression in patients with CSU than sham acupuncture.(Registration Nos.AMCTR-ICR-18000190 and ChiCTR2100054776)展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.82074554)the Foundation of the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province,China (No.2021YJ0197)Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Xinglin Scholars Program (No.YXRC2018007)。
文摘Objective: To investigate autophagy-related mechanisms of electroacupuncture(EA) action in improving gastrointestinal motility in mice with functional constipation(FC). Methods: According to a random number table, the Kunming mice were divided into the normal control, FC and EA groups in Experiment Ⅰ. The autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine(3-MA) was used to observe whether it antagonized the effects of EA in Experiment Ⅱ. An FC model was established by diphenoxylate gavage. Then the mice were treated with EA stimulation at Tianshu(ST 25) and Shangjuxu(ST 37) acupoints. The first black stool defecation time, the number, weight, and water content of 8-h feces, and intestinal transit rate were used to assess intestinal transit. Colonic tissues underwent histopathological assessment, and the expressions of autophagy markers microtubuleassociated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3) and Beclin-1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinases(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT)-mammalian target of rapamycin(m TOR) signaling pathway members were investigated by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The relationship between enteric glial cells(EGCs) and autophagy was observed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, localization analysis, and electron microscopy. Results: EA treatment shortened the first black stool defecation time, increased the number, weight, and water content of 8-h feces, and improved the intestinal transit rate in FC mice(P<0.01). In terms of a putative autophagy mechanism, EA treatment promoted the expressions of LC3 and Beclin-1 proteins in the colonic tissue of FC mice(P<0.05), with glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) and LC3 significantly colocalized. Furthermore, EA promoted colonic autophagy in FC mice by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/m TOR signaling(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The positive effect of EA on intestinal motility in FC mice was blocked by 3-MA. Conclusion: EA treatment can inhibit PI3K/AKT/m TOR signaling in the colonic tissues of FC mice, thereby promoting EGCs autophagy to improve intestinal motility.
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China-Key Project“Research on Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine”-“International Cooperation Research on Evaluation of Acupuncture Advantage Diseases”(No.2017YFC1703605)。
文摘Objective: To determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial(RCT)and investigate the basic information and safety of acupuncture for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria(CSU). Methods: A total of 80 participants with CSU from July 2018 to July 2019 were randomly assigned to receive active acupuncture(n=41) on a fixed prescription of acupoints or sham acupuncture(n=39) with superficial acupuncture on non-acupuncture points through the completely randomized design. Patients in both groups received 5 sessions per week for 2 weeks, and participants were followed for a further 2 weeks.Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and randomization rates, retention of participants, treatment protocol adherence, and the incidence of adverse events(AEs). The clinical primary outcome was the changes from baseline weekly urticaria activity scores(UAS7) after treatment at 2 weeks. Secondary outcomes included the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) score of itching intensity, Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI), Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA). Results: A total of 80 participants were enrolled. The recruitment rate of 24.02%, randomization rate of 100%, a loss rate of 6.25%, and no obvious AEs were observed in either group. The decrease from baseline in the mean UAS7 total score at week 2 in the active acupuncture group was –8.63(95%CI, –11.78 to –5.49) and –6.21(95%CI, –9.43 to –2.98) in the sham acupuncture group for a between-group difference of –2.42(95% CI, –6.93 to 2.07). The change in the DLQI,VAS of itching intensity, HAMA, and HAMD were a slightly better improvement trend in the active acupuncture group than the sham acupuncture group, but the between-group difference was not significant. Conclusion:Active acupuncture had a better improvement trend in alleviating symptoms, improving quality of life and regulating the mood of anxiety and depression in patients with CSU than sham acupuncture.(Registration Nos.AMCTR-ICR-18000190 and ChiCTR2100054776)
