[Analgesic effect and related mechanism of peripheral acupoints electroacupuncture on superficial partial-thickness burn rats]

Objective: To observe the analgesic effect and related mechanism of peripheral acupoints electroacupuncture on superficial partial-thickness burn rats. Methods: Eighty SD rats were divided into sham injury group (SI), pure burn group (PB), electroacupuncture group (E), and sham electroacupuncture group (SE) according to the random number table, with 20 rats in each group. Right posterior leg of rats in group SI were sham injured, while superficial partial-thickness scald (hereinafter referred to as burn) model was reproduced on the right posterior leg of rats in the latter three groups. Electroacupuncture of peripheral acupoints of right posterior leg of rats (equivalent to Zusanli point and Sanyinjiao point of human) in group E were performed from post injury hour (PIH) 12 on, while rats in group SE were treated with sham electroacupuncture, with 30 min each time, one time a day for 3 days. Before injury and at PIH 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72, the threshold of mechanical pain of 5 rats in each group was tested, and the threshold of heat pain of another 5 rats in each group was tested. At PIH 48, brain tissue of 5 rats in each group was obtained to observe the morphology and distribution of astrocytes with positive expression of glia fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in periaqueductal gray (PAG) area by immunohistochemical staining, and the number of astrocytes was calculated. At the same time, brain tissue of the rest 5 rats in each group was obtained to determine the expression of GFAP of astrocytes in PAG area with Western blotting. Data were possessed with analysis of variance of repeated measurement, one-way analysis of variance, and SNK test. Results: (1) Compared with that in group SI, the threshold of mechanical pain of rats in groups PB and SE had no significant change before injury and at PIH 12 (with P values above 0.05), but was significantly decreased from PIH 24 to 72 (with P values below 0.05); while the threshold of mechanical pain of rats in group E was significantly decreased from PIH 36 to 72 (with P values below 0.05). The threshold of mechanical pain of rats in group E was significantly higher than that in groups PB and SE at PIH 24 (with P values below 0.05). (2) Compared with that in group SI, the threshold of heat pain of rats in groups PB and SE had no significant change before injury (with P values above 0.05), but was significantly decreased from PIH 12 to 72 (with P values below 0.05); while the threshold of heat pain of rats in group E was significantly decreased from PIH 12 to 60 (with P values below 0.05). The threshold of heat pain of rats in group E was significantly higher than that in groups PB and SE from PIH 24 to 48 (with P values below 0.05). (3) The distribution of astrocytes with positive expression of GFAP in PAG area of rats in group SI was diffuse. The cell volume was small with cell body unobvious, and the projections were sparse, fine and short. The distribution of astrocytes with positive expression of GFAP in PAG area of rats in group PB was relatively concentrated. The cell body was hypertrophy and swelling, and the projections were increased and extended. The morphology and distribution of astrocytes with positive expression of GFAP in PAG area of rats in groups SE and E was similar to that in group PB. The numbers of astrocytes with positive expression of GFAP in PAG area of rats in groups SI, PB, E, and SE were 44±4, 39±4, 27±4, and 36±5, respectively. The number of astrocytes with positive expression of GFAP in PAG area of rats in group PB was significantly less than that in group SI (P<0.05), but similar to that in group SE (P>0.05). The number of astrocytes with positive expression of GFAP in PAG area of rats in group E was significantly less than that in groups PB and SE (with P values below 0.05). (4) The expressions of GFAP of astrocytes in PAG area of rats in groups SI, PB, E, and SE were 1.11±0.16, 0.66±0.15, 0.34±0.06, and 0.56±0.09, respectively. The expression of GFAP of astrocytes in PAG area of rats in group PB was significantly lower than that in group SI (P<0.05), but similar to that in group SE (P>0.05). The expression of GFAP of astrocytes in PAG area of rats in group E was significantly lower than that in groups PB and SE (with P values below 0.05). Conclusions: Electroacupuncture of peripheral acupoints can release the pain followed superficial partial-thickness burn in rats at early stage, and the possible mechanism is that it reduces the activation of astrocytes in PAG area.

CAMK2γ in intestinal epithelial cells modulates colitis-associated colorectal carcinogenesis via enhancing STAT3 activation

Inflammation is one of the major risk factors for cancer. Here, we show that calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II gamma (CAMK2γ) in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) modulates inflammatory signals and promotes colitis-associated cancer (CAC) in mice. We have identified CAMK2γ as a downstream target of colitis-induced WNT5a signaling. Furthermore, we have shown that CAMK2γ protects against intestine tissue injury by increasing IEC survival and proliferation. CAMK2γ knockout mice displayed reduced CAC. Furthermore, we used bone marrow transplantation to reveal that CAMK2γ in IECs, but not immune cells, was crucial for its effect on CAC. Consistently, transgenic over-expression of CAMK2γ in IECs accelerated CAC development. Mechanistically, CAMK2γ in IECs enhanced epithelial STAT3 activation to promote survival and proliferation of colonic epithelial cells during CAC development. These results thus identify a new molecular mechanism mediated by CAMK2γ in IECs during CAC development, thereby providing a potential new therapeutic target for CAC.

Microstructural study of the lunate in stage III Kienböck's disease with micro-computed tomography imaging

Seventeen fresh lunates with stage III Kienböck's disease were scanned with micro-computed tomography. Four regions of interest were selected to measure trabecular parameters, which were compared with those from normal lunates. Within the three regions in the distal surface, there was more compact trabecular bone in the middle region when compared with the palmar and dorsal regions. In the central part, the trabeculae of the Kienböck's lunates were much thicker than those in normal lunates. The diameters of the palmar nutrient foramina of the Kienböck's lunates were significantly smaller than those in normal lunates. In affected lunates, the bony disruptions were mostly located in the palmar or dorsal areas, which were shown from trabecular bone structure analysis to be structurally weaker. This leads to separation of the distal part of the fractured bone, disruption of the blood supply, poor bone remodelling and proneness to secondary fracture and eventual collapse.

Microstructural study of the lunate in stage III Kienböck's disease with micro-computed tomography imaging

Seventeen fresh lunates with stage III Kienböck's disease were scanned with micro-computed tomography. Four regions of interest were selected to measure trabecular parameters, which were compared with those from normal lunates. Within the three regions in the distal surface, there was more compact trabecular bone in the middle region when compared with the palmar and dorsal regions. In the central part, the trabeculae of the Kienböck's lunates were much thicker than those in normal lunates. The diameters of the palmar nutrient foramina of the Kienböck's lunates were significantly smaller than those in normal lunates. In affected lunates, the bony disruptions were mostly located in the palmar or dorsal areas, which were shown from trabecular bone structure analysis to be structurally weaker. This leads to separation of the distal part of the fractured bone, disruption of the blood supply, poor bone remodelling and proneness to secondary fracture and eventual collapse.

Oscillation in tissue oxygen index during recovery from exercise

It was hypothesized that an oscillation of tissue oxygen index (TOI) determined by near-infrared spectroscopy during recovery from exercise occurs due to feedback control of adenosine triphosphate and that frequency of the oscillation is affected by blood pH. In order to examine these hypotheses, we aimed 1) to determine whether there is an oscillation of TOI during recovery from exercise and 2) to determine the effect of blood pH on frequency of the oscillation of TOI. Three exercises were performed with exercise intensities of 30 % and 70 % peak oxygen uptake (V(.)o(2)peak) for 12 min and with exercise intensity of 70 % V(.)o(2)peak for 30 s. TOI during recovery from the exercise was analyzed by fast Fourier transform in order to obtain power spectra density (PSD). There was a significant difference in the frequency at which maximal PSD of TOI appeared (Fmax) between the exercises with 70 % V(.)o(2)peak for 12 min (0.0039+/-0 Hz) and for 30 s (0.0061+/-0.0028 Hz). However, there was no significant difference in Fmax between the exercises with 30 % (0.0043+/-0.0013 Hz) and with 70 % V(.)o(2)peak for 12 min despite differences in blood pH and blood lactate from the warmed fingertips. It is concluded that there was an oscillation in TOI during recovery from the three exercises. It was not clearly shown that there was an effect of blood pH on Fmax.

MicroRNA-224 sustains Wnt/β-catenin signaling and promotes aggressive phenotype of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence suggests that Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays an important role in CRC development, progression and metastasis. Aberrant miR-224 expression has been reported in CRC. However, the mechanism of miR-224 promotes both proliferation and metastatic ability largely remains unclear.

METHODS

Real-time PCR was used to quantify miR-224 expression. Luciferase reporter assays were conducted to confirm the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway and target gene associations, and immunofluorescence staining assay was performed to observe the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Bioinformatics analysis combined with in vivo and vitro functional assays showed the potential target genes, GSK3β and SFRP2, of miR-224. Specimens from forty patients with CRC were analyzed for the expression of miR-224 and the relationship with GSK3β/SFRP2 by real-time PCR and western blot.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics and cell luciferase function studies verified the direct regulation of miR-224 on the 3'-UTR of the GSK3β and SFRP2 genes, which leads to the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. In addition, knockdown of miR-224 significantly recovered the expression of GSK3β and SFRP2 and attenuated Wnt/β-catenin-mediated cell metastasis and proliferation. The ectopic upregulation of miR-224 dramatically inhibited the expression of GSK3β/SFRP2 and enhanced CRC proliferation and invasion.

CONCLUSION

Our research showed mechanistic links between miR-224 and Wnt/β-catenin in the pathogenesis of CRC through modulation of GSK3β and SFRP2.

Azimuthal Anisotropy in U+U and Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

Collisions between prolate uranium nuclei are used to study how particle production and azimuthal anisotropies depend on initial geometry in heavy-ion collisions. We report the two- and four-particle cumulants, v_{2}{2} and v_{2}{4}, for charged hadrons from U+U collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=193  GeV and Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. Nearly fully overlapping collisions are selected based on the energy deposited by spectators in zero degree calorimeters (ZDCs). Within this sample, the observed dependence of v_{2}{2} on multiplicity demonstrates that ZDC information combined with multiplicity can preferentially select different overlap configurations in U+U collisions. We also show that v_{2} vs multiplicity can be better described by models, such as gluon saturation or quark participant models, that eliminate the dependence of the multiplicity on the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions.

Oscillation of tissue oxygen index in non-exercising muscle during exercise

The purpose of the present study was to examine how oscillation of tissue oxygen index (TOI) in non-exercising exercise is affected during high-intensity and low-intensity exercises. Three exercises were performed with exercise intensities of 30% and 70% peak oxygen uptake (Vo(2)peak) for 12 min and with exercise intensity of 70% Vo(2)peak for 30 s. TOI in non-exercising muscle (biceps brachii) during the exercises for 12 min was determined by nearinfrared spectroscopy. TOI in the non-exercising muscle during the exercises was analyzed by fast Fourier transform (FFT) to obtain power spectra density (PSD). The frequency at which maximal PSD appeared (Fmax) during the exercise with 70% Vo(2)peak for 12 min (0.00477 ± 0.00172 Hz) was significantly lower than that during the exercise with 30% Vo2peak for 12 min (0.00781 ± 0.00338 Hz). There were significant differences in blood pH and blood lactate between the exercise with 70% Vo(2)peak and the exercise with 30% Vo(2)peak. It is concluded that TOI in nonexercising muscle oscillates during low-intensity exercise as well as during high-intensity exercise and that the difference in Fmax between the two exercises is associated with the difference in increase in blood lactate derived from the exercise.

Precision Measurement of the Longitudinal Double-Spin Asymmetry for Inclusive Jet Production in Polarized Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=200 GeV

We report a new measurement of the midrapidity inclusive jet longitudinal double-spin asymmetry, A_{LL}, in polarized pp collisions at center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=200  GeV. The STAR data place stringent constraints on polarized parton distribution functions extracted at next-to-leading order from global analyses of inclusive deep-inelastic scattering (DIS), semi-inclusive DIS, and RHIC pp data. The measured asymmetries provide evidence at the 3σ level for positive gluon polarization in the Bjorken-x region x>0.05.

Coherence between tissue oxygen indexes in vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius in repetition of impulse exercise with high intensity

The purpose of this study was to determine whether tissue oxygen indices (TOIs) in two muscle groups oscillated and were synchronized in repetition of impulse exercise with high intensity. Five impulse exercises of 400 watts for 10 s were repeated with intervals of 6 min. During this period, TOI was determined by near-infrared spectroscopy in the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius muscles. TOIs in the two muscles oscillated at rest. The TOIs rapidly decreased during each impulse exercise and then recovered and overshot after each impulse. The TOIs oscillated during each interval period. During this test period, coherent and phase differences were determined. There was high coherence between TOIs in the two muscles with a peak value at 0.019 Hz. There was a phase difference of -45 ± 32.4 degrees between TOIs in the two muscles. This phase difference corresponded to about 6 s in time scale. It seemed from this time delay that impulse exercise was not a trigger factor for the starting point of TOIs in the two muscles. It has been concluded that TOIs oscillate and are synchronized between two muscles in repetition of impulse exercise with high intensity.

ΛΛ Correlation function in Au+Au collisions at √[S(NN)]=200 GeV

We present ΛΛ correlation measurements in heavy-ion collisions for Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV using the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider. The Lednický-Lyuboshitz analytical model has been used to fit the data to obtain a source size, a scattering length and an effective range. Implications of the measurement of the ΛΛ correlation function and interaction parameters for dihyperon searches are discussed.

Combination of high-intensity focused ultrasound irradiation and hydroxyapatite nanoparticle injection to injure normal goat liver tissue in vivo without costal bone incision

The aims of this study were to evaluate the in vivo safety of intravenous nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HA), to explore how nano-HA might influence the effects of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on normal liver tissue, and to investigate whether intravenous nano-HA could enhance HIFU for hepatocellular carcinoma ablation in a goat model. The present study, for the first time, indicated that the delivery of abundant nano-HA into the body over short periods of time could be assembled by the hepatic reticuloendothelial system, subsequently leading to a rapid rise of ultrasound-induced overheating, and ultimately resulting in enlargement of the coagulation necrotic area for ablated hepatocellular carcinoma in goats both in vivo and ex vivo. On the other hand, therapeutic doses of nano-HA were much lower than the lethal dose, and consequently presented transient and mild abnormalities of hepatic enzymes and renal function during the first 24 h after nano-HA injection. These results suggested that the combined application of nano-HA and HIFU is potentially a more effective alternative option compared to surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma local ablation in a safe and feasible manner.

Observation of D0 meson nuclear modifications in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 200 GeV

We report the first measurement of charmed-hadron (D(0)) production via the hadronic decay channel (D(0) → K(-) + π(+)) in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 200 GeV with the STAR experiment. The charm production cross section per nucleon-nucleon collision at midrapidity scales with the number of binary collisions, N(bin), from p+p to central Au+Au collisions. The D(0) meson yields in central Au + Au collisions are strongly suppressed compared to those in p+p scaled by N(bin), for transverse momenta p(T) > 3 GeV/c, demonstrating significant energy loss of charm quarks in the hot and dense medium. An enhancement at intermediate p(T) is also observed. Model calculations including strong charm-medium interactions and coalescence hadronization describe our measurements.

Beam energy dependence of moments of the net-charge multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions at RHIC

We report the first measurements of the moments--mean (M), variance (σ(2)), skewness (S), and kurtosis (κ)--of the net-charge multiplicity distributions at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at seven energies, ranging from sqrt[sNN]=7.7 to 200 GeV, as a part of the Beam Energy Scan program at RHIC. The moments are related to the thermodynamic susceptibilities of net charge, and are sensitive to the location of the QCD critical point. We compare the products of the moments, σ(2)/M, Sσ, and κσ(2), with the expectations from Poisson and negative binomial distributions (NBDs). The Sσ values deviate from the Poisson baseline and are close to the NBD baseline, while the κσ(2) values tend to lie between the two. Within the present uncertainties, our data do not show nonmonotonic behavior as a function of collision energy. These measurements provide a valuable tool to extract the freeze-out parameters in heavy-ion collisions by comparing with theoretical models.

Measurement of longitudinal spin asymmetries for weak boson production in polarized proton-proton collisions at RHIC

We report measurements of single- and double-spin asymmetries for W^{±} and Z/γ^{*} boson production in longitudinally polarized p+p collisions at sqrt[s]=510  GeV by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The asymmetries for W^{±} were measured as a function of the decay lepton pseudorapidity, which provides a theoretically clean probe of the proton's polarized quark distributions at the scale of the W mass. The results are compared to theoretical predictions, constrained by polarized deep inelastic scattering measurements, and show a preference for a sizable, positive up antiquark polarization in the range 0.05<x<0.2.

Beam-energy dependence of charge separation along the magnetic field in Au+Au collisions at RHIC

Local parity-odd domains are theorized to form inside a quark-gluon plasma which has been produced in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. The local parity-odd domains manifest themselves as charge separation along the magnetic field axis via the chiral magnetic effect. The experimental observation of charge separation has previously been reported for heavy-ion collisions at the top RHIC energies. In this Letter, we present the results of the beam-energy dependence of the charge correlations in Au+Au collisions at midrapidity for center-of-mass energies of 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, and 62.4 GeV from the STAR experiment. After background subtraction, the signal gradually reduces with decreased beam energy and tends to vanish by 7.7 GeV. This implies the dominance of hadronic interactions over partonic ones at lower collision energies.

Dielectron mass spectra from Au+Au collisions at √[s(NN)]=200 GeV

We report the STAR measurements of dielectron (e(+)e(-)) production at midrapidity (|y(ee)|<1) in Au+Au collisions at √[s(NN)]=200  GeV. The measurements are evaluated in different invariant mass regions with a focus on 0.30-0.76 (ρ-like), 0.76-0.80 (ω-like), and 0.98-1.05 (ϕ-like)   GeV/c(2). The spectrum in the ω-like and ϕ-like regions can be well described by the hadronic cocktail simulation. In the ρ-like region, however, the vacuum ρ spectral function cannot describe the shape of the dielectron excess. In this range, an enhancement of 1.77±0.11(stat)±0.24(syst)±0.33(cocktail) is determined with respect to the hadronic cocktail simulation that excludes the ρ meson. The excess yield in the ρ-like region increases with the number of collision participants faster than the ω and ϕ yields. Theoretical models with broadened ρ contributions through interactions with constituents in the hot QCD medium provide a consistent description of the dilepton mass spectra for the measurement presented here and the earlier data at the Super Proton Synchrotron energies.

Niv versus dropping vitrification in cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue

BACKGROUND

The containers for vitrification of tissues include cryovials, copper grids, Pasteur pipettes, the solid-surface method and etc. Recently the acupuncture needle was used to achieve better result in vitrification of human ovarian tissue.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the needle immersed vitrification method (NIV) is a promising approach to vitrify the human ovarian tissue.

METHODS

Human ovarian biopsies from five patients were vitrified using NIV and Dropping vitrification. After 14 days of in vitro culture, the incidence of apoptotic primordial follicles from fresh and vitrified groups was assessed by TUNEL assay. 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) were detected in the media after culturing of vitrified and fresh ovarian tissues.

RESULTS

The incidence of apoptotic primordial follicles was significantly higher in the dropping vitrification group than in the NIV group (P < 0.05). E2 and P4 concentrations were significantly higher in NIV groups than in Dropping vitrification group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

NIV was an appropriate method to vitrify ovarian tissue by improving the growth potential of frozen-warmed ovarian tissue in vitro culture.

Beam-energy dependence of the directed flow of protons, antiprotons, and pions in Au+Au collisions

Rapidity-odd directed flow (v1) measurements for charged pions, protons, and antiprotons near midrapidity (y=0) are reported in sNN=7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV Au+Au collisions as recorded by the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. At intermediate impact parameters, the proton and net-proton slope parameter dv1/dy|y=0 shows a minimum between 11.5 and 19.6 GeV. In addition, the net-proton dv1/dy|y=0 changes sign twice between 7.7 and 39 GeV. The proton and net-proton results qualitatively resemble predictions of a hydrodynamic model with a first-order phase transition from hadronic matter to deconfined matter, and differ from hadronic transport calculations.

Jet-hadron correlations in √[s(NN)]=200 GeV p+p and central Au+Au collisions

Azimuthal angular correlations of charged hadrons with respect to the axis of a reconstructed (trigger) jet in Au+Au and p+p collisions at √[s(NN)]=200  GeV in STAR are presented. The trigger jet population in Au+Au collisions is biased toward jets that have not interacted with the medium, allowing easier matching of jet energies between Au+Au and p+p collisions while enhancing medium effects on the recoil jet. The associated hadron yield of the recoil jet is significantly suppressed at high transverse momentum (pTassoc) and enhanced at low pTassoc in 0%-20% central Au+Au collisions compared to p+p collisions, which is indicative of medium-induced parton energy loss in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions.

Prospective study of MTHFR genetic polymorphisms as a possible etiology of male infertility

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between 2 genetic polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR), C677T and A1298C, and determine the long-term reproductive outcome in infertile men. This was a prospective study conducted in an andrology clinic. Men with a 1-year history of infertility were assessed for the MTHFR polymorphisms at a 5-year follow-up. We compared the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism between men who did and did not bear children during follow-up. Of the 215 men who were infertile at 1 year, 82 (38.1%) remained infertile and 133 (61.9%) achieved natural conception during the 5-year follow-up, with the highest rate in the first year (32.6%). The MTHFR 677TT genotype (homozygote) was associated with a substantially increased risk of infertility during follow-up [odds ratio (OR) = 10.242; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.257-83.464] relative to the MTHFR 677CC genotype (wild-type). Risk of infertility was not increased by the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism alone, but was increased by the combination of polymorphisms MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C (OR = 11.818; 95%CI = 1.415-98.674). The homozygous MTHFR C677T genotype was a risk factor for male infertility during 5-year follow-up, whereas a correlation between MTHFR A1298C and infertility was not observed. The MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C polymorphisms had additive effects on male infertility.

Energy dependence of moments of net-proton multiplicity distributions at RHIC

We report the beam energy (sqrt[sNN]=7.7-200  GeV) and collision centrality dependence of the mean (M), standard deviation (σ), skewness (S), and kurtosis (κ) of the net-proton multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions. The measurements are carried out by the STAR experiment at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) and within the transverse momentum range 0.4<pT<0.8  GeV/c in the first phase of the Beam Energy Scan program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. These measurements are important for understanding the quantum chromodynamic phase diagram. The products of the moments, Sσ and κσ2, are sensitive to the correlation length of the hot and dense medium created in the collisions and are related to the ratios of baryon number susceptibilities of corresponding orders. The products of moments are found to have values significantly below the Skellam expectation and close to expectations based on independent proton and antiproton production. The measurements are compared to a transport model calculation to understand the effect of acceptance and baryon number conservation and also to a hadron resonance gas model.