Objective To assess the efficacy of acupuncture versus western medicine in the treatment of depression in China. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving acupuncture versus western medicine in the treatment of depression in China were identified from CNKI (1979 to 2007), VIP (1989 to 2007), WANFANG Database (1998 to 2007) and CBM (1978 to 2007). We also hand searched relevant journals and conference proceedings. Data were extracted and evaluated by two reviewers independently with a specially designed extraction form. The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan4.2.8 software was used for data analyses. Results A total of 8 trials involving 619 patients were included. Meta-analyses showed that the total effective rate in the acupuncture group was similar when compared with fluoxetine (RR 1.03, 95%CI 0.94 to 1.14), doxepin (RR 1.14, 95%CI 0.91 to 1.43), amitriptyline (RR 0.95, 95%CI 0.70 to 1.29) and venlafaxine (RR 1.02, 95%CI 0.90 to 1.16). As for the HAMD score at week 2, no significant difference was noted between acupuncture and fluoxetine (WMD 0.03, 95%CI -1.26 to 1.31) or amitriptyline (WMD –?0.33, 95%CI –?1.88 to 1.23); for the HAMD score at week 4, no significant difference was observed between acupuncture and fluoxetine (WMD –?0.24, 95%CI –?1.85 to 1.37) or amitriptyline (WMD –?0.57, 95%CI –?2.02 to 0.88); for the HAMD score at week 6, acupuncture also had similar effects to fluoxetine (WMD –?0.19, 95%CI –?1.51 to 1.13). In terms of the SDS scores at week 2, 4, 6 and 8, no significant differences were noted between acupuncture and fluoxetine. Two trials reported adverse events and these observed no adverse events in the acupuncture group, but 31 and 25 patients experienced adverse events in the western medicine groups of these two trials. Conclusion Acupuncture is not inferior to western medicine, and it is worth noting that acupuncture is associated with few adverse reactions. Further large-scale trials are required to define the role of acupuncture in the treatment of depression.
Objective To investigate the effects of nucleus localization signal linked nucleic kinase substrate short peptide (NNS) conjugated chitosan (CS) (NNSCS) mediated the transfection of microRNA-140 (miR-140) in rabbit articular chondrocytes in vitro. Methods Recombinant plasmid GV268-miR-140 and empty plasmid GV268 were combined with NNSCS to form NNSCS/pDNA complexes, respectively. Chondrocytes were isolated and cultured through trypsin and collagenase digestion from articular cartilage of newborn New Zealand white rabbits. The second generation chondrocytes were divided into 3 intervention groups: normal cell control group (group A), NNSCS/GV268 empty plasmid transfection group (group B), and NNSCS/GV268-miR-140 transfection group (group C). NNSCS/GV268 and NNSCS/GV268-miR- 140 complexes were transiently transfected into cells of groups B and C. After transfection, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expressions of exogenous miR-140; Annexin Ⅴ-FITC/PI double staining and MTT assay were used to detect the effect of exogenous miR-140 on apoptosis and proliferation of transfected chondrocytes; the expressions of Sox9, Aggrecan, and histone deacetylase 4 (Hdac4) were detected by RT-qPCR. Results RT-qPCR showed that the expression of miR-140 in group C was significantly higher than that in groups A and B (P<0.05). Compared with groups A and B, the apoptosis rate in group C was decreased and the proliferation activity was improved, Sox9 and Aggrecan gene expressions were significantly up-regulated, and Hdac4 gene expression was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in above indexes between groups A and B (P>0.05). Conclusion Exogenous gene can be carried into the chondrocytes by NNSCS and expressed efficiently, the high expression of miR-140 can improve the biological activity of chondrocytes cultured in vitro, which provides important experimental basis for the treatment of cartilage damage diseases.