Anti-NUMB polyclonal antibody

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of treatment of hearing loss with "fameng needling" in Neijing, The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic). Methods Seventy patients with hearing loss were divided into " fameng needling" group (group A) and conventional acupuncture group (group B) randomly by sortition, with 35 patients in each. "Fameng needling" was applied in patients in group A. Bilateral antitragi were pressed by middle fingers for covering the earholes, twirling for reduction was conducted by thumbs and index fingers, and then the middle fingers, thumbs and index fingers loosened suddenly after the patients felt sore or numb inside the ears. Conventional acupuncture treatment was adopted for patients in group B. Treatment for ten times was considered as one course of treatment, and clinical efficacy and electro-audiometry evaluation of all the patients were observed after three courses of treatment. Results The total effective rate of group A was 91.43%, which was superior to that of group B (71.43%), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0. 05). The electro-audiometry evaluation results of the two groups after treatment improved when compared with that before treatment, the result in group A was (37.01 +/- 19.43) dBHL, which was superior to that of group B (49.85 +/- 21.29) dBHL, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusion "Fameng needling" is an effective method for treatment of hearing loss, which is worth promoting and applying clinically.

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key progression that promotes pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Numb, a phosphotyrosine-binding domain (PTB) protein, is implicated with EMT. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor2 (Nrf2) and its downstream proteins heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) constitute an important pathway of antioxidant defense signal for protecting against PF. It remains elusive whether Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and Numb have a potential relationship in EMT-mediated PF. Here, we observed the effects of Nrf2 pathway and Numb on bleomycin(BLM)-induced PF in Nrf2-knockout (Nrf2(-/-)) and wild-type (WT) mice. Meanwhile, rat type II alveolar epithelial cells line (RLE-6TN) and human epithelial cells line (A549) were both treated with an Nrf2 activator sulforaphane (SFN), or transfected siRNAs of Nrf2 and Numb to unravel roles of Nrf2 pathway, Numb and the link between them on transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1)-induced EMT. We found BLM-induced lung fibrosis were more severe in Nrf2(-/-) mice compared to WT mice with reduced expressions of HO-1 and NQO1. Numb was enhanced with down-regulated expressions of Nrf2 in BLM groups and further increased in Nrf2(-/-) groups. In vitro, given exogenous TGF-beta 1 on RLE-6TN and A549 up-regulated Numb expressions, accompanied with down-regulations of Nrf2 and its target proteins HO-1 and NQO1. Transfected with Nrf2 and Numb siRNAs further aggravated and relieved the progression of EMT, respectively. Inversely, activating Nrf2 pathway by SFN reduced the expression of Numb and EMT-related protein. Moreover, Numb deficiency by siRNA relieved the protection of activating Nrf2 against EMT. In conclusion, activating Nrf2 antioxidant pathway suppresses EMT during PF via inhibiting the abnormal expression of Numb. These findings provide insight into PF pathogenesis and a basis for novel treatment approaches.