OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in the clinical efficacy on peripheral facial palsy between electro-acupuncture (EA) assisted with surface electromyography (sEMG) and conventional EA.

METHODSSixty cases of peripheral facial palsy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. EA was applied during the first 15 days of sickness in the two groups, at Xiaguan (ST 7), Jiache (ST 6), Dicang (ST 4), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Quanliao (SI 18) and Hegu (LI 4), once a day. In the observation, group, 15 days after sickness, according to the situation in sEMG, on the basis of the acupoints in the previous treatment, the corresponding acupoints were reselected for EA. In the control group, the conventional EA was kept on. The treatment was given once every two days till the 35th day of sickness. Separately, on the 5th, 15th and 35th days of sickness, according to the detection of sEMG in the patients of two groups, the means ratios of: root mean square (RMS) of musculi buccinators, orbicularis oris, frontalis and nasalis on the healthy and affected sides were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSThe differences of ratio in RMS of musculi buccinators, orbicularis oris, frontalis and nasalis on the healthy and affected sides were significant statistically in comparison between the, 15th day and the 5th day, and between the 35th day and the 15th day of sickness within each group (all P<0. 01). The differences of ratio in RMS of the muscles on the healthy and affected sides were significant statistically on the 15th and 35th days between the two groups (all P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONEA assisted with sEMG achieves the significant efficacy on peripheral facial palsy, better than the conventional EA.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Electromyography ; Facial Muscles ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To study the treatment effect by addition of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) that could reduce the level of residual disease in patients with Ph-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who appeared to have achieved a suboptimal response to imatinib (IM) alone. Methods Eleven patients with CML who had achieved≥ 35 % Ph-negativity on treatment of IM were enrolled. The initial dose of imatinib was 400 mg or 600 mg orally daily, and G-CSF, 5 μg/kg subcutaneously daily. The administration of G-CSF was postponed or interrupted in the event of leukocytosis (leukocytes ≥ 30 ×109/L) until the whitecell count fell ＜20 × 109/L. Efficacy was assessed by serial monitoring of blood levels of bcr-abl transcripts.Treatment with G-CSF was discontinued if the patient did not achieve a reduction in the transcript level of at least 0.5 log after 6 months. For patients whose bcr-abl transcript levels continued to decline but had not yet reached molecular remission, treatment was designed to continue for 1 to 6 months. Results Of 11 evaluable patients, nine had an appreciable decline in bcr-abl transcript levels(include 7 cases the reduction was greater than 1 log and 2 cases the reduction was greater than 0.5 log), 2 cases the reduction was lower than 0.5 log.In 7 cases the reduction was greater than 1 log, including five patients who did not achieved complete cytogenetic response and two patients achieved complete molecular responses. No bleeding episodes occurred.No patient discontinued therapy because of toxicity and there were no treatment-related deaths. Conclusion The addition of G-CSF should be considered safely and successfully for patients who fail to obtain optimal response to IM alone and this approach deserves further evaluation.

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The present study retrospectively analyzed 2 patients suffering from refractory pure red cell aplasia after major ABO-incompatible hematopoietic stem cell transplantation who received treatment in the Henan Institute of Haematology between April 2004 and February 2006. Patient 1 was a 25-year-old female with acute lymphocytic leukemia in second remission, and patient 2 was a 16-year-old gid with acute myeloid leukaemia in second remission. The two patients received a transplant of human adipose tissue-dedved mesenchymal stem cells (1.0×106/kg). Both of them acquired rapid recovery from pure red cell aplasia without any side effects. These findings suggest that adipose tissue-dedved mesenchymal stem cells seem to be a promising therapeutic option in patients with refractory pure red cell aplasia after ABO-incompatible hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, in whom conventional treatment fails.

Objective To observe the efficacy and adverse events of L-asparaginasum plus DICE regimen in the treatment of relapsed and refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Methods Thirty-one patients with relapsed and refractory NHL were treated with L-asparaginasum plus DICE regimen. Each patient was scheduled to receive 2 to 6 cycles.Results Among the 31 assessable patients,11 (35.5 ％) achieved a complete remission (CR),14(45.2 ％) got a partial remission (PR),2 were stable,4 were progressive.The overall response (CR + PR) rate was 80.7 ％.The median survival was 8 months (rang:2-38 months).The 1-year survival rate was 43.3 ％,the 2-year survival rate was 32.5 ％.The main adverse events were myelosuppression,digestive tract reaction,allergy and edema.No treatment-related death was observed.Conclusion The L-asparaginasum plus DICE regimen is effective and safe for the relapsed and refractory NHL.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of moderate-dose of etoposide (VP16) with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for mobilization of peripheral blood stem/progenitor cells.Methods VP16 at 1.2 g/m2 was injected intravenously by six divided doses via a central vein, 2 times every 12 hours for 3 days in 31 patients with malignant lymphoma (30 non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 1 Hodgkin lymphoma). All patients received G-CSF 5 μg/kg were given twice daily subcutaneously from the day of the nadir of white blood cell (WBC) till the day before the last APBSC harvest. Results The mean time for the collection of stem cell was 12 days (10-15) following etoposide chemotherapy. The mean number of mononuclear cell (MNC) and CD+34 cells in collection were 7.8×108/kg (5.2-11.3×108) and 7.2×106/kg (5.3-13.1×106). respectively. 18 patients completed collection with a single apheresis, and 13 patients underwenttwice. All patients were recovered for haematopoiesis in following APBSCT. Median (range) time for the recovery of absolute neutrophil count (ANC)＞0.5×109/L and platelet＞20×109/L were+12 (+9-+18) days and +14 (+10-+21) days respectively. Slight adverse events coursed by the regimen could be tolerated. Conclusion VP16 at moderate dose with G-CSF is an effective and safe mobilizing regimen for autologous peripheral blood stem/progenitor cells in patients with malignant lymphoma. It was suggested to use extensively.

Purpose To investigate the expression of C-C chemokine receptor 9 (CCR9) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to explore its prognostic value. Methods The expression of CCR9 was detected by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissues and corre-sponding adjacent normal tissues from 119 NSCLC patients. Additionally, the correlation between CCR9 expression and the clinicopath-ologic features of NSCLC and the relationship between prognostic factors and overall survival rate were analyzed by statistical methods. Results The positive expression rate of CCR9 was significantly higher in NSCLC tissues (54. 6%) than that in adjacent normal lung tissues (10. 1%) (P<0. 05). The expression of CCR9 in NSCLC was correlated with histopathologic type, lymph node status and p-TNM stage (P<0. 05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that the positive expression of CCR9 was negatively correlated with the overall survival rate (Log-rank=9. 917, P=0. 002). Univariate analysis showed that the lymph node status, p-TNM stage and the positive expression of CCR9 made great difference to postoperative overall survival (P<0. 05). Multivariate analysis showed that CCR9 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival of NSCLC patients ( RR=0. 447, 95%CI:0. 201 ~0. 993, P<0. 05). Conclusion The expression of CCR9 may predict a poor prognosis in the patients with NSCLC, so it can be used as a novel NSCLC biomarker.

Objective To investigate the clinical characterstics of bone Langerhans-cell histiocytosis (LCH) and evaluate its diagnosis,therapy and prognosis.Methods 25 cases with biopsy confirmed bone LCH during the last 8 years were retrospectively analyzed.Results The patients included 18 males and 7 females,13 children and 12 adults,ranging from 1.5 to 55 years old with a median age of 17.Cases with unifocal lesions were 17,including 11 cases of skull LCH,and the remaining 8 were with multifocal lesions.First symptoms were predominantly pain and local masses,and rarely constitutional symptoms.The manifestation of radiography was osteolytic bony lesions.12 cases had masses in soft tissues.Patients with solitary lesions underwent surgical operation,followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy.Cases with multifocal lesions received chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Pathological examination showed proliferation of well differentiated histiocytes,and large numbers of infiltrating eosinophils.Positive rates of CD1a,S100,Vimentin and CD68 were higher in immunohistochemistry.Patients with restricted involvement in bones can achieve a satisfactory therapeutic effect.2 cases died when multiple systems were compromised.Conclusion Bone LCH occurs predominantly in children and teenagers,involves solitary bones,and morbidities in males are much higher than females.Skull is most commonly affected.Principal clinical manifestations are pain and local masses.Diagnosis of bone LCH depends on microscopic examination.Combination therapy appears to be an effective method of treatment.Prognosis of disease is related to the degree of bone involvement,histological classification and simultaneously encroachment of other organs.Most patients have good prognosis.

BACKGROUND:Pax6 gene plays an important role in eye development and differentiation, and to study how it regulates the differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s (BMSCs), gaining the BMSCs stably over-expressing Pax6 is crucial, which is also the basis of stem cel replacement therapy. OBJECTIVE:To construct a lentivirus vector containing Pax6 and detect the expression of Pax6 in transfected human BMSCs.
METHODS:Pax6 gene was extracted using PCR. After its connection with lentivirus vector pHIV-EGFP, it was then packaged by 293T cel s. The human BMSCs were transfected with recombinant lentivirus Pax6-EGFP as wel as lentivirus vector pHIV-EGFP, which was considered negative control group. The cel ular morphology was observed by a fluorescence microscope, and the mRNA expression of Pax6 was detected by real-time PCR.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The recombinant lentivirus Pax6-EGFP was constructed successful y with a titer of 3×109 pfu/L. After the transfection, both the green fluorescent protein and Pax6 gene were expressed detected using fluorescence microscope and real-time PCR, showing that the method of lentiviral transfection is a safe and effective way to modify BMSCs.

AIM: To study the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) on hematopoietic differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells(ESC) in vitro.METHODS: ES-D3 was allowed to grow on mouse fetal fibroblast feeder layer,and then was developed into embryoid bodies(EB).EB cells were transferred into medium supplemented with different concentration of VEGF and VEGF+SCF for 1 week.Six groups,including.VEGF 5 ?g/L,VEGF 10 ?g/L,VEGF 20 ?g/L, VEGF 5 ?g/L+SCF,VEGF 10 ?g/L+SCF and VEGF 20 ?g/L+SCF,were designed.The group of spontaneous differentiation without cytokine(s) was used as control.Hematopoietic transcription factor GATA-2 and early hematopoietic differentiation genes(c-kit and ?-H1) were detected by RT-PCR.The content of CD34~+ cells in each group were measured by flow cytometry.The cells derived from ESC were incubated in semisolid methycellulose cultures.The numbers of total colony-forming units in culture(CFU-C) were counted by reverse microscope.RESULTS: ES-D3 grew and formed EB at day 4.VEGF had a stimulatory effect as a single factor on the expression of genes associated with early hematopoietic differentiation(GATA-2,c-kit and ?-H1),the generation of CD34~+ cells and CFU-C in EB.The effects of VEGF+SCF were the most potent in the experimental groups according to the percent of CD34~+ cells and the numbers of hematopoietic colonies.The most highest inducing efficacy was achieved in VEGF 20 ?g/L or VEGF 10 ?g/L combined with SCF.CONCLUSION: VEGF promotes the differentiation of ESC into hematopoietic cells in vitro.The strongest effect was achieved when VEGF was combined with SCF.