OBJECTIVETo observe differences of immediate effect of twirling reinforcing-reducing manipulation at head acupoints on muscle force in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

METHODSA total of 126 patients who met the inclusive criteria were randomly divided into a twirling reinforcing group, a mild reinforcing-reducing group and a twirling reducing group, 42 cases in each one. The lines between Baihui (GV 20) and bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN 5) were selected and treated with successive insertion of three needles. The twirling reinforcing method was used in the twirling reinforcing group, and mild reinforcing-reducing method was used in the mild reinforcing- reducing group, and twirling reducing method was used in the twirling reducing group. Each needle was manipulated for 1 min, which was repeated once every 10 min. The needles were retained for 30 min. Muscle force was evaluated immediately after treatment.

RESULTS(1) Muscle force of upper limb: after acupuncture, the muscle force of proximal and remote ends were all improved significantly in three groups (all P < 0.05), which was more obvious in proximal end (all P < 0.05). The improvement of the muscle force of proximal end in the twirling reinforcing group was superior to those in the mild reinforcing-reducing group and twirling reducing group (both P < 0.05); the differences of the muscle force of remote end were not significant among three groups (all P > 0.05). (2) Muscle force of lower limb: after acupuncture, the muscle force of proximal and remote ends was all improved significantly in the three groups (all P < 0.05). The improvement of the muscle force of proximal end was superior to that of remote end in the twirling reinforcing group and mild reinforcing-reducing group (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe twirling reinforcing manipulation at head acupoints is superior to mild reinforcing-reducing and twirling reducing manipulation for muscle force in patients with acute ischemic stroke, which is more significant in proximal end of limbs.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia ; therapy ; Lower Extremity ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Upper Extremity ; physiopathology

Purpose To explore the relation between the expression of Bmi-1 and cancer stem cells and its relation to chemotherapy re-sistance in breast cancer. Methods MTT method was applied to detect the inhibition effect on proliferation of different concentrations (0. 01, 0. 1, 1, 10 μg/ml) of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) to MDA-MB-468 cells with 48 and 72 hours culture, a curve of proliferation in-hibition rate was drawn, and a suitable experiment concentration of 5-FU was chosen. MDA-MB-468 cells was serially passaged under continuous interference with the suitable concentration of 5-FU, 6 generations of cells were collected, cells with 5-FU interference were designed as experiment group and a corresponding control group with no 5-FU was set. RT-PCR and Western blot were employed to ex-amine mRNA and protein expression of Bmi-1 and Sca-1, Oct-4 in the 6 generations of cells of both control group and experiment group. Results Results of the MTT test showed that 5-FU could inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468, the 5-FU concentration of 0. 1 μg/ml was chosen as the suitable experiment concentration. RT-PCR tests showed that the differ-ences between the relative mRNA expression values of Bmi-1 and Sca-1, Oct-4 in the 6 generations of MDA-MB-468 cells were not sta-tistically significant in control group (all P>0. 05) and that the differences between the relative mRNA expression values of Bmi-1 and Sca-1, Oct-4 in the 6 generations of MDA-MB-468 cells were of statistical significance in experiment group cells (all P<0. 05). The mRNA expression of Bmi-1, Sca-1 and Oct-4 showed the following tendency in the 6 generations of passaged cells:decrease (1st gen-eration)—increase (2nd generation)—continuous increase (3rd generation)—decrease (4th generation)—increase (5th genera-tion)—decrease (6th generation). Western blot tests indicated that the differences between the relative protein expression values of Bmi-1 and Sca-1, Oct-4 in the 6 generations of MDA-MB-468 cells were not statistically significant in control group and that the differ-ences between the relative protein expression values of Bmi-1 and Sca-1, Oct-4 in the 6 generations of MDA-MB-468 cells were of sta-tistical significance in experiment group cells (all P<0. 05). The expression of Bmi-1 was positively correlated with stem cell associat-ed factors Sca-1, Oct-4 (r=1, all P<0. 01). Conclusions The expression of Bmi-1 gene is positively correlated with expression of stem cell associated factors Sca-1 and Oct-4 in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468 cell, and Bmi-1 may be a novel marker for cancer stem cells in breast cancer. Administration of 5-FU can affect the expression level of Bmi-1 and the ration of cancer stem cells in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468. Bmi-1 gene may be associated with drug resistance to chemotherapy and recurrence in breast cancer.

ObjectiveTo study the role of the myenteric plexus (ENS) nitrergic neurons in type 2 diabetic rats with gastroparesis.MethodsThiry male 8-week-SD rats were randomly divided into control group (CON),type 2 diabetic group (DM),insulin-treated group ( INS ) and insulin-lipoie acid group( LA ),each 15.The rats were sacrificed at 16 weeks after diabetic model established,the stomach relative residual rate of pigmented was measured and the protein content of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was evaluate,the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD),were measured,the the morphological changes of gastric antrum nitrergic neurons was observed.ResultsCompared with CON group,gastric motility,gastric antrum nitrergic neuron count,T-SOD and CuZn-SOD,and were significantly decreased in DM group ( P ＜0.05).Compared with the CON group,DM group gastric antrum nitrergic neurons nNOS expression decreased,while MDA levels significantly increased ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Compared with DM group,INS group and LA group has significantly rapider gastric motility than that of DM group ( P＜ 0.05 ),the neuron counting markly increased in nitrergic neuron of gastic sinus ( P ＜ 0.05 ),increased expressions of nNOS in gastric sinus,while still lower than control group( P ＜0.05).compared with the INS group,antrum nitrergic neuron counts of LA group significantly increased ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion The gastrointestinal dyskinesis of type 2 diabetic rats might be associated with lesions of gastric myenteric plexus nitrergic neuron.Insulin intensive therapy and treated with alpha-lipoic acid as an antioxidant can inhibit the abnormally high levels of oxidative stress,protect gastrointestinal nitrergic neurons,delay the progress of diabetic gastrointestinal motility disorders.Insulin combined with a-lipoic acid treatment is superior to single-use insulin.

Objective To investigate the immediate effect of twirling reinforcing manipulation, twirling reducing manipulation and mild reinforcing-reducing manipulation on motor functions for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods Totally 116 patients with ischemic stroke were randomly divided into twirling reinforcing manipulation group (TRFM, n=39), mild reinforcing-reducing manipulation group (TRRM, n=37), and twirling reducing manipulation group (TRDM, n=40) by stratified blocked randomization. Each group was treated in Baihui-Taiyang acupoint area accordingly with twirling reinforcing manipulation, mild reinforcing-reducing manipulation and twirling reducing manipulation once. The operation time for each needle was 1 minute. Interval time between every 2 needles was 10 minutes, and each needle was retained for 30 minutes. Neurological deficit score (NDS) and simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) were evaluated before and immediate time, 1 h, 2 h and 3 h after treatment. Results FMA in TRFM was higher than that of TRDM and TRRM at immediate time, 1 h and 2 h after treatment (P<0.05), but there was no difference at 3 h after treatment (P>0.05). DNS in TRFM decreased sharply at immediate time, 1 h, 2 h and 3 h compared with TRDM and TRRM (P<0.05). The statistical analysis showed no significant difference between TRDM and TRRM at all time points (P>0.05). Conclusion TRFM has an advantage over TRDM and TRRM in immediate effect of motor functions for patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective To explore the effects and indications of physical cooling in fever patients after bone fracture surgery.Methods 450 fever patients after bone fracture surgery were selected.They were divided into different groups according to ~e main influencing factors which affected the effect of physical cooling,including the temperature of sponge bathing,the degree of fever,clinical phases of fever.The influence of above factors on physical cooling was observed.Results The temperature for sponge bathing maintaining at 38～40 ℃(the experimental group) achieved better results than that at 32～34 ℃(the control group).Physical cooling at constant peak period of fever had better effect than that during the fervescence period,and the effect of sponge bathing treatment was better in mild fever patients than in high fever patients.Conclusions The single physical hypothermia only fit the patients following bone fracture surgery who had a fever below 38.5 ℃.Patients who had an infectious high fever should receive drug combination.Temperature of sponge bathing maintaining at 38～40 ℃,bathing timing at constant peak period of fever may get best cooling effect.

Objective:To study the effects of the conditioned medium (CM) from human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 on the viability and apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the role of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in the process. Methods:HUVECs were cultured with CM of A549 cells. Cell viability was detected by XTT assay. The morphological changes of HUVECs were analyzed by Hoechst 33258 staining and fluorescence microscopy. The apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Expression levels of total Akt and phosphorylated Akt were assessed by Western blotting. PI3K inhibitors wortmannin(WT)and Akt1 siRNA(siAkt1)were used to block PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The mRNA transcription of Akt subtype was determined by RT-PCR.Results:A549 CM significantly increased cell viability after 24 h treatment (P=0.037) and inhibited apoptosis (P=0.001) of HUVECs. CM time-dependently activated phosphorylation of Akt. Akt was phosphorylated at 15 min after CM treatment and reached the peak at 30 min and then tended to decline. Both WT and siAkt1 blocked the effects of CM. Conclusion:The CM of A549 cells increased the survival and inhibit the apoptosis of HUVECs. Akt1 played a significant role in the process.

Aim To investigate the effect of PLK1 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)of human e-sophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)cells TE-1 5 and its relevant molecular mechanisms.Methods PLK1 overexpressed ESCC cells and control vector were used as the experimental cells.The expression of EMT-related protein markers E-cadherin and vimentin were measured by Western blot.vimentin mRNA was measured by Real-time PCR.Total cellular protein and nuclear protein were respectively extracted,and then they were used to detect the expression of β-catenin by Western blot.β-catenin siRNA and non-specific siR-NA were transiently transfected into the cell clones overexpressed PLK1 ,and then vimentin was detected by Western blot.β-catenin protein degradation com-plex was detected by immunoprecipitation and Western blot.Results The mesenchymal marker vimentin was distinctively upregulated and the epithelial marker E-cadherin was distinctively downregulated in the cell clones overexpressed PLK1 ,compared with those in the vector clones.This indicated that EMT occurred in ESCC cells.vimentin mRNA was also markedly in-creased.In the cell clones overexpressed PLK1 ,β-catenin were both elevated from the total cells and the nucleus.The expression of vimentin was reduced whenβ-catenin was knocked down.APC and GSK-3βwere both reduced from Axin immunoprecipitate in the cell clones overexpressed PLK1 .Conclusion PLK1 up-regulates vimentin and promotes EMT in ESCC cells probably by inhibiting the formation of protein degrada-tion complex and stabilizing β-catenin.

To investigate the effect of the Ginkgo Biloba Extract (GBE) on the asthma and examine its possible mechanisms, 75 asthma patients were divided into 4 groups and the patients were respectively treated with fluticasone propionate for 2 weeks or 4 weeks, or treated with fluticasone propionate plus GBE for 2 weeks or 4 weeks. Fifteen healthy volunteers served as healthy controls. Sputum inhalation with inhaling hypertonic saline (4%-5%) was performed. Lung ventilatory function and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were measured. The numbers of different cells in induced sputum were calculated. The expression of PKCα in the cells was immunocytochemically detected and the percentages of positive cells in different cells were counted. Interleukin-5 (IL-5) in sputum supernatants was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The percentage of eosinophils, lymphocytes, PKCα positive inflammatory cells and the concentration of IL-5 in asthmatic patients were higher than those in the controls (P＜0.05), and the eosinophils, lymphocytes,positive expression of PKCα and the level of IL-5 were significantly decreased in asthmatic patients after they were treated with fluticasone propionate or fluticasone propionate plus GBE. However,they were still significantly higher than those of the controls. Compared to the group treated with glucocorticosteroid for 2 weeks, no significant decrease was found in the percentage of eosinophils,lymphocytes, PKCα positive inflammatory cells and the IL-5 in the supernatant of induced sputum.Compared with the group treated with glucocorticosteroid for 2 or 4 weeks, significant decrease in the same parameters was observed in the group treated with fluticasone propionate and GBE for 4 weeks. The IL-5 level in the supernatant of induced sputum was positively correlated with the percentage of PKCα-positive inflammatory cells and the percentage of eosinophils in the induced sputum in asthma patient groups respectively (n=150, r= 0.83, P＜0.01; n=150, r=0.76, P＜0.01). The FEV1 was negatively correlated with the percentage of PKCα-positive inflammatory cells and the IL-5 levels in supernatant of induced sputum in asthma patients respectively (n=150, r=-0.77,P＜0.01; n=150, r= -0.64, P＜0.01). It is concluded that GBE could significantly decrease the infiltration of inflammatory cells such as eosinophils and lymphocytes in the asthmatic airway and relieve the airway inflammation. GBE may decrease the activation of the PKCα in the inflammatory cells and thereby decrease the IL-5 level in induced sputum. GBE may be used as a complement to the glucocorticosteroid therapy for asthma.

Whether inhibiting the activity of nuclear factor (NF)-κB potentiates cisplatin-induced apoptosis in non-small cell lung cell line A549 cells was investigated. The recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)/IκBα expressing IκBα was constructed. The in vitro cultured A549 cells were trans-fected with pcDNA3.1(+)/IκBα alone, or pcDNA3.1(+)/IκBα combined with cisplatin. The mitochondrial membrane potential (△ψm) was determined by rhodamine 123, the activity of caspase-3 was tested by colorimetric assay, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with the annexin V/propidium iodide assay. The results showed that the activity of NF-κB in A549 cells was inhibited by transfecting pcDNA3.1(+)/IκBα. Transfection of pcDNA3.1(+)/IκBα alone did not promote apoptosis. Treatment of cisplatin alone had a little effect on cell apoptosis. Transfection of pcDNA3.1(+)/IκBα combined with cisplatin treatment significantly induced apoptosis of A549 cells. It was concluded that inhibiting the activity of NF-κB potentiated cisplatin-induced apoptosis of A549 cells.

Objective: To have a profound understanding of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartic receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis, through the clinical analysis of 5 cases of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, and literature review. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis. Five cases of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis treated from May 2010 to June 2015, in the Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, were included in this study. The clinical data, including clinical manifestation, past history, radiological features, serum and cerebral spinal fluid examinations, treatment and prognosis, were analyzed. Results: Among the 5 cases, 3 young female and 2 middle-to old-aged male. The clinical features of the onset was mental and behavior disorder, as well as seizure and extrapyramidal features, like facial and limbic involuntary movements or tremor. Coma and hypopnea was severe in 3 young female cases, needing assistance of mechanical ventilator, while the manifestation of 2 male patients was much mild, need not assisted respiration. 1 case had teratoma of ovary, 1 case had Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. The anti-NMDA receptor antibody was positive in cerebraospinal fluid of all 5 cases, but in serum of 3 cases, serum and CSF Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgM antibody was positive in 1 case, while herpes simplex I virus (HSV-1) IgM antibody positive in another case, and anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody was seen in serum and CSF in 1 case. The time interval from the onset to treatment was 10-37 d (18.8±9.8 d). IVIG was used in all of the 5 cases, glucocoticoid in 4 cases, and plasma exchange in 3 cases. One case with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, having a long time before diagnosis and treatment, died, while the other 4 cases had good prognosis, and had no relapse. Conclusions Mental and behavior disturbance is common at onset of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. The radiological and lab examination may be normal. It may be accompanied with HSV-1 or EBV infection, anti-MOG antibody may be positive in this disease. Active treatment is important.