BACKGROUND: Up to now, few studies related to the mechanism of low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in relieving pain, and the effect of low-frequency TENS on the activity potential of dorsal horn cells in rats after peripheral nerve injury. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of low-frequency TENS on the activity potential of dorsal horn cells induced by mechanical allodynia and thermal allodynia by using animal models of peripheral nerve injury, and observe the efficacy after interfering of naloxone. DESIGN: A randomized control animal study. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Yanbian University. MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the central laboratory of Medical College, Yanbian University between February and October 2004. Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats were used, and 60 random selected ones were operated to separate sciatic nerve, two branch tibial nerves and sural nerves of sciatic nerve were amputated after ligation, and peroneal nerve was left as the experimental group; the other 20 rats were placed at the origin after sciatic nerve was separated, and then the skin was sutured as the control group. METHODS: ① Pain detection (Behavioral test): At 1 week postoperatively, the rats were given mechanical allodynia and thermal allodynia once every 5 seconds for 10 times, and then the frequency of foot withdrawal was detected (0%-40% for mild pain, 40%-70% for moderate pain; 70% and above for severe pain). ② The spontaneous activity potential of dorsal horn cells and that induced by mechanical allodynia and thermal allodynia were detected among the rats with moderate and severe pain in the control group and study group. ③ Low-frequency TENS of 3 mA and 10 Hz was applied to the legs of rats in the experimental group with annular electrode for 10 minute, and the membrane potential of dorsal horn cell was detected before and after stimulation. ④ At the same time of low-frequency TENS was given, rats in the experimental group were injected with naloxone via audal vein, and the membrane potential of dorsal horn cell was detected before and at 10 minutes after naloxone injection.RESULTS: Finally 80 rats were involved in the analysis of results after compensation. ① The foot withdrawal frequencies induced by mechanical allodynia and thermal allodynia in the experimental group were obviously higher than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.01). ② The membrane potential of dorsal horn cell by mechanical allodynia and thermal allodynia in the experimental group were obviously higher than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.01). ③ The membrane potential of dorsal horn cell by mechanical allodynia and thermal allodynia at 10 minutes after low-frequency TENS in the experimental group were obviously higher than those in the control group [(102.6±0.9), (136.9±1.46) impulses per 10 seconds; (175.2±1.28), (240.8±1.51) impulses per 10 seconds, P ＜ 0.01]. ④ In the experimental group, the membrane potential of dorsal horn cell by mechanical allodynia and thermal allodynia at 10 minutes after naloxone injection were obviously higher than those before injection [(174.5±0.4), (235.4±1.4) impulses per 10 seconds, P ＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION: Low-frequency TENS can effectively inhibit the activity potential of spinal dorsal horn cells induced by non-noxious stimulation,and the intravenous injection of naloxone (8 mg/kg) can recover it to the pretreatment level, indicating that low-frequency TENS may alleviate pain by stimulating central nervous system to make it secrete endogenous opium system, and acting on spinal dorsal horn cells to reduce the activity.

Objective To observe the expressions of two inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (LAPs), survivin and livin, as well as their related factors, Bci-xl and Caspase-3 in mycosis fungoides (MF), along with the effects of NB-UVB irradiation on them. Methods Totally, 30 patients with MF (5 at erythema stage, 16 at plaque stage and 9 at tumor stage) collected from 1995 to 2007 were included into this study. Of the patients, 11 received the treatment with NB-UVB irradiation. Tissue samples were resected from 30 untreated patients, 11 irradiated patients and 10 normal human controls. SABC immunohistochemistry (IHC) stain was used to evaluate the protein expression of survivin, livin, Bel-xi and caspase-3 in these samples. Also, the mRNA expression of these four factors and cell apoptosis were detected by hybridization in situ (ISH) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-fluorescence nick end labeling (TUNEL stain) respectively in the samples from 11 patients before and after NB-UVB irradiation. Results In samples of erythema-stage MF, plaque-stage MF and tumor-stage MF, the positivity rate was 40.00%, 75.00%, 77.78% for survivin respectively, 60.00%, 68.75%, 88.89% for Bcl-xl respectively, 40%, 25%, 44.44% for livin respectively, and 60.00%, 68.75%, 88.89% for caspase-3 respectively. No expression of survivin or Bcl-xl was observed in normal controls, while the expression of livin and caspase-3 was similar between MF and control samples. After NB-UVB irradiation, an increase was noticed in the count of apoptosis cells (t=6.49, P<0.001) and mRNA expression of caspase-3 (P<0.10), while a decrease in the mRNA expression of survivin and Bcl-xl in MF tissues, and no changes occurred to the mRNA expression of livin (P>0.10). Conehsions Survivin, Bcl-xl and caspase-3 may be associated with the pathogenesis of MF by regulating the cell apoptosis of T lymphocytes. NB-UVB could suppress the mRNA expression of survivin and Bcl-xl, lower the levels of LAP, enhance the transcription of caspase-3, and accelerate the apoptosis of tumor cells, which may partly explain the mechanism of therapeutic effect of NB-UVB in MF.

BACKGROUND: As a stressor, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)caused great psychological pressure during its outbreak in 2003 and SARSpatients suffered a sustained psychological stress. Investigation of the correlation of SARS onset with its psychology and etiology is now ongoing and the roles that the psychological factors might play in the disease course of SARS remain undefined.OBJECTIVE: To study the psychological status of SARS patients in the recovery stage so as to provide evidence to assist the resolution of their psychological problems.DESIGN: A sampling survey based on SARS patients.SETTING: Department of Rehabilitation with Breathing Exercise, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.PARTICIPANTS: SARS patients in the recovery stage, whose conditions were controlled and showed signs of improvement, were selected from the Third Disease Department and other departments, Beijing Geriatrics Hospital between April and June in 2003.INTERVENTIONS: Psychological status of SARS patients in the recovery stage was assessed with Symptom Check List (SCL-90) and Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:①Psychological statrs of SARS patients in the recovery stage;②differences of SCL-90 scores of SARS patients in the recovery stage in relation to sexes ,ages and education.RESULTS:①The somatization symptom scores of SARS patients in recovery stage in relation to sexes, ages and education.ery stage were significantly higher than norm( P ＜ 0.05), but those for compulsion, personal relationship, hostility and paranoia were significantly( P ＜ 0.05)②The somatization and anxiety scores of female patients were significantly higher than the female norm. Except somatization and psychoticism, the other factors of male patients had lower scores than norm. Moreover, the scores of SCL-90, somatization, anxiety and phobia in male SARS patients were significantly lower than those in female patients.③All factors in the aged group(50-60) scored less than those in other age groups, but scores for anxiety and somatization in patients between 30 -40years of age were obviously higher than those in other age groups, suggesting greater inpact of these two factors in these age group.④Patients receiving higher education had significantly lower scores for all factors except for somatization and anxiety than those with lower education.⑤Patients who used negative coping style had higher scores for all factors in SCL-90 than those who used positive coping style.CONCLUSION: The psychological status of SARS patients in the recovery stage are basically normal, but the anxiety of the female patients can be increased obviously, and the patients with lower education and those who use negative coping style have significant different psychology from other patients.

The liver injury induced by Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PM) was investigated based on idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity model co-treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a non-hepatotoxic dose. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were intragastrically administered with three doses (18.9, 37.8, 75.6 g crude drug per kg body weight) of 50% alcohol extracts of PM alone or co-treated with non-toxic dose of LPS (2.8 mg·kg(-1)) via tail vein injection. The plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were assayed and the isolated livers were evaluated for histopathological changes. The dose-toxicity relationships of single treatment of PM or co-treatment of LPS were investigated comparatively to elucidate the idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity of PM. The results showed that no significant alterations of plasma ALT and AST activities were observed in the groups of solo-administration of LPS (2.8 mg·kg(-1), i.v.) or different dosage (18.9, 37.8 and 75.6 g·kg(-1), i.g.) of PM, compared to normal control group (P > 0.05); while significant elevations were observed in the co-administration groups of PM and LPS. Treatment with LPS alone caused slight infiltration of inflammatory cells in portal area but no evident hepatocytes injury. Co-treatment with LPS and PM (75.6 g·kg(-1), i.g.) caused hepatocyte focal necrosis, loss of central vein intima and a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration in portal areas. When further reduce the dosage of PM, significant increases of plasma ALT and AST activities (P < 0.05) were still observed in co-administration groups of LPS and PM (1.08 or 2.16 g·kg(-1)), but not in LPS or PM solo-administration groups. Nevertheless, the co-treatment of low dosage of PM (0.54 g·kg(-1)) with LPS did not induce any alteration of plasma ALT and AST. In conclusion, intragastric administration with 75.6 g·kg(-1) of PM did not induce liver injury in normal rats model; while the 2 folds of clinical equivalent dose of PM (1.08 g·kg(-1)) could result in liver injury in the LPS-based idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity model, which could be used to evaluate the idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity of PM.

Objective To investigate the association between occupational stress and activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in patients with metabolic syndrome.Methods A case-control study was performed.According to inclusion and exclusion criteria,among the staff members of enterprises and public institutions aged 20～60 years who underwent physical examination in The Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University and The People's Hospital of Wuzhong from October 2011 to October 2012,622 patients with metabolic syndrome who did not have a blood relationship with each other were enrolled as case group,and 600 healthy staff members who also did not have a blood relationshipwith each otherwere enrolled as control group.Questionnaire investigation,chronic occupational stress investigation,physical examination,and laboratory tests were performed for all subjects.Results Compared with the control group,the case group had significantly higher serum levels and abnormal rates of AST and ALT (t=-4.338 and-5.485,x2=11.168 and 34.302,all P＜0.05).There were no significantdifferences in the serum level and abnormal rate of AST between the subgroups with different occupational stresses in both groups (F=2.192 and 2.567,x2=2.694 and 5.402,all P＞0.05),but there were significant differencesbetween the subgroups in all subjects (F=5.005,x2=6.398,all P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the serum level and abnormal rate of ALT between thesubgroups with different occupational stresses in the case group,the control group,and all subjects (F=0.845,0.450,and 1.416,x2=2.564,1.344,and 3.147,all P＞0.05).The partial correlation analysis showed that the total score of occupational stress was positively correlated withthe serum level of AST (r=0.071,P＜0.05) and was not correlatcd with the serum level of ALT(r=-0.044,P＞0.05),and that the serum level of AST was positively correlated with that of ALT (r=0.736,P＜0.05).After the adjustment for age,sex,nationality,smoking,drinking,marital status,and degree of education,the total score of occupational stress was positively correlated with the serum level of AST (r=0.069,P＜0.05) and was not correlated with the serum level of ALT (r=-0.042,P＞0.05),and the serum level of AST was positively correlated with that of ALT(r=0.730,P＜0.05).The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the serum level of AST increased with the increasing occupational stress (b=0.131,P=0.013).Conclusion Occupational stress is associated with increased serum level of AST,and the serum level of AST increases with the increasing occupational stress.Increased risk of metabolic syndrome caused by occupational stress may be associated with the increased activity of AST caused by occupational stress.

Objective To investigate the association between occupational stress and activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in patients with metabolic syndrome.Methods A case-control study was performed.According to inclusion and exclusion criteria,among the staff members of enterprises and public institutions aged 20～60 years who underwent physical examination in The Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University and The People's Hospital of Wuzhong from October 2011 to October 2012,622 patients with metabolic syndrome who did not have a blood relationship with each other were enrolled as case group,and 600 healthy staff members who also did not have a blood relationshipwith each otherwere enrolled as control group.Questionnaire investigation,chronic occupational stress investigation,physical examination,and laboratory tests were performed for all subjects.Results Compared with the control group,the case group had significantly higher serum levels and abnormal rates of AST and ALT (t=-4.338 and-5.485,x2=11.168 and 34.302,all P＜0.05).There were no significantdifferences in the serum level and abnormal rate of AST between the subgroups with different occupational stresses in both groups (F=2.192 and 2.567,x2=2.694 and 5.402,all P＞0.05),but there were significant differencesbetween the subgroups in all subjects (F=5.005,x2=6.398,all P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the serum level and abnormal rate of ALT between thesubgroups with different occupational stresses in the case group,the control group,and all subjects (F=0.845,0.450,and 1.416,x2=2.564,1.344,and 3.147,all P＞0.05).The partial correlation analysis showed that the total score of occupational stress was positively correlated withthe serum level of AST (r=0.071,P＜0.05) and was not correlatcd with the serum level of ALT(r=-0.044,P＞0.05),and that the serum level of AST was positively correlated with that of ALT (r=0.736,P＜0.05).After the adjustment for age,sex,nationality,smoking,drinking,marital status,and degree of education,the total score of occupational stress was positively correlated with the serum level of AST (r=0.069,P＜0.05) and was not correlated with the serum level of ALT (r=-0.042,P＞0.05),and the serum level of AST was positively correlated with that of ALT(r=0.730,P＜0.05).The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the serum level of AST increased with the increasing occupational stress (b=0.131,P=0.013).Conclusion Occupational stress is associated with increased serum level of AST,and the serum level of AST increases with the increasing occupational stress.Increased risk of metabolic syndrome caused by occupational stress may be associated with the increased activity of AST caused by occupational stress.