The main acupoints were Shuigou (GV 26), Jiquan (HT 1) and Weizhong (BL 40). According to the diseased area, corresponding points were selected. Warmed needling, pushing, grasping, kneading,flicking and shaking of diseased joints were performed. Among 48 patients with rheumatoid arthritis,6 cases were clinically recovered; 14 cases were remarkablely effective; 24 cases were improved; and 4 cases were ineffective.

Objective To study the difference of detection rate between PCR and high-resolution melt (HRM)for detecting the bacterial drug resistance gene aac(6′)-Ib-cr.Methods The PCR method was adopted to detect the aac(6′)-Ib gene in 299 strains of common Gram-negative bacilli,and the PCR positive products of aac (6′)-Ib were digested with BtsCI.Meanwhile Aac (6′)-Ib and aac (6′)-Ib-cr genes in above bacterial strains were detected by adopting the HRM technique.Results A total of 29 isolates were i-dentified as aac (6′)-Ib gene,and 21 mutations were aac (6′)-Ib-cr,with a mutation rate of 72.4% (21/29)for PCR and restriction enzyme digestion.And the results of the HRM test were in good agreement with each other.Conclusion PCR and HRM are similar for the detection of the bacterial resistance gene aac (6′)-Ib-cr,and aac (6′)-Ib-cr gene could be detected by a simpler HRM tech-nique instead of PCR and enzyme digestion,especially for a large number of screening.

Acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase) is an important enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism. Studies concerning the relationship between aSMase and tumor are relatively rare. However, the relationship between aSMase and the development and progression of tumors has already been demonstrated in previously published research. In this review, the mechanism of aSMase activation and the role of aSMase in the development and progression of tumors as well as its application value are summarized. Copyright © 2012 by TUMOR.

The quality of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) has been mainly evaluated based on chemical ingredients, yet recently more attentions have been paid on biological ingredients, especially for pill-based preparations. It is a key approach to establish a fast, accurate and systematic method of biological ingredient analysis for realization of modernization, industrialization and internationalization of TCMs. The biological ingredient analysis of TCM preparations could be abstracted as the identification of multiple species from a biological mixture. The metagenomic approach based on high-throughput-sequencing (HTS) and big-data-mining has been considered as one of the most effective methods for multiple species analysis of a biological mixture, which would also be helpful for the analysis of biological ingredients in TCMs. Simultaneous identification of diverse species, including the prescribed species, adulterants, toxic species, protected species and even the biological impurities introduced through production process, could be achieved by selecting appropriate DNA biomarkers, as well as applying large-scale sequence comparison and data mining. By this approach, it is prospective to offer an evaluation basis for the effectiveness, safety and legality of TCM preparations.
Biological Products ; chemistry ; Data Mining ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metagenomics ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of sacral nerve root electrostimulation (SNS) on the colon function and its mechanisms in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODSOne hundred and four Wistar rats were divided into three groups: A, B and C. A group ( n = 24) was divided into three subgroups (n = 8) for studying the bioelectricity: Normal group (NG), SCI group (SCI) and SCI group with SNS(SNS); B group( n = 24) was divided into three subgroups( n = 8) for studying the colon motility: NG, SCI and SNS. C group( n = 56) were divided into three groups for studying the change of morphology and neurotransmitters(SP and VIP): NG (n = 8), SCI (n = 24), and SNS (n = 24) . In SCI and SNS, included of three subgroups: 24, 48, 72 h after spinal cord injury (n = 8).

RESULTSIn SCI group, the activity of bioelectricity in proximal and distal colon was reduced; the colon motility was lessened, and colon mucosa appeared different degree of damage; cell-cell connections between intestinal epithelial cells were destroyed. The expressions of substance P(SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in colon were decreased obviously. SNS was found to activate the bioelectricity, promote the colon motility, improve the intestinal mucosal, and increase the expressions of SP and VIP. Conclusion: SNS can activate the peristalsis, rehabilitate the motility of denervated colon, protection of the intestinal mechanical barrier between intestinal epithelial cells and tight junction, rebuild the colon function through activating the bioelectricity and increase the expressions of SP and VIP.

Animals ; Colon ; physiopathology ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; Lumbosacral Region ; innervation ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the ultrastructural change of the route of gut bacterial translocation in a rat with spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODSForty Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: control group and 3 SCI groups (10 in each group). The rats in the SCI groups were established SCI model at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after SCI. Small intestine mucous membrane tissue was identified and assayed by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope and immunofluorescence microscopy.

RESULTSSmall intestine mucous membrane tissue in control group was not damaged significantly, but those in SCI groups were damaged significantly. Proliferation bacteria in gut lumen attached on microvilli. The extracellular bacteria torn the intestinal barrier and perforated into the small intestinal mucosal epithelial cell. The bacteria and a lot of particles of the seriously damaged region penetrated into the lymphatic system and the blood system directly. Some bacteria were internalized into the goblet cell through the apical granule. Some bacteria and particles perforated into the submucosa of the M cell running the long axis of M cells through the tight junctions. In the microcirculation of mucosa, the bacteria that had already broken through the microvilli into blood circulation swim accompanying with erythrocytes.

CONCLUSIONThe routes of bacterial translocation interact and format a vicious circle. At early step, the transcellular pathway of bacterial translocation is major. Following with the destroyed small intestine mucous, the routes of bacterial translocation through the lymphatic system and the blood system become direct pathways. The goblet cell-dendritic cell and M cell pathway also play an important role in the bacterial translocation.

Animals ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Translocation ; Epithelial Cells ; microbiology ; Goblet Cells ; microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; microbiology ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Intestine, Small ; microbiology ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Microvilli ; microbiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; microbiology

Objectives: Observe the effects of acupuncture on obese SD rats fed by self-prescribed high calorie diet. 　Methods: The model group were male SD rats fed by self-prescribed high calorie diet, while the control group were male SD rats fed by common roughage. After acupuncture, the changes of some indexes were observed such as eating and drinking amount,body weight,length, Lee index,fattiness in groin and circumrenal areas, TG,TC,BG levels in blood etc.　 Results: The obesity was defined as the average body weight of the model group was 20% heavier than the average body weight in the control group. And the obesity ratio was 56%. The indexes were changed in different degrees with statistic significance after one period of treatment.　 Conclusions: Over-nutrition is one of the causes of obesity. Our high calorie feed for obese rat is reasonable. Acupuncture has obvious therapeutic effects for simple obesity.

Objective To investigate the role of large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BK) in neuronal Ca2+ overload following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods Neuronal cells of C57BL/6 mouse cortex were collected and cultured. Patch-clamp technique was applied to investigate the changes of intracellular free calcium [Ca2+] i and firing frequency of neuronal action potentials in rest condition or evoked by 100 pA electric current lasting 500 ms after perfusion of Iberiotoxin ( 100 nmmol/L), a BK specific blocker. The cells were divided randomly into experimental group ( plus Iberiotoxin) and control group. Extracellular solution of cultured neurons was further perfused with KCl (20 mmol/L) to induce elevation of [Ca2 +]i and influence of Iberiotoxin ( 100 nmol/L) on amplitude of [Ca2 +] i elevation was determined. Results No significant changes of neuronal spontaneous action potential frequency and [Ca2 +]i were observed in rest condition after perfusion of Iberiotoxin (P＞0.05).However, when evoked by electric current, the frequency of action potential was (10.4 ± 3.0) Hz,which was increased to ( 13.8 ± 3.7 ) Hz after perfusion of Iberiotoxin, with statistical difference (P＜0.05 ). The [Ca2 +] i level was ( 14.21 ± 16.98 ) nmol/Lbefore perfusion with Iberiotoxin but was increased to (44.07 ± 34. 4) nmol/L after perfusion of Iberiotoxin (P ＜ 0.05 ). Extracellular high concentration of KCl increased [Ca2 +] i of neurons, while perfudion of Iberiotoxin further elevated [Ca2 +]i (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion BK may play an important role in the regulation of neuronal [Ca2+] i and in neuronal Ca2+overload following TBI.

Objective To analyze gerbil plague in northern Ningxia and the monitoring results,to master the plague epidemic dynamics,and to provide the basis for developmenting countermeasures.Methods Monitoring data of gerbil plague focus in northern Ningxia were collect in 2009,counted main host density,rate of dye fleas,flea body index and bacteriology,serology detect and analyzed the epidemic situation.Results An average density of main host was 1.74/hm2,the average rate of infected fleas was 28.60％,and the average rat body flea index was 0.76.Monitoring found 4 plagues from rat plague epidemic,plague bacteria were found in 16 strains,of which gerbils inspection bacteria 10 strains,Meriones unguiculatus 2 strains,the same type cheopis 2 strains,and bald disease fleas 2 strains.Indirect hemagglutination (IHA) was used to test 529 copies of samples,2 copies were found positive,and hemagglutination-positive rate was 0.38％; eight copies were examined by reverse indirect hemagglutination(RIHA),7 material were found positive,and hemagglutination-positive rate was 87.50％.Conclusions In recent years,the disease is active among animals in gerbil plague focus Ningxia.The density of rodents is higher,and local plague epidemic is found in rats.Monitoring efforts should be strengthened and scope of monitoring should be expanded.We should pay close attention to the epidemic dynamics,control the prevalence and spread of animal disease,and prevent the occurrence of human plague.

The quality of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) has been mainly evaluated based on chemical ingredients, yet recently more attentions have been paid on biological ingredients, especially for pill-based preparations. It is a key approach to establish a fast, accurate and systematic method of biological ingredient analysis for realization of modernization, industrialization and internationalization of TCMs. The biological ingredient analysis of TCM preparations could be abstracted as the identification of multiple species from a biological mixture. The metagenomic approach based on high-throughput-sequencing (HTS) and big-data-mining has been considered as one of the most effective methods for multiple species analysis of a biological mixture, which would also be helpful for the analysis of biological ingredients in TCMs. Simultaneous identification of diverse species, including the prescribed species, adulterants, toxic species, protected species and even the biological impurities introduced through production process, could be achieved by selecting appropriate DNA biomarkers, as well as applying large-scale sequence comparison and data mining. By this approach, it is prospective to offer an evaluation basis for the effectiveness, safety and legality of TCM preparations.