OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference between triple acupuncture method at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) and conventional acupuncture for cervicogenic headache.

METHODSA total of 66 patients were randomly divided into a triple acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, 33 cases in each one. The acupoints selected in the two groups were identical, including C1 to C7 of cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) as well as Baihui (GV 20), Qiangjian (GV 18), Naokong (GB 19), Fengchi (GB 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Tianzhu (BL 10), etc. The conven- tional acupuncture was performed at acupoints on the head in the two groups; triple acupuncture was performed at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) in the triple acupuncture group while perpendicular acupuncture was performed with a depth of 25 to 40 mm in the conventional acupuncture group. The treatment was given once a day. Five treatments were considered as one session and totally two sessions were required. The changes of simplified McGill scale before and after acupuncture were observed in the two groups, and the efficacy of the two groups was compared.

RESULTSAfter acupuncture, the simplified McGill scale was both reduced in the two groups (both P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference between the two groups after treatment (all P > 0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate was 75.8% (25/33) and the total effective rate was 93.9% (31/33) in the triple acupuncture group, which were superior to 57.6% (19/33, P < 0.01) and 84.8% (28/33, P < 0.05) in the conventional acupuncture group respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of triple acupuncture method at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) is superior to that of conventional acupuncture for cervicogenic headache.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Post-Traumatic Headache ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo detect plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in acute Kawasaki disease (KD) and analyze the relationship between NT-proBNP and other bio-markers in order to evaluate if NT-proBNP could be as a useful diagnostic marker to predict the risk of coronary arterial lesions in acute KD.

METHODTotally 106 patients with KD were recruited from January 2012 to April 2014 at Department of Pediatrics of Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology,64 were boys and 42 were girls, their age ranged from 2 months to 8 years and 4 months. Of the 106 cases, 48 had typical KD(TKD) and 58 incomplete KD(IKD). They were divided into two groups according to echocardiography results: coronary arterial lesions (KD-CAL, n = 33) and non coronary arterial lesions (KD-nCAL, n = 73). Forty children whose age and gender matched with respiratory tract infection were selected as control group, 22 were boys and 18 were girls, age range from 7 months to 7 years and 11 months. Plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured by using the enzyme-linked fluorescence analysis (ELFA) at the day of admission, meanwhile blood routine tests, liver function tests, determination of C-reactive protein (CEP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), electrolytes were performed in these patients. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to evaluate the association. The ROC curve analysis was done to identify the threshold of coronary 'arterial lesions.

RESULTThe levels of NT-proBNP were (1 037 271) ng/L in TKD group and (1,325 ± 264) ng/L in IKD group. The levels of NT-proBNP in control group was (125 ± 22) ng/L. Both the levels of NT-proBNP in TKD and IKD group were significantly higher than that of control group (t = 3.360, 3.590; P < 0.05). The level of NT-proBNP in KD-CAL group was (2,775 ± 842) ng/L and that of KD-nCAL group was (830 ± 145) ng/L, NT-proBNP levels of KD-nCAL group was significantly higher than that of control group (t = 3.660, P = 0.007) ; moreover the level of NT-proBNP of KD-CAL group was also significantly higher than that of KD-nCAL group ( t = 3.860, P = 0.005). The levels of total white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage, platelet count, CRP and ESR of KD-CAL group were significantly higher than those of the control group, however there was no significant difference between KD-CAL group and KD-nCAL group. The levels of albumin and Na of KD-nCAL group were significantly lower than those of the control group. Plasma NT-proBNP level in KD group was positively correlated with white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage, and CRP (r = 0.239, P = 0.025; r = 0.359, P = 0.001; r = 0.474, P = 0.001), there was a negative correlation between albumin and Na (r = -0.303, P = 0.015; r = -0.338, P = 0.002). When the level of NT-proBNP was higher than 950 ng/L, the sensitivity for diagnosis of coronary arterial lesions in the KD was 88.1% and the specificity was 89.0%.

CONCLUSIONThe plasma NT-proBNP can be used as a useful parameter in early diagnosis of KD. Plasma NT-proBNP could be used to predict the risk of coronary arterial lesions in KD.

Biomarkers ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Predictive Value of Tests ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Purpose:To evaluate the feasibility of irradiat ion to the metastatic retroperitoneal lymph nodes using three-dimensional confo rmal radiotherapy (3-DCRT) and to assess the irradiation side effects. Methods:From Jun. 1997 to Sep. 2000, 52 patients of metastatic retroperitoneal lymph nodes were treated with 3-DCRT.These patients had receive d radical therapy for their primary tumors. 50 of them had been proved by pathol ogical examination. Radiotherapy was designed by Elekta company’s 3-D treatmen t plan. Dose volume histography (DVH) was used to verify and optimize the radiat ion plan. Using 5～6 conformal portals,the total irradiation dose was 40 Gy an d delivered at 4～5Gy per fraction every other day,to a total of 8～10 fractions in 16～20 days. The immediate responses and side effects were evaluated accordi ng to the WHO and RTOG criterion system. Results:According to Karnofsky criterion system the median scor e was raised 21.3. Three months after irradiation, the complete ,partial and tot al response rates were 38.6%(27/70), 54.3%(38/70)and 92.9%(65/70),respect ively. The early response was related to the target volume and pathological clas sification. The smaller the target volume, the better the response(? 2 = 1 5.211,P=0.004).The anaplastic carcinoma cases had better results than the squamous carcinomas and adenocarcinomas(? 2 =13.455,P=0.009).The 1- ,2- and 3- year survival rates were 59.6%(31/52)、23.1%(12/52)and 9.6%(5/ 52),respectively. Conclusions:Three dimensional conformal radiotherapy can be con sidered as an effective and feasible approach for the treatment of metastatic r etroperitoneal lymph nodes,and no serious complications were observed.

Objective: To study the preparation and quality control methods of Yuanhu Zhitong HBS Tablet. Methods: the suitable excipients and formulation process of Yuanhu Zhitong HBS Tablet is sieved by means of testing quantity of tetrahydropalmatine through TLC UV. Results: the beginning floating time of HBS Tablet is 3min; relative dissolution of main component tetrahydropalmatine is 32% within 3hr, 86% within 9 hr. Conclusions: the study is found to be effective in the process of Yuanhu Zhitong HBS Tablet.

Objective: To study the scutellaria and coptis in different proportions, the main active ingredient of baicalin, berberine dissolution rate changes and to explore the effect of traditional drug pair of scutellaria and coptis on the dissolution rate of active ingredient. Methods: Based on the clinic common used prescriptions of scutellaria with coptis, ratio of 1:0,1:1,1:2,1:3,2:1,2:3,3:1,3:2,0:1 was selected, after the water boiling reflux extraction, refining separation, various products were obtained for the test, under the optimized conditions of RP-HPLC analysis to compare chromatographic fingerprints and to examine the main component baicalin, berberine in aspects of relative peak area ratio of changes and compatibility relations. Results: Compatibility of Scutellaria baicalensis and Coptis at different proportions can influence the dissolution rate of baicalin, Berberine Hydrochloride. There was a non-linear relationship of dissolution rate of baicalin and Scutellaria baicalensis. The best ratio of scutellaria ratio was 3:1, the best compatibility ratio of coptis was 1:3. Conclusion: Different compatibility proportions of scutellaria and coptis will result in different dissolution rate of baicalin and berberine.

ObjectiveTo study the effect of berberine on diabetes or insulin resistance accompanied with reduction of skeletal moscle and wasting in db/db mice.Methods db/db mouse-a model of diabetes/insulin-resistance was studied,with the wild type mouse as control.After being treated with berberine ( 5 mg · kg-1 · d-1 ) for 3 weeks,the muscle size of tibia anterior (TA) of the animals was measured after staining with laminine/Hyosin Heavy chain-Slow using immunochemistry,then observed under fluorescent microscope and calculated with software.The rate of [ 14 C ] -Phenalanine incorporation into the uuscle was measured to analyze the protein synthesis,and the [ 3 H ] -Tyrosine released into the medium was determined in order to analyze protein degradation.The mRNA expressions of muscle atrophy Fbox-1 ( Atrogin-1 ) and muscle ring finger-1 ( MuRF-1 ) were measured by Northern blot.Results With berberine treatment,blood glucose and fat levels were lowered [ ( 18.55 ± 3.79 vs 26.32 ± 4.02 ) mmol/L,P＜0.01 ; ( 2.75 ± 0.30 vs 3.77 ± 0.52 ) g,P＜0.05 ],but tibia anterior muscle weight/length ratio and cross-section area were decreased,rates of protein synthesis in isolated muscles of db/db mice were decreased by 18％ -22％,and the rates of degradation were significantly raised by 24％ -26％ after berberine treatment.There also was increased the transcription and translation of Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1,accompanied with decreased eukaryotic initiation factor 3 subunit (eIF3-f)protein level simultaneously. ConclusionBerberine improves hyperglycemia and insulin resistance by down-regulating blood sugar and body fat,but it causes reduced protein synthesis and minimally enhanced protein degradation.The mechanism might be related to berberine-induced up-regulating Atrogin-1 、MurF-1 and down-regulating eIF3-f.

AIM: To evaluate the potential acylation stimulating protein (ASP) resistance in both adipocytes and preadipocytes under the conditions by which insulin resistance is produced by the stimulation of free fatty acids (FFA), and to explore the mechanism of ASP resistance on post-receptor level. METHODS: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were induced to differentiate. Then the cells were treated with oleate or palmitate at concentration of 0 mmol/L (FFA-free DMEM/F12), 0.125 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L or 1.0 mmol/L overnight. Glucose transport was assessed by [~3H] 2-deoxyglucose uptake to evaluate insulin resistance and ASP resistance. Both non-FFA treated and FFA treated 3T3-L1 cells were cultured with ASP at concentration of 5.0 μmol/L for 4 h, then the cell proteins were extracted, and the expressions of guanine nucleotide binding protein beta (Gβ), guanine nucleotide-binding protein alpha-q/11(Gαq/11), phosphorylated-protein kinase Cα (p-PKCα) and phosphorylated-protein kinase Cζ (p-PKCζ) were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: Both adipocytes and preadipocytes were responsive to ASP. ASP stimulation increased glucose transport by 198% in adipocytes and by 287% in preadipocytes (P<0.01 vs PBS). FFA at concentration of 0.125 mmol/L did not change ASP-stimulated glucose transport significantly, but high dose of oleate or palmitate effectively reduced the ASP response with a significant reduction by 47% (P<0.05 for oleate) and 34% (P<0.05 for palmitate) at 1 mmol/L FFA in adipocytes. Similarly in preadipocytes, glucose uptake rates were decreased by 43% (P<0.05 for oleate) and 62% (P<0.01 for palmitate) at 1 mmol/L FFA. Effects were comparable to those obtained with insulin. After overnight incubation with oleate or palmitate in adipocytes and preadipocytes, Gβ, Gαq/11, p-PKCα and p-PKCζ were downregulated both in the absence of ASP treatment and in the presence of ASP treatment in adipocytes. At concentration of 1.0 mmol/L, oleate inhibited the expressions of ASP-induced Gβ, Gαq/11, p-PKCα and p-PKCζ in adipocytes by 47%, 44%, 39% (P<0.05, P<0.01) and 20% (P>0.05), respectively. Palmitate also effectively blocked the expressions of ASP (at concentration of 1.0 mmol/L)-induced Gβ, Gαq/11, p-PKCα and p-PKCζ by 50%, 43%, 44% and 43% (P<0.05, P<0.01) in adipocytes. In preadipocytes, oleate only inhibited ASP-induced p-PKCα and p-PKCζ significantly by 39% and 19%, respectively (P<0.05). However, overnight exposure of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to 1 mmol/L palmitate leaded to 45%, 50%, 52% and 21% (P<0.05, P<0.01) inhibition of ASP-induced expressions of Gβ, Gαq/11, p-PKCα and p-PKCζ, respectively. CONCLUSION: Oleate and palmitate inhibit ASP-mediated stimulation of glucose transport both in adipocytes and preadipocytes. The study provides direct evidence of ASP resistance under the condition of insulin resistance induced by FFA in a cellular model. The mechanism of action involves both changes in expression of C5L2 as well as signaling parameters. Fatty acid-induced ASP resistance may contribute to the physiological abnormalities associated with insulin resistance and obesity phenotype.

Objective To understand the structures and functions of enterovirus 71 (EV71)VP1 gene and its encoded protein using bioinformatics method, so as to direct studies of its biological function. Methods VP1 gene and its encoded protein of EV71 2008-GZCH07 strain and other representative EV71 strains were analyzed by online analysis at bioinformatics websites and software packages. Multi-sequence homological alignment and phylogenetic analysis were performed.Physicochemical characteristics, secondary structure, homology modeling of tertiary structure,enzymological characteristics, antigenic epitope of VP1 gene encoded protein were predicted. Results The homology of EV71 2008-GZCH07 strain was highest (97% and 98%) with ZJ001 strain, and lowest with human coxsackievirus A16. The homology of EV71 2008-GZCH07 strain and EV71 types A,B,C was 86%-98%. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that 2008-GZCH07 stain was close to ZJ001 and BJ08-Z025-5 stains, which belonged to C4 subtype. In VP1 encoded proteins of EV71 types A,B,C, the relationship between 2008-GZCH07 and EV71-B, EV71-C was closer than EV71-A.The whole length of VP1 gene was 510 bp, with open reading frame (ORF) located at 116-510 bp region,and it encoded 132 amino acids with isoelectric point of 4.39.The protein was rich of a-helix and random coilon without transmembrane regions, and contained 5 high hydrophobic regions and belonged to extracellular protein. The homology modeling of tertiary structure showed that the region was on the surface of protein and formed a binding loop. There was 5 antigen epitopes. And 7 key catalytic sites were located at or close to the loop. Conclusions EV71-VP1 encoded protein contains many phosphorylation sites, with many biological function sites and antigenic epitope regions, which might be a potential target antigen for immunodiagnosis, anti-schistosome drug and vaccine development, and would be basis of further study of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of EV71 infection.

Objective:To obtain recombinant Profilin of silkworm,identify its immunogenicity,predict its B cell epitopes and construct the evolutionary trees. Methods: The nucleotide sequence of Profilin was acquired from NCBI,synthesized it and cloned it into pET-28 vector. Then,the recombinant plasimids were transformed to E. coli BL21. After induced by IPTG,recombinant protein was purified by Affinity chromatography. Furtherly,its allergenicity was identified by Western blot,the potential B cell epitopes was analyzed through DNAStar and build the evolutionary trees by MEGA5. 05. Results: The recombinant protein of Profilin was successfully expressed and purified by affinity chromatography. Besides,the protein contains a high IgE-binding activity with IgE existing in serum of patients allergic to silkworm. Conclusion: The recombinant proflilin has IgE-binding activity, and it is meaningful for fundamental research and specific diagnosis studies of allergic diseases caused by silkworm.

Objective To explore the effects of residual renal function (RRF) on quality of life (QOL) in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD),and analyze the factors influencing QOL.Methods One hundred and eighteen patients treated with CAPD for at least 3 months in No.455 Hospital of People's Liberation Army were enrolled.All patients were divided into two groups according to residual glomerular filtration rate (rGFR):the group with RRF [rGFR≥ 1 ml·min-1 · (1.73 m2)-1],and the group without RRF [rGFR ＜ 1ml · min-1 · (1.73 m2)-1].The demographic characteristics,laboratory data,cardiothoracic ratio,dialysis adequacy parameters,rGFR,blood pressure,urine volume,ultrafiltration volume and dialysis prescription were investigated.Patient's QOL was evaluated by Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).Results There was no significant differences between the groups with and without RRF in the age,gender,causes of disease,complication,body mass index (BMI),systolic blood pressure (SBP),diastolic blood pressure (DBP),haemoglobin (Hb),cholesterol,triglyceride,high-density lipoprotein,low-density lipoprotein,normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) and cardiothoracic ratio (all P ＞ 0.05).Compared with the patients with RRF,PD duration,ultrafiltration volume,serum creatinine (Scr),calcium,phosphorus,C-reactive protein (CRP),parathyroid hormone (PTH) and peritoneal dialysis dose in the patients without RRF were significantly higher,and urine volume,serum albumin (Alb),potassium,and urea total Kt/V were significantly lower (all P ＜ 0.05).The patients without RRF had a significantly lower score in physical function and physical component summary as compared to the patients with RRF (all P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant differences in role physical,bodily pain,general health,vitality,social function,role emotional,mental health,mental component summary and SF-36 scores (all P ＞ 0.05).Simple linear regression showed that there was no correlation between rGFR and SF-36 scores (β=1.330,P=0.070).Multiple linear regression revealed that SF-36 scores were correlated with CRP (β=-0.477,P ＜ 0.001),Scr (β=0.020,P ＜ 0.001),cardiothoracic ratio (β=-57.823,P=0.004),Alb (β=0.772,P=0.016) and ultrafiltration volume (β=-0.006,P=0.031),but not correlated with rGFR (β=0.099,P=0.302).Conclusions PD patients without and with RRF perceived different scores in physical health,but their scores were similar in mental health and QOL.RRF was no related to QOL in PD patients.Chronic inflammation,fluid overload and malnutrition were the main factors that affect QOL.