OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of electro-acupuncture (EA) in improving synaptic plasticity after cerebral ischemic injury.

METHODSFocal cerebral ischemia (FCI) model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with heat-coagulation method. The changing rules of synaptic ultrastructure, synaptophysin (P38), growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the ischemic cortex 2 and 5 weeks after FCI and the effects of EA on them were observed.

RESULTSExpression of numerical density (Nv), surface density (Sv), volume density (Vv), post synaptic density (PSD) and P38 in the ischemic cortex significantly decreased after MCAO (P<0.01). Among them, Nv and Sv were raised at the 5th week in FCI rats either treated or untreated with EA (P<0.01), but the increment of Sv was higher in those of the treated rats (P<0.01); PSD in the EA treated rats also showed a significant increase at the 5th week, which was significant higher than that in those untreated; EA showed insignificant influence on Vv and synaptic interfacial curvature; P38 lowered continuously after 2 weeks, but at the 5th week, it was higher in EA treated rats than that in untreated rats (P<0.01), while at the 2nd week, the levels in treated and untreated rats were equal. GAP-43 rose in the 2nd week after modeling, with no difference between EA treated and untreated animals, at the 5th week, it was lowered in untreated rats to near that in sham-operated rats, but maintained at higher level in EA treated rats; NGF and BDNF positive cells significantly increased after modeling (P<0.01), and showed a descending trend with the time going (P<0.01) both in rats treated or untreated with EA.

CONCLUSIONEA can protect synaptic ultrastructure, promote the expression of P38, GAP-43, NGF and BDNF in the ischemic cerebral cortex, and thus improve synaptic plasticity in cerebral ischemic rats.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synapses ; physiology

Objective To know the microcystins pollution caused by cyanobactcria bloom in two drinking water sources in Ningbo city.Methods Water samples were collected at four sampling sites in Yaojiang River and three sampling sites in Miehu reservoir from 20 July,2007 to 31 August,2007.The algae in these water samples were classified and counted,and Microcystin-LR (MC-LR),MC-RR were determined by UPLC-MS-MS.Results The Cyanobacteria cell concentration in Yaojiang River and Meihu reservoir ranged from 0.8?10~6 to 6.7?10~7,and from 1.21?10~7 to 9.928?10~8 cells/L respectively.The MC-LR and MC-RR in Yaojiang River weren't detected,and neither was the MC-RR in MeiHu reservoir.However,the MC-LR was detected at sometimes,and the maximum concentration of MC-LR was 0.84?g/L.Conclusion There is no microcystins pollution in Yaojiang River,but there existed MC-LR pollution in MeiHu Reservoir,and the MC-LR concentration in it was below national standard limit of 1.0?g/L after the treatment of controlling alage and microsystins.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and iron status using serum ferritin (SF) as a marker for total iron and to identify the related factors of iron nutritional status among preschool children.

METHODSBy cluster sampling, we recruited 475 preschool children aged 2 to 7 years. A structured questionnaire and diet form were sent to the parents of these children to obtain related information about the socioeconomic level and dietary intakes. After collecting blood samples, the following indexes were measured. Hp IgG antibodies were measured with a dot enzyme-linked immunoassay; hemoglobin, Hct, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell distribution width index (RDW) with automatic Complete Blood Count; SF with an immunoradiometric assay. Stool Hp antigen and occult bleeding were measured with ELISA among individuals who were Hp seropositive. Hp status was defined as positive when both serum and stool antigen tests were positive, Hp status was defined as negative when serum antigen test was negative; 24-hour weighting and recording methods were used to dietary survey for three days in May and December 2001, respectively, dietary intakes including energy, protein and micronutrient were calculated using nursery school nutrition software and evaluated by Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Mann-Whitney test was used to compare mean ranks of SF in Hp-positive and Hp-negative children. To obtain an adjusted estimate of the impact of Hp infection on SF, a multivariate analysis of covariance was done to evaluate the different level of SF between Hp infected and non-infected status. The relationship between iron deficiency and gender, age, socioeconomic condition, iron intake, and calcium intake was assessed by univariate analysis. An unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis was also performed. Iron deficiency status was dichotomized and placed as the dependent variable. Hp infection status was incorporated together with possible confounding factors as independent variables in a final logistic regression model. All the data were managed by EPI Info 5.01a and analyzed by SAS (Version 6.12).

RESULTSTotally 64 children were diagnosed as Hp-positive and 305 as Hp-negative. Mann-Whitney test and multivariate analysis of covariance both showed that SF concentration was significantly lower in Hp infected individuals than non-infected individuals. Adjusted mean level and 95% confidence interval of SF in infected and non-infected children was 23.62 microg/L (7.13 microg/L-78.26 microg/L), 33.48 microg/L (10.28 microg/L-109.06 microg/L), respectively. The relationship between Hp infection and iron deficiency status persisted in logistic regression analysis after adjusting for possible confounding factors (OR: 7.95; 95% CI 2.56 - 24.67).

CONCLUSIONIron nutritional status was reduced in Hp infected preschool children. Hp infection appears to be an independent risk factor or an added stressor on iron status among preschool children.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Female ; Ferritins ; blood ; Helicobacter Infections ; blood ; Helicobacter pylori ; immunology ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutrition Assessment

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion on depression in view of the outcome indicators of the patient subjective reports.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-three cases of depression being in compliance with the inclusive standards were randomized into a soothing-liver and regulating-mind group, an acupoint-shallow-puncturing group and a non-acupoint-shallow-puncturing group. In the soothing-liver and regulating-mind group, the conventional acupuncture was applied to the four-gate points [Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3)], Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (EX-HN 3), the direct moxibustion with moxa cone was applied to the four-flower points [Geshu (BL 17), Danshu (BL 19)]. Finally, the intradermal needling was used at Xinshu (BL 15) and Ganshu (BL 18). In the acupoint-shallow-puncturing group, the acupoints selected were same as those in the soothing-liver and regulating-mind group. But the needle insertion was shallower and the time of moxibustion was shorter. In the non-acupoint-shallow-puncturing group, the spots that were 10 mm lateral to those acupoints in the soothing-liver and regulating-mind group were selected. The operation was same as that in the acupoint-shallow-puncturing group. The treatment was given twice a week in three groups. Totally, 12 weeks of treatment were required. The score of symptom checklist 90 (SCL-90), the self-report symptom inventory was observed before treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment separately so as to assess the corresponding short-term, mid-term and long-term efficacies of the program of acupuncture and moxibustion for soothing the liver and regulating the mind.

RESULTSIn each time-point after treatment, for the scores of somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptom, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, paranoid ideation, psychoticism and the other 8 dimensionalities, in comparison between the soothing-liver and regulating-mind group and the non-acupoint-shallow-puncturing group, the differences were significant statistically (all P < 0.05). For the scores of depression, anxiety and hostility, in comparison between the soothing-liver and regulating-mind group and the acupoint-shallow-puncturing group, the differences were significant statistically (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and moxibustion can improve the scores of SCL-90 scale for the patients with depression. The outcome indicators of the patient subjective reports can accurately assess the clinical efficacy.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Depression ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Self-Assessment ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Amniotic Fluid ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Embolism, Amniotic Fluid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Keratin-13 ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Aspiration ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes and their association with the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) in elderly residents in Haizhu District of Guangzhou.

METHODSStratified random sampling was employed to select a total of 1800 resident aged 50 years or older in the region. The fasting fingertip blood glucose>5.6 mmol/L was used as the criterion for the initial screening. The data were collected from qualified subjects via scheduled questionnaire surveys, blood collection and testing, and physical examination. The subjects were divided into the 3 groups, namely normal blood glucose, prediabetes, and diabetes groups. The combination rates of the relevant risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipemia, obesity, and central obesity) were compared among the groups by Framingham Heart Study to predict the occurrence of CHD in 10 years.

RESULTSThe incidence was 11.00% for prediabetes and 7.56% for diabetes in the elderly residents in Haizhu District. The occurrence of hypertension, hyperlipemia, obesity, and central obesity was significant higher in the prediabetes and diabetes group than in the normal blood glucose group, and showed no significant differences between the former two groups. The 10-year risks for CHD were markedly higher in both the prediabetes and diabetes groups than in the normal blood glucose group, but similar between the former two groups.

CONCLUSIONElderly patients with prediabetes and diabetes have significantly increased 10-year risk for CHD in comparison with those with normal blood glucose, but the risk is similar between the former two groups, indicating a close association of IGR (impaired fasting glucose+ impaired fasting glucose) with CHD. Early control of blood glucose is essential to the prevention and control of CHD.

Aged ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prediabetic State ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies

OBJECTIVETo present the clinical application of composite graft of acellular allo-dermis matrix (ADM) with thin auto-microskin on burn wound.

METHODS8 inpatients with 18 full thickness skin burn wounds were transplanted with allo-ADM after eschar was excised, then the auto-microskin and allo-human skin were covered on the area of the matrix, the wound where no allo-ADM grafting were covered as control groups only with auto-microskin and allo-human skin. The area of donor to wound is 1:5 - 1:8.

RESULTSSurvived rate of 18 pieces composite skin that allo-ADM with auto-microskin were grafted were 94%. After following up for 3 to 13 months, the skins of complex grifting had well elastic and smooth texture compared to auto-microskin grafted, they appeared less cicatrisation and ulceration. 3 months after operation, it was indicated by histological examination that tightknit the epithelial-dermal conjunction and epidermal papilla structure could be identified in the allo-ADM skin and there were orderly collagenous fibres, but scar skin structure was observed in that auto-microskin grifted area.

CONCLUSIONThe graft effectiveness of allo-ADM and auto-microskin was better than that of auto-microskin, and this method could be used on major deep burn wound healing.

Adult ; Burns ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study isolation, identification and differentiation characteristics of dermal multipotent stem cells from human of different age in vitro culture.

METHODSSkin samples( 1 cm x 1 cm) were harvested from fetus, infant, adult and elderly. The original clones were screened in stem cell medium. The diameter and number of clones were recorded. Analysis of each clone and determination of the expression of various related proteins were carried out.

RESULTSThe number of suspended clones from normal skins of fetus, infant, adult and the elderly were (20. 1 +/-2. 5) x 102 , (15. 8 +/-5. 7) x 102, (10. 8 +/-1.3) x 10(2), (6.2 +/- 1.4) x 10(2), respectively ( P <0.01), while the diameter of the clones from them were (83 +/-12) microm, (55 +/- 10) microm, (46 +/- 12) Lm, (42 +/-8) microm, respectively ( P <0.05). Cloned cells from fetus, infant, adult and elderly could differentiate into neuron cell , neuroglia cell, smooth muscle cell, and adipocyte. The clones from fetus were inclined to differentiate into neuron cells, but those from infant were inclined to differentiate into neuroglia cells, and those from adult and elderly were inclined to differentiate into adipocytes. After 1 month of culture, the clone forming rate of the cells from fetus, infant, adult and elderly were 41. 1% , 25.5% ,17.7% ,15.2% , respectively. The individual clone cells also showed ability of multidirectional differentiation. Nestin, fibronectin, c-Myc, STAT3 and hTERT protein were expressed in all clones.

CONCLUSIONMultipotent stem cells with multi-direction differentiation and proliferation can be efficiently isolated from dermis of human of different age in stem cell culture medium. The number, proliferation and differentiation of dermal multipotent stem cells can be affected by age.

Aborted Fetus ; cytology ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermis ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second