We treated 40 cases of stubborn constipation by puncturing Zhongwan (CV 12),Qihai (CV 6), Tianshu (ST 25, bilateral), Daheng (SP 15, bilateral). After 20 times of treatment, 16 cases were cured(accounting for 45%) ,18 cases were significantly improved(accounting for 45%),4 case were improved(accounting for 10%),2 cases were ineffective(accounting for 5%).The total effective rate was 95%.

Objective To evaluate the activities of four demestic macrolides against C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae by antimicrobiai susceptibility testing. Methods Cell culture and immunoflourescence staining of chlamydial inclusions were used to determine MICs of four demestic macrolides against C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae. Results MIC (0.5 μg/ml) was found for acylspriramycin,erythromycin and azithromycin against C. trachomatis serovar B while it was 4 μg/ml for acetylspiramycin. Agaisnt C. trachomatis serovar D, MIC was 0.25 μg/mi in both acylspriramycin and azithromycin, and MICs were 0.5 μg/ml and 2 μml in erythromycin and acetylspiramycin, separately. Agaisnt C. pneumoniae TWAR, erythromycin was the most active with MIC≤0. 016 μg/ml, acylspriramycin and azithromycin were the second with same M1C of 0.032 μg/ml. However, acetylspiramycin was less active with 0.5 μg/ml of MIC. Conclusion Except acetylspiramycin, acylspriramycin erythromycin and azithromycin had reliable activities against both C. trachomatis (serovar B and D) and C. pneumoniae.

BACKGROUND: Formerly, it was thought that the damaged hair cells could not have the repair ability. Recent studies demonstrate that mammal vestibule hair cells also possess certain repair ability after being destroyed.Then, whether mammalia animal cochlea hair cells possess regenerative ability after being destroyed is disputed.OBJECTIVE: To observe cochlear hair cells condition and threshold value change of auditory brainstem response (ABR) at different time following gentamicin ototoxicity by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique combined with ABR test, so as to investigate whether cochlear hair cells of mammals can be regenerated after being injured.DESIGN: A randomized and controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Department of Physiology, Shenyang Medical College.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at the Hearing Research Room of China Medical University from November 2001 to May 2002. Totally 60 healthy adult white Guinea pigs, with red eyes and sensitive auricle reflex, of clean degree, were used and randomly divided into gentamicin group and normal control group with 30 guinea pigs in each one.METHODS: 100 mg/kg gentamicin was intraperitoneally daily injected into the guinea pigs, serving as gentamicin group. Same volume of normal saline (2.5 mL/kg) was intraperitoneally daily injected into the guinea pigs,serving as normal control group. All the guinea pigs were given medication for 10 successive days. Threshold value of ABR was detected respectively pre-operatively and at the 1st, 3rd, 30th days postoperatively; after withdrawal and execution, scanning electron microscope was used to observe cochlear hair cells of guinea pigs in each group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Threshold value of ABR. ②Cochlear hair cell change of guinea pigs at different time following gentamicin ototoxicity.RESULTS: All the 60 experimental animals entered the stage of result analysis with no loss in the midway. ①At 1,3 and 30 days after withdrawal of gentamicin, threshold value of ABR was significantly higher as compared with normal control group, with significant difference [(38.00±3.75), (2.22 ±3.63) dB nHL,t=30.651, P ＜ 0.001];[(39.09±4.22), (2.50±3.54) dB nHL, t=29.708, P ＜ 0.001];[(14.50±3.69), (1.50±2.42) dB nHL,t =13.175, P ＜ 0.001]. Threshold value of ABR recovered obviously on day 30, but did not reach the normal level. ②On the first day after withdrawal of gentamicin , stereocilium of hair cells in second turn of cochlea of guinea pigs presented fusion, distortion, lodging, loss or incompetence and other pathological changes , especially severe in the third turn , also cystic form protrutions appeared outside the stereocilium of inner hair cell; On day 3 after withdrawal of gentamicin, stereocilium of outer hair cells in the second turn of cochlea of guinea pigs still presented fusion, loss, lodging and other pathological changes. Stereocilium of inner hair cell still showed lodging,but the outside cystic form protrutions decreased; On day 30 after withdrawal of gentamicin, stereocilium of outer hair cells in the second turn of cochlea presented fusion, loss , lodging and other pathological change ,which were obviously weaker than those on the 1st day and 3rd day after withdrawal of gentamicin , and at the same time , new born stereocilium appeared in the third turn of cochlea.CONCLUSION: Cochlear hair cell morphology recovery appears in those which survive for 30 days after cochlear hair cells of guinea pigs are damaged following gentamicin ototoxicity, and threshold value of ABR also recovers to some extent, suggesting that cochlear hair cells possess regenerative and repair ability following gentamicin ototoxicity. Hair cells after gentamicin-induced cochlear damage possess regenerative ability.

Objective To investigate the expression and the effect of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) in neonatal sepsis.Methods We separated 77 newborn infants into 3 groups, which were septic group (26 cases),non-septic group (31 cases) and control group (20 cases). NF-?B existed in PBMC was detected in 3 different periods, including at admission, after the 24th hour and 48th hour of admission, of the septic group and the non-septic group by flow cytometry. At the same time, the sample of the septic group and the non-septic group were drawn for blood cultures at admission before using antibiotics.Results The expression of NF-?B in septic group was more significant than that in the other 2 groups (P

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To observe the change of skin histology in diabetic rats and to investigate the possible me-chanism of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) protein in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) during the process.METHODS:Diabetic animal model was established in the male SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.Plantar skin speci-mens of the rats were collected from control group, DM 2-week group (DM2), DM 4-week group (DM4), and DM 8-week group ( DM8) .Immunohistochemical staining and HE staining were used to observe the change of PGP 9.5 immunoreactive nerve terminals and the structures of the skin tissues.The protein expression of PGP 9.5 in the plantar skin tissues, and JNK and p-JNK protein in the DRG within lumbar 5, 6 (L5, 6), and sacral 1 (S1) spinal cord segments were detected by Western blotting.RESULTS:PGP 9.5 immunoreactive nerve terminals of the plantar skin of the rats mainly distributed in the basal layer of the epidermis and papillary dermis.Compared with control group, PGP 9.5 positive nerve terminals in DM4 group showed reduced density and sparse distribution.PGP 9.5 positive nerve terminals in DM8 group showed signifi-cantly reduced distribution, thinner nerve diameter, shorter length and distorted shape.Histological changes of the thinner epidermal tissue, reduced epidermal cell layers, uneven cell distribution and arrangement in DM4 group, and significantly reduced epidermal cell layers, swollen and blurred cells, increasing cell gap, lack of stratified epidermis arrangement for part of epidermis, atropal and degenerated dermal collagen fiber, significantly decreased subcutaneous fat in DM8 group were observed.The results of Western blotting showed that the protein expression of PGP 9.5 in the plantar skin tissue of DM rats was progressively decreased along with the disease, while the protein level of p-JNK in L5, 6-DRG or S1-DRG showed a gradual increasing trend.PGP 9.5 immunoreactive positive nerve terminal density of plantar skin in DM rats had a negative correlation with the protein level of p-JNK in L5, 6-DRG and S1-DRG (P<0.01), but showed a significant positive correlation with the plantar skin thickness (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The protein level of p-JNK within L5, 6-DRG or S1-DRG in DM rats shows a progressive enhancement.At the same time, there is a significant change in the skin tissue density and structure.The changes of skin tissue and nerve morphology in DM rat may be related to the activation of JNK/SAPK pathway in L5, 6-DRG or S1-DRG cells.Blocking or inhibiting JNK/SAPK pathway may delay the diabetic pe-ripheral neuropathy and reduce the risk of skin lesions.

Objective Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP-9 ) and serum level of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected to investigate their distributions between patients with stable stroke and those with asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis and to explore their clinical significance. Methods The mean level of the serum hs-CRP of the group with recurrent stroke (2.34 mg/L)was the highest, followed by that of the group with the stable stroke( 1.45 mg/L),asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis ( 1.31 mg/L) and control group (0.96 mg/L) ( P = 0.001 ). The level of the MMP-9 was in sequence of recurrent stroke group ( 121.82 ± 72.99 ) μg/L ＞ asymptomaticintracranial artery stenosis group ( 119.18 ± 80.01 ) μg/L ＞ stable stroke group( 112.76 ± 59.66) μg/L,while no statistical significance was found among groups( P = 0.947 ). However, the level of MMP-9 of three patient groups( 118.08 ± 71.06 ) μg/L was significant higher than control group( 57.55 ± 10.44 )μg/L (P ＜0.001 ). The spearman analysis for the relationship showed that the concentration of MMP-9 was positively associated with that of hs-CRP ( r = 0.337, P ＜ 0.001 ). Conclusions The hs-CRP maintained a high level in stable stage of stroke. The MMP-9 level in the patients group was significant higher than control group and the level of MMP-9 was positively associated with that of hs-CRP which suggested MMP-9 might be correlated with atherosclerosis other than stroke occurrence.

Objective: To establish an HPLC fingerprint of anthraquinone components and to provide the basis for quality standard and processing principle of processed Morinda officinalis (Morindae Officinalis Radix). Methods: HPLC method was employed and Ecosil ODS C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) was used at temperature of 28°C. The mobile phase was methanol-0.1% phosphoric acid solution with gradient elution. The detection wavelength was 277 nm. The experimental data were analyzed by computer aided similarity evaluation software. Results: HPLC fingerprint for anthraquinone components of different processed products of M. officinalis was established. Five chromatographic peaks of M. officinalis, morinda pulp, and salt-steamed M. officinalis and six chromatographic peaks of licorice-processed M. officinalis were respectively identified. The quality difference of M. officinalis among ten-origins reached significant level. The difference of anthraquinone components was not significant among the various processed products, but the content was changed. Liquiritigenin was found in licorice-processed M. officinalis. Conclusion: The method is accurate, repeatable, and reliable, which can be used to identify different processed M. officinalis.

ObjectiveTo analyze the seroepidemiologic of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and evaluate antibiotics medication of some positive patients by follow-up. Methods Serodia-MycolⅡ particle agglutination assay was used to detect serum antibodies against Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 3 134 clinically suspected infections. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was determined and seroepidemiologic was analyzed by results of the test, including positive antibody rates in whole subjects, in male or female groups, in different seasons or age groups as well as in different sources. Evaluate antibiotics medication of some positive patients by follow-up. The average days of medication were counted, different antibiotics medication and medication effect were analyzed. Results In 3 134 serum samples from clinically suspected Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, 350 ( 11.2％ ) were tested with positive antibodies. The positive antibody rate in female patients was 12. 3％ ( 198/1 604), which was higher than 9. 9％ ( 152/1 530) in males (X2 =4. 58,P ＜0. 05). The peak season was found in the fourth quarter (October-December) with 13.2％ of positive antibody and the highest positive rate (32. 8％, 45/137 ) was found in school aged (5 -9 years old )children. Samples from pediatrics clinic and ward were tested to have highest positive rates ( 27. 9％ and 26. 5％, respectively ), comparing that from other sources. Infection due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae was identified in 28％ (7/25) of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients, which is higher than other diseases. Based on the follow-up of 91 antibody positive patients, between 5 to 120 days ( mean 24. 2 days )were counted from appearance of clinical symptoms to clinic visiting/testing. 71 of 91 (78. 0％ ) patients was medicated with macrolide antibiotics, 4 (4. 4％ ) with quinolones, 4 (4. 4％ ) with cephalosporin, and the rest 12 ( 13.2％ ) patients were medicated with other antibiotics or only symptomatic treatment. The average period of antibiotics medication was between 3 to 21 days (mean 8. 2 days). Medication effect results by follow-up were cure in 35 ( 38. 5％ ), improvement in 50 (54. 9％ ), and poor responses in 6 (6. 6％ ).ConclusionsMycoplasma pneumoniae positive rate in female patients was higher than in males, and peak rate was found in the fourth quarter and in school aged children. Samples from pediatrics clinic and ward were tested to have highest positive rates. Physicians could choose first line antibiotics according to laboratory test results of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and gain good effect.

Objective:To investigate the expression of HIF-1α, HIF-2αand MT in human papillary thyroid carcinoma ( PTC) and the association of their expression with clinicopathological indicators .Methods:Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the ex-pression of HIF-1α, HIF-2αand MT in 70 PTC samples .The correlations of HIF-1α, HIF-2αand MT expression with one another , and with several clinicopathological indicators were statistically analyzed .Results:In 70 PTC samples, the positive expression rates of HIF-1α, HIF-2αand MT were 52.86%(37/70), 50.00%(35/70) and 44.29%(31/70), respectively.HIF-1α, HIF-2αand MT expression had significant correlations with cervical lymph node metastasis (P=0.034, P=0.022, and P=0.032, respectively). Meanwhile, HIF-1αexpression had a positive correlation with HIF-2α(rs =0.258, P=0.031) and MT (rs =0.266, P=0.026). HIF-2αand MT expression were positively correlated (rs=0.259, P=0.030).Concomitant expression of any two or all of the three molecules had stronger correlation with lymph node metastasis than did each alone ( P=0.004 for HIF-1α/HIF-2α, P=0.024 for HIF-1α/MT, P=0.029 for HIF-2α/MT, P=0.017 for HIF-1α/HIF-2α/MT).Conclusion:HIF-1α, HIF-2αand MT expression in PTC samples have a closely correlation , which are related to cervical lymph node metastasis .Therefore, the expression of HIF-1α, HIF-2αand MT might be used as biomarkers for cervical lymph node metastasis of PTC .

A modified dye test with microplate was to be established to detect Toxoplasma antibodies with cell-cultured Toxoplasma gondii. Numbers of stained and unstained tachyzoites were estimated in every 100 tachyzoites in each well after dyeing with methylene blue. The dilution with 50% tachyzoites stained was used as final dilution. Better results of the microplate dye test has been received when the concentration of tachyzoites in suspension reaches 109/ml with 1% sodium citrate as accessory factor.