Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of different acupoints on electroretinogram(ERG) and cerebral visual evoked potentials(VEP) in healthy subjects so as to evaluate the relative specificity of the function of acupoints.Methods A total of 33 healthy adult volunteers were observed in the present study.The subject was asked to lie on a testing bed for a while,two disk electrodes were respectively fixed to the suborbital region and the occiput(the crossing point,5cm apart from the right median line of the head and 5cm above the ear),and the reference electrode was fixed to the medial side of the earlobe for recording ERG and cerebral VEP separately.The testing room was asked to keep faint light during the whole recording process.A flash stimulation(frequency 1 Hz) was applied to the subject's eye(with a distance of about 50 cm between the light source and the tested eye,and the other eye was covered by an eyepatch).EA(0.5 Hz,0.2 ms and 3-4 V) was applied to Guangming(GB 37),Neiguan(PC 6) and Zusanli(ST 36) for 30 min respectively in different testing days(with the interval being 3 days at least).ERG and cerebral VEP were recorded by using Polygraphy(RM-6200).Results Following EA of Guangming(GB 37),Neiguan(PC 6) and Zusanli(ST 36),the changing values(increase and decrease) of the amplitude of b waves of ERG and P100 waves of cerebral VEP were(19.68?12.61)% and(12.84?14.08)%,(6.09?14.06)% and(5.61?8.01)%,(2.39?3.52)% and(5.43?8.22)%,respectively,while those of b waves of ERG and P100 waves of cerebral VEP of GB 37 were significantly bigger than those of PC 6 and ST 36(P

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at point Zusanli (ST36) on gastric expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA in rats with stress gastric ulcer and explore the molecular mechanism of its prevention and treatment of gastric ulcer. Method Fifty-one SD rats were randomly allocated to normal control (normal), stress gastric ulcer (model) and electroacupuncture at point Zusanli (electroacupuncture) groups. A model of stress gastric ulcer was made by cold restraint. From the second day after model making, the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at point Zusanli 20 min once daily for three consecutive days, with left and right points Zusanli alternately needled; the model group, the same restraint treatment as in the electroacupuncture group; the normal group, no treatment. Gastric mucosal ulcer index (UI) was calculated using the GUTH’s method. The pathological morphology of gastric tissue was observed by HE staining. Gastric HSP70 mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. Result Different numbers and sizes of obvious gastric mucosal ulcers were observed, UI increased significantly (P<0.001) and HSP70 mRNA expression decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the model group compared with the normal group. The pathological change in gastric tissue improved somewhat, gastric mucosal UI decreased significantly (P<0.05) and HSP70 mRNA expression increased significantly (P<0.01) in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group. Conclusion Electroacupuncture at point Zusanli can upregulate gastric HSP70 mRNA expression and promote the repair of gastric mucosa injuries in rats with stress gastric ulcer.

This study was aimed to establish an HPLC method to simultaneous determine 6 kinds of monoester and diester aconitum alkaloids. The content of alkaloids in aconite roots, black and white prepared lateral root of aconite and the compatibility of aconite roots with rhubarb were determined. This study provided reference for the interpreta-tion of the attenuation of processing and compatibility of medicines from chemical component aspect. The HPLC analysis was performed on a Phenomenex Gemini C18 (4.6 mm í 250 mm, 5 μm) with 40 mmol·L-1 ammonium ac-etate (adjusted to pH 9.8 with ammonia water) and acetonitrile as mobile phase, with a gradient elution at the flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1 and a detection wavelength of 235 nm. The results showed that 6 alkaloids in aconite roots achieved favorable separation and a good linearity relationship (r > 0.999) over the studied concentration range. The extraction recoveries were ranged from 96.9% to 102.4% for the 6 alkaloids. The content of diester alkaloids de-creased markedly in processed products and the compatibility of aconite roots with rhubarb compared with the raw a-conite roots. It was concluded that this method was stable, reliable, simple and practical. It can be used for the si-multaneous determination of 6 kinds of monoester and diester aconitum alkaloids in aconite roots. This processing and compatibility can significantly reduce the content of alkaloids in aconite roots in order to reduce its toxicity.

The oral and gastrointestinal opportunistic pathogen contamination was compared between tooth mugs placed upward and down-ward(n=9)for 1 4 days.Selective cultivation of the pathogens was uesd to measure the extent of contamination.The colony forming units (CFU)of colibacillus in group up and group down were 4.25 ±0.71 and 2.84 ±1 .40(P=0.046),S.mutans 89 ±0.31 and 2.84 ±1 .40 (P<0.001 ),Candida 2.28 ±1 .36 and 2.53 ±1 .92(P=0.002),fungus 2.44 ±0.99 and 0,respecitvely.Thus,tooth mug placed open-ing down is superior for health.

Objective To explore the effect of in utero exposure to inlfammation on innate immune response in preterm infants. Methods Forty-seven premature infants with gestational age<35 weeks were recruited in this study. According to his-tological evidence of placental infection, all neonates were divided into intrauterine inlfammation positive group and negative group. Mononuclear cells and monocytes were isolated from umbilical cord blood, and were cultured in vitro in the presence or absence of LPS (100 ng/ml). The levels of interleukin 1β(IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in cord blood plasma and monocyte cultural supernatants were measured by ELISA respectively. The level of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA were detected by Real-time PCR. Expression of HLA-DR on surface of CD14+monocytes and ratio of CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+T was analyzed by lfow cytometry. Results (1) The level of cord plasma IL-6 in intrauterine inlfammation positive group was signiifcantly higher than in negative group. (P=0.02). (2) After stimulation of LPS, levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10 in supernatants were increased signiifcantly, in consistence with their mRNA expression (P<0.05) in both groups. (3) Expression of HLA-DR on surface of monocytes was signiifcantly decreased after stimulation with LPS in intrauterine inlfammation positive group (P=0.012), but was signiifcantly increased in negative group (P=0.0305). Con-clusions In utero exposure to inlfammation does not suppress the response of monocytes to LPS in preterm neonates, but impairs the antigen presenting function in monocytes.

Objective:To evaluate the cytotoxicity of different dental bonding agents to human dental pulp cells. Methods:Four dental bonding agents(Prime & Bond NT,Single Bond,Xeno Ⅲ and iBond) were diluted with the culture medium by a ratio of 1∶1 000,1∶2 000 and 1∶4 000(v/v), and the fourth passage of dental pulp cells were then exposed to agent dilutions for 12, 24 and 48 h respectively, then the morphological changes of pulp cells were observed with microscopy and cytotoxicity was analyzed with modified 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.Results:There was significant influence of the type of dental bonding agents,exposure time and concentration on the cell morphology. Total-etch system was more toxic than self-etch system.Conclusion:Dental bonding agents are toxic to pulp cells,Single Bond is the strongest cytotoxic agent among the 4 adhesive agents.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the one-year follow-up of the therapeutic efficacy of human umbilical cord derived-mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) transplantations in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with ascites.MethodsFifty-four liver cirrhosis patients with ascites in Research Center for Biological Therapy in 302 Military Hospital were divided into treatment group (n=38) and control group (n=16) in a prospective controlled single-blinded trial.UC-MSC (0.5-1.0) × 106/kg and saline were intravenously transplanted into patients monthly for 3 times in treatment group and control group,respectively.The liver function,hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level,ascites and the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)scores at different time points were compared between two groups.The comparison between groups was done by Mann-Whitney U test,and the data before and after transplantations were compared by Wilcoxon signed rank sum test.ResultsThere were no significant differences of alanine transaminase (ALT),total bilirubin (TBil),cholinesterase (CHE),HBV DNA positive rate and MELD scores at different time points between two groups (P＞0.05).However, the albumin ( A1b)level was significantly increased after 36 weeks of UC-MSC transplantation in treatment group, which were (28.47±4.45)g/L at week 0 and ( 34.82±4.50)g/L at week 48 (P=0.046). Meanwhile, the ascites reduced markedly in treatment group with (46.6 ±30.6) mm at week 0 and (6.6±13.6) mm at week 48,which were significantly different from control group at the end of follow-up (P =0.037). Conclusion UC-MSC transplantations may help to increase A1b level and reduce ascites in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUNDThe wet-bonding technique is recommended for the one-bottle dentin adhesive systems, but the moisture concept varies widely among the instructions of manufacturers as well as among investigators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different dentin surface moisture on the microtensile bond strength(s) of an ethanol/water-based adhesive system and an acetone-based system to dentin.

METHODSForty intact human premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons were used. Superficial occlusal flat dentin surfaces of these premolars were exposed, finished with wet 600-grit silicon carbide paper. Under four wet and dry conditions (overwet, blot dry, one-second dry and desiccated), resin composite was bonded to dentin by using Single Bond (SB) or Prime & Bond NT (PB) according to the manufacturers' instructions. The teeth were longitudinally sectioned in the "x" and "y" directions to obtain bonded beams with a cross-sectional area of 0.81 mm(2) with a slow-speed diamond saw. The bonded specimens were tested in tension at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min until failure of the bonds. Failure modes were observed with a scanning electron microscope. The mean bond strengths were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Turkey's test.

RESULTSThe bond strength of the overwet/SB, blot dry/SB, one-second dry/SB and desiccated/SB groups was 10.87 MPa, 22.47 MPa, 24.91 MPa and 12.99 MPa, respectively. The bond strength of the overwet/PB, blot dry/PB, one-second dry/PB and desiccated/PB groups was 10.02 MPa, 20.67 MPa, 21.82 MPa and 10.09 MPa, respectively. For both SB and PB, the blot dry group and one-second dry group revealed significantly higher bond strengths than the overwet and desiccated groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn order to achieve the highest bond strength to dentin, keeping the dentin surface in an appropriately moist condition is critical for the one-bottle dentin adhesive systems with ethanol/water or acetone solvent.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and immunological mechanism of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion for aging process.Method:The herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion was adopted for 223 cases to observe the aging scores before and after the treatment.Apart from that,the T-lymphocyte subsets and changes of IL-2 and 3-EP were also detected.Results:After treatment,the aging scores of 223 cases were all substantially reduced,along with an improvement of clinical symptoms,a strengthened cellular immune function,and an increase of total T-lymphocyte count.In addition,the CD4+/CD8+ ratio Was restored normal,the synthesis or secretion of IL-2 was increased and the β-EP(as the neurotransmitter to modulate immune function)was substantially improved.Conclusion:The aging process is closely associated with the immune function.Moxibustion Can modulate abnormal immune function and stabilize homeostasis and thus delay the aging process.

Objective To investigate the gene mutations of calcium-and integrin-binding protein 2 (CIB2) 196C＞T, 272T ＞ C and 297C ＞ G carried by students with non-syndromic hearing impairment from special educational schools in Yunnan Province. Methods The experimental group included 337 students with non-syndromic hearing impairment who failed to carry deafness gene with GJB2 (35 del G, 176_191 del 16,235delC, 299_300 del AT), GJB3 (C538T,G547A), mtDNA 12S rRNA (A1555G, C1494T), and SLC26A4 (IVS7_2A＞G, A2168G) . The control group consisted with 150 healthy people. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood with EDTA anti-coagulate. The subject's DNA fragments including CIB2 196C＞T, 272T ＞ C and 297C＞ G were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and subsequently analyzed by direct sequencing to identify deafness-associated mutations. Results Both in the experimental group and control group, we failed to find the mutation of CIB2 196C＞T, 272T＞C and 297C＞G in all individuals. Conclusion Mutations in CIB2 gene 196C＞T, 272T＞C and 297C＞G are not a frequent cause of non-syndromic hearing loss among deaf people in Yunnan province. It provided important information for deafness with formulating landscape of gene screening in this region.