OBJECTIVETo explore protective effects of acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on cerebral tissue in rats with sepsis.

METHODSCecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was applied to duplicate the rat model of sepsis. According to random number table, thirty SD rats were divided into a sepsis model group (group A), a sepsis model plus electroacupuncture (EA) group (group B), and a sepsis model plus non-acupoint EA group (group C), ten rats in each one. EA with the same frequency and intensity at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and non-acupoint (0.5 cm laterally to "Zusanli") for 30 min was applied in the group B and group C, respectively. No treatment was given in the goup A. 6 hours after CLP, blood was acquired from abdominal aorta to measure the levels of neuron specific enolase (NSE). Then the rats were sacrificed by abdominal aorta exsanguination to take their cerebral tissue for measuring the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

RESULTSSix hours after CLP, the level of NSE was (3.51 +/- 0.39) ng/mL in group B, which was significantly lower than (7.72 +/- 0.64) ng/mL in group A (P<0.05). The level of NSE was (8.02 +/- 0.72) ng/mL in the group C, which had no statistical significance with group A (P>0.05). The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 in cerebral tissue in group B were significantly lower than that of group A and C (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) has certain protective effect on septic rat's brain, which has some relationship with decreasing levels of cerebral tissue proinflammatory cytokine and plasma NSE. EA at non-acupoint has no the same action.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; immunology ; Male ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; enzymology ; immunology ; therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficiency of the treatment with autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from blood from patients with HCC, then augmented by priming with interferon-gamma (IFN-?) followed by monoclonal antibody (mAb) against CD3 and interleukin-2 (IL-2). The autologous CIK cells thus obtained were infused back to individual patients. Altogether 30 patients undertook such treatment. The changes in subsets of lymphocytes and dendritic cells (DC1, DC2) in peripheral blood were assessed by using flow cytometry. Results The percentages of CD3 +, CD3 + CD8 + , CD3 + CD56 + , and CD25 + were increased significantly, and the proportions of DC1 and DC2 subsets were also increased after autologous CIK cells transfusion. Most (23 of 30) patients developed a fever 1-2 hours after CIK cells transfusion and the body temperature ranged from 37℃ to 40℃, lasting for 2-8 hours. Most (20 of 23) febrile patients recovered without any treatment, antipyretic medicine was given to 3 patients to allay the fever. The HCC symptoms were markedly relieved in most patients. No major side effects were found. Conclusion Our observation indicates that the treatment with autologous CIK cells for HCC patients is safe and efficacious.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) on older stroke patients in ability of activities of daily living (ADL).Methods50 older stroke patients were randomly divided into the rehabilitation group and control group. The rehabilitation group was treated with motor function exercise and ADL training, while the control group only took medicine. Two groups were evaluated with Barthel index before and after treatment. ResultsScores of Barthel index on the rehabilitation group were higher than that on the control group after treatment, and there was a significantly difference between two groups (P<0.01). Conclusions CBR has the significant effect on improving ADL in older stroke patients.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of HBsAg and HBcAg in combination pulsed monocyte-derived DCs(MoDC) derived from patients with HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods MoDCs were generated from 20 HBV-associated HCC patients,and pulsed with recombinant human serum albumin(rHSA)as conDC(control DC),or pulsed with HBsAg andHBcAg in combination as scDC.Phenotypic patterns of MoDCs were characterized by flow cytometry,and the levels of cytokines releasedby MoDCs were analyzed by ELISA,and frequencies of IFN-γ-producing antigen-specific autologous T cells were measured by Elispotassay.HBV-specific CD8 T cells proliferation was determined by pentamer staining.Results 1.The levels of MHC and costimulatorymolecules expressed on scDC were significantly higher than those on immature MoDC(imaDC)in two groups,and the levels of MHC andcostimulatory molecules expressed on imaDC,conDC and scDC in HBsAg+,anti-HBe+,anti-HBc+patients(1-4-5 positive group)were significantly higher than those in HBsAg+,anti-HBc+patients(1-5 positive group);2.The levels of IL-12 and IL-10 produced byscDC were higher than those produced by imaDC and conDC in both groups,and the levels of IL-12 produced by imaDC,conDC and scDCin 1-4-5 positive group were higher than those in 1-5 positive group.3.The frequencies of IFN-γ-producing T cells induced by scDC werehigher than those by conDC in 1-4-5 positive group.4.scDCs from 4 cases of HLA-A2+patients in 1-4-5 positive group could induceautologous T cells to generate HBVcore18-27-specific CD8 T cells.Condusions HBsAg and HBcAg pulse in combination couldsubstantially reverse the impaired function of MoDCs in HBv-associated HCC patients,and boost MoDC to induce HBV-specific T cellsresponse,especially in HBsAg+,anti-HBe+ and anti-HBe+ patients.

Animals ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Monocrotaline ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombomodulin ; metabolism

Detergents ; Immunohistochemistry ; instrumentation ; Oxalic Acid ; Potassium Permanganate ; Staining and Labeling ; instrumentation

Medical imaging teaching depends on support from multimedia database which is constructed with image information provided by PACS/HIS ( Picture archiving and communication system/Hospital information system ).This paper evaluated construction,administration and application of the multimedia database,and illustrated the importance of PACS/HIS in construction of the database,as well as of the database in medical imaging teaching.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of preoperative transcatheter artery chemoembolization (TACE) correlates with outcome after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Sixty-seven patients with HCC underwent TACE before OLT. In all the patients, there were 52 males and 15 females with age ranging from 34 to 67 years old (average 48). Sixty-one patients met the Milan' standard, and 6 patients exceeded Milan' standard. Classic OLT was done in 62 patients and pigyback liver transplantation was done in 5 patients. Immunosuppression regimen after operation included Tacrolimus (or Ciclosporin,Sirolimus), mycophynolate, steroid hormone. The efficacy of TACE was assessed according to histological findings after OLT. Tumor recurrence rate of 1-and 2-year tumor recurrence rate, and 1-and 2-year survival rate in different groups with different responses to preoperative TACE were compared. Results Tumor necrosis rate was greater than 50% in 50 patients and new tumor nodi occurred in 2 patients. Tumor necrosis rate after TACE was 73. 77%. Tumor necrosis rate was less than 50% in 17 patients and new tumor nodi occurred in 7 patients. Forty-eight patients had satisfactory efficacy after TACE and no new tumor nodi occurred, 1-and 2-year tumor recurrence rate was 2. 08/ (1/48) and 6. 25% (3/48) respectively, and 1- and 2-year survival rate was 97. 92% (47/48) and 95. 83% (46/48) respectively. Nineteen patients had worse efficacy after TACE and new nodi occurred, 1- and 2-year tumor recurrence rate was 36. 84% (7/19) and 57. 89% (11/19), and 1-and 2-year survival rate was 73.68% (14/19) and 47. 37% (9/19) respectively. There were statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion TACE provides good local control in preoperatively diagnosed HCC, but its impact is limited in lesions not detected preoperatively. Patients with satisfactory efficacy after TACE before OLT had a good prognosis. The response to preoperative TACE may predict long-term outcome after LT.

Objective To analyze the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in type 2 diabetic patients and its association with traditional and non-traditional risk factors. Methods A total of 420 type 2 diabetic patients with duration exceeding 1 year and without acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina,and infection were evaluated. PAD was diagnosed by ankle-brachial index ≤0.90. Risk factors included age, gender, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes duration,glycated hemoglobin A[C ( HbA_1C ), uric acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),high sensitive C reactive protein(hs-CRP),fibrinogen,and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER). Results The prevalence rate of PAD was 16.4%(69/420). Older age, longer diabetes duration,lower HDL-C, higher UAER, hs-CRP and fibrinogen were associated with PAD. Multiple Logistic regression revealed that only age, UAER, hs-CRP and fibrinogen levels were independent risk factors. The prevalence rate of PAD was 4.7%(2/43), 12.9%(27/209) and 23.8%(40/168) in patients of less than 50 years old,50-70 years old and more than 70 years old, and was 7.9%( 14/177),9.3%( 11/118) and 35.2% (44/125) in different hs-CRP group (hs-CRP < 1 mg/L,l-3 mg/L, >3 mg/L), and was 9.7% (30/310) ,34.4%(33/96) and 42.9%(6/14) in normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria, and was 12.1%(43/356) and 40.6%(26/64) in different fibrinogen levels group (≤4 g/L and > 4 g/L). Conclusions The prevalence rate of PAD is higher in type 2 diabetic patients. Non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors may be involved in the development of PAD.

Humans ; Occupational Health ; Refuse Disposal