Objective: To observe the effect of mild-warm moxa stick moxibustion on fatigue, immune state and quality of life (QOL) in sub-health population. Methods: A total of 120 cases were randomly allocated into a moxibustion group (n=60) and a Chinese patent medicine (CPM) group (n=60). People in the moxibustion group were intervened with mild-warm moxa stick moxibustion, once a day; while people in the control group took oral Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan (Spleen/stomach-supplementing and Qi-boosting Pill), 3 doses a day. Two months made up a course of treatment. The fatigue, immune state and QOL were then observed after one treatment course, followed by a 12-month follow-up. Results: A total of 115 cases completed the clinical trial. After intervention, the fatigue scores, immune parameters and QOL scores were significantly increased in both groups, showing statistical significances (P<0.05). There were between-group significant differences in fatigue score, levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG, natural killer (NK) cell activity and QOL score (P<0.05). After the 12-month follow-up, there were still significant between-group differences in fatigue score, physical health, psychological, social relationships and overall perception of QOL and overall perception of health (P<0.05). Conclusion: Mild-warm moxibustion can markedly improve the fatigue, immune state and QOL in sub-health population.

To investigate the effects of manual acupuncture at Shenmen (HT7) or Taiyuan (LU9) on the attention function of the brain, and to lay an experimental foundation for researching brain function and integration mechanisms of the human brain in relation to acupuncture stimulation.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Yougui Yin on steroid-induced femoral head necrosis in rats and the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and to explore its mechanism.Methods:Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, high-dose group (26.4 g/kg), medium-dose group (13.2 g/kg) and low-dose group (6.6 g/kg) of Yougui Yin, with 10 rats in each group. Except the normal group, the other groups were prepared with SANFH model by combining LPS and methylprednisolone injection. The treatment groups were intragastrically administered with Yougui Yin, once a day for 8 weeks. After the final administration, the serum calcium and phosphorus levels of rats in each group were determined by automatic biochemical analyzer. The femoral head specimens of rats in each group were detected by MRI, and the pathological changes of the femoral head were observed by HE staining. The expressions of caspase-3, β-catenin and Wnt3α mRNA in the femoral head of rats were detected by RT-PCR.Results:Compared with the model group, the levels of serum calcium and phosphorus in the medium and high dose groups were increased significantly ( P<0.05, P<0.01), and the level of serum phosphorus in the low dose group was increased significantly ( P<0.05); In the medium and high dose groups, the femoral empty bone lacuna rate was decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); The expression of caspase-3 mRNA (2.146±0.191, 1.688±0.247, 1.370±0.252 vs. 2.535±0.236) in the low, medium and high dose groups were decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression of β-catenin mRNA (0.433±0.102, 0.496±0.091, 0.698±0.089 vs. 0.259±0.106) were increased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); The expression of Wnt3α mRNA (0.509±0.061, 0.833±0.053 vs. 0.384±0.052) in the medium and high dose groups were increased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); In the medium and high dose groups, MRI showed higher T2 signals around the joint, and high T2 signals within the joint, which were clearly distinguished from the femoral head cartilage, and there was no obvious abnormal signal within the femoral head. HE staining in the Yougui Yin medium and high dose groups showed that trabecular bone was coarse and arranged regularly, most of the bone cells were normal, and empty bone lacunae were less. Conclusion:The protective effect of Yougui Yin on SANFH rats may be related to the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of G-banded karyotyping in combination with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) as a tool for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses with congenital heart defects.

METHODSThe combined method was used to analyze 104 fetuses with heart malformations identified by ultrasonography. Abnormal findings were confirmed with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA).

RESULTSNineteen (18%) fetuses were found to harbor chromosomal aberrations by G-banded karyotyping and MLPA. For 93 cases, CMA has detected abnormalities in 14 cases including 10 pathogenic copy number variations (CNVs) and 4 CNVs of uncertain significance (VOUS). MLPA was able to detect all of the pathogenic CNVs and 1 VOUS CNV.

CONCLUSIONCombined use of G-banded karyotyping and MLPA is a rapid, low-cost and effective method to detect chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses with various heart malformations.

Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Banding ; Chromosome Disorders ; diagnosis ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; methods ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To investiget the value of chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) in prenatal diagnosis of Jacobsen syndrome.Methods Among all gravidas who received karyotype analysis and CMA because of fetal congenital cardiac abnormalities in Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University from 2014 to 2016,four were diagnosed with fetal Jacobsen syndrome and enrolled in this study.Three amniotic fluid and one fetal tissue samples were collected.Peripheral blood specimens were collected from parents of these fetuses.Amniotic fluid samples and peripheral blood specimens were analyzed by karyotype analysis.CMA was performed to analyze amniotic fluid and fetal tissue samples.Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was used to verify abnormal results revealed by CMA.Results (1) Prenatal ultrasound results:Fetus 1 was complicated with monocardian and transposition of the great arteries,fetus 2 with single umbilical artery and double superior vena cava,fetus 3 with severe constricted aorta and ventricular septal defect and fetus 4 with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and presented with a nuchal translucency of 0.27 cm.(2) Karyotyping results of the three amniotic fluid samples were 46,XY,del(11)(q23.3),46,XX,del(11)(q23.3) and 46,XX,del(11)(q23),respectively.(3) CMA results of the four fetuses were arr[GRCh37]11q24.1q25(121 872 273-134 934 196)× 1(13.062 Mb),arr[GRCh37]11q24.1q25(121 325 694-134 937 416)× 1 (13.611 Mb),arr[GRCh37]11q23.3q25(118 977 029-134 937 416)× 1 (15.960 Mb) and arr[GRCh37]11q24.1q24.3(123 144 040-130 308 335)× 1(7.164 Mb),respectively.All chromosomal aberrations in these fetuses were de novo as no abnormalities were found in their parents through karyotyping.All abnormal CMA results were confirmed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification.Conclusions Jacobsen syndrome should be considered when fetuses are diagnosed with congenital cardiac abnormalities by ultrasound.CMA can be used to accurately diagnose Jacobsen syndrome and determine the region and size of chromosome deletion.