OBJECTIVETo explore the cerebral function laterality of acupuncture at left and right Hegu (LI 4) by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and provide objective evidences for side selection of Hegu (LI 4) in the clinical application.

METHODSEighty healthy volunteers were randomly divided into a left-acupoint group and a right-acupoint group, and they were treated with acupuncture at left Hegu (LI 4) and right Hegu (LI 4) respectively. After the arrival of qi, the task-state fMRI data in both groups was collected, and analysis of functional neuroimages (AFNI) software was used to perform intra-group and between-group comparisons. After acupuncture, acupuncture feelings were recorded and MGH acupuncture sensation scale (MASS) was recorded.

RESULTSThe difference of MASS between the two groups was not significant (P>0. 05). The result of left-acupoint group showed an increased signal on right cerebral hemisphere, while the right-acupoint group showed extensive signal changes in both cerebral hemispheres. The analysis between left-acupoint group and retroflex right-acupoint group showed differences in brain areas.

CONCLUSIONSThe central effect of acupuncture at left and right Hegu (LI 4) is dissymmetry, indicating right hemisphere laterality. The right lobus insularis and cingulate gyrus may be the key regions in the acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Sensation ; Young Adult

Objective To clarify the influence on component and pharmacological action of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) as complementary therapeutic agents prepared by different extraction and purification techniques. Methods Components of APS prepared by different extraction and purification techniques were analyzed, and these APS were used for synergy and attenuation of chemotherapy, radiotherapy treatment with H22 liver cancer and Lewis lung cancer of tumor-bearing mice, and also used for the regulation of immune function to immunosuppression mice. Results Experimental data were analyzed by means of statistical method to get pharmaco-result: A3 (extracted by microwave assistance and purified by membrane separation) > A4 (extracted by refluxing and purified by membrane separation) > A1 (extracted by refluxing and no purification)≈ A2 (extracted by microwave assistance and no purification). There were no significant differences on pharmacodynamic action between A1 and A2. However, compared with A1 and A2,it was worth noting that A3 and A4 exhibited good pharmacodynamic action. Then A3-in and A4-in, the samples in dialyzer after dialysis, were separated and purified to get homogeneous APS, which were the principal constituents of APS in dialyzer, with the molecular weight (Mw) of 7669 and 14 142 determined by HPGPC, respectively. The average Mw of APS outside of the dialyzer, A3-out was 3102 and A4-out 3256, which were the main compositions of A3 and A4, accounted for 79.63% and 53.92%, respectively. Conclusion APS with Mw about 5000 Da exhibit better antitumor effect and immunological activity. Refluxing, microwave assistance extractions, and membrane enrichment techniques bring different cases on Mw distribution, components and pharmacodynamic action, and obviously exhibit relationship among component, Mw distribution, and pharmacological action.

Objective To investigate the effects of electrical stimulation on dysphagia after stroke.Methods 40 patients with dysphagia after stroke were divided into control group and research group randomly.Both groups were treated with rehabilitation training and medicine.Research group was managed with electrical stimulation in addition.They were assessed with the classification of dysphagia.Results Dysphagia was reduced in both groups,but was better in the research group than in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Electrical stimulation can improve the recovery of deglutition.

Objective To investigate the relationship between promoter hypermethylation of secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) gene and acute leukemia (AL). Methods We examined the promoter methylation starus of SFRP1, 2, 4 and 5 in primary or relapsed AL patients, cell lines ( HL60,NB4, Molt-4 and Jurkat) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy people with methylationspecific PCR (MSP). Results None of the normal mononuclear cells showed methylation of any SFRP genes. The frequencies of aberrant methylation among the samples were 33.9% (20/59) for SFRP1,23.7%(14/59) for SFRP2, 6. 8% (4/59) for SFRP4 and 10. 2% (6/59) for SFRP5 in acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), and 39.3% (11/28) for SFRP1, 28.6% (8/28) for SFRP2, 25.0% (7/28) for SFRP4 and 32. 1% (9/28) for SFRP5 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Hypermethylation of SFRP1, 2, 5genes were present in the 4 AL cell lines. SFRP4 was methylated in NB4, Molt-4 and Jurkat cell lines.However, methylation and unmethylation of SFRP4 were both detected in HL60. Conclusions Hypermethylation of SFRP genes is a common event in the evolution of AL. Methylation of SFRP genes might serve as potential independent biomarkers for early detection of AL.

BACKGROUND: Epidural block(EB) is one of the effective and widely used remedies for lumbar disc herniation(LDH) . Animal experiments have been conducted to study the changes in the local tissue structure in the spinal canel after several treatments with EB.OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of EB for LDH on the local tissue structures in the spinal canel.DESIGN: A non-randomized and controlled clinical observation.PARTICIPANTS: Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Electron Microscope of an Affiliated Hospital of a University.SUBJECTS: Forty patients with LDP, who failed to respond to EB treatment and subsequently received discectomy in the Department of Orthopaedics,First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from May 1992 to December 1997, were enrolled in this study, with 20 patients receiving discectomy but not EB treatment serving as the control group.METHODS: From the 60 cases, totally 120 specimens of yellow ligament and the disc tissues were obtained during discectomy for optical microscopical examination. A portion of the yellow ligament and the lumbar disc tissues were chosen from EB group(12 cases) and non-EB group(10 cases), respectively, for electron microscope examination(involving altogether 44specimens) . The changes in histology and ultrastructnres in the specimens were compared between the two groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Main results: the reactive proliferation of the tunica adventitia and inflammatory reaction of the intervertebral disc and yellow ligament; ② Secondary results: changes in the ultrastructure of the anulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus and yellow ligament.RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the two groups either in light microscopy or electron microscopy in the degree of smoothness and the inflammatory reaction of the cavosurface of the yellow ligament and the disc tissues, nor in the cellular ultrastructures and fibrous arrangement.CONCLUSION: There is no direct relationship between lumbar EB and epidural scar adhesion formation. EB does not affect the ultrastructures of the local tissues in the spinal canal, but care must be taken of the sterilization in the surgical procedure, as chronic inflammatory reaction in the yellow ligament and disc tissues can be present in some patients.

In this paper, the antigens of both Vibrio cholerae on 55 strains of El Tor and on 28 strains obtained with genetical method were studied by ELISA method using 12 strains of McAb against Vibrio cholerae (VCOMcAb). The results indicated that the 55 strains of Vibrio cholerae El Tor were expressed 11(A-K) of the recognized antigenic determinants, and fell into XⅧ(Ⅰ-XⅧ) distinct McAb reactivity types or groups, and the 28 varients of Vibrio cholerae from genetical method were expressed 9 (A-Ⅰ) of the recognized antigenic determinants, and fell into Ⅹ (Ⅰ-Ⅹ) distinct McAb reactivity types or groups. From those VCOMcAbs, the “F3” could recognize all 55 strains of Vibrio cholerae El Tor, indicating it has specificity; other 11 strains of VCOMcAb have a variety of reactivity to antigens on the 55 strains of Vibrio cholerae El Tor in both Inaba and Ogawa and their percentages of reactivity are different. This shows that these strains may have subtypes or subgroups.

Objective To investigate the inhibition of proliferation and the regulation of histone acetylation modification in Jurkat cells treated by sodium valproate(VPA). Methods Jurkat cells were treated with VPA.Cell proliferation was determined by CCK-8 assay, and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). mRNA of HDAC1 was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and protein expression of HDAC1 and acetylation of histone H3, H4 was examined by Western blotting. Results VPA inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells in concentration-and time-dependent manners. After exposure to VPA in different concentrations for 48h,cell cycle was arrested obviously at G0/G1 phase (P <0.05), and with increasing concentration, the percentage of G0/G1 phase cells was increased and that of S phase were decreased. HDAC1 mRNA expression were inhibited with the increasing concentration of VPA. The protein level of HDAC1 was down-regulated, while acetylation of histone H3、H4 was up-regulated in Jurkat cells by VPA. Conclusion VPA can inhibit proliferation of Jurkat cells and induce G0/G1 phase arrest. The mechanism may be that VPA increase acetylation of histone H3/H4 by inhibiting expressions of HDAC1 gene.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of intestinal microbiota in neonates on the first and third day after birth.Methods A total of 50 healthy singleton neonates who were born between June 15,2016 and August 3,2016 in Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital were enrolled.Their stool samples were collected on the first and third day after birth and the samples were labeled according to the time of collection (D1 and D3 groups,n=50 each).Illumina NexSeq high-throughput sequencing platform was used to sequence the variable region 4 and 5 of all bacterial 16S rRNA genes in the samples.The composition of intestinal microbial communities was determined and the differences between the two groups were compared by Metastats analysis.Results (1) A total of 100 stool samples were sequenced and the retrieved sequences were from 25 bacterial phyla,119 families,227 genera and 159 species.(2) Major phyla in the two groups were the same,namely,Proteobacteria,Frimicutes,Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria.The relative abundances of Frimicutes (0.27 ± 0.03 vs 0.41 ± 0.05) and Bacteroidetes (0.07 ± 0.01 vs 0.09 ± 0.03) increased over time,while that of Actinobacteria (0.10±0.01 vs 0.01 ±0.00) decreased on day 3.No significant difference in the relative abundance of Proteobacteria (0.51 ±0.03 vs 0.49± 0.05) was observed between D1 and D3 groups.There were significant difference in relative abundances of Frimicutes and Actinobacteria between the two groups (both q=-0.01,both P＜0.05).(3) Among the top ten most abundant families,Enterobacteriaceae,Staphylococcaceae,Enterococcaceae,Streptococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae were detected in both of the two groups.The relative abundances of Enterobacteriaceae (0.25 ± 0.02 vs 0.46 ± 0.06),Staphylococcaceae (0.07 ± 0.02 vs 0.12 ± 0.03),Enterococcaceae (0.04±0.02 vs 0.10±0.04),Streptococcaceae (0.03 ±0.02 vs 0.06±0.01) increased over time,while that of Lachnospiraceae (0.03 ± 0.01 vs 0.02 ± 0.02) decreased on day 3.Only the relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae had statistical difference between the two groups (q=0.00,P＜0.05).(4) Among the top ten most abundant genera,Staphylococcus,Enterococcus,Streptococcus,Bacteroides and Pseudomonas were detected in both groups.The relative abundances of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria which belonged to genera of Stenotrophomonas,Propionibacterium,Acinetobacter,Bacillus,Sphingomonas and so on decreased on day 3 as compared with those on day 1 (0.00±0.00 vs 0.07±0.02,0.00±0.00 vs 0.06±0.01,0.00±0.00 vs 0.03±0.01,0.00±0.00 vs 0.02±0.01,0.00±0.00 vs 0.02±0.00,all q=0.00,all P＜0.05).However,the relative abundances of anaerobic bacteria which belonged to Bacteroides,Veillonella,Parabacteroides and so on increased on day 3 (0.01 ±0.00 vs 0.08±0.03,0.00±0.00 vs 0.03±0.02,0.00±0.00 vs 0.01 ±0.00,q=0.01,0.01 and 0.00,all P＜0.05).(5) The most abundant species in intestinal microbiota was escherichia coli in both groups.Three less abundant species including lactobacillus gasseri,lactobacillus animalis and bifidobacterium bifidum were detected in both groups.(6) Regardless of the mode of delivery,Staphylococcus,was the highest predominant genera in meconium samples,followed by stenotrophomonas.Stool samples collected on the third day after birth were divided into four groups based on deliver modes and feeding patterns.Neonates who were born abdominally with exclusive breastfed thereafter were different from those of the other three groups in predominant intestinal bacteria,but the difference was not statistically significant.Bifidobacterium and Subdoligranulum were only detected in the vaginally born neonates.Conclusions Meconium is not sterile.Although the intestinal microbiota on the first day of life is different from that on the third day of life,the dominant bacteria are common.During the first three days of life,the relative abundances of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria decreased significantly over time,while the relative abundance of anaerobic bacteria increased.

Humans ; Nails ; Hydroxyurea/adverse effects* ; Alopecia/chemically induced*

Objective To investigate if rat enhancer of split- and hairy-related protein-2 (SHARP-2) short hairpin RNA interference (shRNAi) prolongs the survival time of rat kidney transplant recipients. Methods Gene recombinant procedures, transfection and co-transfection were carried out to introduce short hairpin RNA interference sequences target for SHARP-2 into 3rd generation self-inactivated lentiviral-ViraPower packaging mix. Limiting dilution method was used for viral titration. Real-time PCR was employed for quantification of gene expression. Rat kidney transplantation was utilized to investigate the effect of SHARP-2 gene silence on the recipient survival. Results A lentiviral-based shRNAi construct LV-SHARP-2iC showed 84% SHARP-2 gene silence efficiency in normal rat kidney cells. At multiplicity of infection 20, 57% T cells could be transfected by lentivirus with spinoculation method. In activated T cells, SHARP-2 g ene silence resulted in 61.3% and 68.7% reduction of intedeukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon γ (IFN-γ) gene expression. When donor kidney was perfused with 5×107 TU LV-SHARP-2iC, the median survival time prolonged for 4-5 days as compared to blank and scramble control groups. Conclusions A recombinant lentivirus LV-SHARP-2iC that effectively silence SHARP-2 gene expression is constructed successfully, leading to the inhibition of IL-2 and IFN-γ. LV-SHARP-2iC treatment can prolong the survival time of rat kidney transplant recipients.