Humans ; Indium ; toxicity ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Occupational Health

This study was aimed to observe the clinical effect of Du-Huo Ji-Sheng (DHJS) decoction with low frequency ultrasonics in treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by evaluating the visual analogue scale (VAS), Lysholm score and the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3). A total of 60 KOA outpatients were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group, with 30 cases in each group. Patients in the treatment group were treated with DHJS decoction and low frequency ultrasonics therapy, while patients in the control group were treated with ibuprofen and low frequency ultrasonics. The treatment was given once a day for two weeks. The pretreatment and posttreatment VAS, Lysholm score and expression levels of TGF-β and MMP-3, which were detected by ELISA, were recorded. The results showed that compared with the control group, DHJS decoction with low frequency ultrasonics therapy could alleviate pain as well as improve the activity of joint function among KOA patients. It could also increase the content of TGF-βin serum, and suppress the level of MMP-3. It was concluded that low frequency ultrasonics could enhance the transdermal absorption of DHJS decoction, relieve the clinical symptoms of KOA patients.

The statement on the depth of needle insertion is collected from Neiiing (nternal Classic) and Nanjing (Classic of Medical Problems) and the relationship of it is discussed with meridians, diseases, symptoms, location of sickness, qi and blood changes in human body, time, layers of needle insertion, reinforcing and reducing of acupuncture, etc. The factors are explored for the determination of the puncture depth, which provides the important guidance for the depth of insertion, needling sensation, reinforcing and reducing manipulations, acupuncture effect and the improvement of acupuncture efficacy. The complex and mystery of acupuncture technique focus on the control of insertion depth. In clinical practice, the increase of needle insertion depth may not induce the equal increase of efficacy. The depth of needle insertion is rather relevant with stimulation at the effective acupoint in the effective layer.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; instrumentation ; methods ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians ; Needles ; history ; Sensation

Objective:To screen for the differentially expressed genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) from type 2 diabetes patients with distal symmetric polyneuropathy(DSPN) by gene microarray.Methods: A 5 075 gene cDNA microarray was used to examine gene expression in PBMCs of 2 type 2 diabetes patients with DSPN(group 1),2 type 2 diabetes patients without DSPN(group 2),and 2 age-and sex-matched controls(control group).The differentially expressed genes were identified and subjected to real-time RT-PCR analysis.Results: Twenty-two genes were found to be differentially expressed,including cell metabolism and signal transduction genes,oncogenes and anti-oncogenes,DNA synthesis and repair genes,ion channel and transport protein genes,DNA-binding,transcription and transcription factor genes,and cytoskeleton genes.There were 4 genes up-regulated and 18 down-regulated.Real-time RT-PCR results of AK1 and FBXO7 were consistent with that of microarray analysis.Conclusion: Microarray expression profile of PBMC in type 2 diabetes patients with DSPN is differential.DSPN may be involved in cell metabolism,signal transduction,DNA synthesis,etc.

Pregnancy associated breast cancer(PABC) is a special kind of breast cancer,it is difficult to diagnose at early stage since the mammary epithelial cells are actively proliferative.Whether pregnancy will affect the biological behavior of breast cancer and how the treatment strategy for the patients with PABC impact on the outcome in terms of side effects,response,etc,those factors have to be taken into special consideration.The standard management of PABC still remain controversial.This article summarized the studies on PABC and discusses the advances in the management of the disease.

Background and purpose:Cyclooxysenase-2(COX-2)was first researched in colon caner,and extensively studied in breast cancer.However it was rarely reported in lymph node negative breast cancer.This study assessed the effect of expression of COX-2 in the prognosis of lymph node negative breast cancer and its use as information of COX-2 status to perfect the prognostic mathematic model.Methods:The expression of COX-2 protein was detected by IHC in 119 cases of lymph node negative breast cancer,the survival data was analyzed.Results:Elevated expression of COX-2 was associated with unfavorable distant disease-free survival(74% vs 93.86%).In subgroups by the simple prognostic model PI=size+HER2-2.5?age-CT-0.55?(ER?ET),the 5-year DFS were decreased with subgroups of low-risk,mid-risk and high-risk and the rate of elevated expression of COX-2 was increased with higher risk subgroups.Furthermore,in mid-risk group,the elevated expression of COX-2 was still able to predict poorer prognosis.Conclusion:The information of expression of COX-2 can be used to perfect the simple prognostic mathematic model,thus it would be more effective for treatment of breast cancer with auxiliary lymph nodes metastases.

Biomedical Research ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Pneumoconiosis ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to compare the fracture resistance of teeth restored with different post and core systems by cyclic loading test and to predict long-term effects.

METHODSA total of 15 recently extracted mandibular premolars without crowns were endodontically treated. The teeth were randomly divided into three groups with five teeth in each group. Group A, teeth restored with cast metal post and core. Group B, teeth with fiber post and resin core. Group C, teeth with resin filling. All of the teeth were restored with full-cast metal crowns. The specimens were exposed to 300,000 cyclic loadings in a cyclic loading machine and 1,000 thermal cycles between 5 and 55 °C. All of the samples were loaded in AG-IS mechanical testing machine with a compressive load until fracture occurred. The fracture load and the fracture mode of each tooth were recorded.

RESULTSThe fracture resistance in group B and C were higher than that of the cast metal post and core restoration (P < 0.05). Repairable fractures were observed in group B and C, whereas unrestorable and catastrophic fractures were found in group A.

CONCLUSIONFiber post and resin filling is a good choice to restore endodontically treated teeth.

The incidence of hyperuricemia and relevant diseases has been increasing recently since the living improvement and dietary changing. Both patients and doctors do not pay enough attention to this disease, due to the lack of obvious clinical presentations in early stage. This paper comments on the relationship between hyperuricemia and gout, gouty nephropathy, impaired glucose metabolism,and atherosclerotic diseases in order to arouse enough attention to this disease.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture by selecting points from the Lung and Stomach Meridians based on the theory of accumulation in stomach and connection with lung in treating post-infectious cough.Method Ninety patients with post-infectious cough were randomized into treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and a control group. Treatment group 1 was intervened by acupuncture at points from the Lung and Stomach Meridians, treatment group 2 was by puncturing points from the Lung Meridian, and the control group was by oral administration of Compound Methoxyphenamine Capsule. Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) was adopted for observation before and after intervention, and the symptom and clinical efficacies were compared between the groups.Result The total effective rate was 90.0% in treatment group 1, versus 83.3% in treatment group 2, and 80.0% in the control group. The total effective rate of treatment group 1 was significantly different from that in treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.05). Regarding cough during the daytime, the total effective rate was 93.3% in treatment group 1, versus 83.3% in treatment group 2 and 76.7% in the control group. The total effective rate in treatment group 1 for cough during the daytime was significantly different from that in treatment group 2 and the control group, and the total effective rate in treatment group 2 was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). For cough at night, the total effective rate in treatment group 1 was 86.7%, versus 80.0% in treatment group 2 and 80.0% in the control group. The total effective rate in treatment group 1 for cough at night was significantly different from that in treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.05). The LCQ score in treatment group 1 was markedly different from that in treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture based on lung-stomach theory is an effective approach in treating post-infectious cough, and this method has an advantage of general regulation.