Anthropometry ; methods ; Humans ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnosis

The painless needle insertion technique, summarized by Professor WU Lian-zhong during his decades of acupuncture clinical practice is introduced in this article, which is characterized as soft, flexible, fast, plucking and activating antipathogenic qi. The Sancai (three layers) lifting and thrusting manipulation technique is adopted by Professor WU for getting the qi sensation. And features of 10 kinds of needling sensation such as soreness, numbness, heaviness, distension, pain, cold, hot, radiation, jumping and contracture are summarized. Finger force, amplitude, speed and time length are also taken as the basis of reinforcing and reducing manipulations. Moreover, examples are also given to explain the needling technique on some specific points which further embodies Professor WU's unique experiences and understandings on acupuncture.
Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; methods ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Needles

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of laparoscopic-guided radiofrequency ablation on advanced prostate cancer.Methods From March 2003 to December 2008,a total of 6 previous prostate cancer patients who had been diagnosed with pathological results were treated by laparoscopic-guided radiofrequency ablation.All patients underwent pre-and post-operative IPSS,serum PSA,MRI and normal blood biochemistry examination.The treatment outcome,surgery-related complications were also recorded.Results All operations were successfully completed,no serious intra-and post-operative complications happened.Although there was no significant difference of IPSS between pre-operative [ ( 19.05 + 4.28 ) scores ] and 1 month after operation [ ( 19.87 + 5.72) scores ],but there were significantly decreased in 3 months [ (9.45 ± 2.03 ) scores ] and 6 months [ (6.18 + 1.79) scores ] after operation (P ＜0.05).Also being followed up to 6 months after operation,the serum PSA was significantly decreased compared with the pre-operative value [from(24.80 ± 14.56) μ g/L reduced to( 13.79 ± 7.76) μ g/L](P＜0.05).Conclusion Laparoscopic-guided radiofrequency ablation on advanced prostate cancer is safe and feasible,and can be used as an effective treatment in selective cases.

Amygdala ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Kindling, Neurologic ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; physiology ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Female ; Flunarizine ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Penicillins ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

This study is to establish a cell-based model targeting to neuraminidase (NA) of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus. NA is an influenza virus structural protein with enzymatic activity of the cleavage of HA-sialic acid interaction to release new viral particles from cells. A model of HIV-1 (pNL4-3.Luc.R(-)E(-)) based pseudovirions packed with HA [hemagglutinin, A/VietNam/1203/2004 (H5N1)] and NA [A/California/04/2009 (H1N1)] was established to evaluate compounds activities on NA function. The viral release can be blocked by neuraminidase inhibitors, oseltamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate, with IC50 of (61 +/- 31) nmol L(-1) and (5.5 +/- 2.9) nmol L(-1) respectively. A point mutation of H275Y on NA leads oseltamivir-resistance. This corresponding mutation was introduced into the system which was also confirmed by oseltamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate.

Objective To investigate the effect of 3 concentrations of sevoflurane pretreatment on acute lung injury induced by endotoxin in rats. Methods Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:a control group(Group A), a sevoflurane group(Group B), a 3.6% sevoflurane pretreatment group(Group C), a 2.4% Sevoflurane pretreatment group(Group D), a 1.2% sevo sevoflurane pretreatment group(Group E), and lipopolysaccharide (Group F).The rats were killed 6 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline injection.Histological examinations of the lung tissues were performed with light microscope. Lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) mRNA expression were assayed. Results Introvenous LPS significantly aggravated lung tissue damage,increased lung W/D ratio, MPO activity, and lung ICAM-1 mRNA expression compared with the control group(P＜0.05). Precondition with 2.4% sevoflurane significantly attenuated the above mentioned changes induced by LPS (P＜0.05). The 3.6% LPS (Group C) significantly attenuated lung tissue damage and decreased MPO activity,lung ICAM-1 mRNA expression compared with the Group F (P＜0.05),but no significant change in lung W/D ratio was seen (P＞0.05). MPO activity was significantly decreased in Group E (P＜0.05), but lung W/D ratio and lung ICAM- 1 mRNA expression had no significant changes (P＞0.05).Conclusion Precondition with 2.4% sevoflurane can reduce LPS induced lung injury in rats. Decreased expression of ICAM-1 and less accumulation of neutrophils were participated in its mechanism.

Objective:To investigate the anti-oxidative stress effects of microRNA 125b (miR-125b) on lens epithelial cells (LECs) and its possible mechanism.Methods:Twenty-four anterior capsule specimens were collected from 24 eyes of 24 age-related cataract patients during phacoemulsification and 20 normal anterior capsule specimens were obtained from 20 eyes of 20 donors in Henan Eye Hospital from July 2018 to March 2019 under the approval of a Medical Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.YKYY20193151).The reverse transcription PCR and Western blot assay were employed to detect and compare the relative expression levels of miR-125b and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in different specimens.The human lens epithelial cell line HLEB-3 was divided into control group and oxidative stress model group.The oxidative stress models were established by coculture with different concentrations (100, 200, 400 μmol/L) of H 2O 2 for 24 hours, and the cells were cultured with normal medium without H 2O 2 in the control group.The reactive oxygen species (ROS) content was detected by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe, and the activities of total-antioxidative capability (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were detected by ELISA, and compared among the groups.The expression levels of miR-125b and Nrf2 were detected by reverse transcription PCR and Western blot assay, respectively.The cells were transfected with miR-125b mimics, miR-125b control and miR-125b inhibitor for 24 hours, respectively, and ROS content was detected by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe and T-AOC, SOD and GSH-Px activities as well as MDA concentration were detected by ELISA and compared among different transfected groups.A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to assess an association between miR-125b and Nrf2.The expression level of Nrf2 protein was detected by Western blot assay and the expression levels of Nrf2 and Keap1 were assayed and located by immunofluorescence double staining. Results:The relative expression levels of miR-125b and Nrf2 in the normal lens anterior capsule specimens were 0.21±0.03 and 0.27±0.06, which were significantly lower than 0.89±0.05 and 0.84±0.12 in the cataract specimens, respectively ( t=15.355, P<0.05; t=18.647, P<0.05).The relative expression levels of miR-125b and Nrf2 were significantly increased in various H 2O 2 treated groups in comparison with the control group and were gradually elevated with the increase of H 2O 2 concentration (all at P<0.05).Compared with the control group, the T-AOC, SOD and GSH-Px activities were reduced, and ROS content and MDA concentration were significantly ascended (all at P<0.05).Compared with the miR-125b control group, the T-AOC, GSH-Px and SOD activities were increased, and ROS content and MDA concentration were decreased in the miR-125b mimics group (all at P<0.05).In addition, the T-AOC, GSH-Px and SOD activities were significantly weakened, and ROS content and MDA concentration were significantly increased in the miR-125b inhibitor group in comparison with the miR-125b control group (all at P<0.05).Dual luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-125b targeted to the expression of Nrf2 in the H 2O 2 model cells.The fluorescence of Nrf2 in the cytoplasm was the strongest with more nuclear transfer in the miR-125b mimics group, and the expression intensity of Keap1 in the cytoplasm was weaker.The expression of Nrf2 was the weakest with less nuclear transfer in the miR-125b inhibitor group, and the expression level of Keap1 in the cytoplasm was stronger. Conclusions:MiR-125b can enhance the anti-oxidative stress of LECs in age-related cataractous eyes probably by upregulating the expression of Nrf2 and activating the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect of fusidic acid cream on inflammatory reaction caused by skin barrier damage.Methods Eight male SKH-1 hairless mice were included in this study.The back of each of these mice were equally divided into six regions measuring 1 cm × 2 cm in size,which were then assigned into six groups:blank control group remaining untreated,barrier-impaired group,barrier-impaired and fusidic acid-treated group,barrier-impaired and vehicle-treated group,barrier-unimpaired and fusidic acid-treated group,barrierunimpaired and vehicle-treated group.Stratum corneum was removed by adhesive tape stripping to establish an animal model of acute skin barrier damage in the corresponding skin regions of these mice,and fusidic acid cream or vehicle was topically applied to the corresponding regions once.Twelve hours later,skin surface swab samples were collected from the back of these mice followed by bacterial culture and colony counting.Mice were then sacrificed,and skin tissue specimens were resected from these mice,and subjected to real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR for the measurement of the mRNA expressions of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88),interleukin-1α (IL-1α),IL-6,epidermal antibacterial peptides S100a8 and S100a9.Statistical analysis was carried out by repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference (LSD) test.Results The mRNA expressions of MyD88,IL-1α,IL-6,S100a8 and S100a9 were all significantly higher in the barrier-impaired group than in the blank control group (all P ＜ 0.05).Specifically,the mRNA expression level of MyD88 in the barrier-impaired group was 8 times that in the blank control group (8.3 ± 3.0 vs.0.8 ± 0.4).Compared with the barrier-impaired group,the barrier-impaired and fusidic acid-treated group showed a significant decrease in the mRNA expressions of IL-1α (2.8 ± 0.3 vs.20.1 ± 10.0,F =47.11,P ＜ 0.01),IL-6 (1.6 ± 2.3 vs.9.4 ± 4.0,F =16.18,P＜ 0.01),S100a8 (1.5 ± 1.4 vs.5.0 ± 1.6,F=59.71,P＜ 0.05) and S100a9 (1.2 ± 0.7 vs.3.4 ± 1.6,F=21.94,P ＜ 0.05).Conlusions Fusidic acid cream could attenuate the inflammatory reaction caused by acute skin barrier damage,which might partly explain its action mechanism in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.

Objective To evaluate the inhibitory effect of butyl flufenamate (BT) on ultraviolet (UV)-induced acute skin phototoxic reaction,and to investigate its possible mechanisms.Methods Eight SKH-1 hairless mice were included in this study.The back of each SKH-1 hairless mouse was divided into six regions,which were then randomly classified into six groups:blank group receiving no treatment,UV group receiving UV radiation only,BT + UV group and vehicle + UV group topically treated with BT ointment and vehicle respectively followed by UV radiation,UV + BT group and UV + vehicle group topically treated with BT ointment and vehicle respectively after UV radiation.Skin samples were obtained from these mice at 24 hours after treatment.Subsequently,hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed,real-time PCR was carried out to detect mRNA expressions of caspase-3,p53,COX-2,PGER1,interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-6,and an immunofluorescence assay was conducted to observe the expression of caspase-3.Statistical analysis was carried out by repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results Compared with the UV group,both BT + UV group and UV + BT group showed a decrease in the degree of skin edema and number of apoptotic cells at 24 hours after UV radiation.Real-time PCR showed that the mRNA expressions of caspase-3,p53,COX-2,PGER1,IL-l β and IL-6 were significantly higher in the UV group than in the blank group (all P ＜ 0.05),but significantly lower in the BT + UV group than in the UV group (all P ＜ 0.05),and only the expressions of caspase-3 and p53 mRNAs were significantly decreased in the UV + BT group compared with the UV group (both P ＜ 0.05).The immunofluorescence assay revealed that the expression of caspase-3 increased in the UV group compared with the blank group,but decreased in both BT + UV group and UV + BT group compared with the UV group.Conclusion BT could partially inhibit UV-induced acute skin phototoxicity in SKH-1 hairless mice.