Objective Through comparing the similarities and differences between respairing effect on rat’s gastric mucosal lesion by electroacupure (EA) at Meridian of Foot Yangming and Meridian of Foot Shaoyang, to explore the specificity of the correlation between Meridian of Foot and Stomach and the mechanism of the healing effect by EA at meridian of Foot Yangming for curing the gastric lesion. Methods Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:blank group, model group, stomach tunnel group, gallbladder tunnel group. All rats (except normal group) were made model by water restraint stress (WRS). After corresponding experimental process, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-?) of plasma, gastric mucous tissue concentration was detected with radioimmunoassay, and the expression of EGFR mRNA of above tissue was detected by the reverse transcriptase-polymease chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Results The gastric mucosal lesion index of Foot Yangming group decreased significantly in comparison with that of other groups, while EGF, TGF-? of gastric mucous tissue concentration level of Foot Yangming group was obviously higher than that of model group and gallbladder tunnel group. EA oould up-regulate the expression gastric mucosal EGFRmRNA, and there was a more significant difference in the group by EA at Meridian of Foot Yangming than that in the model group and gallbladder tunnel group. Conclusion The curative effect of EA at points of Meridian of Foot Yangming on the gastric mucosa may be realized by the synthesis, secretion and release of the related EGF family factor, such as EGF, TGF-? and so on. Such special regulation of electroacupuncture on gastric mucosal tissue was related to the gene expression of EGFRmRNA, and that may be further mechanism of the curative effect of EA at points of Meridean of Foot-Yangming on gastric mucosal lesion. There existed corresponding correlation between Meridian of Foot Yangming and Stomach.

Objective To investigate the correlation between tetramine poisoning and hypocalcemia in children.Methods According to different severe cases grade,tetramine poisoning children were divided into critical group(70-90 score),extremely critical group(

AIM: To observe the changes in proliferation and apoptosis of macrophages in the development of pulmonary fibrosis in rats. METHODS: The number of macrophages, apoptotic cells, the proliferation index (PI) and MTT activity of macrophages were assayed on the day 14 and the day 30 after intratracheal adminstration BLMA_5 in rats.RESULTS: (1) The number of alveolar macrophages was increased in BLMA_5 14 d group and in BLMA_5 30 d group, compared with sham 14 d group and sham 30 d group, respectively. The number of macrophages in BLMA_5 14 d group was higher than that in BLMA_5 30 d group. (2) The PI of macrophages increased in BLMA_5 14 d group, and decreased in BLMA_5 30 d group. (3) The number of apoptotic cells increased both in BLMA_5 14 d group and BLMA_5 30 d group.The number of apoptotic cells in BLMA_5 14 d group was lower than that in BLMA_5 30 d group. (4) The MTT activity of macrophages was higher in BLMA_5 14 d group and in BLMA_5 30 d group than that in sham 14 d group and sham 30 d group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of proliferation increased at first, and then decreased, but the apoptosis of macrophages increased all the time, in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. This might be partly contributed to the changes of the number and function of macrophages in lung.

AIM: To study the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the initiating stage of pulmonary fibrosis of rats after administration of bleomycin (BLM).METHODS: The expression of CTGF in lungs was detected by Western blotting. The content of hydroxyproline was assayed by the method of chloramines T. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma was investigated by colorimetry.RESULTS: On day 14 after administration of BLM, the contents of CTGF in lungs and MDA in plasma in BLM+NS group were higher than those in NS group, respectively (P

Objective To determine the protein expression of P14ARF,MDM2 and mutant type P53 (P53mt) in skin specimens of coal-burning-type of endemic arseniasis patients and to reveal the molecular mechanism of the disease.Methods Sixty skin specimens from 60 endemic arseniasis patients including 35 of skin lesions patients,19 of precancerous lesion and 6 of skin cancer and 9 normal skin specimens from non-cancer patients were studied.Expression of P14~,MDM2 and P53mt was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using corresponding monoclonal antibodies.Results There was significant difference in the positive rates of P14ARF,MDM2 and P53mt among the 4 groups(x2 =9.39,6.21,20.64,all P ＜ 0.05).The positive rates of P14ARF in precancerous lesion and skin cancer specimens were 46.1％ (6/19) and 33.3％ (2/6),respectively,which were significantly lower than that of the normal skin specimens [88.9％(8/9),all P ＜ 0.05].Decreased expression of P14ARF was correlated with the development of dermopathy (P ＜ 0.05).The positive rates of MDM2 and P53mt in skin lesions,precancerous lesion and skin cancer specimens were 54.2％ ( 19/35 ),63.2％ (10/19),66.7％ (4/6) and 25.7％(9/35),73.7％(14/19),83.3％(5/6),respectively,which were significantly higher than those of the control (0,0,all P＜ 0.05).The expression of MDM2 and P53mt increased with the development of dermopathy(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions P53mt protein in skin tissue of coal-burning-type of endemic arseniasis patients is over expressed.Abnormal expression of P14ARF and MDM2 may be one of the reasons lead to abnormal cell cycle control disorders and may play a role in the development of endemic arseniasis.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy differences between fire needling technique of filiform needle at high stress points and regular acupuncture on chrondromalacia patellae so as to provide the better therapy for the treatment of this disease.

METHODSSixty cases of chrondromalacia patellae were randomized into a fire needling group (28 cases) and a routine acupuncture group (32 cases). In the fire needling group, 5 to 6 high stress points were localized according to the symptoms, palpation and imaging condition and were stimulated with fire needling technique of filiform needle. The treatment was given once every two days, 5 treatments made one session. In the routine acupuncture group, the regular acupuncture was applied at Dubi (ST 35), Xiguan (LR 7), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. The treatment was given once every day, 5 treatments made one session. Lysholm score, VSA score, patella title angle (PTA) and lateral patella angle (LPA) of the affected knees before and after treatment, as well as the clinical efficacy after treatment were observed in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, Lysholm score, VSA score, PTA and LPA were all improved apparently in the two groups (all P < 0.01). After the treatments, the improvements in Lysholm score, VSA score, PTA and LPA in the fire needling group were more obvious than those in the routine acupuncture group (all P < 0.05). The effective rate was 92.9% (26/28) in the fire needling group, better than 87.5% (28/32) in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe fire needling technique of filiform needle at the high stress points relieves the clinical symptoms of chrondromalacia patellae and recovers the biodynamical structure of patellae.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; Chondromalacia Patellae ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between FHIT and WWOX expression and clinicopathological features in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODThe expression of FHIT and WWOX were determined by immunohistochemistry in 142 patients with HCC.

RESULTSAbsent or reduced FHIT and WWOX expression was observed in 68.3% and 77.5% of HCCs, respectively. The expression of FHIT was significantly correlated with that of WWOX (P < 0.01), and progressive loss of FHIT and WWOX expression were observed as tumor differentiation decreased and tumor grade increased (P < 0.05). Absent/reduced FHIT and WWOX expression was associated with tumor invasion and metastasis (P < 0.05). In addition, the expression of FHIT and WWOX in HCC with recrudesce were lower than that in those without recrudesce (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAbsent/reduced FHIT and WWOX expression is associated with poor prognosis.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate ORMDL3 polymorphisms in children with asthma in Hunan, China, and to determine the relationship between ORMDL3 polymorphisms and serum osteopontin (OPN) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were collected in children with asthma (n=98; astma group) or without asthma (n=30; control group) from Hunan, China. The asthma group was subdivided into atopic (n=62) and non-atopic (n=36) subgroups. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis was performed, and serum OPN and TGF-β1 levels were measured.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of rs7216389 of the ORMDL3 gene between the asthma and control groups. The serum level of OPN in the asthma group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). Both the atopic and non-atopic subgroups showed increased serum levels of OPN compared with the control group (P<0.05). The serum level of TGF-β1 in the atopic subgroup was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). The serum levels of OPN and TGF-β1 showed no significant differences in asthmatic children with different genotypes. The serum levels of OPN and TGF-β1 were in a positive linear correlation in the asthma group (r=0.620; P<0.01) and its two subgroups (r=0.734, 0.649 respectively; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn children from Hunan, China, the SNP (rs7216389) of ORMDL3 is not related to asthma susceptibility. OPN and TGF-β1 may be involved in the development of asthma, and they are in a positive linear correlation. The SNP (rs7216389) of ORMDL3 does not influence the expression of OPN and TGF-β1, suggesting that it may not be associated with airway remodeling.

Airway Remodeling ; Asthma ; blood ; genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Osteopontin ; blood ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood

Objective To investigate the relationship of folates,vitamin B_(12) with tan phosphorylation and the possible mechanism in Alzhcimer's disease (AD).Method Tau protein phosphorylation was examined in hippocampns of rats of two months old and forty months old treated or untreated by folates and vitamin B_(12) using Western blot and immunohistochemistry with phosphorylation dependent and independent tau antibodies.Results We found that tau phosphorylation in aged rat brain showed a significant higher level than that in the two-month olds.Folates combined with vitamin.B_(12) could decrease tau phosphorylation by 27% at the site of Ser396/404 of hippoeampus in aged rats.Conclusion It suggests folates and vitamin B_(12) may play an important role in preventing the neurodegenerative change via effeeting tau phosphorylation in AD brain.

The effect of 1-deoxynojirimycin(DNJ)on the proliferation of rat mesangial cells was observed and its mechanism was explored.The results showed that DNJ significantly inhibited the proliferation of rat mesangial cells induced by high glucose in time-and dose-dependent manners.DNJ significantly decreased expressions of?-smooth muscle action(?-SMA),integrin?1 mRNA and protein and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)protein stimulated by high glucose in rat mesangial cells(P