This study was aimed to explore an effect evaluation method of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of viral pneumonia. Association rules were used to analyze the therapeutic effect of heat, stagnation, and phlegm related syndromes from 297 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia children before and after treatment. The results showed that through the comparison of the frequent itemset of heat, stagnation, and phlegm related syn-dromes, in part of the time, the support degree of the experimental group was obviously lower than that in the con-trol group (P < 0.05). The frequent itemset of the experimental group disappeared 1~3 d earlier than the control group, which indicated the effect in the experimental group was better than the control group. It was concluded that association rules can be used for evaluating therapeutic effect of TCM in treatment of viral pneumonia. The effect evaluation method based on association rules of symptoms is more in line with the syndrome differentiation of TCM.

Objective To explore the changes of serum gastrin(GAS),plasma motilin(MTL) and somatostatin(SST) in critically ill children with gastrointestinal dysfunction(GID).Methods According to pediatric critical illness score,75 cases were divided into greatly critical group(score90).Fifty cases of greatly critical and critical group were divided into GID group and non-GID group.The levels of serum GAS,plasma MTL and SST were detected on an empty stomach at acute stage and convalescence stage,comparing with those of normal control group,and then,the relationship between the levels of serum GAS,plasma MTL,SST and GID,the severity of disease were analyzed.Results At acute stage,the levels of serum GAS and plasma MTL of greatly critical group and critical group were higher than those of normal control group,the levels of plasma SST of greatly critical group and critical group were lower than that of normal control group,the more severe condition of critical children,the higher level of serum GAS and plasma MTL,the lower level of plasma SST.At convalescence stage,the level of serum GAS and plasma MTL of the greatly critical group and critical group decreased and the level of plasma SST increased.The levels of serum GAS and plasma MTL of GID group were higher than those of non-GID group,but the level of plasma SST of GID group was lower than that of non-GID group.Conclusion The level of serum GAS,plasma MTL and SST can be used to assess the severity of illness and prognosis,judge the change of disease and determine the efficacy of treatment programs,and detect gastrointestinal functional lesion.

AIM: To investigate the immune mechanisms for Periplocin from Cortex Periplocae (CPP) in tumor-bearing mice. METHODS: H_(22) tumor-bearing model BALB/c mice were applied to evaluated in vivo immunoregulatory effect of CPP. The influence of different dose CPP (0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mg/kg) on immune organs in tumorbearing mice were observed. T cell subsets of mice spleen were detected by flow cytometry. MTT assay was used to determine the influence of CPP on lymphocyte proliferation of mice spleen stimulated by ConA. The levels of TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-12 in serum from mice were detected by means of ELISA. RESULTS: Thymus index and spleen index of H_(22) tumor-bearing model control mice became less than that of normal mice (P < 0.05). Compared to both model and normal control groups, thymus index and spleen index of H_(22) tumor-bearing mice treated with CPP increased obviously (P < 0.05). CPP had no influence on the number of CD8~+ T cells, but up-regulated markedly the number of CD3~+, CD4~+ T cells and the ratio of CD4~+/CD8~+ in tumorbearing mice. In CPP-treated mice, the percentage of CD3~+, CD4~+ T cells were not different from normal mice (P<0.05), the ratio of CD4~+/CD8~+ was higher than that of normal mice (P < 0.05). CPP enhanced obviously lymphocyte proliferation of mice spleen induced by ConA, the SI scores were even higher than that of nornal mice. The levels of TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-12 in serum from CPP-treated mice, increased significantly compared to model control group (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner, were similar to or higher than that of normal mice. CONCLUSION: CPP protected immune organs of tumor-bearing mice, increased obviously the percentage of CD4~+ and CD4~+/ CD8~+ among the T cell line, and enhanced lymphocyte proliferation of mice spleen significantly, stimulated the production of TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-12. The results suggested that CPP possessed potent immunoregulatory effect.

Objective:To observe the effect of An-pressing manipulation on biceps brachii with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in healthy male volunteers.Methods:A total of 30 male college student volunteers were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group and a treatment group,10 cases in each group.Subjects in the blank group did not receive any intervention;subjects in the model group received active weight-bearing eccentric exercise on the non-favored side of the upper limb to establish the models,while not receiving any treatment;subjects in the treatment group received both the same modeling and An-pressing manipulation treatment.The subjective rating of perceived exertion (RPE),subjective soreness sensation threshold and soreness grade were evaluated before modeling,immediately after modeling,and 24,48,72,96 and 120 h after modeling.Serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was measured before modeling,immediately after modeling,and 24,48 and 72 h after modeling.Serum creatine kinase MM isoenzyme (CK-MM) was measured before modeling and 24,48 and 72 h after modeling.Results:At 24,48,72 and 120 h after treatment,the soreness grades of the treatment group were lower than those of the model group (all P＜0.05).The RPE scores of the treatment group were lower than those of the model group (all P＜0.05) immediately after modeling,at 24,48,72,96 and 120 h after modeling.The subjective soreness sensation threshold of the treatment group was higher than that of the model group immediately after modeling,at 24,48,72 and 96 h after modeling (all P＜0.05).Immediately after modeling,T-AOC value in the treatment group was higher than that in the model group and blank group (both P＜0.05).CK-MM of the treatment group was lower than that of the model group at 48 h and 72 h after modeling (P＜0.05).Conclusion:An-pressing manipulation shows a certain therapeutic effect on biceps brachii with DOMS by strengthening the body's antioxidant and anti-damage abilities,which can effectively reduce the pain and accelerate the recovery from fatigue damage.

Objective:To observe the influence of pressing force and time on the thermal effect of An-pressing manipulation.Methods:Eight healthy volunteers were recruited to receive An-pressing manipulation at Xinshu (BL 15) on the right side.The pressing force and time were both divided into five levels:the force described as extremely mild,mild,moderate,strong and extremely strong and time given by 2.5 min,5.0 min,7.5 min,10.0 min and 15.0 min.The real-time change in local acupoint temperature as well as the change during 1.0-15.0 min after the manipulation were observed.Results:Compared with the baseline data,the real-time changes in the temperature after An-pressing Xinshu (BL 15) on the right side with different levels of force (from mild to strong) were respectively (1.88t0.64) ℃,(2.05±0.68) ℃,(2.25±0.59) ℃,(2.35±0.61) ℃ and (2.32±0.69) ℃;the changes in 15.0 min after the manipulation were respectively (-0.11±0.11) ℃,(0.03±0.14) ℃,(0.59±0.58) ℃,(1.38±0.70) ℃ and (2.09±0.98) ℃.The real-time temperature changes after the manipulation for different durations (from short to long) were respectively (1.94±0.37) ℃,(2.33±0.29) ℃,(2.49±0.31) ℃,(2.51±0.39) ℃ and (2.41±0.55) ℃;the changes in 15.0 min after the manipulation were respectively (0.53±0.49) ℃,(0.33±0.30) ℃,(0.52±0.33) ℃,(0.55±0.38) ℃ and (0.76±0.36) ℃.Conclusion:The thermal effect presented an increasing tendency with the extension of pressing time,and the temperature reached the top at 7.5 min;the thermal effect showed an increasing tendency with the rise of pressing force,and the temperature reached the top upon a moderate level of force.The pressing time can produce a greater influence on the real-time temperature than the pressing force;the pressing force can produce a greater influence on maintaining the temperature than the pressing time.

Background:The symptomatic bradyarrhythmia is Class Ⅰ indication for pacing therapy which is not a radical cure.The present study aimed to assess the feasibility and to present the initial results of the restricted ablation of the parasympathetic innervation surrounding sinus and atrioventricular (AV) nodes for treating patients with bradyarrhythmia.Methods:A total of 13 patients with cardiogenic syncope were included from May 2008 to June 2015.Under the guidance of fluoroscopy and/or three-dimensional geometry by 64-slice spiral computed tomography,atrial activation sequence in sinus rhythm was mapped.Chamber geometry was reconstructed manually or automatically using the Niobe Ⅱ magnetic navigation system integrated with the CARTO-remote magnetic technology (RMT) system.Cardioneuroablation was targeted at the high-amplitude fractionated electrograms surrounding the regions of His bundle and the site with the earliest activation in sinus rhythm.Areas surrounding the sinus node,AV node,and the phrenic nerve were avoided.Results:Thirteen patients completed the studies.Ablation was successfully performed in 12 patients and failed in one.The high-frequency potential was recorded in atrial electrograms surrounding the sinus or AV nodes in all the patients and disappeared in 15 s after radiofrequency applications.The vagal reaction was observed before the improvement of the sinus and AV node function.No complications occurred during the procedures.Patients were followed up for a mean of 13.0 ± 5.9 months.During the follow up ten patients remained free of symptoms,and two patients had a permanent cardiac pacemaker implanted due to spontaneous recurrence of syncope.The heart rate of post-ablation was higher than pre-ablation (69.0 ± 11.0 vs.49.0 ± 10.0 beats/min,t =4.56,P =0.008).The sinus node recovery time,Wenckebach block point,and atrium-His bundle interval were significantly shorter after ablation (1386.0±165.0 vs.921.0 ±64.0ms,t=7.45,P=0.002;590.0±96.0 vs.464.0± 39.0ms,t=2.38,P=0.023;106.0±5.0 vs.90.0 ± 12.0 ms,t =9.80,P =0.013 before and after ablation procedure,respectively).Conclusions:Ablation of sinoatrial and AV nodal peripheral fibrillar myocardium electrical activity might provide a new treatment to ameliorate paroxysmal sinus node dysfunction,high degree AV block,and vagal-mediated syncope.

OBJECTIVETo study the functional role of transforming growth factor beta1(TGFbeta1) in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the effect of TGFbeta1-ASODN blockage of EMT in esophagus squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSEsophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line EC9706 was transfected with chemically synthesized TGFbeta1-ASODN. RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1, E-cadherin and vimentin before and after the transfection. Morphological changes were documented and scarification test was used to detect the migration potential of EC9706 before and after the transfection.

RESULTSAfter TGFbeta1-ASODN transfection, mRNA (0.25 +/- 0.07) and protein (35.07% +/- 1.42%) expressions of TGFbeta1 in EC9706 were significantly lower than those before transfection (mRNA: 0.43 +/- 0.09; protein: 43.57% +/- 1.77%, chi(2) = 13.847 and chi(2) = 84.120, P < 0.05). The mRNA (0.38 +/- 0.09) and protein (17.13% +/- 1.45%) expressions of E-cadherin were significantly higher than those before transfection (0.22 +/- 0.06; 12.53% +/- 1.31%, chi(2) = 0.160 and chi(2) = 40.008, P < 0.05) and the mRNA (0.73 +/- 0.07) and protein (14.15% +/- 1.46%) expressions of vimentin were significantly lower than those (0.89 +/- 0.09; 17.97% +/- 1.42%) before transfection (chi(2) = 0.160 and chi(2) = 21.103, P < 0.05). Scarification test showed that after transfection, the mobility of EC9706 was significantly inhibited and its migration length (0.45 +/- 0.05) was significantly shorter than that before the transfection (0.81 +/- 0.11, chi(2) = 16.854, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTGFbeta1 may contribute to EMT in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. TGFbeta1-ASODN leads to an over-expression of E-cadherin and a down-regulation of vimentin, along with the morphological alterations and migration inhibition, indicating that a blockage of TGFbeta1 suppresses EMT in esophagus squamous cell carcinoma.

Cadherins ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Dedifferentiation ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Humans ; Mesoderm ; drug effects ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Vimentin ; pharmacology

Objective To detect the feasibility of magnetically labeled swine bone marrow mesenehymal stem cells(MSCs)with SHU 555A combined with poly-L-arginine(PLL),under MR imaging in vitro and in vivo.Methods Swine mesenehymal stem cells were isolated and culture-expanded 3 passages in vitro,then magnetically labeled by incubation with SHU 555A(25?g Fe/ml,Resovist,Schering)for 24 hours with 750 ng/mL poly-L-lysine(PLL;average MW_275 kDa)added 1 hour before incubation.Cellular iron incorporation and detention at 0 d,4 d,8 d,12 d,16 d,20 d after labeling was qualitatively assessed using Prussian blue and quantified at atomic absorption spectrometry.Cell viability was assessed by trypan-blue exclusion test.Cell suspensions underwent MR imaging with T_1-and T_2-weighted spin-echo and fast field-echo sequences on a clinical 1.5 T MR system.At last,1?10~6 SHU 555A labeled and unlabeled MSCs were transextracardially implanted into the infracted and normal myocardium approximately 2 week following the ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery in 1 swine respectively,and finally performed 1.5-T MRI within 1 week after infarction.Results①Intracytoplasmic particles stained with Prussian blue stain were detected for all cells with mean cellular iron content of(13.13?2.30)pg per cell.With division of stem cells, the stained particles decreased gradually with iron content(0.68?0.20)pg per cell.at 16 days after labeling, approximately to the prelabeled baseline values.(0.21?0.06)pg per cell(P＞0.05).The viability of the labeled cells at various time points were not significantly different with that of nonlabeled cells(P＞0.05).②MR images showed signal intensity changed most obviouly in T2*WI in vitro.The percentage change of signal intensity increased with increasing cell numbers,and decreased with the time.As few as 5?10~4-1?10~5 cells could be detected by using this approach.③Two injected sites containing MR-MSCs were detected in vivo,presentingas low signal intensity areas with the T_2*WI scanning sequence.Conclusion Swine bone marrow MSCs can be labeled with SHU555A-PLL and depicted with a standard 1.5-T MR imager in vitro and in vivo.(J lntervent Radiol,2007,16:115-121)

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of cervical settling method on marginal accuracy of wax patters.

METHODS24 wax patterns were made on the standard cast specimens and round capsules of which twelve patters were made with the method of cervical settling (experiment group), twelve patters were made with the method of wax dripping (control group). Marginal accuracy of patterns were measured before sublation, sublation half an hour and twenty-four hours.

RESULTSThe results revealed that marginal accuracy had significant difference between the cervical settling methods and wax dripping methods (P < 0.05). There was significant difference between the cervical settling methods measured after half an hour and twenty-four hours (P < 0.01). There was also significant difference between the wax dripping methods measured after half an hour and twenty-four hours (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWax patterns with the method of cervical settling can improve marginal accuracy of patterns. The marginal accuracy of wax patters are influenced by the existing time.

Dental Casting Technique ; Dental Marginal Adaptation

OBJECTIVETo study the role and possible mechanisms of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) involved in mesangial cell (MC) proliferation which could be inhibited by bufalin.

METHODSRat mesangial cells were cultured in vitro. The effect of bufalin on platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced MC proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. The function of GJIC was detected by Lucifer Yellow scrape loading and dye transfer (SLDT). mRNA levels of Cx43, Cx45 and Cx40 were measured by RT-PCR. Intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca(2+)]i) were examined in laser scanning confocal microscopy after loading by Fura-3/AM.

RESULTSMTT indicated that bufalin could inhibited PDGF-BB-induced MC proliferation (P<0.01). Compared with the hormal control group, PDGF-BB inhibited GJIC function, increased the expression of Cx45 and Cx40 (P<0.01) without altering the Cx43 (P>0.05) in gene level and also increased [Ca(2+)]i. However, bufalin treatment enhanced GJIC function, decreased Cx45 mRNA and Cx40 mRNA expression (P<0.01), and reduced [Ca(2+)]i (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBufalin inhibits PDGF-BB-induced MC proliferation, and its possible mechanisms may be related to regulation of Cx45 and Cx40 expression in the gene level, reduction of [Ca(2+)]i and enhancement of GJIC function.

Animals ; Bufanolides ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; Mesangial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; pharmacology ; Rats