Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Lineage ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Oligodendroglia ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of photoelectric treatment instrument on simple obesity.

METHODSSixty cases of simple obesity were randomly divided into two groups, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with photoelectric treatment instrument combined with acupuncture, i.e. after acupuncture, the electrodes of XS-998A photoelectric treatment instrument were placed at points of the abdomen, with the laser out-put head on Shenque (CV 8), Shuifen (CV 9) or the parts with much fat, or close to the liver area for the patient of fat liver. The control group were treated with routine acupuncture alone. Changes of main symptoms and signs, and BMI before and after treatment were investigated in the two groups.

RESULTSThe symptoms and signs, and BMI were more significantly improved in the treatment as compared with the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with laser radiation at the relative area on the abdomen can increase the therapeutic effect on obesity.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Obesity ; therapy

China ; epidemiology ; Dust ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Silicon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Silicosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

Objective To investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC 1 ),xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD),xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC) and the risk of arsenism caused by coal-burning.Methods Two hundred and twenty-nine patients with arsenism in the endemic area of Jiaole village Xingren county Guizhou province were selected into experimental group.One hundred and ninety-eight inhabitants who had similar living habits but did no burning coal with high arsenic in Dagnoduo village were selected into control group.Two milliliters vein blood samples were taken and analyzed with polymerase chain reaction-restriction frgment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP) to measure the gene polymorphisms of ERCC1 C8092A,XPD Lys751Gln,XPD Asp312Asn,XPD Arg156Arg,and XPC P(AT +/-).Relationship between genotype and the risk of arsenism was also analyzed.Results The frequency of ERCC1 8092CA/AA geno-type in case group [ CA:29.78％ (67/225),AA:10.67％ (24/225) ] was significantly higher than that of control group[CA:23.08％(45/195),AA:5.13％(10/195),x2 =8.116,P ＜ 0.05].The frequency difference of other gene polymorphisms between case and control group was not statistically significant,respectively (x2 =5.649,4.394,0.865,1.490,all P ＞ 0.05).There were 1.780(95％CI:1.174 - 2.698),1.681(95％CI:1.081 - 2.615),and 1.790(95％CI:1.014 - 3.158)-fold increase in risk of arsenism for individuals carrying ERCC1 8092CA + AA,XPD Lys751Gln + Gln751Gln,and XPD Asp312Asn + Asn312Asn genotypes compared respectively with individuals canying ERCC1 8092CC,XPD Lys751Lys,and XPD Asp312Asp(all P ＜ 0.05).The sufferers only with XPD Arg156Arg or XPC P(AT +/-) didn't have higher risk of arsenism(all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the gene polymorphisms of ERCC1 C8092A,XPD Lys751Gln,and Asp312Asn are related to the arsenism caused by coal-burning.

Objective: To observe the effects of acupoint thread-embedding therapy and low-carbohydrate diet therapy on obese patients with food addiction. Methods: Sixty-five eligible patients were randomized into a thread-embedding group of 33 cases and a diet group of 32 cases to respectively receive 12-week treatment. Before treatment, after treatment and at 6-month follow-up, the two groups were observed and compared in terms of body mass (BM), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), body fat rate (BFR), basal metabolic rate (BMR) and Yale food addiction scale version 2.0 (YFAS 2.0). Results: At the end of treatment, there were no significant differences in the general efficacy, and the improvements in BM, BMI, WC, HC, WHR and BFR between the thread-embedding group and diet group (all P>0.05). At follow-up, the thread-embedding group showed more significant improvements in all the aforementioned indicators compared with the diet group except HC (all P<0.05). At the end of treatment and follow-up, BMR and YFSA 2.0 had more significant improvements in the thread-embedding group than in the diet group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupoint thread-embedding therapy can produce significant efficacy in treating obese patients with food addiction; it can improve the food addiction state and work better in maintaining the efficacy compared with low-carbohydrate diet therapy.

The clinical experience of professor for anovulatory infertility is introduced from three perspectives of , syndromes and menstrual period in this article. Professor believes that ovulation disorders mainly involves the liver, spleen and kidney, and four syndromes, including spleen-kidney -deficiency syndrome, liver-depression and kidney-deficiency syndrome, phlegm-dampness obstruction syndrome, -stagnation and blood-stasis syndrome are common in clinic. The combination of syndrome differentiation and menstruation differentiation should be adopted in treatment. The syndrome differentiation should be mainly applied. The acupoints for excess syndrome include Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), Tianshu (ST 25), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Neiting (ST 44); while the acupoints for deficiency syndrome include Zhongwan (CV 12), Taixi (KI 3), Ganshu (BL 18) and Qimen (LR 14). In auricular acupuncture, kou (CO), wei (CO), pi (CO), neifenmi (CO), sanjiao (CO), dachang (CO) and shenmen (TF) could be selected for excess syndrome, while wei (CO), pi (CO), neifenmi (CO), zigong (TF), pizhixia (AT), shen (CO) and luanchao could be selected for deficiency syndrome. Moxibustion can be added to treat the patients with deficiency syndrome or cold syndrome. The menstruation differentiation could be used as auxiliary method. In the later period of menstruation, strengthening-spleen and promoting-blood method is applied and Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) are selected; in the intermenstrual period, tonifying-kidney and nourishing-, warming- and nourishing- method is applied and Shenshu (BL 23), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Hegu (LI 4) are selected; in the earlier period of menstruation, soothing-liver and tonifying-kidney, promoting- and relieving-depression method is applied and Taichong (LR 3), Qimen (LR 14), Luanchao (Extra), Zigong (EX-CA 1) and Xuehai (SP 10) are selected; during menstruation, Taixi (KI 3), Xuehai (SP 10) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) can be added to nourish kidney, nourish blood, promote blood circulation and regulate menstruation to promote oogenesis. In addition, B-ultrasonography can be used to monitor ovulation and guide intercourse to improve pregnancy rate.
Acupuncture Points ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; therapy ; Moxibustion ; Pregnancy ; Yang Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis effect of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell line (DLBCL) SUDHL-4 induced by IL-21 and its related mechanism.

METHODSSUDHL-4 cells were treated with IL-21 at different concentration (1000 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml) for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, respectively. The inhibitory rate of cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay. The cell growth curves were drawn and half inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values were calculated. The cell apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry (FCM), the expression of the caspase-9, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Bid, Bax and c-myc protein in SUDHL-4 cells treated with IL-21 by western blot, the mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Bid, Bax, c-myc by Survivin gene with RT-PCR.

RESULTSIL-21 markedly inhibited SUDHL-4 cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The 48 hIC(50) was 140.9ng/ml; The FCM showed that the apoptosis proportion of SUDHL-4 cells treated with 100 ng/ml of IL-21 apoptosis (AnnexinV-FITC(+) positive cells) gradually increased (48 h: 19.7 ± 2.3%). The protein expression of caspase-9, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL decreased in a time-dependent manner. The Bax and c-myc protein markedly increased, but the Bid protein level did not change. IL-21 up regulated c-myc and Bax gene expression, however down regulated Bcl-2 and BCL-XL gene expression, but the gene expression of Bid and Survivin hadn't been changed significantly.

CONCLUSIONSIL-21 can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of SUDHL-4 cell. The mechanism may involve in endogenous mitochondrial pathway mediated by the c-myc and the Bcl-2 genes.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Interleukins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impairment pattern and the influencing factors of pulmonary function in patients with Marfan and Marfanoid syndrome associated scoliosis (MS).

METHODSIn this retrospective study, totally 25 MS patients (aged 11 - 20 years, 11 boys and 14 girls) who received posterior instrumentation and fusion (Group A) and 38 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients (Group B) (aged 10 - 19 years, 11 boys and 27 girls) were included from February 1998 to September 2007. The curve pattern was matched in both groups. The preoperative pulmonary function test (PFTs) were compared in two groups. And the parameters influencing the preoperative pulmonary function were analyzed in group A.

RESULTSIn Group A, the Cobb angle of thoracic curve was negatively correlated with the percentage of predicted pulmonary volumes (VC%, FVC% and FEV1%) (r = -0.514, -0.503, -0.464, P < 0.05). And the reduction of lung function parameters (VC%, FVC%, FEV1% and MMEF%) was more severe in Group A than in Group B with compared magnitude of thoracic curve (P < 0.05). In Group A, the extent of impairment of pulmonary function in patients with the number of vertebrae involved ≥ 8 were more severe than those involved < 8 vertebrae (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference of deterioration of lung function between the higher apex (T₄₋₈) subgroup and lower apex (T₉₋₁₂) subgroup. And no correlation was found between thoracic kyphosis and the degrees of impairment of respiration function.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with MS have mixed ventilation dysfunction, which is more severe than AIS patients with matched age and Cobb angle. The pulmonary dysfunction in MS patients can be influenced by the severity of thoracic curve and the number of involved vertebrae.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Marfan Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of lentivirus-mediated RNA interference targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) gene on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of leukemic cell line U937.

METHODSShort hairpin RNAs (shRNA) targeting VEGFR-1 was synthesized and cloned into pRNAT-U6.2 lentiviral vector. The expression vectors were transfected into 293T cell line to produce packaged lentivirus. After infected with the packaged lentivirus, the expression of VEGFR-1 gene of U937 cells at mRNA and protein level was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot. VEGF production by the cells was determined by ELISA. Cell proliferation and survival under regular culture and in the presence of cytarabine (Ara-C) was determined by CCK-8 assay. Migration assays were performed by 5 µm pore transwell inserts.

RESULTSThe lentiviral shRNA vector targeting VEGFR-1 was successfully constructed and transfected into U937 cells. The shRNA vector effectively inhibited the expression of VEGFR-1 gene in U937 cell line at mRNA and protein levels. As compared to that of the control, the proliferation rate of U937-shVEGFR-1 cells reduced; The VEGF production and migrated cell number of U937-shVEGFR-1 cells decreased dramatically. After treated with Ara-C, the inhibition rate and apoptotic rate of U937-shVEGFR-1 cells increased significantly. The number of migrated cells in the KD group under regular culture and in the presence of VEGF was markedly lower than that in the NC group and CON group. Bevacizumab could decrease the number of migrated cells in the NC group and CON group, but could not in the KD group.

CONCLUSIONSLentivirus-mediated RNA interference targeting VEGFR1 gene reduces the proliferation, migration of U937 cell line and enhances its sensitivity to Ara-C.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; U937 Cells ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hypoxia on sumoylation of HIF-1α, as well as transcriptional activity and protein stability of HIF-1α in Jurkat cells, and explore its effect and significance on modulating the transcriptional activity of down stream target gene.

METHODSCoCl(2) was used as a chemical inducer to simulate the hypoxia environment. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot were used to evaluate transcriptional activity and protein stability of HIF-1α, levels of SUMO-1 and SENP1 protein, and gene transcripts of VEGF, mdr1, mdr3, Mcl-1 and survivin respectively.

RESULTSAfter 4 h, 8 h, 16 h, 24 h and 72 h after hypoxia induction, the gene transcripts of HIF-1α were 0.79 ± 0.19, 2.65 ± 2.05, 4.19 ± 4.72, 2.77 ± 3.37, 0.09 ± 0.05 and 0.69 ± 0.55-fold (P > 0.01) of that of 0h in Jurkat cells, respectively, while the protein stability increased first, then decreased (P < 0.01). SENP-1 protein up-regulated first, then down-regulated, and the SUMO-1 protein changed in an opposite trend. Excepting for survivin gene, transcriptional activities of VEGF, mdr1, mdr3, and Mcl-1 were affected by the stability of HIF-1α protein.

CONCLUSIONHypoxia induces changes in SENP-1 expression, which increases the stability of HIF-1α by decreasing the sumoylation of HIF-1α and affects biological process by regulating the transcriptional activities of VEGF, mdr1, mdr3 and Mcl-1 gene.

Cell Hypoxia ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; Jurkat Cells ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Sumoylation ; Transcriptional Activation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism