From original concept and literature of acupoint, the concept and clinical significance of ashi method is discussed, which clarifies that the essence of ashi method is to locate the acupoints by patients' sensitivity on force. The clinical application of heat-sensitive moxibustion has illustrated that positioning method of this therapy is based on the appearance of heat-sensitive moxibustion sensation. Although both types are based on patients' feeling, positioning method of heat-sensitive moxibustion stands on a new angle and uses a new method to locate acupoint. Therefore, it is believed that the positioning method of heat-sensitive moxibustion is the inheritance and development of ashi method.
Acupuncture Points ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Moxibustion ; history ; methods ; Sensation

OBJECTIVETo analyze the polymorphism of natural killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)gene and the characteristics of its genotypes and haplotypes in Korean ethnic group of Jilin area, and to compare with that of Han nationality.

METHODSDNA samples randomly collected from 214 Han and 160 Korean populations were genotyped with PCR-SSP method, and KIR genotypes and haplotypes were assigned according to the standard model by Hsu et al.

RESULTSAll individuals contain KIR 3DL3, KIR 2DL4, KIR 3DL2 with the genotype frequency of 100%; the most common genotypes were 2DL1, 2DL3, 3DL1, 3DP1(*)003 and 2DP1; the genotypes with low frequency were 2DL2, 2DS2, 2DS3, 3DP1(*)001/002/004. Thirty-nine different KIR genotype and 16 haplotypes had been found in Korean and Han individuals. The most common KIR genotypes were AJ and AF with frequency of 18.1%, 19.4% and 31.8%, 19.6%, respectively. The most common KIR haplotype was haplotype 2 with frequency of 41.8% (n = 127) and 51.2% (n = 216) (P < 0.05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONKIR gene distribution in Jilin Korean ethnic group showed some common features of KIR gene polymorphisms in Chinese Han population, but also showed this nation's unique characteristics of KIR gene polymorphism.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multigene Family ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, KIR ; genetics

The primers and probes for the Real-time RT-PCR were designed based on the multiple sequence (swine and humans HEV strains) alignments of the ORF3 region of genotype 4 HEV. A rapid, sensitive and stable TaqMan Real-time RT-PCR assay was established, and its specificity and sensitivity were assessed, and comparison of the Real-time RT-PCR with conventional and nested RT-PCR was performed. The results found that the crossing points showed linearly proportional to the logarithm of the input copy number. The correlation coefficient (R2) and the slope value of the standard curves with plasmid DNA were 0.994 and -3.312, respectively. The efficiency (E) of the PCR was 100%. Coefficients of variation values of the different diluted plasmid DNA were low in the same or different repeated experimental group. In addition, the assay was able to correctly detect genotype 4 HEV RNA from swine fecal samples. The sensitivity of established assay was 100-fold higher than that of conventional RT-PCR and 10-fold higher than nested RT-PCR.
Animals ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Disease Reservoirs ; virology ; Feces ; virology ; Fluorescence ; Genotype ; Hepatitis E ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine ; virology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the length of telomere DNA and age at different altitude areas.

METHODSAll 172 peripheral blood samples were randomly selected from healthy individuals of different ages from 25 to 65 years old. High altitude group (47 males, 48 females) living at an altitude of 4380 m (HA group), sea level group (39 males, 38 females) living at an altitude of 43 m (SL group). The terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length of telomere DNA was measured by Southern blotting analysis. The plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were assayed.

RESULTSAverage TRF lengths of males and females in HA groups were 10.45 +/- 1.35 and 10.50 +/- 1.45. Average TRF lengths of males and females in SL groups were 11.29 +/- 1.10 and 11.31 +/- 1.13. A negative correlation was shown between the average TRF length and age of males in two groups (P < 0.01). This was also the case for females. ANOVA test was used to analyze the difference between TRF length and gender at different ages (P < 0.001). It was shown that there was significant difference in TRF length between the male (25 years old and 55 years old) and female (25 years old and 55 years old) in two groups at different ages (P < 0.05). The plasma levels of SOD and MDA were significant different between HA groups and SL groups (25-44 years old groups/45-65 years old groups) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONObviously shortening of telomere was observed by increasing of ages in high altitude groups. There was a negative correlation between the length of telomere DNA and ages. Telomere shortening became more obviously in high altitude group than in sea level group in keeping with the age increases.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Altitude ; Blood Cells ; DNA ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Middle Aged ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Telomere ; genetics

BACKGROUNDMutations in PAX6 gene have been shown to be the genetic cause of aniridia, which is a severe panocular eye disease characterised by iris hypoplasia. However, there is no study to do genetic analysis of aniridia, although there are several case reports in China. Here, we describe a mutation analysis of PAX6 in a large Chinese family with aniridia.

METHODSGenomic DNA from venous blood samples was prepared. Haplotype analysis was performed with two genetic markers (D11S904 and D11S935). Fourteen exons of the PAX6 gene were amplified from genomic DNA. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of each exon were analysed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). The PCR products having an abnormal pattern were sequenced to confirm the mutation.

RESULTSSignificant evidence for allele sharing in affected patients was detected suggesting that PAX6 mutation links to aniridia in this family. An extra band corresponding to exon 9 in PAX6 was found by single strand conformational polymorphism analysis in all the aniridia patients in this family, but not detected in the unaffected members. A mutation of C to T was detected by sequencing at the nucleotide 1080 that converts the Arg codon (CGA) to the termination codon (TGA).

CONCLUSIONSAniridia is caused by a nonsense mutation of PAX6 gene in the large Chinese kindred. Genetic test is important to prevent the transmission of aniridia to their offsprings in the kindred by prenatal diagnosis.

Aniridia ; genetics ; Eye Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; PAX6 Transcription Factor ; Paired Box Transcription Factors ; Pedigree ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics

Objective: To investigate clinical significance of microRNA-130b (miR-130b) in osteosarcoma and its role in cell growth and invasion. Methods: miR-130b expression was detected in 68 samples of surgically resected osteosarcoma and matched normal tumor-adjacent tissues by qRT-PCR. The expression of miR-130b was altered by corresponding vectors in osteosarcoma cells, and then Western blot was used to detect the expression of PPARγ. BrdU cell proliferation and Transwell assays were performed to determine cell proliferation and invasion. Results: The expression of miR-130b in osteosarcoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal tumor-adjacent tissues. Its expression in patients with metastasis was significantly higher than that in those without metastases. miR-130b expression in tumor tissues was significantly associated with tumor size, clinical stage and distant metastasis. And its expression was significantly correlated with overall survival and disease free survival. miR-130b overexpression obviously repressed the expression of PPARγ, and resulted in significant increase of Saos-2 cell proliferation and invasion. On the contrast, repressing miR-130b expression with its inhibitor significantly increased PPARγ expression, and inhibited MG-63 cell proliferation and invasion. Conclusions: The high-expression of miR-130b is correlated with the adverse clinicopathological features and poor prognosis in osteosarcoma. miR-130b may regulate proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells by targeting PPARγ, suggesting miR-130b may play a key role in the progression of osteosarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serial CT findings of Paragonimus westermani infected dogs and the microscopic structures of the worm cysts using Micro-CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the committee on animal research at our institution. Fifteen dogs infected with P. westermani underwent serial contrast-enhanced CT scans at pre-infection, after 10 days of infection, and monthly thereafter until six months for determining the radiologic-pathologic correlation. Three dogs (one dog each time) were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively. After fixation of the lungs, both multi-detector CT and Micro-CT were performed for examining the worm cysts. RESULTS: The initial findings were pleural effusion and/or subpleural ground-glass opacities or linear opacities at day 10. At day 30, subpleural and peribronchial nodules appeared with hydropneumothorax and abdominal or chest wall air bubbles. Cavitary change and bronchial dilatation began to be seen on CT scan at day 30 and this was mostly seen together with mediastinal lymphadenopathy at day 60. Thereafter, subpleural ground-glass opacities and nodules with or without cavitary changes were persistently observed until day 180. After cavitary change of the nodules, the migratory features of the subpleural or peribronchial nodules were seen on all the serial CT scans. Micro-CT showed that the cyst wall contained dilated interconnected tubular structures, which had communications with the cavity and the adjacent distal bronchus. CONCLUSION: The CT findings of paragonimiasis depend on the migratory stage of the worms. The worm cyst can have numerous interconnected tubular channels within its own wall and these channels have connections with the cavity and the adjacent distal bronchus.
Animals ; Contrast Media/administration & dosage ; Cysts/*parasitology/*radiography ; Disease Progression ; Dogs ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hydropneumothorax/parasitology ; Iohexol/analogs & derivatives/diagnostic use ; Lung/parasitology/radiography ; Male ; Observer Variation ; Paragonimiasis/*diagnosis/parasitology ; Paragonimus westermani/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Pleural Effusion/parasitology ; Radiographic Image Enhancement/methods ; Time Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

Aim To investigate the effeets of prolifera¬tion and autophagy of BV2 eells in OGD/R models when the 18 ku transloeator protein( TSPO) was inhibi¬ted.Methods BV2 microglia were eultured in vitro and the model established by oxygen-glueose depriva- tion/reperfusion( OGD/R) , the eells were divided into eontrol group and OGD/R group, OGD/R + small hair¬pin RNA negative eontrol group ( OGD/R + NCshR- NA) , OGD/R + TSPO small hairpin RNA group (OGD/R + TSPOshRNA ).The expression of TSPO mRNA and TSPO protein were deteeted by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.In order to study the effeet of TSPO on BV2 microglial eells in OGD/R inju¬ry and autophagy, the cell viability was tested by CCK- 8 assey, the cytotoxicity was deteeted by reactive oxy¬gen speeies ( ROS) , autophagy-related mRNA ( p62 mRNA, LC3B mRNA, Beolin-1 mRNA) expressions were detected by qRT-PCR, and the expression levels of autophagy -related proteins ( p62 , LC3 II /LC3 1 , Beclin-1 ) were detected by Western blot in each group.Result The expression of TSPO mRNA and protein increased significantly in OGD/R group while compared to control group, the cell death and cytotox¬icity increased significantly, the expression levels of LC3B mRNA and Beclin-1 mRNA increased, while the p62 mRNA decreased significantly, the levels of LC3 II/LC3 1 and Beclin-1 protein increased, the expres¬sion of p62 protein decreased significantly in OGD/R group, and the autophagy was activated; compared with OGD/R group, the different levels of cell viabili¬ty, cytotoxicity and autophagy in OGD/R + NCshRNA group were not statistically significant.But the survival rate of cells in OGD/R + TSPOshRNA group signifi¬cantly increased, the levels of cytotoxicity and autoph¬agy were significantly reduced.Conclusions The in¬hibition of TSPO has a significant protective effect on OGD/R injury model in BV2 microglial cells, which may be related to the inhibition of autophagy.

Objective:To study the serum pharmacochemistry of Aurantii Fructus （AF）， and to investigate the pharmacological material basis of AF extract in rats. Method:Rapid identification and speculation of the prototype constituents and their metabolites in vivo were carried out according to the relative retention time， accurate relative molecular mass， cleavage fragments of MS/MS and neutral loss of metabolites with ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF/MS） technique by comparing the differences between different samples such as AF extracts， blank plasma， and administered plasma under the same chromatographic and mass spectrometric conditions. Result:After oral administration of the AF extract， 74 transitional constituents absorbed into the blood were detected in serum， in which 49 compounds were prototype constituents and the other 25 were metabolites. The prototype constituents could be divided into dihydroflavones， polymethoxyflavonoids， limonins， coumarins and alkaloids. The identified metabolites included glucuronic acid conjugates， sulfuric acid conjugates， hydroxylated products of flavonoid glycosides and polymethoxyflavonoids， as well as the simultaneous glucuronidation and sulfation products. Conclusion:The constituents absorbed into the blood and their metabolites may be the pharmacodynamic components of AF. Among them， alkaloids， polymethoxyflavonoids and coumarins are mainly introduced into the blood in the prototype form， while naringin and neohesperidin （the index components） exert effect mainly through hydrolysis into aglycones. This work will help to further elucidate the material basis of AF.