Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion for adjuvant treatment of depression in Parkinson disease and explore its mechanism. Methods: A total of 80 patients with Parkinson disease coupled with depression were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was treated with levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets and paroxetine tablets, while the observation group was treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion on the basis of the medications in the control group. The treatment course was 2 months. The Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17), unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) and Parkinson's disease quality of life questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39) were scored before and after the treatment, and the efficacy was evaluated after treatment. Levels of patients' serum dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected before and after the treatment. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The HAMD-17 scores in the two groups decreased significantly after treatment (both P<0.05), and the score in the observation group was obviously lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The component scores and total scores of UPDRS in both groups decreased significantly (all P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The score of PDQ-39 in the observation group decreased significantly (P<0.05), and was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum DA and 5-HT levels in the observation group increased significantly (both P<0.05) and the TNF-α and IL-6 levels decreased significantly (both P<0.05), which were statistically different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Heat-sensitive moxibustion has certain auxiliary effect in treating depression in Parkinson disease, significantly improving clinical symptoms and the quality of life, which may be related to the up-regulation of DA and 5-HT levels and down-regulation of TNF-α and IL-6 levels.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of DNA methyltransferases 1 (DNMT-1) inhibition on the ACC-M cells in vitro and in vivo and discuss the role of DNMT-1 in the development, invasion and metastasis of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC).

METHODSACC-M cells of stable DNMT-1 inhibition were established in a previous research. In vitro, the growth and invasion of ACC-M cells which stably inhibited DNMT-1 were detected and analyzed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) growth curve, flow cytometry, plating efficiency and invasion assay. In vivo, the growth and metastasis of ACC-M cells which persistently inhibited DNMT-1 were observed and analyzed by subcutaneous injection and tail vein injection into the nude mice.

RESULTSIn vitro, the doubling time [(34.7 +/- 2.1) h], S phase fraction [(17.4 +/- 1.7)%], plating efficiency [(43.0 +/- 1.3)%] of ACC-M cells was significantly different from those of blank [(26.2 +/- 3.1) h, (31.5 +/- 2.0)%, (71.0 +/- 4.7)%], empty load control [(28.4 +/- 3.9) h, (39.0 +/- 2.0)%, (66.0 +/- 5.2)%], P < 0.05, and the invasion ability was not significantly different among these groups (P > 0.05). In vivo, the subcutaneous tumor forming rate (6/10), volume [(2.18 +/- 0.83) mm(3)], weight [(0.0156 +/- 0.0046) g] of ACC-M cells was also significantly lower than that of blank [10/10, (155.44 +/- 1.67) mm(3), (0.0724 +/- 0.0157) g], empty load control [10/10, (147.46 +/- 1.73) mm(3), (0.0729 +/- 0.0177) g], P < 0.05, but the rate of lung metastasis was not significantly different among these groups (P > 0.05), and the masses (2.0 +/- 0.5), diameter (70.0 +/- 20.3) microm of ACC-M cells was significantly lower than that of blank [(28.0 +/- 5.5), (195 +/- 25.4) microm], empty load control [(27.0 +/- 4.5), (190.0 +/- 19.9) microm], P < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONSInhibition of DNMT-1 is able to inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of ACC-M cells in vitro and in vivo.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; enzymology ; pathology ; secondary ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Repressor Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology

BACKGROUNDPulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD) and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) remains a challenging complex congenital heart disease nowadays. In the present study, we aimed to develop a two-stage surgical method and to evaluate outcomes of this method in managing PA-VSD and MAPCAs.

METHODSBetween December 2003 and December 2008, 7 female and 4 male patients between the age of 5 and 10 years who were suffering from PA-VSD and MAPCAs were selected and recruited. The native pulmonary artery trunks were absent in all patients; the lungs were solely supplied by major aortopulmonary collaterals, and the numbers of supplied lung segments ranged from 15 to 20 (17.9 +/- 1.6). There were a total of 43 MAPCAs in all the patients (3 - 5 (3.9 +/- 0.7) MAPCAs per patient). The accumulated Nakata index was (222.9 +/- 29.9) mm(2)/m(2) (ranged from 182 to 272). All the patients underwent two sequential operations. Stage one included left major aortopulmonary collateral unifocalization and modified Blalock-Taussig shunt from left posterior lateral thoracotomy; stage two comprised right unifocalization, ligation of the shunt, followed by ventricular septal defect closure and right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction assisted with cardiopulmonary bypass from midline sternotomy.

RESULTSAll the patients survived the initial surgery, but one of them died of low cardiac output syndrome on the third day after the second operation. Postoperative complications included pneumonia in one case and capillary leak syndrome in another. Postoperative oxygen saturation maintained about 95% - 100%, which was significantly higher than pre-operation (P < 0.01). During the follow-up period of 3 - 51 (25.4 +/- 15.2) months, there were no late death and no need for re-intervention. All the patients enjoyed their lives with good conditions.

CONCLUSIONSThis two-stage complete repair strategy was well-tolerated and effective with good outcome, thus offering an alternative surgical approach in the treatment of PA-VSD and MAPCAs.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; surgery ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; Pulmonary Atresia ; surgery ; Thoracotomy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular genesis of medulloblastomas with cDNA array.

METHODSFour samples of medulloblastomas and 1 sample of normal brain tissue were collected freshly. After total RNA extraction, the (32)P targeted cDNA probes were converted and then hybridized with Atlas Human Cancer Array 1.2. The gene expression profiles were acquired through autoradiography. The discrepancy between the tumor and the normal brain tissue was analyzed with Atlas Image 1.01a.

RESULTSIn comparison with the genes in the normal brain tissue, 6 down-regulated and 35 up-regulated genes in the medulloblastomas were revealed by means of the microarrays and autoradiography, and were verified by reverse transcriptase-PCR. The regulatory trends of most differential expression genes were in compliance with the biological features of this tumor.

CONCLUSIONMedulloblastomas are diseases involving multiple genes with some molecular pathological mechanisms different from the astrocytic gliomas. There are complex interrelationships between these genes, which need to be further researched.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Medulloblastoma ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

BACKGROUNDThe neurogenic bladder dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury is difficult to treat clinically. The aim of this research was to establish an artificial bladder reflex arc in rats through abdominal reflex pathway above the level of spinal cord injury, reinnervate the neurogenic bladder and restore bladder micturition.

METHODSThe outcome was achieved by intradural microanastomosis of the right T13 ventral root to S2 ventral root with autogenous nerve grafting, leaving the right T13 dorsal root intact. Long-term function of the reflex arc was assessed from nerve electrophysiological data and intravesical pressure tests during 8 months postoperation. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracing was performed to observe the effectiveness of the artificial reflex.

RESULTSSingle stimulus (3 mA, 0.3 ms pulses, 20 Hz, 5-second duration) on the right T13 dorsal root resulted in evoked action potentials, raised intravesical pressures and bladder smooth muscle, compound action potential recorded from the right vesical plexus before and after the spinal cord transaction injury between L5 and S4 segmental in 12 Sprague-Dawley rats. There were HRP labelled cells in T13 ventral horn on the experimental side and in the intermediolateral nucleus on both sides of the L6-S4 segments after HRP injection. There was no HRP labelled cell in T13 ventral horn on the control side.

CONCLUSIONUsing the surviving somatic reflex above the level of spinal cord injury to reconstruct the bladder autonomous reflex arc by intradural microanastomosis of ventral root with a segment of autologous nerve grafting is practical in rats and may have clinical applications for humans.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Animals ; Atropine ; pharmacology ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reflex, Abdominal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Trimethaphan ; pharmacology ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential gene expression of ependymomas.

METHODSFour fresh samples of ependymomas and 1 of normal brain tissue were collected during operation. The extracted total RNAs were converted as (32)P tagged cDNA probes, which were then hybridized with the Atlas Human Cancer Array, producing the array based hybridization maps following the protocol provided with the kit. A set of special software was applied to the analysis and RT-PCR was performed to test the result.

RESULTIn comparison with the normal brain tissue, there were 31 upregulated gene and 1 downregulated gene in ependymomas, most of which were firstly found to be differentially expressed in this kind of tumor.

CONCLUSIONThe discrepancy of gene expression profiles between ependymomas and normal brain tissues is highly put through and effectively detected with cDNA array, which provides new information for the further research on the molecular mechanisms of this lesion.

Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; Ependymoma ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Coexistence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) in a patient is extremely rare, with only 10 cases reported thus far in literature. This paper describes a 94-year-old male having atypical B-CLL with CD5⁻ (CD5⁻) phenotype and ET. In this patient, we performed interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis which revealed 13q14.3 deletion in 31% of B-lymphocyte nuclei and RB1 deletion in 27% of B-lymphocyte nuclei, but not in neutrophils and T-lymphocytes. Furthermore, we identified JAK2 V617F mutation in the peripheral blood nucleated cells and neutrophils, but not in the B- and T-lymphocyte populations. Therefore, it was concluded that the occurrence of CD5− B-CLL and ET in this patient was pathogenically independent.
Aged, 80 and over ; CD5 Antigens ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Janus Kinase 2 ; genetics ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mutation ; Thrombocythemia, Essential ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of FGA gene 128C/G polymorphism and cerebral infarction (CI) and evaluate the effect of FGA-128C/G polymorphism on plasma fibrinogen in Hunan Hans.

METHODSFGA-128C/G polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing in 194 CI patients and 114 healthy controls.

RESULTSThere were CG and CC genotypes in the FGA-128C/G locus. No GG genotype was observed in Hunan Hans. There was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies between the controls and CI group (P> 0.05), and statistically significant difference was not found in fibrinogen (Fg) level between the CG and CC genotypes (P>0.05). After analyzing blood plasma Fg using the influencing factor multiple regression analysis, it was shown that the Fg level had no relationship with the FGA-128C/G genotype, but it increased with age. And the Fg level in males was higher than that in females.

CONCLUSIONThere was FGA gene 128C/G polymorphism in the Hunan Han population. There was no association of this polymorphism with the increased Fg level of CI patient in the population. FGA-128C/G might not be the predisposing gene of CI in Hunan Han population. The age and sex were the major factors affecting the plasma Fg level in this population.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cerebral Infarction ; genetics ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; drug effects ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of estrogen receptor (ER) gene polymorphism and primary trigeminal neuralgia.

METHODSBy polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), ER gene polymorphism was analyzed in 20 trigeminal neuralgia (TR) patients and 20 control individuals, and the distribution of ER genotype was compared in TR group and control group.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in frequencies of allele and genotype in XbaI or PvuII polymorphism or XbaI with PvuII polymorphisms together between TR group and control group (P > 0.05). The genotypic distribution of Xx or PpXx in TR group was higher than control group, and it was contary to xx, ppxx or Ppxx in TR group and control group.

CONCLUSIONXbaI or PvuII polymorphism may be related to TR. Women with PpXx genotype may be a dangerous factor to primary trigeminal neuralgia.

Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Trigeminal Neuralgia