OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of natural moxibustion on regulating immune imbalance in asthma rats.

METHODSSeventy SD male rats were divided into a normal group, a placebo group, a dexamethasone group, a big-cake for long-course moxibustion group, a big-cake for short-course moxibustion group, a small-cake for long-course moxibustion group and a small-cake for short-course moxibustion group, ten rats in each one. The rat model of asthma was established by egg albumen sensitization and stimulation in all the groups except the normal group. The natural moxibustion was used in all moxibustion groups, in which big cake of 1 cmX 1 cm size was used in the big-cake groups and small cake of 0.5 cmX 0. 5 cm size was used in the small cake groups. According to relevant acupoints, the natural moxibustion was performed, 5 h per time, once a day. Four times of treatment was considered one course, and three courses were required in the long-course groups and one course was required in the short-course groups. Intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone was applied in the dexamethasone group, which had the same course as long-course moxibustion group. After the treatment, changes of EOS in peripheral blood of asthma rats were observed; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to test the contents of IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the lung tissue; real-time Q-PCR method was adopted to measure the expression level of transcription factor T-bet and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) in the lung tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the EOS in whole blood as well as IL-4 and IgE in plasma were all increased in the placebo group (all P< 0. 01), IFN-gamma in plasma was obviously decreased (P<0. 01); while the levels of EOS, IgE and IL-4 were significantly reduced (all P<0. 01), the content of IFN-gamma was increased (P<0. 01) in all moxibustion groups and dexametnasone group. Compared with the normal group, the expression of T-bet mRNA in the placebo group was significantly reduced (P<0. 01). Each treatment group could significantly increase the expression of T-bet mRNA and reduce that of GATA-3 mRNA (P<0. 01). Compared with the short-course moxibustion groups, the expression of T-bet mRNA was obviously increased in the long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (both P<0.01), and that of GATA-3 mRNA was reduced (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (P> 0. 05), and also no significant difference could be seen between big-cake moxibustion group and small-cake moxibustion group (P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe natural moxibustion could obviously reduce airway inflammation in asthma rats. With time passing, the efficacy is enhanced, indicating evident timeliness, which has no apparent relationship with the size of moxibustion cake.

Animals ; Asthma ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Cytokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Mastocytosis, Systemic ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy

Objective To explore the effects of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) on the cognitive function of pilots. Methods The cognitive function of 13 pilots diagnosed as severe OSAHS and 10 healthy pilots as control was evaluated using Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Flicker Fusion Frequency Indicator, Many Reaction Time Tester, Space Place Memory Span Tester, Attention Instrument and Guard Tester. The correlation analyses were also performed between the ESS, AHI, MinSaO2% with the results of each cognitive test in the OSAHS group. Results Compared with the healthy control subjects, the scores of ESS in OSAHS group were significantly higher (P

Objective:To explore the language deficits in a single case of posterior aphasic to test the dual-system model of language processing and provide neurolinguistic basis for clinical language therapy.Method:A circumscribed posterior aphasic was selected,whose language data were collected through spontaneous talk,WAB test,and other language production tasks including picture-naming and sentence repetition.The language data were analyzed with the emphasis on syntax-lexicon dissociation and noun-verb dissociation.Result:For the posterior aphasic,lexicon was severely impaired while syntax was preserved relatively well;in comparison to lexical production,lexical comprehension was preserved better;noun-verb dissociation,especially NSD,was discovered.Conclusion:The syntax-lexicon dissociation and the relevant noun-verb dissociation can serve as powerful evidence for the dual-system model of language processing,and throw light on language therapy for posterior aphasics.

Objective To investigate the incidence and structure of mental disability in children with movement disorders. Methods 157 children with movement disorders (103 with cerebral palsy and 54 with mental retardation) were assessed with Gesell developmental schedules,and mental disability was identified as development quotient (DQ)<75. Results The incidence of intelligence disability was 92.2% in children with cerebral palsy, including 91.2% in spastic type, and 100% in dyskinetic, mixed or dystonic type. The development of gross motor was retarded in children with spastic cerebral palsy, and gross and fine motor in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy, compared with those with mental retardation. Conclusion It is important to focus the mental development in children with movement disorders, especially the dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Gesell developmental schedules should be used carefully to assess the mental development in children with movement disorder.

Visfatin was recently reported as an adipokine and was found to exert insulin-mimicking effects.The results showed that the expression of visfatin parallelled with obesity and insulin resistance in long term high fat chow-fed rats.The expression of visfatin mRNA was decreased and the insulin resistance improved after rennin-angiotensin system was blocked.Visfatin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance.

Objective: To investigate the influence of Icarrin(ICA) on transforming growth factor ?2(TGF?2) expression by PG cells and the mechanisms of reversion of TGF?2 mediated immunosuppression by ICA.Methods: Cell proliferation and cytotoxici- ty were assayed by MTT assay. mRNA level of TGF?2 and perforin was detected by RT-PCR assay. assay.Expression of TGF?2 and IL- 2R? was analysed by folw cytometry assay. Results: ICA could inhibit the protein and mRNA expression of TGF?2 in PG cells. It could also reverse the supressed cytotoxicity of LAK, CD3AK cells by TGF?2. The IL-2R? expression on LAK and perforin gene transcription and proliferation of CD3AK inhibited by TGF?2 were also partly recovered. Conclusion: The anti-anti-tumor activity of ICA is at least partly due to its capability of inhibiting TGF?2 expression in tumor cells and restoring the cytotoxicity of immunocompetent cells inhibited by TGF?2.

Objective To analyze the whole genomic DNA methylation level and estrogen receptor α (ERα) gene promoter methylation status in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with atherosclerosis (AS) in model mouse,and to explore its role in the pathogenesis of SLE with AS.Methods Eleven apoE-/-C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the model group (SLE+AS group) and the control group (AS group).Eleven wild C57BL/6 mice were also randomly divided into the model group (SLE group) and the control group (blank group).Single intraperitoneal injection of pristane 0.5 ml for the model group,single intraperitoneal injection of normal saline 0.5 ml for the control group.Eight months after injection,all mice were sacrificed,genomic DNA was extracted from spleen.The total genomic DNA methylation level was detected,and pyrosequencing was performed to determine the methylation status of ERα gene promoter.The differences between groups were compared.ANOVA,LSD-t test,Tamhane's T2 test were used for statistical analysis.Results The total genomic DNA methylation levels were (4.7±1.5)％,(5.1±0.5)％,(6.6±1.6)％,(7.5±1.6)％ respectively in the SLE+AS group,AS group,SLE group,blank group respectively,the average methylation indices of ERα gene promoter were (13.0±3.1)％,(26.7±7.2)％,(15.7±3.8)％ and (21.4±4.2)％ respectively.The total genomic DNA methylation level and the average methylation index of ERα gene promoter in the SLE+AS group and the SLE group was significantly lower than that of the blank group (P＜0.05).Compared with the AS group,the total genomic DNA methylation levels and the average methylation index of ERα gene promoter in the SLE+AS group were significantly decreased (P＜0.05).Conclusion The total genomic DNAs and the ERα gene promoters in SLE with AS model mouse are in low-methylation status.The results of this study suggest that epigenetics may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE with AS.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of transection of cervical sympathetic trunk (TCST)on the fetal brain in rats with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH).Methods Thirty-two pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=8 each):A control group;B PIH group;C TCST+PIH group and D sham operation+PIH group,PIH was produced by L-NAME 12.5 mg?100g~(-1) given subcutaneously from 14~(th)-20~(th) day of gestation.In group A normal saline was given instead of L-NAME.In group C TCST was performed on the 14~(th) day of gestation and L-NAME was injected asin group B.In group D the cervical sympathetic trunk was only exposed but not cut.Caesarean section was performed and fetus was taken on the 21~(st) day of gestation.The ultrastructure of fetal brain was examined.The content of ATP,ADP and AMP in the fetal brain and the Na~+-K~+-ATPase and Ca~(2+)-ATPase activity in neuronal plasmalemma were determined.Results The ultrastructure of the fetal brain was almost normal in group A and C,but was seriously damaged in group B and D.The ATP and adenylic acid content in the brain tissue and the Na~+-K~+-ATPase and Ca~(2+)-ATPase activity in neuronal plasmalemma were significantly lower in group B and D than in group A and C.Conclusion TCST has protective effect on the fetal brain in rats with PIH by improving energy supply and enhancing pump function of neuron.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of preoperative oral pregabalin for attenuating postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.MethodsIn this prospective,randomized controlled double-blind study,sixty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients aged 19-72 yr weighing 46-86 kg undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n =30 each):control group (group C) received placebo,and pregabalin group (group P) received oral pregabalin 150 mg 1 h before surgery.Anesthesia was induced with propofol,fentanyl and rocuronium and maintained with sevoflurane inhalation and intermittent iv boluses of fentanyl and rocuronium.The patients were intubated and mechanically ventilated.BIS value was maintained at 40-50 during operation.Static and dynamic VAS score,Ramsay score and consumption of morphine were recorded at 6,12,and 24 h after surgery.Side-effects including nausea,vomiting,headache and dizziness were also recorded.ResultsStatic and dynamic VAS scores and morphine consumption were significantly lower during the first 24 h after surgery while Ramsay scores were higher at 6 h after operation in group P than in group C.There was no significant difference in the incidence of side-effects between the 2 groups.No over-sedation occurred in group P.ConclusionPreoperative oral pregabalin 150 mg is safe and effective in reducing postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.