Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture with medication for post-stroke depression.Methods:A total of 96 patients with post-stroke depression were randomized into an observation group and a control group,with 48 cases in each group.The control group was treated with oral fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules,and the observation group was treated with acupuncture on the basis of the treatment of the control group.After 6 months of treatment,the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores,and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) component scores and total scores of the two groups before and after treatment were observed,and the clinical efficacy and adverse reaction rate were compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate was 95.8％ in the observation group and 83.3％ in the control group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P＜0.05).After treatment,the intra-group differences in TCM symptom scores and HAMD score of both groups were statistically significant (all P＜0.01).In the observation group,the scores of indifferent expression,emotional restlessness,and sentimentality in the TCM symptoms were statistically different from those in the control group (all P＜0.01).The scores of desperate factor and sleep disorder factor and total score in HAMD in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group (all P＜0.01).The incidence of adverse reactions was 6.3％ in the observation group and 4.2％ in the control group,and the difference was not significant between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture plus medication is an effective method for post-stroke depression,and it can further improve the patient's bad mood.

Objective To study the follow-up management strategies after improving stoves for controlling coal-burning type endemic fluorosis in Guizhou and to provide a scientific basis for exploring the follow-up management measures.Methods In 2006 - 2009,three counties of Puding,Bijie and Liuzhi with improved stoves in 2005 and implemented follow-up management measures for subsequent three years were chosen,3 towns were chosen randomly in each chosen county,2 villages were selected randomly in each chosen town,10 households were investigated randomly in each chosen village,and 20 students were investigated of the knowledge of fluorosis control.The investigation included also the usage of the stoves,dehydration methods of grain and related conditions.Results ①The head of the family and student awareness of fluorosis control were 82.6％(743/900)and 91.7％ (1650/1800),respectively,and 35.0％ ( 385/1100 ) and 61.0％ (6605/10 835 ),respectively,before the test,and the difference was statistically significant( x2 =33.04,1189.12,all P ＜ 0.01 ).②The rates of chimney out of the house were 88.5％(69/78) and 100.0％(102/102),respectively,compared with those before the trial[74.4％(2125/2856) and 2.1％(104/4984),respectively],the difference was statistically significant(x2 =720.56,4295.38,all P ＜ 0.01).The iron stove and the table stove's airtight utilization rates were 85.9％(67/78) and 100.0％(102/102),respectively.③The corn and the hot pepper's correct drying rates were 100.0％(180/180).Compared with those[27.2％(49/180) and 32.2％(58/180),respectively]before the trial,the difference was statistically significant(x2 =26.68,37.38,all P ＜ 0.01 ).The corn and the hot pepper's washing rates before eating were 95.0％(57/60) and 98.3％(177/180),respectively.Compared with those[85.0％(153/180) and 77.8％(140/180)]before the trial,the difference was statistically significant(x2 =135.00,490.82,all P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions The target population's awareness and knowledge of fluorosis prevention and related behavior are significantly elevated and enhanced after implementation of the three years post-management,which has reached the desired goal.The strategies of the follow-up management suits Guizhou province and widespread application is suggested.

OBJECTIVE: To study the percentages of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), mononuclear cells (MNC) and fibroblastic cells (FBC) in different post-traumatic intervals after skeletal muscle mechanical injury in rats. METHODS: The rat model of skeletal muscle mechanical injury was established. The rats were divided into injured groups (6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 10 d and 14 d after injury) and control group. The percentages of PMN, MNC and FBC in different post-traumatic intervals after skeletal muscle mechanical injury were assessed with HE staining and image analysis. RESULTS: At post-injury 6-12h, the percentages of PMN and MNC infiltration appeared in injured sites and that of PMN reached peak. At 1 d, the percentage of MNC infiltration appeared and reached peak, while that of PMN decreased. At 3-7 d, the percentage of FBC gradually increased, while that of PMN and MNC decreased. At 10-14d, the percentage of FBC reached peak. CONCLUSION The percentages of PMN, MNC and FBC in injured zones showed time-dependent changes, which might be used as reference index for determination of age of skeletal muscle injury.
Animals ; Fibroblasts ; Muscle, Skeletal/injuries* ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Time Factors

Objective To explore the mechanism of skeletal fluorosis via observation on the expression of bone γ-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein (BGP) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in the residents of coal-burning fluorosis regions, and to provide a basical data for further monitoring and evaluating the effects of fluoride-reducing projects. Methods Stratified sampling was applied, the 6 villages of fluorosis were chosen as focusing areas for investigation. The residents of villages underwent clinical examination of the skeletal fluorosis. And according to the degree of skeletal fluorosis, villages were divided into three groups, namely light, moderate and severe villages. Radio-Immunoassay and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to check the expression of BGP and OPG in the serum. Results The levels of serum BGP in the severe skeletal fluorosis cases[(6.78±4.43)μg/L] were significantly higher(P<0.05) than those in the normal, moderate and the severe groups [ (3.58±1.53), (3.44±2.66), (3.41±2.20)μg/L], respectively. The expression of OPG in the light, moderate and the severe groups [(1251.55±998.31), (1265.94±931.77), (1560.55±858.07)ng/L] were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in the normal[(520.81±385.05)ng/L], respectively. The levels of BGP in mixed type[(6.09±2.62)μg/L] were much higher(P<0.05) than no mixed type[(3.97±1.53), (3.20±2.12)μg/L]. The levels of OPG in the osteosclerosis, osteoporesis and mixed type[(1321.63±1017.00), (1205.42±852.22), (1529.01±402.83)ng/L] were significantly higher(P<0.05) than those of the normal, respectively. The levels of OPG in the light villages [(452.06±338.10)ng/L] were significantly lower(P<0.05) than moderate and severe villages[(1266.30±899.14), (1851.80±956.08 )ng/L], respectively. The levels of OPG in the severe villages were significantly higher(P<0.05) than moderate villages. Conclusions It indicates that OPG can be used as an early indicator in coal-burning pollution endemic fluorosis results in biochemical changes in the composition of bone.

Endoscopy ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skull Base ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of caspase-3 during contused skeletal muscle wound healing in rats and to explore the applicability of caspase-3 in wound age estimation. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats undergone anesthesia with 2% pentobarbital sodium (45 mg/kg) were struck by a single strike at the skeletal muscle of the right leg, then were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at different post-traumatic intervals. The changes of caspase-3 activity were assessed by imunohistochemistry, Western blot and caspase-3 colorimetric assay. The skeletal muscle of non-contusion rat's were used as controls. RESULTS: No caspase-3 was detected in skeletal muscle in the control group. The expression level of caspase-3 in the peripheral area of contused rat skeletal muscle increased gradually and maximized on the fifth day after injury, and then decreased gradually. Caspase-3 was also detected in the regenerated skeletal muscle within 7-14 days after injury. CONCLUSION The expression of capase-3 in the peripheral area of contused rat skeletal muscle indicated that it may play a pivotal role in apoptosis of the wounded skeletal muscle and may be used as a marker for wound age estimation. The expression of capase-3 in regenerating skeletal muscle suggests that caspase-3 activity may be used for skeletal muscle differentiation.
Animals ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Contusions/enzymology* ; Forensic Pathology ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal/injuries* ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVE: To research the relation between the time-dependent appearances of myotibroblasts during the repair of contused skeletal muscle in rat and wound age determination. METHODS: A total of 35 SD male rats were divided into the control and six injured groups according to wound age as follows: 12 h, 1 d, 5 d, 7 d, 10 d and 14 d after injury. The appearances of myofibroblasts were detected by HE staining, immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Masson's trichrome staining was utilized to examine collagen accumulation in the contused areas. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining showed that α-SMA+ myofibroblasts were initially observed at 5 d post-injury. The average ratio of myofibroblasts was highest at 14 d post-injury, with all samples, ratios more than 50%. In the other five groups, the average of α-SMA positive ratios were less than 50%. The collagen stained areas in the contused zones, concomitant with myofibroblast appearance, were increasingly augmented along with advances of posttraumatic interval. CONCLUSION The immunohistochemical detection of myofibroblasts can be applied to wound age determination. The myofibroblasts might be involved in collagen deposition during the repair of contused skeletal muscle in rat.
Animals ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Contusions/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Myofibroblasts/metabolism* ; Rats ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of calpain1 and calpain2 during the skin incised wound healing in mice. METHODS: Expression of calpain1 and calpain2 was evaluated by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Both calpain1 and calpain2 were expressed in the skin cells in the control groups. The calpain1 positive cells were remarkably increased and reached the maximal level in day 1 after skin incised wound, decreased after day 3, markedly increased again in day 5, and then gradually decreased from day 7 to 14; the calpain2 positive cells were significantly increased in day 1 and decreased to the minimum in day 3, markedly increased again in day 5, and then gradually decreased from day 7 to 10. CONCLUSION The changes of calpain1 and calpain2 expressions appear to be bimodal after incised wound of skin in mice.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calpain/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Random Allocation ; Skin/metabolism* ; Staining and Labeling ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries/physiopathology*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging technology for the assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.

METHODSOne-hundred-and-eight CHC patients were examined by real-time ultrasound elastography using the Acuson S2000 ARFI instrument (Siemens Healthcare) and underwent liver biopsy for pathohistological analysis. The correlation between liver fibrosis grades determined by the two approaches was analyzed. The cut-off values for diagnosis by ARFI (S more than 2, S more than 3 and S = 4) were determined by generating a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTSThe spectrum of liver stiffness detected by ARFI sonoelastography included S1 at (1.26+/-0.27) m/s (n = 36), S2 at (1.45+/-0.51) m/s (n = 31), S3 at (2.01+/-0.54) m/s (n = 27), and S4 at (2.28+/-0.82) m/s (n = 14). The ARFI values were significantly different among the four different stages of liver fibrosis (P less than 0.001). The liver stiffness detected by ARFI sonoelastography was significantly correlated with the liver fibrosis stage determined by the gold standard pathohistological analysis (Spearman's rank coefficient: 0.61, P less than 0.001). Using the ARFI technology for assessment of liver fibrosis gave areas under the ROC curve of 0.779 for S more than 2 patients, of 0.863 for S more than 3 patients, and of 0.0880 for S = 4 patients.

CONCLUSIONThe real-time ultrasound elastography ARFI technology can show the elasticity modulus of liver, and its data values positively correlate with the patho-histology grade of liver fibrosis in CHC patients. ARFI technology is easy to operate, non-invasive, and quantitative, and has potential clinical value for assessing liver fibrosis in CHC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDCa(2+) in the central nervous system plays important roles in brain physiology, including neuronal survival and regeneration in rats with injured facial motoneurons. The present research was to study the modulations of intracellular free Ca(2+) concentrations by cholinergic receptors in rat facial nucleus, and the mechanisms of the modulations.

METHODSThe fluorescence intensity of facial nucleus in Fluo-3 AM loaded acute brainstem slices was detected by applying intracellular free Ca(2+) measurement technique via confocal laser scanning microscope. The changes of fluorescence intensity of facial nucleus indicate the average changes of intracellular free Ca(2+) levels of the neurons.

RESULTSAcetylcholine was effective at increasing the fluorescence intensity of facial nucleus. Muscarine chloride induced a marked increase of fluorescence intensity in a concentration dependent fashion. The enhancement of fluorescence intensity by muscarine chloride was significantly reduced by thapsigargin (depletor of intracellular Ca(2+) store; P < 0.01), rather than Ca(2+) free artifical cerebrospinal fluid or EGTA (free Ca(2+) chelator; P > 0.05). And the increase of fluorescence intensity was also significantly inhibited by pirenzepine (M(1) subtype selective antagonist; P < 0.01) and 4-DAMP (M(3) subtype selective antagonist; P < 0.01). In addition, fluorescence intensity was markedly increased by nicotine. The enhancement of fluorescence intensity by nicotine was significantly reduced by EGTA, nifedipine (L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel blocker), dihydro-beta-erythroidine (alpha4beta2 subtype selective antagonist), and in Ca(2+) free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (P < 0.01), but not in the presence of mibefradil (M-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel blocker) or thapsigargin (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe data provide the evidence that muscarinic receptors may induce the increase of intracellular free Ca(2+) levels through the Ca(2+) release of intracellular Ca(2+) stores, in a manner related to M(1) and M(3) subtypes of muscarinic receptors in rat facial nucleus. Nicotine may increase intracellular free Ca(2+) concentrations via the influx of extracellular Ca(2+)+ mainly across L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels, in a manner related to the alpha4beta2 subtype of nicotinic receptors.

Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Aniline Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Brain Stem ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Diamines ; pharmacology ; Facial Nerve ; cytology ; Female ; Fluorescent Dyes ; administration & dosage ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Motor Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Muscarinic Agonists ; pharmacology ; Nicotine ; pharmacology ; Nicotinic Agonists ; pharmacology ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Pirenzepine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cholinergic ; metabolism ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; metabolism ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism ; Tropicamide ; pharmacology ; Xanthenes ; administration & dosage