As an important part of Chinese medicinal materials, uncommon-territorial herbs are also the most complex parts in the herbal medicine markets. Through years of investigation on the key markets of Chinese herbal medicine, the meaning of uncommon-territorial herbs, their historical evolution, origin and characteristics were clarified in this paper, and some countermeasures were put forward for its development.
Biological Evolution ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; history ; Herbal Medicine ; history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo observe the differences of the expression of Cx43 in rats' acupoints and sham-acupoint when needled blocks, and explore the relatively specificity of acupoints.

METHODTwenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: an acupuncture group and a control group, ten in each group. The rats in the control group were not treated and sacrificed directly to by air embolism; the rats in the acupuncture group were needled at "Neiguan (PC 6)", "Zusanli (ST 36)", "Dazhui (GV 14)" and "Guanyuan (CV 4)", Sham-acupoints were on 1 cm next to each of the above acupoints and "Yongquan (KI 1)" were needled by hand manipulation, retented needles for 30 min, then all the rats were sacrificed by air embolism. With the rats fixed, the tissue blocks at the acupoints and sham-acupoints were collected, then quick-frozen and cut into sections. The sections were stained by immunohistochemical method (Cx43).

RESULTSThe expression of the rats' Cx43 at the acupoints was significantly higher than that at the non-points in both groups (all P < 0.01). The expression of Cx43 at the acupoints in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of Cx43 at acupoints and non-points is significantly different, which indicates that the acupoints are actually existed and have relatively specificity.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Connexin 43 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective:To explore the reasons of secondary fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteo-porotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and discuss the measure of prevention and cure. Methods:From January 2011 to January 2013,the clinical data of 180 patients with primary OVCFs treated by PVP were retrospectively analyzed. There were 75 males and 105 females,aged from 68 to 95 years old with an average of (79.50±5.45) years. The involved ver-tebrae were identified according to the clinical symptoms and imaging data. PVP were performed in 362 vertebrae and the pa-tients were followed up with an average of 12 months. Subsequent vertebral fractures were found through the pain ’s reappearance and MRI or bone scan. The patients were divided into secondary fracture group and no secondary fracture group according to the subsequent fractures or no. Secondary fracture group was divided into two groups according to gender ,and the patients with sec-ondary fracture were also categorized into the original surgical vertebral fractures ,adjacent vertebral fracture and remote verte-bral fractures. The age,gender,the cement volume,the cement leakage,secondary fracture site,the incidence and type of sec-ondary fracture were observed and compared among different groups. Results:Among the 362 vertebrae of PVP,there were 109 vertebrae in male and 253 vertebrae in female. And 27 vertebrae (10 in male and 17 in female) of 22 cases (9 males and 13 fe-males) occurred secondary fracture. The second PVP were performed in 13 cases (16 vertebrae) and the third PVP in 2 cases (4 vertebrae);7 cases (7 vertebrae) were treated with conservative therapy. There was no statistically significant difference on age , gender,cement volume and leakage between secondary fracture group and no secondary fracture group (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference on the incidence and type of secondary fracture between male and female (P>0.05). No signifi-cant difference was found on the adjacent and remote vertebral fractures (P>0.05). Most of secondary fracture occurred in 6 months,and whether the single and double side injection,cement leakage had no obvious relation. Conclusion:There is no significant difference in the subsequent fracture after PVP for the OVCFs different gender and fractured site ,and also no signif-icant difference in the adjacent and remote vertebral fractures. The report didn't support the biomechanical viewpoint that verte-bral body stiffness increasing after PVP would lead to adjacent vertebral stress increasing and result easily in adjacent vertebral fracture. Secondary fracture occurs always in 6 months after operation ,which is the natural course of osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVETo bring forward a method to improve the prominence of the forehead contour.

METHODS16 patients(age 29-53 years, female 11, male 5) were treated through a bicoronal incision. Following the incision, the forehead soft tissues are reflected down to the level of the superior orbital rims with the protection to the supraorbital neurovascular bundles. To adjust the forehead contour, both superior orbital rims and frontal bossing was reduced by burring down the excess bone or removing the anterior wall of the forehead.

RESULTSThe operative effect were satisfactory during 3-12 months of follow-up. No recurrence or osteogenesis were found in the cases. Nasofrontal angle and forehead angle were normal. The prominence of the supraorbital ridges disappeared and forehead became nature.

CONCLUSIONCranioplasty via an osteomy or burring of the outer line of forehead bone are safe, compact and effective way to improve the prominence of the superior orbital rims or frontal bossing.

Adult ; Female ; Forehead ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the mutation of HBV polymerase gene in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with lamivudine.

METHODSThe restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism (RFLP) assay for HBV DNA sequence determination at the codon 528 and 552 in the HBV polymerase gene associated with lamivudine resistance in vitro. HBV DNA samples extracted from sera of 240 patients were subjected to PCR amplification with primer pairs F2/R2 (552), F3/R2 (528). Each PCR product was digested with Nde I or Nla III.

RESULTSSerum HBV DNA mutation was found in 51/240 patients (38/51M552V, 26/38L528M, 13/51M552I) after therapy for 52 weeks. DNA sequence analysis was performed on samples of 3 patients, and the results were consistent with those of RFLP assay.

CONCLUSIONThe RFLP assay was able to detect the mutation of HBV DNA at codon 552 and 528 which are the principal site of HBV DNA resistant to lamivudine. The specific PCR method for HBV DNA mutation is rapid, simple and specific.

Drug Resistance, Viral ; Gene Products, pol ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo improve the outcome of the face-lift with a craniofacial contouring procedure.

METHODSThirty-seven patients aged 29-53 years (31 in female, 6 in male) were treated through a bicoronal incision. The facial tissue was lifted through a subperiosteal procedure and the facial skeleton was remodeled in three dimensions by osteotomies.

RESULTSThe results were satisfactory after the 3-12 months of the follow-ups.

CONCLUSIONSThe Face-lift combined with the facial aesthetic sculpturing may be more effective for the aging-face rejuvenating.

Adult ; Esthetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhytidoplasty ; methods

Objective To analyze effect of clinical pharmacist intervention on drug compliance and efficacy of patients after acute cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 73 patients with acute cerebral infarction and intervention were randomly divided into control group (36 cases) and treatment group (37 cases).At the time of discharge,the control group adopted conventional nurse dispensing and short-answer presentation mode.The treatment group was instructed by the clinical pharmacist.Six months later,follow-up and evaluation of the two groups of patients with drug effects and compliance.Results The total effective rate was 70.27％ (26/37 cases) and 47.22％ (17/36 cases) in the treatment group and the control group,respectively.The overall pass rate of the mastery of medication was 78.38％ (29/37 cases) and 52.78％ (19/36 cases).The rate of drug withdrawal was 56.76％ (21/37 cases) and 30.56％ (11/36 cases) respectively.The rates of automatic withdrawal were 0 (0/37 cases) and 19.44％ (7/36 cases) There was statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Clinical pharmacist intervention can significantly improve the therapeutic effect of patients with acute cerebral infarction after intervention,which improve the degree of medication and medication compliance.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical feasibility of dual-source computed tomographic urography using dual-energy virtual non-enhanced CT.

METHODSTotally 240 patients received dual-source CT, which included true non-enhanced CT (TNCT) , nephrographic phase scanning with dual-energy mode (100kVp/230mAs and Sn140kVp/178mAs) , and excretory phase scanning. A contrast bolus injection of 100 ml (370 mgI/ml) contrast agent was applied (4.5ml/s) , followed by 100ml normal saline (4.5ml/s) . Virtual non-enhanced CT (VNCT) image sets were reformatted from 'Liver VNC ' software. The mean CT number, noise, signal to noise ratio (SNR) , image quality, and radiation dose were compared between TNCT and VNCT image sets.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in mean CT numbers of all organs (P>0.05) . However, VNCT images had significantly lower noise and higher SNR than TNCT images (both P<0.05) . Image quality of VNCT was lower than that of TNCT without significant difference (P>0.05) . Radiation dose of nephrographic phase with dual-energy mode was significantly higher than that of TNCT and excretory phase scanning (P<0.05) .

CONCLUSIONDual-energy VNCT requires less radiation dose and therefore has a potential to replace TNCT in the dual-source CT urography.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiography, Dual-Energy Scanned Projection ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Urography ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in multiple myeloma (MM) bone marrow (BM) microenrivonment and their effect on myeloma cells survival and bortezomib induced apoptosis.

METHODSBMSCs were derived from BM of untreated myeloma patients (MM-BMSCs) and healthy donors (HD-BMSCs), respectively. The phenotype, proliferation time and cytokine secretion of MM-BMSCs were detected and compared with HD-BMSCs. Then BMSCs were co-cultured with myeloma cell line NCI-H929 and bortezomib in vitro. The NCI-H929 cells proliferation and bortezomib induced cell apoptosis were investigated.

RESULTSMM-BMSCs and HD-BMSCs were isolated successfully. The phenotype of MM-BMSCs was similar to that of HD-BMSCs. Expressions of CD73, CD105, CD44 and CD29 were positive, but those of CD31, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR (< 1%) negative. The proliferation time of MM-BMSCs was longer than that of HD-BMSCs (82 h vs 62 h, P < 0.05). Moreover, over-expressions of IL-6 and VEGF in MM-BMSCs culture supernatant were detected as compared with that in HD-BMSCs [(188.8 ± 9.4) pg/ml vs (115.0 ± 15.1) pg/ml and (1497.2 ± 39.7) pg/ml vs (1329.0 ± 21.1) pg/ml, respectively]. MM- BMSCs supported survival of the myeloma cells NCI-H929 and protected them from bortezomib induced cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSMM-BMSCs is benefit for myeloma cells proliferation and against cell apoptosis induced by bortezomib. Over-expression of IL-6 and VEGF maybe play a critical role in these effects.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bortezomib ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism