OBJECTIVETo observe the specific clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at Lingtai (GV 10) and Shendao (GV 11) on premature heartbeat.

METHODSSeventy-two cases of premature heartbeat were randomized into an observation group and a control group. In the observation group, electroacupuncture was applied at Lingtai (GV 10) and Shendao (GV 11). In the control group, electroacupuncture was applied at bilateral Xuanzhong (GB 39). The treatment was given once a day and 10 times made one session in both groups. Respectively, the dynamic electrocardiogram detection was done before treatment and after one session of treatment in each group.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 47.1% (16/34) in the observation group and 6.5% (2/31) in the control group. The efficacy in the observation group was superior to that in the control group, presenting the statistical significant difference in comparison (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Lingtai (GV 10) and Shendao (GV 11) has specific clinical efficacy on premature heartbeat.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the value of high-frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis of duchenne muscular dystrophy diseases (DMD) in children.

METHODSEight children with DMD were enrolled as DMD group and 10 healthy children as the control group. The echogenicity of the rectus femoris muscle and the gap between the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles in the two groups were detected by high-frequency ultrasound.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles in the DMD group showed increased echogenicity and their muscle fibers were arranged irregularly, and the gap between the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles became wilder (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHigh-frequency ultrasound is valuable in the diagnosis of DMD.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential expression of apoptosis associated gene Bcl-2 and Bax through cell cycle and its possible clinical meaning.

METHODSThe prostate cancer cell line PC-3 was synchronized in M, G1, S and G2 phase using modified thymine deoxyriboside blockage and high pressure N2O technique. The efficiency of synchronization was detected by flow-cytometry. RT-PCR and Western blot methods were used to examine the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in mRNA and protein level.

RESULTSThe synchronized rate of M, G1, S and G2 phase were 92.1%, 87.0%, 80.2% and 75.9% respectively. Bcl-2 was constitutively expressed through the cell cycle, but both the mRNA and protein expression level of Bcl-2 were very high in the G1 phase, dramatically decreased in M, S and G2 phase. The expression level of Bax had no change through the cell cycle.

CONCLUSIONSCell cycle could influence the expression level of Bcl-2 significantly but not Bax, these might have some clinical relevance.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of chronic enhanced external counterpulastion (EECP) on gene expression profiles of arterial endothelial cells (ECs) of pigs fed with high-cholesterol diet.

METHODSEight male pigs were fed with high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks to induce arteriosclerosis and subjected to EECP for accumulative 36 h (2 h every other day for 18 sessions). Another 8 pigs on cholesterol-enriched diet and 6 normally fed pigs served as the arteriosclerosis model group and normal control group, respectively, and the high-cholesterol diet was maintained until the end of EECP treatment. The coronary artery was then isolated for transmission electro microscopy, and the abdominal aorta was observed using Sudan III staining. The gene expression profiles in ECs from the thoracic aorta using cDNA microarrays.

RESULTSMacrophages and foam cells were detected beneath the ECs in the coronary artery of pigs in the model group, but not in the other two groups. The ratios of Sudan III-positive area in the celiac aorta were significantly lower in normal control and EECP groups than in the model control group (P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the gene expressions of integrins-beta1 and CTGF were up-regulated in the model group. Compared with the model group, the expressions of integrins-beta1, CTGF and VCAM-1 were down-regulated and eNOS up-regulated in EECP group.

CONCLUSIONChronic EECP may reduce endothelial injury, down-regulate the gene expression level of integrin-beta1, CTGF and VCAM-1, lower cholesterol uptake and attenuate arterial endothelial inflammation to protect the pigs fed with high-cholesterol diet from arteriosclerosis.

Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Arteriosclerosis ; etiology ; genetics ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; metabolism ; pathology ; Counterpulsation ; methods ; Diet, Atherogenic ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Swine

AIM To optimize the TLC identification method for Cirsii Herba and to study the changes in quality properties"carbonizing retains characteristics"of Cirsii Herba Carbonisata.METHODS After the improvement of thin layer plate and solvent in the TLC identification based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Edition for Cirsii Herba,Cirsii Herba Carbonisata had its TLC identification method and UPLC fingerprint established for the determination of its content of buddleoside and acacetin as well.RESULTS We used silica gel G plate,and the solvent of toluene-acetone-formic acid-methanol(6 ∶ 3 ∶ 0.5 ∶ 2.5)for TLC identification of Cirsii Herba.The content variations of buddleoside and acacetin in Cirsii Herba and its differently charred products were consistent with the result of the TLC identification.CONCLUSION The improved TLC identification method for Cirsii Herba is of lower cost and less solvent toxicity compared to the method in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Edition,and can identify the changes in quality properties"carbonizing retains characteristics"of differently charred Cirsii Herba,therefore it can be used to control the quality of Cirsii Herba Carbonisata in the market.

Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/secondary* ; Liver Neoplasms/surgery* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery* ; Neoplasms, Second Primary