Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Tennis Elbow ; therapy

Akebia trifoliate has been reported to have many pharmacological activities and the roots, petioles and seeds are used to different symptoms. However, the structure and anatomy of its seeds was almost not reported until now. In the present study, we investigated the morphological characters of the fruit and seed, and the anatomical characters of the testa, micropyle, embryo and endosperm, which could provide evidences for the study on classification, identification and application of A. trifoliate. Our results showed that the testa of A. trifoliate consisted of an epidermic cell layer, the sclerenchyma cells layer, the parenchyma cells layer and an innermost pigment layer. At the micropylar region, the outermost epidermal cells were specialized the white caruncle-like structure and the testa included a lot of lignified tissues. Endosperm comprises two layer cells. Outermost yellowish-brown layer cells contains lots of fat droplets, and innermost white layer cells contains lots of aleurone grains and crystalloids.
Germination ; Magnoliopsida ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Seeds ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

Objective To explore the possible factors associated with twice human brucellosis epidemics in Inner Mongolia during 1952 to 2007 to provide scientific tactics for prevention and control brucellosis. Methods Surveillance data and literature about human brucellosis during 1952 to 2007 in Inner Mongolia was collected, descriptive analysis of human brucellosis incidence on distribution in the regions and among occupations was carried out during 1952 to 2007. Results In Inner Mongolia, the first epidemic of human brucellosis peak appeared in the early 1960s, spreading to 12 regions, at an incidence of 55.28/100 000 in 1961, 72.9% of the Brucella infected people were herdsman;another epidemic peak seriously hit middle and eastern regions after 2000, the incidence being 38.44/100 000 in 2005;51.9% and 28.7% of the new brucellosis cases were respectively peasant and herdsman. Conclusions In Inner Mongolia, animal husbandry industry has been rapid developed since the early 1990's, resulting frequent livestock trade without quarantine, at the same time the public health system doesn't match the development, so the epidemic situation of brucellosisbecomes more and more serious after mid-90's, and has reached the peak during 2004 and 2007.

Objective To determine whether arsenic has estrogen-like effects,the cell proliferation was measured iil human eervical cancer line(HeLa)in vitro.Methods The HeLa cells were grown in improved RPMI 1640 supplemented respectively with β-estradiol(E2,1 nmol/L),Arsenic trioxide(As2O3,0.5,1.0,5.0 μmol/L),ICI (500 nmol/L),E2(1 nmol/L)+ICI(500 nmol/L),As2O3(1.0 μmol/L)+ICI(500 nmol/L)and control.The growth morphology of HeLa cell was observed under microscope after 72 h.The method of M1Tr was used to study the cell proliferation after 24.48 and 72 h.The technique of flow eytometry was used to measure cell cycle after 48 h. Results HeLa cells in E2 and 0.5 μmoL/L As2O3 treatment were more better growth in morphology than control group.Percentage of HeLa cells proliferation at 24,48,72 h in E2 and 0.5 μmol/L As2O3 treatment were 6.35%, 11.56%,38.33%and 6.35%,8.50%,20.26%respectively.The proliferation effect of HeLa cells was similar in two treatments.The proliferation of HeLa cells were inhibited in other treatments.Compared with control[(41.68± 1.05)%],HeLa cells were promoted go to S phases in E2[(55.72±2.31)%]and 0.5 μmol/L As2O3[(47.82± 1.41)%]treatment.But in other treatments HeLa cells were hold back to S phases.Compared with control,there was a significant differenee(P＜0.05)of cell percentage in S phases in 5.0 μmol/L As2O3[(21.11±4.99)%]and ICI[(20.16±4.76)%]treatments.Conclusion Small amounts of As2O3 impose estrogen.1ike effects and stimulate the proliferation of HeLa cells.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10) on distribution taxis of paclitaxel in mice with lung cancer to discuss targeted relationship between acupoints and corresponding viscera.

METHODSAccording to randomized digital table, 315 SPF-grade BALB/C female mice were divided into 7 groups: blank group (group A), model group (group B), medication group (group C), acupuncture at non-acupoint group (group D), acupuncture at Feishu group (group E), acupuncture at Lingtai group (group F) and acupuncture at Feishu and Lingtai group (group G), 45 mice in each one. Except the blank group, the remaining groups were treated with N-nitroso-tris-chloroethyl urea (NTCU) to establish the model of squamous-cell carcinoma. After model establishment, group A, group B and group C were not treated with acupuncture; group A and group B were treated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% sodium chlorvde solution by 6 mL/kg while group C was treated with intraperitoneal injection of paclitaxel by 6 mL/kg. The group D, group E, group F and group G were treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint, "Feishu" (BL 13), "Lingtai" (GV 10) and "Feishu" (BL 13) plus "Lingtai" (GV 10), respectively, then were intraperitoneally injected with paclitaxel by 6 mL/kg. The treatment was all given once a day for continuous 10 days. 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 8 h, 12 h and 24 h after the treatments, 6 mice in each group were randomly selected and sacrificed to collect samples of lung, liver, spleen, kidney and heart, etc. High performance liquid chromatography was applied to measure the concentration of paclitaxel in each organ (lung, liver, spleen, kidney and heart) at different time points.

RESULTS(1) The content of paclitaxel in lung, kidney and heart reached the peak at 2 h, then decreased significantly in group C, group D, group E, group F and group G; the content of paclitaxel in spleen showed downtrend at each time point. The content of paclitaxel in liver reached the peak at 2 h in group C and group D; the content of paclitaxel reached the peak at 8 h in group E, group F and group G. (2) The content of paclitaxel in lung in group E and group G was higher than that in group C and group D at each time point (all P < 0.01); the content of paclitaxel in lung in group F was higher than that in group C (P < 0.01) and group D (P < 0.01) only at time point of 2 h. The content of paclitaxel in lung in group G was higher than that in group F at each time point (all P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between group G and group E (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10) could influ- ence the metabolism of paclitaxel in lung-cancer mice, leading to distribution change in each organ. As a result, it could cause targeting effects, which is more significant at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Lingtai" (GV 10).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacokinetics ; Taxus ; chemistry

Accurate estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) has been one of the most important and complicated issues in the forensic practice. In order to provide novel perspectives for the future research concerning PMI, the advantages and disadvantages of related traditional methods, postmortem degradation of nucleic acid and tissue, the componential change of vitreous humor and histological biochemistry since 2002 have been introduced and compared in this review.
Animals ; Autopsy ; Body Temperature ; DNA/metabolism* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal/pathology* ; Nucleic Acids/metabolism* ; Postmortem Changes ; Potassium/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Regression Analysis ; Time Factors ; Vitreous Body/metabolism*

Through analysis on sequencing of meridians and their muscle regions, their pertaining organs, run ning courses, linking and indications described in Zubi Shiyimai (Eleven Meridian of Foot and Hand), Yinyang Shiyimai (Eleven Meridian of Yinyang), Lingshu: Jingmai (Miraculous Pivot: Meridian) and Lingshu: Jinjing (Miraculous Pivot: Muscle Meridian), it is found that most of the indications of acupuncture in ancient time are symptoms of the muscle regions. 62.59% points of the national standard acupoints location close to tender points of the muscle regions, which indicates that the origin of early acupoints are tender points along the running courses of the muscle regions. Thus, it is concluded that meridians and their muscle regions have the same origin, which provides new train of thinking for a better comprehension of origin of meridians and collaterals.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Meridians ; Muscles ; pathology ; Pain ; pathology ; Pain Management

BACKGROUNDThe feasibility and safety of endoscopic thyroidectomy were evaluated by an approach of systematic review of published studies in the past decade.

METHODSA database searching was performed on MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, American College of Physicians Journal Club, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Both comparative and non-comparative studies about endoscopic thyroidectomy were selected and analyzed. For the comparative studies, RevMan 4.2 was used for statistical analysis; and for the non-comparative studies, data analysis was performed by SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSSeven comparative studies involving 367 patients (video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT), 174 patients; conventional thyroidectomy (CT), 193 patients) were included in VAT-CT group. Age, gender, operative types, and pathological diagnosis were similar. Compared with CT, the mean operative time for VAT was significantly longer (VAT, 80.0 minutes; CT, 61.9 minutes, P < 0.01), but the postoperative hospital stay was shorter (VAT, 1.7 days; CT, 2.5 days, P < 0.01). The complication rate for VAT was 6.9%, while that for CT was 9.3% (P = 0.35). Three studies analyzed the postoperative pain and cosmetic evaluation, and indicated that the VAT group was superior to the CT group, but there was no significant difference after a meta-analysis. Three comparative studies involving 273 patients (totally endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET), 145 patients; CT, 128 patients) were included in TET-CT group and the results generally resembled that of VAT-CT group. There were 18 and 14 non-comparative studies reporting the results of VAT and TET, respectively. The mean operative time for VAT was 76.8 minutes compared with 135.8 minutes for TET. The postoperative hospital stay was 1.8 and 3.8 days for VAT and TET respectively. The rates of conversion to open surgery for VAT and TET were similar (VAT, 2.8%; TET, 3.9%, P = 0.105). The complication rate for VAT was 8.6%, while that for TET was 3.5% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe feasibility and safety of endoscopic thyroidectomy were initially verified and accepted, and it should be considered as a valid option, offering some advantages to patients in terms of cosmetic results and postoperative distress.

Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Pain, Postoperative ; drug therapy ; Thyroidectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Video-Assisted Surgery

AIMTo search for some substituted alpha-amino phosphonates as leading compounds with the vasodilator effects.

METHODSTarget compounds were prepared from benzyl aldehyde, piperazine and diethyl phosphite using alcohol as solvent via Mannich-type reaction. In isolated rat aorta and in isolated guinea pig ileum, the vasodilator effects of compounds were investigated and evaluated whether they activated muscarine receptor.

RESULTSSeven compounds of substituted alpha-amino phosphonates have been synthesized and identified by IR, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. Three of them, compound 2a, 2b and 2c have vasodilator activity and do not activate M receptor.

CONCLUSIONTwo (2b and 2c) of them were found to have the notable vasodilator effect, and the rates of relaxing are (67 +/- 21) % and (82 +/- 18)%, separately. But they did not activate M receptors on ileum.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; Benzylamines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Ileum ; drug effects ; Molecular Structure ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Organophosphonates ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Based on traditional acupuncture-moxibustion treatment ideas, with differentiation of channels and collaterals as main part and feature, the important role of associated symptom and sign-based acupoint selection in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment is explained from angles of philosophy and medicine. Combined with clinical experience of acupuncture and moxibustion, the category of associated symptom and sign-based acupoint selection is explained in detail to make sure the accuracy of acupuncture-moxibustion differentiation. It could show uniqueness and advantage of theory and clinic in acupuncture-moxibustion and provide theoretical references in making acupuncture-moxibustion prescription to improve effectiveness of clinical treatment.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion