Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of ‘Three Steps to Regulate Qi Method’ tuina for infantile cough.
Methods:Fifty-one children with cough were enrolled and received ‘Three Steps to Regulate Qi Method’ tuina, once a day for 5 d. The effects were observed after 5 treatments.
Results:There was no dropout case during the process. Among the 51 infantile patients, 37 cases were cured, 14 cases were improved, and the total effective rate was 100%.
Conclusion:'Three Steps to Regulate Qi Method’ tuina is an effective, simple and convenient method for infatile cough and worth spreading in clinical application.

We studied the actions of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differentiating breast tumors. From January 2010 to February 2012, we retrospectively analyzed data of 95 cases with breast tumor pathologically confirmed from DWI and DCE-MRI. We compared the ADC value, time-intensity curve (TIC) and DCE-MRI parameters between breast tumors, and calculated the sensitivity and specificity for differentiating breast tumors. The results were as follows: (1) On DWI, mean ADC value of malignant tumor was lower than that of benign tumor (P < 0.05). For differentiating breast malignant tumors from benign neoplasm, a cut-off ADC value of 1.2 x 10(-3) mm2/s achieved a sensitivity of 74.1% and specificity of 70.3%. (2) On DCE-MRI, early enhancement ratio (EER) value of malignant tumor was higher than that of benign tumor whereas value of time to peak (Tpeak) and maximal enhancement ratio (SImax) were lower than that of benign tumor (all P < 0.05). As for TIC, type II and III were more frequently seen in malignant tumor than in benign tumor whereas type I was more common in benign tumor than in malignant tumor (all P < 0.05). For differentiating breast malignant tumors from benign neoplasm, DCE-MRI obtained a sensitivity of 89.7% and specificity of 70.3%. (3) For differentiating breast malignant tumors from benign neoplasm, ADC value together with TIC obtained a sensitivity of 79.3% and specificity of 78.4%. Malignant or benign breast tumors could have their own unique characteristics on DWI and DCE-MRI. These characteristics might be helpful for differentiating these tumors.
Breast Neoplasms ; classification ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To investigate the esthetic effect of anterior ultra-thin veneers which were fabricated from heat pressed IPS e.max press ingots of high translucency.Methods The whole 62 anterior teeth of 12 patients,who wanted to receive aesthetic restorative treatment,were invloved in the study.Grooves with 0.5 mm depth were marked at the center of the labial face by the use of spherical diamond burs with 1 mm in diameter.At the cervix of the teeth,the design of 0.3 mm shallow concave shoulder was adopted.IPS e.max HT ingots of different color were chosen to be hotpressed; the straining technique was used on the marginal ridge and incisor ridge of the ultra thin veneers after they had been carefully trimmed.Subsequently,the restorations were bonded with Variolink Veneer resin cement.After a short-term follow-up for 3 years,a modified USPHS criterion was used to evaluate the esthetic effect.Results The thickness of the ultra-thin veneers fabricated by heat pressing was 0.3-0.5 mm,marginal integrity of the veneers was perfect and fitted well with the marginal finishing line of the abutment,and then the translucency of veneers was high.There was no edge discoloring after the veneers were used for 6 months to 3 years,and they might produce an excellent chameleon effect by mixing the color of adjacent teeth and gums,and appeared a surface morphology of natural enamel after carefully carved.In the short-term clinical observation,none of the 62 veneers fractured or fell off; there was no case of dentin hypersensitivity.Conclusions Ultra-thin veneers fabricated from IPS e.max Press ingots have the following advantages,a simple operating procedure,high mechanical strength,and satisfactory esthetic effect.

Little is reported about the role of PTEN gene in the progression and prognosis of GISTs. This study examined the clinical implications of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN as a prognostic factor in the GISTs. Immunohistological staining and immunoblotting were employed to examine the PTEN protein expression, and its association with clinical measures. Clinicopathological features were reviewed by a retrospective examination of medical records. Reduced PTEN expression was significantly associated with tumor diameter, mitotic figure count, metastasis and pathological stage of tumor (P<0.05), and was not correlated with age, gender and tumor location (P>0.05). The 3-year survival rate of the patients with reduced PTEN expression was significantly lower than those with high PTEN expression (P<0.01). These results suggest that the expression of PTEN gene was significantly linked with the progression and metastasis of GISTs and it is an independent prognostic factor.

Objective: To investigate the expression of ATP-Binding Cassette Proteins including P-gp (P-glycoprotein), MRP1 (multidrug resistance associated protein 1) and BCRP (breast cancer resistance protein) in hepatocellular carcinoma and its relationship with pathological features. Methods: The expression of P-gp/MDR1 (multidrug resistance gene 1), MRP1 and BCRP in hepatocellular carcinoma was examined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in 34 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and 19 cases of paraneoplastic hepatic tissues. Results: The expression of MDR1, MRP1 and BCRP mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) was 1.15±0.24, 0.64±0.33, and 1.07±0.32 in hepatocellular carcinoma and 0.36±0.14, 0.19±0.06, and 0.31±0.09 in paraneoplastic hepatic tissues. The expression of MDR1, MRP1 and BCRP mRNA was 1.38±0.26, 0.73±0.35, and 1.34±0.21 in poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma and 0.74±0.32, 0.30±0.11, and 0.45±0.13 in well differentiated hepatic tissues. The immunohistochemical positive substance was detected in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. The positive rates of P-gp, MRP1 and BCRP were 82.35%, 58.82%, and 79.41% in hepatocellular carcinoma and 42.11%, 26.32%, and 36.84% in paraneoplastic hepatic tissues, respectively. The positive rates of P-gp, MRP1 and BCRP were 100.00%, 81.25%, and 100.00% in poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma and 66.67%, 38.89%, and 61.11% in well differentiated hepatic tissues. The expression of three indicies in hepatocellular carcinoma was higher than that in paraneoplastic hepatic tissues (P<0.05). The expression of P-gp/MDR1, MRP1 and BCRP in poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma was higher than that in well differentiated hepatic tissues (P<0.05). No correlation was found among the three indices. Conclusion: Intrinsic multidrug resistance exsists in hepatocellular carcinoma, with various mechanisms. The multidrug resistance of HCC (hepatic cell carcinoma) is related to P-gp/MDR1, MRP1 and BCRP. MRP1 and BCRP may be targets for reversing multidrug resistance.

Objective To study the mechanism of unscheduled Cyclin B1 expression at G_1 phase which is usually at G_2/M phase.Methods Human peripheral blood lymphocytes(PBL) from healthy volunteers were firstly activated by PHA and then went into cell cycle.The cells were collected at 0,36,48 and 60 h after activation and divided into two parts:one for Cyclins/DNA muhiparameter assay,and another for Post-sorting Western blot.Results After activation by PHA,Cyclin B1 and CDK1 of lymphocytes were expressed at G_1 phase.Conclusion Unscheduled Cyclin B1/CDKl probably contributes to lymphocytes in vivo into cell cycle.

Objective To explore the possibility that rat bone mesenchymal cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into hepatocytes under the affection of fetal liver filtrate. Methods PAS and green indigo dye were used to detect glycogen and differential level of hepatocytes, respectively. The concentration of ALT, AST, ALP in the culture supernatant were served as markers of hepaocyte function. Results Fourteen days after induced by the fetal liver filtrate, BMSCs changed their shapes into polygon, oval or round. Some of BMSCs were positive for AFP and ALB at 7 days after induction, then the number of positive cells increased, and most of BMSCs expressed AFP and ALB till 21days. The PAS reaction and indocyanine green(ICG) intaking also appeared at 7days. Enzyme in supernatant such as ALT, AST, ALP were fristly detected at 7days and peaked at 14days,then the level declined. Conclusion The fetal rat liver filtrate was able to induce BMSCs into cells with function and characteristics of hepatocytes.

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular biology mechanism of acupuncture on improving immune function damage induced by chemotherapy in cancer-bearing mice.

METHODSSeventy-two mice (36 mice in 3-day treatment and 5-day treatment, respectively) which were successfully made into cancer-bearing model were divided into a blank group, a model group, an acupuncture group and a moxibustion group by stratified randomization method, 9 mice in each one. Except for the mice in the blank group, the remaining mice were treated with intra-peritoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX, 150 mg/kg), to establish the cancer-bearing mice of CTX. The mice in the blank group were treated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% NaCl (identical dose as other groups). After 4 h, the mice in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group were treated with acupuncture and moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Geshu" (BL 17), "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Zusanli" (ST 36), once a day. The mice in the blank group and model group were treated with immobilization and fixation during the same time. On the next day of the end of 3-day and 5-day treatment, the sample was collected. The ELISA method was applied to measure the contents of IL-12 and TNF-α in spleen of all the mice.

RESULTSAfter 3-day and 5-day treatment, compared with the blank group, the contents of IL-12 and TNF-α in spleen in the model group were reduced (all P < 0.05); compared with the model group, the contents of IL-12 and TNF-α in spleen in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group were increased (all P < 0.05), but the content of IL-12 and TNF-α in the acupuncture group was not different from that in the moxibustion group (both P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and moxibustion could effectively increase the contents of IL-12 and TNF-α in spleen of CTX cancer-bearing mice, which could relieve chemotherapy-induced immune function damage to improve immune function.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Moxibustion ; Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Spleen ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Humans ; Neck Injuries ; therapy ; Vertebral Artery ; injuries ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency

Objective To observe the effects of atorvastatin on the microglia activation after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods Sixty adult male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into sham group, atorvastatin group and saline group, 20 mice for each group. The atorvastatin group and saline group were given hydraulic combat to establish TBI mouse model. The shame group underwent the same surgical procedure without being exposed to percussion injury. The atorvastatin group was treated with atorvastatin (orally, 1 mg/kg)1 h after TBI and for 7 consecutive days. The saline group was given sa?line orally. The expression of microglia (Iba-1+) at the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day after TBI and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) around the lesion at the 3rd day after TBI were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-αwas detected by Western blot assay at the 3rd day after TBI. Results The positive expression of Iba-1+microglia was signifi?cantly decreased in atorvastatin group than that of saline group at the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day after TBI (80.00±7.44 vs. 118.40± 6.65,85.60±10.87 vs. 189.00±7.51,69.40±5.54 vs. 102.40±10.89, P<0.05). The positive expression of MMP-9 was signifi?cantly decreased in atorvastatin group compared with that of saline group at the 3rd day after TBI (86.80 ± 8.40 vs. 133.80 ± 8.46, P<0.05). Results of Western blot assay showed that the positive expression of TNF-αwas significantly decreased in astorvastatin group than that of saline group at the 3rd day after TBI (0.64±0.01 vs. 0.97±0.02,P<0.05). Conclusion Ator?vastatin can reduce inflammation factor by influencing the microglia activation after TBI in mice.