OBJECTIVETo search for a new method for treatment of acute gouty arthritis.

METHODSSixty cases of acute gouty arthritis were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture combined with point-injection, and the control group with western medicine. Their therapeutic effects were observed and serum uric acid contents were detected before and after treatment.

RESULTSThere was a very significantly difference between the two groups in the therapeutic effect (P<0. 01) and the analgesic effect in the treatment group was better than that in the control group (P<0. 01). The treatment group was superior to the control group in decrease of blood uric acid (P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture combined with point-injection is an effective method for treatment of acute gouty arthritis, and it can decrease blood uric acid content.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Gouty ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Uric Acid ; blood

AIM: To investigate the relationship among MCP-1 and monocyte chemoattract protein activity (MCA) and pathogenesis of lung cancer. METHODS: 173 patients were involved in the study and divided into three groups: group A: lung cancer group (60 patients); group B: benign lung disease group (55 patients) and group C: healthy control group (58 patients). MCP-1 level and MCA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. RESULTS: The concentration of MCP-1 and MCA in BALF in group A were much higher than those in group B and group C (P

A bacterial strain DN25, effective on cyanide-degradation, was isolated from contaminated soil and identified as Alcaligenes sp. on the basis of phenotype analysis and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. It showed great tolerance to the cyanide, which can grow in the medium containing 500mg CN -/L. The suitable condition for the cell growth and boitransformation was pH8.0 and 30oC and the transformation rate for 500mg CN - /L could achieve 99% in 10 h. It has also been found that the screened strain had the ability of K 4Fe(CN) 6 transformation with 96% of transformation rate at 12 h for the concentration of 500 mg CN /L.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of local application of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) via adenovirus-mediated gene transfer on survival of full thickness flaps selected randomly in rats.

METHODSThirty Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 480-520 g were used in this study. A dorsal flap (8 cm x 2 cm) in full thickness with the pedicle located at the level of the iliac crest was designed. Then the rats received 1,012 pfu replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus carrying VEGF (AdCMV-VEGF group, n=10), 1,012 pfu recombinant beta-galactosidase adenovirus (AdCMV-Gal group, n=10) and 1 ml saline (saline group, n=10), respectively, in the distal two thirds of the proposed flap by means of subdermal injection at 8 different locations. Three days after treatment, the flaps were elevated as originally designed and sutured back in situ. The survival rate of the flaps was evaluated on day 7 after operation.

RESULTSThe survival rate of the flaps in the AdCMV-VEGF group increased significantly as compared with those of the AdCMV-Gal group (P<0.01) and the saline group (P<0.01). Immunohistochemical staining showed that VEGF was expressed in the survival flaps injected with AdCMV-VEGF. Histological analysis showed that more granulation tissues and angiogenesis were observed in the AdCMV-VEGF group than those in the AdCMV-Gal and the saline groups.

CONCLUSIONSLocal application of adenovirus-mediated VEGF165 cDNA may efficiently improve the survival of ischemic skin flaps.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surgical Flaps ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

This study was aimed to investigate the immunological effect of modified dendritic cells (DC) which inducing cytotoxic T cells (CTL) against lymphoma cells. The DC were isolated from the lymph node and peripheral blood of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). DC were transfected with recombinant adenovirus vector carrying human p53 gene (rAd-p53-DC). The expression of p53 gene was detected by flow cytometry. Western-blot was used to detect the expression of P53. ELISA was used to detect IL-12 level in supernatant. The mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was used to detect the proliferative ability of auto-lymphocyte stimulated by DC. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release test was used to determine the cytotoxicity of CTL. The results indicates that the expressions of DC surface molecule (except for CD1a) such as CD83, CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR were significantly higher in experiment group than that in control group and blank control group. The secretion of IL-12 in supernatant was higher in experiment group than that in control group. The autologous T lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxic activity against the same kind of DLBL-cells increased in experiment group as compared with control group and blank control group (P < 0.05). The ability to stimulate T lymphocyte proliferation increased with the rising of the ratio of DC and T lymphocyte. However, there was statistically significant difference between rAd-p53-DC derived from Lymph node and peripheral blood (P < 0.05). It is concluded that rAd-p53-transfected DC can induce CTL response in vitro against lymphoma cells.
Adenoviridae ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Genes, p53 ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; blood ; immunology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo discuss the mechanism, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of thoracolumbar Chance fractures.

METHODSAmong all the 21 patients, 13 patients were male and 8 patients were female, ranging in age from 23 to 57 years, with an average of 32 years. The injury was at the level of T11 in 3 patients, at the level of T12 in 9 patients, at the level of L1 in 8 patients and at the level of L2 in 1 patient. According to Denis classification, 10 patients were type A, 2 type B, 5 type C, and 4 type D. All the patients were treated with pedicle screw internal fixation and posterior lateral fusion at the level of injury.

RESULTSTwenty-one patients had been followed up for an average of 18 months (13 to 28 months). According to ASIA neurologic grading system, 4 cases in grade C or D recovered to grade E postoperatively and one case in grade B was not improved. Postoperative X-ray showed good reduction and fixation in all cases and no looseness or breakage in the fixation system. The results of postoperative back pain and function assessment were mostly satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONThoracolumbar Chance fractures are due to flexion-distraction injuries and regarded as unstable, which are uncommon and usually not present with a neurologic deficit. Reduction and stabilization with posterior pedicle screw internal fixation is suggested in patients with thoracolumbar Chance fractures.

Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries

Using cDNA from Rehmannia glutinosa leaf as template, a 972 bp fragment of expansin gene which containing a 762 bp ORF that encoded 253 amino acids, was cloned, named RgEXPA10, which GenBank accession number for this gene is KF011918. A 1 207 bp genomic sequence of RgEXPA10 was amplified by PCR with leaf DNA as template, sequencing analysis revealed that three exons and two introns in RgEXPA10 genomic sequence, and which GenBank accession number is KF011919. Molecular and bioinformatic analyses indicated that RgEXPA10 protein have DPBB_1 and Pollen_allerg_1 domain, also including a 26 aa nuclear localization signal and a 19 aa transmembrane region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that RgEXPA10 showed the highest homology with AtEXPA8 among the 26 α-expansins in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the RgEXPA10 indicated the highest homology with the expansin from Solanum lycopersicum among 22 plant species. Expression patterns using qRT-PCR analysis showed that RgEXPA10 mainly expressed in unfolded leaf, followed by the tuberous root at stage of expanding period, and rarely expressed in senescing leaf. And RgEXPA10 showed higher expression level in tuberous root at 60 and 90 days after emergence. The transcription level of RgEXPA10 significantly reduced under all the three stresses including continuous cropping conditions, salinity and waterlogging. This study will lay foundations for molecular function in development and regulation of different stresses for R. glutinosa.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; Rehmannia ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of auricular acupoint (AA) in the treatment of analgesia during perioperative period in total hip arthroplasty.

METHODSFrom March 2008 to August 2010, 60 patients with late osteonecrosis of the femoral head were treated by total hip arthroplasty and randomly divided into auricular acupuncture (AA) group and control group, 30 patients in each group. There were 11 males and 19 females in the AA group,with an average age of (60.93 +/- 5.90) years; the patients were treated with auricular acupuncture on the point of Shenmen, Subcortex, Kidney and hip joint for four times a week. There were 12 males and 18 females in control group, with an average age of (59.87 +/- 6.21) years; while the patients without auricular acupuncture. VAS score was used to evaluat the degree of pain; Harris score was used to evaluat the function of hip joint. All patients received patient controlled analgesia pump (PCA) for 48 hours after surgery (400 ml liquids were in PCA pump, including 800 mg tramadol and 0.8 mg fentanyl). The dosage of liquids and adverse reaction of PCA pump in different time were recorded.

RESULTSThe VAS score on the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th day separately was (3.61 +/- 0.29), (3.59 +/- 0.30), (2.97 +/- 0.26), (2.29 +/- 0.45), and lower than control group, which separately was (4.19 +/- 0.28), (4.00 +/- 0.31), (3.15 +/- 0.29), (2.83 +/- 0.31). The dosage of PCA in AA group separately was (72.27 +/- 8.06), (60.40 +/- 8.16), (44.13 +/- 4.75), (40.40 +/- 3.69), and less than control group, which was (86.27 +/- 8.51), (73.87 +/- 8.32), (54.53 +/- 5.20), (44.67 +/- 6.31) on the time of 0-12, 12-24, 24-36 h and 36-48 h after surgery. During the using of PCA, nausea and vomiting occurred in 5 cases, less than control group (21 cases). Harris score in AA group (78.90 +/- 5.14) was higher than control group (73.37 +/- 5.99) 2 weeks after operation.

CONCLUSIONAuricular acupuncture can reduce postoperative pain, reduce the usage of analgesic and complications, such as nausea and vomiting, improve the function of hip joint after operation.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Aged ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Management ; Pain, Postoperative ; therapy ; Perioperative Period

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of surface antigen and function of rituximab on dendritic cells derived from patients with Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) to further understand the effective mechanism of immunotherapy.

METHODSThe peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from remission patients with ITP before and after low-dose rituximab infusion, and the PMNCs were stimulated for 5 days by rhGM-CSF and rhlL-4 in 5% CO2 air at 37°C incubator. Then all of DCs were cultured with TNF-α for 48 hours. The morphology of DCs was monitored under inverted microscope daily, and the surface antigens of the DCs were analysed by flow cytometry, meanwhile the levels of IL-12p70 and TGF-β1 in supernatants were detected by ELISA, mix lymphocyte reaction was performed by MTT assay.

RESULTS(1) Rituximab-treated-DCs showed no obvious tree-like protruding compared with untreated-DCs. The former cells were small and most of nucleus were centric. (2) The expressions of HLA-DR, CD80, CD83 and CD86 on rituximab-treated-DCs \[56.37 ± 3.95)%, (36.41 ± 2.82)%, (30.45 ± 4.61)% and (41.98 ± 4.17)%, respectively\] were significantly lower than those untreated-DCs \[(73.71 ± 7.61)%, (55.14 ± 7.30)%, (80.91 ± 7.09)% and (59.03 ± 3.43)%, respectively\](all P < 0.05), the concentration of IL-12p70 was significantly lower, \[(66.87 ± 4.29)% vs (50.17 ± 14.52)%\], while that of TGF-β1 \[(9.70 ± 0.31)%\] higher than the untreated-DCs \[(2.70 ± 0.36)%\] (P < 0.05). (3) The abilities to activate T cells proliferation of rituximab-treated-DCs reduced compared with untreated-DCs.

CONCLUSIONThe surface antigen of ITP-DCs and the concentration of IL-12p70 reduced after the low-dose rituximab infusion. The abilities to activate T cells proliferation reduced while the concentration of TGF-β1 increased. Rituximab may achieve its therapeutic effect on ITP by downregulating the immunoreactivity of DCs.

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; secretion ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Rituximab ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Thrombocytopenia ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism