Objective This study evaluated the effects of combined procedure of surgical treatment and cell transplantation on dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods Eight patients (5 men and 3 women) with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation from end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy underwent surgery. Four patients were in functional class (FC) Ⅳ, six were in FC Ⅲ. There age ranged from 15 to 56 years. The preoperative ejection fraction (EF) ranged from 0.15 to 0.32 (mean 0.26 ± 0.08). Mitral valve replacement was performed in 5 patients and mitral valve repair in 3. Auto-bone marrow monenuclear cells were harvested, isolated, washed, and resuspended for direct injection after surgical procedure. Results All patients survived and were discharged from the hospital. After a mean follow-up period of 18 months ( 12 - 42 months). Echocardiography showed postoperative ejection fraction and wall movement velocity increased after 6 months. Radionuclide ventriculography showed myocardial perfusion improved significantly. Conclusion Combined procedure of surgical treatment and cell transplantation led to significant improvement in cardiac function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of acupuncture along affected meridian on the mem- brane metallo-endopeptidase (MME) gene expression of migraine patients without aura (MO) of Gan-yang hyperactivity syndrome (GYHS).

METHODSTotally 20 MO patients of GYHS were randomly assigned to the acupoint group (acupuncture along affected meridian) and the non-acupoint group, 10 cases in each group. Needling was performed once per day for 10 consecutive days. Gene chip technology was used to obtain two sets of gene expression profiles and analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO).

RESULTSIn the acupoint group, MME gene expression decreased after needling (P = 0.0023).That gene was rich in the beta-amyloid metabolic process (P = 3.16E-05) and the peptide metabolic process (P = 0.009612). Its expression was not seen in the non-acupoint group.

CONCLUSIONThe effect of point selection along affected meridian could be achieved possibly by regulating the MME gene expression.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Endrin ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Humans ; Meridians ; Migraine Disorders ; therapy ; Syndrome

Objective:With proteomic approach,to find the differentially expressed proteins spots in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) of healthy people and intracerebral hemorrhage patients with liver yang forming wind syndrome(LYFWS) treated by Zhenganxifeng decoction(ZGXFD) to investigate the possible proteins of LYFWS and the cure mechanism of ZGXFD.Methods: 10 intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS were treated by ZGXFD for 7-10 days.10 healthy people were selected taken as healthy controls.10ml venous blood was drawed from every subjects and PBMCs were isolated from blood by using lymphocytes separation medium.The total proteins was extracted from PBMCs.The total proteins from either intracerebral hemorrhage patients or healthy controls were prepared by means of immobilized pH gradient based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.After Coomassie brilliant blue G250 staining,gel-image analysis was performed by PDQuest.The differentially expressed proteins spots were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALD I-TOF-MS).Results: Gel-image analysis revealed that there were 22 proteins spots expressed differentially.20 proteins spots were expressed differentially in the intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS as compared with healthy control,of which 8 proteins were down-regulated,7 proteins were up-regulated and 5 proteins were lost.After treated by ZGXFD,4 proteins were down-regulated,5 proteins were up-regulated and 2 proteins were lost,9 proteins weren’t expressed di erentially as compared with healthy control.8 of 20 di erentially expressed proteins spots in the intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS identi ed by MALDI-TOF-MS as compared with healthy control.These proteins are related to cell metabolism,signal transduction and so forth,of which 6 proteins were down-regulated,1 proteins were up-regulated and 1 proteins were lost.After treated by ZGXFD,2 proteins were down-regulated,1 proteins were lost,5 proteins weren’t expressed di erentially as compared with healthy control.Conclusion: 2-DE pro les of intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS in PBMCs had been established.The proteins of intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS had been identi ed,which were related to cell metabolism,signal transduction and so forth.This research presented that ZGXFD could adjust multiple di erentially expressed proteins of intracerebral hemorrhage patients with LYFWS.It was also indicated that the cure mechanism of ZGXFD was to regulate multitarget proteins.

With more and more attention and investment on acupuncture scientific researches, considerable outcomes and achievements has been acquired, but the shortcoming of low transformation rate of acupuncture research achievements is gradually exposed. Nowadays there is no related report on this problem, so based on achievement translational research in other areas and practical situation of acupuncture, the existing problems and solutions are analyzed. As a result, the existing problems include (1) the research content is mainly basic research and clinical research but less acupuncture device research, leading to limited transformation efficiency; (2) the evaluation system and transformation pattern are still needed to be perfect. The solutions are (1) to properly evaluate the research achievements of acupuncture, (2) to advocate the concept and method of translational medicine, (3) to reform the policy and system, and (4) to establish valid platforms covering research, outcomes and transformation.
Acupuncture ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; manpower ; Biomedical Research ; Biotechnology ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; manpower ; China ; Humans ; Technology Transfer

Metabonomics is a systematic science that mainly studies the dynamic changes of endogenous metabolites after a biological system is stimulated or disturbed. Its application in cardiovascular diseases has increasingly been explored, with an attempt to find valuable biomarkers and explore the underlying pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases by profiling the metabolism in these patients. This article summarized recent advances in this topic and outlines prospects for future developments.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Metabolomics

Actuality of acupuncture researches and characteristics of acupuncture science are analyzed in the article. Three essential features of acupuncture researches are concluded as follows. Firstly, to adhere to the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine theory, and take whole and function as the proper introduction for the study; secondly, to bring into close association of basic studies and clinical practice, so as to achieve the fundamental objective of improving therapeutic effect; and thirdly, to attach importance to the influences of ancient culture on acupuncture, and bring the original advantages of acupuncture science into full play. In order to carry on and make innovation on acupuncture theories, principles, prescriptions, acupoints and techniques, multidisciplinary studies should be in combination with various objectives of studies in further researches.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Culture ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Meridian and collateral theory is the core of acupuncture theory. Simple using the syndrome differentiation system of internal medicine of TCM in clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion is difficult to reflect the core of acupuncture theories and characters of clinical acupuncture treatment. The establishment of clinical syndrome differentiation system of acupuncture should base on characters and laws of acupuncture and take the syndrome differentiation according to meridian and collateral theories as main body, syndrome differentiation according to location as key, syndrome differentiation according to eight principles as guidance, syndrome differentiation according to zang-fu theory as complementarity, and pay attention to application of acupoint specificity in clinic, so as to reflect unique character of acupuncture theory and insure the veracity of syndrome differentiation of acupuncture and efficacy of acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Moxibustion

In recent years the science of acupuncture and moxibustion has been keeping on development all over the world. It is shown as the strengthening of legislation and management, the flourishing of education and training, the expanding of clinical indications and the increasing level of clinical research. The developmental trends of the science of acupuncture and moxibustion in the world include that it will be paid more attention to by the international mainstream medicine, the clinical research will still focus on the certifying therapeutic effectiveness, and that it will be able to do more attribution to the therapy of difficult and complicated cases. Understanding the developmental status and trend of the science of acupuncture and moxibustion abroad is important for promoting the domestic development and internationalization of the science of acupuncture and moxibustion.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Biomedical Research ; Humans ; Moxibustion

Acupuncture Therapy ; Biomedical Research ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

In order to ensure and enhance the level and quality of acupunctural clinical trial, the design, implementation, supervision and reporting of multi-centered acupunctural clinical trial, its concrete methods and main significance, were introduced in this paper by taking the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China("973 Program") and "11th Five-Year Plan Period" National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China supported items for illustration. Besides that attention should be paid to randomization, controlling and blinded methods, the power and the sample size calculation as well as the medical ethics are also important in design. The registration of clinical trials, formulation of the standard operation procedures and training of researchers are the key points in the implementing process. And the emphases in supervision are the establishment and execution of a supervising system, which are the important links for ensuring the quality of research. In addition, the reporting of acupunctural clinical trials should follow the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials) statement and the STRICTA (Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture) recommendations.
Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; standards ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; standards ; Guidelines as Topic ; Humans ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; standards ; Research Design