Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method versus ordinary acupuncture on superficial fascia for treating neck type cervical spondylopathy in Kyrgyz. Methods:A total of 64 Kyrgyz patients conforming to the diagnostic criteria of neck type cervical spondylopathy were included. The patients were randomized into a Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, with 32 cases in each group. Patients in the Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group were treated with Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method to stimulate the superficial fascia, the stimulation sites were primarily located at bilateral sides of the cervical vertebra as well as the trigger points in shoulder-neck region; patients in the conventional acupuncture group were punctured at the same acupoints, with twirling reducing method, and the depth of insertion was determined by the treated region. Patients in both groups received treatment every day for a succession of 5 d as a course, with a 2-day interval between 2 courses, and the whole treatment lasted for 3 courses. After 3 courses of treatment, the McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) and neck disability index (NDI) were measured to compare the clinical effect between the two groups. Results: After treatment, scores of MPQ and NDI scale dropped when compared with those before treatment, and the differences showed statistical significance (allP<0.05); scores of MPQ and NDI in the Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group were substantially lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group, and the differences showed statistical significance (allP<0.05). The total effective rate was 96.9％ in the Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group and the cured rate was 78.1％, which were higher than 81.3％ and 40.6％ in the conventional acupuncture group, and the differences showed statistical significance (bothP<0.05). Conclusion: Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method by stimulating superficial fascia to treat cervical spondylopathy in Kyrgyz can produce a better clinical effect than conventional acupuncture treatment, and is effective in improving pain and stiffness in patients, and thus is worth clinical popularization.

OBJECTIVETo increase the accuracy of beam targeting and improve the dose distributions in radiotherapy using a robust image registration algorithm based on control volumes.

METHODSControl volume mapping and thin-plate spline deformable transformation were combined. The use of the control volumes increased the accuracy for the deformable registration. A bi-directional mapping method was also employed to correctly match the control volumes.

RESULTSThe clinical images were simulated using the proposed two-step image registration algorithm. The simulation results indicated that the registration algorithm was robust and universal, even in cases of obvious deformation.

CONCLUSIONSThe algorithm provides a more convenient and robust resolution as compared to manual landmark-based methods and single-step deformable transformations, and may help in automatic image registration in radiation therapy.

Algorithms ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods

A pair of degenerate primers were designed based on NBS (nucleotide binding site, NBS) domain of resistance(R) gene and used to perform PCR with cDNA from the translocation line 6VS/6AL of Triticum aestivum-Haynaldia villosa. A clone (N7) characterized with NBS was obtained by sequencing analysis. Two specific primers were designed from the N7 sequence and used to screen a genomic TAC (transformation-competent artificial chromosome, TAC) library of 6VS/6AL consisting of ca. 2 x 10(6) clones. The library was stored as clone pools in twenty-two 96-well plates, each well containing approximately 1000 TAC clones. TAC plasmids were prepared from all the 2112 pools. Using a pooled PCR screening procedure, a positive TAC clone having a 40 kb insert was obtained. The positive clone was confirmed by Southern hybridization with the NBS fragment as a probe. The results indicate that the pooled PCR method is effective for screening of genomic libraries having large number of clones.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Blotting, Southern ; Chromosomes, Artificial ; Genomic Library ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Translocation, Genetic ; Triticum ; genetics

The aim of the study is to investigate chemical constituents of the leaves of Pieris japonica. The isolation and purification of the constituents were performed by various chromatography and spectral analysis. Three new phenolic glucosides, erythro-syringoylglycerol 4-O-beta-D-glucoside (1), 1-(2-beta-D-glucopyranoxyl-4-methoxyl-6-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxyl-l-propanone (3), erythro-l-(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-[4-(3-beta-D-glucopyranoxypropyl)-2 ,6-dimethoxyphenoxy]-1, 3-propanediol (4), along with five known phenolic glucosides, syringoylglycerol 8-O-beta-D-glucoside (2), magnolenin C (5), syringaresinol mono-beta-D-glucoside (6), 3-(4-hydroxyl-3-methyphenyl)-1 -propanol-l-O-beta-D-glucoside (7) and 3, 5-dimethoxyl-4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol 4-O-beta-D-glucoside (8) were isolated and identified from the plant leaves. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited significantly (P <0.01) the proliferation of murine T and B cells at concentration of 1 x 10(-6) mol L(-1), in vitro.
Ericaceae ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of the ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 1 (ABCG1) gene polymorphisms with coronary atherosclerotic disease (CAD) in Chinese Han population.

METHODSA population based case-control association study was carried out in 541 patients with CAD and 649 healthy controls from Chinese Han population. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ABCG1 gene were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Logistic regression was used to compare the genotypic and allelic frequency difference.

RESULTSThe frequency of allele C of rs225374 was significantly higher in the CAD patients than that in the healthy controls (OR=1.186, 95%CI: 1.009-1.394, P=0.039), while the difference was also significant in the male subgroup (OR=1.236, 95%CI: 1.014-1.506, P=0.036). A statistically higher frequency of rs1044317 allele A was found in the CAD patients in comparison to the healthy controls (OR=1.187, 95%CI: 1.009-1.397, P=0.039). In case-only association study, rs225374 showed significant association in the high Gensini score group compared with the low Gensini score group (OR=1.303, 95%CI: 1.024-1.657, P=0.031).

CONCLUSIONThe two SNPs of the ABCG1 gene might be associated with the susceptibility and severity of CAD in Chinese Han population.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; ethnology ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) severely affects the life of women and the estrogen replacement therapy for it has obvious adverse effects. This article aimed to study the effect of polygoni multiflori radix preparata (PMRP) on DOR in rats and provide a therapeutic option for clinical medication. Methods Sixty female SD rats were randomly divided into six groups of equal number,normal control,DOR model control,high-dose PMRP (4 g/kg),medium-dose PMRP (2 g/kg),low-dose PMRP (1 g/kg),and positive control. The DOR model was established by gavage of tripterygium glycosides as 75 mg/kg every morning,followed by administration of PMRP in the PMRP groups,Estradiol valerate at 0.18 mg/kg in the positive control group and distilled water in the model control group in the afternoon,all for 30 consecutive days. The estrous cycle of the rats was observed,the levels of serum estradiol (E2),follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),luteinizing hor-mone (LH),anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin-B (INH- B) were determined by ELISA,the ovarian and uterine indexes were obtained,and the ovarian morphology was observed by HE stai-ning,and the counts of follicles at different stages were recorded. Results Compared with the normal controls,the DOR model rats showed modeling time-related lengthening,irregularity and even disorder of the estrous cycle,with a few epithelial cells or keratino-cytes and leucocytes on the vaginal smear at 11-30 days. The estrous cycle was normal in the PMRP and positive control groups at 1-10 days and relatively prolonged at 11-30 days. In comparison with the normal control group,the DOR model rats exhibited a signifi-cantly decreased levels of serum E2 ([302.6±42.9] vs [155.7±46.8] pg/mL,P<0.05) and INH-B ([494.5±84.1] vs [299.2± 106.8] pg/mL,P<0.05) but increased levels of FSH ([7.2±0.5] vs [21.7±1.2] mIU/mL,P<0.05) and LH ([17.4±1.2] vs [25.0±1.0] mU/mL,P<0.05). The INH-B level was markedly elevated in the PMRP and positive control groups as compared with that in the DOR models (P<0.05). The counts of follicles and corpora lutea were remarkably lower in the DOR model rats (P<0.05) while that of developing follicles markedly higher in the PMRP and positive control groups than in the normal control group (P<0.05). The numbers of atretic follicles+corpora lutea were significantly increased in the high-dose PMRP group but decreased in the low-dose PMRP group (P<0.05) and positive controls (P<0.05). The counts of primordial and developing follicles were dramatically higher in the PMRP and positive control groups than in the DOR model controls (P<0.01) and so were the numbers of atretic follicles+corpora lutea in the high-and medium-dose PMRP groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Polygoni multiflori radix preparata can effectively protect the reproductive function of female rats by inhibiting tripterygium glycosides-induced toxicity to the ovary.

Objective:To purpose of this study is to introduce how peripheral blood neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) before operations influences the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.Methods:Review of systems were used to analyze patients who suffered from breast cancer and accepted modified radical mastectomy of breast cancer according to the clinical data of 180 cases of Shenyang Military Region General Hospital between January 2002 and January 2005.All the patients were classified into two groups according to the NLR with the critical value at 6.0.2 statistics were used to evaluate the relationship between NLR of two groups and clinical pathological characteristic.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox's proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the relationship among NLR of two groups,other clinical pathologic characteristic and prognosis of patients.Results:The high level of NLR is related with the size of patients' tumor,lymph node metastasis and TNM stages (P＜0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated the group of high level of NLR's overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly lower than the low level NLR group (P＜0.05).Single factor and multivariate cox's proportional hazards regression model indicated the high level of NLR before operations,the size of tumor,lymph node metastasis and TNM stages were significantly related with the OS and DFS (P＜0.05).Conclusion:The high level of NLR before operations is an independent risk factor to influence the OS and DFS of the patients who accepted modified radical mastectomy of breast cancer.

OBJECTIVETo determine whether ischemia-induced bone marrow-derived EPCs mobilization is impaired in diabetic mice and the association with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release post ischemia.

METHODSC57Bl/6 mice were injected with 40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) streptozotocin for 5 days to induce diabetes and mice with fasting glucose > 10 mmol/L were included to DM group, control mice were injected with placebo. Two months later, hindlimb ischemia was induced by left femoral artery dissection and ligation. The ischemia was visualized by tetrazolium dye staining and pre-mortem angiography. The percentage of c-Kit(+)/Sca-1(+)/flk-1(+) early EPCs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected by flow cytometric analysis on days 0 (pre-ligation), 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days post-ligation. The plasma VEGF level was measured with a standardized ELISA-Kit.

RESULTSCirculating EPCs number was significantly lower in diabetic mice than that in control mice (0.60% +/- 0.03% vs. 0.95% +/- 0.09%, P < 0.001) and the plasma VEGF was undetectable in all animals before ligation Similar EPCs kinetics following induction of hindlimb ischemia were shown in both groups. However, EPCs mobilization was significantly impaired in diabetic mice compared with control mice within 3 days post ischemia (day 1: 1.16% +/- 0.20% vs. 1.80% +/- 0.32%, P < 0.05; day 3: 1.38% +/- 0.34% vs. 2.37% +/- 0.52%, P < 0.05). In parallel, plasma VEGF increase post ischemia was significantly less in diabetic mice than that in control mice (day 1: 73.1 pg/ml +/- 18.6 pg/ml vs. 128.5 pg/ml +/- 44.2 pg/ml, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur data suggest that ischemia-induced bone marrow-derived EPCs mobilization is impaired in diabetic mice, which may be related to the insufficient release of plasma VEGF post ischemia.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore possible mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) for regulating immune function in anxiety disorder (AD) rats by observing the effect of acupuncture on the histology of thymus and expressions of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and natriuretic peptide receptor type A (NPR- A) in thymus.

METHODSTotally 34 SD healthy rats were randomly divided into the blank control group (n = 10), the model group (n = 12), the EA group (n = 12). Anxiety model was established in rats of the model group and the EA group by using chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) stimulation. EA (15/25 Hz) at Neiguan (PC6) and Shenmen (HT7) was performed in the EA group, with 15-min needle retaining, once every other day, 15 days in total. Needle was fixed at same acupoints for 15 min without electric stimulus in the other two groups. Anxiety-like behavior was measured by elevated plus-maze (EPM) test. Pathological changes of thymus tissue were observed by optical microscope. Expressions of ANP and NPR-A in thymus were measured by immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSThe thymus tissue in the model group was severely atrophied, with unclear structure of thymic lobules, unclear margin of thymic medulla, loosely arranged lymphocytes ,and obviously enlarged volume of thymic corpuscle. The thymus tissue in the EA group was mildly atrophied, with existent structure of thymic lobules, clear margin of thymic medulla, densely arranged lymphocytes in cortical region, and widened medullary area. Com- pared with the blank control group, the percentage of open-arms entries (OE%) in the total QE times ob- viously decreased in the model group (P < 0.05), ANP expression obviously increased (P < 0.05), and NPR-A expression obviously decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, OE% was obviously elevated (P < 0.05), ANP expression obviously decreased (P < 0.05), and NPR-A expression obviously increased (P < 0.01) in the EA group.

CONCLUSIONEA not only could reduce anxiety of rats, but also could improve chronic stress induced thymus injury through intervening synthesis and secretion of ANP, as well as the expression of NPR-A (a specific receptor of ANP).

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Anxiety Disorders ; therapy ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism ; Thymus Gland ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the associations between genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 (GSTM1 and GSTT1), smoking and susceptibility to colorectal cancer.

METHODSA case-control study of 126 patients and 343 healthy controls was conducted to investigate the role of GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms in colorectal cancer. Genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms were analyzed by multiplex allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSThe frequencies of GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotypes were 55.5% and 20.4%, respectively. After adjustment for age and sex, among those with GSTT1 null genotype, the GSTM1 null genotype had a significant increased risk of rectal cancers compared to GSTM1 non-null genotype (OR=9.74, 95% CI, 1.13 - 83.85). A 2.22-fold risk of colon cancers was associated with GSTM1 null genotype compared to GSTM1 non-null genotype among current smokers (P >0.05). Individuals with GSTT1 null genotype and currently smoking had a significant risk of colon cancers (OR = 4.55, 95% CI, 1.14 - 18.17), and rectal cancers (OR = 4.60, 95% CI, 1.11 - 19.11).

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that certain null GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes may be associated with an elevated risk of colorectal cancer which may be modified by interaction of the two genetic polymorphisms and cigarette smoking.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Colonic Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rectal Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects