The theories and clinical and experimental studies about reinforcing-reducing manipulation of twirling rotating the needle in recent 15 years are reviewed and a brief account of manipulation methods, mechanisms and effects of reinforcing-reducing manipulation of twirling-rotating the needle is given, and it is indicated that the following several aspects in the studies at present need to be completed. Standardization and establishment of national standard of acupuncture manipulation must be enforced; quantitative parameters of acupuncture manipulation and mechanisms of acupuncture reinforcing-reducing of twirling-rotating the needle need to be further studied.
Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Needles ; Rotation

Objective To investigate the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and feasibility of acupotomy therapy through the observation on the influences of acupotomy therapy on ethology and morphology in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis.Methods The model of knee osteoarthritis was established by applying the fixed method of knee extension posture in rabbits. The therapy of electro-acupuncture and acupotomy therapy were used to treat the rabbits. After 3 weeks the knee joint function was observed and reviewed based on Lequesne algofunctional index. The light microscope was used to observe tibia tissue after HE staining. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to observe the internal femoral condyle cartilage.Results Lequesne algofunctional index showed that in local reaction, gait reaction and joint motion there was a significant different between the electro-acupuncture group or acupotomy group and the normal group or model group (P<0.05), respectively, while there was no different between the electro-acupuncture group and acupotomy group (P>0.05). HE staining showed that the cartilage injury was relieved and tended to recovery in the electro-acupuncture group and acupotomy group. The result of TEM showed that the lesion of cartilage cells and disorder of collagen fibrils were relieved in the acupotomy group, which is similar to those in the electro-acupuncture group.Conclusion The acupotomy therapy has a good curative effect on knee osteoarthritis, which is proved at macroscopic and microscopic levels.

OBJECTIVESTo observe the change of erythropoietin (EPO) in patients of hypogonadism who received androgen replacement treatment and explore the mechanism of androgen-induced increase of red blood cells and haemoglobin.

METHODSEight patients with Klinefelter's syndrome, divided into two groups, received TU intramuscular injections of 500 mg or 1000 mg dose, respectively. After three months, seven patients received the second injection of crossover dose. Testosterone levels in serum were measured with RIA before and after the injections treatment. RBC count, impacted volume of blood cells and haemoglobin concentration were measured before treatment and 4, 8 weeks after treatment. At the same interval, EPO levels were measured with ELISA method.

RESULTSDevelopment of the secondary sex characters was improved in all patients after the TU injection. Serum testosterone levels raised significantly and reached the peak one week after the injections. Effective level of testosterone lasted for over 6 weeks. RBC count, impacted volume of blood cells and haemoglobin increased at different degrees after TU injections, but these changes were not significant in statistic(P < 0.05). The increased levels remained for 8 weeks. EPO levels were elevated significantly (P < 0.01 or 0.05) after the TU injection(Pbat > 0.05). The second injection could still make the EPO level go up.

CONCLUSIONSAndrogen replacement treatment can increase the EPO levels in patients of hypogonadism, which is one of the mechanism of RBC production increase.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Erythropoietin ; blood ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Male ; Radioimmunoassay ; Testosterone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare the protective effect of garlic oil against carbon tetrachloride (CCL)-induced acute liver injury.

METHODSThe experiments include 4 preventive groups and 2 therapeutic groups. In every preventive and therapeutic group, the mice were randomized into 6 groups with 15 each, including one negative control group, one solvent control group, one CCl4 model group and 3 garlic oil groups (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight). Before given a single gavage of CCl4 (80 mg/kg), the mice were pretreated with garlic oil by gavage in preventive group 1 (30 days, once daily), preventive group 2 (5 days, once daily), preventive group 3 (ahead of 2 h, once), preventive group 4 (immediately, once) or the vehicle (corn oil, 10 ml/kg) in solvent control group. In therapeutic groups, the mice were gavaged garlic oil 2 h (once, in therapeutic 1) or for 5 days (once daily, in therapeutic 2) after administration CCl. After 24 h of the last administration, blood was collected and centrifuged at 2500 r/min at 4 degrees C for 10 min, and serum was removed to measure ALT and AST activities. The liver was dissected, weighed to calculate the liver coefficient (relative liver weight). At the same time, the liver samples were studied by histological examinations.

RESULTSCompared with negative group, the liver coefficient and the activities of ALT and AST in serum of model group were increased remarkably (P < 0.01). Compared with CCl model group, the liver coefficient and the activities of ALT and AST in serum were decreased significantly (P < 0.01) by garlic oil dose-dependently in each preventive group. Simultaneously, histological assessment showed that garlic oil effectively alleviated hepatocyte injuries induced by CCl4. Comparing the preventive effects of garlic oil in every group, it was better in preventive group 3 than others. However, all indexes and histological examinations in therapeutic group 1 did not show the difference with those of CCl4 model group. In therapeutic group 2, all indexes recovered after 5 d of CCl4 administration.

CONCLUSIONSGarlic oil can prevent acute liver injury induced by CCl4 and the effect is better in ahead of 2 h group than others.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Garlic ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Plant Oils ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the alterations of microtubule and microfilament expression are responsible for the neurotoxicity of carbon disulfide.

METHODSWistar rats were administered with carbon disulfide by gavage at a dosage of 300 or 500 mg/kg for continuous 12 weeks (five times per week). Spinal cords of carbon disulfide-intoxicated rats and their age-matched controls were Triton-extracted and ultracentrifuged to yield a pellet and a corresponding supernatant fraction. Then, the contents of alpha-tubulin, beta-tubulin, and beta-actin in both fractions were determined by immunoblotting. In the meantime, their mRNA levels in spinal cords were quantified using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSIn the supernatant fraction, the contents of beta-tubulin and beta-actin in both treated groups increased significantly (P < 0.01) the content of beta-tubulin increased by 141% and 158% respectively, and the content of beta-actin increased by 19% and 32% respectively. In the pellet fraction, the content of beta-tubulin in both groups increased by 107%(P < 0.01) and 118%(P < 0.01) respectively, and the others keep unaffected. In the meantime, the levels of of mRNA expression of beta-tubulin and beta-actin gene were elevated consistently in CS(2)-treated groups (P < 0.01) the levels of mRNA expression of beta-tubulin increased by 207% and 212% respectively, and the levels of mRNA expression of beta-actin increased by 94% and 91% respectively.

CONCLUSIONCarbon disulfide intoxication results in alternations of microtubule and microfilament expression, and the alternations might be related to its neurotoxicity.

Actins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Disulfide ; poisoning ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tubulin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of X-rays on expression of caspase-3 and p53 protein in EL-4 cells and its implications in induction of apoptosis and polyploid cells.

METHODSMouse lymphoma cell line (EL-4 cells) was used. Fluorescent staining and flow cytometry analysis were employed for measurement of protein expression, apoptosis, cell cycle, and polyploid cells.

RESULTSThe expression of caspase-3 protein increased significantly at 8 h and 12 h, compared with that of sham-irradiated control (P<0.05, respectively) and the expression of p53 protein increased significantly at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h, compared with that of sham-irradiated control (P<0.05-P<0.01) in EL-4 cells after 4.0 Gy X-irradiation. Apoptosis of EL-4 cells was increased significantly at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after 4.0 Gy exposure, compared with that of sham-irradiated control (P<0.05-P<0.001). G2 phase cells were increased significantly at 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h (P<0.05-P<0.001). However, no marked change in the number of 8 C polyploid cells was found from 2 to 48 h after 4.0 Gy exposure.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of caspase-3 and p53 protein in EL-4 cells are induced by X-rays, which might play an important role in the induction of apoptosis, and the molecular pathway for polyploid formation might be p53-independent.

Animals ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Caspases ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; X-Rays

Objective To evaluate the value of positron emission tomography(PET)-CT imaging combined with continual detection of CA_(125)in serum for diagnosis of early recurrent ovarian epithelial carcinoma.Methods Twenty six patients received PET-CT imaging,who were all diagnosed as primary epithelial ovarian cancer of stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ and had complete remission after cytoreductive surgery and multiple courses of chemotherapy in Shandong Provincial Cancer Hospital.After a steady period,all patients experienced progressive rising of CA_(125)values 3 times in 2 months.But no positive lesion was found by CT, or although suspicious positive focus was found,the recurrent and(or)metastatic extent was not definite. Out of 26 patients,16 were delivered rechemotherapy and(or)radiotherapy,and 10 received re- cytoreductive surgery.Results(1)Of 26 patients,the value of CA_(125)was more than 35 kU/L in 17,and in 14 of 17,pelvic or abdominal cavity recurrence was diagnosed by CT and PET-CT,and 4 showed simuhaneously distant metastasis on PET-CT.In the remaining 3 patients of which CT findings were negative,2 had pelvic and abdominal cavity recurrence,and one had bone metastasis on PET-CT.Of 9 patients with progressive rising CA_(125)levels but the value was less than cut-off(

Objective To understand the dietary nutrients among rural stranded children.Methods 2551 children aged 2 to 7, including 1278 stranded children in the rural areas and another 1273 children served as controls were selected, using multistage stratified cluster random sampling. Dietary survey was performed with three-day weighing dietary method and questionnaire on food intake. Data on diet were analyzed and evaluated by the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) recommend by Chinese Nutrition Society, to evaluate the levels on energy and nutrient intake among stranded children in the rural areas. Results The dietary pattern among rural stranded children mainly consisted of grains and vegetables, but the intakes of animal products, fruits, and snacks were significantly less than in the control group. The intakes of three major energy-producing nutrients were below the recommend nutrient intake. Minerals as calcium, zinc, selenium, kalium and vitamins as vitamin A, B1, B2were insufficient.Most of the rural stranded children took nutrients insufficiently, with 50% lack of adequate energy and 80% of protein, 90% of minerals (calcium, zinc etc.) and vitamins (vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 etc.).Sources from high quality protein was insufficient, only consisting 35% of the total protein, but overabundant (over 64 % ) from the plants. The intake of plant-sourced iron was overabundant, accounted for 87%. Conclusion The dietary pattern was unsatisfactory with insufficient intake of energy-sourced proteins and some nutrients. The sources of energy, protein, and iron were mostly obtained from underbalaneed foods. It is necessary to improve the dietary nutrients status among rural stranded children aged 2-7 years.

Objective To observe the effect of glycoprotein receptor blockade tirofiban in acute anterior myocardial infarction patients without ST segment resolution after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods From April 2006 to April 2008, 157 acute anterior myocardial infarction patients without ST segment resolution after PCI were randomly allocated to tirofiban (intravenous bolus 10 fig/kg followed by intravenous infusion of 0. 15 μg·kg-1·min-1 for 48 h, n =80) or equal volume saline (control group, n =77). Baseline characteristics, PCI features and clinical outcomes during hospitalization, left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE, including death, re-infarction and target vessel revascularization) at 30 and 180 days after discharge were compared between the two groups. Results The baseline clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Compared to control group, the MACE rates and re-infarction rates at 30 days (6. 3% vs. 18. 2% , P < 0.05; 1.3% vs. 9. 1%, P<0.05, respectively) and 180 days (10.0% vs. 23. 4% , P<0.05; 2.5% vs. 10.4% , P < 0. 05, respectively ) were significantly reduced in tirofiban group. LVEF value was significantly higher in tirofiban group at 30 days and 180 days compared with those in control group [ (51 ± 6)% vs. (46±8)%, P<0.05; (57±7)% vs. (50±9)%, P<0.05]. Hemorrhagic complications were similar between the two groups. Conclusion Use of tirofiban for acute anterior myocardial infarction patients without ST segment resolution after PCI is safe and can significantly improve 30 and 180 days clinical outcomes after discharge.

OBJECTIVETo investigate biological functions of non-structural protein 4B (NS4B) of hepatitis C virus (HCV), yeast-two hybrid technique was performed to seek proteins in hepatocytes interacting with HCV NS4B.

METHODSHCV NS4B bait plasmid was constructed by ligating the NS4B gene with carrier plasmid pGBKT7 and transformed into yeast cells AH109 (type alpha). The transformed yeast cells were amplified and mated with yeast cells Y187 (alpha type) containing liver cDNA library plasmid pACT2 in 2 x YPDA medium. Diploid yeast cells were plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing x-alpha-gal for selecting two times. After extracting plasmid from blue colonies, plasmid DNA was transformed into competent Escherichia coli and analysed by DNA sequencing and bioinformatics.

RESULTSFive genes in eight positive colonies were obtained. There were one NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3, one cytochrome c oxidase subunit III, one retinol binding protein 4, one reticulon 3-A (RTN3) and one fibrinogen gamma polypeptide (FGG).

CONCLUSIONGenes of HCV NS4B interacting proteins in hepatocytes were successfully cloned and the results paved the way for studying the biological functions of NS4B and associated proteins.

Blotting, Western ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Library ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Protein Binding ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism