Female ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Thrombelastography ; Whole Blood Coagulation Time

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on diaphragm function of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rats with muscular dystrophy, and to explore the regulatory mechanism. Methods Forty male rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, electroacupuncture group, exercise group, electroacupuncture plus exercise group, 8 rats in each group. After successful establishment of COPD rat model with muscular dystrophy, the modeled rats in various intervention groups were given electroacupuncture and/or exercise treatment. After the last treatment, the changes of rat body mass were observed, the rat lung function was detected, and the mRNA expression levels of myosin heavy chains (MHC) of MHC-1, MHC-2 and diaphragmatic related signal proteins of Atrogin-1, muscle ring-finger protein-1(MuRF-1), MyoD were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results (1) Compared with the blank group, inspiratory resistance (IR) and functional residual mass (FRC) in the model group were increased (P < 0.05) , and the dynamic lung compliance(Cydn) was decreased(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, IR and FRC in the intervention groups were decreased (P < 0.05), but the differences among the three intervention groups were insignificant(P>0.05). (2) Compared with the blank group, the mRNA expression levels of MHC-1, Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD in the model group were increased (P<0.05), and the mRNA expression level of MHC-2 was decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression levels of MHC-1, Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD in the intervention groups were decreased (P < 0.05) , and the mRNA expression level of MHC-2 was increased(P<0.05). Compared with the exercise group, the mRNA expression levels of Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD in the electroacupuncture group were decreased (P<0.05), and the mRNA expression level of MHC-2 was increased (P<0.05) , but the above indexes in electroacupuncture plus exercise group showed no obvious changes(P>0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve respiratory function of COPD rats with muscular dystrophy, and the possible mechanism is related with the increase of MHC-2 mRNA expression and with the decrease of Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD mRNA expression, which result into the regulation of ubiquitin proteasome pathway(UPP), reduction of myosin loss, and the relief of diaphragmatic atrophy.

Comparative analysis of variable region ORF14/15 genes of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) genome in Guangxi Penaeus vannamei (P. vannamei) could provide useful information for the evaluation of genetic diversity and genetic evolutionary relationship among WSSV isolates from Guangxi, China and other places. Based on geographical and temporal considerations, 40 WSSV-positive P. vannamei samples were collected during the period between May 2010 and July 2013 from Beihai, Qinzhou, and Fangchenggang, which were the main P. vannamei production areas in Guangxi, and the variable region ORF14/15 genes of the WSSV genome from all infected samples were amplified by PCR and then subjected to cloning and sequence analysis. Pairwise and multiple alignment analysis was then conducted to evaluate the degree of genetic divergence between different strains. The variable region ORF14/15 genes from 25 of 40 WSSV positive samples were successfully cloned and sequenced; among the ORF14/15 genes of 25 WSSV-positive strains, 22 was 619 bp in length and 3 was 620 bp. All the 25 Guangxi strains carried a 5949-bp deletion in the ORF14/15 region relative to TH-96-II, which has the longest nucleotide sequence in this region; the deletion of Guangxi strains occurred in the middle region of ORF14/15 gene, with only 190 bp and 429 bp/ 430 bp at 5' and 3' ends, respectively, which were coincident with WSSV-IN-05-I in deletion length and position. Sixteen of 25 Guangxi strains had completely identical nucleotide sequences in the variable re gion, and the homology between other strains also exceeded 97.9%. There were single nucleotide substi tution, deletion, and insertion in the ORF14/15 region of Guangxi strains compared with other strains in GenBank. In the phylogenetic tree based on WSSV variable region ORF14/15, the Guangxi strains were closely related and formed a separate branch with Indian strain IN-05-I, but far from other strains in GenBank. The ORF14/15 gene of WSSV isolates in cultured P. vannamei in Guangxi has a large deletion in the middle of the variable region, and the Guangxi WSSV strains show no significant spatio-temporal differences; the Guangxi strains are closer in genetics to Indian strain IN-05-I than other strains in GenBank.
Animals ; China ; Cloning, Molecular ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Viral ; genetics ; Genomics ; Penaeidae ; virology ; Phylogeny ; White spot syndrome virus 1 ; genetics

Objective To investigate current status of behavior management of non-dipper hypertension patients and provide information for clinical health education. Methods From February to December 2009, 100 outpatients and inpatients with non-dipper hypertension in our hospital were randomly sampled and telephone interview was conducted. Analyzed the results of the survey. Results 44% of the patients had healthy balanced diet. 48% of patients were trying to control blood pressure through moderate physical exercise. 20% of the patients were intended to control body weight. The drug compliance rate was only 56%. The overall correct rate of behavior management was no more than 33%. Conclusions The compliance of behavior management of non dipper hypertension patients is low. Focusing on hypertension knowledge is the key to improve the compliance of behavior management of non-dipper hypertension patients.

HPV-2 is a very common type of HPV which causes common warts. The E2 protein of virus can repress the activity of the viral early promoter through binding to the specific binding sites in viral LCR. Previously we reported that the repression of a mutated E2 protein of HPV-2 isolated from a patient with huge common wart on the viral early promoter was obviously decreased, and A338V mutation located at the C terminal DNA binding region of E2 protein. In this study, we expressed and purified the recombinant mutated and prototype E2 fusion proteins, both in the contexts of the C terminal and the full length, by prokaryotic expression system. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed E2 protein could bind to double-stranded DNA oligos labeled with biotin that covered two E2 binding sites. The DNA binding abilities of both C terminal and full-length mutated E2 proteins were stronger than the prototype analogs. This result indicates that the enhancement of the mutated E2 DNA binding ability may be the molecular mechanism for its impact on the activity of viral promoter, which correlates with the phenotype of extensive common wart.
DNA ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Mutation ; Papillomaviridae ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Protein Binding ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish a simple, rapid and easy method for screening the gene mutation in hemophilia A, which was further applied to a direct diagnosis and carrier detection at gene level.

METHODSTwenty-four clinically diagnosed hemophilia pedigrees, including all the hemophilia patients and female members, were tested for the introns 22 and 1 in factor VIII gene by using inversion polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and regular PCR techniques. All the 26 exons of factor VIII gene were consecutively screened in the 17 patients manifesting non-inverted sequences in intron 22 by using PCR, subsequently all the 37 amplicons resulted from 26 exons were analyzed by conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE), finally the mutated exons were subjected to sequencing verification. According to the mutation results, mothers and twin sisters of the hemophilia probands were tested by CSGE or subjected to nucleotide sequencing directly, to ascertain if those individuals had the same mutation or were the carriers of disease-causing gene.

RESULTSIntron 22 inversion was detected in 7 hemophilia probands out of 24 hemophilia pedigrees, intron 1 inversion was not detected in these pedigrees. Single-base mutations distributed in different exons of factor VIII gene were detected in 13 pedigrees with family history and 3 sporadic pedigrees, diagnosed as non-inverted 22 intron patients. By comprehensive usage of PCR-CSGE and nucleotide sequencing, the positive rate and the diagnosable rate of gene diagnosis or carrier detection in the 24 hemophilia pedigrees was 94.12% and 100% respectively.

CONCLUSIONPCR-CSGE is a highly sensitive and special assay for detecting single base mutation. By integrated utilization of introns 22 and 1 of factor VIII gene detection and PCR-CSGE genotyping, combining with nucleotide sequencing, a direct diagnosis of all hemophilia pedigrees be could nearly make at gene level, including the sporadic families. This method might be used to screen new mutation theoretically and ascertain the mutation type. It is a simple, rapid and low-cost method, possessing unique advantages in direct diagnosis of hemophilia A and carrier screening. It should have important application value in hemophilia diagnosis.

Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; methods ; Exons ; Factor VIII ; genetics ; Female ; Hemophilia A ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Introns ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

Acupoint medicated catgut embedding therapy is a new type of acupuncture combined with medicine，which has great potential in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. This paper describes the clinical application of acupoint medicated catgut embedding in the treatment of common disease, medicated thread productionmethods and acupoints selection.To analyze the problems of the unclear mechanism, the lack of standardization of medicated thread production, the lag of the embedding tool, and the unclear adverse reaction. It is expected to promote the further development of acupoint medicated catgut embedding therapy by strengthening the mechanism of action, optimizing medicated catgut thread, rational design experiments, standardizing medicated thread production, innovating embedding tools, rational formulation, and optimizing acupoint selection.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Catgut ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans

BACKGROUNDAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders during childhood, characterized by the core symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention and puts great burden on children themselves, their families and the society. Osmotic release oral system methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) is a once-daily controlled-release formulation developed to overcome some of the limitations associated with immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH). It has been marketed in China since 2005 but still lacks data from large-sample clinical trials on efficacy and safety profiles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of OROS-MPH in children aged 6 to 16 years with ADHD under naturalistic clinical setting.

METHODSThis 6-week, multi-center, prospective, open-label study enrolled 1447 ADHD children to once-daily OROS-MPH (18 mg, 36 mg or 54 mg) treatment. The effectiveness measures were parent-rated Inattention and Overactivity With Aggression (IOWA) Conners I/O and O/D subscales, physician-rated CGI-I and parent-rated global efficacy assessment scale. Blood pressure, pulse rate measurement, adverse events (AEs) and concomitant medications and treatment review were conducted by the investigator and were served as safety measures.

RESULTSA total of 1447 children with ADHD (mean age (9.52 ± 2.36) years) were enrolled in this trial. Totally 96.8% children received an OROS-MPH modal dose of 18 mg, 3.1% with 36 mg and 0.1% with 54 mg at the endpoint of study. The parent IOWA Conners I/O score at the end of week 2 showed statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement with OROS-MPH (mean: 6.95 ± 2.71) versus the score at baseline (10.45 ± 2.72). The change in the parent IOWA Conners O/D subscale, CGI-I and parent-rated global efficacy assessment scale also supported the superior efficacy for OROS-MPH treatment. Fewer than half of 1447 patients (511(35.3%)) reported AEs, and the majority of the events reported were mild (68.2%). No serious adverse events were reported during the study.

CONCLUSIONThis open-label, naturalistic study provides further evidence of effectiveness and safety of OROS-MPH in school-aged children under routine practice.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; drug therapy ; Child ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylphenidate ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

This paper makes an interpretation of the collection Acupuncture: how to improve the evidence base published by BMJ & BMJ Open. Studies show that the quality of randomized controlled trial (RCT) of acupuncture is low, and multivariable Meta-regression analysis fails to confirm most factors commonly believed to influence the effect of acupuncture. The methodological challenges in design and conduct of RCT in acupuncture were analyzed, and a consensus on how to design high-quality acupuncture RCT was developed. The number of acupuncture systematic reviews was huge but the evidence was underused in clinical practice and health policy, and a large number of western clinical practice guidelines recommended acupuncture therapy, but the usefulness of recommendations needed to be improved. In view of the problems in clinical research on acupuncture mentioned in this collection, combined with the analysis of the purpose of clinical research on acupuncture, perspectives, study types, as well as the relationship between evidence and clinical decision-making, a five-stage study paradigm of clinical research on acupuncture is proposed.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture ; Research Design ; Consensus

This paper aimed to investigate the role and potential mechanism of p53 on primordial follicle activation. Firstly, the p53 mRNA expression in the ovary of neonatal mice at 3, 5, 7 and 9 days post-partum (dpp) and the subcellular localization of p53 were detected to confirm the expression pattern of p53. Secondly, 2 dpp and 3 dpp ovaries were cultured with p53 inhibitor Pifithrin-μ (PFT-μ, 5 μmol/L) or equal volume of dimethyl sulfoxide for 3 days. The function of p53 in primordial follicle activation was determined by hematoxylin staining and whole ovary follicle counting. The proliferation of cell was detected by immunohistochemistry. The relative mRNA levels and protein levels of the key molecules involved in the classical pathways associated with the growing follicles were examined by immunofluorescence staining, Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. Finally, rapamycin (RAP) was used to intervene the mTOR signaling pathway, and ovaries were divided into four groups: Control, RAP (1 μmol/L), PFT-μ (5 μmol/L), PFT-μ (5 μmol/L) + RAP (1 μmol/L) groups. The number of follicles in each group was determined by hematoxylin staining and whole ovary follicle counting. The results showed that the expression of p53 mRNA was decreased with the activation of primordial follicles in physiological condition. p53 was expressed in granulosa cells and oocyte cytoplasm of the primordial follicles and growing follicles, and the expression of p53 in the primordial follicles was higher than that in the growing follicles. Inhibition of p53 promoted follicle activation and reduced the primordial follicle reserve. Inhibition of p53 promoted the proliferation of the granulosa cells and oocytes. The mRNA and protein expression levels of key molecules in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway including AKT, PTEN, and FOXO3a were not significantly changed after PFT-μ treatment, while the expression of RPS6/p-RPS6, the downstream effectors of the mTOR signaling pathway, was upregulated. Inhibition of both p53 and mTOR blocked p53 inhibition-induced primordial follicle activation. Collectively, these findings suggest that p53 may inhibit primordial follicle activation through the mTOR signaling pathway to maintain the primordial follicle reserve.
Female ; Animals ; Mice ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Hematoxylin ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Sirolimus ; RNA, Messenger