Animals ; Arteries ; drug effects ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Epimedium ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Wistar

Acupuncture as an effective complementary and alternative therapy can effectively relieve inflammatory and neurogenic pain, and a proper animal model is a key link to ensure the quality of research in acupuncture analgesia. This article makes some suggestions for improving model making methods, unifying model assessing criteria, and selecting and locating acupoints by analyzing present commonly used animal models of acupuncture analgesia and the present situation of their application and identifying some problems about model making methods, evaluation indices, acupoint selection and clinical transformation existing in animal models of acupuncture analgesia in order to promote the development of basic research in acupuncture.

OBJECTIVETo observe the inhibiting effect of acupuncture on blood lipid, myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis in mice with hyperlipemia, and explore its possible action mechanism.

METHODSTen inbred mice (C57) were applied. Forty ApoE(-/-) mice who removed gene of apolipoprotein E were randomly divided into a control group, a non-acupoint group, an acupoint group and a medication group. The points 0. 5 cm and 1 cm next to the end of mice tail were respectively punctured in the non-acupoint group; "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) were punctured in the acupoint group; intragastric administration of simvastatin was applied in the medication group. After 8 weeks of treatment, the changes of total cholesterol (TC) and ratio of heart to body mass in each group were measured; changes of cardiac muscle fiber and ventricular wall thickness were observed; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the level of angiotensin II (Ang I ) in plasma, and western blotting method was used to test protein content of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and endothelin-1 type A receptor (ETAR) in the heart.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks of intervention, compared with the control group, rising range of blood lipid was obviously decreased (P<0.01) in the acupoint group and medication group, ratio of P<0.01), myocardial heart to body mass was decreased (P<0.05), thickness of ventricular wall was reduced (P fibrosis was relieved, levels of Ang II and ET-1 in plasma were decreased (P<0. 05), content of NO was increased (P<0. 05), and protein content of AT1R and ETAR was decreased in the heart (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSION40) could inhibit the rising of blood lipid in ApoE(-/-) mice, lower the levels of Ang II and ET-1 in peripheral blood, increase the content of NO and inhibit the expression of AT1R and ETAR in heart tissue, which could relieve myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis to play a protective role on heart.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Heart Diseases ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myocardium ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:Lipoic acid, with a closed circle structure composed by sulphur and carbon atoms, exerts strong anti-oxidation, and has been extensively applied in the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress, diabetic cataract, diabetic neuropathy and cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective effect of lipoic acid on peripheral nerve function during peripheral nerve ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS:Models of peripheral nerve ischemia/reperfusion injury were established in rabbits, and then rabbit models were then allotted to treatment and non-treatment groups. The treatment group was subdivided into experimental (injection of lippoic acid) and control groups according to the use of lipoic acid at 1, 3 and 6 hours after ischemia and before reperfusion. The ultrastructural changes of the sciatic nerve were observed under electron microscope, and the electrophysiological changes of the sciatic nerve were detected using evoked potential instrument. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:With the ischemic time increasing, the number of vacuoles in the axon increased gradually, accompanied by axonal atrophy, and Waller's degeneration in the aggregated microfilaments. The myelin sheath thickening and dissolving were visible. All above phenomena became severest at 6 hours after ischemia. Compared with the control groups, lipoic acid reduced the number of the vacuoles in the axon and all eviated axonal atrophy, Waller's degeneration and demyelination. As the ischemic time increasing, the latency of sciatic nerve was significantly increased, and peaked at 6 hours of ischemia;while the amplitude was significantly decreased, and reached a minimum at 6 hours of ischemia. Compared with the control groups, in the experimental groups, the latency of sciatic nerve was significantly decreased, but the amplitude was significantly increased. These results suggest that lipoic acid provides neuroprotection against peripheral nerve ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Objective To investigate the potential application of targeting at vascular endothelial growh factor (VEGF) induced apoptosis in leukemic cell lines by combined use of Bevacizumab and chemotherapeutic drug. Methods Leukemic cells were treated with several drugs at different concentrations in culture. The effect of VEGF, Bevacizumab and co-treated with Ara-C on leukemic cells proliferation were evaluated by CCK-8 and apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Results VEGF could enhance the proliferation of leukemic cells and caused a dose-dependent manner on U937 cell. It also increased the percentage of cells in S phase, tested by, and Bevacizumab group was decreased. Apoptotic rate of cells treated with Bevacizumab or co-treated with Bevacizumab and Ara-C for 48 h were significantly higher when compared with control or Ara-C group, respectively (P<0.05), but the apoptotic rate of VEGF group or VEGF and Ara-C group was lower (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in apoptotic rate between control and combined use of VEGF, Bevacizumab and Ara-C group(P>0.05). Conclusion VEGF could enhance the proliferation of some leukemic cells, and may contribute to leukemic cells survival and a resultant resistance to chemotherapy-triggered cell death. The study also showed that leukemic cells growth was significantly inhibited by Bevacizumab through directly against VEGF, and the sensitivity of leukemic cells for chemotherapeutic drug was increased.

Background and purpose: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a new minimally invasive method in the dignosis for mediastinal lymph nodes. This study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal lymph nodes. Methods: Twenty patients with mediastinal lymph nodes found by CT underwent the dignosis by EBUS-TBNA form April 1st 2009 to July 16th 2009. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA were evaluated. Results: Twenty patients with 37 lymph node groups were studied. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA for diagnostic were 84.62%, 100%, 100%, 77.78% and 90.00%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy for cancer was 100%. The operation time was 11.9min per group in average with no serious complication. The median length of hospital stay was 1 (range from 1 to 17 days) day after operation. There were significant differences in the average operation time between the first three patients and the others (36.25 min vs. 7.76 min; z=3.247, P=0.001). Conclusion: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration proved to be a safe procedure with a high yield for the diagnosis of mediastinal lymph nodes.

Aim To study relative bioavailablity of cefaclor effervescent tablets in healthy volunteers. Methods According to the crossover design, A volunteers were each orally given a single does of the 0.75 g cefaclor effervescent tablets and cefaclor capsules with an interval of 5 days between the two formulations.The plasma concentrations of the drug were determined by RP-HPLC.Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained by ATPK programe,and calculated on the basis of open single compartment model.Results After a single oral dose, the peak levels in plasma averaged Cmax(31.27?5.81)?g?ml-1 and(30.56?5.25) ?g?ml-1 at (0.58?0.12)h and(0.73?0.17)h and AUC0～4(35.48?4.65) ?g?h?ml-1 and (35.89?2.90) ?g?h?ml-1 for tablet and capsule,respectively. Conclusion The result shows that two formulations are bioequivalence.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of 18floro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-CY(~(18)FDG PET-CT)in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis from advanced esophageal carcinoma. Methods A prospective study is perfonued here to assess whether ~(18)FDG PET-CT can improve the diagnostic accuracy in lymph node metastasis for patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma.Thirty patients had undergone esophagectomy with extensive lymph node dissection.PET-CT findings were compared with that d CT with pathological finding as the final say.Results All patients were operated successfully without peri-operative complications.The pathological examination conformed metastasis in 22 patients and 49 out of 243 excised lymph nodes.In CT analysis,the sensitivity was 40.8%,specificity was 96.9%,with a diagnostic accuracy of 85.6%, The positive and negative predictive value was 76.9%,86.4% respectively;PET-CT resulted in a sensitivity of 93.9%,specificity of 91.2%,accuracy of 91.8%.The positive predictive value was 73.0% and negative predictive value was 98.3%,The difference of sensitivity(P＜0.001),accuracy(P＜0.05)and negative predictive value between the two radiological modalities was statistically significant(P＜0.001).Conclusions With a high sensitivity and accuracy in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis,PET-CT appears necessary in preoperative examination for advanced esophageal carcinoma in the hope that surgical treatment be guided by the results of PET-CT,especially for the elder patients with poor pulmonary function or heart or brain complications. Moreover,it could be used as the basis of the conformal radiation therapy planning for inoperable patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-CT(~(18)FDG PET-CT) for recurrence and metastasis in treated esophageal carcinoma (EC). Methods A retrospective study is done on 37 previously treated EC patients who underwent PET-CT scans to detect recurrent or metastatic lesions.The diagnostic accuracy of ~(18)FDG PET-CT was assessed with the help of pathological finding as well as clinical or follow-up data.Results Fourty-six sites of recurrence were finally confirmed in 37 patients by cytology,pathology or follow-up data.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of PET-CT in detecting recurrence of all sites were 93.5% (43/46),76.9% (20/26) and 87.5% (63/72),respectively.Two false-positive findings were found both at the anastomosis and hilar nodes,which caused the decrease in the overall specificity,especially that locally.The analysis of standard uptake value (SUV) demonstrated that patients with recurrence or who died during follow-up had higher SU- Vs compared with the control group.Condusions ~(18)FDG PET-CT is highly effective in detecting recur- rence in previously treated EC patients despite the low specificity at local sites.The analysis of stardard up- take value(SUV) provides incremental value in prognosis for this patient cohart.

Human sTNFR1 (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1) gene was amplified by RT-PCR from Hela cells. A recombinant expression vector of sTNFR1-MBP was constructed in pMAL-c2x, and transformed into E. Coli JM109.It was sequenced and confirmed to be identifical to the sTNFR1 gene in data bank. Recombinant protein sTNFR1-MBP was induced by IPTG and purified by Amylose resin Affinity Chromatography. sTNFR1-MBP was binded to sTNFR1's antibody in Western-blotting. From MTT assays, the results showed that sTNFR1-MBP could effectively block the cytotoxicity mediated by TNF?on QSG7701 cells. Annexin V-FITC staining and flowcytometry were used to observe the recombinant protein's anti-apoptosis capacity and the recombinant protein has marked anti-apoptosis effect in vitro.sTNFR1-MBP had good biological activity and it will be employed in further study.