Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of music electric stimulation of points in treating anxiety. Methods: By adopting a design of multi-centered randomized controlled trial (RCT), a total of 270 patients with anxiety were randomized into a treatment group and a medication group. The treatment group was intervened by music electric stimulation of points, while the medication group was intervened by oral administration of doxepin. The two groups were evaluated by using Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA) and Chinese revised edition of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS-CR) before and after the intervention. The therapeutic efficacies were also compared. Results: The total effective rate was 93.6% in the treatment group versus 92.3% in the medication group, and the between-group difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). After the treatment, the aggregate scores of HAMA and SAS-CR were significantly changed in both groups (both P<0.001), and the inter-group differences were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Music electric stimulation of points can produce equivalent efficacy in treating anxiety compared to doxepin. Thus, it can be taken as a choice in the treatment of anxiety.

AIMTo probe into the operation mechanism of stress, through the studies on the effects of bile secretion in rats at the condition of water immersion restraint.

METHODSThe animals were divided into six groups (n=8): Group A: restraint alone under room temperature + saline; Group B: water immersion restraint + saline; Group C: restraint alone under room temperature + Atropine; Group D: water immersion restraint + Atropine; Group E: restraint alone under room temperature + Phentolamine; F group: water immersion restraint + Phentolamine.

RESULTSCompared with group A, the capacity of bile secretion in group B decreased significantly (P < 0.05), changes of bile increased remarkably (P < 0.01), but there were no significant decreases on the capacity of bile secretion in group C (P > 0.05) compared with A, Group C only decreased appreciably. Compared with group A, the capacity of bile secretion in group E decreased appreciably (P < 0.05). Compared with group B, the capacity of bile secretion in group D decreased significantly (P < 0.05), pH of bile had no significant changes in group D. Compared with group B, the capacity of bile secretion in group F decreased significantly (P < 0.05), pH of bile had no significant changes in group F. Compared with group D, the capacity of bile secretion and pH of bile in group F had no significant changes.

CONCLUSIONWater immersion restraint stress inhibited evidently on the capacity of bile secretion, and the capacity of bile secretion in water immersion groups decreased significantly, moreover pH of bile increased greatly. At the condition of restraint alone under room temperature, vagus and sympathetic nerve had no significant effects on the bile secretion, but they played important roles in decreases of bile secretion evidently induced by water immersion restraint stress in rats (P < 0.05).

Animals ; Bile ; secretion ; Immersion ; Liver ; secretion ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Restraint, Physical ; Stress, Physiological

Aim To study the mechanism of the anti-aging effect of total extract of astragalus(TEA) in mice. Methods MDA content, the activities of Mn-SOD and GSHpx and the reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio in mitochondria of D-galactose(D-gal) treated mice and 17-month-old mice were measured. Results Treatment with TEA(40 mg?kg-1?d-1 ig) for 10 wk would lower the content of MDA and restore activities of Mn-SOD,GSHpx and GSH/GSSG ratio in mitochondria of D-gal treated mice.Treatment with TEA (40 mg?kg-1 ?d-1 ig) for 3 mon had the same effect on 17-month-old mice.Conclusion TEA has anti-aging effect on D-gal treated mice and 17-month-old mice significantly, probably being related to its anti-oxidative effect.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogenic factors of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections.

METHODSTotally 36 serum samples were obtained from early pregnant woman and examined with ELISA for anti-HCMV antibody IgG and IgM. After artificial abortion,chorionic villus and decidua were also examined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HCMV-DNA. When the results of PCR were positive, pathological changes of these chorionic villus and decidua were analyzed.

RESULTSThe results showed that only 10 samples were PCR positive while IgG and/or IgM antibody to HCMV was positive. After infection with HCMV, different changes occurred in chorionic villus and decidual trophoblastic cells placental villus were hyperplasic and decidua cells degenerated and necrotized followed by lymphocytes infiltration.

CONCLUSIONThese pathological changes may be one of pathogenic factors of HCMV.

Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Chorionic Villi ; pathology ; virology ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; pathology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Decidua ; pathology ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; pathology ; virology

BACKGROUNDL-glutamate (L-GLU) is a major neurotransmitter in the nucleus ambiguus (NA), which can modulate respiration, arterial pressure, heart rate, etc. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of L-GLU microinjected into NA on gastric motility in rats.

METHODSA latex balloon connected with a pressure transducer was inserted into the pylorus through the forestomach for continuous recording of the gastric motility. The total amplitude, total duration, and motility index of gastric contraction waves within 5 minutes before microinjection and after microinjection were measured.

RESULTSL-GLU (5 nmol, 10 nmol and 20 nmol in 50 nl normal saline (PS) respectively) microinjected into the right NA significantly inhibited gastric motility, while microinjection of physiological saline at the same position and the same volume did not change the gastric motility. The inhibitory effect was blocked by D-2-amino-5-phophonovalerate (D-AP5, 5 nmol, in 50 nl PS), the specific N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist, but was not influenced by 6-cyaon-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-(1H,4H)-dione (CNQX) (5 nmol, in 50 nl PS), the non-NMDA ionotropic receptor antagonist. Bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy abolished the inhibitory effect by microinjection of L-GLU into NA.

CONCLUSIONSMicroinjection of L-GLU into NA inhibits the gastric motility through specific NMDA receptor activity, not non-NMDA receptor activity, and the efferent pathway is the vagal nerves.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate ; pharmacology ; 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; Glutamic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Vagotomy

Splint fixation is an external fixation system,composed of retainer, splint, paper pad and traction. Pressure under retainer is the power source of splint fixation in treatment of fractures. Now we have a review literature about the progress of type and biomechanics of fixation retainer of splint, to offer the scientific parameters for modern reform of fixation retainer of splint.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans ; Splints ; classification

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors (PPARgamma) in extrahepatic cholangioadenocarcinoma (EHCAC) and to elucidate its correlation with clinicopathological factors and their significance in prognosis.

METHODSThe expressions of PPARgamma and VEGF-C were detected by immunohistochemistry in 69 cases of EHCAC, 12 cases of non-tumor bile duct epithelium, and their relationship to clinicopathological parameters and follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive rate of PPARgamma expression in 69 cases of EHCAC was 59.4%, significantly higher than that in 12 cases of non-tumor bile duct epithelium (0%), (P < 0.01). The positive rate of VEGF-C in 69 cases of EHCAC was 84.1%, also significantly higher than 16.7% in 12 cases of benign bile duct epithelium (P < 0.05). PPARgamma expression was associated with clinical TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. VEGF-C expression was associated with lymph node metastasis. Cox analysis results showed that portal vein and/or hepatic artery invasion, lymph node metastasis and VEGF-C expression were independent prognostic factors of EHCAC (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPPARgamma expression may play an important role during tumorigenesis of extrahepatic cholangioadenocarcinoma. The expressions of PPARgamma and VEGF-C are significantly correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics and biological behavior of EHCAC. Expression of VEGF-C is an independent prognosis factors in EHCAC. The detection of PPARgamma and VEGF-C is valuable for evaluation of prognosis of EHCAC.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism

The wide frequency band ECG (WFB-ECG) was recorded in 33 (anesthetized) normal pigeons by the microprocessor ECG system (made in Nanjing University) with a wide-frequency response (0-1000 Hz), a high-speed sweep (up to 1401 mm/s) and a high sensitivity (up to 28 mm/mV). The recording methods for limb leads in the pigeon were the same as those in man, except that the needle electrodes (made by No.5 needles) were subcutaneously inserted in the bases of the wings and in the legs. We studied the features of time domain and power spectrum of pigeons WFB-ECG. It presents P, R, S and T waves, but no Q wave, basically similar to the results from Aves described by Sturkie. But there are still many characters that were not be recorded on the conventional ECG: (1) the main QRS complex is inverted and forms the type of rS or rSr , no Q wave in leads II, III, aVF, and the S-T segment is absent, which is different from that of humans. The T wave is upright in leads II, III, and aVF (except one), in agreement with that of man. But in lead aVR, the main QRS complex is upright and forms the type of Rs, and the T wave is inverted without any exception. There is a large notch on the upstroke of S wave without any exception. The amplitude of the notch is 0.413+/-0.133 mV and the duration is 9.733+/-1.291 ms in lead II. (2) The ratio of duration of P wave to P-R segment is about 0.8, lower than that of humans (1.0-1.6), but higher than that of mice (0.4). (3) The low frequency signals (0-80 Hz) are prominent. The relative power content of high frequency range of QRS in lead II is: 100-1000 Hz: (10.181+/-7.443)%; 80-300 Hz: (15.418+/-10.579)%. (4)The QRS vector loop in the frontal plane lies between -90 degrees and -180 degrees. The electrical axis of QRS complex averages -118 +/-10 (ranges from -96 degrees to -136 degrees). The reason that position of vector loop and the direction of main wave of QRS in the pigeon are different from human s and rodent s is probably that the Purkinje fibers cross the whole ventricular wall and terminate in the subepicardium in Aves including pigeons . After the impulses coming from the sinoatrial node reach the ventricular muscles, the subepicardium is depolarized before the endocardium. However in human s and rodent s, the Purkinje fibres only reach one-forth to one-second of the whole thickness from the endocardium to the epicardium, the subendocardium is depolarized before the subepicardium.
Animals ; Columbidae ; physiology ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; physiology ; Male

AIMTo explore roles of metabotropic glutamate receptor1/5 (mGluR1/5) in the induction of brain ischemic tolerance (BIT) induced by cerebral ischemic preconditioning (CIP), influences of mGluR1/5 ligand (s)-4-carboxy-3-hydroxy- phenylglycine ((s)-4C3HPG) on the induction of BIT and expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the hippocampus were observed.

METHODSThionin staining and GFAP immunohistochemistry staining in rat 4 vessel occlusion (4VO) brain ischemic model was used. Thirty-six rats, of which bilateral vertebral arteries were occluded permanently by electrocautery, were divided into the following 4 groups: sham group; ischemic insult group, BIT group and (s)-4C3HPG group. According to dosages of (s)-4C3HPG used, the (s)-4C3HPG group, was further divided into 0.2 mg, 0.04 mg and 0.008 mg subgroups. All the rats were killed 7 d after the operation or the final ischemic treatment.

RESULTS(1) The ischemic insult for 8 min increased the histological grade (HG), decreased the pyramidal neuronal density (ND) and increased the expression of GFAP significantly (P < 0.05 vs sham) (2) The CIP prevented the above injury changes in the BIT group. (3) The protective effects of the CIP were blocked by (s)-4C3HFG, as manifested by significant increases in HG and decreases in ND in the (s)-4C3HPG group (P < 0.05 vs sham and BIT groups). The changes were proportional with the dosages of (s)-4C3HPG used.

CONCLUSION(s)-4C3HPG could block the induction of BIT induced by CIP, suggested that mGluR1/5 participate in the induction of BIT.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Electroencephalography ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Glycine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Male ; Neuroglia ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5 ; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the effects of the duration of cerebral ischemic preconditioning(CIP) and interval between CIP and the subsequent ischemic insult on the protection of CIP against delayed neuronal death (DND) in the CA1 hippocampus normally induced by brain ischemic insult.

METHODSFour-vessel occlusion cerebral ischemic model of rats (54) was used. The brain of the rats was sectioned and stained with thionin to show DND in the CA1 hippocampus.

RESULTSNo DND was found in the hippocampus of the rats subjected to sham operation and CIP, in which 3 min cerebral ischemic preconditioning was performed. Obvious destruction of the CA1 hippocampus was found in brain ischemic insult group, in which histological (HG) was 2-3 in 6 min and 10 min ischemia subgroups and grade 3 in 15 min ischemia subgroup. In CIP + brain ischemic insult group, no obvious neuronal damage was found in 3 min-3d-6 min (CIP for 3 min was followed by a brain ischemic insult for 6 min at an interval of 3 d, the same as the following) and 3 min-3 d-10 min groups, indicating that CIP effectively protected neurons of the CA1 hippocampus against DND normally induced by ischemic insult for 6 or 10 min. However, in 3 min-1 d-10 min and 3 min-3 d-15 min groups, the protective effect of CIP was lower than that in the 3 min-3 d-10 min group. The quantitative analysis of the protective effect of CIP on the CA1 hippocampal neurons showed that there was no significant difference in protecting number and protecting index between 3 min-3 d-6 min and 3 min-3 d-10 min groups (P > 0.05). However, the growth index in 3 min-3 d-10 min group was obvious larger than that in 3 min-3 d-6 min (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAlthough the protective effects of CIP in 3 min-3 d-6 min and 3 min-3 d-10 min groups were similar, the protective effect of CIP in 3 min-3 d-10 min group was sensitively found. Maximal protective potential of CIP could be induced when using the time parameters of 3 min-3 d-10 min to establish the model of global cerebral ischemic tolerance.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Cell Death ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Male ; Neurons ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Time Factors