Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture in managing thalamic pain syndrome. Methods: Eighty patients with thalamic pain syndrome were randomly allocated into two groups, with 40 cases in the treatment group receiving combined scalp and body acupuncture treatment and 40 cases in the control group receiving single body acupuncture treatment. The intervention was given for 28 d in total, and the effects were evaluated after 14-day and 28-day treatments. Results: The inner-group comparison of McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) showed significant differences after the treatment d 14 in both of the two groups (P<0.05), and after the treatment d 28, the differences were even more significant (P<0.01). After 28-day treatment, compared with pre-treatment, the Transcranial Doppler (TCD) test detected significant changes in the two groups (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 72.5% in the treatment group versus 47.5% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The 3-month follow-up study found the relapse rate was 0 in the treatment group and 15.8% in the control group, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture is effective in treating thalamic pain syndrome and combined scalp and body acupuncture can achieve even better results.

With the development of functional genomics, high throughput analysis of genes’ function has been the mainstream of research, and exogenous gene's over expression via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the most commonly used method in gene functional analysis.The versatile plant expression vector cassette named pBHT-5 was constructed by the method of site-specific mutagenesis based on pBI121. First of all, the restriction enzyme SfiI recognition site in trfA gene (X00713) which was relevant to plasmid replication and stability was replaced without changing its amino acid composition. And then the SfiIA,SfiIB sites were added between promoter CaMV35s and terminator NOS. The versatile plant expression vector cassette can be directly used to construct plant expression vector containing the full-length genes cloned by Clontech SMARTTM technology, which will raise the efficiency of vector construction. The result will provide basis of new genes’ high throughput screening and functional analysis, then get the new genes functioning in plant osmotic stress resistance.

Butyric acid can be used to produce cellulose butyrate fiber and ester derivatives,and to be applied in foodstuffs and perfume industries.Recent researches have found that butyric acid is a preferred carbon source for colonic epithelial cells,and can inhibit histone deacetylase,showing great anticancer potentials.With more and more functions of butyric acid being found and applied in bio-related fields,and with consumer's growing preference to bioproducts,biotechnological production of butyric acid will receive more competence than petroleum-based chemical synthesis.Low product concentration and poor selectivity are presently the main restricting factors.Workers have made considerable progress on more cheep carbon sources,optimization of fermentation process,simplifying downstream processing,and genetic engineering of producing strains.Any achievement on these aspects in the future can contribute to put fermentation of butyric acid into industry.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of MRI on fetal congenital diaphragmatic hernia(CDH).Methods Fourteen pregnant women with gestation from 16 to 39 weeks were studied with a 1.5 T superconductive MR unit within 24 to 48 hours after ultrasound studies.Fast-imaging employing steady-state acquisition(FIESTA),single-shot fast spin echo(SSFSE)and T_1-weighted fast inversion recovery motion insensitive(FIRM)sequences were employed on the axial,coronal and sagittal planes of the fetal brain,thorax and abdomen,especially the thorax.Prenatal US and MR imaging findings were compared with postnatal diagnoses(13 fetuses)or autopsy(1 fetus).US,MR imaging and surgery were used for postnatal evaluation.Results Fourteen pregnant women(12 with a single fetus and 2 with twin fetuses)were studied.There were 12 fetuses(in 2 cases,being one of twins)with a left-sided and 2 with right-sided diaphragmatic hernias.For all cases,the prenatal MRI diagnosis Was correct when compared with postnatal diagnosis or autopsy.Two CDHs were missed and 2 were misdiagnosed by US.Intrathoracic herniated organs in 12 left CDH included the colon(n=1),the stomach(n=1),the bewel(n=5),or both the stomach and bowel(n=5).Intrathoracic herniated organs in 2 right CDH included the bowel(n=1),or the bowel and the right lobe of the liver(n=1).Conclusion Prenatal MRI is effective in the assessment of fetal congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of MRI on fetal congenital limb deformities.Methods Sixteen pregnant women,aged from 22 to 40 years (average 29 years) and with gestation from 22 to 39 weeks (average 29 weeks) were studied with a 1.5 T superconductive MR unit within 24 to 48 hours after ultrasound studies. Acquisitions consisted of coronal, sagittal, and axial slices relative to the fetal brain, spine, thorax, abdomen, especially limbs using 2D FIESTA sequences. Prenatal US and MR imaging findings were compared with postnatal diagnoses (4 fetuses) or autopsy (12 pregnant women,13 fetuses). Postnatal evaluation included US, MR imaging, computed tomography, and physical examination. Results Of the sixteen pregnant women (15 with a single fetus and 1 with twin fetuses) ,17 fetuses were found. Those limb deformities of sixteen pregnant women included congenital both upper extremities amelia (1 case), sirenomelia sequence (1 case), micmmelia (5 cases, 1 of which were twins),bilateral clenched hands (2 cases), right pelydactyly (1 case), simple right ectrodactyly (1 case), right dactylolysis(1 case), simple club foot (2 cases), hydrocele spinalis with club foot (2 cases), 1 of the 2 cases with bilateral clinodactyly. In 14 of 16 cases, the diagnoses established by MR imaging were correct when compared with postnatal diagnosis, and prenatal MR diagnosis was inaccurate in 2 cases. Conclusion Prenatal MRI is effective in the assessment of congenital limb deformities of fetuses, it can yield information additional to that obtained with US, and further correct US diagnosis.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of MRI on fetal neural tube defects.Methods Ten pregnant women,aged from 25 to 35 years(average 28 years)and with gestation from 20-39 weeks(average 33 weeks)were studied with a 1.5 T superconductive MR unit within 24 to 48 hours after ultrasound(US)studies.The imaging protocol included fast-imaging employing steady-state acquisition,single-shot FSE and T_1-weighted fast inversion recovery motion insensitive sequences in the axial,frontal,and sagittal planes relative to the fetal brain,thorax,abdomen,and spines.Prenatal US and MRI findings were compared with postnatal MRI diagnoses(3 fetuses)or autopsy(7 fetuses).Results Ten pregnant women(9 with a single fetus and 1 with twin fetuses)were examined.For all cases,the diagnoses established by MRI were correct when compared with postnatal diagnosis or autopsy.In 7 cases,US and MRI findings were in complete agreement with postnatal diagnoses.US missed the diagnosis in 1 case and misdiagnosed in 2 cases.Ten neural tube defects in this study included anencephaly(1 case),exencephaly (1 case),meningoencephalocele associated with amniotic band sequence(1 case),meningocele(1 case),thoracic myelomeningocele(1 case),lumbar spinal bifida(1 case),sacroiliac myelomeningocele(2 cases),sacroiliac large cystic spinal meningocele(1 case),sacroiliac spinal bifida(1 case).Conclusions Prenatal MRI is effective in the assessment of fetal neural tube defects.It can exactly discriminate herniated contents and locate the spinal lesion level.

Objective To dynamically observe changes of IgG, its subclasses and IgE in sera of mice by immunization with mixed recombinant of BCG-Em Ⅱ/3 and BCG-Em14-3-3 vaccine of Echinococcus multilocularis (Era). Methods Forty Balb/c mice of 12-14 week old and 20-25 g weight were intranasally vaccinated by the vaccine, 4 mice were killed randomly by the weight on 0,2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16 and 18 weeks of immunization respectively, sera were gathered from the eyeball to measure IgG, its subclasses and IgE by routine ELISA. Results Levels of IgG, IgG2a and IgG2b in the sera of mice increased obviously on 2-18 weeks, reached the highest level on 10, 4 and 4 weeks respectively, the value was 0.095±0.033,0.022±0.001,0.023±0.003 respectively, as compared with the value on 0 week(0.030±0.013,0.012±0.004,0.013±0.004), the difference being statistically significant(q=2.95,4.87,2.81 respectively, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05); levels of IgG1, IgG3 and IgE in the sera of mice decreased remarkably on 2-18 weeks,came to the lowest level on 4,2,6 weeks respectively, the value was 0.031±0.004,0.136±0.002,0.114±0.002 respectively, as compared with the value on 0 week(0.192±0.007, 0.175±0.013,0.024±0.003), the difference being statistically significant (q =5.16,4.93,5.32 respectively, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Conclusion Helper T cell(TH) Ⅰ response is induced in mice by mixed recombinant of BCG-Em Ⅱ/3 and BCG-Em14-3-3 vaccine on early immunization.

Objective To dynamically observe the changes of subsets of splenocytes in mice by immunization with recombinant BCG-Eg95 vaccine of Echinococcus granulosus(Eg).Methods Balb/c mice were divided randomly into 3 groups according to their weishts:intranasal group.per os group and PBS control.The mice were vaccinated intranasally or orally by the vaccine respectively in experimental groups.and the control mice were given phosphate buffer saline intranasally.These mice were killed to get spleen on 0,2,4,6,8,10,12, 14,16 and 18 week of immunization,respectively.Splenocytes were separated to measure subsets of CD4+ and CD8+T ceUs by FACsort.Results There were marked differences in ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ subsets among the different groups(F value were 21.56 and 22.08 respectively,P＜0.05).There were very marked differences in ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ subsets in different weeks(F value were 5.75 and 6.29 respectively.P＜0.01).In the intranasal group,CD4+ and CD8+ T subsets increased obviously in 6～18 weeks and 12 weeks,and reached the highest level on 10 and 12 week,espectively.Their values were 0.348±0.013 and 0.090±0.003.respectively.There were marked or very marked differences(q value were 7.32 and 5.32 respectively,P＜0.01 or＜0.05)in comparison with 0 week(0.230±0.022 and 0.069±0.015).In the oral group,CD4+and CD8+ subsets rose reinarkablv on 6-16 weeks and 8-18 weeks,achieved the hishest level on 10 and 16 weeks,respectively.Their vahes were 0.405± 0.006 and 0.096±0.004,respectively.There were marked or very marked difference(q value were 7.53 and 5.35 respectively,P＜0.01 or＜0.05)in comparison with week 0(0.230±0.022 and 0.069±0.015).Conclusion CD4+and CD8+T subsets may play an important role in immune response induced in mice by rBCG-Eg95 vaccine.

Objective To investigate the changes of cytokines of splenocytes in mice immunized with recombinant BCG-Em Ⅱ/3 vaccine of Echinococcus multilocularis(Em)and consequently challenged with Em protoscoleces.Methods Balb/c mice were subcutaneously or intranasally vaccinated and challenged with Em were separated and cultured with EmAg,ConA or PHA,respectively.The supematants were gathered to measure the levels of IL-2,IFN-γ,TNF-α.and IL-4 by ELISA Kits.Results The levels of IL-2,IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-4 in the subcutaneous group were(34.6±2.7),(34.5±2.8),(265.0 ±0.0)and(9.8±2.6)ng/L respeetively:those in the intranasal group were(32.5±2.2),(33.6±2.7),(130.0±0.0)and(10.4±27)ng/L respectively;those in the control were(25.0±1.9),(30.0±0.0),(10.0±0.0)and(12.5±2.7)ng/L,respectively:there were statistical differences between the immunized groups and control group(P＜0.01 or＜0.05);The level of TNF-α in the subcutaneous group was higher than that in the intranasal group.Conclusion Th1 response has been induced in mice vaccinated with rBCG-Em Ⅱ/3 vaccine and challenged with Em protoscoleces.

Objective To study the antitumor effect of toremifene on MCF7 cell lines,and investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Methods Inhibitory effect of toremifene alone or combined with MEK inhibitor PD98059 on MCF7 cells was measured by SRB test,and that on phosphorylated ERK was detected by Western blotting.Results Toremifene exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the activity of MCF7 cells.Phosphorylated ERK was significantly inhibited by 5,10 and 20 mmol/L toremifene.Combined with PD98059,toremifene had a significantly enhanced cytotoxity effect,which exceeded that of application alone. Conclusion Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway may play an important role in the antitumor effect of toremifene which is independent of estrogens.Combined with PD98059,the antitumor effect of toremifene can be reinforced,indicating a synergistic effect of these two drugs.