OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Jianshi (PC 5) com- bined with granisetron on nausea and vomiting as well as serum levels of 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in chemotherapy patients.

METHODSSeventy-two chemotherapy patients who met the inclusive criteria were randomly divided into an observation group (38 cases) and a control group (34 cases). The patients in the observation group were treated with electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Jianshi (PC 5) combined with granisetron injection; the patients in the control group were treated with electroacupuncture at sham-point 1 and sham- point 2, and the rest treatment was identical to the observation group. After 3-day treatment, the clinical indices including times of vomiting and severity of nausea, etc. were observed in the two groups.

RESULTS(1) At the acute stage within 24 h, the times of vomiting in the two groups were not significantly different (P>0.05); at the delay stage, the severity of nausea was significantly higher in the control group (P<0.05). (2) As for the comprehensive efficacy and rate of complete control, there was no obvious difference between the two groups at the acute stage (P>0.05); while in the delay stage, the rate of complete control in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.01). (3) Compared before and after the treatment, serum levels of 5-HT and DA were evidently reduced in the observation group (both P<0.05), while those in the control group were not significantly changed after treatment (both P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Jianshi (PC 5) combined with granisetron could obviously relieve the nausea in chemotherapy patients at the delay stage. The effect mechanism is possibly related to reducing the content of 5-HIT nndl nA

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; etiology ; therapy ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Vomiting ; etiology ; therapy ; Young Adult

Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Organ Size ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Syndrome

Objective To investigate the expression of transforming growth factor?1(TGF-?1)in human colorectal carcinoma and its value for predicting the prognosis.Methods The expression of TGF-?1 and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)was measured in specimens of 52 coloreetal cancers by immunohistoehemistry.The features of clinical pathology were analyzed and the follow-up of all patients were conducted.The correlation between the expression of TGF-?1 and the survival time was studied with Log-rank test.Results Of 52 patients,no expression of TGF-?1 and VEGF was observed in 11 and 14 patients,and the expression was noticed in 41 and 38 patients,respectively.There was a signifi- cant positive correlation between expression of TGF-?1 and expression of VEGF(x~2＝0.633,P＜0.01). Furthermore,the expression of TGF-?1 was significantly correlated with Dukes staging(x~2＝19.866,P＜0.01)and metastasis of lymph nodes(x~2＝13.152,P＜0.01).The 3-year overall survival rates(OSR)in all patients was 49.1% and the 3-year OSR of patients with and without expression of TGF-?1 were 20.5% and 69.2% respectively(x~2＝11.64,P＝0.0006).Conclusion The expression of TGF-?1 could be served as an important predicator for prognosis of coloreetal carcinoma.

Objective:To investigate the expression of wild type estrogen receptor(wER)and the ex-on-5 deleted ER(variant ER,vER)in human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)samples,and thereafteranalyze the possibility of HCC treatment by endocrine therapy.Methods:The mRNA expressions of wERand vER were analysed from 28 cases of HCC by RT-PCR.The expression of ER at the protein level wasdetected by immunohistochemistry(IHC).Results:IHC results showed that 39.3% of the HCC speci-mens expressed ER.The mRNA of wER was detected in 89.3%(25/28)of the HCC specimens whilethat of vER was detected in 96.4%(27/28).Twenty four out of 28 HCC cases(85.7%)expressedboth wER and vER.One out of 28 patients(3.5%)expressed only wER whereas 3 patients out of 28(10.7%)expressed vER only.Conclusion:Ninety six percent(27/28)of the HCC patients expressedvER,which suggests that the expression of vER is an important event in the development of HCC.

Objective: To investigate the effect of rhubarb on gastrointestinal blood perfusion in critical illness and hemorrhagic shocked rats.Methods: Clinical Study: Sixty-four septic patients, who suffered from stress ulcer, were treated with rhubarb at a dose of 25 mg/kg. Twenty-five non-septic patients were taken as control. The gastrointestinal perfusion was evaluated by intramural pH (pHi). Animal study: SD rats were anesthetized with intraperitoneal sodium pentobarbital at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Blood-letting were performed in the animals. Blood pressure reduced to 5.32 kPa and maintained for 120 mins. They were resuscitated at the end of shock by reinfusing all of the shed blood. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: Normal control, shock group, therapeutic group (shocked rats were treated with 50 mg/kg rhubarb at the end of shock) and rhubarb group (normal rats were treated with rhubarb). Laser Doppler was applied to estimate the gastrointestinal blood perfusion. Results: Clinical Study: The gastrointestinal pHi in septic patients was much lower than that in the control, whereas rhubarb could obviously elevate gastrointestinal pHi (P<0.001). In addition, rhubarb also had good effect on gastric hemorrhage caused by stress ulcer. Animal Study: Although the shocked rats were resuscitated completely, their gastrointestinal blood perfusion was much lower than that in the control. Rhubarb could significantly improve the blood perfusion in gastrointestinal mucosa and mesentery (P<0.01). Furthermore, rhubarb also increase the gastrointestinal perfusion in normal rats. Conclusion: Rhubarb could improve gastrointestinal blood perfusion in critical illness and shocked rats.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Zhusha Anshen pill, cinnabar, HgS, HgCl2 and MeHg on the gene expression of renal transporters in mice.

METHODHealthy male mice were given equivalent physiological saline, Zhusha Anshen pill (1.8 g · kg(-1), containing 0.17 g · kg(-1) of mercury), cinnabar (0.2 g · kg(-1), containing 1.7 g · kg(-1) of mercury), high dose cinnabar (2 g · kg(-1), containing 1.7 g · kg(-1) of mercury), HgS (0.2 g · kg(-1), containing 0.17 g · kg(-1) of mercury), HgCl2 (0.032 g · kg(-1), containing 0. 024 g · kg(-1) of mercury), MeHg (0.026 g · kg(-1), containing 0.024 g · kg(-1) of mercury), once daily, for 30 d, measuring body mass gain. 30 days later, the mice were sacrificed. The mercury accumulation in kidneys was detected with atomic fluorescence spectrometer. Expressions of Oat1, Oat2, Oat3, Mrp2, Mrp4, Urat1 were detected with RT-PCR.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, a significant accumulation of Hg in kidney in HgCl2 and MeHg groups was observed (P <0.05), but these changes were not found in other groups. Compared with normal control group, mRNA expressions of Oat1 and Oat2 were evidently lower in HgCl2 and MeHg groups, but mRNA expressions of Mrp2 were apparently higher in HgCl2 group (P <0.05), mRNA expression of Mrp4 was significant higher in HgCl2 and MeHg groups, and mRNA expression of Urat1 was apparently lower in MeHg group.

CONCLUSIONHgCl2 and MeHg groups show significant difference from the normal group in mercury accumulation in kidneys and gene expression of kidney transporters, but with no difference between other groups and the normal group. Compared with HgCl2 and MeHg, cinnabar and its compounds could cause lower renal toxicity to mice.

Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mercuric Chloride ; toxicity ; Mercury Compounds ; toxicity ; Methylmercury Compounds ; toxicity ; Mice ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Organic Anion Transport Protein 1 ; genetics ; Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Independent ; genetics

AIM To determine the dynamic changes of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in various brain regions of cerebral ischemia reperfusion mice. METHODS Concentrations of monoamine neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and metabolites were determined by HPLC-ECD on d 0,1,3,5 and d 20 after cerebral ischemia reperfusion by common carotid artery occlusion. RESULTS The cerebral ischemia reperfusion mice showed decreased concentrations of NE, MHPG, DA, DOPAC, 5-HT and 5-HIAA in various brain regions, especially in hippocampus. CONCLUSION Several neuron systems play an important role in neurons damage of cerebral ischemia reperfusion, especially the NE and DA in hippocampus which is sensitive to the ischemia damage. The data offer useful guides for clinical treatments of cerebral ischemia diseases.

Objective To evaluate the possible molecular pathogenesis of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. The potassium ion channel gene KCNJ4 encodes one of the subfamilies of Kir channels, Kir2.3 subunit, which may play an important role in modulating neuronal excitation. Interference in the function or expression of this gene would cause disturbance of ionic concentrations, thus leading to seizure activity. Methods Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blot analysis were used to measure the expression alterations of KCNJ4 mRNA as well as its protein product Kir2.3 channel in temporal cortex samples from patients who had undergone temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy (n=12). Tissue from 10 subjects who did not have epilepsy served as controls. Results The expression of KCNJ4 mRNA (0.438?0.178) and its protein Kir2.3 (M 50=0.063) were significantly decreased in epileptic brain compared with the controls (P

Objective To investigate the axonal lesion in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy(CIDP).Methods Eighteen patients had undergone sural nerve biopsy.The clinical and electrophysiological distinction based on the different pathological changes were analyzed.Results Five patients with demyelination predominance which presented myelinated fiber with thin myelin.Three of them showed also mild axonal degeneration.Eight patients with axonal lesion predominance which presented Wallerian degeneration and regeneration of myelinated fibers.Three patients with mixed myelin and axon lesion of myelinated fibers and two with mild lesion.There was no significant difference between CIDP predominantly with axonal lesion and demyelination.Electrophysiological examination shows both axonal lesion and demyelination feature in some of the 2 types patients at the same time.Conclusions Axonal lesion is a common pathological change in CIDP and should not be considered as an exclusive criterion in diagnosis of the disease.Infiltration of macrophages is a common change.

Objective To study clinicopathologic significance of microvessel density(MVD)and the expres- sion of CD34 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods Using Elivision Plus immunohistochemistry method.50 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 15 cases of inflammation nasopharyngeal tissues were stained with CD34.Results In comparison with inflammation nasopharyngeal tissues MVD(9.23?1.84),the MVD in nasopharyngeal carcino- ma(21.92?7.80)was significantly higher(P