Objective To investigate the inhibitory effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on hypermelanosis and provide experimental evidence for treating skin pigmentary disorders. Methods Five TCMs with strong inhibitory effects on tyrosinase activity were tested. The changes of the number and morphology of melanocytes induced by UVB were observed in the experimental hypermelanosis model (brownish guinea pig). Results Decreased melanocytes and melanin granules were found with the treatment of Poria cocos, Polyporus umbellatus, Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc., Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., Astoagalus complanatus R. Br. ex Bge. Conclusion There are inhibitory effects on hypermelanosis induced by UVB with the treatment of Poria cocs, Polyporus umbellatus, Cornus officinalis Sieb.et Zucc., Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., Astoagalus complanatus R. Br.ex Bge.

To explore the theoretical basis of the heretability of servicemen's personalities and to provide references for the development of a set of scientific and effective psychological interventions, 1 306 servicemen were subjected to the 16-PF inventory questionaire and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examination of angiotensin. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between the scores of self-will, social boldness, self-reliance, and self-restraint in the female servicemen, and the scores of self-will, boldness, self-reliance, emotional stability, and openness in the male servicemen were significantly correlated with the DD genotype of the ACE gene. The results suggested that the determination of the DD genotype of the ACE gene could be used as a useful tool in the research of heretability of personality factors.

To explore the effects of psychological behavior training on the physical stress level of submariners, 42 submariners were divided into two groups, namely experimental group and control group. The submariners in the former group received psychological behavior training for one week. The level of physical stress was determined after being asked to creep through water-filled torpedo launching tube before and after training. The results showed that the changes in physical stress level of subjects in the experimental group were significantly smaller than that of the control group(t=-3.421～-2.415, P

OBJECTIVE： To study the anti-thrombotic， choleretic and anti-ulcerous actions of Rhizoma Ligustici.METHODS： Experiments were carried out on conventional models of choleresis and ulceration， and on a thrombotic model of using direct current continuously to stimulate the unilateral carotid artery of anesthetic rat.RESULTS： Alcoholic extract of Rhizoma Ligustici 3g herb/kg and 10g herb/kg id or ig， increased choleresis and prolonged the time for arterial thrombosis induced by electric stimulation in rats， but did not prolonged coagulative time， PT and KPTT.The extract 5g herb/kg and 15g herb/kg ig， inhibited the formation of gastric ulcers induced by water immersion， stress， HCl and indomethacin-alcohol in mice.CONCLUSION： Rhizoma Ligustici has anti-thrombotic choleretic and anti-ulcerous actions.

Jaundice occurs in 19%-40% of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. HCC associated jaundice may be divided into hepatocellular and icteric types in terms of its underlying pathophysiology. The jaundice of icteric type is caused by obstruction of the bile duct through cancer embolus, blood clot, biliary sludge, tumor compression or infiltration. Jaundice and epigastric discomforts are the main clinical manifestations. In the present case, severe acute pancreatitis and acute cholangitis presenting as initial complaints of icteric type HCC were quite rare. A tumor located at the central lobe of the liver and a cancer embolus at the lower part of the common bile duct (CBD) were detected by CT scan. Curative resection of HCC with CBD exploration eradicated both the tumor and the embolus, and no recurrence was found after a 36 month follow-up.

Objective To explore the correlation between ATF5 protein expression level and drug sensitivity of gastric cancer AGS cells.Methods We established the high,middle and low ATF5 expression groups by transfecting the AGS cells with ATF5 pcDNA3.1 plasmid,ATF5 siRNA and empty plasmid using the liposome transfection technique.Then we detected the expression of the ATF5 protein of the 3 groups using the Western Blot.The drug sensitivity of AGS cells in 3 groups to paclitaxel and cisplatin was detected using the MTT experiments and plate clone formation experiments then the correlation between ATF5 protein expression level and drug sensitivity of gastric cancer AGS cells was analyzed.Results With the effect of paclitaxel or cisplatin on AGS cells in 3 groups,the surviving fraction and the IC50 of high ATF5 expression group were higher than those of control group,which indicated statistical significance (all P ＜ 0.05);while the surviving fraction and the IC50 of low ATF5 expression group were lower than those of control group (all P ＜ 0.05,P cisplatin =0.00,P paclitaxel =0.002).We found that cell clone formation of AGS cells to paclitaxel and cisplatin was significantly increased after the transfection with ATF5 protein plasmid and decreased after transfection with ATF5 siRNA plasmid (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The expression of ATF5 protein is related to the drug sensitivity of gastric cancer AGS cells that upregulation of ATF5 protein expression can decrease the drug sensitivity of AGS cells to paclitaxel and cisplatin in gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy of moxibustion on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the patients and the impacts on the inflammatory indices.

METHODSForty RA patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 20 cases in each one. In the control group, diclofenac sodium sustained release tablets were used, 0.3 g each time, twice a day; methotrexate tablets were used, 10 mg each time, once a week; folic acid was used, 5 mg each time, once a week. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, moxibustion was added specially on the swelling and painful joints, once a day, 15-20 min each time till: the local skin turned slightly red. The treatment was given once a day, at the interval of 1 day after every 6 treatments. In the two groups, the efficacy was observed after 30-day treatment. Before and after treatment, the rheumatoid factor (RF), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), disease activity score-28 (DAS-28) and the score of joint symptom and physical signs were observed.

RESULTSCompared with those before treatment, the levels of RF, hs-CRP, ESR, DAS-28 and the symptom scale score were all reduced in the RA patients of the two groups after treatment (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of RF, hs-CRP, ESR, DAS-28 and the symptom scale score in the observation group were improved much apparently (all P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 85.0% (17/20) in the observation group and was 80.0% (16/20) in the control group. The total effective rate in the observation group was apparently better than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion as supplement relieves the joint symptoms, reduces the inflammatory reactive indices and improves the clinical efficacy in the RA patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; therapy ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Rheumatoid Factor ; blood ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effective differences between pricking blood combined with moxibustion and west medication for acute gouty arthritis.

METHODSForty patients with acute gouty arthritis were randomly divided into a pricking blood combined with moxibustion group (a combination group) and a western medication group, 20 cases in each one. In the combination group, pricking blood was used at the most painful points of the red turgid and painful joint once three days, total 3 times; moxibustion was applied at the same joint for 15-20 min, once a day. The moxibustion was adopted for 10 days. In the western medication group, 0. 3 g ibuprofen was prescribed orally twice a day for 10 days. The changes of uric acid (UA), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the joint syndrome and symptom score before and after: treatment were observed. Results In the two groups, the UA, the hs-CRP, the ESR and the joint syndrome and symptom scores were lower than those before treatment (all P<0. 05). After treatment, the UA, the ESR and the joint syndrome and symptom scores in the combination group were declined more apparently than those in the western medication group (all P<0. 05). The total effective rate in the combination group was 85. 0% (17/20) which was better than 75. 0% (15/20) in the western medication group (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONPricking blood combined with moxibustion could improve the joint symptoms more effectively and the effect is better than ibuprofen orally.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Gouty ; therapy ; Bloodletting ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Endoscopy ; Foreign Bodies ; surgery ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; surgery ; Orbit ; surgery

Objective To investigate the effects of silencing STMN1 by siRNA on the sensitivity of oesophageal cancer cells Eca-109 to paclitaxel .Methods The STMN1 siRNA(siSTMN1) or scramble siRNA(SCR) were transient transfected into Eca-109 cells .The mRNA and protein levels of STMN1 were detected by qPCR and Western blot in the Eca-109 cells of different groups .In vitro paclitaxel sensitivity of siSTMN1 and SCR transfected Eca-109 cell lines was tested by MTT assay and colony formation as-say .Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining were used to investigate the effect of silencing STMN 1 on the sensitivity of SCR ,siSTMN1 transfected Eca-109 cells and nontreated counterparts under paclitaxel induced apoptosis .Results The transient transfection cell lines were successfully established .Both protein and mRNA levels of STMN1 were effectively down-regulated in the siSTMN1 transfected Eca-109 cells .Down-regulation of STMN1 significantly enhanced the sensitivity of Eca-109 cells in response to paclitaxel (P<0 .01) .In addition ,the siSTMN1 transfected Eca-109 cells displayed significant apoptosis as assessed by Hoechst nuclear stai-ning(P<0 .01) .Conclusion Silencing STMN1 by siRNA could enhance the sensitivity of oesophageal cancer cells Eca-109 to paclitaxel .