Objective: To explore the impedance characteristics of ear acupoints in stroke patients with excess or deficiency syndrome, and to provide basis data for objective study of the syndromes of stroke. Methods: The data of electrical characteristics of ear acupoints in stroke patients and healthy people were collected, and excess syndrome and deficiency syndrome of stroke were identified by quantifying the syndromes of stroke using scales. The differences in impedance characteristics of ear acupoints between stroke patients and healthy people were analyzed, and the differences in impedance characteristics of ear acupoints between stroke patients with excess syndrome and stroke patients with deficiency syndrome were analyzed too. The correlation among impedance characteristics of ear acupoints, stroke and the syndromes was also analyzed. Results: There were significant differences in impedance characteristics of ear acupoints between stroke patients and healthy people (P<0.05,P<0.01). The ear acupoints CO12 (Gan) and CO13 (Pi) had a significant role in diagnosing stroke as compared with CO18 (Neifenmi), AT3.4.AH12i (Naogan), CO10 (Shen), TG2p (Shenshangxian), AH6a (Jiaogan), AT4 (Pizhixia), and CO15 (Xin). There were significant differences in impedance characteristics of ear acupoints between stroke patients with excess syndrome and stroke patients with deficiency syndrome (P<0.05, P<0.01). The ear acupoints AH6a (Jiaogan) and CO10 (Shen) played an important role in differentiation diagnosis of excess syndrome and deficiency syndrome of stroke, followed by CO18 (Neifenmi), TF4 (Shenmen) and TG2p (Shenshangxian). Conclusion: Some ear acupoints with diagnostic value for stroke may provide basis of objective research for stroke diagnosis as well as identifying excess syndrome and deficiency syndrome of stroke.

Acupuncture mechanics in acupuncture manipulation of traditional Chinese medicine is important information for elucidating the essence of acupuncture manipulation and clinically observed acupuncture effects and has some morphological, histochemical and biochemical effects on fibroblasts and cytoskeletons in the tissue. This article generalizes from the present newest research advances, which is of important significance for revealing the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture.

Objective: To discuss the therapeutic method of apoplectic patients with language disorders.Methods: Sixty cases of apoplexy were classified into electroacupuncture group of 30 cases and acupuncture group of 30 cases. In electroacupuncture group, acupoints Lianquan (CV 23), Tongli (HT 5) and lower 2/5 part of motor area and sensory area were selected. In acupunc -ture group, acupoints Lianquan (CV 23) and Tongli (HT 5) were selected. Results and conclusions: After 2 courses of treatment, the total effective rate in electroacu -puncture group was 93.3% and that in acupuncture group was 76.6%. There was a significant difference in the therapeutic effect between the two groups (P＜0.05).

Objective To study the feasibility and curative effect of laparoscopic radical resection of rectal carcinoma. Methods Sixty-two cases were enrolled in this study between Feb 2003 and Mar 2005, including 32 cases undergoing laparoscopic radical resection (19 Dixon and 13 Miles) , and 30 cases undergoing open radical resection (22 Dixons and 8 Miles). Results The mean operation time of laparoscopic group was 195 min, and open group was 156 min (P 0. 05 ). The GI and urination function of laparoscopic group recovered faster than open group ( evacuated was 2. 7 days vs. 3. 7 days, P

AIM: To investigate the effect of silymarin on homocysteine-induced cell viability and apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: Cell viability was analyzed by using MTT and LDH assay. Apoptotic cells were detected by using DNA fragmentation and flow cytometric analysis. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the potential of mitochondrial membrane were determined by flow cytometric assay. The activity of caspase-3, -6 and -9 were measured with microplate spectrofluorometer. Protein levels were examined by Western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment of cultured HUVECs with HCY for 48 h induced a significant decrease in cell viability, and the percentage of apoptosis increased to 76.8%. The level of intracellular ROS and activity of caspase-3, -6 and -9 enhanced, and the red/green ratios of mitochondrial membrane decreased. However, simultaneous treatment with silymarin exhibited cytoprotective effects, reduced formation of the DNA ladder, prevented the levels of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins and the accumulation of ROS as well as caspase-3, -6 and -9 activation, reconverted the potential of mitochondrial membrane, and the percentage of apoptosis/necrosis was significantly decreased to 12.7% in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that silymarin has the protective capacity to antagonize HCY-induced apoptosis in HUVECs. The antiapoptotic action of silymarin may be partially dependent on an anti-oxidative stress effects, inhibition of caspases activity, and maintenance of mitochondria function.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a supplementary diagnostic indicator (infrared radiant intensity) in tongue diagnosis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in patients with hyperplasia of mammary glands through correlation analysis of infrared radiant intensity between hyperplastic breast tissue and tongue surface. METHODS: Infrared radiant intensity of the hyperplastic breast tissue and different points on tongue surface in 20 cases of hyperplasia of mammary glands with liver-energy stagnation and phlegm retention syndrome and 16 cases of hyperplasia of mammary glands with irregular thoroughfare and conception vessels syndrome were measured with external infrared spectrometer PHE-201 made by Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics. Correlation of infrared radiant intensity between the hyperplastic breast tissue and the different points on tongue surface was assessed by using bivariate correlation analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the numbers of positive correlated wave bands of infrared radiant intensity between the hyperplastic breast tissue and different detected points on tongue surface in the patients with liver-energy stagnation and phlegm retention syndrome and irregular thoroughfare and conception vessels syndrome were 127 (83.55%) and 71 (46.71%), respectively. Infrared radiant intensity between the hyperplastic breast tissue and the tongue surface had a positive correlation. CONCLUSION: Infrared radiant intensity can be used as one of supplementary diagnostic indicators in TCM tongue diagnosis of hyperplasia of mammary glands.

A Mn-clusters-porphyrin metal-organic framework nanosheet(nMn-MOF)was synthesized by coordination chelation to enhance photodynamic therapy. The nanosheet was characterized by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Oxygen sensor and ICG were used to investigate the production of oxygen and the singlet oxygen(1O2)generation. The cytotoxicity of the nanosheet against tumor cells were detected by CCK-8 assay, and the anti-hypoxia and oxygen-generation ability of nanosheets were investigated by fluorescence staining assay. The results indicated that this nanosheet could catalyze the intracellular H2O2 into O2, which overcame the tumor hypoxia. Furthermore, the generated oxygen was converted to cytotoxic 1O2 under the near infrared light irradiation, thereby enhancing photodynamic therapy.

Objective: To analyze the clinical data of a family with early-onset familial Alzheimer′s disease and to analyze the mutation of the pathogenic gene in the family. Methods: The clinical data of a proband who was clinically diagnosed as early-onset Alzheimer′s disease in the Department of Neurology, People′s Hospital of Zhengzhou University in October 2018 and her family members were collected. Moreover, whole exome sequencing was performed on blood sample from the proband, then its deleterious effects were assessed according to the Standards and guidelines for the interpretation of sequence variants, a joint consensus recommendation of the American College of Medical Genomics. Subsequently, the strong pathogenic mutation was validated by Sanger sequencing in the some members of the family and 50 sporadic Alzheimer′s disease and 50 normal individuals of the family. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) typing of 10 family members was all epsilon 3/epsilon 3. Results: The proband in this family showed decreased memory, visual space disorder, verbal repetition, personality change and abnormal mental behavior. The mutation at codon 717 of exon 17 of the proband amyloid precursor protein gene was detected by gene detection. The mutation at codon 717 of exon 17 of the proband beta-amyloid precursor protein gene was also found in the other five members of the family. The mutation was not found in 50 sporadic Alzheimer′s disease patients and 50 normal individuals outside the family. The proband′s head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bilateral hippocampal atrophy on plain scan, especially on the left side. No obvious abnormality was found in the head magnetic resonance angiography. The head MRI of the proband′s sister showed brain atrophy and bilateral hippocampal atrophy. Conclusions The study identified the pathogenic mutation of the beta-amyloid precursor protein gene p.V717I in six patients of a family with early-onset familial Alzheimer′s disease, and the mutation showed a phenomenon of family segregation. This finding is of great significance to the study of early-onset Alzheimer′s disease in Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: As a contour-supporting material, the cartilage has a significant application value in plastic surgery.Since the development of hydrogel scaffolds with sufficient biomechanical strength and high biocompatibility, cell-laden hydrogels have been widely studied for application in cartilage bioengineering. This systematic review summarizes the latest research on engineered cartilage constructed using cell-laden hydrogel scaffolds in plastic surgery. METHODS: A systematic review was performed by searching the PubMed and Web of Science databases using selected keywords and Medical Subject Headings search terms. RESULTS: Forty-two studies were identified based on the search criteria. After full-text screening for inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 studies were included. Data collected from each study included culturing form, seed cell types and sources, concentration of cells and gels, scaffold materials and bio-printing structures, and biomechanical properties of cartilage constructs. These cell-laden hydrogel scaffolds were reported to show some feasibility of cartilage engineering, including better cell proliferation, enhanced deposition of glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II in the extracellular matrix, and better biomechanical properties close to the natural state. CONCLUSION Cell-laden hydrogels have been widely used in cartilage bioengineering research. Through 3-dimensional (3D) printing, the cell-laden hydrogel can form a bionic contour structure. Extracellular matrix expression was observed in vivo and in vitro, and the elastic modulus was reported to be similar to that of natural cartilage. The future direction of cartilage tissue engineering in plastic surgery involves the use of novel hydrogel materials and more advanced 3D printing technology combined with biochemistry and biomechanical stimulation.

BACKGROUND: The phenotype maintenance of diced cartilage is a very important factor to reduce cartilage absorption rate in augmentation rhinoplasty. A novel method which combined diced cartilage with chondrocyte spheroids in gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel may have potentially good performance in phenotype maintenance, and is worth exploring. METHODS: The complex grafts formed by loading diced cartilage with chondrocyte spheroids into GelMA hydrogel were used as the experimental group, and the grafts formed of diced cartilage in GelMA were used as the control group.The two groups of grafts were implanted subcutaneously in nude mice. After 1 month and 3 months, the grafts were taken for general observation and histological analysis. The diameter changes of cartilage, the nuclei loss of chondrocyte, and glycosaminoglycan secretion were analyzed. RESULTS: Chondrocyte spheroids with obvious proliferation can be seen in the experimental group. Some diced cartilages had become a whole through the interconnection of chondrocyte spheroids. In addition, the diameter of the chondrocyte spheroids—diced cartilage complex in the experimental group increased significantly, and its nuclei loss rate was less than 1/2 of that in the control group. The maintenance of proteoglycans in diced cartilages in the experimental group was significantly better than that in the control group. CONCLUSION The combination of diced cartilage with chondrocyte spheroids in GelMA hydrogel can significantly reduce the absorption of cartilage extracellular matrix, enhance phenotype maintenance during subcutaneous ectopic implantation, and can produce inter-chondral connections.