OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture and Western medicine for promoting ovalation on endocrine dysfunctional infertility.

METHODSTwo hundred and forty cases of infertility were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (n = 160) and a Western medicine group (n = 80). They were treated with acupuncture and clomiphene respectively and their therapeutic effects were compared.

RESULTSThe pregnancy rate was 65.0% in the acupuncture group and 45.0% in the Western medicine group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can cure endocrine dysfunctional infertility.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Clomiphene ; Humans ; Infertility ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pregnancy Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features as well as the differential diagnoses of the solid variant of mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma with basaloid features.

METHODSClinical and pathological data were collected in four cases of the solid variant of mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma with basaloid features, and microscopic pathological examination and immunohistochemistry EnVision method were performed. The relevant literature was also reviewed.

RESULTSThe four patients were female, with age ranged from 46 - 65 years old (average 56 years) and the maximum tumor diameter ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Microscopically, the tumors exhibited a predominantly solid architecture with a myxoid or hyalinized stroma. The tumor cells showed moderate to marked nuclear atypia, and a basaloid appearance with scanty cytoplasm and inconspicuous nucleoli, and ≥ 5 mitotic figures per 10 high power fields. Glandular space embedded within tumor islands could be noticed. These spaces were genuine glandular structures and the cells lining these true glandular lumens had more abundant and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Pseudoglandular spaces of cribriform pattern or variable shape were also occasionally seen, and these cysts contained homogenous eosinophilic material. Focal necrosis was found. All cases were negative for ER, PR and HER2. Immunohistochemical staining for CK5/6, CK7 and CK14 was positive in the genuine glandular structures. All cases were positive for CD10, but also positive with varying intensity from weak to strong for vimentin and CD117. Staining for Ki-67 in three patients showed 10% - 50% positive.

CONCLUSIONSThe solid variant of mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma with basaloid features is a histologically distinctive and also a rare subset of the mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Awareness of its pathological features can help with the diagnosis as well as differential diagnosis. More cases are still needed for accurately assessing the prognosis of this particular tumor.

Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-14 ; metabolism ; Keratin-5 ; metabolism ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Mastectomy ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the role of cerebrovascular hemodynamic indexes (CVHI) changing in stroke and to provide reference for stroke prevention and risk factor study.

METHODSFrom 2003 to 2004, participants aged 40 years and above in two communities in Fengxian district were recruited by cluster sampling. Risk factors of stroke and CVHI were investigated and checked during baseline investigation. A total of 10 565 individuals completed the survey and met the inclusion criterion. After baseline investigation, the cohort was followed up for stroke occurrence. Relative risk (RR) of CVHI and common risk factors were estimated by cohort study design.

RESULTSAge of the cohort was (56.2 ± 11.4) years. 4444 (42.1%) were males and 6121 (57.9%) were females. Total follow-up duration was 67 885.7 person-years. A total of 195 stroke cases occurred and incidence density of stroke was 287.2 per 100 000 person-years. Stroke incidence in exposure groups of hypertension, heart disease and alcohol drinking was 3.47% (108/3118), 2.96% (21/710) and 2.50% (47/1882), respectively. The incidence in corresponding non-exposure group was 1.17% (87/7448), 1.77% (174/9855) and 1.70% (148/8683) respectively. There was significant difference between 2 groups (χ(2) value was 62.72, 4.56 and 4.94, respectively, P < 0.05). Stroke incidence in CVHI score < 25, 25 - 49, 50 - 74 and ≥ 75 groups was 9.12% (59/647), 5.68% (44/775), 2.52% (39/1545) and 0.72% (53/7403)(χ(2)trend = 273.57, P < 0.05), respectively. Incidence of stroke in 40 - 49, 50 - 59, 60 - 69, ≥ 70 years age group was 0.22% (8/3565), 1.28% (43/3357), 2.71% (50/1848) and 5.88% (94/1600) (χ(2)trend = 181.48, P < 0.05), respectively. Multiple Cox regression analysis indicated that RR (95%CI) value of hypertension and cigarette smoking was 1.40(1.02 - 1.92) and 1.59(1.19 - 2.12), respectively when comparing with non-exposure group. RR (95%CI) value in CVHI score < 25, 25 - 49 and 50 - 74 points group were 6.15 (4.08 - 9.26), 4.55 (2.98 - 6.96) and 2.68 (1.75 - 4.09), respectively when comparing with the score ≥ 75 points group. RR (95%CI) value in age 50 - 59, 60 - 69 and ≥ 70 years group was 4.61 (2.16 - 9.82), 7.81 (3.67 - 16.60) and 13.49(6.44 - 28.24), respectively when comparing with below 40 years group.

CONCLUSIONCVHI score is the strong independent predictive factor and hypertension, cigarette smoking and age are the independent risk factors of stroke.

Aged ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; epidemiology ; etiology ; physiopathology

BACKGROUNDEpinephrine infiltration of the nasal mucosa causes hypotension during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) under general anesthesia. A prospective randomized-controlled study was designed to determine whether relatively light general anesthesia is superior to fluid expansion in reducing epinephrine-induced hypotension during FESS.

METHODSNinety patients undergoing elective FESS under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to three groups with 30 patients in each. Each patient received local infiltration with adrenaline-containing (5 microg/ml) lidocaine (1%, 4 ml) under different conditions. For Group I, anesthesia was maintained with propofol 2 microg/ml and rimifentanil 2 ng/ml by TCI. Group II (control group) and Group III received propofol 4 microg/ml and rimifentanil 4 ng/ml, respectively. In Groups I and II, fluid expansion was performed with hetastarch 5 ml/kg within 20 minutes; hetastarch 10 ml/kg was used in Group III. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded at 30-second-intervals for 5 minutes after the beginning of local infiltration. Simultaneously, the lowest and the highest MAP were recorded to calculate the mean maximum increase or decrease percent in MAP for all patients in each group. Data analysis was performed by chi(2) test, one-way analysis of variance, or one-way analysis of covariance.

RESULTSHemodynamic changes, particularly a decrease in MAP accompanied by an increase in HR at 1.5 minutes (P < 0.05), were observed in all groups. The mean maximum decrease in MAP below baseline was 14% in Group I, 24% in Group III and 26% in Group II. There were statistically significant differences between Group I and Groups II and III (P < 0.05). The mean maximum increase in MAP above baseline was 9% in Group I, 6% in Group III and 2% in Group II.

CONCLUSIONRelatively light general anesthesia can reduce the severity of epinephrine-induced hypotension more effectively than fluid expansion during FESS under general anesthesia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Endoscopy ; Epinephrine ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Hypotension ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paranasal Sinuses ; surgery ; Plasma Volume ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUNDRhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an uncommon malignancy of the breast. The aim of this study was to summarize its clinicopathologic features and biological behavior.

METHODSFive primary or secondary breast RMSs were collected. Their clinicopathological characteristics and all published literature about breast RMS were reviewed. Immunohistochemical study of desmin, myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD1), myogenin, leukocyte common antigen (LCA), vimentin, cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), E-cadherin, neuron specific enolase (NSE), CD99, chorioallantoic membrane 5.2 (CAM5.2) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) expression were performed.

RESULTSThe five patients were all female with ages ranging from 16 to 46 years old (mean, 30 years). Three were metastatic breast RMSs, two embryonal and one solid variant alveolar, with the primary tumor sites the right labium majus, left nasal meatus and nasopharynx, respectively. The other two, one embryonal and one alveolar, were primaries. Grossly, the surgical specimens revealed round or oval, well-demarcated but nonencapsulated masses. Their cut surfaces consisted of homogeneous grayish yellow or white tissue. Microscopically, most tumor cells were poorly differentiated small round, oval or small polygons with eosinophilic cytoplasm. All cases were positive for vimentin, desmin, MyoD1 and myogenin. One embryonal RMS also had a few cells with perinuclear staining of AE1/AE3. The other markers were negative.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough primary or metastatic RMS in breast was almost confined to young adolescent females, our cases suggested that it can also happen to the middle-aged women. Embryonal RMS has a certain metastatic potential. MyoD1 and myogenin are two useful markers when making differential diagnosis. Axillary lymph node status and age may play a role in the prognosis of primary breast RMS patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Young Adult

The study was aimed to investigate the effect of deriving hematopoietic cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by the erythropoietin gene-modified conditioned medium of human mesenchymal cells. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) steadily expressing EPO were established by lentiviral system. The expression of exogenous EPO was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. After suspension culture, hESCs developed into embryonic bodies (EBs). Then the EB cells were cultured in conditional medium. The hESCs-derived hematopoietic cells were analyzed by immunofluorescence, CFU assay and RT-PCR. The results indicated that the exogenous EPO successfully expressed in the EPO transfected MSCs (EPO/MSCs). The supernatant from EPO/MSCs increased CD34(+) cell population and the expression of globin, and enhanced colony forming unit incidence. These effects were obviously higher than that of control. It is concluded that the EPO gene-modified conditioned medium of human mesenchymal cells can induce the hESCs to differentiate into hematopoietic cells.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; pharmacology ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Erythropoietin ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic System ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Organisms, Genetically Modified

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of matrine on human ether à go-go related gene (HERG) potassium channels expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and investigate whether HERG channel is a new target of the pharmacological effect of matrine on arrhythmia and tumor

METHODSHERG channel potassium current in CHO cell was recorded using whole-cell patch-clamp technique, and the influence of matrine on the current was explored.

RESULTSMatrine inhibited HERG potassium current in a dose-dependent manner, and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC IC(50)) was 411±23 μmol/L. Matrine had no significant effect on the activation kinetics, and mainly blocked HERG channels in their closed state.

CONCLUSIONSThe blocking effect of matrine on HERG channels might be one of the mechanisms against arrythmias and tumors. Unlike most other blockers exerting blocking effect at the intracellular sites by entering the cell with the opening of HERG channel, matrine blocked HERG channels at the extracellular sites.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; ERG1 Potassium Channel ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDInvasive aspergillosis (IA), which is mainly caused by Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Despite considerable progress in currently available antifungals the mortality still remains high in critically ill patients. U0126 which is a highly selective inhibitor of MEK1 and MEK2 in the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in mammalian cells has been demonstrated to have an anti-proliferative role in cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of U0126 on growth inhibition and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in A. fumigatus.

METHODSGermination percentage and hyphae growth in A. fumigatus treated with U0126 were observed and compared with untreated controls. Western blotting analysis was used to detect changes in activation of SakA, MpkA and MpkB.

RESULTSU0126 inhibited germination and hyphae growth in A. fumigatus and enhanced the phosphorylation of SakA and MpkA under oxidative stress. U0126 at 10 µmol/L did not block the activation of MpkB during nitrogen starvation stress.

CONCLUSIONU0126 shows promise as an antifungal candidate and the MAPK pathway may be a possible antifungal drug target for A. fumigatus.

Aspergillus fumigatus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; growth & development ; Butadienes ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) histogram analysis in hepatic fibrosis staging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six rats were divided into carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrosis groups (6 rats per group for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks) and a control group (n = 12). MRI was performed using a 3T scanner. Histograms of DKI were obtained for corrected apparent diffusion (D), kurtosis (K) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Mean, median, skewness, kurtosis and 25th and 75th percentiles were generated and compared according to the fibrosis stage and inflammatory activity. RESULTS: A total of 35 rats were included, and 12, 5, 5, 6, and 7 rats were diagnosed as F0–F4. The mean, median, 25th and 75th percentiles, kurtosis of D map, median, 25th percentile, skewness of K map, and 75th percentile of ADC map demonstrated significant correlation with fibrosis stage (r = −0.767 to 0.339, p < 0.001 to p = 0.039). The fibrosis score was the independent variable associated with histogram parameters compared with inflammatory activity grade (p < 0.001 to p = 0.041), except the median of K map (p = 0.185). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of D were larger than K and ADC maps in fibrosis staging, although no significant differences existed in pairwise comparisons (p = 0.0512 to p = 0.847). CONCLUSION: Corrected apparent diffusion of DKI histogram analysis provides added value and better diagnostic performance to detect various liver fibrosis stages compared with ADC.
Animals ; Carbon ; Diagnosis* ; Diffusion* ; Fibrosis* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Rats ; ROC Curve

Intrauterine infection is an important cause of some birth defects worldwide. The most common pathogens include rubella virus, cytomegaloviurs, ureaplasma urealyticum, toxoplasma, etc. General information about these pathogens in epidemiology, consequence of birth defects, and the possible mechanisms in the progress of birth defects, and the interventions to prevent or treat these pathogens' infections are described. The infections caused by rubella virus, cytomegaloviurs, ureaplasma urealyticum, toxoplasma, etc. are common, yet they are proved to be fatal during the pregnant period, especially during the first trimester. These infections may cause sterility, abortion, stillbirth, low birth weight, and affect multiple organs that may induce loss of hearing and vision, even fetal deformity and the long-term effects. These pathogens' infections may influence the microenvironment of placenta, including levels of enzymes and cytokines, and affect chondriosome that may induce the progress of birth defect. Early diagnosis of infections during pregnancy should be strengthened. There are still many things to be settled, such as the molecular mechanisms of birth defects, the effective vaccines to certain pathogens. Birth defect researches in terms of etiology and the development of applicable and sensitive pathogen detection technology and methods are imperative.
Animals ; Congenital Abnormalities ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Placenta Diseases ; complications ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Rubella ; complications ; Toxoplasma ; pathogenicity ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; pathogenicity