OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in treatment of myofasical pain syndrome between sparrow-pecking moxibustion and acupuncture at trigger points so as to provide the reference of the effective therapeutic method for myofascial pain syndrome.

METHODSNinety patients were randomized into a sparrow-pecking moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 45 cases in each one. The trigger points were selected in pain areas in the two groups. In the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group, the sparrow-pecking moxibustion was applied, 30 min in each time. In the acupuncture group, the filiform needles were inserted obliquely at 45 degrees and retained for 40 min in each treatment. The treatment was given once a day and 10 treatments made one session in the two groups. The short-form McGill pain questionnaire was used as the observation index, and the changes in pain rating index (PRI), present pain intensity (PPI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after treatment were used for efficacy assessment.

RESULTSThe results of PRI, PPI and VAS after treatment were reduced apparently as compared with those before treatment in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group and the acupuncture group (all P<0.001). The differences in PRI, PPI and VAS after treatment were not significant in comparison of the two groups (both P>0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 80.0% (36/45) in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group, which was better than 40.0% (18/45, P<0.001) in the acupuncture group.

CONCLUSIONSparrow-pecking moxibustion at trigger points achieves the superior efficacy on myofascial pain syndrome as compared with acupuncture at trigger points. This therapy is simpler in operation additionally.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Trigger Points ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the effects of the preconditioning of ulinastatin on GES-1 cell injury induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). Methods GES-1 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into three groups: normal control group (group N), oxygen and glucose deprivation group (group O), and ulinastatin preconditioning group (group U). The OGD model of GES-1 cells were established by glucose-free medium and three-gas incubator for 6h. Ulinastatin was added to group U 12h before the deprivation of oxygen and glucose. The cell viability and apoptosis were determined by cck-8 and flow cytometry respectively. Western Blot was used to examine the protein expression of Caspase-3 and Cleaved Caspase-3. The TRPV1 mRNA expression was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Results As compared with group N, the viability of GES-1 was decreased, the apoptotic rate and the expression of Caspase-3 and Cleaved Caspase-3 were increased, and the TRPV1 mRNA expression decreased greatly in group O (P < 0.05). As compared with group O, the aforementioned changes were significantly inhibited in group U. Conclusions Ulinastatin preconditioning could effectively inhibit GES-1 cell injury induced by OGD, which may be related to the inhibition of apoptosis and the upregulation of TRPV1 mRNA expression.

Objective To evaluate the effect of endemic disease prevention in Shaanxi province caused by earthquake and supply a scientific basis for making decision regarding restoration and reconstruction after the earthquake.Methods Forty different drinking water samples were collected respectively from Mianxian county and Chencang district the earthquakes'most severely hit areas in Shaanxi province with drinking-water-borne fluorosis.The contents of fluorine and arsenic in the water was detected by Fluoride ion-selective electrode and hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry,respectively.Two hundreds iodized salt and urine samples were collected from affected household women aged 18-45 in severely hit Ningqiang and Lveyang countie with iodine deficiency disorders.The contents of iodine in the salt was detected by semi-quantitative and of urinary iodine of household women was determined by AsⅢ-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry.Two hundred children aged 7-12 were detected by clinical and X-ray examination from Ningqiang and Lveyang counties of Kashin-Beck disease prevailing areas.Hair and food samples from 20 children were collected.The contents of selenium were determined by 2,3-Diamino naphthalene fluorescence spectrophotometry and of T-2 toxin in the food was detected by ELISA.Results No incidents of serious hydrologieM or geological damage were found.Fluoride content in one of eighty water samples was beyond 1.5 mg/L,accounting for 1.25%;five samples were between 1.0 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L,accounting for 6.25%:the arsenic content of all samples were below 0.01 mg/L;all the salt samples from the home of household aged 18-45 were iodine salt,the median of urine iodine of household wonlen Was 303.03μg/L (21.40-1133.54 μg/L) and 325.21 μg/L(27.61 - 1191.46 μg,/L) in Ningqiang and Lveyang counties, respectively.No clinical and X-ray patients were found in the children aged 7 - 12, the average content of selenium in hair was (0.2638 ± 0.0875)mg/kg; the content of T-2 toxin in the forty food samples was below 100 μg/kg. Conclusions The prevention of the endemic disease in the four counties has been moderately affected by the earthquake, but the situation of endemic disease is stable and there is no evidence of the endemic disease.

Abstract: Schistosomiasis, an important zoonotic parasitic disease, is one of the six major tropical diseases identified by WHO, and also one of the most important parasitic diseases for prevention and control in China. After more than 70 years of efforts, the prevention and control of schistosomiasis in China has made great achievements, and the current epidemic of schistosomiasis in China has entered an extremely low epidemic state, but the distribution base of the only intermediate host of schistosomiasis, Oncomelania hupensis, is still large. For now, the techniques used to monitor schistosomiasis have shortcomings such as time-consuming, laborious and low sensitivity, which cannot meet the current needs of China. Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to DNA that can be extracted from environmental samples (such as soil, water or air) without isolating any target organisms, which is a complex mixture of genomic DNA and its degradation products from different organisms in the same environment. eDNA technology can reflect the community or species composition information in the ecosystem through DNA extraction and detection of environmental samples. Compared with traditional biological monitoring methods, eDNA technology has the advantages of high efficiency, high sensitivity and environmental friendliness. eDNA has been successfully used for the specific detection of Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma japonicum. This paper reviews the current detection methods of eDNA, the application and technical limitations of eDNA technology in schistosomiasis monitoring, aiming to provide scientific reference for research in the field of schistosomiasis surveillance.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA-HOTAIR in prostate cancer cells and its effects on the growth and metastasis of the cells.

METHODSUsing quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), we determined the relative expression of HOTAIR in the normal human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-I and prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU145. We detected the effects of HOTAIR on the cell cycle and invasiveness of prostate cancer cells by RNA interference, flow cytometry, and Transwell mitration assay.

RESULTSThe expressions of HOTAIR in the PC3 and DU145 cells were increased 3.2 and 5.7 times, respectively, as compared with that in the normal RWPE-1 cells. After si-HOTAIR interference, the prostate cancer cells were arrested in the G2 phase and downregulated in the G1 phase. The invasive ability of the prostate cancer cells was evidently inhibited, with the inhibition rates of 32% and 44% of the PC3 cells and 43% and 34% of the DU145 cells for si-HOTAIR1 and si-HOTAIR2, respectively.

CONCLUSIONIncRNA HOTAIR is highly expressed in prostate cancer, which is associated with the growth and invasiveness of prostate cancer cells. HOTAIR is potentially a novel marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Division ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; G1 Phase ; G2 Phase ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; metabolism ; RNA, Untranslated ; metabolism

Objective To observe the expression of Robo2 gene, and explore its role during the renal development of mice. Methods Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to semi-quantitatively measure the expression level of Robo2 mRNA in the developing murine kidney at fetal age of 12.5, 13.5, 14.5, 15.5, 16.5 and 17.5 days, and also 1 day, 1 week, 5 weeks after birth. Immunofluorescence staining was used to examine the expression location of Robo2 protein at different stages of embryonic and postnatal kidney. Results Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that Robo2 was highly expressed in embryonic kidney at fetal age of 12.5, 13.5 and 14.5 days, while the expression level declined quickly thereafter and maintained at very low level after birth. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of Robo2 protein could be primarily detected in metanephric mesenchyme of the developing kidney, but not in the ureteric bud. With the development of embryonic kidney, Robo2 protein was expressed in cell membrane of metanephric mesenchyme, condensed cap mesenchyme surrounding the tip of the ureteric bud, comma-shaped body, S-shaped body and renal capsule, finally expressed in the podocytes. Besides, Robo2 protein was also weakly expressed in part of the proximal tubular epithelial cells. Absence of Robo2 gene resulted in abnormal development of nephron, and broadening of some renal tubules and collecting ducts. Conclusion Robo2 plays an important role in the nephron development in mice by regulating the interaction of metanephric mesenchyme and ureteric bud.

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to conduct a survey of the oral health status of disabled individuals in Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province. This study was also conducted to prepare caries prevention planning in the region.

METHODSOn the basis of the Oral Health Surveys: Basic Methods of WHO and the Third National Oral Health Epidemiological Sample Survey Scheme, we investigated caries infecting disabled individuals who live in one big city (Xichang city), three counties (Bhutto county, Muli Tibetan autonomous county, and Huili county), and 46 towns and villages of Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province, by multi-stage stratified and cluster sampling.

RESULTSAmong 3,439 disabled individuals, 2,085 were males and 1,354 were females; among these individuals, 815 live in the city and 2,624 live in rural areas. Furthermore, 2,177 were Han natives and 1,262 were Yi natives (ethnic). The caries prevalence rate and mean DMFT of disabled individuals in Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province were 87.1% and 9.53, respectively. In Yi, the caries prevalence rate and mean DMFT of disabled individuals in Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province were 85.8% and 9.93, respectively; in Han, the caries prevalence rate and mean DMFT of disabled individuals in Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province were 87.9% and 9.29, respectively. No significant difference was found in the two groups of native (P > 0.05). A very low filling rate of 0.2% was also recorded.

CONCLUSIONDisabled individuals from Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province exhibited a high prevalence of caries in permanent teeth. The oral health status of this special group of disabled individuals should be provided intensive care.

China ; Dental Caries ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oral Health

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sequence Deletion ; Smoking ; genetics