AIM: To study the antiproliferation of vitamin E succinate (VES) on pterygium fibroblasts in vitro and to find a potential agent for prevention and treatment of primary and recurrence pterygium.METHODS: Primary culture and subculture of pterygium fibroblasts were established in vitro ,and different concentrations of VES (0, 10 and 20mg/L) were added to subcultured fibroblasts, respectively. Influence of VES on the growth curve of fibroblast was observed at day 2, 4 and 7 after treatment of VES. 3- [4,5-Dimethylthiazolzyl]-2,5-Diphenyl Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay at 490nm was used to evaluate the effect of the cells proliferation.RESULTS: The addition of VES to culture caused the marked descent of growth curve in comparison with the control group, and the inhibiting rate of 10 and 20mg/L of VES was 33.2% and 46.7%, 67.9%, and 76.8%, 81.7% at day 2,4 and 7, respectively. VES could obviously inhibit the fibroblast proliferation in dose-dependent manner by MTT assay.CONCLUSION: VES can significantly inhibit the proliferation of pterygium fibroblast in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) between the comprehensive therapy of electroacupuncture (EA) at qi streets acupoints combined with spinal regulation method and medication with carbamazepine (CBZ).

METHODSSixty patients were randomized into a comprehensive therapy group (30 cases) and a medication group (30 cases). In the comprehensive therapy group, the acupoints at qi streets on the head such as Taiyang (EX-HN 5) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) and those at qi streets on the chest and abdomen such as Shenshu (BL 23), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Guanyuan (CV 4), etc. were selected. After arrival of qi, EA was attached on 2 to 4 groups of acupoints. After acupuncture, the spinal regulation method was applied. This comprehensive therapy was given once a day. In the medication group, CBZ was used for oral administration, 100 mg at the first time, twice a day, and 400 to 600 mg each day as the maintenance dose. Separately, before and after treatment, in 2 and 6 months in follow-up, pain rating index (PRI), life satisfaction index B (LSI-B) and hamilton depression scale (HAMD) were adopted to evaluate comprehensively the clinical efficacy in the two groups and compare the adverse reaction during the treatment between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the curative and markedly effective rate in the comprehensive therapy group was 76.7% (23/30), which was better than 63.3% (19/30) in the medication group (P < 0.01). The difference in PRI was not significant after treatment between the two groups (all P > 0.05). In 2 and 6 months follow-up, PRI grade in the comprehensive therapy group was superior to that of the medication group (both P<0. 05). After treatment and in follow-up, HAMD score was all reduced in the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the result in follow-up in the comprehensive therapy group was significant as compared with that in the medication group (all P<0. 05). After treatment, LSI-B score was increased obviously in the two groups (all P < 0.05) and the result in the comprehensive therapy group was better than that in the medication group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reaction in the comprehensive therapy group was 16.7% (5/30), which was lower than 30.0% (9/30, P < 0.01) in the medication group.

CONCLUSIONThe comprehensive therapy of EA at qi streets acpoints combined with spinal regulation method achieves the long-term efficacy on PTN as compared with oral administration of CBZ in terms of the improvement of psychological condition, analgesia and life quality. It is the safe, effective and stable therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; Middle Aged ; Trigeminal Neuralgia ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy difference between electroacupuncture (EA) at qijie area combined with spine balance-regulating massage and medication for posterior circulation ischemia (PCI).

METHODSOne hundred cases of PCI were randomly divided into a treatment group (50 cases) and a medication group (50 cases). The treatment group was treated with EA at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Fengchi (GB 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Danzhong (CV 17), etc. in qijie area combined with spine muscle-relieving massage and comprehensive chiropractic. The medication group was treated with oral administration of nimodipine (30 mg per time, three treatments per day) and vinpocetine injection with 500 mL of glucose injection or intravenous drip of 500 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection, once a day. Ten treatments were taken as one course in both groups, and two courses were given. The symptom score, mean resistance index (RI) of vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA), mean velocity of blood flow (Vm) and comprehensive clinical efficacy were compared before and after treatment in two groups.

RESULTSThe cured and markedly effective rate was 79.6% (39/49) in the treatment group, which was superior to 54.7% (23/42) in the medication group (P<0.05). The symptom score was both significantly improved after treatment in two groups (both P<0.05), which was more obvious in the treatment group (P<0.05). The RI of VA and BA, Vm of VA and BA were significantly improved after treatment in two groups (all P<0.05), which were more obvious in the treatment group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture combined with spine balance-regulating massage has superior effect on improving mean velocity of blood flow and resistance index of vertebral artery and basilar artery as well as symptom score to medication, and is believed to be a safe and effective treatment for posterior circulation ischemia.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Blood Circulation ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Massage ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Polydatin is a monocrystaline compound isolated from Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. (Polygonaceae) with biological properties, such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidative and nephroprotective effects. Increasing number of studies have demonstrated the protective effect of polydatin on renal ischemia reperfusion injury. However, the possible mechanisms of this protection are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of polydatin on ischemia-reperfusion induced expression of toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) in rat renal tubular epithelia cells (NRK-52E), and analyze the mechanism of polydatin on TLR4 signal pathway. The cultured NRK-52E cells were incubated in three gas incubators for a period of 6 h at hypoxia and 24h at reoxygenation to simulate the ischemia-reperfusion injury in vitro. TLR4 mRNA level was analyzed by real-time-PCR, and the protein expression of TLR4 and NF-κB by Western blotting, while TNF-α and IL-1β proteins expressions were detected by ELISA. Polydatin downregulated I/R induced mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4, and decreased the protein expression of NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β. The TLR4 blocker partially antagonized the effect of I/R on NF-κB signaling, and such inhibitory effect was markedly enhanced by polydatin. In the present study, polydatin protects NRK-52E cells from I/R injury possibly by relieving the inflammatory response through regulation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism

Background Corneal transplantation is the most reliable and effective means to treat the corneal blindness in the clinical,immune rejection is a major cause of corneal graft failure after the keratoplasty.Objective This study aimed to investigate the role of Tim-1 in the immune reaction following corneal transplantation in rats.Methods Forty clean female Wistar rats were randomized into normal control group,autologous corneal transplantation group and allogeneic corneal transplantation group.Penetrating corneal transplantation was performed with the Wistar rat donors and Wistar rat receipts in the autologous corneal transplantation group,while with the SD rat donors and Wistar rat receipts in the allogeneic corneal transplantation group.The corneal graft diameter was 3.5 mm and the plant bed diameter was 3.0 mm.The inflammatory response of the grafts was examined under the slit lamp microscope 7 days and 14 days after operation and scored based on the criteria of Larkin.Rejection index (RI),mean survival time and survival rate were calculated.The histopathological examination was performed 7 days and 14 days after surgery to evaluate the inflammatory manifestation,and the expressions of Tim-1 protein and mRNA were assayed by immnunochemistry and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)in the time points mentioned above.Results Mild edema of the grafts were found 7 days after operation in both the autologous corneal transplantation group and the allogeneic corneal transplantation group.In postoperative 14 days,the grafts were clear in the autologous corneal transplantation group,but the thickening,neovacularization and cloudy of the grafts were exhibited in the allogeneic corneal transplantation group.The survival rate of the grafts was 100％ in the autologous corneal transplantation group and that of the allogeneic corneal transplantation group was 0 with the survival time of (9.8±1.2) days.Histopathological examination revealed the stromal infiltration of inflammatory cells in both the autologous and allogeneic corneal transplantation groups in the seventh day,however,the inflammatory cells were obvious decreased in the autologous group but increased in the allogeneic corneal transplantation group in the fourteenth day.Immunochemistry showed a gradually declined positive cells for Tim-1 protein in the autologous corneal transplantation group,but the positive cells were exactly elevated in the allogeneic corneal transplantation group from 7 days through 14 days after operation;While only few positive cells were seen in the normal control group.The expression levels of Tim-1 mRNA in the grafts were 1.24 ± 0.03,5.85 ± 0.08 and 6.54 ± 0.20 in the normal control group,autologous corneal transplantation group and that of the allogeneic corneal transplantation group,respectively,in the seventh day,and in the fourteen day after operation,the expression level declined to 1.54 ±0.10 in the autologous corneal transplantation group and elevated to 8.62±0.24 in the allogeneic corneal transplantation group,showing significant differences among the different groups and various time points (Fgroup =3 277.590,P =0.000 ; Ftime =136.000,P =0.000).Conclusions Tim-1 may play an important role not only in the inflammatory response but also in the rejection reaction of the corneal transplantation.

Objective To evaluate the contraception efficacy, mode of bleeding, side effects and other positive effects of drospirenone-ethinylestradiol (Yasmin) in healthy Chinese women. Methods This was a multicenter, randomized, control study of 768 healthy Chinese women who consulted about contraception. The subjects were randomized into Yasmin group (30 μg ethinylestradiol plus 3 mg drospirenone, 573 cases) or desogestrel group (30 μg ethinylestradiol plus 150 μg desogestrel, 195 cases) with the ratio of 3: 1. Each individual was treated for 13 cycles. Further visits were required at cycle 4, cycle 7, cycle 10 and cycle 13 of treatment. Weight, height, body mass index were evaluated at each visit. The menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ) was given to the women at baseline, visit 3 (cycle 7) and visit 5 (after cycle 13). Results The values of basal features were similar between two groups (P> 0.05). The Pearl index (method failure) of Yasmin was 0. 208/hundred women year which was lower than that of desogestrel (0. 601/hundred women year). The mode of bleeding was similar between two groups after trial without showing any significant difference. According to MDQ subscale, the improvement of water retention and increasing appetite during inter-menstrual period and water retention and general well-being during menstrual period in the Yasmin group ( -0. 297, -0. 057, 0. 033, 0. 150 respectively) was more obvious than that in the desogestrel group ( - 0. 108, 0. 023, 0. 231, - 0. 023 respectively) with a significant difference (P < 0. 05 ). Some other values which improved in beth two groups, especially the improvement of breast tenderness and pain and skin abnormality in Yasmin group (18.0%, 89/494; 12. 6%, 62/494) was more distinct than that in desogestrel group (11.3%, 19/168; 5.4%, 9/168). The mean weight increased in desogestrel group (0. 57 kg) while it decreased in Yasmin group ( -0. 28 kg) with a significant difference (P < 0. 01 ). Conclusions Both Yasmin and desogestrel have good efficacy on contraception and similar modes of menstrual bleeding. Yasmin is better than desogestrel in terms of weight control and premenstrual syndrome of oral contraceptive.

As an extension of the structure-based drug discovery, fragment-based drug discovery is matured increasingly, and plays an important role in drug development. Fragments in a small library, with lower molecular mass and high "ligand efficiency", are detected by SPR, MS, NMR, X-ray crystallography technologies and other biophysical methods. Then they are considered as starting points for chemical optimization with the guidance of structural biology methods to get good "drug-like" lead and candidate compounds. In this article, we reviewed the current progress of fragment-based drug discovery and detailed a number of examples to illustrate the novel strategies.

Objective To explore and analyse the prevalence of thyroid cancer among population of Jing′an District, Shanghai, providing a scientific basis for prevention and intervention. Methods Analysis was made on the prevalence of thyroid cancer in Jing′an District in 2014 and its incidence and death trend from 2009 to 2014 based on the data of Shanghai Cancer Registration and Reporting System. Results From 2005 to 2014, the total number of thyroid cancer cases in Jing′an District were 2 430, ranking fourth of all malignant tumors.The crude incidence rate of thyroid cancer was 24.33/100 000, the standardized incidence rate was 16.67/100 000.The ratio of male to female was 0.34 : 1;the difference in incidence between male and female was significant(χ²=579.77, P < 0.01).In different age groups the difference in incidence was also statistically significant(χ²=419.90, P < 0.01).The highest incidence was in 45-64 years old group, followed by 15-44 years old group. Only 155 deaths occurred; the ratio of death to morbidity was 1 : 15.68.Standardized incidence of thyroid cancer was increasing in Jing′an District from 2005 to 2014(trend Chi-square tests, χ²=7.33, P < 0.01).APC was 20.69%(male 23.81%, female 19.44%).The standardized mortality rate from 2005 to 2014 was at a relatively low level, and the trend of change was not statistically significant. Conclusion The government and society should pay high attention to the status of high detection rate and low mortality rate of thyroid cancer.The focus of prevention and control is rational diagnosis and treatment for a large number of thyroid cancer patients.

As an extension of the structure-based drug discovery, fragment-based drug discovery is matured increasingly, and plays an important role in drug development. Fragments in a small library, with lower molecular mass and high "ligand efficiency", are detected by SPR, MS, NMR, X-ray crystallography technologies and other biophysical methods. Then they are considered as starting points for chemical optimization with the guidance of structural biology methods to get good "drug-like" lead and candidate compounds. In this article, we reviewed the current progress of fragment-based drug discovery and detailed a number of examples to illustrate the novel strategies.
Computer-Aided Design ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Drug Discovery ; methods ; Ligands ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Peptide Fragments ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Protein Conformation ; Small Molecule Libraries ; Surface Plasmon Resonance