Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis.Methods Sixty patients with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases. The treatment group received abdominal acupuncture and the control group, conventional acupuncture. Pre-/post-treatment changes in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed after three courses of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in ESR, RF and CRP in the two groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in ESR, RF and CRP between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 86.7% in the treatment group and 56.7% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Abdominal acupuncture is an effective way to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

The neonatal period is important for the dramatic increment as well as function improvement of islet β-cell.β-cell mass augmentation is primarily regulated by neogenesis,replication,and apoptosis.The mechanisms involve cell cycle related proteins and mitosis-promoting signaling pathways.This remodeling period has far-reaching effects on the body in adapting to the metabolic needs and regulating glucose homeostasis later in life.

Objective To study the genomic molecular organization and genogroup of human metapneumovirus(hMPV) infected infants in Guangzhou of China. Methods Primers were designed on the basis of the genomic sequence of hMPV 00-1 strain(AF371337) in the GenBank, and amplify hMPV genomeby RT-PCR. The PCR-products were cloned to T vector and sequenced, the genomic nucleotide sequences were analyzed with the programs Clustal W/X, DNASTAR and MEGA4. 1. Results The cloned strainhMPVgz01 genome is 13 327 bp in length, the genome contains eight open reading frames in the order 3-N-P-M-F-M2-SH-G-L-5. The genomic sequences of hMPVgz01 strain are compared with those of hMPV in GenBank, revealed that the homology with hMPV group A ranges between 92%-97%, homology with group B is 81%, and with avian metapneumovirus group C is 71%, the highest homology is with BJ1887 strain of genogroup A2b. The N, F, G genes of hMPVgz01 strain are compared with those corresponding genes of hMPV subgroups A1, A2, B1, B2, revealed that the highest homology is also with genogroup A2b. Conclusion The complete nucleotide sequence of hMPVgz01 strain isolated from Guangzhou in China is 13 327 bp in length, GenBank accession No. is GQ153651. Comparison of the genomic sequence and three genes of hMPVgz01 strain with those corresponding sequences of hMPV show the highest homology is with genogroup A2b. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the hMPVgz01 strain revegled that this isolate belongs to genogroupA2b.

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by eosinophilic hyaline intranuclear inclusions in the central and peripheral nervous system, and also in the visceral organs. Although in recent years skin biopsy is useful for the antemortem diagnosis of this disease, it is often misdiagnosed due to its highly variable clinical manifestations. A case of NIID is reported here. The patient had a long course of disease, mainly presenting as dysfunction of autonomic nervous system. No significant cognitive impairment was found. Thus, a new idea is provided for the diagnosis of this disease.

Objective To prepare recombinant human adenovirus type 3 expressing Norovirus cap-sid protein gene(Noro-orf2). Methods The cDNA for Noro-orf2 was amplifed by RT-PCR from stool of in-fantile gastroenteritis and cloned into the adenovirus shuttle vector pBSE3CMV-egfp. The vector pBSE3CMV-Nor was linearized with EeoR Ⅴ and Not Ⅰ, and transformed into E. coil BJ5183 with lined edenovirus ge-nomic DNA pLasmid pBRAdv3 by Rsr Ⅱ. The identification of recombinant adenovirus plasmid pBRAdv3E3dNor was performed by PCR, enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. Then pBRAdv3E3dNor was digested with AsiS Ⅰ and transfeeted into Hep-2 cells with LipofectAMINETM 2000 to package recombi-nant adenovirus particles. Results Noro-orf2 was successfully inserted into the shuttle vector. The recombi-nant adenoviral plasmid pBRAdv3E3dNor was generated by homologous recombination in E. coil BJ5183 and confirmed by PCR and enzyme digestion. The recombinant adenovirus was successfully packaged and puri-fied. Norovirus eapsid protein gene expression was confirmed in Hep-2 cells by immunecytochemistry assay. Conclusion The recombinant type 3 adenovirus expressing Norovirus eapsid protein gene was successfully constructed. This study laid a foundation for developing vaccine against Norovirus.

Objective To investigate the clinical applications of 64-MSCTA for the follow-up of endovascular stent-graft exclusion (EVE). Methods Between Oct 2006 and Feb 2008, forty-four 64-MSCTA examinations were performed in 30 patients with aortic dissection (AD) and 5 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) who underwent EVE. Imaging reconstruction including MPR, MIP and VR were finished on workstation. The outcomes and complications after EVE of aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm were evaluated. Results (1) Of 30 patients with aortic dissection, large thrombosis in false lumen was observed in 28 cases and small thrombosis in 2 cases. The cavity of aortic aneurysm outside the stent was thrombosed completely in 5 patients with AAA. (2) Thrombosis in the innominate artery on follow-up CTA after EVE was found in 1 AD patient with the innominate artery involved, Thrombosis in the superior mesenteric artery was observed on 15 days follow-up CTA but thrombolysis on 3 months after EVE in 1 case, lntimal tear in right common iliac artery was found in 1 case. Of 5 patients with AAA, occlusion of right inner iliac artery was observed in 1 case, and instent thrombosis in distal right common iliac artery was found in 1 case. (3) Endoleak was found in 14 patients with AD, including 8 with type Ⅰ and 6 with type Ⅲ endoleaks, one type Ⅲ endoleak was disappeared on follow-up CTA after 3 months. Conclusions 64-MSCTA with fast, non-invasive and effective merits, combining multiple reconstructive methods, has become one of preferred imaging methods in post-operative evaluation of EVE.

Objective To explore the changes of cardiac structure and function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM)rats so as to detect the level of angiotensinⅡ (AngⅡ)in blood and the myocardium and illuminate the role of AngⅡ in DCM.Methods We randomly divided 30 SD rats into control group and DCM group (which received a single injection of streptozotocin,65 mg/kg).The changes of cardiac structure and function were observed by ultrasonic cardiogram at the end of 16 weeks after injection.Then the changes in the myocardium were also analyzed by using hemotoxylin and eosin staining and Sirius red staining.The level of AngⅡ in blood was tested by radioimmunoassay.The expression of AngⅡ in the myocardium was detected by immunofluorescence. Results Compared with those of the controls,the hearts were dilated in DCM rats accompanied with cardiac dysfunction.There were significant increases in LVEDd,LVESd,LVEDv,and LVESv but decrease in LVEF (P <0.05).There were arrangement disorder and hypertrophic cardiomyocytes in DCM.Then the fibrosis area of DCM was significantly increased compared with that of the controls.The level of AngⅡ in blood and myocardium was significantly higher in DCM than in controls.At the same time,Pearson analysis revealed that the level of AngⅡ in blood was positively related to the collagen content of myocardium (r =0.907,P <0.05).Conclusion Our study provides experimental evidence that AngⅡ plays an important role in myocardial fibrosis of DCM.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of CO2 laser microsurgery for early glottis carcinoma.Methods The data of 96 cases of early glottic laryngeal carcinoma treated with CO2 laser microsurgery were retrospectively analyzed.Surgical specimens were conventionally embedded with paraffin and serially sectioned.Sections were stained by using hematoxylin-eosin for pathologic examination.The local control rate was observed after operation.Results Among the 96 specimens,88 surgical margins were negative and 8 were positive.10 patients (10.4 ％) recurrenced followed up for 3 years.The recurrence rates of Tis,T1a,T1b and T2 were 0 (0/10),4.1％ (2/48),25.0 ％ (4/16) and 18.1％ (4/22),respectively,with significant differences among groups (X2 =6.105,P ＜ 0.05).All of 8 cases with positive margin and 2 cases with negative margin were recurrened.The recurrent rate of patients with involvement of the anterior commissure was 30.0 ％ (6/20),which was higher than that of patients with no tumor invasion [5.3 ％ (4/76)] (X2 =9.624,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The safe edges can be obtained by CO2 laser microsurgery for early stage of glottis carcinoma,which have advantages in local control rate,vocal function of the larynx and curative effect.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To observe the effect of high glucose on the protein expression of calreticulin ( CRT) and its association with cell apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in the cardiomyocytes.METHODS: AC-16 cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into normal glucose group, high glucose group, high glucose+CRT siRNA group and isotonic con-trol group.The cell apoptotic rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential level, respiratory enzyme activity, and protein expression of CRT were observed.RESULTS: Compared with the cardiomyocytes in normal glucose group, the apoptotic rate and ROS production of cardiomyocytes increased in high glucose group, accompanying with the decreases in the mitochondrial membrane potential level and enzyme activitiy of the respiratory chain.The protein expression of CRT was significantly increased in high glucose group.However, compared with high glucose group, high glucose+CRT siRNA decreased the expression of CRT and attenuated the damage of mitochondria, but CRT siRNA did not reduce the ROS level in cardiomyocytes.CONCLUSION:High glucose brings about CRT over-expression to induce mito-chondrial injury, thus increasing myocardial apoptosis.

AIM: To induce rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) into cardiomyocytes and investigate the influence of serum coming from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rat on the procedure. METHODS: The passage 3 BMSC were divided into six groups: groupⅠwas control group; groupⅡwas induced with 5-azacytidine; group Ⅲ was induced with 5-azacytidine and serum from AMI rat; group Ⅳ was induced with 5-azacytidine and serum from normal rat; group V and group Ⅵ were induced with serum from AMI rat or normal rat. The cardiac troponin T, GATA-4 and desmin were detected 30 days after induction. RESULTS: After inducing by 5-azacytidine, 5-azacytidine and two kinds of serum, some cells in the three groups differentiated into cardiac like cells. The expressions of cardiac troponin T, GATA-4 and desmin were positive in cells differentiated from BMSC. The troponin T expression in control group and group inducing by AMI serum alone were negative but GATA-4 and desmin expressed weakly. Some cells induced with 5-azacytidine and serum were slowly beating 2 weeks after induction, but the cells induced with 5-azacytidine alone was not beating.CONCLUSION: Serum from AMI can not induce BMSC to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, but it promotes BMSC differentiate into cardiomyocytes induced by 5-azacytidine and facilitate the differentiated cells to mature.