Objective To compare the clinical treatment effect of triamcinolone acetonide and compound betamethasone in treating humeral external epicondylitis.Methods Eighty patients with humeral external epicondylitis were selected,87 sides participated in this clinical research,and divided into the triamcinolone acetonide blocking group(40 cases,43 sides) and compound betamethasone blocking group (40 cases,44 sides).Then the two groups received triamcinolone acetonide or compound betamethasone blocking therapy respectively.The clinical treatment effects were observed and evaluated.Results The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score after treatment in the triamcinolone acetonide group and compound betamethasone group was obviously decreased compared with before treatment (P＜0.01),the Activities of Daily Living(ADL)score was obviously increased (P＜0.01);The difference value (improvement degree) of VAS score before and after treatment in the compound betamethasone group was obviously increased compared with the triamcinolone acetonide group (P＜0.01).Conclusion Both triamcinolone acetonide and compound betamethasone blocking treatment are effective on humeral external epicondylitis,but the curative effect of compound betamethasone is superior to that of triamcinolone acetonide.

Objective To observe the effect of motivation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on cardiac function in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Methods Eighty MI patients were sellectedand then were divided into a conventional treatment group (n = 40) and a EPC motivation group (n = 40). EPCs were detected by flow cytometry. Results The rate of EPCs was increased from (0.11 ± 0.04)% in the baseline to (5.32 ± 1.06)% (P < 0.05). Before treatment, 6MWT, LVEF, and LVEDD did not differ significantly between the conventional treatment group and the EPC motivation group (P > 0.05); after treatment, 6MWT, LVEF, and LVEDD were significantly increased in both groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). However, 6MWT, LVEF, and LVEDD were higher in the EPC motivation group than in the conventional treatment group (P <0.05). The clinical effectiveness rate was higher in the EPC motivation group than in the conventional treatment group (90.0% vs. 75.0%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in adverse reactions (7.5%vs. 10.0%, P > 0.05). Conclusions G-CSF can markedly motivate EPCs, which is beneficial for improvement of cardiac function in MI patients.

Multilevel models are applicable to both the quantitative data and categorical variables. We used the methods, including the multilevel models, analysis of covariance and CMH chi-square test, to analyse different types of data, to explore the application of multilevel models in the analysis of the multicenter clinical trial center effect. The results showed that the analysis of covariance is more sensitive to find the center effect for quantitative data, while multilevel models are more sensitive to categorical variables. It can be seen that results with different analytical methods for center effect are not the same, and the most appropriate method should be selected in accordance with the characteristics of data, the objective of research, and the applicable conditions of the various methods in practical use.
Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Research Design

Objective To examine the expression of typeⅠcollagen in pulmonary arteries of rats with monocrotaline(MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension(PH) and explore the mechanism of pulmonary vascular structural remodeling.Methods Twelve male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: the MCT group(n=6) and the control group(n=6),which received a single intraperitoneal injection of MCT solution(60 mg?kg-1,the first day) or 9 g?L-1saline,respectively.After 3 weeks,mean of pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP),the value of right ventricle/(left ventricle plus septum)[RV/(LV+S)] and body weight were measured.Lung sections(HE stained) were observed under lightmicroscope for changes of the pulmonary arteries.The protein expression of typeⅠcollagen in pulmonary arteries was detected by immunohistochemical technique.Results Three weeks after MCT injection,compared with control group,mPAP and RV/(LV+S) increased significantly in MCT group[mPAP:(10.60?2.06) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs(32.40?3.24) mmHg,P

Objective To investigate the effects of endogenous sulfur dioxide(SO2) on pulmonary vascular inflammation in rats with monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension.Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups(n =8 for each group):control group,MCT group,MCT + L-aspartic acid-β-hydroxamate(HDX) group,and MCT + SO2 group.Rats in the MCT group,MCT + HDX group,and MCT + SO2 group were subcutaneously injected with MCT(60 mg/kg) on the first day.For rats in MCT + HDX group,HDX(25 mg/kg,on day 0,7 and 14) was given orally after injection of MCT; and rats in MCT + SO2 group were subcutaneously injected with the SO2 donor sodium sulfite/sodium bisulfate(Na2SO3/NaHSO3,and mole ratio was adjusted to approximately 3:1) each day.Rats in the control group received only the same volume of solvent vehicle only.After 3 weeks,mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP) of each rat was evaluated by using a right cardiac catheterization procedure.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of inflammatory related factor intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and the key molecules of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signal transduction pathway,including p65 and inhibitor of NF-κB (IκBα) in the small pulmonary artery endothelial cells.Results The differences in mPAP,expression of ICAM-1,IκBα and p65 in the small pulmonary artery endothelial cells were found among the 4 groups (mPAP:F =53.334,P ＜ 0.01 ; ICAM-1:F =183.82,P ＜ 0.01 ; IκBα:F =142.89,P ＜ 0.01 ; p65:F =105.46,P ＜0.01).The mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP) was significantly raised in MCT group rats as compared with that of the control group along with upregulated expressions of ICAM-1 protein and p65 protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells,while the expression of IκBα protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells was significantly low.After administration of HDX,the mPAP and the expression of ICAM-1 protein and p65 protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells further increased compared with those of MCT group,while the expression of IκBα protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells was significantly lower than that of MCT group.Whereas with treatment of SO2 derivatives,the mPAP,the expression of ICAM-1 protein and p65 protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells were significantly lower than those of MCT group,while the expression of IκBα protein in small pulmonary artery endothelial cells increased significantly compared with that of MCT group.Conclusions Endogenous SO2 might inhibit the activation of NF-κB pathway in the small pulmonary artery endothelial cells,attenuate the pulmonary vascular inflammation and prevent the MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats.

Traditional herbal medicines, Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium and Panax notoginseng, attract our attention for their extensive and powerful pharmacological activities. Ginsenosides are the main active constituents of these medicinal herbs. The related glycosyltransferases involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis are the key enzymes which catalyze the last important step. Modification of ginsenoside aglycones by glycosyltransferases produces the complexity and diversity of ginsenosides, which have more extensive pharmacological activity. At present, ginsenoside aglycones and compound K have been obtained by synthetic biology. As the last step of ginsenoside biosynthesis, glycosylation of ginsenoside aglycones has been studied intensively in recent years. This review summarizes the basic strategies and research advances in studies on glycosyltransferases involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis, which is expected to lay the theoretical foundation for the in-depth research of biosynthetic pathway of ginsenosides and their production by synthetic biology.
Biosynthetic Pathways ; Ginsenosides ; biosynthesis ; Glycosyltransferases ; metabolism ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Synthetic Biology

Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Pulmonary Veins ; Venous Thrombosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect mechanism of warm acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking therapy and its efficacy on insomnia by monitoring the level of brain neurotransmitters in the insomnia patients.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty patients with insomnia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 65 cases in each one. In the observation group, based on the treating principle of warming yang and benefiting qi, acupuncture was applied to Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Baihui (GV 20), Neiguan (PC 6) and Shenmen (HT 7). Warm acupuncture was supplemented at Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Yaoyangguan (GV 3). The treatment was given once every day. In the control group, estazolam tablets, 0. 5 to 1 mg were prescribed for oral administration, 30 min before sleep at night. The treatment of 14 days was taken as one session and 2 sessions were required in the two groups. The encephal of luctuograph technology was used to observe the sleep quality and brain neurotransmitters before and after treatment in the two groups and the efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 83.1% (54/65) in the observation group and 87.7% (57/65) in the control group. The efficacy was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). In the observation group, after treatment, 5-HT and GABA/Glu were all increased compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and norepinephrine (NE) was reduced compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05). The level of each index did not change significantly before and after treatment in the control group (all P > 0.05). The regulations of 5-HT, GABA/Glu in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of warm acupuncture and auricular point sticking method for warming yang and benefiting qi effectively improves brain neurotransmitters and essentially improves sleep quality of the patients with insomnia differentiated as yang deficiency pattern.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; metabolism ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; therapy ; Young Adult ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the immunogenicity of the recombinant human papillomavirus type 68b (HPV68b) virus-like particles(VLPs)in a mouse model.Methods The L1 protein of HPV type 68b was successful expressed in the Hansenula polymorpha strain (NVSI-68b-1).Processes including purifi-cation and reconstitution were performed to achieve pure HPV 68b VLPs.The purity, morphology and immu-nogenicity of the purified HPV 68 b VLPs were further analyzed .The BALB/c mice were immunized with HPV68b VLPs formulated on aluminum adjuvant .Pseudovirus-neutralizing antibody ( PsV NAb) assay was performed to detect the neutralizing antibodies in serum samples .Results The HPV 68 b L1 VLPs were ob-tained as indicated by the results of SDS-PAGE, Western blot assay , HPLC, electron microscopy and dy-namic light scattering with a high purity of 95%.Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scat-tering analysis revealed that the HPV68b L1 VLPs resembled the native virus with an average particle diame-ter of 50 nm.High levels of HPV68b-neutralizing antibodies were detected in serum samples from the mice immunized with HPV68b L1 VLPs.Moreover, a cross-protective efficacy of HPV68b L1 VLPs for HPV68a was observed .Conclusion This study suggested that the recombinant HPV 68 b VLPs expressed in a Han-senula polymorpha strain might be used as a potential candidate for the development of HPV vaccine .

The cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene is the key branch point of ergosterol and triterpenoid biosynthesis. Downregulation of 2,3-oxidosqualene metabolic flux to ergosterol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae may redirect the metabolic flux toward the triterpenoid synthetic pathway. In our study, primers were designed according to erg7 gene sequence of S. cerevisiae. Three fragments including 5' long fragment, 5' short fragment and erg7 coding region fragment were amplified by PCR. 5' long fragment consists of the promoter and a part of erg7 coding region sequence. 5' short fragment consists of a part of promoter and a part of erg7 coding region sequence. These fragments were inserted reversely into pESC-URA to construct antisense expression plasmids. The recombinant plasmids were transformed into S. cerevisiae INVSc1 and recombinant strains were screened on the nutritional deficient medium SD-URA. The erg7 expression level of recombinant strains, which harbored antisense expression plasmid of erg7 coding region, was similar to that of INVScl by semi-quantitative PCR detection. But erg7 expression level of recombinant strains, which harbored 5' long antisense fragment and 5' short antisense fragment, was significantly lower than that of the control. The results of TLC and HPLC showed that the ergosterol content of recombinant strains, which harbored 5' long antisense fragment, decreased obviously. The ergosterol contents of the others were almost equal to that of INVSc1. Lanosterol synthase gene expression was downregulated by antisense RNA technology in S. cerevisiae, which lays a foundation for reconstructing triterpenoid metabolic pathway in S. cerevisiae by synthetic biology technology.
DNA Primers ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; Intramolecular Transferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Antisense ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; enzymology ; genetics ; Squalene ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Transformation, Genetic