ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on the structure basis of nervous plasticity and the recovery mechanism after acute cerebral infarction.MethodsA rat model of focal cerebral ischemia was made by filament occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. The effect of electroacupuncture in Qiansanli and Housanli to a rat's change in infarction tissue, necrosis of neuron and vessel, and the number of synapse.ResultsElectro acupuncture could improve histopathologic indices, increase the number of synapse, and promote the recover of synapse's structure.ConclusionElectro acupuncture can produce a marked protecting effect on the brain in Wistar rats focal cerebral ischemia, regulate the plasticity of cerebral neuron.

Aquaporin4(AQP4),a member of the aquaporin family,is mainly expressed inastrocytes end-feet in the central nervous system. A large number of experimental studies have show n that AQP4 expression plays an important role in the occurrence, development, and regression of brain edema after different types of stroke. In addition, the AQP4 expression can affect the development process of cerebrovascular disease through the mechanisms such as affecting the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and promoting astrocyte migration, nerve regeneration, and neuroinflammatory response. Investigation of regulation mechanisms of AQP4 in transmembrane transport of substance in brain and intracel ular and extracel ular environmental balance and its expression in model of cerebrovascular disease have an important significance for understanding the occurrence, development, protection, and treatment of clinical cerebrovascular disease.

ObjectiveTo study the effect of head acupuncture combined with rehabilitation techniques on movement function of upper limbs after stroke.Methods80 patients with stroke were divided randomly into four groups, group 1 for head acupuncture and rehabilitation techniques, group 2 for rehabilitation techniques, group 3 for head acupuncture and group 4 for control. Fugl Meyer Assessment(FMA) and Facility Assessment For Function of Upper Limbs were applied to assess movement function before and after treatment.ResultsThe scores of FMA and Facility Assessment For Function of Upper Limbs rised more significantly in group 1,2, and 3 than group 4 (P<0.01) and group 1 outgo group 2,3 yet(P<0.05).Conclusions Head acupuncture combined with rehabilitation techniques can improve the movement function of upper limbs of the stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Xiangdan Injection on mRNA expression of the endothelial vaso-active factors of patients with coronary heart disease and blood stasis. METHODS: Fifty-six patients were randomly divided into two groups:twenty-eight patients were treated according to the therapeutic guide for coronary heart disease as the control group and 28 were given the same treatment plus Xiangdan Injection as the treated group. The expressions of ET-1 and eNOS mRNA were examined with RT-PCR before experiment and ten days later. RESULTS: The positive rate of eNOS mRNA of the treated group increased, while the positive rate of ET-1 mRNA of the treated group decreased after ten day's treatment, with significant differences as compared with that before the experiment. Xiangdan Injection up-regulated the eNOS mRNA expression and suppressed the ET-1 mRNA expression. Changes of expression were not observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: Xiangdan Injection improves the endothelial function of patients with coronary heart disease and blood stasis by regulating the expressions of ET-1 and eNOS mRNA.

Objective To investigate the relationship between peri-menopausal women blood lipid level and the gallstone disease in order to provide theoretical basis for the prevention of gallbladder stone.Methods Seventy-two patients with gallbladder calculus from Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery Jinshan District Central Hospital of Shanghai and 52 healthy women coming for physical examination as the control group.Participants were divided into five age groups (20-29,30-39,40-49,50-59 and 60-69 years old) and two age stages (young period (30-40 years old) and peri-menopausal period (45-55 years old)),total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),high density lipoprotein (HDL-C),low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were determined and compared between the stone group and the control group at different age stages.Results In comparison of the menopausal transition period,the stone group had significantly lower blood TC,HDL-C and LDL-C levels than the control group (TC:(4.58 ± 0.27) mmol/L vs.(5.15 ± 0.26) mmol/L,t=3.112,P ＜0.01 ;HDL-C:(1.17 ±0.11) mmol/L vs.(1.40 ±0.08) mmol/L,t =3.351,P ＜0.01 ;LDL-C:(2.71 ± 0.30) mmol/L vs.(3.15 ± 0.26) mmol/L,t =2.437,P ＜ 0.05).For the young period,there were no significant difference on blood lipid level and BMI was observed between the stone group and the control group (P ＞ 0.05).The fat HDL-C level in blood was significantly lower in the stone group in the menopausal transition period than in the young period ((1.17 ± 0.11) mmol/L vs.(1.33 ± 0.07) mmol/L,t =2.455,P ＜ 0.05).The control group had significantly higher peri-menopausal TC,TG,LDL-C levels in blood and BMI than those in the control group young period (P ＜ 0.05) ; And HDL-C level,no significant difference (TC:(5.15 ± 0.26)mmol/L vs.(4.47 ± 0.34) mmol/L,t =3.175,P ＜ 0.01 ; TG:(1.88 ± 0.39) mmol/L vs.(1.10 ± 0.24)mmol/L,t=3.066,P＜0.01;LDL-C:(3.15 ±0.26) mmol/L vs.(2.71 ±0.31) mmol/L,t =2.261,P＜0.05;BMI:(24.75±0.99) kg/m2vs.(21.73±1.11) kg/m2,t=4.217,P＜0.01).Conclnsion For perimenopausal (45-55 years old) females,decline of serum TC,HDL-C and LDL-C levels may be related to the formation of cholesterol stone.Lower HDL-C level is closely associated with formation of cholesterol stone,indicating that it may be one of the measures to prevent gallbladder stone by adjusting blood fat in perimenopausal women.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on premature ovarian failure (POF) between the acupoint catgut implantation combined with artifical periodic therapy and the simple artificial periodic therapy and explore its effect mechanism.

METHODSSixty-five patients of POF were randomized into the two groups. In a western medication group, 32 cases were treated with the artificial periodic therapy with the oral administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets. In a catgut implantation + western medication group, 33 cases were treated with the acupoint catgut implantation combined with artificial periodic therapy. The acupoints of Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected. The treatment was lasted for half a year and the follow-up visit was for another half a year in the two groups. Kupperman index was used to assess the improvements in the clinical symptoms. The levels of serum sexual hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were evaluated of the patients in the two groups before and after treatment. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe scores of the clinical symptoms were all significantly improved after treatment and in the follow-up in the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In the 6-month follow-up visit after treatment, the result in the catgut implantation + western medication group was better than that in the western medication group (8.17 +/- 1.19 vs 13.68 +/- 1.08, P < 0.01). FSH was reduced after treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01) and E2 was increased (all P < 0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rates were 75.8% (25/33) and 81.8% (27/22) after treatment and in the follow-up visit in the catgut implantation + western medication group, which were better than 67.9% (19/28) and 53.6% (15/28) in the western medication group separately (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint catgut implantation combined with artificial periodic therapy achieve the remarkable improvements in the clinical symptoms of POF in the patients and the better results as compared with the simple western medication therapy. The combined therapys efficacy is stable and the long-term efficacy is apparently superior. The effect mechanism is related to the improvements in the serum sexual hormone levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; metabolism ; therapy ; Prostheses and Implants ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the vasodilating effect of adrenomedullin 2 (ADM2) by antagonizing angiotensin 1 (Ang II), and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSEighteen male, 180-200 g SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 6): control group, Ang II (150 ng/(kg x min)) group and Ang II (150 ng/(kg x min)) + ADM2(500 ng/(kg x h)) group. Mini-osmotic pumps filled with peptide were implanted in the back of rats subcutaneously. After two weeks, the blood pressure was measured by the way of carotid intubation. The plasma was collected for the detection of nitric oxide (NO) content and the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). The in situ oxidation of fluorescent dye dihydroethidium (DHE) was used for detecting superoxide in rat arteries. The rat isolated arterial rings were made for studying the vasodilating effect of ADM2. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell line EA. hy 926 cells were cultured and their intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated by probe DCFH-DA.

RESULTSADM2 dramatically decreased the blood pressure in angiotensin II-induced hypertension rat model, enhanced plasma NO content and the activity of eNOS and reduced superoxide formation in vessel walls. ADM2 also induced relaxation of the vascular rings preconstricted by Ang II in a concentration-dependent and endothelium-dependent manner. In cultured vascular endothelium, ADM2 ameliorated the ROS generation induced by Ang II.

CONCLUSIONAdrenomedullin 2 relaxed blood vessels by antagonizing angiotensin II-induced oxidative stress and improving the vascular endothelial function.

Adrenomedullin ; pharmacology ; Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Drug Antagonism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of cluster needing of scalp point combined with rehabilitation techniques on acute cerebral infarction patient's movement disturbance.MethodsFugl-Meyer Measure, Bathel Index, Nerve function disturbance and clinical effect assessment methods were used to assess the motion function and daily living activity of cluster needling of scalp point group, rehabilitation group and cluster needling of scalp point combined with rehabilitation group.ResultsThe motion function and daily living activity of the cluster needling of scalp point combined with rehabilitation group patients were superior to cluster needling of scalp point group patients and rehabilitation group patients (P<0.01,P<0.05). The total effective rate can reach to 97.14%. Otherwise, cluster needling of scalp point combined with rehabilitation could also prevent food drop or inversion, subluxation of acromioclavicular joint, shoulder-hand syndrome, contracture of joint, mistake-use syndrome and abnormal motor mode.ConclusionThe cluster needling of scalp point combined with rehabilitation can improve the patients' living quality effectively.

Adult ; Aged ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Embolism, Fat ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multimodal Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnostic criteria of severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), early intervention, and the effect of health education on the relationship between smoking and health.

METHODSData from 713 remissive COPD patients who had results of pulmonary function test in the past 10 years were reviewed. All patients were classified by correlative diagnostic criteria, and the results were compared with the diagnostic criteria of WHO Global Initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD). Other indexes such as history of smoking, quantity of smoking and the rate of giving up smoking were also analyzed.

RESULTSAccording to the diagnostic criteria set by the Chinese Respiratory College in 1997 and traditional pulmonary function criteria, 339 patients were identified as having severe COPD, taking up 56.0% of all COPD patients; 200 patients were moderate (28.0%); 114 patients were mild (16.0%). FEV(1)/FVC in mild COPD patients was 70.5% +/- 1.1%, higher than the criteria of 70% in GOLD. Three hundred and thirty-five patients were smokers, taking up 46.9% of total patients. In these patients, 312 patients were men (93%) and 23 patients were women (7%). The average smoking history was 32.9 years, and the average quantity of daily smoking was 22. Two hundred sixteen patients had given up smoking which took up 64.5% of all the smokers.

CONCLUSIONSIt was debatable that FEV(1)/FVC was decisive criteria for COPD diagnoses by GOLD and the revised diagnostic criteria of Chinese Respiratory College in 2002. It might miss diagnosing a number of COPD patients who having combined ventilatory disturbance or were in earlier stages. Only 15.9% of mild COPD patients had seen a doctor, that indicated a very low rate of early intervention which was disadvantageous for the prevention and cure of COPD. In contrast to the rate of 28.0% when giving up smoking in ordinary people who had received general intervention, the rate of giving up smoking in COPD patients remained 64.5% much higher and was dissatisfactory. Health education should be improved to include measures to give up smoking.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoking ; adverse effects