OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and explore the mechanism.

METHODSSixty-eight cases of DPN were treated with acupuncture at Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5) etc. and their blood sugar, blood lipids and hemorrheologic indexes and nerve conductive velocity before and after treatment were determined.

RESULTSAfter treatment, 43 cases were markedly effective, 20 cases were effective and 5 cases were ineffective, with a total effective rate of 92.6%; the nerve conductive velocity, plasma insulin, C-peptide, opioid peptides increased significantly (P<0.01) and blood viscosity significantly decreased (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has a definite therapeutic effect on DPN and the increase of nerve conductive velocity is possibly related with the increase of plasma opioid peptides.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Humans ; Lipids

In order to observe the proliferative and apoptotic situation of megakaryocytes in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). CD41 immunoenzyme labeling (alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase APAAP)/DNA in situ end labelling (ISEL) double stained techniques was used onto plastic cold embedded bone marrow sections in 29 MDS patients to analyse the proliferative and apoptostic characterization of megakaryocytic line with 14 cases of iron deficient diseases (IDA) as control. The results showed that the mean CD41 positive cell number in MDS group was (26.23 +/- 8.18) /mm(2) with a count of (15.64 +/- 7.11) /mm(2) in control group (p < 0.05). The small-micro megakaryocytes in MDS is much higher than that in IDA group (P<0.01). There was a positive co-relation between total megakaryocytes and small-micro megakaryocytes count in MDS (r = 0.702, p<0.01). Some megakaryocytes distributed abnormally around trabecula and formed small or large clusters. Apoptotic megakaryocytes in MDS occupied 4.40% and 9.32% of all CD14 positive cells and all apoptotic cells respectively (p > 0.5 comparing with control). Apoptosis in megakargocytic line occurred only in small-micro megakaryocytes and showed positive co-relation to the number of micro-megakaryocytes. Some apoptotic cell with morphologic characters of megakaryocytes expressed no CD41. It is concluded that overproliferation of megakaryocytes exists in MDS. Apoptosis occurring in micro-megakaryocytes may be a kind of physiological response to abnormal megakaryopoicsis in MDS. No obvious increased apoptosis of megakaryocytes in MDS was found perhaps due to lack of surface antigens CD41 in some later stages of apoptotic cell.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis ; Cell Division ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Megakaryocytes ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptotic situation of CD(34) positive cells in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

METHODIn 36 MDS patients, immunocytochemical technique was used for the detection of the expression of CD(34) antigen and DNA in situ end labelling (ISEL) (fluorescein) for the apoptotic signals. Fourteen cases of iron deficiency anemias (IDA) were used as controls.

RESULTS(1) CD(34) expression in MDS group was much higher than that in controls (49.2 +/- 38.5 vs 10.2 +/- 9.7, P < 0.01), and MDS cases had an obviously higher apoptotic rate than control did (69.1 +/- 28.2 vs 17.8 +/- 11.2, P < 0.01). (2) Expression of CD(34) was higher in transforming group (P < 0.05) than in non-transforming and post-transforming groups. Apoptotic rates in both non-transforming/transforming group were higher than in post-transforming group (P < 0.02 and < 0.05 respectively). (3) No apoptosis was found in CD(34) positive cells in MDS; (4) Both CD(34) positive cells and apoptotic cells formed into small or large clusters but did not co-distributed in a given area.

CONCLUSIONThere is overexpression of CD(34) antigen on hematopoietic cells in MDS. High CD(34) expression accompanied high apoptosis coexisted in the process of transformation from MDS to AML. Apoptosis-resistance of these CD(34) positive cells suggested that they came from malignant hematopoietic cell clones.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo estimate the number of drug users in Hongjiang, Hunan and to develop strategy for drug reduction in the future.

METHODSTwo capture-recapture methods were used to estimate the numbers of drug addicts. Random stratified sampling survey was used to verify the optimum allocation. The first capture-recapture method (CR1) referred to the number from optimum allocation random stratified sampling survey conducted in the communities and the number from local Public Security Bureau list being the second capture. The second capture-recapture method (CR2) referred to the collection of records in the detoxification unit with an interval of 4 months. The estimated number was calculated under Seber's adjustment formula. Face to face interview was carried out during the optimum allocation random stratified sampling survey process.

RESULTSOf 1388 interviewed in the communities, 24 (1.73%) were identified as drug addicts under the optimum allocation random stratified sampling survey. When the figure 1.73% was applied to the total population (72,709) in Hongjiang, the result yielded an estimation of 1258 drug addicts. The estimated numbers of CR1 and CR2 were 904 and 1069 respectively. However, the number was 1.3 to 1.6 fold higher than the reported number (687) by local Public Security Bureau.

CONCLUSIONThe capture-recapture method seemed a better method in estimating the number of drug addicts.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Needle Sharing ; Population Surveillance ; methods ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; epidemiology

Objective To analyze the viral load and complications in children patients with severe hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) caused by enterovirus type 71(EV71) .Methods The clinical data in 320 children patients with severe HFMD caused by EV71 treated in this hospital from January 2013 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed .The viral load in children patients with severe EV 71 caused HFMD was detected by adopting the fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) ,and its correlation with the compli-cations was analyzed .Results The viral load in the children patients with critical type HFMD was significant-ly higher than that in the children patient with severe type HFMD ,the difference was statistically significant (P<0 .05) .Compared with severe HFMD ,the incidence rate of nervous system damage ,respiratory failure , circulatory failure and myocardial damage in critical type HFMD were significantly increased ,the difference was statistically significant (P<0 .05) .Compared with the EV71 viral load in the children patients with asep-tic meningitis ,the EV71 viral load in the children patients with brainstem encephalitis and acute flaccid paraly-sis were increased significantly ,moreover the EV71 viral load in the children patients with acute flaccid paraly-sis was significantly higher than that in the children patients with brainstem encephalitis ,the difference was statistically significant (P<0 .05) .Conclusion The viral load in children patients with severe HFMD caused by EV71 is correlated with severity of disease condition and complications ,and the viral load detection is con-ducive to disease condition monitoring and guidance of clinical treatment .

Objective To study mental characteristics of children with light lead poisoning. Methods Eighty - six children with light lead poisioning and 33 control children were evaluated with WISC - R and social adaptive capacity(SAB). Results 1. Intelligence quotient( IQ)and SAB of children with light lead poisoning were lower than normal children. 2. There was also deficiency of perception factor and memory/ concentration factor among children with lead poisioning and the blood lead level had negative association with perception factor. Conclusion Light lead poisioning may affect children's IQ, especially in the perception factor and memory /concentration factor.

Objective To explore the relationship of infection of Ureaplasma urealyticum(UU),HPV loading dose and CIN or cervical cancer, also the relationship of infection of Ureaplasma urealyticum,HPV genotype and CIN or cervical cancer. Methods One hundred and twenty-four patients in The sixth and second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University with CIN or cervical cancer were selected to be case group from September 2005 to January 2009. Three hundred health examining women were selected randomly by stratified sampling from medical examination center of the hospital during synchronization as control group. We detected Ureaplasma urealyticum, DNA quantitative expression of cervical secretions from patients with CIN or cervical cancer by means of Fluorescent quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR) and also HPV DNA by both Hybrid capture Ⅱ and flow-through hybridization and gene chip. Results The positive rate of UU in case group was 68. 5% , in control group was 38.7%. Compared positive rate of UU between case group and control group, the difference had statistical significance. In 124 cases detected for both UU DNA and HPV DNA, 58.9% were positive for both UU DNA and HPV DNA. Conclusion There may be some relationship between UU positive of lower genital tract and cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia or cervical cancer, especially there may be some relationship between UU positive and high-grade lesion of cervix.There maybe interaction between UU and infection of HPV.

OBJECTIVETo observe the relationship between macrophage proliferation and cell apoptosis in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

METHODSA double labelling method of immunohistochemistry (alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase, APAAP) and ISEL (DNA in situ end labelling) was used to detect the positive CD68 expression (macrophages) and apoptosis on cold plastic embedded bone marrow biopsy sections in 30 MDS cases. 12 cases of iron deficient diseases (IDA) were used as the control.

RESULTS(1) The number of CD68 positive cells in MDS were higher than that in controls (29.2 +/- 33.0/mm(2) bone marrow tissue vs 21.2 +/- 16.7/mm(2)) (P > 0.05); (2) The number of apoptotic cells in MDS group was much higher than that in the controls (71.5 +/- 70.9/mm(2) vs 37.3 +/- 23.0/mm(2), P < 0.05); (3) The number of CD68 expression (35.5 +/- 37.0/mm(2)) and apoptosis (90.7 +/- 74.6/mm(2)) in less advanced MDS were much higher than that in advanced MDS group (14.6 +/- 11.7/mm(2) and 26.8 +/- 33.1/mm(2), P < 0.05 and < 0.01 respectively); (4) CD68 expression showed an obvious positive correlation to apoptosis in MDS cases (r = 0.83, P < 0.001); (5) CD68 positive cells did not show location correlation to apoptotic cells; (6) CD 68 positive cells in MDS showed simultaneous apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSOver-apoptosis existed in MDS. Less advanced group has a higher ratio of apoptosis than in advanced group. The correlation between macrophages and apoptosis indicates the participation of TNFalpha in apoptosis-induction during MDS development.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Apoptosis ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Macrophages ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis

Aminoglycoside antibiotics, due to their strong antibacterial effects and broad antimicrobial spectra, have been very commonly used in clinical practice in the past half century. However, aminoglycoside antibiotics manifest severe ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity, and are one of top factors in hearing loss. In this study, three members of the aminoglycoside antibiotics family, gentamycin, neomycin and streptomycin, were chosen as the representatives to be investigated for their toxicity to the embryonic development and the larva hair cells in zebrafish, and also to their target genes associated with hearing-related genes. The results showed that: (1) the lethal effect of all three drugs demonstrated a significant dependence on concentration, and the severity order of the lethal effect was streptomycin > neomycin > gentamycin; (2) all the three drugs caused the larva trunk bending in resting state at 5 dpf (day past fertilization), probably due to their ototoxicity in the physical imbalance and postural abnormalities; (3) impairment and reducing of the hair cells were observed in all three cases of drug treatment; (4) four genes, eya1, val, otx2 and dlx6a, which play an important role in the development of hearing organs, showed differential and significant decrease of gene expression in a drug concentration-dependent manner. This study for the first time reports the relevance between the expression of hearing genes and the three ototoxic antibiotics and also proved the feasibility of establishing a simple, accurate, intuitive and fast model with zebrafish for the detection of drug ototoxicity.
Aminoglycosides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; toxicity ; Embryonic Development ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gentamicins ; toxicity ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; cytology ; drug effects ; Hearing Disorders ; chemically induced ; genetics ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Larva ; drug effects ; Lateral Line System ; drug effects ; MafB Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Models, Animal ; Neomycin ; toxicity ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Otx Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors ; toxicity ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; metabolism ; Streptomycin ; toxicity ; Zebrafish ; embryology ; Zebrafish Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the biological properties of human dental pulp cells (HDPC) by cloning and analysis of genes differentially expressed in HDPC in comparison with human gingival fibroblasts (HGF).

METHODSHDPC and HGF were cultured and identified by immunocytochemistry. HPDC and HGF subtractive cDNA library was established by PCR-based modified subtractive hybridization, genes differentially expressed by HPDC were cloned, sequenced and compared to find homogeneous sequence in GenBank by BLAST.

RESULTSCloning and sequencing analysis indicate 12 genes differentially expressed were obtained, in which two were unknown genes. Among the 10 known genes, 4 were related to signal transduction, 2 were related to trans-membrane transportation (both cell membrane and nuclear membrane), and 2 were related to RNA splicing mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONThe biological properties of HPDC are determined by the differential expression of some genes and the growth and differentiation of HPDC are associated to the dynamic protein synthesis and secretion activities of the cell.

Cloning, Molecular ; Cloning, Organism ; Dental Pulp ; Fibroblasts ; Gene Library ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction