The theoretical basis, location, belonging of zang-fu, treatment function and indications, applying principle and manipulation of Umbilical Ring acupoints in Zhuang medicine are explained in this paper. According to Zhuang medicine, umbilicus is an epitome of the body and all the zang-fu and organs in the body have corresponding epitomes like a fetus in front-standing position. The umbilicus is not only a micro-diagnosis system, but also a window for illness treatment that could be divided into superficial, middle and deep layer to respectively communicate different zang-fu and organs. The umbilical inner ring and outer ring are collectively called Umbilical Ring acupoints, they could dredge paths, regulate the balance of qi and blood to regulate qi, expel poison, tonify deficiency and remove stasis to treat many types of diseases in the whole body.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Umbilicus ; anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of EPHA2 in regulating apoptosis, proliferation and vasculogenic mimicry of osteosarcoma cells, by gene silencing through RNA interference.

METHODSEPHA2-siRNA plasmids were achieved by gene cloning. The plasmids were transfected into human osteosarcoma cells (MG63). The expression level of EPHA2 protein was measured by Western blotting. The proliferation, apoptosis and vasculogenic mimicry features of osteosarcoma MG63cells were assessed by light microscopy, MTIP assay, flow cytometry, annexin V-FITC/PI and HE staining, respectively.

RESULTSThe EPHA2-siRNA plasmid was confirmed by DNA sequencing. After treatment with Sequence-specific siRNA targeted EPHA2, the protein level of the transfected group decreased significantly. As compared to non-siRNA transfected cells, the transfected group showed lower proliferation, higher and earlier apoptosis and less osteosarcoma-generated vasculogenic mimicry.

CONCLUSIONEPHA2 gene may be involoved in apoptosis and proliferation of osteosarcoma cells, and may be necessary for vasculogenic mimicry. Down-regulation of EPHA2 expression by sequence-specific siRNA may be considered as a new option in the treatment of EPHA2 over-expressing cancer including osteosarcoma in future.

Apoptosis ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptor, EphA2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate influences of regular-dose of adriamycin (ADR) on heart function and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ -ATPase in cardiomyocyte of rabbits. METHODS: Nine rabbits received intraveneous injection of ADR (2mg/kg) once a week for 8 weeks, the rabbits injected with saline were used as control group. Cardiac output (CO), blood pressure (BP), mean artery pressure (MAP), left ventricular systolic pressure( LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), calcium in cardiomyocyte (MyoCa2+) of rabbits and SR Ca2+ -ATPase activity were examinated 3 weeks after the final injection. RESULTS: CO, LVSP and SR Ca2+ -ATPase activity were significantly decreased in ADR treated group compared with the control group. Conversely, LVEDP and MyoCa2+ were significantly increased in ADR treated rabbits. CONCLUSION: Heart function can be decreased by regular-dose of ADR in injection. Calcium overload in cardiomyocyte and decrease of SR Ca2+ -ATPase activity is important physiopathologic mechanism in ADR-induced impairment of heart.

OBJECTIVEThe study was designed to investigate the changes in CD(69), CD(25) and HLA-DR expressions in peripheral blood T cell in Kawasaki disease (KD).

METHODSThe authors detected CD(69), CD(25) and HLA-DR expressions in peripheral blood T cell by using flow cytometry. The patients who met the diagnostic criteria for KD comprised sixteen boys and fifteen girls (4 - 60 months of age; mean, 26 +/- 18 months). All received intravenous gammaglobulin at a dose of 1 g/(kg.d), for 2 days and oral aspirin at a dose of 30 - 50 mg/(kg.d). In case of persistent fever, a repeated dose of intravenous gammaglobulin or I.V. methylprednisolone at a dose of 20 mg/(kg.d) for three daily doses was attempted. The authors tested blood samples from 17 healthy controls consisting of nine boys and eight girls (3 - 84 months of age; mean, 25 +/- 18 months) and the samples from 31 patients.

RESULTSThe percentage of peripheral blood CD(3)(+) T lymphocyte was (54.4 +/- 9.0)% in acute stage of KD and (65.0 +/- 7.0)% in healthy controls. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). The values of CD(69)(+) [(11.2 +/- 12.6)%, vs. (0.6 +/- 0.4)%], CD(25)(+) [(9.2 +/- 3.5)% vs. (3.9 +/- 1.8)%] and HLA-DR(+) [(8.3 +/- 5.0)% vs. (4.3 +/- 2.3)%] in KD patients were markedly increased compared to those of the healthy controls. After intravenous gammaglobulin treatment, the percentage of CD(3)(+)CD(69)(+) and CD(3)(+)CD(25)(+) significantly decreased [CD(3)(+)CD(69)(+): (14.0 +/- 13.0)% vs. (1.6 +/- 1.2)%, P < 0.05; CD(3)(+)CD(25)(+): (7.8 +/- 4.1)% vs. (2.0 +/- 0.6)%, P < 0.01]. However, the CD(3)(+) T lymphocytes increased [(50.8 +/- 5.0)% vs. (64.9 +/- 5.5)%, P < 0.01]. There was no significant difference in expression of CD(3)(+) T lymphocyte cell activating markers between coronary artery disease group and normal coronary artery group in KD cases (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCD(3)(+) T cell activation in the early and middle stages is involved in the mechanism responsible for cardiovascular injury.

Antigens, CD ; blood ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; blood ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Child, Preschool ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; HLA-DR Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; therapeutic use ; Immunologic Factors ; therapeutic use ; Infant ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; blood ; Lectins, C-Type ; blood ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the commodity specification and grade standard of Pseudostellaria Radix, for standardizing market order and achieving industrialization, standardization and modernization of Pseudostellariae Radix.

METHODThe different areas and grade medicinal materials of Pseudostellariae Radix were respectively measured in quantitative characteristics of appearance, and the present grade classification of Pseudostellaria Radix was scientifically verified by the content of polysaccharide. Then the determination data were evaluated by spss correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. So combining with the actual production, the commodity grade standard of Pseudostellariae Radix was formulated.

RESULTCorrelation analysis indicated that the present grade classification of Pseudostellaria Radix was reasonable, and the more the grade of Pseudostellariae Radix was high, the more the content of polysaccharide was high. Meanwhile, length as a classification index was not suitable for the commodity grade standard of Pseudostellariae Radix. Using principal component analysis and cluster analysis, combining actual production, the thickest diameter, weight of single root tuber and the number of 50 g root tuber were filtrated and the grade was divided into 5 ranks: big, mid- dle, small selected goods, big ungraded goods and small ungraded goods.

CONCLUSIONthe commodity specification and grade standard of Pseudostellariae Radix that mainly included the thickest diameter, weight of single root tuber and the number of 50 g root tuber was formulated, the standard was divided into 5 grade. Each grade was not only consistent with the present situation of medicinal materials market, it could also reflected the intrinsic quality of Pseudostellariae Radix. In conclusion, the standard could be used as a classifica- tion basis to the commodity specification and grade.

Caryophyllaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

Objective To observe the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin injection (RHEI) assisted with mild hypothermia on the clinical efficacy and safety of children with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods From January 2015 to December 2017, 110 children with HIE were treated in Shijiazhuang No.1 Hospital. Fifty-five children with routine treatment were taken as Western medicine routine treatment group. In addition, 55 children treated with mild hypothermia combined with RHEI were taken as mild hypothermia+RHEI group. Both groups were treated for 14 days and followed up for 10 months. The neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) score, mental development index (MDI), psychomotor development index (PDI), myelin basic protein (MBP), S100B protein and neuron specific enolization enzyme (NSE), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), growth hormone (GH), and differences in clinical efficacy in two groups were compared, and the occurrence of adverse reactions was observed. Results The NBNA, MDI, PDI, NGF (μg/L), BDNF (ng/L), IGF-1 (pg/L), and GH (pg/L) of two groups after treatment were higher than those before treatment (the Western medicine routine treatment group: 33.72±3.19 vs. 26.81±2.38, 78.95±5.51 vs. 71.39±4.24, 79.62±4.93 vs. 71.84±4.15, 123.74±22.98 vs. 104.29±15.36, 1 518.35±174.92 vs. 1 197.28±148.43, 38.25±4.96 vs. 23.16±2.87, 39.27±5.24 vs. 20.97±3.15; the mild hypothermia+RHEI group: 39.82±3.36 vs. 26.78±2.53, 84.13±6.29 vs. 71.34±4.27, 85.26±5.74 vs. 71.88±4.13, 145.28±27.52 vs. 104.72±15.41, 1 925.71±204.37 vs. 1 192.61±150.26, 57.94±6.62 vs. 23.13±2.91, 56.43±7.14 vs. 20.94±3.17), NSE (μg/L), MBP (μg/L) and S100B (μg/L) were lower than those before treatment (the Western medicine routine treatment group: 17.05±2.26 vs. 24.96±2.83, 9.71±1.85 vs. 23.14±3.37, 0.93±0.12 vs. 1.49±0.24; the mild hypothermia+RHEI group:12.48±1.94 vs. 25.03±2.81, 5.48±1.42 vs. 23.17±3.35, 0.61±0.07 vs. 1.51±0.25). After treatment, the changes of each index in the mild hypothermia+RHEI group were more significant than those in the control group [NABA:39.82±3.36 vs. 33.72±3.19, MDI: 84.13±6.29 vs. 78.95±5.51, PDI: 85.26±5.74 vs. 79.62±4.93, NSE (μg/L):12.48±1.94 vs. 17.05±2.26, MBP (μg/L): 5.48±1.42 vs. 9.71±1.85, S100B (μg/L): 0.61±0.07 vs. 0.93±0.12, NGF (μg/L): 145.28±27.52 vs. 123.74±22.98, BDNF (ng/L): 1 925.71±204.37 vs. 1 518.35±174.92, IGF-1 (pg/L):57.94±6.62 vs. 38.25±4.96, GH (pg/L): 56.43±7.14 vs. 39.27±5.24, all P < 0.05]. The total effective rate of mild hypothermia+RHEI group was significantly higher than that of Western medicine routine treatment group [94.55% (52/55) vs. 81.82% (45/55), P < 0.05]. There were no serious adverse reactions in the two groups. Conclusion RHEI assisted with mild hypothermia therapy can significantly improve the clinical efficacy and NBNA, MDI, PDI scores of HIE children, reduce the degree of brain injury, and improve the neurological function, with good safety.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and safety of the implantation of a new type of testicular prosthesis in the treatment of testis loss.

METHODSWe recruited for this study 18 patients with testis loss treated by testicular prosthesis implantation, including 10 cases of prostate cancer, 3 cases of anorchia, 2 case of orchiatrophy, 2 cases of hermaphroditism and 1 case of cryptorchidism. The prosthesis was a hollow silicone elastomer YH-G1 made in China, selected according to the volume of the scrotum and the size of the contralateral testis.

RESULTSThirteen of the patients received testicular prosthesis implantation with orchiectomy, and the other 5 underwent the procedure 6 months later. The operation time of testicular prosthesis implantation was (22.6 +/- 4.6) min, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes. All the patients were discharged after 12 hours of postoperative observation, with a mean hospital stay of (1.3 +/- 0.4) days. A follow-up after 6 months revealed no complications in 17 cases. Rejection occurred in 1 case at 3 months after the implantation, ending in the removal of the prosthesis. Of the 17 successful cases, 15 were very satisfied with the size of the prosthesis, 14 with its weight, 12 with its comfortableness, and all with the appearance of the scrotum and the position of the prosthesis, while 5 found the implant too rigid.

CONCLUSIONThe implantation of the new home-made silicone elastomer testicular prosthesis YH-G1 was safe and effective for the treatment of testis loss, and could meet the esthetic and psychological requirements of the patient. But further observation is needed for its long-term complications and influence on the patient's quality of life.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Gonadal Dysgenesis, 46,XY ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orchiectomy ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthesis Implantation ; adverse effects ; Silicone Elastomers ; Testis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) gene therapy and skin flap delay on the survival of rat's abdominal axial skin flap.

METHODSIn 48 Wistar rats, the model of a abdominal axial skin flap supplied by right superficial epigastric vessel was created. The rats were divided into six groups. The group was treated with subcutaneous injection of pcDNA4-VEGF165, skin flap delay or VEGF injection combined with skin flap delay. 7 days later, the survival rate of the skin flap was measured; specimens were harvested from the skin flap for histological investigation of the microvessels and for immunohistochemical staining to observe the expression of VEGF.

RESULTSEvery treated group was significantly higher than blank group in the average survival rate of the skin flap and group V (gene injection when delayed) has the highest one. The average number of the microvessels in group II, III, V, VI was significantly higher than group IV and blank group. Group IV > group V, VI > group II, III > blank group in lumen diameter of the microvessels. Immunohistochemical staining documented more deposition of VEGF DNA in group II, III, V, VI than group IV and blank group.

CONCLUSIONSBoth administration of pcDNA4-VEGF165 and skin flap delay can improve the survival of rat's abdominal axial skin flap, but the mechanisms of the effect were different. The combination of the two ways has stronger effect.

Abdominal Wall ; surgery ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Graft Survival ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Surgical Flaps ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics

Insulin-like growth factor binding-protein-7 (IGFBP7) was obtained from our previous colonic adenocarcinoma (CRC) and normal mucosa suppression subtraction hybridization (SSH) cDNA libraries. By RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, we found that IGFBP7 was overexpressed in CRC tissue compared to normal tissue. However, our in vitro experiments performed in 10 CRC cell lines showed that IGFBP7 expressed only in SW480 and Caco2 cell lines, which implied an underlying reversible regulatory mechanism. Using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfite sodium PCR (BSP), we found that its expression was associated with DNA hypomethylation of exon1. This was further supported by the in vitro study which showed restored IGFBP7 expression after demethylation agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment. Correlation analysis between IGFBP7 expression and prognosis indicated that overexpression of IGFBP7 in CRC tissue correlated with favourable survival. Investigation of the functional role of IGFBP7 through transfection studies showed that IGFBP7 protein could inhibit growth rate, decrease colony formation activity, and induce apoptosis in RKO and SW620 cells, suggesting it a potential tumor suppressor protein in colorectal carcinogenesis. In conclusion, our study clearly demonstrated that IGFBP7 plays a potential tumor suppressor role against colorectal carcinogenesis and its expression is associated with DNA hypomethylation of exon 1.
Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Exons ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of emodin on cholestatic hepatitis.

METHODSRats were divided into 5 groups: 1 group was untreated, the other 4 groups were treated with alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT), ANIT and emodin, ANIT and ursodeoxycholic acid, or ANIT and dexamethasone, respectively. At 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after the treatment, NF-kappa B, early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant 1 (CINC-1), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1),tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assayed by immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR , western-blot and ELISA. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide Dismutase(SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were assayed by thiobarbituric acid method, xanthine oxidase method and colorimetric method, respectively.

RESULTS(1) Compared to the controls, emodin had a notable effect on total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at all time points (all P less than 0.05). Compared to ursodeoxycholic acid, emodin had a notable effect on TB and DB at 24 h after the treatments, however, after 48 h, emodin had a notable effect only on TB (all P less than 0.05). Compared to Dexamethasone, emodin had a notable effect on TB at 48 h time point, and it had a notable effect on ALT at all time points (all P less than 0.05). (2) The nuclei NF-kappa B p65 staining was significantly increased at 24 h and 48 h after ANIT treatment (all P less than 0.05), and emodin treatment could block the increase (all P less than 0.05). (3) Egr-1 mRNA level was not affected by emodin treatment (P more than 0.05); levels of CINC-1, MIP-2 mRNA and ICAM-1 protein were significantly decreased after emodin treatment (all P less than 0.05). (4) The levels of TNF alpha and IL-6 were decreased after emodin treatment(all P less than 0.05). (5) The levels of MDA at all time points and MPO at 24 h, 48 h time points were notably down-regulated by emodin treatment, while the level of SOD was markedly elevated at all time points after emodin treatment (all P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEmodin treatment can reduce the levels of TB, DB and ALT in ANIT induced-cholestatic hepatitis. The effect may be due to inhibition of NF-kappa B signal pathway.

1-Naphthylisothiocyanate ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Early Growth Response Protein 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism