Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at different time points during the perioperative period on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastrointestinal malignant neoplasms surgery. Methods: Sixty-three patients who needed radical surgery for gastrointestinal tumors were randomized into a control group, treatment group 1 (postoperative EA group), and treatment group 2 (intraoperative and postoperative EA group). The control group received surgery and conventional Western medicine treatment, and treatment groups 1 and 2 received additional EA treatment at different time points. The initial flatus time after the surgery, visual analog scale (VAS) score at different time points after the surgery, the proportion of using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after the surgery, and the times of adding analgesics were observed in the three groups. Results: The initial flatus time after the surgery was earlier in treatment groups 1 and 2 than in the control group (P<0.05); the difference between treatment groups 1 and 2 was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The VAS score was lower in treatment group 2 than in the control group at 6, 12, 24, and 72 h after the surgery (P<0.05); the VAS score was lower in treatment group 1 than in the control group only at 72 h after the surgery (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the rate of using PCA among the three groups (P>0.05). Regarding the times of adding analgesics, it was less in treatment group 2 than in the control group at 12 h after the surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion: Either EA during and after the surgery or only after the surgery can hasten the initial flatus and boost the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients after radical resection of gastrointestinal neoplasms. Successive EA during and after the surgery should be superior to postoperative EA regarding the analgesic effect after the surgery.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Tiaozhi Yanggan Decoction (TZYGD) in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-eight patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups according to the random number table in a ratio of 3:1, with 8 cases eventually dropping out. The symptoms, signs, liver function markers, blood lipids, iconographic indices and clinical comprehensive efficacy after a 12-week treatment course were assessed in 101 patients treated with TZYGD in the treated group and 29 patients treated with Thiola in the control group.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treated group and the control group was 81.19% and 68.97%, respectively, showing a significant difference between the two groups with the former being significantly higher than the latter (P<0.05). Moreover, the improvements in the symptoms, signs, liver function, blood lipids and iconographic indices in the treated group were favorable with no serious adverse reactions.

CONCLUSIONTZYGD is effective and highly safe in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver.

Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: It was thought that there was no regeneration capacityin central nerves. Recent research shows that regeneration capacity of injured neural axons and recovery of some neurological functions can be achieved by changing local surroundings after spinal cord injury (SCI).OBJECTIVE: To probe into whether the transplantation of fetal olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) in recovering the neurological functions of patients with chronic SCI is safe, feasible, and effective.DESIGN: Auto-control observation before and after surgery.SETTING: Neurological Research and Treatment Center of Beijing Xishan Hospital; Second Department of Neurosurgery in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital University of Medical Sciences; Second Department of Neurosurgery in Naval General Hospital.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 171 patients with chronic spinal cord injury were selected from the Second Department of Neurosurgery in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital University of Medical Sciences and the Second Department of Neurosurgery in Naval General Hospital betweenNovember 2001 and February 2003, of which there are 147 patients with complete injury and 24 ones with incomplete injury. Post-injury period ranged from 0.5 to 18 years. Process of treatment is discussed and permitted by relevant Medical Ethics Committees. Cells were obtained from voluntary donors and patients agreed to receive the treatment.METHODS: ① Fetal olfactory bulbs were cultured for 12-17 days after being digested into single cells. ② Fetal OECs were transplanted into sites rostral and caudal to the epienter. ③ Neurological functions of all patients 2-8 weeks before and after operation were evaluated according to the scoring standard of ASIA.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Status of functional recovery in spinal cord of patients after transplantation of OECs. ② Harmful events and side effects.RESULTS: A total of 171 patients were involved in the analysis of results.①Status of functional recovery in spinal cord of patients with OECs transplantation: Partial neurological functions of 171 patients rapidly recovered,whose motor function score increased from (34.5±20.3) points before operation to (42.0±20.0) points (P ＜ 0.001) after operation, score of light touch increased from (47.2±24.0) points to (61.8±23.0) points (P ＜ 0.001) after operation,score of pain sense increased from (48.6±23.5) points to (64.0±22.8) points (P ＜ 0.001). ②Harmful events and side-effects: Early manifestations of spinal cord injury induced by infection in surgical area of one patient aggravated; two patients suffered from serious pulmonary infection,one patient from thalamic hemorrhage. Three patients mentioned above died of serious respiration and circulatory failures.CONCLUSION: OEC transplantation can rapidly promote partial neurological function of patients with chronic SCI, while the mechanism needs further observing.

Objective To explore the influence factors for the functional improvement after the fetal olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) transplantation for chronic spinal cord injury(SCI). Methods The olfactory bulbs were harvested and trypsinized down to single fetal OEC. They were cultured for 12-17 days prepared for use. From November 2001 to December 2003, a total of 300 patients volunteered for the fetal OEC transplantation, among whom 222 suffered from complete chronic SCI and 78 suffered from incomplete chronic SCI. The procedures were performed on the patients with a disease course ranging from 6 months to 31 years (average 3.1 years) after their injuries. The fetal OEC was transplanted by the form of injections into the spinal cord at the upper and lower ends of the injury site. All the patients were assessed by the ASIA standard before the transplantation and 2-8 weeks after the transplantation. The influence factors including age, sex, duration after the injury, and injury degrees and levels were compared with those in the functional improvement after fetal OEC transplantation. Results The partially-improved neurological functions assessed by the ASIA standard were indicated by the motor scores increasing from 39.1±20.6 to 45.9±20.3 (P<0.001), the light touch scores from 51.7±24.9 to 63.4±23.0 (P<0.001), and the pin prick scores from 53.0±24.2 to 65.3±22.7(P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the functional improvement of the motor, light touch, and pin brick when compared with the age, sex, duration after the injury, and the injury degrees and levels. The motor scores and light touch scores at the cervical level were higher than the scores at the thoracic level. Conclusion The fetal OEC transplantation can partially improve the neurological functions quickly in treatment of the chronic spinal cord injury. All the influence factors except the motor scores and light touch scores, which were higher at the cervical level than at thoracic level, have no impact on the functional improvement after the fetal OEC transplantation.

ObjectiveTo determine whether transplanting olfactory ensheathing cells(OECs)is effective in controlling or re.versing the deterioration caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(AtS). MethodsUetwcen February 2003 and April 2006,327 pa-fients(241 males and 86 females)with probable or definite ALS(diagnosed according to the El Escorial criteria)received dle oECstransplantation.Their ages ranged from 20 to 84 years(51.6±11.1 years).The duaration of sympltoms before surgical trealment wit84.8months to 13 years(2.9±2.0 years).OECs were cultured and.injected into palllological regions of the spinal cord and/or bilateralcoroila radiata of the brain;the patients were divided into three groups,group A(cord only,n=29),group B(cord and brain,,n=6),and group C(brain only,n=292)based on the transplant sites.ResultsThe patient's neurological function was assessedboth before and at4 weeks after transplantation by using the Amyolrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale(ALSFRS)of the ALSCNTF Trealment Study(ACTS).The$cores were increased from 17.2±8.6 pre-operation to 20.1±9.7 post-operation in group A(P<0.05),from 24.2 4-6.8 to 25.7±6.6(P>0.05)in group B,and from 20.3±8.6 to 22.0±9.4(P<0.001)in group C.There were no significant difference inincreased ALSFRS scores amongthe three groups(P>O.05).The total improvement rate of neurological function was 77.1%(252/327).The result of electramyographic examination showed that spontaneous potential diminishedand/or disappeared,the amplitude of the motor unit action potential decreased remarkably andthe numbers of motor unitaction potentialgreatly increased in 261 cases(79.8%).Sixteen patients(4.9%)experienced the various complications including headache.short-term fever,seizure attack,central nerve system infection,pneumonia,respiratory failure,urinary tract infection,heartfailure,and pos-sible pulmonary embolism;of them,there were 4 deaths(1.2%). ConclusionThese preliminary results suggest that the OECs trasplantafion is effective in controlling or reversing the physiological deterioration caused by ALS.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety profile of astragalus injection combined with decitabine injection in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).Methods According to admission,67 patients with MDS were divided into treatment group (n =38) and control group (n =29).The control group was given the decitabine injection 25 mg · m-2,daily intravenous drip for 1 h from the first day to the fifth day at each course (4 weeks a course).Treatment group was treated with astragalus injection 30 mL on the basis of control group.Both groups were treated for 4 courses.The clinical efficacy,white blood cell (WBC) count,platelet count,cluster of differentiation 34(CD34) and CD117 levels,and the adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the total effective rate of the treatment group and the control group were 65.79％ (25 cases/38 cases) and 41.38％ (12 cases/29 cases),the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,the WBC counts of the treatment group and the control group were (2.82 ±0.42) × 109/L,(2.31 ± 0.26) × 109/L;while the platelet counts were (92.51 ± 17.09) × 109/L and (82.01 ± 10.07) × 109/L;the CD34 expression rates were (7.91 ± 1.88) ％ and (9.13 ± 2.54) ％,respectively,the expression rate of CD117 (9.02 ± 1.63)％ and (10.01 ± 1.53)％,and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).The median survival time of treatment group and control group were (32.29 ±9.00),(27.17 ± 10.53) months,the median progression free survival were (22.91 ± 6.61),(21.26 ± 10.02) months,and the differences were statistically significant (P ＜0.05).The adverse drug reactions in the treatment group were nausea and vomiting (5 cases) and fever (3 cases),while those in the control group were nausea and vomiting (6 cases) and fever (5 cases),infection (1 case),liver and kidney injury (1 case).The incidences of adverse drug reactions of the treatment group and the control group were 21.05％ (8 cases/38 cases) and 44.83％ (13 cases/29 cases),with statistically significant difference (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Astragalus injection combined with decitabine injection was effective and safe,it could promote the maturation and differentiation of myeloid cells.

BACKGROUNDAtrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia with multi-factorial pathogenesis. Recently, a single nucleotide polymorphism (G/T) at position 1057 in the KCNE4 gene, resulting in a glutamic acid (Glu, E)/aspartic acid (Asp, D) substitution at position 145 of the KCNE4 peptide, was found in our laboratory to be associated with idiopathic atrial fibrillation (atrial fibrillation more frequent with KCNE4 145D). However, the functional effect of the KCNE4 145E/D polymorphism is still unknown.

METHODSWe constructed KCNE4 (145E/D) expression plasmids and transiently co-transfected them with the KCNQ1 gene into Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells and performed whole-cell patch-clamping recording to identify the possible functional consequences of the single nucleotide polymorphism. Quantitative data were analyzed by Student;s t test. Probability values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTSA slowly activating, non-inactivating voltage-dependent current ((24.0 +/- 2.9) pA/pF, at +60 mV)) could be recorded in the cells transfected with KCNQ1 alone. Co-expression of wild type KCNE4 inhibited the KCNQ1 current ((7.3 +/- 1.1) pA/pF)). By contrast, co-expression of KCNE4 (145D) augment the KCNQ1 current ((42.9 +/- 7) pA/pF)). The V(1/2) of activation for the KCNQ1/KCNE4 (145D) current was shifted significantly towards the depolarizing potential compared to that for the KCNQ1 current ((-2.3 +/- 0.2) mv vs (-13.0 +/- 1.5) mv, P < 0.01)) without changing the slope factorkappa. Furthermore, KCNE4 (145D) also affected the activation and deactivation kinetics of KCNQ1 channels.

CONCLUSIONWe provide experimental evidence that the KCNE4 (145E/D) polymorphism exerts the effect of "gain of function" on the KCNQ1 channel. It may underlie the genetic mechanism of atrial fibrillation. Further studies on the functional association between I(Ks) and KCNE4 (145D) polymorphism in cardiac myocytes are suggested.

Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Humans ; KCNQ1 Potassium Channel ; physiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of delayed opening of the infarct-related artery (IRA) by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the late left ventricular remodeling after acute anterior myocardial infarction (AAMI).

METHODSSixty four patients with initial Q-wave AAMI and with the total occluded IRA conformed by angiogram at 9.1 +/- 2.3 (2 - 14) days after the onset were divided into successful PCI group and control group (not receiving PCI or the IRA not re-opened). Two-D echocardiogram was performed at acute phase (about 3 weeks), 2 and 6 months after onset of AAMI respectively to detect the left ventricular function and left ventricular wall motion abnormality (VWMA). The total congestive heart failure events were recorded during 6 months follow-up.

RESULTSVWMA scores, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indexes (LVEDVI and LVESVI) were similar in 2 groups at acute phase and 2 months after the onset of AAMI. There were no differences between the parameters above at acute phase and 2 months in each group too. VWMA scores and LVEF did not changed significantly at 6 months in each group compared with those at acute phase and 2 months (P > 0.05). But LVEDVI and LVESVI were significantly smaller in the successful PCI group than those in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The rate of congestive heart failure events was 19% in control group and 2.0% in successful PCI group (P > 0.05) respectively.

CONCLUSIONSDelayed opening of IRA in AAMI could prevent the late phase but not the early phase of left ventricular remodeling after AMI.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Ventricular Remodeling

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) patients who had high risk of recurrence.

METHODSA prospective, open-label, multi-center trial conducted in sixteen teaching hospitals in China was carried out. The criteria of the enrolled patients included age more than 18 years old, CD117 positive GIST, tumor size more than 5 cm, pathological mitosis counts more than 5/50 HPF, and treatment beginning within 4 weeks after complete resection and with imatinib (400 mg, once a day) for at least 12 months. The 1, 3 year recurrence rates, disease free survival, overall survival rate and quality of life were evaluated.

RESULTSFrom Aug. 16th 2004 to Sep. 13th 2005, there were totally 74 patients screened and 57 patients (34 men, 23 women) enrolled in the imatinib treatment group. The primary tumors were located in the stomach in 50.9%, the small intestine in 38.6% and the colorectum in 10.5% of the cases. All the patients received radical resection. Until the cut-off date of interim analysis, there was no evidence of tumor relapse or metastasis in all patients and no death was reported either. Among the 57 enrolled patients with intention to treat(ITT), twelve patients finished the protocol (per protocol, PP). The disease free survival was (268.3 +/-120.2) d in ITT analysis, and (396.7+/-38.2) d in the PP analysis. The incidence of adverse effect was 44.4% . The score in quality of life showed no statistically significant difference between the baseline visit and the follow-up visits.

CONCLUSIONImatinib is a promising postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in GISTs patients with high risk of recurrence, and the adverse effects are receivable.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Benzamides ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo construct the haplogroup and perform an analysis of mitochondrial whole-genome sequence in Tibetan and Han Chinese. Variations of nucleotide of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were identified and compared between the Tibetan and Han population.

METHODSThe mtDNA whole sequences of 40 Tibetan and 50 Han individuals were sequenced by an Applied Biosystems 3730 DNA automatic sequencer. The sequences were assembled using software phredPhrap16.0, and all assembled sequences were manually verified according to the criterion of rCRS (revised Cambridge Reference Sequence). The haplogroups of mtDNA were constructed using phylogenetic analysis according to the criteria of MITOMAP by Network method. The data were elucidated by integrated methods.

RESULTSAuthors' results showed that all the pooled 90 subjects belonged to the Macrohaplogroup M and N, and were classified into 13 haplogroups. No differences were observed among the haplogroups of the two populations except for M9 haplogroup. A total of 21 variants were detected by comparing the mtDNA whole sequences between Tibetan and Han population; of those, 5 variants have not been reported before. In addition, we constructed the haplotypes of 5 variants harboring the D-loop region, and founded prominent difference in both supertype 1 and supertype 2 between Tibetan and Han population.

CONCLUSIONThe phylogenetic analysis indicates that the Tibetan and Han ethnic groups shared close maternal relationship in origin. The biological implication of the significant variants is worth elucidating; whether they are the results of adaptive selection or neutral selection or pathological variations need to be further studied.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; analysis ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetics, Population ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Tibet ; ethnology