China ; Humans ; Medicine ; methods ; trends ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends

Liver ferritin of Sphyrna zygaena(SZLF) with purity of mass spectrum was prepared in batch. Under) the condition of acidifying medium at pH 1.0, PAGE showed that SZLF subunits treated for 20 min began) to dissociate. A whole process of subunit dissociation and recombination was monitored by transmission electron microscopy(TEM). In addition, the changes of size of both protein shell and iron core were also determined) by TEM directly. It was found that in the acid dissociation process of SZLF subunits, the size of iron) core and protein shell showed the same trend of change, which might be related to not only the iron release) of inner iron core but the dissociation and unfolding of the protein shell. The passway of SZLF recombination is a fast step, which is a conversion process from incompact moltenglobule to compact ferritin. Under the assistant of matrix acidity pH 3.0 and laser, SZLF mixed with horse spleen ferritin(HSF) still has capacity to release) its subunits to form subunit ions for mass analysis by a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer, which indicates that the interaction intensity between the subunits was weaken but they were not unfolded under this pH condition. TEM technology can be applied in studying both dissociation and recombination in ferritin subunits.

Objective Overexpressions of epidermal growth factor(EGF)and EGF receptor have been associ- ated with progression and invasive phenotype of pancreatic cancer.However,the underlying molecular mechanism by which EGF worked in pancreatic cancer cells has not been completely understood.In this study,effect of EGF on the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells and its regulatory mechanism were investigated.Methods The effects of EGF on the proliferation,adhesion and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells were detected by WST-1 prolif- eration assay,adhesion assay and invasive assay,respectively.The activity and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were examined by zymography,Western blot and RT-PCR,respectively.The activity of NF-?B was examined by EMSA.Results EGF could significantly promote the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells but did not affect cell proliferation or adhesion.The expressions of NF-?B and MMP-9 were significantly increased by EGF,but EGF did not affect the activity and expression of MMP-2.Furthermore,EGF stimulated the NF-?B binding activity.Pre- treatment with NF-?B inhibitors,pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC),could significantly inhibit the activity of NF-?B induced by EGF.Meanwhile,the EGF-induced expression and activity of MMP-9,as well as cell invasiveness were also inhibited by NF-?B inhibitor.Conclusion EGF could increase the expression and promote the invasiveness of MMP-9 via the activation of NF-?B in pancreatic cancer cells,which implies that NF-?B inhibitant,such as PDTC,may diminish the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells.

Animals ; Arrestins ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Male ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism ; beta-Arrestin 1 ; beta-Arrestins

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; trends ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Professional Practice ; trends ; Therapeutics ; methods ; trends ; Treatment Outcome

The disease classification in Western medicine and syndrome differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine were comparatively analyzed in this paper. It is proposed that the research on syndrome differentiation of disease classification is one of the cut-in points in integrative medicine research, and indicated that the research may be deepened by way of TCM syndrome classification based on diagnosis and on therapeutic efficacy.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease ; classification ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Research Design

Integrative medicine (IM), usually called integrated traditional and Western medicine in China, which came into being in the 1950s as a new form of medicine, although is now developing quickly, little is known about its status and existing problems. So a national survey in China was conducted through questionnaire in 2004 by Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine with the support of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM). The results show that, of all the medical professionals investigated in this survey, 91.21% and 93.52% respondents respectively favored IM as the best diagnostic and therapeutic method. Of all the patients who once went through TCM, Western medicine (WM) and IM therapies, 68.85%, 65.45% and 71.2% respondents respectively most appreciated IM, IM hospitals and IM therapeutic treatments. Most of the 6 595 respondents held that the optimal scientific research strategy in TCM should be integrating modern medical research method (n = 2 380) or modern scientific method (n = 2 920). However, many hospitals exposed the problems in the aspects of governmental supports and funding supports, human resources, and domestic or international academic activities. These results indicated that IM is the patients' social needs and doctors' aspiration in China. For further development of IM, the enhancement of scientific research construction and assistance by policies and finance from the government and other institutions are urgently needed in China.
Attitude of Health Personnel ; China ; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated ; Health Care Surveys ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; National Health Programs ; Patient Satisfaction ; Physicians ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury in the myocardium after cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important pathologic basis of post-cardiac arrest of syndrome (PCAS), and apoptosis is one of the major mechanisms in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. To lessen myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury after cardiac arrest and CPR, it is important to reduce energy consumption and to increase energy supply in the myocardium. This study aimed to observe changes of cell apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein on the myocardium after CPR in rats, and the protective effects of different doses of exogenous phosphocreatine (creatine phosphate, CP) on them. METHODS: A total of 32 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (group A), CPR group (group B), low-dose CP group (group C, CP 0.5 g/kg at beginning of CPR and 1.0 g/kg at 2 hours after CPR) and high-dose CP group (group D, CP 1.0 g/kg at beginning of CPR and 2.0 g/kg at 2 hours after CPR). Cardiac arrest was induced by asphyxiation and CPR started at 7 minutes after asphyxiation in groups B, C and D. Myocardium samples were taken at 24 hours after CPR. Cardiomycytic apoptosis was detected by the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein was measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Cardiomyocytic apoptosis index (AI) and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein increased more significantly in groups B, C and D than in group A (P<0.01), but Bcl-2/Baxratio significantly decreased (P<0.01). Cardiomyocytic AI and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein decreased more significantly in groups C and D than in group B (P<0.01), but Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased more significantly (P<0.01). Cardiomyocytic AI and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein decreased more significantly in group D than in group C (P<0.05), but Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased more significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Exogenous phosphocreatine, especially at a large dose, could inhibit cardiomyocytic apoptosis and alleviate myocardial injury after CPR in rats.

In order to realize the current situation and existing problems of integrative medicine of Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM) in China, a survey with questionnaires was conducted, its contents including the viewpoint of patients, who received ICWM therapy, on ICWM and on doctors of ICWM; the condition of ICWM researches; the present development of ICWM hospital and the existing problem in these hospital, etc. by inquiry on medical workers showed that most of them considered the best approach for medical research is the modern medical or the modern scientific studying method, and more than 71.2% patients prefered ICWM therapy the treatment most willing to receive.
Attitude of Health Personnel ; China ; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated ; methods ; Health Care Surveys ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Patient Satisfaction ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of the technique of synchronously perforating and transplanting hair follicular-units in the treatment of cicatricial alopecia after burn.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-six patients with 217 bald scar areas after burn were treated with above-mentioned technique from January 2002 to April 2008. Scalp strips, with conforming the necessity for grafting, were harvested from the occipital or temporal region. A series of follicular-units, each composing 1 - 3 hairs, were dissected from the strips under microscope or magnifying glass. Size-matching micro-slots were made in the scarred recipient area with 16 - 20 G needles to accept the grafts. The prepared follicular-unit was synchronously implanted into the bottom of the micro-slot as the needle being withdrawn. Patients who were not satisfactory with the density of hairs after I stage surgery underwent II stage surgery a half year later. Ten recipient areas with clear boundary in 10 patients were optionally chosen to observe the density of follicular-units and hair amount with naked eyes after I stage surgery. Survived transplanted hairs in above-mentioned 10 areas were counted to calculate hair survival rate at follow-up. Patients' postoperative satisfaction ratings were surveyed with questionnaire.

RESULTSIn one half of the patients, treatment was finished after I stage surgery, the other one half received 2 stages of surgery. The follicular-unit density reached 15 - 25 grafts/cm(2) with 40 - 70 hairs/cm(2) after I stage surgery. All patients were followed up for over 8 months. Grafted hairs grew well in a natural way. 96.5% mean hair survival rate was observed in the 10 recipient areas. From patients who received only I stage surgery, 61 patients (73.5%) were very satisfactory and 22 patients (26.5%) satisfactory with the results. From the other half of patients, 76 patients (91.6%) were very satisfactory and 7 patients (8.4%) satisfactory with the results.

CONCLUSIONSThe technique of perforating and transplanting follicular-unit hair synchronously is safe and effective with less surgery-induced injury and less bleeding. Hairs transplanted on cicatricial alopecia area with this technique grow well with high survival rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alopecia ; etiology ; surgery ; Burns ; complications ; Child ; Cicatrix ; complications ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Young Adult