AIM:To explore the molecular mechanism of panaxadiol saponin(PDS)by observing Toll like receptor(TLR)2 and TLR9 mRNA expression induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS).METHODS:Rats were divided into LPS,LPS+PDSL,LPS+PDSM and control group,respectively.Nitric oxide synthase(NOS)activity,nitric oxide(NO)content,LPO content,SOD activity and TLR2 and TLR9 mRNA expression were assayed 4 h after intravenous injection of LPS.RESULTS:NOS activity,NO content,LPO content of LPS+PDSL group and LPS+PDSM group were significantly lower than those in LPS group.TLR2 mRNA expression in the liver tissue of LPS+PDSL group and LPS+PDSM group was decreased compared with LPS group.CONCLUSION:PDS has a protective effect on liver tissues by triggering the down-regulation of TLR2 expression,reducing NOS activity,and NO content.

OBJECTIVEThe multi-center, randomized, double-blind, double-simulated and positive-control trial was used to verify the contribution degree of Bushen Huoxue for the treatment of ovulatory dysfunction caused infertility, which provided scientific basis for clinical treatment.

METHODAccording to diagnostic, inclusion and exclusion criteria, we observed 349 patients which were divided into the treated group (n = 177, treated with Bushen Huoxue ricipe) and control group (n = 172, treated with clomiphene). Ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, clinical effective rate of traditional Chinese medicine, endometrium and diameter of dominant follicle were observed. Serum reproductive endocrine hormones were assayed before and after treatment.

RESULTThe treated group showed ovulation rate of 69.34%, with pregnancy rate of 41.35%. The clinical effective rate of treated group and control group were 91.73% and 80.77%. There was remarkable difference in endometrium (P < 0.05) and remarkbale difference in sex hormones PRL and E₂in treated group at prior-treatment and post-treatment (P < 0.05). No adverse effects were found in the experiment. Security indicators did not show abnormal change.

CONCLUSIONThe comparison between the two groups showed that the treated group was significantly different from control group in the pregnancy rate (P < 0.05), without notable difference in ovulation rate. There was significant difference in clinical effective rate between the treated group and control group. Both the two groups could contribute to the mature development and discharge of the follicles. The growth of endometrium and endometrial receptivity in the treated group were higher than control group. The treated group has regulatory effect on PRL and E₂.

Adult ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fertility Agents, Female ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Ovary ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Ovulation ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMost HCC patients with decompensation of liver function lost the chance of surgical and/or interventional treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility and outcome of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with poor liver function (Child-Pugh class C), who are not suitable for surgery or hepatic artery chemo-embolization.

METHODSThirteen HCC patients (the number of tumors was 17) with liver function of Child-Pugh C (scores: 10.2 +/- 0.4) were included in the study. Among the patients, 8 were male and 5 were female with the average age of (61.6 +/- 10.9) years old. The average size of HCC was (3.8 +/- 1.0) cm. Two patients were recurrent HCC and 30.8% of the patients had multiple tumors (2 - 3 tumors). All the patients were treated with RFA.

RESULTSThere were 22 RFA sessions (1 - 4 sessions per patient) in all, average ablations per tumor at first session was 3.1. One week after RFA, the liver enzymes elevated in 9 patients (69.2%), in 7 of them, the liver enzyme returned to pre-RFA level in 1 - 3 months. One month after RFA, the Child-Pugh grading was 10.3 +/- 0.8 (Child-Pugh C), while that of pre-RFA was 10.2 +/- 0.4 (Child-Pugh C), with no significant difference. Computer tomography (CT) one month after RFA showed that the tumor necrosis rate was 88.2% (15/17). Five patients had 2 - 4 repeated RFA due to HCC recurrence. During the follow-up of 2- 69 months in this group, survival rate of one year was 53.8%, two years was 30.8%, and three year was 15.4%. The incidence of RFA-related complications was 13.6% (3/22 sessions), including 1 case of GI hemorrhage and 1 sub-capsular hemorrhage of the liver. One patient with HCC over 5 cm who had fever and liver abscess after RFA, and was dead 2 months later due to liver function failure.

CONCLUSIONSMinimal invasive RFA provides possible treatment modality for HCC patients with poor liver function, who are not candidates for surgical and/or interventional therapy. For large HCC, due to the required extended treatment region, special attention should be paid to the possibility of acute liver failure.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; therapy ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To observe the effect of An-pressing manipulation on biceps brachii with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in healthy male volunteers.Methods:A total of 30 male college student volunteers were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group and a treatment group,10 cases in each group.Subjects in the blank group did not receive any intervention;subjects in the model group received active weight-bearing eccentric exercise on the non-favored side of the upper limb to establish the models,while not receiving any treatment;subjects in the treatment group received both the same modeling and An-pressing manipulation treatment.The subjective rating of perceived exertion (RPE),subjective soreness sensation threshold and soreness grade were evaluated before modeling,immediately after modeling,and 24,48,72,96 and 120 h after modeling.Serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was measured before modeling,immediately after modeling,and 24,48 and 72 h after modeling.Serum creatine kinase MM isoenzyme (CK-MM) was measured before modeling and 24,48 and 72 h after modeling.Results:At 24,48,72 and 120 h after treatment,the soreness grades of the treatment group were lower than those of the model group (all P＜0.05).The RPE scores of the treatment group were lower than those of the model group (all P＜0.05) immediately after modeling,at 24,48,72,96 and 120 h after modeling.The subjective soreness sensation threshold of the treatment group was higher than that of the model group immediately after modeling,at 24,48,72 and 96 h after modeling (all P＜0.05).Immediately after modeling,T-AOC value in the treatment group was higher than that in the model group and blank group (both P＜0.05).CK-MM of the treatment group was lower than that of the model group at 48 h and 72 h after modeling (P＜0.05).Conclusion:An-pressing manipulation shows a certain therapeutic effect on biceps brachii with DOMS by strengthening the body's antioxidant and anti-damage abilities,which can effectively reduce the pain and accelerate the recovery from fatigue damage.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningitis, Meningococcal ; diagnosis

Objective To introduce the clinical experience and investigate venous drainage of distal- ly-based dorsal digital neurocutaneous flap for finger-pulp reconstruction.Methods From Mar.2004 to Oct.2005,18 patients with traumatic finger-pulp defect (＞2cm) were treated by distally based dorsal ho- modigital neurocutaneous flaps.The flap measured 2 cm?2cm～3cm?4cm with the neuro-veno-adipal ped- icle 1cm wide and 2～3cm long.The pivot points were proximal to the PIP joints.The dorsal digital nerve was neurorrhaphied with the proper digital nerve of the recipient site.The dorsal digital vein was ligated at 1cm distal to the pivot point to prevent venous ingress.No venous anastomosis was performed.Results All the flaps survived but had some degrees of venous congestion and swelling,and 8 flaps developed tension blisters. In 13 flaps with follow-up more than 6 months,protective sensation was restored.Conclusion Dorsal digit- al neurocutaneous flap is simple and effective for finger-pulp reconstruction.Ligating the big superficial vein at the distal base to interrupt venous ingress,and allowing the proximal vein open and venous egress,can reduce flap congestion and swelling.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the ultrasonographic features of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients, and to evaluate the accuracy of these features by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve.

METHODSUltrasonography was carried out in 113 patients (mean age 56.5 yr, range 29 - 77 yr). The ultrasonographic features of the primary tumor and the axillary lymph node were observed. Univariate analysis was performed by Chi-squared test and Fisher exact test, and multivariate analysis to determine independent significant individual variables by multiple logistic regression analysis. ROC curve analysis was done to determine the sensitivity and specificity of individual and combined ultrasonographic features in distinguishing metastatic lymph node from the normal one.

RESULTSThe primary tumor size, abundance of blood supply in the primary tumor, longitudinal-transverse diameter ratio, cortex-hilum thickness ratio (on the longitudinal section), abnormal cortex thickness, distribution of intra-nodal vascularity of axillary lymph nodes were found to be statistically significant factors by univariate analysis. The primary tumor size, longitudinal-transverse ratio and cortex-hilum thickness ratio of lymph node were proved to be significant independent predictors of axillary lymph node metastasis by logistic regression analysis. Through ROC analysis, the combination of these independent ultrasonographic feature predictors was found to contribute significantly in differentiating metastatic lymph node from the normal with a sensitivity of 88.6% and specificity of 84.5%.

CONCLUSIONAxillary ultrasonography is helpful in staging the axillary lymph node in breast cancer patient. The primary tumor size, longitudinal-transverse diameter ratio and cortex-hilum thickness ratio of lymph node are the main features to determine whether metastatic involvement is present or not.

Adult ; Aged ; Axilla ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficiency and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (RHCC) after hepatectomy and to investigate efficacy of RFA for patients with early and late phase recurrence, separately, setting 1 year as the cut-off between the early and late phases.

METHODSA total of 42 patients with 77 RHCC and a history of hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in our department and entered this study (RHCC group). The average diameter of RHCC was (3.8 +/- 1.4) cm (range, 1.5-6.6 cm). 21 of the 42 RHCC patients had Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis 19, class B and two, class C cirrhosis. The average interval between initial surgery and the diagnosis of recurrence was 22.8 months (range, 1-96 month). 42 RHCC patients were divided into two groups as early recurrence group including 20 patients with 40 RHCC, and late recurrence group including the other 22 patients with 37 RHCC according to the recurrence interval. During the same period 148 patients with 217 primary HCC were also treated by RF ablation and regarded as primary HCC group. The average diameter of primary HCC was (4.0 +/- 1.4) cm (range, 1.2-7.0 cm). Regular follow-up with enhanced CT was performed to evaluate the treatment results. Ablation was considered a success if no contrast enhancement was detected in the treated area on 1 month CT scans.

RESULTSThe ablation success rate, local recurrence rate, new tumor incidence and mean survival in RHCC group were 90.5%, 14.3%, 38.1% and (28.0 +/- 3.5) months, respectively, which were similar to the corresponding results of 87.2%, 16.2%, 37.8% and (39.0 +/- 2.1) month in primary HCC group. However, when further comparison was performed between early recurrence group, late recurrence group and primary HCC group, there were some significant differences. The incidence of new tumors in early recurrence group was significantly higher than that in late recurrent group (60.0% vs. 18.2%, P = 0.005); early recurrence group survived shorter than primary HCC group [(15.4 +/- 2.3) vs. (39.0 +/- 2.1) months, P < 0.005]. The survival time was similar between late recurrence group and primary HCC group. One case was found haemorrhage after RFA and recovered with conservative treatment. No major complications occurred in the remaining 41 patients.

CONCLUSIONSRF ablation is generally effective and safe in treating RHCC. And it's more effective in late recurrence than in early recurrence.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Aim To study the role of Cx43 in inhibi-tion of AngII-induced vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) proliferation by farrerol. Methods The primary VSMCs were isolated and cultured by direct adherent culture methods. VSMCs were identified by immunohistochemstry. The cells were divided into the following groups:control group,AngII group,AngII+Farrerol group. The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 cell vitality test. The proliferation of VSMCs was measured by the methods of Edu. The cell cycle of VSMCs was detected by flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of Cx43 were measured by Real-time PCR. The protein levels of Cx43 were measured by Western blot. Results 60 μmol·L-1farrerol could significantly de-crease the cell viability and EdU rate of VSMCs in-duced by AngII(P<0.05),which could also prevent the transformation of VSMCs from G0/G1phase to S phase. The results of real-time PCR and Western blot showed that,compared with the model group,Farrerol could significantly reduce the mRNA and protein ex-pression level of Cx43(P <0.01). After the interfer-ence of Cx43 by siRNA, the inhibition of proliferation by farrerol decreased significantly. Conclusion Far-rerol inhibits AngII-induced VSMCs proliferation signif-icantly, which might be associated with reducing the expression of Cx43.

Objective: To observe the effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion on the growth of colon tumors in rats with colitis-associated colon cancer (CACC), and explore the mechanism of moxibustion intervening CACC through the purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7R)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Methods: A total of 26 male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected. According to the random number table method, 6 rats were selected as the normal group. The remaining 20 rats were injected intraperitoneally with azoxymethane (AOM) combined with oral dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to prepare the CACC model. After the model was successfully established, 2 rats were randomly selected for model identification. The remaining 18 rats which were successfully modeled were randomly divided into a model group, a herb-partitioned moxibustion group and a ginger-partitioned moxibustion group, with 6 rats in each group. Moxibustion intervention was performed in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group at Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25). Moxibustion was performed twice at each point each time, once a day, at a 1-day interval after 6 consecutive interventions, for a total of 30 interventions. After intervention, the colon tumor load, pathological change and histopathological score were observed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of VEGF, P2X7R, phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3), and nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) proteins in rat colon tissue. Western blot was used to detect the levels of p-STAT3 and NF-κB p65 proteins in rat colon tissue. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colon tumor load and histopathological score in the model group were significantly increased (both P<0.001), and different grades of dysplasia were observed in colon tissue from the model group, reaching the degree of adenocarcinoma; the expression level of P2X7R protein in colon tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.001), and the expression levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins were significantly increased (all P<0.001) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the colon tumor load, colon histopathological score and the levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins in colon tissue were significantly decreased (all P<0.05) in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group while the expression levels of P2X7R protein in colon tissue were significantly increased (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Both herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion can reduce the colon tumor load in CACC rats and delay the progression of colon adenomas. The mechanism may be mediated by the P2X7R/STAT3 pathway to inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation, thereby reducing VEGF protein expression.