Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles

Objective To investigate the effect of small interfering RNA(siRNA)-expressing plasmid targeting connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) on the expressions of its mRNA and protein in cultured human keloid fibroblasts(hKFs).Methods Constructed siRNA-expressing plasmids targeting CTGF were transfected into hKFs by Dosper package.Then the transfected cells were treated with transforming growth factor 1(TGF-?1,10 ng/ml).Normal hKFs cells and those with TGF-?1 treatment served as normal control and control groups respectively.The expression level of CTGF mRNA and protein were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(RQ-PCR) and Western blotting respectively.Results The expression level of CTGF mRNA was only 56.6% of that of the normal control(P

Objective To study the pharmacodynamics features of cisatracurium besylate in differ-ent age patients. Methods One hundred and eighty patients were randomized to group Ⅰ (50-60 years old),group Ⅱ (61-70 years old)and group Ⅲ (above 70 years old).Each group was subdivided according to the dose of cisatracurium besylate, 0.10 mg/kg (2ED95)or 0.15 mg/kg (3ED95) into group Ⅰ2, Ⅰ3, Ⅱ2, Ⅱ3,Ⅲ2, Ⅲ3(n = 30).ECG, SpO2, PETCO2, HR and neuromuscular blockade were monitored. Intubation conditions were assessed when T1 was zero after cisatracurium besylate administer ration using a 4-part scale.The onset time, TOF no reaction time, duration time, recovery lime and hemodynamic response time were recorded. Re-sults The onset times of group Ⅰ3, Ⅱ3 and Ⅲ3 were significantly shorter than those of group Ⅰ2, Ⅱ2 and Ⅲ2 (P < 0.05).The percentages of patients with excellent intubation condition in group Ⅰ3, Ⅱ3 and Ⅲ3 were 93%, 90%, and 80%, which were markedly higher than those in group Ⅰ2, Ⅱ2 and Ⅲ2 (67%, 60%, 60%). TOF no reaction time and duration time were longer in group Ⅰ3, Ⅱ3 and Ⅲ3 than those in group Ⅰ2, Ⅱ2 and Ⅲ2. There was no significant difference in muscle chalasis among the six groups. Conclusions Cisatracuri-um besylate 0.15 mg/kg produces quicker onset time and acceptable intubation conditions in the different age patients than 0.10 mg/kg. Recovery time is independent on the dosage and age. Aging has no influence on the phannacodynamics of single injection of cisatracurium besylate.

Objective To study the effects of the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1?) induced by FasL on the invasiveness of rectal cancer cells. Methods With molecular cloning method, eukaryotic expression vectors of pcDNA3.1 FasL containing total length of FasL cDNA sequence were transfected into human rectal cancer cells HR-8348. The cell invasiveness was examined. A hypoxia model of HR-8348 was reproduced, and its invasiveness was assessed with transwell methodology. Expression of HIF-1? was assayed by Western bloting. Results The number of HR-8348 cells transfected with FasL penetrated transwell filter membrane was larger (12.930?2.434) than that of empty vector transfected cells (7.670?2.093) and control cells (8.133?1.959) with statistically significant differences (P0.05), but it was significantly higher in FasL positive HR-8348 cells than in FasL negative cells at 12h and 24h after hypoxia (P0.05). Conclusions FasL is an effective factor inducing HIF-1? expression, and FasL expression correlates positively with HIF-1? expression. Enhanced FasL expression in rectal cancer cells could induce higher expression of HIF-1?, enable the tumor cells to adapt to hypoxia environment, and enhance the invasiveness of tumor cells.

Objective To explore the levels of serum angiotensin Ⅱand their clinical significance on pheochromocytomas. Methods Fifty-eight patients were randomly divided into three groups: Group Ⅰwith normal blood pressure; Group Ⅱ are essential hypertension; Group Ⅲ are pheochromocytomas. The levels of serum angiotensin Ⅱ (ATⅡ) in each group and at eleven time points: were measured. Results The levels of serum ATⅡ of groupⅡand Ⅲ were significantly higher than those of groupⅠ(P

Objective　To observe the effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF),a new type of immunosuppressant,on the immune function in patiens with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods　The changes of serum lL-6,IL-8,TNF-α,sIL-2,ANA,A-dsDNA and subsets of lymphocytes were observed in patients with SLE before and after treatment with MMF and CTX by ELISA,indirect immunofluorescent assay and flow cytometry,and the effect of MMF and CTX on the functions of hematopoiesis,liver and kidney were also observed.Results　Three months after treatment with MMF,the serum levels of IL-6,IL-8,TNF-α,sIL-2,ANA,and A-dsDNA in patients with SLE were significantly decreased,CD3＋,CD4＋ and CD4＋CD45RA＋ cells were significantly increased,and CD8＋,CD4＋CD45RO＋,CD8＋CD45RA＋,CD8＋CD45RO＋ cells were significantly decreased.No remarkable injury was observed on the functions of hematopoiesis, liver and kidney after treatment with MMF.Conclusion　MMF can inhibit T and B lymphocytes selectvely and is a new type of immunosuppresant to treat SLE with less toxicity and side-effect.

Objective To evaluate the effect of biofeedback therapy for the treatment of myogenic fecal incontinence. MethodsA general assessment about anorectal function was made on 17 cases receiving biofeedback therapy including muscle power training,sensory training and coordination training. Results The clinical scores before and after biofeedback therapy were 1.66?0.23,3.80?0.42 respectively,with an effective rate of 82%. The anus maximum contracting pressure elevated,(73?20) mm Hg vs. (123?30) mm Hg; myoelectric amplitude increased,(122?32) ?V vs. (230?41) ?V;Contracting time prolonged,(4.1?2.0) s vs. (9.4?3.0) s; The sensory threshold was lowered,(50?12) ml vs. ( 20? 10) ml;The feel-contract time increased,(3.1?0.4) s vs. (1.2?0.3) s. Positive rectal contraction reflex was seen in 41% patients before therapy compared with 82% after therapy. Conclusions Biofeedback therapy increases contractility of sphincter,decreases threshold of rectal sensory,and is a therapy of choice for myogenic fecal incontinence.

Anemia, Hemolytic ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective　To investigate the relationship between soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-R), TNF-α, TNF-α/sTNF-R and rheumatoid arthritis. Methods　 Serum levels of sTNF-RⅠ, sTNF-RⅡ and TNF-αwere measured in 28 patients with active RA and 12 patients with inactive RA and 30 healthy controls, using double antibodies sandwiched ELISA. Results　The results showed that serum levels of sTNF-RⅠ, sTNF-R Ⅱ and TNF-α　were significantly higher in the group of patients with active RA than those　found　in healthy group and　in the patients with inactive RA. Serum levels of both sTNF-RⅠ, sTNF-RⅡ and TNF-α　were also significantly higher in patients with inactive RA than in healthy group(P＜0.01 for all). In RA, the serum concentrations of sTNF-RⅠ and sTNF-RⅡ were positively correlated with the levels of ESR，CRP，Ritchie index. Conclusions　These results suggest that the serum levels of sTNF-RⅠ and sTNF-RⅡwere significantly increased and positively correlated with the disease activity. The determination of serum levels of sTNF-RⅠ and sTNF-RⅡ can be regarded as a useful laboratory parameter for diagnosis of RA,monitoring of the disease activity and assessment of prognosis.

BACKGROUND:Stress shielding in the Achil es tendons induces over-expression of tumor necrosis factor-α. The degree of tendon contracture remains unclear after the intervention with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of tumor necrosis factor-αon tendon contracture and the preventive effects of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (etanercept) on tendon contracture by observing the morphological changes of the stress-shielded Achil es tendons after the intervention with etanercept.
METHODS:A total of 20 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into experimental and model groups after stress shielding in Achil es tendons of rat left hind limb. Five rats from either group were randomly selected, and their right hind limbs were considered as normal controls. Immediately after model induction, the rats in the experimental group were subjected with 0.6 mg/kg etanercept, and those in the model group were subcutaneously treated with 1 mL phosphate buffered saline. According to half-life of etanercept, the two groups were separately injected three times. At 2 weeks after intervention, the morphological changes of the Achil es tendons were observed using gross examination and transmission electron microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:On gross examination, the Achil es tendons in the experimental group were significantly smoother and smal er than those of the model groups, but thicker than those of the normal control group. Under a transmission electron microscope, the col agen fibrils of the model group were looser and more disordered than those of the experimental group. The col agen fibrils of the experimental group were similar to those of the normal control group in cross section and longitudinal section. These indicated that tumor necrosis factor-αantagonist can obviously prevent stress shielding-induced tendon contracture at 2 weeks.