With acupuncture depth as a perspective, some related issues are discussed in this paper. Firstly, the possible reasons of divergence on needling depth are explained. Secondly, by literature retrieval, the advantages and disadvantages of the clinical efficacy of deep needling and shallow needling are explored, and the essential value of shallow needling is emphasized in promoting acupuncture. Thirdly, due to the placebo acupuncture that led to the controversy of the curative effect of acupuncture, it is crucial to establish a method of modern system of scientific research which should be suitable for the development of acupuncture. Finally, the "cun" in acupuncture is inappropriate to transform into millimeter, and the standardization of acupuncture should focus on the improvement of curative efficacy. From the acupuncture depth, it is clear that there are plenty of problems in acupuncture, which could not only limit the development of acupuncture, but also affect the future of acupuncture.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Needles

Objective To study the metabolic characteristics of temporal lobe injury during the radiotherapy in the elderly with nasopharyngeal carcinoma through 1H- magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Methods The 15 aged and 23 young cases among 80 cases with nasopharyngeal carcinoma confirmed clinically and receiving radiotherapy for the first time were involved in the same period of July 2006 to May 2009. Conventional MRI scanning and bilateral temporal MRS were performed before and during radiotherapy at radiation dosages of 20 Gy, 40 Gy, and 60 Gy respectively. The spectroscopy morphology and the ratios of the three main metabolites were compared and analyzed. Results The values of N-acetylasparate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) was lower and choline-containing compound (Cho)/Cr ratio was higher in aged group than in young group before radiotherapy (P＞0.05). The spectroscopy morphology stepped down, NAA, Cho, NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and NAA/Cho decreased to some extent along with the adding of radiation dosages in the course of radiotherapy. At the end of radiotherapy, the decreased amplitude of NAA/Cr value was larger in aged group than in control group (P＜0.01), and the amplitude of Cho/Cr value was lower than other group. Conclusions The neurons of aged patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma have a weak tolerance to the radiation, brain injury occurs earlier and heavier in aged patients than in young patients. It is necessary to prevent neuron injury early.

Adult ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Male ; Neurofibroma ; Vocal Cords ; pathology

In order to assess whether gene transfection could be mediated by ultrasound in association with P85 and find the appropriate parameters of ultrasound irradiation, the effects of ultrasound with or without P85 on gene transfection of HepG2 cells were examined. The HepG2 cells were irradiated by ultrasound at 1 MHz, 0.4-2.0 W/cm(2) and 50% duty cycle with plasmid encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) as a report gene. Forty-eight h later, the expression of EGFP was detected under the fluorescence microscopy. Transfection efficacy was quantitatively assessed by flow cytometry, and cell viability was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion. The results showed that the transfection efficacy was increased with the increases in ultrasound output power and the ideal transfection efficacy was achieved in HepG2 cells irradiated by ultrasound at 0.8 W/cm(2) for 30 s. The transfection efficacy in ulstrasound+P85 group was three times higher than in single ultrasound group [(17.63+/-1.07)% vs (5.57+/-0.56)%, P<0.05]. The cell viability was about 81% and 62% in ultrasound group and ultrasound+P85 group respectively. It was concluded that ultrasound in combination with P85 could mediate the gene transfection of HepG2 cells, ideal transfection efficacy was achieved by ultrasound irradiation at 0.8 W/cm(2) for 30 s, and P85 could somewhat increase the damage to cells caused by ultrasound.
Cell Survival/genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics ; Hep G2 Cells ; Poloxalene/*pharmacology ; Transfection ; Ultrasonics

Objective To evaluate the image quality of dynamic three-dimensional contrast enhanced ultrasonography(3D-CEUS) in liver tumors.Methods Twenty-five patients were examed with 2D-CEUS and dynamic 3D-CEUS.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging(CECT/MRI) were performed early or late.Two readers reviewed the images of both modalities and graded the images according to diagnostic criteria as follows:tumor blood fusion in arterial phase(unclear-score 0,moderate-score 1,clear-score 2),tumor boundry and relationship with periphery tissues (unclear score 0,moderate-score 1,clear-score 2).The concordance between the two modalities for showing liver tumors was evaluated by Kappa test.Results Twenty-three of 25 danymic 3D-CEUS were displayed successfully versus total objects in CECT/ MRI.Among them,for showing blood fusion,16 lesions scored 2,7 lesions scored 1,2 lesions scored 0 in danymic 3D-CEUS,meanwhile 18 lesions scored 2,7 lesions scored 1,0 lesion scored 0 in CECT/MRI,the Kappa value was 0.65.For showing tumor boundry and relationship with peripherytissues,16 lesions scored 2,7 lesions scored 1,2 lesions scored 0 in danymic 3D-CEUS,meanwhile 21 lesions scored 2,4 lesions scored 1,0 lesion scored 0 in CECT/MRI,the Kappa value was 0.52.Conclusions Danymic 3D-CEUS was shown to be useful for displaying tumor blood fusion,boundry and relationship with periphery tissues in single liver tuomor,the concordance between dynamic CEUS and CECT/MRI for single liver tuomor was fair.For huge liver tumor and multi-tumors,3D-CEUS can not give overall information.

Objective · To explore the correlation between variants located in 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR) of NOTCH1 and JAG1 genes and conotruncal heart defects (CTD). Methods · Six hundred CTD children without 22q11 deletion and three hundred healthy children were enrolled in this hospital-based case-control study. Variants located in the 3'UTR regions of NOTCH1 and JAG1 genes were detected by high-throughput sequencing. The accuracy of the variants were verified by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Online software PicTar, TargetScan and microRNA.org were used to make functional predictions. Results · One mutation and three SNPs were found in the 3'UTR of NOTCH1. Three mutations and six SNPs were found in the 3'UTR of JAG1. The genotypic distributions of two SNPs (rs3840074 and rs8708) located in JAG13'UTR between CTD group and the controls were statistically significant (both P<0.05). Results of prediction showed that all the four mutations and two meaningful SNPs could bind to microRNA. Conclusion · The variants located in 3'UTR regions of NOTCH1 and JAG1 genes may be related to the occurrence of CTD.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male

Objective To investigate the application effect of FMEA(failure mode and effect analysis) in prevention of aspiration after stroke.Methods From October 2011 to April 2012 48 stroke patients in our department without implementation of the FMEA management mode were set as the control group.From May 2012 to November 2012,another 48 cases were set as the observation group,in addition to the routine neurological nursing care,we also used FMEA to find forward-looking reason of the failure mode of aspiration and operation process analysis,evaluation,calculation and identify the risk factors of aspiration in patients with cerebral apoplexy and high-risk operation steps,prevention priority action plan and improvement measures.The incidence of aspiration,RPN value of six high risk factors,and satisfaction degree and mastering degree of aspiration related knowledge by patients and their families were compared.Results In the observation group,the crisis values of 6 high risk factors was significantly lower than those of the control group.Significant differences existed in satisfaction degree and mastering degree of aspiration related knowledge by patients and their families as well as hospitalization time.There was no aspiration cases during hospitalization in the observation group while 3 aspiration cases in the control group.Conclusions Application of FMEA to evaluate patients with swallowing disorder after stroke,analyzing and taking relevant measures can effectively prevent risks,reduce the occurrence of aspiration,improve the quality of nursing and promote patients' recovery.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and Mucin 1 (MUC1) in hepatolithiasis associated with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. MethodsSpecimens were taken from 90 patients who underwent hepatectomies from August 1989 to June 2009 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. The specimens were stained immunohistochemically for NF-κB, EGFR and MUC1. There were 33 patients who had hepatolithiasis associated with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (the experiment group). 32 patients with hepatolithiasis served as the control group, and 25 patients with normal intrahepatic bile ducts taken at 1-2cm distal to benign hepatic neoplasm served as the blank group. The immunohistochemical staining were performed on tissue slices. Results NF-κB positive rate was 51.5％ (17/33), 25％(8/32) and 4％ 1/25) in the experiment group, the control group and the blank group respectively,P＜0. 01 ; EGFR positive rates were 57. 6％ (19/33), 31.3％ (10/32) and 0 (0/25) respectively,P＜0. 01; MUC1 positive rates were 54. 5％ (18/33), 28. 1 ％ (9/32), 0 (0/25) respectively,P＜0. 01. There were significant differences for high level expressions of EGFR and MUC1 among histopathologic grading, tumor invasion and metastasis. The survival rates of patients with EGFR and MUC1 expressed tumor were lower than of patients with non-expressed tumout (P＜0. 01). ConclusionsNF-κB is probably involved in the early stage of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinogenesis. Overexpressions of NF-κB, EGFR and MUC1 play coordinately and important roles during intrahepatic cholangiocarcinogenesis. High level expressions of EGFR and MUC1 are related to the malignant degree of cholangiocarcinoma and to worse prognosis.