OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of natural moxibustion on regulating immune imbalance in asthma rats.

METHODSSeventy SD male rats were divided into a normal group, a placebo group, a dexamethasone group, a big-cake for long-course moxibustion group, a big-cake for short-course moxibustion group, a small-cake for long-course moxibustion group and a small-cake for short-course moxibustion group, ten rats in each one. The rat model of asthma was established by egg albumen sensitization and stimulation in all the groups except the normal group. The natural moxibustion was used in all moxibustion groups, in which big cake of 1 cmX 1 cm size was used in the big-cake groups and small cake of 0.5 cmX 0. 5 cm size was used in the small cake groups. According to relevant acupoints, the natural moxibustion was performed, 5 h per time, once a day. Four times of treatment was considered one course, and three courses were required in the long-course groups and one course was required in the short-course groups. Intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone was applied in the dexamethasone group, which had the same course as long-course moxibustion group. After the treatment, changes of EOS in peripheral blood of asthma rats were observed; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to test the contents of IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the lung tissue; real-time Q-PCR method was adopted to measure the expression level of transcription factor T-bet and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) in the lung tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the EOS in whole blood as well as IL-4 and IgE in plasma were all increased in the placebo group (all P< 0. 01), IFN-gamma in plasma was obviously decreased (P<0. 01); while the levels of EOS, IgE and IL-4 were significantly reduced (all P<0. 01), the content of IFN-gamma was increased (P<0. 01) in all moxibustion groups and dexametnasone group. Compared with the normal group, the expression of T-bet mRNA in the placebo group was significantly reduced (P<0. 01). Each treatment group could significantly increase the expression of T-bet mRNA and reduce that of GATA-3 mRNA (P<0. 01). Compared with the short-course moxibustion groups, the expression of T-bet mRNA was obviously increased in the long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (both P<0.01), and that of GATA-3 mRNA was reduced (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (P> 0. 05), and also no significant difference could be seen between big-cake moxibustion group and small-cake moxibustion group (P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe natural moxibustion could obviously reduce airway inflammation in asthma rats. With time passing, the efficacy is enhanced, indicating evident timeliness, which has no apparent relationship with the size of moxibustion cake.

Animals ; Asthma ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Cytokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of terminating biochemical pregnancy (the stage in which intrauterine or ectopic pregnancy cannot be confirmed) with mifepristone and misoprostol. Methods Mifepristone (150 mg) combined with misoprostol (600 ?g) 3 days later were given to 500 biochemical pregnancies (G_1),500 early clinical pregnancies (G_2) and 500 clinical pregnancies (G_3) which were classified according to amenorrhea days,serum human chorionic gonadotropin-beta subunit (?- hCG) and vaginal B-ultrasonic examinations.All were observed for 6 hours after taking misoprostol and returned for assessment per week.Results Expulsion of conceptus was G_1 123 (24.6%,123/500),G_2 438 (87.6%,438/500) and G_3 467 (93.4%,467/500).Failure rate was G_1 6 (1.2%,6/500),G_2 24 (4.8%,24/500) and G_3 79 (15.8%,79/500) for ongoing pregnancies,hospitalizations for suspected ectopic pregnancies and surgical intervention for heavy or long-time bleeding.Bleeding cases during the administration of mifepristone were G_1 272 (54.4%,272/500),G_2 141 (28.2%,141/500) and G_3 87 (17.4%,87/500);the mean bleeding days were G_1 (5.8?1.5),G_2 (9.0?2.9) and G_3 (14.3?5.9) days.Other side effects including abdominal pain,nausea,vomiting and diarrhea were low and light in each group,increasing with advancing gestational age.Menses recovery was 486 (97.2%,486/500),452 (90.4%,452/500) and 433 (86.6%,433/500) for each group on scheduled time.Satisfaction was 499 (99.8%,499/500),485 (97.0%,485/500) and 369 (73.8%,369/500) respectively.Conclusion Mifepristone and misoprostol in combination is as safe,and effective for termination of biochemical pregnancies as ordinary medical abortion.It does not need to wait till ectopie pregnancy is excluded.

Objective To study the relationship between the health?related quality of life and Graves′ophthalmopathy quality of life(GO?QOL)in Graves′ophthalmopathy(GO)patients. Methods A total of 44 GO patients were recruited for the study and investigated with SF?36 and GO?QOL questionnaires. In addition,the thyroid function and related antibodies were also detected. Results The scores of SF?36 and GO?QOL were higher in the patients over 45 years than those under 45 years(P<0.05). GO?QOL score was lower in the patients with thyroid stimulating hormone recep?tor antibody higher than 10 IU/mL(P<0.05). The scores of SF?36 and GO?QOL were obviously higher in the patients who had a clinical activity score above 3(P<0.01). Conclusion GO?QOL is a better and more specific questionnaire for GO patients.

One major problem to successful treatment of cancer is the development of resistance by tumor cells to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs, a phenomenon named multidrug resistance (MDR). Searching for the novel chemotherapeutical agents is one of the important strategies for overcoming MDR. By using a cytotoxicity assay, flow cytometry analysis, Western-blotting and RT-PCR, a drug (Taxol, TAX) resistant human nasopharyngeal carcinoma KB cell line (KB/TAX) was established by addition of the drug to the cell cultures gradually, then a novel N-sugar substituted thalidomide analogue (STA-35) was investigated for its reversal effect on MDR of KB/TAX cells and possible mechanism. The results showed that KB/TAX cells were resistant to several chemotherapeutical agents, and the relative resistance to TAX was 73.1. Compared with parental KB cells, the function and protein expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), as well as mdr1 gene in the KB/TAX cells were remarkable reduced. Moreover, both KB and KB/TAX cells were sensitive to STA-35, the relative resistance to TAX on KB/TAX cells was decreased by the addition of STA-35. Furthermore, STA-35 (5 ～20 ?mol/L)was capable to reduced the activity of P-gp by increasing the accumulation of rhodamine 123, decreasing P-gp expression in KB/TAX cells in a dose dependent manner , but had no effect on the mdr1 gene expression. These results suggest a potential action of STA-35 as MDR reversing agent, and one of the possible mechanisms could be the suppression of P-gp function and protein expression.

Objective Through the investigation and analysis to "Chinese Medical Digest" and its relative periodicals to get a general idea of the survival and situation of these periodicals and to establish the pattern for their survival and development. Methods Such methods as telephone consultation, questionnaire survey, interview, and conference discussion were adopted to collect the relative information of medical digest periodicals and thus an analysis was made upon it. Results There were 18 kinds of "Chinese Medical Digest" periodicals originally. Of all these 18 kinds of the periodicals, 6 kinds are still publishing, 10 kinds have transferred its nature to first-hand literature periodical, and 2 kinds have ceased their publishment. Conclusion As a result of the computer, the network and the full text database development, the survival of medical digest periodicals are endangered. However, regarding to the different domain of subject, different reforming measures should be taken.

BACKGROUND:Knowledge of retropedtoneal space communications might influence catheter placement,and understanding the normal anatomy of the retroperitoneal space is a prerequisite for predicting the distribution of inflammation or other fluid collections in this region. Until recent years,the media/ attachment of the posterior renal fascia remained controversial. The multiple detector spiral CT can show the abdominal anatomic details. So,using the multiple-detector spiral CT to study the anatomy of posterior renal fascia has clinical significance. OBJECTIVE:To describe the medial attachment of the posterior renal fascia by using multiple-detector spiral CT. DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:A retrospective case analysis was performed at Department of Radiology,Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College between June 2003 and November 2007. PARTICIPANTS:A total of 52 patients with retropedtoneal inflammatory diseases were retrospectively reviewed through analysis of their CT data. METHODS:Toshiba Akuilion 16-detector spiral CT was employed for scanning. Of the 52 patients,15 were proved by clinical and laboratory findings and 37 were proved by surgery and pathology. Among the 52 patients,17 suffered from appendicitis,1 from ureteritis,2 from abscesses in the perirenal space,3 from abscesses in the posterior pararenal space,and 29 from pancreatltis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Medial attachment of the bilateral posterior renal fascia. RESULTS:At the level of the upper pole of kidney,the posterior renal fascia fused with the fascia of the ipsilateral quadratus lumborum muscle. Forty-six patients manifested the attachment site of the left posterior renal fascia transforming from the quadratus lumborum muscle fasciae to the psoas major muscle fascia at the level of the lower pole of kidney or the infrarenal space. Fifty patients showed the attachment site of the right posterior renal fascia transforming from the quadratus lumborum muscle fascia to the psoas major muscle fascia at the level of the lower pole of kidney or the infrarenal space. CONCLUSION:The posterior renal fascia attachment site is not the same all the time. At different levels,the attachment site of the posterior renal fascia is distinct.

Objective To observe the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation(RFA)with artificial pleural effusion for cancer of the liver located under the diaphragm.Method Fifteen lesions in 11 patients with cancer of the liver located under the diaphragm were treated by RFA with artificial pleural effusion,for which 500-1000 ml normal saline was injected into the pleural cavity.Results Artificial pleural effusion was finished successfully,the whole tumor for all of 15 lesions were visualized by ultrasound and the ideal puncture pathway were easy to find.The artificial pleural effusion was vanished within 1 week after operation.All of the lesions were treated with RFA and complete necrosis was obtained in 13(86.7%)of the 15 lesions by CT or MRI.No severe complication was observed.Conclusion RFA with artificial pleural effusion is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with liver cancer under the diaphragm.

Objectives To analyze the relationship between phosphorylation of serine-3 of cofilin1 and Taxol resistance of ovarian cancer and to evaluate the prognostic value of cofilin1 phosphorylation in estimating ovarian cancer survival using clinical samples.Methods Wild type (WT) plasmids with over-expression of wild cofilin1,S3L plasmids with over-expression of cofilin1 and inhibited phosphorylation at serine-3,and siRNA-C plasmids with down-regulation of cofilin1 were constructed using molecular biology techniques.After the SKOV3 and SK-TR30 cell-lines were transfected with these plasmids,changes in biological characteristics and drug resistance after instant transfection were compared.Fifty-one elderly female patients with microscopically confirmed ovarian cancer,who had received chemotherapy with Taxol and cis-platinum (TC)after surgery,including 30 chemo-sensitive and 21 chemo-resistant cases,were recruited in this study.Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the expression of cofilinl and phosphorylated cofilin in tissue sections from the two groups.Progression free survival(PFS)was analyzed.Results Compared with the control group,the proportion of cells increased at the G0/G1 phase(P=0.034)and decreased at the S phase (P=0.031),and the apoptosis rate decreased(P=0.020),in SKOV3 cells with high expression of cofilin1.However,these characteristics disappeared when the wild type was replaced with the inactive mutant S3L.When cofilin1 expression was down-regulated in SK-TR30 cells,the proportion of cells at the G0/G1 phase decreased(P=0.020).The expression of cofilin1 was detected in 56.7 ％ (17/30)and 57.1％ (12/21),respectively,sections of ovarian tumor tissues of the chemo-sensitive and chemoresistant groups,and there was no statistic difference (x2=0.332,P =0.943)between the two groups.The expression of phosphorylated cofilin was much higher in the chemo-resistant group (85.7％ or 18/21)than in the chemo-sensitive group (53.3％ or 16/30),and the difference was statistically significant(x2=5.829,P=0.016).The higher expression of phosphorylated cofilin was also correlated with shorter PFS(x2 =21.440,P＜0.01,95％ CI:0.068-0.883),especially in the chemo-sensitive group.Conclusions Serine-3 phosphorylation status of cofilin 1 is associated with paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer,but the underlying mechanisms of regulation need further investigation.

AIM:To investigate the effects of MG132,one of the proteasomal peptide aldehydes inhibitors,on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced nuclear transcription factor-kappa B(NF-?B) activation,the production of nitric oxide(NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-?),as well as the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) in murine macrophage line RAW264.7.METHODS:Reporter gene assay was used to examine the activity of NF-?B by pNiFty-SEAP/HEK293 cells,which were transfected with the pNiFty reporter plasmid into human embryo kidney cells(HEK293).Fluorescence substrate DAF-2DA was used to testify NO level in Raw264.7 cell line induced by LPS.Furthermore,the secretion of TNF-? was examined by ELISA.Western blotting was used to reveal the expression of iNOS and I?B-?.RESULTS:MG132 significantly decreased the secretion of TNF-? induced by LPS,with the inhibitory rates of 36.7% and 60.4% to 5 ?mol/L and 10 ?mol/L MG132,respectively.The pro-inflammatory mediator NO production was decreased in a dose-dependent manner with the inhibitory rates increasing from 29.5%(2 ?mol/L) to 55.9%(10 ?mol/L).Pretreatment with MG132 reduced the expression of iNOS,but restored the I?B restrain caused by LPS treatment.Observed by a reporter gene assay,TNF-?-induced NF-?B activity was decreased gradually by addition of increasing concentration of MG132(2.5-10 ?mol/L).CONCLUSION:Our results suggest an anti-inflammation effect of MG132 by the suppression of LPS-induced the production of pro-inflammatory mediators including NO and TNF-?,and the expression of iNOS,which probably mediates the blockage of I?B degradation and NF-?B activation.

Objective To establish the chromatographic fingerprint of Curcuma wenyujin by HPLC.Methods The chromatographic fingerprint of C.wenyujin was established by HPLC with Shimadzu VP-ODS C18 column(250 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m),acetonitrile-water(0.1 phosphoric acid) gradient elution,the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min,column temperatures of 30 ℃,and detective wavelength at 210 nm.ResultsTaking germacrone as the reference peak,14 common-peaks were selected as the fingerprint peaks.The similarities among samples of C.wenyujin among 19 approved samples and their standard chromatographic fingerprints were calculated with a software "Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Chinese Materia Medica" published by GPC(Version 2004A) and cluster analysis.ConclusionThis method with better accuracy and reproducibility could be used in the quality control of C.wenyujin.