OBJECTIVETo explore the impact and effect mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on oocyte quali ty in the patients with infertility of kidney deficiency pattern.

METHODSSixty-six cases differentiated as kidney de ficiency and with in vitro fertilization-embryo transplantation (IVF-ET), aged fromnt 35 to 42 years were rando- mized into an observation group and a control group, 33 cases in each one. The IVF-ET therapy of the long proto- col with gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist was adopted in the two groups. In the observation group. on the 5th day of menstruation in IVF cycle, EA was applied to Sanyinjiao (SP 6). Zigong (EX CA 1), Zhongji (CV 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4). In the control group, the sham-acupuncture was applied to the same acupoints. The treatment was given once every two days till the date of egg collection and the needles were retained for 30 min each time. The change in the score of kidney deficiency syndrome, the high-quality oocyte rate, the high-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnant rate were observed in the two groups. The levels of insulin-like growth factor-i (IGF-1) and IGF-2 in follicular fluid and the serum β-endorphin β-EP) on the date of egg collection and the correlation with oocyte quality were compared bIetween the two groups.

RESULTS1) In the observation group, the kidney deficiency syndrome score after treatment was reduced apparently as compared with that before treatment (P<0. 05), the score after treatment in the observation group was reduced much more apparently as compared with the control group (P<0.05). 2) The high-quality egg rate and the high-quality embryo rate in the observation group were both higher than those in the control group [81.3% (161/198) vs 57.6% (98/170), 59.8% (58/97) vs 37.7% (26/69), both P<0.05]. 3) Compared with the control group. the levels of IGF-1 and IGF-2 in follicular fluid and serum β-EP on the day of egg collection were all increased obviously in the observation group (all P<0. 05). 4) The levels of IGF-1 and IGF-2 in follicular fluid and serum β-EP presented the linear positive correlation with the high-quality egg rate.

CONCLUSIONEA effectively improves the expressions of IGF in follicular fluid and serum β-EP, increases the high-quality egg rate and high-quality embryo rate and relieves the symptoms of kidney deficiency.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; beta-Endorphin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE:To improve the content determination for polygala xanthone Ⅲ in Polygalae Radix contained in Chi-nese Pharmacopoeia (2010 edition). METHODS:HPLC was performed on the column of Hypersil BDS C18 with mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid(gradient elution)at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min;detection wavelength was 320 nm,column tem-perature was 25℃,and the injection volume was 10μl. RESULTS:The linear range of polygala xanthoneⅢwas 0.029-0.928 μg/ml (r=0.999 1);RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 2.0%;recovery was 94.66%-100.90%(RSD=2.46%,n=6). CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,stable and reproducible. Although the determination time is prolonged,it has improved the accuracy and it is more suitable for the content determination of polygala xanthoneⅢin Polygalae Radix.

The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase traffic inducer (NOSTRIN) was examined in the umbilical vessels of the patients with pre-eclampsia (PE) to explore its possible role in the pathogenesis of PE. The NOSTRIN mRNA in umbilical tissues was determined by RT-PCR. The eNOS activity in umbilical vessels was spectrophotometrically detected. NO2-/NO3-, the stable metabolic end products of NO, was measured by using nitrate reductase. RT-PCR showed that the expression level of NOSTRIN was significantly higher in women with PE than in the normal group (P<0.01). The activity of eNOS was significantly decreased in PE group [(12.83+/-3.61) U/mg] than in normal group [(21.72+/-3.83) U/mg] (P<0.01). The level of NO2-/NO3- in PE patients (27.53+/-7.48) micromol/mg was significantly lower than that of normal group (54.27+/-9.53) micromol/mg (P<0.01). The significant negative correlation existed between the expression of NOSTRIN and the activity of eNOS in umbilical vessels of women with PE (r=-0.58, P<0.01). It was concluded that the level of NOSTRIN expression was increased in umbilical vessel of women with PE, indicating that it may be involved in the pathogenesis of PE.
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/*metabolism ; Pre-Eclampsia/*enzymology ; Pre-Eclampsia/etiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Umbilical Arteries/cytology ; Umbilical Arteries/*enzymology ; Umbilical Veins/cytology ; Umbilical Veins/*enzymology

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Cytodiagnosis ; methods ; Cytological Techniques ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Sputum

Adult ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; complications ; Humans ; Tinnitus ; etiology ; Young Adult

Antigen Rv2628 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is associated with latent tuberculosis infection. In this study, Rv2628 was prokaryotic expressed and purified, its immunological characteristics was evaluated with macrophage cell line RAW264.7 and BALB/c mice. The results show that Rv2628 was mainly expressed in form of inclusion body confirmed by SDS-PAGE, and could react with rabbit anti-H37Rv polyclonal antibody detected by Western blotting assay, indicating that the protein had an effective immunoreactivity. The interactions between Rv2628 and macrophage cell line RAW264.7 confirmed that it could effectively induce cells to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, the relative expression level of IL-6 mRNA was higher than the control group in 1-12 h. BALB/c mice were subcutaneously immunized with Rv2628 protein, the production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in the spleen cells was determined by Sandwich ELISA, in the Rv2628 immunized group, the level of IFN-gamma was significantly higher than that of IL-4 (P < 0.000 1). It indicated the protein induced Th1-tendency immune responses. At the same time, Rv2628(11-30) peptide used as coating antigen, the murine serum antibody titer detected by indirect-ELISA was 1:1 600, which demonstrated that Rv2628 could also induce humoral immune responses. In summary, Rv2628 could induce specific pro-inflammatory cytokines, affectively induce strongly Th1-tendency immune response and humoral response, it could be a potential target for developing subunit vaccine against TB. In addition, it laid foundation for probing the cross-talk between M. tb and host.
Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Antigens, Bacterial ; immunology ; Cell Line ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-4 ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; immunology ; Macrophages ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Tuberculosis ; immunology

Cerebrograph imaging system is a medical imaging device which is used to diagnose cere- brovascular disease and investigate the function of cerebrum.This system can analyse quantitatively regional Cerebral Blood Flow(rCBF)and map it.Besides that,it can also record and analyse quantitatively electroen- cephalography(EEG)andmap topographical EEG.The measurement of cerebellum-brain stem-cerebral cor- tex is realized and a map is also given.This system first conjugates the technique of nuclear medicine imag- ing with that of electrophysiology.It provides doctors with synthetic information about CBF and the function of cerebrum in the manner of colour rCBF map,topographical EEG and quantitative data.These informa- tion are very important to the diagnosis and the research of cerebropathy,and especially have significant val- ue to earlier diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease.

OBJECTIVETo identify triacylglycerols in coix oil.

METHODHigh performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry was used for identification. The experiment was operated under the conditions: spray voltage at 3 000 V, capillary temperature at 250 degrees C, APCI vaporizer temperature at 400 degrees C, and corona current of 4 microA. Sheath gas pressure (high purity liquid nitrogen) was 35 kPa. Mass spectra were obtained over the m/e range of 300 to 900 amu, scan duration of 1s and Q1 peak width at 0.7. The stationary phase was Zorbax Extend C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). The mobile phase: dichloromethane-acetonitrile (35:65), flow rate: 1 mL x min(-1); column temperature: 25 degrees C.

RESULT12 triacylglycerols were identified by HPLC-MS method.

CONCLUSIONThe result can be used to identify the components in a fingerprint chromatogram of coix oil and its related injection product.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coix ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To evaluate the safety and short-term efficacy of transrectal ultrasound-guided transperineal cryosurgical ablation(TRUSCSA) for localized prostate cancer. Methods The data of 26 patients who were diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer (T_(1a)N_0M_0 - T_(2x)N_0M_0) by biopsy were reviewed. The data of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, clinical stage and Gleason score were collected. The Gleason score of all cases was ≤7; among them 6 cases were 2 - 4 and 20 cases were 5 - 7. The average pretreatment value of PSA was 11. 9 ng/ml (4. 7 - 19. 2 ng/ml). All the patients were treated with TRUSCSA, with a dual freeze-thaw cycle by using ultrathin 17-gauge cryoneedles. Immediate and delayed morbidities were evaluated. The PSA level was obtained every 3 months for the first 2 years and then every 6 months thereafter, and failure was defined as the inability to reach a nadir of 0. 5 ng/ml or less. All patients were strongly encouraged to undergo routine biopsies despite a stable PSA level. Results The operative time was (102±32)min. The postoperative hospital stay was (6±2)d. After withdrawal of the catheter, 22 cases had good continence) 4 had temporary incontinence for 3 - 7 d. Before operation 9 cases had normal sex life, and among them 5 cases had erectile dysfunction after operation. No one developed urinary retention or urethro-rectal fistula. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 30 months (mean 22). The PSA level at the last follow up visit was less than 0. 5 ng/ml in 23 patients (88%) and 0. 5 ng/ml or more in 3(12%). Postoperative biopsies were taken in 20 cases and the results were negative at the 6th month. Conclusions Transrectal ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryosurgical ablation for clinically localized prostate cancer could be effective and safe. Additional studies with longer follow-up are necessary to determine the sustained efficacy of this procedure.

Differences in gene expressions were compared by cDNA microarray in skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic rats and normal rats.In diabetic rats,157 genes were down-regulated and 100 genes up-regulated. Some of these genes were related to insulin resistance,glucose and lipid metabolism.