Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo establish human heart valve interstitial cells calcification culture model in vitro, and observe the effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) on calcification of human heart valve interstitial cells.

METHODSHuman heart valve interstitial cells were cultured in vitro, and divided into control group: cells were cultured in conventional media plus recombinant human BMP-2 treatment and experimental group: besides above treaments, calcification inducers ( recombinant human BMP-2, β-glycerophosphate, L-ascorbic acid, dexamethasone) were added to the culture media. The two group of cells were cultured for 14 days and were stained by Von Kossa, then the cell calcification was observed in this valvular interstitial cells calcification culture model in vitro. Protein expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), interleukin 8, BMP-2 and BMP-4 was determined by Western blot and BMP-2 secretion was measured by ELISA.

RESULTSIn the control group, the structure of human heart valve interstitial cells was clear, and the spindle and radial growth shaped cellular morphology was visible, and Von Kossa staining was negative. In the experimental group, the nuclei become darker in color, and granular sediment distribution was seen surrounding cells, and Von Kossa staining was positive, the cells were forming nodules of calcification. The protein expression of ICAM-1, interleukin 8, BMP-2 and BMP-4 in the experimental was significantly higher than that of the control group (all P < 0.05). The expression of BMP-2 in the experimental group was also significantly higher than that in control group ((92.5 ± 4.9) pg/ml vs. (22.2 ± 1.9) pg/ml, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHuman BMP-2, β-glycerophosphate, L-ascorbic acid, and dexamethasone can induce human heart valve interstitial cells calcification and enhance inflammation in vitro by stimulating the secretion of BMP-2.

Background Some researching results of sodium hyaluronate eye drops treating dry eye have been reported home and abroad.To evaluate these results using the method of evidence-based medicine (EBM) has an important clinical significance.Objective This secondary study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy of sodium hyaluronate eye drops for the treatment of dry eye.Methods Meta analysis was adopted in this study.The electronic bibliographic databases were searched according to the prescribed strategy,including Medline,PubMed,VIP,CBM,CNKI,Wanfang Data using the method of Cochrane systematic review.The literature published time was limited from the commencement of each database to December,2011.Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of sodium hyaluronate eye drops treating dry eye were included and the methodological quality of the RCTs was assessed by two evaluators using Jadad measuring scale,and homogeneous evaluation by Meta-analysis was performed.Statistical analysis of clinical data was performed using RevMan 5.0 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration.With odds ratio (OR) value as the effect index,the randomized effect model was used to analyze the clinical heterogeneity.Results A total of 4 RCTs involving 686 patients were included.Jadad scale evaluation showed 7 points in 2 literature,4 points in 1 literature and 2 points in 1 literature.In all the RCTs,344 patients with dry eye were treated using sodium hyaluronate as the sodium hyaluronate eye drops group,and 342 dry eyes applied placebo,normal saline solution,hydroxymethyl cellulose,hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose respectively as the control group.Meta-analysis indicated that the total effective rate (OR) was 2.55 with the 95％ confidence interval (CI) 0.94-6.93.The symptoms were improved in 183 cases in the experiment group and 130 cases in the control group.No significant difference was found in the OR between the sodium hyaluronate eye drops group and the control group (Z =1.84,P=0.07).Conclusions Meta-analysis indicates that sodium hyaluronate eye drops can improve the symptom of dry eye,but have no significence with the control group.However,owing to fewer number and uneven quality of included RCTs,the large sample size and multicenter of RCTs is still needed to verify the superiority of sodium hyaluronate eye drops for dry eye.

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy of internal rib fixation combined with external chest fixation and mechanical ventilation for traumatic flail chest with pulmonary contusion.Methods Sixty cases of traumatic flail chest with pulmonary contusion treated from January 2011 to December 2014 were assigned to experimental group (30 cases) and control group (30 cases) according to the random number table.Patients in control group received thoracic external fixation combined with mechanical ventilation.In experimental group the patients received the same care but in addition they had rib fixation.The two groups were compared with regard to general condition, arterial blood gas as well as vital signs before treatment and 24 hours after treatment, lung function 3 months after discharge, complication rate and mortality.Results ICU stay [(6.8 ± 1.0) d], hospital stay [(15.0 ± 1.8) d] and duration of mechanical ventilation [(4.8 ± 1.0) d] in experimental group were significantly lower than these in control group [(13.6 ± 2.5) d, (21.4 ± 2.6) d, (10.3 ± 1.3) d, respectively] (P ＜ 0.01).After treatment for 24 hours in either group, the pH value, PaO2, oxygenation index and systolic pressure (SBP) were significantly increased, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were significantly lowered as compared to these before treatment (P ＜0.05).After treatment for 24 hours, experimental group demonstrated significantly enhanced levels in pH value,PaO2, oxygenation index and SBP but lowered levels in PaCO2, HR and RR as compared to control group (P ＜ 0.05).Three months after discharge, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), 75％ forced expiratory flow (FEF75％) and total lung capacity (TLC) in experimental group were (81.7 ±2.6)％, (75.4 ±4.1)％, (83.2 ±4.6)％,(69.1 ±2.3)％, and (88.7 ±3.4)％ respectively, significantly higher than (69.0 ±3.6)％, (71.3 ± 3.9) ％, (78.9 ± 4.3) ％, (62.3 ± 3.3) ％, and (79.0 ± 4.6) ％ respectively in control group (P ＜0.01).In experimental group, there were four cases of pulmonary infection (13％), three pulmonary atelectasis(10％) and one intercostal neuralgia (3％).In control group, there were six cases of pulmonary infection (20％), five pulmonary atelectasis (17％), four intercostal neuralgia (13％) and four thoracocyllosis(13％)(P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups.Conclusion Treatment effect of internal rib fixation for flail chest with pulmonary contusion is improved in combination with mechanical ventilation and external chest fixation.

After the systems, methods and criteria for assessment of scientific research capability in USA, Germany, Britain and Japan were described, the advances in studies on assessment of scientific research capability in China were summarized, their characteristics were compared, and the enlightenments to perform assessment of medical research institution capability were elaborated.

Objective To investigate the current prevalence of depressive disorder and the associated factors in pa?tients with essential hypertensive from cardiovascular divisions of tertiary general hospitals. Methods A Chinese version of Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) Axis I Disor?ders was conducted by five mental health professionals on 876 essential hypertensive outpatients at cardiovascular divi?sions of tertiary general hospital. Data on the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of these hypertensive pa?tients were also collected. Results The current prevalence of depressive disorders among essential hypertensive outpa?tients of tertiary hospitals was 16.6%(145/876). Risk factors for depressive disorders in hypertensive patients included fe?male gender (OR=2.817, 95%CI:1.161~6.885), being 65-year-old and older (OR=1.747, 95%CI:1.118~2.688), non-marital status (OR=2.023, 95%CI:1.203~3.398), gradeⅢhypertension (OR=1.776, 95%CI:1.226~2.333) and car?diovascular diseases (OR=2.018, 95%CI:1.427~2.587). Conclusion Essential hypertensive outpatients, who receive med?ical services at cardiovascular divisions of tertiary general hospital, have high prevalence of depressive disorders. Clini?cians should pay more attention to the mental health of outpatients with essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a female rat CYP3A induction model which is used for studying CYP3A-mediated drug-drug interactions. METHODS: Female SD rats which were fed with standard diet were randomly divided into two groups, one was the control group, and the other one was the experimental group. The rats in the experimental group were administered respectively 20, 50, 80, 100, and 150 mg·g-1d-1 dexamethasone by gavage for 3 d to induce CYP3A enzymes. 24 h after 3 d, liver tissues were taken from both groups of rats and rat liver microsomes were prepared. CYP3A4 activity was determined with testosterone as the probe substrate. RESULTS: Testosterone metabolic rate was 31.68% in blank liver microsomes, and were 40.64%, 61.36%, 82.44%, 85.8%, and 83.36% in dexamethasone-induction group. Testosterone metabolic rate was improved by up to 160.23% after dexamethasone induction at 80 mg·g-1d-1 in female rats. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone induction at 80 mg·g-1d-1 can significantly increase liver CYP3A enzyme activity in female SD rats, and the model can be used to study CYP3A-mediated drug-drug interactions.

BACKGROUND: Neuronal regeneration using stem cell differentiation has gained a lot of attentions from researchers. Although embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells have good potential for neuronal differentiation, a high risk of tumor development in vivo limits the further study. OBJECTIVE: To establish a stable system for sorting, culture and neuronal differentiation of amniotic fluid stem cells, and to explore the feasibility as seed cells for neuronal regeneration. METHODS: Amniotic fluid sample (10 mL) was obtained at 19-22 weeks of pregnancy under B-ultrasound guidance, and amniotic fluid stem cells were isolated by c-Kit magnetic beads. The markers Oct-4 and Sox2 of amniotic fluid stem cells were identified by immunofluorescence. The expression levels of c-Kit, Oct-4, Sox2 and Nestin in amniotic fluid stem cells after multiple passages were detected by RT-PCR. Then, the cells were cultured by hanging drop for 4 days to observe the embryoid bodies-like structures. Amniotic fluid stem cells were induced to differentiate into neurons using two-stage method. The expression levels of Neuro D and Tuj1 were observed by immunofluorescence. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) About 1% of amniotic fluid stem cells were positive for c-Kit. (2) (75.0±4.6)% of amniotic fluid stem cells expressed Oct-4 and (86.0±2.8)% of the cells expressed Sox2. (3) The expression levels of c-Kit, Oct-4, Sox2 and Nestin detected by RT-PCR did not change with passage times. (4) Embryoid bodies-like structures formed after hanging drop culture. (5) Immunofluorescence results showed that amniotic fluid stem cells expressed neuronal marker Tuj1, but without the typical morphological features. RT-PCR detected the expression of Tuj1 in different amniotic fluid stem cell specimens as well as in the same sample after several passages. (6) Amniotic fluid stem cells could have the characteristics of neuron-like cells after induction with basic fibroblast growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin factor 3 in two stages, and could express neural stem cell marker Neuro D and neuronal marker Tuj1.

Carcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serine Endopeptidases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the basic concept of functions of acupoints.

METHODSThe principles of Chinese medicine therapy and acupuncture therapy are analyzed and compared and it is pointed out that there is an essential difference between the functions of traditional Chinese medicine and acupoints. Chinese medicine correct the deviation using their deviation property, but acupoints correct the deviation using their bi-directional regulative actions.

RESULTSAcupuncture and moxibustion therapy is different from Chinese medicine in treating syndromes of cold, heat, deficiency and excess. That the descriptive way of traditional Chinese medicine functions is applied to those of acupoints is somewhat one-sideness.

CONCLUSIONAcupoints have their own characteristics and principles of application, and acupoints have the effects of close therapy, distal therapy and special effects, and action law of special acupoints. Therefore, induction for functions of acupoints should supplement and perfect these functions.