Objective To compare the clinical effects between electrical stimulation and acupuncture for dysphagia in acute stroke,and provide effective option for the patients with post-stroke bulbar palsy.Methods A total of 80 patients (40 post-stroke true bulbar paralysis patients and 40 post-stroke pseudo bulbar paralysis patients)were randomly divided into true bulbar paralysis-electrical stimulation group(group A1),true bulbar paralysis-acupuncture group(group A2),pseudo bulbar paralysis-electrical stim-ulation group(group B1),pseudo bulbar paralysis-acupuncture group(group B2).These patients were treated with electrical stimu-lation or acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training for 2 weeks.Results In group A1,4 cases were better effective,12 cases were effective,and 4 cases were no effective.In group A2,2 cases were better effective,7 cases were effective,and 1 1 cases were no effective.The response rate was 80%(1 6/20)in group A1 and 45%(9/20)in group A2.There was statistically significant difference (P =0.022).In group B1,6 cases were better effective,12 cases were effective,and 2 cases were no effective.In group B2,5 cases were better effective,12 cases were effective,and 3 cases were no effective.The response rate was 90%(18/20)in group B1 and 85%(1 7/20)in group B2.There was no statistically significant difference(P =0.633 ).Conclusion Electrical stimulation or acu-puncture combined with early rehabilitation training could provide good effect for post-stroke pseudo bulbar paralysis patients.For post-stroke true bulbar paralysis patients,it was better to choose electrical stimulation combined with early rehabilitation training.

Neuritin is a new neurotrophic factor found recently. In order to identify the function of Neuritin clearly, the coding sequence of human neuritin was amplified by PCR from neuritin cDNA , this fragment digested by NocI and NotI was inserted into pET32a by T4 ligase and transformed into E. coli BL21 then the recombinant plasmid named pET32a-neuritin was constructed successfully . Neuritin was expressed distinctly after inducing by EPTG. The product was identified as neuritin by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis . The expression production was purified on Ni2+-NTA column.

Objective To identity whether there is muscle atrophy phenomenon in end-stage kidney disease patients and to detect the level of transcription factor Foxo1 and the activity of ubiquitin-proteasome system.Methods Twenty-two patients in chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 were selected and their mean muscle cross sectional area was measured.mRNA and protein levels of Foxo1,Atrogin-1,MuRF1 in rectus abdominis biopsies obtained from consecutive patients were detected.Control biopsies were obtained from 8 healthy subjects during elective surgery for abdominal wall hernias and 6 subjects during elective surgery for adenomyosis.Results Compared with the control group,cross sectional area of muscle fibers decreased and the transcription and protein levels of Foxo1,Atrogin-1,MuRF1 were upregulated in CKD group(P＜0.05).Protein level of p-Foxo1 decreased in CKD group(P＜0.05).Conclusion There exist muscle atrophy phenomenon in CKD patients,which may associate with the upregulation of Foxo1 and activation of ubiquitin-proteasome system.

Objective To investigate changes of the interhemispheric coordination integrity in patients with hemi-parkinsonism using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI) homotopy technique called voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(VMHC).Methods Sixteen Parkinson disease(PD) patients with right body side motor symptom onset(RPD),15 patients with left side onset(LPD),and 19 age-,gender-,and education-matched healthy controls(HC) were included in this study.rs-fMRI scanning and pre-processed the raw data were performed.Then by using analysis of variance(ANOVA) and two sample t tset,we performed VMHC analyses on rs-fMRI data of these participants(P＜0.05,corrected with AlphaSim,clusters≥16 voxels).Exploratory linear correlations analyses were performed between the VMHC of regions showing significant group differences and the clinical features of LPD or RPD patients.Results Compared with HCs,patients with LPD had significantly reduced VMHC in visual regions,sensorimotor regions,and the cerebellar cortex(voxels size of 17-77,t=-5.06--3.42,P＜0.05).Patients with RPD exhibited decreased VMHC in the prefrontal cortex and sensorimotor regions.Both LPD and RPD groups had increased VMHC in subcortical regions.When compared with the RPD group,the LPD group displayed decreased VMHC in the visual regions,sensorimotor regions(voxels=16 and 18; t=-3.68and-3.87,respectively,both P＜0.05) and increased VMHC in the supramarginal gyrus(voxels=4,t=4.72,P＜0.05);ROI-based correlation analyses indicated that the VMHC in the inferior occipital gyrus and the postcentral gyrus was negatively correlated with the BDI-Ⅱ scores in the LPD group(r=-0.58 and-0.59,respectively; both P＜0.05),and positively correlated with the MMSE scores(r=0.56 and 0.52,respectively;both P＜0.05).In the RPD group,a positive correlation was found for the VMHC in the supramarginal gyrus and the illness duration(r=0.56,P＜0.05) and for the VMHC in the postcentral gyrus and the(mini-mental state exam) MMSE(r=0.53,P＜0.05).Conclusions The differential pattern of deficits in the interhemispheric coordination integrity in hemi-parkinsonism reflected by VMHC may provide insights into the neurological pathophysiology underlying the asymmetry of symptom appearance in PD.

Fourteen compounds were isolated from 95% ethanol extract by silica gel, MCI, and ODS column chromatography. These compounds were respectively identified as quercetin (1), kaempferol (2), (+)-catechin (3), fraxin (4), protocatechuic acid (5), gallic acid (6), methyl gallate (7), ethyl gallate (8), apocynol A (9), baccatin (10), cerevisterol (11), ellagic acid (12), 3, 3',4'-tri-0-methylellagic acid(13) and N-benzoyl-L-phenylalaninyl-N-benzoyl-L-phenylalaninate(14) by analyzing their spectral data and comparing with the previously reported literatures. Except for gallic acid (6), all other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1, 2 and 6 showed moderate anti-proliferation activities on tumor cells.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Euphorbiaceae ; chemistry ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective To study skeletal muscle atrophy and the change of autophagy in skeletal muscle of patients with chronic kidney disease.Methods Mean muscle cross sectional area,mRNA and protein expression of autophagy markers Bcl-2-adenovirus E1B interacting protein 3 (LC3B),Bcl-2-adenovirus E1B interacting protein 3 (Bnip3),Beclin-1 were measured in rectus abdominis biopsies obtained from 22 consecutive patients with stage 5 CKD scheduled for peritoneal dialysis from 4 hospitals in Shanghai.Control biopsies were obtained from another 8 healthy subjects during elective surgery for adenomyosis and 6 subjects during elective surgery for abdominal wall hernias.Rectus abdominis muscles were obtained at the beginning of surgery.HE staining was performed and mean cross sectional area (CSA) was calculated.Electron microscopy was used to confirm the changes of autophagy.mRNA levels of LC3B,Beclin-1,Bnip3 were evaluated by RT-PCR and protein levels of those parameters were evaluated by Western blotting.Results Compared with control group,mean CSA of muscle fibers was decreased and the transcript levels of LC3B,Beclin-1,Bnip3 were up-regulated in CKD group.Similarly,protein levels of LC3BⅠ,LC3B Ⅱ,Beclin-1 and Bnip3 were increased in CKD group.Additionally,activation of autophagy was confirmed by the appearance of autophagosomes by electron microscopy.Conclusion Chronic kidney disease may cause skeletal muscle atrophy and lead to activation of autophagy,which may contribute to muscle atrophy.

Burn patients often suffer from different degrees of dysfunction, such as residual burn wounds, formation of hyperplastic scar, scar itching, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, limitation of motion, and psychological disorders, which exert severe impact on their daily life. This article reviews various rehabilitation treatments for dysfunction after burn injury to promote rehabilitation of burn patients.
Burns ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; China ; Humans ; Rehabilitation ; methods

Objective To explore the association of catechol-O-methyhransferase(COMT) gene polymorphisms with schizophrenia susceptibility and its symptoms assessed by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)in southern Chinese population.Methods COMT gene rs4633,rs4680 and rs8185002 polymorphisms were genotyped using Sequenom genotyping technology in 700 schizophrenia patients (300 Zhuang and 400 Han) and 700 healthy controls (300 Zhuang and 400 Han),and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used for clinical symptoms assessment of patients.Statistical analysis was performed using PLINK software.Results rs4633,rs4680 and rs8185002 polymorphisms were not significantly associated with schizophrenia susceptibility in Zhuang or Han population respectively(P＞0.05).After merging Zhuang and Han samples,rs4633(I 2 =0.000,Pmeta =0.040) and rs4680 (I2=0.000,Pmeta =0.014) were significantly associated with the susceptibility to schizophrenia.In addition,haplotype T-A-T was significantly associated with schizophrenia susceptibility (P=0.049).However,these three polymorphisms were not significantly associated with total score,positive scale score,negative scale score and general psychopathology scale score assessed by PANSS(P＞0.05).Conclusion COMT gene rs4633 and rs4680 polymorphisms are involved in the susceptibility to schizophrenia in southern Chinese population.

Objective To observe the lipid regulation role of electroacupuncture intervention in the rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)induced with high fat and cholesteol forage,and to clarify the regulation mechanism of serum retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4 )level and liver X receptor a (LXR-α)and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c(SREBP-1c)expressions.Methods 44 female SD rats were fed for 7 d to adapt the environment and were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Dongbaogantai group, electroacupuncture group;11 rats in each group.The rats in normal group got routine feeding,and the others were fed with high fat and high cholesterol forage. After 8 weeks, the models were established, the rats in electroacupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture method (1.5-2.0 Hz, D.-D.wave, 9V, 1-3 mA)in“Ganshu”,“Pishu”,“Geshu”for 15 min,once a day,lasted for 28 d.The changes of fasting blood-glucose(FBG),serum free fatty acids(FFA)and liver tissue homogenate triglyceride(TG)and total cholesterol (TC)levels of the rats in various groups were tested, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA)was used to determine the serum RBP4 levels, and Western blotting method was used to detect the LXR-αand SREBP-1 c protein expression levels in rat liver tissue.Results Compared with normal group,the FBG,serum FFA,TG and TC levels in liver tissue homogenate and serum RBP4 level of the rats in model group were increased (P<0.01);the LXR-αand SREBP-1c protein expression levels were also increased (P<0.01).Compared with model group, the FBG,serum FFA,the TG and TC levels in liver tissue homogenate and serum RBP4 levels of the rats in electroacupuncture group and Dongbaogantai group were decreased (P<0.01);the LXR-αand SREBP-1c protein expression levels were also decreased (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01 ). Conclusion Electroacupuncture method in“Fenglong”,“Zusanli”,“Sanyinjiao”can reduce the serum RBP4 level, regulate the lipid metabolism, and improve the lipid deposition of the NAFLD rats;they have obvious therapeutic effect on NAFLD, and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the increasing of LXR-αand SREBP-1 c protein expressions in liver tissue.

OBJECTIVETo observe improved effects of Jingjin acupuncture on fine activity of hemiplegic hand in recovery period of stroke.

METHODSFifty cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 25 cases in each one. Regular western medicine treatment, rehabilitation training and regular acupuncture (in which Shuigou (GV 26), Baihui (GV 20), Neiguan (PC 6), etc. were selected) were applied in both groups. Additionally, muscles in palm side of affected hand, dorsal metacarpophalangeal joints and proximal interphalangeal joints were treated with acupuncture in the observation group, once every other day and electroacupuncture was applied when arrival of qi was acquired. Baxie (EX-UE 9) in the affected hand were needled in the control group, and electroacupuncture was added when arrival of qi was acquired. Ten days of treatment was considered a treatment course, and after two courses Lindmark score, Brunnstrom movement function grade, joint range of hand and Barthel index (BI) were observed in two groups.

RESULTSCompared before the treatment, the Lindmark score in two groups were both improved after the treatment (both P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the motor coordination ability, sensory function and total score of Lindmark in observation group were obviously improved (differences before and after treatment: 8.24 +/- 3.07 vs 6.84 +/- 2.43, 3.52 +/- 2.33 vs 2.16 +/- 2.12, 11.76 +/- 3.55 vs 9.00 +/- 3.62, all P < 0.05). The Brunnstrom movement function grade was significantly improved in both groups after treatment (both P < 0.01), which was more obvious in the observation group (P < 0.05). The joint range of hemiplegic hand was improved in both groups after treatment (both P < 0.01), which was more obvious in the observation group [differences before and after treatment: (25.35 +/- 10.91) degrees vs (18.65 +/- 7.86) degrees, p < 0.05]. The score of BI was also significantly improved after treatment in two groups (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe Jingjin acupuncture could effectively improve fine activity of hemiplegic hand in recovery period of stroke prove daily life ability.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Female ; Hand ; physiopathology ; Hemiplegia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Movement ; Recovery of Function ; Stroke ; complications ; physiopathology